July 28, 2025 • 29 mins
What does it mean to be truly known? In a world where many feel anonymous despite being constantly connected, Pastor Timothy Mann delivers a profound message about the God who not only sees us but knows us intimately by name.
Drawing from Jesus' words in John 10, Mann reveals how the Good Shepherd's knowledge of His sheep goes far beyond mere awareness—it's deeply personal, relationship-based, and ultimately saving. The biblical concept of "knowing" (yada) carries weight: it's God's intimate acquaintance with us, His covenant commitment, His redemptive purpose working in our lives.
As Pastor Mann eloquently puts it, "God doesn't just notice our pain; He knows us." This divine knowledge transcends our performance—God doesn't love us more on our good days or less on our bad days. His knowledge of us remains steadfast when we feel unseen, unheard, or overwhelmed.
The message reaches its theological depth in examining Romans 8:29-30, where we discover that salvation begins not with our faith but with God's foreknowledge. "Before you ever reached for God, He reached for you. Before you called on His name, He called you by name," Pastor Mann explains. This foreknowledge isn't God simply looking into the future to see who would believe; it's His active, loving decision-making that secures our redemption.
For those who belong to Christ, this brings profound security. Like the firefighter who knew exactly where to find his daughter in the burning building, Jesus knows His own and will never let them go. The Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep remains committed to completing the work He began, carrying His people all the way to glory.
Have you responded to the Shepherd's voice? He knows you and calls you. Don't resist, don't delay—the invitation to belong to His flock stands open today.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Foundations of Truth with Pastor
Timothy Mann from ProvidenceChurch in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Join us now as we let God'sWord illuminate our lives and
guide us into His truth today.
And here's Pastor Timothy Mann.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Saved, understanding God's work in us.
Saved, understanding God's workin us.
There's no more important topicor truth than we can address
than this reality.
Important topic or truth thanwe can address than this reality
.
Gospel of John, chapter 10,beautiful chapter.
Jesus being the true shepherd,the good shepherd, I want you to
(00:33):
put your mark there.
If you have a paper Bible, puta bookmark there.
In John, chapter 10, we'll alsobe going over to the book of
Romans, chapter 8.
Hopefully you've found John 10by now and we're going to be
reading verses 14 through 18.
We'll also look at verse 26through 30.
And then we'll make our way toRomans, chapter 8.
Jesus is speaking, john, chapter10, verse 14.
(00:56):
He says I am the good shepherdand I know my sheep and am known
by my own, as the Father knowsme.
Even so, I know my sheep and amknown by my own, as the Father
knows me.
Even so, I know the Father andI lay down my life for the sheep
and other sheep I have whichare not of this fold.
(01:18):
They also I must bring and theywill hear my voice, and there
will be one flock and oneshepherd.
Therefore, my Father loves mebecause I lay down my life that
I may take it again.
That is literally to say takeit up again.
No one takes it from me, but Ilay it down of myself.
(01:44):
I have power to lay it down andI have power to take it again.
This command I have receivedfrom my Father Go over to verse
26.
But you do not believe, becauseyou are not my sheep.
As I said to you, my sheep hearmy voice.
As I said to you, my sheep hearmy voice and I know them and
(02:05):
they follow me and I give themeternal life and they shall
never perish.
Neither shall anyone snatchthem out of my hand.
My Father, who has given themto me, is greater than all, and
no one is able to snatch themout of my Father's hand.
(02:26):
I and my Father are one.
Now turn with me to the rightin your Bibles or on your app.
You can just go to Romans,romans, chapter 8.
We're going to focus on twoverses in Romans, chapter 8.
Romans, chapter 8, we'relooking at verse 29 and 30.
(02:47):
Speaking of God here, speakingof Almighty God.
Romans, chapter 8, verse 29.
The Bible says for whom, again,for whom he foreknew.
He also predestined to beconformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be thefirstborn among many brethren.
(03:08):
Moreover, whom he predestined,these he also called.
Whom he called, these he alsojustified.
And whom he justified, these healso glorified.
We stop here.
This is god's word that we'vejust read.
I believe that one of theloneliest and maybe most sad
(03:32):
feelings in life is the thoughtthat no one knows you.
I mean that if you were just todisappear from the planet, no
one would notice that, no onewould come looking, no one would
call your name.
We live in a very crowded world, but it seems like while we're
(03:55):
living in this crowded world,it's also a world filled with
anonymity.
I mean, people walk throughhard seasons in life, they carry
deep wounds, they even wanderinto dangerous places in life,
and they do it alone.
They do it unseen, unheard,unknown, and the ache of that
(04:19):
isolation runs deep, because atthe core of the human heart is a
longing to be known, trulyknown, and that's what makes
Jesus different.
In John 10, jesus says I am thegood shepherd, I know my own
and my own know me.
(04:39):
And so if we are his sheep, ifwe, if you are his sheep, if
we're his sheep, he's not justaware of us, he knows us, he
knows his own personally,intimately, by name.
I want you to know this morningyou're not just a number to
(04:59):
Jesus, you're not one of thecrowd.
If you're his sheep, you arehis and he sees you when you
stray, he hears you when you cry, even when no one else does,
and he moves, he comes to findyou.
(05:19):
In 1998, a fire broke out in thein a residential building in
Chicago and firefighters weredispatched immediately,
including a man named Jeff, whohad served in the department for
over a decade.
