John 10: 7-17
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (NIV)
Do we notice the words written in bold? JESUS not only calls HIMSELF the gate of the sheep but also the shepherd of the sheep. HE’S not only the way through which we return to GOD as lost children but also the shepherd that teaches us the masteries of the kingdom of our FATHER now that we’ve returned; HE’S the gate and HE’S the shepherd; HE’s the way and HE’S the supervisor; The ONE who saves us and the ONE who trains us; The ONE who gives us life and the ONE who sustains us; The true gate and the good shepherd.
When we come to GOD, GOD receives us and hands us over to JESUS for discipleship. JESUS is the only one who has seen the FATHER, HE is the only divine being that understands what it means to be a man, HE came from the Father’s bosom, was with HIM in the beginning, so JESUS is the only one who knows the FATHER enough to make us become like the FATHER. That’s the aim of the FATHER – to make us become like HIMSELF and knowing JESUS is HIS methodology.
Even when we have spiritual mentors we must be sure that they’re making us know JESUS more and not themselves. We are imitating them because they are imitating CHRIST. This is primary, we have been called to be disciples of JESUS first and forever. So, the question that determines whether we are true Christians is whether we are becoming more like CHRIST every day. Are we following JESUS? That’s what makes us Christians. It does matter.
2 Cor 13: 5-6
Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ's presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren't at all? (TLB)
Paul is asking them to check up on themselves. Test your Christianity. And what is this test? “Do you feel CHRIST’S presence and power more and more in you? Are you tending towards CHRIST?”. When last did you feel JESUS teach you? When last did HE lead you? When last did HE direct you? Let’s settle this else our labor becomes a toil for the wind.
JESUS says ‘learn of ME for I am meek and lowly’. The only way to grow in humility is to grow in our knowledge of the humble CHRIST, there’s no other way. Follow HIM, study HIM, let HIM guide you and your heart will begin to feel the fullness of the morning star in your heart. My friend, have you been following JESUS from a distance? It’s time to stop it because a satellite disciple is no disciple at all. It is possible to perform miracles without a relationship with JESUS.
Acts 1:21
"So now we must choose someone else to take Judas' place and to join us as witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. Let us select someone who has been with us constantly from our first association with the Lord-from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us into heaven." (TLB)
The requirement for choosing the replacement of Judas was not that he could speak in tongues, or that he could cast out demons or that he could raise the dead, if it were that they would have sought for Mr. John but no, he must have known JESUS personally. That he had a concrete knowledge of the man they preach. Let’s not be surprised to hear that Mr. John didn’t also partake in the Pentecost; that he didn’t witness the ascension; or that he believed JESUS didn’t actually resurrect but was stolen. Do you see where the errors in our Churches are coming from? Too many preachers, very few disciples. Maybe the reason why you are more of a preacher than a Christian is because you don’t know JESUS?