Security

So if you have a Bible, perhaps you want to turn back with me to John chapter 10 on page 1076.

John 10 · chapter mention

!

We have concerns for home security and personal security.

The very word conjures up ideas of protection, safety, perhaps having a safeguard, a form of a guarantee.

It's always a relevant topic.

I think it's really timely just now because we seem to be moving into a time of insecurity.

Certainly globally, we think about the situation developing with Iran and there's the fear of it escalating,

but nobody quite seems to know where that's going to go.

We're already beginning to anticipate, aren't we, the knock-on effects?

What's it going to mean even for our energy supplies?

What's it going to mean for our travel plans?

What's the impact going to be on our finances, never mind thinking about what happens anywhere else?

Sometimes, though, that sense of insecurity might come because of a different factor.

There's been a number of reports recently about the rapid rise of AI,

and then the impact that that is having on job sectors.

So that can spark a sense of insecurity.

We've maybe seen the effect on our culture, our culture makers.

Again, sense of insecurity.

What does it mean for my intellectual property or even for my identity?

Perhaps we feel somewhat insecure if we're less tech savvy.

Will I be taken in by fake news or by scams developed by increasingly elaborate AI?

Security functions often for us like our walls and our foundations.

And when those start to crack, we can feel somewhat exposed and unprotected,

uncertain about our present and about the future.

And if we find ourselves in that place, and perhaps we do, perhaps we've been there recently,

or if we know people in our lives who wrestle with anxiety and fears and uncertainty,

then it's good for us to spend some time here.

It's good for us to think together and to hear from the Bible, to hear from Jesus

about the real and the lasting security that he offers.

So we're going to ask ourselves some questions about this topic of security.

We're going to explore some of the ways that we find ourselves searching for security,

some of the challenges and the weaknesses to our different approaches,

and we'll turn to hear what Jesus says about himself

and the promise of security that's found in him.

And as I said at the beginning, there'll be a chance for us to chat afterwards over tea and coffee

if you have time to stick around.

So the first question I suppose that we need to address is what is security for you?

Because I think it's fair to say there's no one-size-security-fits-all.

There are different ways that we look to find security,

different ways that we feel either secure or insecure.

I was thinking personally this week and recognizing that at different times

and different phases of life, security looks different.

So perhaps in sort of childhood and teenage years especially,

security comes if I had a group of friends who were there

and who liked me and who I could spend time with.

Perhaps later it became, well, do I have enough money in the bank

to make sure that all those bills get met?

Sometimes it's finding security and having a family around.

What is security for you?

Perhaps it's a freedom from fear.

The fear of illness or failure.

The fear of losses.

If we could live without those, then we'd feel secure.

Perhaps security comes from reliable resources.

It comes from having money in the bank.

The house that's getting paid up.

The job that has a decent salary and a level of stability.

Perhaps it's reserves in case there are those crashes that come.

For others of us, we may think about security in terms of the people in our lives.

We may think about predictable relationships.

Two of, I guess, the classic sitcoms of all times very much played on that.

Friends theme tune, I'll be there for you.

And cheers.

You want to be where everybody knows your name.

That idea of here is a group of people I can trust.

They will show up when I need them.

Sometimes we can find security in our plans.

The plans that we have after we finish school or after we finish university.

Perhaps we find security if we feel that our retirement is well cared for.

Maybe we find security in just the idea of knowing a five-year plan.

And so we find ourselves thinking and saying things like,

if I just had that thing, then I'd be okay.

You know, if I get the right product or if I make the right investment,

if I land the right job or achieve in my career,

if I belong to the right group or raise the right family,

or if I have the right work-life balance

and I can control my environment and my schedule,

then I'll have security.

So it's important from the outset to ask ourselves the question,

what do we think security looks like?

And that in part will take us to the second question,

how do we try to fulfill the desire for security?

This week I've been asking church members,

in what way do we feel Jesus provides security?

Because one of the things that we believe as Christians

is that our faith offers us a unique power and stability.

We have a security both in the present,

knowing God is with us and for us,

but security eternally.

And it's been interesting to have those conversations

and to hear themes reappearing,

themes that actually very much link to this shepherd theme

we've been considering.

That sense of, in everyday experience,

well, I know God is present to protect me and guide me.