And as he arrived on the scenehe was hit with a wave of dread
because this was his ownapartment building.
(05:40):
His teenage daughter had beenhome alone and without
hesitation, jeff geared up andhe entered the burning structure
.
The smoke was thick, thevisibility was zero.
Protocol would have told mostto wait for backup or at least
to stay low and searchmethodically, slowly, carefully.
(06:03):
But Jeff wasn't just searchingfor a person.
He was searching for his owndaughter.
He knew her room, he knew herhabits, he knew the way that she
would react under fear, and hefound her unconscious in the
hallway near her room.
He scooped her up, he carriedher down through the heat and
the smoke and got her safelyoutside and, praise God,
(06:26):
paramedics were able to reviveher.
She survived.
She survived because the onewho rescued her didn't just see
her as an anonymous victim, butas his own, as his own.
And later, when asked how hefound her so quickly in such
chaos, he said because I knowher, I knew where she would be.
(06:48):
And so here's the point thegirl was rescued not just by
someone who looked, but someonewho knew, someone who truly knew
the one he was looking for.
That really is the heart oftoday's message.
That's the heart of Romans, ofJohn 10.
I want to tell you this morningthe God of the Bible is not
(07:12):
distant.
He is not merely aware of hispeople.
He knows them and he knows youand he knows you.
And his knowledge isn't justinformational, it's intentional,
relational and redemptive.
(07:39):
Jesus said in John, chapter 10,verse 14, I am the good shepherd
and I know my sheep and amknown by my own.
So to be known by Jesus is to beloved, is to be led and,
ultimately, saved.
You need to know this morningthat His knowledge of you is not
a cold database.
It's the intimate mindfulnessof a shepherd who names His
(08:00):
sheep, calls them, walks withthem, lays down His life for
them and never lets them go.
So I want us to see, just forthe next few minutes, let's see
how the good shepherd's knowinghis sheep is not just comforting
, it's saving.
Let's examine that and, by theway, that makes all the
difference.
(08:22):
So the first truth I want you tosee in John 10 is that the good
shepherd's knowing his sheep ispersonal and relationship-based
.
The good shepherd's knowing ispersonal and relationship-based.
Jesus said again keep yourBibles open, look at the
Scriptures.
I want you to make sure thatI'm not making this up.
(08:43):
John, chapter 10, verse 14, Iam the good shepherd and I know
my sheep and am known by my own.
Verse 15, as the Father knowsme.
Even so, I know the Father andI lay down my life for the sheep
.
So that phrase I know my sheepthat is more than awareness,
(09:07):
it's relational, it's covenantal.
See in Scripture to knowsomeone is often the language of
deep relationship, love,commitment, friendship, love,
commitment.
And so when god says he knowshis people, he means he has set
his relational, covenantal loveupon them.
(09:30):
Let's go back to uh, one of theearliest examples of this in
exodus.
You ready to go back to exodusalready.
If you've been with us, youknow what I'm talking about.
Exodus, chapter 2, verses 23through 25.
And if you're with us, you knowthe deal.
God's people were sufferingunder slavery in Egypt, under
(09:53):
Pharaoh, for centuries, and theycried out for deliverance.
And then the Bible says inExodus 2, verse 24 through 25,
the Bible says so God heardtheir groaning and remembered
His covenant with Abraham, withIsaac and with Jacob.
And God looked upon thechildren of Israel.
And this last phrase, and Godacknowledged them.
That's the way the New KingJames renders it and God
(10:15):
acknowledged them.
That final phrase Godacknowledged them is literally
in the Hebrew.
God acknowledged them isliterally in the Hebrew God knew
them.
God knew them.
He didn't just notice theirpain, he knew them.
He remembered His promise, hewas bound to Himself.
His knowing them meant that hewas already planning to act on
(10:42):
their behalf.
And so this kind of knowing isdeeply personal.
Deeply personal, the Hebrewword for know, yada.
It doesn't simply mean to beaware of someone's existence or
even to know what they might do.
It means this word it means tobe acquainted intimately,
(11:07):
intimately acquainted, or evento know what they might do.
It means to be acquaintedintimately, intimately
acquainted.
It means to be involved, itmeans to be committed.
In fact, this word is used todescribe in Genesis 18, verse
19,.
This word is used to describehow God knew Abraham.
This word is used to describein Jeremiah 1, verse 19,.
This word is used to describehow God knew Abraham.
(11:28):
This word is used to describein Jeremiah 1.5 how God knew
Jeremiah before he was born.
This word is used to describein Psalm 58, verse 8, how God
knows every tear we cry.
It's to be intimatelyacquainted, intimately involved,
acquainted, intimately involvedRelationally.
In John 10, jesus uses a wordwith rich Relational depth.
(11:49):
He says I know my sheep.
He knows them Experientially,not just the strong ones, not
just the obedient ones, not justthe strong ones, not just the
obedient ones, not just thewandering ones, not just the
ones who sometimes, but othersheep not.
(12:13):
He knows the, he knows thelimping ones, he knows the
scared ones, he knows thestruggling ones.
And even though it's not averse we read in our text, if
you look back in verse 3, john,chapter 10, verse 3, look at it.
He calls them by name.
