Unshakable 

What things are unshakable?  Certainly we would consider God Himself to be unshakeable. What else?  The universe?  Your best friend’s promise? A mother’s love? Isthere anything else besides God Himself that is unshakeable and unchanging?Jesus revealed that there are other things that are unshakeable, and this morning we examine two of those. 

(John 10:22-42 NIV)  "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "Idid tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them tome, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.30 I and the Father are one." 

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law,'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles,that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus." 

(Psalms 82:6-7 NIV)  ""I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'7 But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler."" 

Digging Deeper 

1.  In Psalm 82 the word “gods”appears twice.  Read the Psalm (it is short) and think about how that word is being used. What does he mean when he speaks of gods? (Hint:  read Exodus 21:6 and 22:8-9 where the same word used in Psalm 82 for gods is translated “judges”). Notice also the functions that are mentioned in Psalm 82:2-4 – how does this help us understand how the word is used.  Why does Jesus quote this Psalm to defend His statement that He is God’s son? What does this say about Jesus’ view of the Bible? 

2.  Read John 10:25-30.  Who are Jesus’ sheep?  What promises does Jesus make to His sheep?Upon what do these promises depend? What was the leaders’ response to these promises (read a little further in John 10)?  What isthe response of Jesus’ sheep? 

3.  What does Jesus say about God’s word, the Bible (John 10:35)?  What does that mean?  How do these two great unshakeable truths (the promises of God cannot be broken and the sheep cannot be lost) impact your life? What difference do they make? How might these help you in times of crisis or insecurity or pain?   

4.  Since God’s word cannot be broken, how important is reading and learning about God’s word? Do you read it as if it were that important? Why or why not?

Played: 44 | Download | Duration: 00:28:24