When I need help and wisdom,

I know that I can pray.

And I sense his love.

There's a real security in that.

And then people are talking about,

well, in times of difficulty,

times when perhaps those foundations were shaken.

Still to know God is in control,

to be able to rest in God keeps his promises,

to have that reality that as we pray and connect with God,

that brings a measure of peace.

And even being able to keep going,

knowing it's not in my strength,

but it's God's strength.

So there are remarkable resources

within the Christian faith.

Some of you may have seen the interview

of Ben Ganondoke, the Scottish footballer.

He's returned back to his childhood faith.

And it was a really interesting interview.

He's had a very prolonged and difficult injury recently.

And he was reflecting on it saying setbacks,

setbacks, they're part of God's plan.

He spoke about relying heavily on God to keep him strong.

He said this, he said,

when you have God on your side,

you know he's never going to forget about you

and he's not going to abandon you.

There is strength and security in God.

And there seems to be common threads

within Christian experience.

And it's interesting to share our stories

of how we see God provide security.

But how do we search for security

outside of and apart from God?

I suspect it often involves one or a combination of these.

And we probably find ourselves

leaning into our possessions.

There's a Bible proverb,

I think it's in Proverbs 18,

that says,

the wealth of the rich is their fortified city.

They imagine it a wall too high to scale.

So picture a city under siege,

but the residents feeling secure

because they have strong walls and high walls.

And the idea that money provides a safeguard,

a protective wall from the shocks that might come.

Another way that we search for security

is in the people in our lives.

There's lots of studies that speak about the early years,

developmental stages,

and when there is strong investment in those early years,

good support networks,

stable family,

good nursery provision,

it tends towards more stable,

more confident,

more resilient children.

When we have people who love us,

people we can trust,

people we can rely on,

that tends to bring

an inner confidence

and a security.

It allows us perhaps to provide

and build a stable identity.

Or our family or our friends

might become a form of an anchor

when storms come

so that we don't collapse under the pressure.

There's a goodness, isn't there,

when we have friends,

when we have family,

when we have a social group who stick by us.

The Bible tells us that community is God's good design.

Family is God's good design.

There's a verse that we maybe have heard at a wedding,

Ecclesiastes 4,

though one may be overpowered,

two can resist.

Moreover, a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

That sense of resilience from togetherness.

So we might well find ourselves looking to people for security.

We may, on the other hand,

turn towards performance.

Because one way that we can seek to find security

is in our doing,

our achieving,

in our abilities.

We might find job security

knowing that we will,

if we outperform others

in our team

or in our company.

So long as we hit the right targets,

if we perform,

we can probably hope for security.

Or maybe we imagine

financial security

if I have the wisdom

and the prudence

to make the right,

careful investments.

And so we can

gain a sense of security

from ourselves

and our own abilities.

Now,

each of these,

you know,

people,

possessions,

the ability to perform,

those are

good things.

Of course they are.

But it's important for us

to recognize

there are limitations.

That each of these

can provide,

they can provide

at very least

a temporary fix.

But it's fair to say

that they cannot remove

every threat

that we experience

to our security.

People will still leave

and contracts will still end

and oil prices

will still spike.

And more significantly

than that,

as we consider

all the challenges

that we face,

none of these

are able to offer

any help

when faced with

the ultimate source

of insecurity,

which is our great enemy,

death.

And so as we're thinking

about what gives us security,

we need to think

beyond,

well,

where do I look today

to where do I hope

will give me strength

in that day?

A third question is this,

how can some of our strategies

produce unhelpful results?

Because it is important

to recognize

that in striving

for security,

sometimes that can lead us

down unhelpful paths,

unhelpful attitudes

or patterns of behavior.

For example,

if I imagine

that I will be secure

if I have money,

then that might tend

towards my greed.

Perhaps I will hoard

instead of being generous.

Perhaps it means

I will live

to consume

rather than recognizing

life is about more than.

it may lead us

to try and control

and manipulate.

If our performance

is really important

to our sense of security,

then we might want

to insist

that everything

and everyone around us

is just so.

And we can put a lot

of pressure

on other people

demanding

that everything

be just right.

there might be a pride

that forms

in our heart

if security

is found

in my performance,

striving to try

and prove

and justify myself

compared to others.