He calls them by name, verse 3,john 10, verse 3, to him
(12:36):
talking about the good shepherd.
To him, the doorkeeper opensand the sheep hear his voice and
he calls his own sheep by nameand leads them out.
He leads them out, he walksahead of them and, as we've read
already, he lays down his lifefor them.
And so here's the truth, andit's a good one.
(12:59):
God's knowing of His own, god'sknowing of you, isn't dependent
on your performance.
Isn't that a good thing?
It isn't dependent on yourperformance.
I want to give you some goodnews this morning.
He doesn't love you more onyour good days and less on your
bad days.
He knows you and he loves youwhen you feel unseen, when you
(13:25):
feel unheard or overwhelmed.
You need to remember this sheep, god knows your name, he sees
your pain and he understandsyour fears.
And because you are his Ifindeed you are, because you are
his, he's already at are.
Because you are His, he'salready at work.
Even when you can't see it, Ipromise you right now, the Holy
(13:48):
Spirit of God is at work athousand ways in your life and
you don't even know it yet.
His knowledge isn't passive,it's active and faithful and
faithful, and this is reallywhat sets the gospel, the
biblical gospel, the gospel ofJesus, apart from every other
(14:10):
religion in the world.
The gospel doesn't say well,god will save you if you know
him well enough.
It doesn't say God will saveyou if you behave good enough.
No, save you if you behave goodenough.
No, the gospel says God alreadyknows you and in his mercy he
came for you.
That's what the gospel says.
(14:31):
As I said, even though we livein a very busy world, probably
more connected today in certainways than ever in the history of
humanity, we live in a veryanonymous world as well.
You know it to be the case.
People pay attention next timePeople walk past each other with
their heads down or withearbuds in.
You know what I'm talking about.
(14:54):
I mean, you can't even sayhello to somebody, even in
churches.
Even in churches, people canfeel very unknown.
I mean mean, I hear it all thetime from folks who eventually
come to providence.
We try, we try to be veryintentional to make sure that
does not happen.
But you need to know this youare never anonymous to the lord,
(15:18):
never.
The bible says in psalm 139,verse 13 he knits you together
in your mother's womb.
It says in matthew, chapter 10,verse 30 he knows the number of
hairs on your head.
It says in psalm 139, verse 2he knows your thoughts from afar
and because he knows you, hemoves toward you in love.
(15:41):
And so what's your response?
Trust Him.
Trust Him, come close.
Let His knowledge of youcomfort and anchor your soul.
He knows His people.
(16:01):
The shepherd knows his sheep,and he will never forget or
forsake them.
The other truth I want you tosee in this passage is this the
shepherd's knowing his sheepleads to a saving purpose.
The shepherd's knowing hissheep leads to a saving purpose
(16:25):
when Jesus says again, look atverse 14.
When Jesus says in John 10, 14and 15, I know my sheep and I
lay my life down for the sheep.
I know my sheep and I lay mylife down for the sheep, he
connects his knowing his sheepdirectly to his saving.
I know my sheep and I lay mylife down for the sheep.
(16:47):
Again, again, his knowledgeisn't just awareness, it's
initiative.
God doesn't just merely observeour condition, he acts to
redeem it, to redeem us.
He knows his sheep, he loveshis sheep and therefore saves
(17:13):
his sheep.
This is what we see throughoutJohn 10.
In verse 16.
Look at verse 16.
Jesus says and other sheep Ihave which are not of this?
Fold them also.
I must bring, and they willhear my voice, and there will be
(17:35):
one flock and one shepherd.
Now there's a lot of things wecould discuss about that
particular verse.
Who's he talking about and whatis his audience in?
In chapter 10 is particularly ajewish audience, ethnically and
religiously a jewish audience.
And he and he says some of youare my sheep.
But he also tells some in thecrowd you do not believe because
(17:55):
you are not my sheep.
You do not believe because youare not my sheep.
Now, I'll just let that setwith you.
You can take it home and thinkthat over.
You do not believe because youare not my sheep.
But he says other sheep I havewhich are not of this fold, that
(18:16):
is to say they're not Jewishethnically or religiously,
background wise Gentiles, that's, unless you're ethnically
Jewish in this room this morning, that's you, you're a Gentile.
It's any non-ethnic you, you'rea Gentile.
It's any non-ethnic Jew, you'rea Gentile.
Now, not all Gentiles are hissheep, some are.
(18:39):
And he said I must bring themand they will hear my voice, and
there'll be one flock, by theway, not two flocks, and they
will hear my voice and therewill be one flock, by the way,
not two flocks.
There's not a Jewish flock,there's not a Gentile flock.
Jesus said there's how many?
One flock and one shepherd.
(19:00):
One flock and one shepherd.
I don't care what ethnicity youare, you don't get to heaven,
you don't get in the fold,except through Jesus, period,
period and his knowledge of hissheep.
That, what I want to show youabout this passage, in this
verse in particular, way said,is his knowledge of his sheep
isn't confined to one time orone place, it's expansive, it's
(19:25):
global, it's eternal.
He knows the sheep who haven'teven heard his voice yet and
he's committed to bringing themin.
He said them I must bring in,not I hope I'll bring them in, I
will, I will.
(19:47):
And then he's committed tobringing them in.
Then, in verses 17 through 18,jesus explains the cost.
