BECOMING BY BEHOLDING: Cultivating A Community of Christ-Centered Worshipers
BECOMING BY BEHOLDING: The Transformative Power of Worship • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsNew Years Message. The idea is that the heart that worships the Lord has resolutions
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SERMON SERIES BECOMING BY BEHOLDING: Cultivating A Community of Christ-Centered Worshipers
SERMON SERIES BECOMING BY BEHOLDING: Cultivating A Community of Christ-Centered Worshipers
SOUL REVOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR
SOUL REVOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
A NEW YEARS REVOLUTION
dramatic change, radical change, drastic/radical alteration, complete shift, sea change, metamorphosis, transformation, conversion, innovation, breakaway; reorganization, restructuring, reformation, remodeling, rearrangement, reorientation, regrouping
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- DAVID IS SAYING
THOUGH I AM A KING, THERE IS A KING TO WHOM I AND ALL MUST SUBMIT AND SURRENDER
SHEPHERD = RULER
\· GOD OFTEN REFERRED TO AS
o SWORD
o SHIELD
o ROCK
o BUT HERE, SHEPHERD
§ the shepherd lives with his flock and is everything to it
§ JESUS: THE GREAT SHEPERD
Opening Up Psalms Confidence in the Lord’s Shepherdly Care (vv. 1–4)
Sovereign Ruler of the universe has taken up the menial task of shepherding him! We
· SHEPHERD
o He is near us: but more is meant:
§ He takes interest in us
§ He has vested Himself in our spiritual good and our spiritual prosperity
§ Consider this:
· The Lord is interested in You
- Us/ Our = sheep (wonder: this wondering looks like:
§ Indifference
§ Laziness
§ Incompetence
§ THE AFFIRMATION STILL: HE IS OUR SHEPHERD
THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE; YOUR 2022. ALL THE STRUGGLES AND FAILURES; ALL THE EVIDENCES OF OUR:
- SPIRITUAL INDIFFERENCE
- SPIRITUAL LAZINESS
- SPIRITUAL INCOMPETANCE
- YET, HE IS YOUR SHEPHERD
I SHALL NOT WANT
THE FRUITFULNESS OF 2023 FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS ROOTED IN HIS OR HER BELIEF THAT CHRIST IS ENOUGH
A MEASURING OF HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN LIGHT OF ALL THAT GOD IS FOR US IN CHRIST
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
WE ARE HIS SHEEP - BEAUTIFUL
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,
but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
WHAT MOVES DAVID TO MAKE THE STATEMENT OF VERSE 1 ARE THE EXTRAORDINARY BLESSINGS THAT FLOW IN THIS PSALM
THESE BLESSINGS ARE NOW SECURED FOR US IN CHRIST
HENCE REVOLUTIONS OF 2023
A RADICAL CHANGE, SHIFT,
metamorphasis in how WE APPROACH 2023
WE WILL GO AT THIS PSALM FROM A CHRISTOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
BLESSINGS OF:
· SPIRITUAL CONTENTMENT – I LACK NOTHING
I. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE NOURISHED
I. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE NOURISHED
THE BLESSING OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
THE BLESSING OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
Further, sheep will not drink from a rushing stream. Nor will they instinctively seek out clean water—they are prone to drinking whatever is nearby. Therefore, a good shepherd leads his sheep to calm, clean water.
As a good shepherd, the Lord guided David to green pasture; that is, He provided well for David, giving him abundance, rest, and peace. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides all of this care for His followers. He gives us rest (Matthew 11:28), abundance (Matthew 6:33; John 10:10; Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:19), and peace (John 14:27).
IN CHRIST WE ARE NOURISHED
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
II. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE RESTORED
II. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE RESTORED
o IN CHRIST WE ARE RESTORED
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
He restores my soul.
Here the spiritual lesson is clear: the Lord provides forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him.[1]
[1]Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 811). Victor Books.
III. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE BEING LED
III. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE BEING LED
o IN CHRIST WE ARE LED
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
IV. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE PROTECTED
IV. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE PROTECTED
o IN CHRIST WE ARE PROTECTED
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
· THE LORD’S LEADING WILL OFTEN INVOLVE MOMENTS AND PATHS THAT ARE TRYING AND DIFFICULT
o JESUS WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED
o PAUL’S THORNS
· THIS TRUTH LEADS TO THE COMFORT: I WILL FEAR NO EVIL BECAUSE…SINCE THE LORD LED HIM THERE
o HE IS WITH HIM (SHEPHERDS NEVER LEAVE)
o HIS ROD AND STAFF COMFORT (THE SHEPERD WILL BEAT BACK THE ENEMY: THE HIRLING; TAKE HIS BLOWS AND BITES AND STING
A Handbook on the Book of Psalms Psalm 23:4
“if I go through the darkness that is like death” or “if I go through darkness where there is no life.”
The word translated evil means here danger, harm, injury.
A Handbook on the Book of Psalms Psalm 23:4
The rod was a club used to drive away wild animals; the staff was a long stick used for support in walking.
V. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE FULL (PROVISION)
V. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE FULL (PROVISION)
o IN CHRIST WE ARE FULL
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary The Friend (23:5, 6)
an Old Testament equivalent of Romans 8:31–39 or 2 Corinthians 12:9f.; a witness to infinite resources in the worst of situations. But since the enemy is never taken lightly in Scripture, except by a Ben-hadad or a Belshazzar, it more probably anticipates a victory celebration, where the enemies are present as captives; or an accession feast with defeated rivals as reluctant guests.
PAUL WITH THE THORN IN THE FLESH
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
VI. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE VICTORIOUS
VI. IN CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE ARE VICTORIOUS
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
o IN CHRIST WE ARE VICTORIOUS
§ DAVID: I SHALL
§ CHRISTIANS: WE DO NOW DWELL: NOW AND NOT YET
SO ATTACK THIS YEAR, ARMED WITH THE BLESSINGS THAT ARE YOURS IN CHRIST
DO NOT MAKE RESOLUTIONS, RATHER, GO AT THIS YEAR WITH CHRIST-CENTERED REVOLUTIONS THAT WILL SHAPE HOW YOU,