Jesus, the Spirit of Truth, shepherds/leads the Father’s flocks into the fold/family by Himself, the door/truth. His sheep hear his voice/truth. If one is not shepherded by the truth, he cannot truly enter the fold. The flocks therein will follow the True Shepherd.
The door includes Jesus and those who minister with Him. Are these ministers Father fragments and worship and wisdom mind spirits alone? Do true sheep having entered the eternal way become the door? Our bleating resounds the call of the Shepherd to follow. Do we not follow and lead by the same voice/truth?
The wolf in sheep’s clothing is not in the fold and cannot enter to steal. Instead, he is a false shepherd outside trying to call to the sheep which are not his and they will not hear his voice. It’s good to have the true Shepherd to follow.
False shepherds at the door may seek to prevent other sheep from entering the sheepfold since they cannot enter. This is how I perceive some church affiliations; they seek to capture flocks for themselves. Although, churches may also act as sieves shaking out those who love the truth and who will follow the Good Shepherd when they hear His voice. Teresa
Me here: Thank you for such insights Teresa. You have helped me gain much needed perspective on another, if related, topic in the UB – Jesus describes the “kingdom” of heaven 5 ways (at least) and one of those is the “kingdom of believers”….and not a few of his teachings do seem to segregate different “flocks” or groups of mortals that also tend toward those born in the spirit and those not yet so reborn – and further refines the distinctions, for example, of believers, disciples, and apostles – all subgroupings. We are to treat all others as indwelt by the Father (thought adjuster) but not all so indwelt respond to the Spirit the same way. While we are not to “judge” others, yet we are to discern and bring judgment (the weighing and measuring sort, not the condemning sort) to bear for our best determination of sincerity, motive, agenda, and truthfulness in others (or so I think) in order to grow in wisdom and response-ability.
Your words about the reality that there are sheep in God’s fold who enter by the door and respond to his voice impresses me and helps better understand that truth….not all who hear the whisper, respond to it and some who do hear can be misled by those who try to ensnare or entrap these “un-folded” ones by cleverness, deception, false authority, or other means. They do not “serve” the children of God but seek to impose their own agendas upon others – and such ones may be either blind/ignorant or they may be ravenous wolves and charlatans – but either way, they attempt to lead into the pit of blind darkness or into their own ego-feast.
Truth seeking pilgrims of any experience upon the glory trail who learn to “listen” to the voice within, readily and easily can see the wolves in sheep’s clothing but the sincere blind ones can really take us for a ride….for awhile. Like Bonita, I’ve learned to quickly assess sincerity, motive, and agenda to those who “call out” at the gate/door. True believers are voluntarily responsive to the spirit within – FIRST – and this should, with experience and wisdom and discernment, guide them faithfully to remain loyal and true to THAT voice.
Thanks again Teresa. Nice voice. I hope I understand your meaning as expressed.
"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."