He says, therefore my fatherloves me because I lay down my
life that I may take it up again.
I'm gonna surrender my life,I'm gonna raise myself up again.
No one takes it from me, no, Ilay it down of myself.
(20:12):
So this is the good shepherd'smission, this is his mission
Voluntarily, sacrificially,intentionally, giving his life
for the ones he knows and loves,his sheep.
This is his death on the crossand his resurrection from the
(20:33):
dead to save his people fromtheir sins and give them eternal
life.
As a matter of fact, that'swhat the angel told Joseph to
name him Jesus, for he will savehis people from their sins.
For he will save His peoplefrom their sins.
So let's see how this themethat Jesus is talking about here
(20:58):
echoes through the ApostlePaul's great statement in Romans
8, 29-30.
Turn over there again.
We read it once Romans 8, 29-30.
Romans 8, 29 and 30.
Romans 8, 29 and 30.
Speaking of God's work, the HolySpirit, through the Apostle
(21:21):
Paul, says For whom he foreknew,not for what he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew, not forwhat he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew, not forwhat he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew Y'all withme Words have meaning, ladies
and gentlemen.
For whom he foreknew?
(21:42):
He also predestined to beconformed to the image of his
Son that he might be thefirstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom he predestined,dc also called.
Whom he called, dc alsojustified.
And whom he justified, dc alsoglorified.
Now here, foreknew.
(22:03):
The word foreknew doesn't meanthat God simply looked into the
future and saw who would believe.
It does not mean that itspecifically means he set His
love on whom he foreknewbeforehand.
The term foreknew is relational.
(22:24):
It is not merely informational,it is not just intellectual,
but it is a loving, purposefulrelationship from Him and this
is the basis for His decision insalvation.
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead whom he foreknew.
(22:49):
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead whom he foreknew.
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead of salvation.
It is not a passive awareness,it is an active, deciding.
God's knowledge of His people,the good shepherds, knowing His
sheep, is the starting point ofHis saving work.
He knew you and he determined.
(23:13):
It says in romans 8, 20, uh, 29he knew you, foreknew you and he
determined in advance to shapeyou to the image of Jesus.
He called you, he justified youand he will glorify you.
(23:35):
In fact, it's already all donein the mind of God.
Did you see that it's pasttense?
I don't know about you, but Idon't feel very glorified this
morning.
I don't, but God says I am.
It's already past tense.
So listen to me carefully.
If you are saved today, I'mtalking about.
(23:57):
You're a Christian, you're agenuine follower of Jesus.
It is not because you weresmarter, it is not because you
were better, it is not becauseyou were better looking, it is
not because you were morespiritual than others.
It's because God knew you andin knowing you, he pursued you.
This is grace.
This is grace jesus said hedied for his sheep, he laid down
(24:24):
his life and raised it up againfor his sheep, those whom he
knew and loved before they wereever born or ever believed.
And so, listen, this doesn't.
He didn't, he didn't only makesalvation possible, he made it
personal.
And what ought to happen isthis ought to you need to let
(24:48):
this truth humble you andencourage you.
Your listen, your salvation didnot begin with your faith.
It did not begin with yourfaith.
It began with God's love.
You believe because he calledyou, responded, because he first
(25:08):
drew you believed because hecalled you, responded because he
first drew you.
You are his, because he firstknew you, and that means you are
secure.
It means you are secure.
Look, if he started this workin you, not just started some
generic big picture work, weknow he did that.
But if he started this work inyou, not just started some
(25:29):
generic big picture work, weknow he did that.
But if he started this work inyou, right, if he started this
work in you, he will finish it,according to Philippians,
chapter 1, verse 6.
Yeah, some of y'all don'tbelieve me.
You're looking at me like now.
(25:50):
What about this?
What about that?
What about this?
What about just saying what theBible says Amen.
Philippians, y'all ready?
Philippians, chapter 1.
This wasn't on the plan.
Turn over there.
Philippians, chapter 1, verse 6.
(26:15):
This is good stuffilippians,chapter 1, verse 6.
Being confident of this verything and this isn't, I hope so.
Maybe let's cross our fingers.
Maybe this will all work out.
No, being confident of this,very that he who has begun a
good work in you, by the way,who began the work?
(26:36):
Did you begin the work?
No, he who began the worksomewhere arbitrarily, outside
you, like way over here,somewhere.
No, he who began the work where?
Way over here, somewhere?
No, he who began to work where,in you, in you, in you, right,
(26:58):
that's God working in you.
He who began to work in youwill complete it Until the day
of Jesus Christ, all the way,until you see Jesus face to face
.
So if indeed he started thiswork, he'll finish it, according
(27:22):
to Philippians 1.6.
If he knew you as his sheep evenbefore time began, before you
were born, before you believed,if he knew you, then he's not
going to forget you in yourweaknesses, he's not going to
forget you in your failures.
Now, this is the beauty of thegospel, this is the beauty of
(27:44):
the good news.
Before you ever reached for God, he reached for you.
Before you called on His name.
He called you by name.
That's what Jesus said.
I call my sheep by name andthey know my voice, they hear my
(28:05):
voice and they what they followme.
Before you ever loved him, heloved you.
And at the cross is where Jesusdied for your sins.
Knowing you and his love.