On the flip side,

there might be despair

when we find

our security fails,

when all our best efforts

come to nothing.

It was striking

to see

after the last,

I guess,

big global economic

crash in 2008,

the number

of bank executives,

people within

the financial industry

who committed suicide.

Their security

was gone.

Their sense of identity

was gone.

We see it all too often

as well

with retired sports people

when the fame

is gone

and they struggle.

Some of our strategies

can produce

even the unhelpful result

of

idolatry.

It's a Bible idea

that I think

we can all recognize

when I place

my ultimate trust

in someone

or something

for security

rather than

in the one

true

and living God.

So just to pause

for a moment

to take stock.

I imagine

each one of us here,

we both value

and we want security.

We will all try

and find it

in different ways.

But what I hope

we're beginning to see

is that when we try

and do that ourselves

without God,

without Jesus,

there are at least

some times

where we will find

ourselves heading

down the wrong roads.

That we may find

ourselves pursuing

solutions that

don't satisfy

and there may still

be that nagging feeling

that something

is still missing.

Where we can't

really rest

because there's

no sense

of permanent

security.

And so it's

important for us

to have a chance

to hear

from Jesus.

So turn with me

to John chapter 10

John 10 · chapter mention

to think about

this image

that he uses

of himself

as the shepherd

as we ask

ourselves

one more question

together.

And the question

is this,

how does Jesus

promise to fulfill

our longing

for security?

So we have

Jesus in verse 11

saying,

I am the good shepherd.

Verse 14,

I am the good shepherd.

That image

was an image

used by God

in the Old Testament

also.

It contains

within it

that idea

of a covenant

commitment

to rescue

and to bring

a people

to himself.

It's a picture

that's applied

to kings.

Here is God,

the powerful,

loving king

who is committed

to restoring people

and ruling

for their good

and Jesus

comes along

and says,

I am

the good shepherd.

So he's making

a big claim

about himself.

He's claiming

a title of God.

And John

is revealing

to us

that Jesus

is none other

than the son

of God.

And so as we

listen in

as Jesus

speaks about himself

and what he offers

we need to recognize

he's speaking

to us

not just

as any old

person,

he's speaking

to us

as the son

of God.

And in this

little section

that we've read

we discover

three qualities

of Jesus

the good shepherd

that all connect

with this idea

of security.

So we'll think

briefly about

the personal

relationship

with Jesus

that he offers

the sacrificial

salvation

that he came

to bring

and the safety

of belonging.

So first of all

to think about

a personal

relationship

that Jesus

offers

a secure

relationship

that no one

else

in this world

can match.

Look at our

verses

we'll see a few

ways this is true.

Verse 12

of John chapter 10

John 10 · chapter mention

Jesus compares

himself with a

hired hand

someone who

works as a

shepherd

for pay

but the sheep

don't belong to him.

The hired hand

is not the shepherd

and does not

own 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.

By contrast

Jesus says

I am the good

shepherd

and I lay

down my life

for the sheep.

So Jesus

is committed

to us

compared to

this hired

hand.

There is a

deeper relationship

there is a

selfless service

that Jesus

is the kind

who will

not turn

and run

when the

wolves

come.

When the

trials

come

rather

Jesus

will place

himself

in harm's

way

for the

good of

his

sheep.

He is

committed to

us

and he

knows

us.

He continues

in verse

14

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 so

there is

another

comparison

here.

So just

as the

father and

the son

within the

eternal

trinity

they know

one another

and they

love one

another

and they

delight in

each other

and they

can't be

separated

from each

other

and they're

in the

closest

possible

relationship

to one

another

Jesus

says the

same is

true between

me and

my people.

He's

committed

to us

he knows

us

and in

verse 16

he also

calls us

I have

other sheep

that are

not of

this

sheepfold

I must

bring them

also

they too

will listen

to my

voice

and there

shall be

one flock

and one

shepherd.

