John 10:1-11 reads: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
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John 10:1-11 reads: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Dear Friend, this message is primarily for people who have already entered through the “Door” of Life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour as of yet, please do so today by simply believing in Jesus Christ – that He died for you, that He was buried and rose again, and by calling on His Name to save you.
For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Jesus Christ said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).
I am convinced that there are many people who have entered through the “Door,” that is, they have been truly saved, but sadly no one ever sat down with them and told them correctly what they should do after they have entered through the “Door.”
Getting saved is most important, but what you do after you are saved is very important as well. Following are seven things that you definitely need to do after you are saved:
1. Get Baptized. Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It is very important that you obey the Lord and follow Him in Believers’ Baptism. Even if you were baptized at another time in your life, if you are just now truly getting saved, you still need to be baptized again because you were not saved the first time you were baptized. You see, we don’t get baptized to be saved, rather we get baptized because we are saved.
2. Join with a good church. Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Let’s face it, everything that says church on it is not necessarily a church of the Lord Jesus Christ. For there are many false churches and teachers in the world.
Below are some marks of a good church:
A. The pastor preaches from the Word of God – the Bible, and he strives to practice what he preaches.
B. The church stands on the basics of the Christian faith. The basics of the Christian faith are:
1. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ
2. The deity of Jesus Christ
3. The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ
4. The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
5. That salvation comes only by faith in Jesus Christ
6. The verbal inspiration of the Bible
7. The second coming of Jesus Christ
C. An emphasis is put on reaching out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
D. The love of Jesus Christ is shown.
These are just a few marks of a good church. Pray and follow the Lord’s leading.
3. Allow yourself to be trained. Matthew 28:20: “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” This will mean that you will have to humble yourself and listen to your pastor and those he appoints to help you. You see, becoming a Christian is something totally new to you and there are many important things that you will have to learn from others who are trained and have the experience.
4. Pray daily. Luke 18:1: “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” You will find that regular prayer unto God will be one of your greatest sources of strength, power and blessing.
5. Read your Bible daily. Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” As they say, “When you pray, you talk to God. When you read your Bible, God talks to you.” Do you want to live a vibrant, strong, useful and successful Christian life? Then you will want to read and meditate on your Bible daily.
6. Witness for Christ daily. Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus Christ commands us to witness for Him. One of the greatest joys you will ever have in this life is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with another person. A greater joy is to see them come to know your Saviour as their Saviour. So plant the seed everywhere
you go and allow God to use you to “turn many from darkness to light.”
Congratulations on entering through the “Door” of Eternal Life by believing in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Trusting Jesus Christ, as your personal Saviour is the most important thing you will ever do. Now that you are saved, let’s live for the One who died for us. God bless you as you serve Him.
7. If you are willing to follow Jesus Christ as one of His disciples, pray with me the following prayer: Holy Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, please forgive and cleanse me of all sin. Create within me a pure heart and a right spirit. Please help me to do the things that I just read, and grant me your grace to be a Christian that will glorify your name. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of fifteen books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master’s degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-four years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com.
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