At that moment, where he diedfor your sins on the cross, his
knowing you as his sheep, hisknowing you and his love
(28:27):
collided to secure yoursalvation.
You as his sheep.
His knowing you and his lovecollided to secure your
salvation.
And if you, in your life, inthis time in which we're living,
if you've never responded tothat love, the invitation is
clear.
He knows you, he calls you.
Don't resist, don't delay,don't resist, don't delay.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
The shepherd laid down his life for you to belong
to his flock.
The grass withers and theflower fades, but the word of
God stands forever.
That's Isaiah 48.
Thanks for tuning in to theFoundations of Truth podcast
with Pastor Timothy Mann fromProvidence Church in Ormond
Beach, Florida.
Join us next time and untilthen, keep building your life on
God's eternal truth, the Bible.
Welcome to Foundations of Truth with Pastor
Timothy Mann from ProvidenceChurch in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Join us now as we let God'sWord illuminate our lives and
guide us into His truth today.
And here's Pastor Timothy Mann.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Saved, understanding God's work in us.
Saved, understanding God's workin us.
There's no more important topicor truth than we can address
than this reality.
Important topic or truth thanwe can address than this reality
.
Gospel of John, chapter 10,beautiful chapter.
Jesus being the true shepherd,the good shepherd, I want you to
(00:33):
put your mark there.
If you have a paper Bible, puta bookmark there.
In John, chapter 10, we'll alsobe going over to the book of
Romans, chapter 8.
Hopefully you've found John 10by now and we're going to be
reading verses 14 through 18.
We'll also look at verse 26through 30.
And then we'll make our way toRomans, chapter 8.
Jesus is speaking, john, chapter10, verse 14.
(00:56):
He says I am the good shepherdand I know my sheep and am known
by my own, as the Father knowsme.
Even so, I know my sheep and amknown by my own, as the Father
knows me.
Even so, I know the Father andI lay down my life for the sheep
and other sheep I have whichare not of this fold.
(01:18):
They also I must bring and theywill hear my voice, and there
will be one flock and oneshepherd.
Therefore, my Father loves mebecause I lay down my life that
I may take it again.
That is literally to say takeit up again.
No one takes it from me, but Ilay it down of myself.
(01:44):
I have power to lay it down andI have power to take it again.
This command I have receivedfrom my Father Go over to verse
26.
But you do not believe, becauseyou are not my sheep.
As I said to you, my sheep hearmy voice.
As I said to you, my sheep hearmy voice and I know them and
(02:05):
they follow me and I give themeternal life and they shall
never perish.
Neither shall anyone snatchthem out of my hand.
My Father, who has given themto me, is greater than all, and
no one is able to snatch themout of my Father's hand.
(02:26):
I and my Father are one.
Now turn with me to the rightin your Bibles or on your app.
You can just go to Romans,romans, chapter 8.
We're going to focus on twoverses in Romans, chapter 8.
Romans, chapter 8, we'relooking at verse 29 and 30.
(02:47):
Speaking of God here, speakingof Almighty God.
Romans, chapter 8, verse 29.
The Bible says for whom, again,for whom he foreknew.
He also predestined to beconformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be thefirstborn among many brethren.
(03:08):
Moreover, whom he predestined,these he also called.
Whom he called, these he alsojustified.
And whom he justified, these healso glorified.
We stop here.
This is god's word that we'vejust read.
I believe that one of theloneliest and maybe most sad
(03:32):
feelings in life is the thoughtthat no one knows you.
I mean that if you were just todisappear from the planet, no
one would notice that, no onewould come looking, no one would
call your name.
We live in a very crowded world, but it seems like while we're
(03:55):
living in this crowded world,it's also a world filled with
anonymity.
I mean, people walk throughhard seasons in life, they carry
deep wounds, they even wanderinto dangerous places in life,
and they do it alone.
They do it unseen, unheard,unknown, and the ache of that
(04:19):
isolation runs deep, because atthe core of the human heart is a
longing to be known, trulyknown, and that's what makes
Jesus different.
In John 10, jesus says I am thegood shepherd, I know my own
and my own know me.
(04:39):
And so if we are his sheep, ifwe, if you are his sheep, if
we're his sheep, he's not justaware of us, he knows us, he
knows his own personally,intimately, by name.
I want you to know this morningyou're not just a number to
(04:59):
Jesus, you're not one of thecrowd.
If you're his sheep, you arehis and he sees you when you
stray, he hears you when you cry, even when no one else does,
and he moves, he comes to findyou.
(05:19):
In 1998, a fire broke out in thein a residential building in
Chicago and firefighters weredispatched immediately,
including a man named Jeff, whohad served in the department for
over a decade.
And as he arrived on the scenehe was hit with a wave of dread
because this was his ownapartment building.
(05:40):
His teenage daughter had beenhome alone and without
hesitation, jeff geared up andhe entered the burning structure
.
The smoke was thick, thevisibility was zero.
Protocol would have told mostto wait for backup or at least
to stay low and searchmethodically, slowly, carefully.
(06:03):
But Jeff wasn't just searchingfor a person.
He was searching for his owndaughter.
He knew her room, he knew herhabits, he knew the way that she
would react under fear, and hefound her unconscious in the
hallway near her room.
He scooped her up, he carriedher down through the heat and
the smoke and got her safelyoutside and, praise God,
(06:26):
paramedics were able to reviveher.