So there's

another

comparison

Jesus

compares

himself

with

the

strangers

with

thieves

and robbers

who would

come along

and want

to take

the sheep

away

but the

sheep

recognize

that's

not a

voice

to be

trusted

rather

they will

listen

to the

shepherd

because

this

shepherd

invites

us

into

relationship

he is

the one

who has

our best

interest

at heart

he is

the one

who will

seek

and save

and call

to bring

into

his flock

and in

that flock

there is

safety

and there

is this

promise

that Jesus

voice is

powerful

and effective

and he

calls people

into

the security

of

relationship

with

himself

and so

in this

whole section

Jesus is

announcing

to us

that he

provides

personal

relational

security

the text

is full

of eyes

Jesus

personal

commitment

as the

shepherd

to his

people

his sheep

and that's

the story

that some

of you

have been

sharing

and it's

the story

that I

imagine

are the

testimony

of many

of us

who are

Christians

that we

go into

dark

places

and we

know

Jesus

is with

us

and for

us

and he's

actually

been there

first

of feeling

overwhelmed

but then

at the

same time

experiencing

a sense

of peace

and comfort

from knowing

Jesus is

there

even those

stories of

having

wandered

far away

those times

perhaps of

wanting nothing

to do

with Jesus

but still

patiently

persistently

searching

to bring

us back

and it's

this Jesus

who invites

each one

to trust

him for

security

to find

that one

relationship

that will

never end

that one

relationship

that cannot

be broken

even by

death

to place

our lives

in the hands

of one

who will

never leave

us

or fail

us

there is

security

in a

personal

relationship

with Jesus

here is

a second

way that

Jesus

promises

to fulfill

our longing

for security

it's in

his

sacrificial

salvation

Jesus offers

to remove

threats

that no one

else can

three times

in our

verses

we heard

Jesus say

I lay

down my

life for

the sheep

it's there

in verse

11

it's there

in verse

15

and it's

there in

verse 17

let me read

it there in

verse 17

the reason

my father

loves me

is that I

lay down

my life

only to

take it

up again

no one

takes it

from me

but I

lay it

down

of my

own

accord

I have

authority

to lay

it down

and authority

to take

it up

again

and so

we're invited

to picture

the scene

with Jesus

as he

uses this

image of

sheep

and a

shepherd

to picture

flock

on a

hillside

and they're

being led

by a

shepherd

perhaps

they're

feeding on

good

pasture

but then

from the

rocky

crags

come the

wolves

and the

wolves

surround

the

sheep

and while

the hired

hand

will turn

and run

we have

this picture

that Jesus

gives of

himself

the shepherd

who makes

his stand

with club

in hand

perhaps with

a short

sword

drawn

here is a

shepherd

who will

fight

for his

sheep

and remarkably

dying

so his

sheep

would live

this teaching

is in the

form of a

parable

and whenever

Jesus tells

a parable

a story

and you

find a

surprising

detail

you know

this is

where the

meaning

lies

and so

Jesus

wants us

to take

us beyond

the metaphor

of here's a

shepherd

here's a

sheep

to think

about

Jesus

own

mission

to think

about

his

mission

of coming

to sacrifice

himself

in order

to save

others

that Jesus

uses this

parable

actually to

speak to

us about

the cross

think about

those words

in verse

17

the father

Jesus says

he loves

me because

what does

Jesus do

the father

loves the

son because

the son

lays down

his life

and so

all of a

sudden we're

discovering

something about

the eternal

love of

God the

eternal plan

of God

that God

the father

will send

the son

and that

God the

son will

come in

order to

suffer and

die

in order to

save his

sheep to

save sinners

to provide

eternal

security

the father

loves this

son who

with all

authority

gladly

lovingly

lays down

his life

for the

good of

others

it's a

remarkable

statement

and within

verse 17

there's another

remarkable

statement

there's a

massive claim

that Jesus

has authority

to lay

down his

life only

to take

it up

again

so we

find ourselves

on the way

to Easter

and Jesus

here is

taking us

to the

events of

Easter

reminding us

that he

will die

on that

Roman cross

but he

will walk

free of

the tomb

on Easter

Sunday

and as we

put those

two truths

together

the twin

truths of

Jesus

death and

resurrection

we can see

that there is

power in

Jesus to

remove

some of

those ultimate

threats

against us

one of

those

things

is the

guilt

that we

experience

whenever we

find ourselves