She survived.
She survived because the onewho rescued her didn't just see
her as an anonymous victim, butas his own, as his own.
And later, when asked how hefound her so quickly in such
chaos, he said because I knowher, I knew where she would be.
(06:48):
And so here's the point thegirl was rescued not just by
someone who looked, but someonewho knew, someone who truly knew
the one he was looking for.
That really is the heart oftoday's message.
That's the heart of Romans, ofJohn 10.
I want to tell you this morningthe God of the Bible is not
(07:12):
distant.
He is not merely aware of hispeople.
He knows them and he knows youand he knows you.
And his knowledge isn't justinformational, it's intentional,
relational and redemptive.
(07:39):
Jesus said in John, chapter 10,verse 14, I am the good shepherd
and I know my sheep and amknown by my own.
So to be known by Jesus is to beloved, is to be led and,
ultimately, saved.
You need to know this morningthat His knowledge of you is not
a cold database.
It's the intimate mindfulnessof a shepherd who names His
(08:00):
sheep, calls them, walks withthem, lays down His life for
them and never lets them go.
So I want us to see, just forthe next few minutes, let's see
how the good shepherd's knowinghis sheep is not just comforting
, it's saving.
Let's examine that and, by theway, that makes all the
difference.
(08:22):
So the first truth I want you tosee in John 10 is that the good
shepherd's knowing his sheep ispersonal and relationship-based
.
The good shepherd's knowing ispersonal and relationship-based.
Jesus said again keep yourBibles open, look at the
Scriptures.
I want you to make sure thatI'm not making this up.
(08:43):
John, chapter 10, verse 14, Iam the good shepherd and I know
my sheep and am known by my own.
Verse 15, as the Father knowsme.
Even so, I know the Father andI lay down my life for the sheep
.
So that phrase I know my sheepthat is more than awareness,
(09:07):
it's relational, it's covenantal.
See in Scripture to knowsomeone is often the language of
deep relationship, love,commitment, friendship, love,
commitment.
And so when god says he knowshis people, he means he has set
his relational, covenantal loveupon them.
(09:30):
Let's go back to uh, one of theearliest examples of this in
exodus.
You ready to go back to exodusalready.
If you've been with us, youknow what I'm talking about.
Exodus, chapter 2, verses 23through 25.
And if you're with us, you knowthe deal.
God's people were sufferingunder slavery in Egypt, under
(09:53):
Pharaoh, for centuries, and theycried out for deliverance.
And then the Bible says inExodus 2, verse 24 through 25,
the Bible says so God heardtheir groaning and remembered
His covenant with Abraham, withIsaac and with Jacob.
And God looked upon thechildren of Israel.
And this last phrase, and Godacknowledged them.
That's the way the New KingJames renders it and God
(10:15):
acknowledged them.
That final phrase Godacknowledged them is literally
in the Hebrew.
God acknowledged them isliterally in the Hebrew God knew
them.
God knew them.
He didn't just notice theirpain, he knew them.
He remembered His promise, hewas bound to Himself.
His knowing them meant that hewas already planning to act on
(10:42):
their behalf.
And so this kind of knowing isdeeply personal.
Deeply personal, the Hebrewword for know, yada.
It doesn't simply mean to beaware of someone's existence or
even to know what they might do.
It means this word it means tobe acquainted intimately,
(11:07):
intimately acquainted, or evento know what they might do.
It means to be acquaintedintimately, intimately
acquainted.
It means to be involved, itmeans to be committed.
In fact, this word is used todescribe in Genesis 18, verse
19,.
This word is used to describehow God knew Abraham.
This word is used to describein Jeremiah 1, verse 19,.
This word is used to describehow God knew Abraham.
(11:28):
This word is used to describein Jeremiah 1.5 how God knew
Jeremiah before he was born.
This word is used to describein Psalm 58, verse 8, how God
knows every tear we cry.
It's to be intimatelyacquainted, intimately involved,
acquainted, intimately involvedRelationally.
In John 10, jesus uses a wordwith rich Relational depth.
(11:49):
He says I know my sheep.
He knows them Experientially,not just the strong ones, not
just the obedient ones, not justthe strong ones, not just the
obedient ones, not just thewandering ones, not just the
ones who sometimes, but othersheep not.
(12:13):
He knows the, he knows thelimping ones, he knows the
scared ones, he knows thestruggling ones.
And even though it's not averse we read in our text, if
you look back in verse 3, john,chapter 10, verse 3, look at it.
He calls them by name.
He calls them by name, verse 3,john 10, verse 3, to him
(12:36):
talking about the good shepherd.
To him, the doorkeeper opensand the sheep hear his voice and
he calls his own sheep by nameand leads them out.
He leads them out, he walksahead of them and, as we've read
already, he lays down his lifefor them.
And so here's the truth, andit's a good one.
(12:59):
God's knowing of His own, god'sknowing of you, isn't dependent
on your performance.
Isn't that a good thing?
It isn't dependent on yourperformance.
I want to give you some goodnews this morning.
He doesn't love you more onyour good days and less on your
bad days.
He knows you and he loves youwhen you feel unseen, when you
(13:25):
feel unheard or overwhelmed.
You need to remember this sheep, god knows your name, he sees
your pain and he understandsyour fears.
And because you are his Ifindeed you are, because you are
his, he's already at are.
Because you are His, he'salready at work.
Even when you can't see it, Ipromise you right now, the Holy
(13:48):
Spirit of God is at work athousand ways in your life and
you don't even know it yet.
His knowledge isn't passive,it's active and faithful and
faithful, and this is reallywhat sets the gospel, the
biblical gospel, the gospel ofJesus, apart from every other
(14:10):
religion in the world.
The gospel doesn't say well,god will save you if you know
him well enough.
It doesn't say God will saveyou if you behave good enough.
No, save you if you behave goodenough.
No, the gospel says God alreadyknows you and in his mercy he
came for you.
That's what the gospel says.
(14:31):
As I said, even though we livein a very busy world, probably
more connected today in certainways than ever in the history of
humanity, we live in a veryanonymous world as well.
You know it to be the case.
People pay attention next timePeople walk past each other with
their heads down or withearbuds in.
You know what I'm talking about.
(14:54):
I mean, you can't even sayhello to somebody, even in
churches.
Even in churches, people canfeel very unknown.
I mean mean, I hear it all thetime from folks who eventually
come to providence.
We try, we try to be veryintentional to make sure that
does not happen.
But you need to know this youare never anonymous to the lord,
(15:18):
never.
The bible says in psalm 139,verse 13 he knits you together
in your mother's womb.
It says in matthew, chapter 10,verse 30 he knows the number of
hairs on your head.
It says in psalm 139, verse 2he knows your thoughts from afar
and because he knows you, hemoves toward you in love.
(15:41):
And so what's your response?
Trust Him.
Trust Him, come close.
Let His knowledge of youcomfort and anchor your soul.
He knows His people.
(16:01):
The shepherd knows his sheep,and he will never forget or
forsake them.
The other truth I want you tosee in this passage is this the
shepherd's knowing his sheepleads to a saving purpose.
The shepherd's knowing hissheep leads to a saving purpose
(16:25):
when Jesus says again, look atverse 14.
When Jesus says in John 10, 14and 15, I know my sheep and I
lay my life down for the sheep.
I know my sheep and I lay mylife down for the sheep, he
connects his knowing his sheepdirectly to his saving.
I know my sheep and I lay mylife down for the sheep.
(16:47):
Again, again, his knowledgeisn't just awareness, it's
initiative.
God doesn't just merely observeour condition, he acts to
redeem it, to redeem us.
He knows his sheep, he loveshis sheep and therefore saves
(17:13):
his sheep.
This is what we see throughoutJohn 10.
In verse 16.
Look at verse 16.
Jesus says and other sheep Ihave which are not of this?
Fold them also.
I must bring, and they willhear my voice, and there will be
(17:35):
one flock and one shepherd.
Now there's a lot of things wecould discuss about that
particular verse.
Who's he talking about and whatis his audience in?
In chapter 10 is particularly ajewish audience, ethnically and
religiously a jewish audience.
And he and he says some of youare my sheep.
But he also tells some in thecrowd you do not believe because
(17:55):
you are not my sheep.
You do not believe because youare not my sheep.
Now, I'll just let that setwith you.
You can take it home and thinkthat over.
You do not believe because youare not my sheep.
But he says other sheep I havewhich are not of this fold, that
(18:16):
is to say they're not Jewishethnically or religiously,
background wise Gentiles, that's, unless you're ethnically
Jewish in this room this morning, that's you, you're a Gentile.
It's any non-ethnic you, you'rea Gentile.
It's any non-ethnic Jew, you'rea Gentile.
Now, not all Gentiles are hissheep, some are.
(18:39):
And he said I must bring themand they will hear my voice, and
there'll be one flock, by theway, not two flocks, and they
will hear my voice and therewill be one flock, by the way,
not two flocks.
There's not a Jewish flock,there's not a Gentile flock.
Jesus said there's how many?
One flock and one shepherd.
(19:00):
One flock and one shepherd.
I don't care what ethnicity youare, you don't get to heaven,
you don't get in the fold,except through Jesus, period,
period and his knowledge of hissheep.
That, what I want to show youabout this passage, in this
verse in particular, way said,is his knowledge of his sheep
isn't confined to one time orone place, it's expansive, it's
(19:25):
global, it's eternal.
He knows the sheep who haven'teven heard his voice yet and
he's committed to bringing themin.
He said them I must bring in,not I hope I'll bring them in, I
will, I will.
(19:47):
And then he's committed tobringing them in.
Then, in verses 17 through 18,jesus explains the cost.
He says, therefore my fatherloves me because I lay down my
life that I may take it up again.
I'm gonna surrender my life,I'm gonna raise myself up again.
No one takes it from me, no, Ilay it down of myself.
(20:12):
So this is the good shepherd'smission, this is his mission
Voluntarily, sacrificially,intentionally, giving his life
for the ones he knows and loves,his sheep.
This is his death on the crossand his resurrection from the
(20:33):
dead to save his people fromtheir sins and give them eternal
life.
As a matter of fact, that'swhat the angel told Joseph to
name him Jesus, for he will savehis people from their sins.
For he will save His peoplefrom their sins.
So let's see how this themethat Jesus is talking about here
(20:58):
echoes through the ApostlePaul's great statement in Romans
8, 29-30.
Turn over there again.
We read it once Romans 8, 29-30.