recognizing

that there

is a

God

with whom

we have

to deal

and we

know that

we have

done things

that are

wrong

and that

we have

broken

his command

then we

become aware

of our

guilt

and the

wonderful news

about Jesus

is that he

has come to

be the answer

to our

guilt

because when

Jesus dies

and it's

here in the

image

he does

so as a

sacrifice

and just as

the sacrifices

offered in the

Old Testament

were a way to

cover over

guilt and

shame and

sin

so Jesus

ultimate

sacrifice on

the cross

covers our

guilt and

shame and

sin because

he does it

not for

his sin

but for

ours and

he does it

as a

substitute

Jesus the

judge is

judged in

our place

so that

when our

trust is

in Jesus

God's

verdict on

our life

must be a

positive

verdict

because Jesus

has secured

that positive

verdict through

his death

and his

resurrection

so when we

trust in

Jesus we

can know

today that

we will not

be condemned

that we will

be welcomed

and accepted

into heaven

that we are

as loved

as Jesus

is loved

there is

real security

in that

there is

security

from Jesus

death and

resurrection

from the

fear of

death

isn't this

the ultimate

storm that

shakes our

foundations

isn't this

the great

wolf that

would destroy

all our

great plans

and securities

it's the

last enemy

how is it

that Jesus

is able to

give security

even as we

consider our

own death

because he

has conquered

death and

the grave

and his

resurrection

stands for

us as

proof

and now

where Jesus

is resurrected

to new life

and ascended

to the glory

of heaven

where he

where he

Jesus is

his people

will follow

he is the

shepherd who

won't lose

any of his

flock

he will make

sure that we

are safely

brought into

pasture as it

were from

here until

eternity

there is

security

a few

chapters later

in John

John 14 · chapter mention

chapter 14

Jesus speaks

to his

friends and

his disciples

he says

don't let

your hearts

be troubled

he knows

that they

know that

Jesus is

about to

die and

they're

troubled

about what

that means

for Jesus

and for

them

don't be

troubled

and he

tells them

that his

journey will

take him

from the

cross

to the

resurrection

and back

to his

father's

home

and he

says

listen

I'm

going back

to my

father's

home

and I'm

preparing a

place for

you and

I'll come

back and

take you

to be

with me

that you

may be

where I

am

and so

the bible

allows us

to face

death

with a

sense of

honest

confidence

we are

honest

death is

a horrible

reality

it is a

great enemy

but for a

Christian

there is

that wonderful

security

from Jesus

that he

will take

us home

to be

with himself

that truly

for the

believer

death is

the last

enemy

there is a

promise of

life after

death that

will be

perfect

that will

be without

enemies

that will

be joyful

and secure

and with

Jesus

forever

and so

thirdly and

finally

we come to

understand from

Jesus words

and from the

bible that

there is a

safety

a security

that comes

from belonging

to Jesus

I think it's

part of the

beauty of the

shepherd image

you know we

can recognize

by ourselves

how prone

we are to be

like sheep

we can feel

weakness

we can feel

foolish

we can be

prone to

wander

sometimes we

will follow

the flock

and we will

head for

danger

but with

Jesus as

good shepherd

we know

that he will

always lead

us towards

life

that we will

always experience

God's love

that we will

be part of

his family

forever

that nothing

can separate

us from

God's love

or God's

goodness

or God's

mercy

when we

know Jesus

as our

good shepherd

and so he

invites us

to swap

our anxiety

and our

insecurity

to lay down

our consuming

our striving

our attempts

to control

and manage

our environment

to forge

a security

for ourselves

and to

replace that

with a simple

reliance

and dependence

on Jesus

to turn our

back on

those self

made attempts

at security

from trusting

in other things

to save us

and instead

to trust

in the one

who died

to save us

to believe

that Jesus

really is

the son of

God

he really is

the promised

saviour

he really is

a good shepherd

and that in

Jesus

there is

present security

and there is

the eternal

security

that we all

long for

and it's

found

in life

with Jesus

let's pray

to

He really is

a good shepherd

to

God

He really is

a good shepherd

He really is

a good shepherd

He really is

of God

and He really is

a good shepherd

and He really is

and He really is

and He really is

of God

and He really is

a good shepherd

of God

a good shepherd

of God

and He really is

!

of God

and He really is