Romans 8, 29 and 30.
Romans 8, 29 and 30.
Speaking of God's work, the HolySpirit, through the Apostle
(21:21):
Paul, says For whom he foreknew,not for what he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew, not forwhat he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew, not forwhat he foreknew.
For whom he foreknew Y'all withme Words have meaning, ladies
and gentlemen.
For whom he foreknew?
(21:42):
He also predestined to beconformed to the image of his
Son that he might be thefirstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom he predestined,dc also called.
Whom he called, dc alsojustified.
And whom he justified, dc alsoglorified.
Now here, foreknew.
(22:03):
The word foreknew doesn't meanthat God simply looked into the
future and saw who would believe.
It does not mean that itspecifically means he set His
love on whom he foreknewbeforehand.
The term foreknew is relational.
(22:24):
It is not merely informational,it is not just intellectual,
but it is a loving, purposefulrelationship from Him and this
is the basis for His decision insalvation.
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead whom he foreknew.
(22:49):
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead whom he foreknew.
God's foreknowledge is thefountainhead of salvation.
It is not a passive awareness,it is an active, deciding.
God's knowledge of His people,the good shepherds, knowing His
sheep, is the starting point ofHis saving work.
He knew you and he determined.
(23:13):
It says in romans 8, 20, uh, 29he knew you, foreknew you and he
determined in advance to shapeyou to the image of Jesus.
He called you, he justified youand he will glorify you.
(23:35):
In fact, it's already all donein the mind of God.
Did you see that it's pasttense?
I don't know about you, but Idon't feel very glorified this
morning.
I don't, but God says I am.
It's already past tense.
So listen to me carefully.
If you are saved today, I'mtalking about.
(23:57):
You're a Christian, you're agenuine follower of Jesus.
It is not because you weresmarter, it is not because you
were better, it is not becauseyou were better looking, it is
not because you were morespiritual than others.
It's because God knew you andin knowing you, he pursued you.
This is grace.
This is grace jesus said hedied for his sheep, he laid down
(24:24):
his life and raised it up againfor his sheep, those whom he
knew and loved before they wereever born or ever believed.
And so, listen, this doesn't.
He didn't, he didn't only makesalvation possible, he made it
personal.
And what ought to happen isthis ought to you need to let
(24:48):
this truth humble you andencourage you.
Your listen, your salvation didnot begin with your faith.
It did not begin with yourfaith.
It began with God's love.
You believe because he calledyou, responded, because he first
(25:08):
drew you believed because hecalled you, responded because he
first drew you.
You are his, because he firstknew you, and that means you are
secure.
It means you are secure.
Look, if he started this workin you, not just started some
generic big picture work, weknow he did that.
But if he started this work inyou, not just started some
(25:29):
generic big picture work, weknow he did that.
But if he started this work inyou, right, if he started this
work in you, he will finish it,according to Philippians,
chapter 1, verse 6.
Yeah, some of y'all don'tbelieve me.
You're looking at me like now.
(25:50):
What about this?
What about that?
What about this?
What about just saying what theBible says Amen.
Philippians, y'all ready?
Philippians, chapter 1.
This wasn't on the plan.
Turn over there.
Philippians, chapter 1, verse 6.
(26:15):
This is good stuffilippians,chapter 1, verse 6.
Being confident of this verything and this isn't, I hope so.
Maybe let's cross our fingers.
Maybe this will all work out.
No, being confident of this,very that he who has begun a
good work in you, by the way,who began the work?
(26:36):
Did you begin the work?
No, he who began the worksomewhere arbitrarily, outside
you, like way over here,somewhere.
No, he who began the work where?
Way over here, somewhere?
No, he who began to work where,in you, in you, in you, right,
(26:58):
that's God working in you.
He who began to work in youwill complete it Until the day
of Jesus Christ, all the way,until you see Jesus face to face
.
So if indeed he started thiswork, he'll finish it, according
(27:22):
to Philippians 1.6.
If he knew you as his sheep evenbefore time began, before you
were born, before you believed,if he knew you, then he's not
going to forget you in yourweaknesses, he's not going to
forget you in your failures.
Now, this is the beauty of thegospel, this is the beauty of
(27:44):
the good news.
Before you ever reached for God, he reached for you.
Before you called on His name.
He called you by name.
That's what Jesus said.
I call my sheep by name andthey know my voice, they hear my
(28:05):
voice and they what they followme.
Before you ever loved him, heloved you.
And at the cross is where Jesusdied for your sins.
Knowing you and his love.
At that moment, where he diedfor your sins on the cross, his
knowing you as his sheep, hisknowing you and his love
(28:27):
collided to secure yoursalvation.
You as his sheep.
His knowing you and his lovecollided to secure your
salvation.
And if you, in your life, inthis time in which we're living,
if you've never responded tothat love, the invitation is
clear.
He knows you, he calls you.
Don't resist, don't delay,don't resist, don't delay.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
The shepherd laid down his life for you to belong
to his flock.
The grass withers and theflower fades, but the word of
God stands forever.
That's Isaiah 48.
Thanks for tuning in to theFoundations of Truth podcast
with Pastor Timothy Mann fromProvidence Church in Ormond
Beach, Florida.
Join us next time and untilthen, keep building your life on
God's eternal truth, the Bible.
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