An Abiding Presence
Freedom in His Presence • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsPsalm 23 provides a great understanding of what we can expect as believers when we stay in the presence of Jesus.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Comfort of Psalm 23 Today
The Comfort of Psalm 23 Today
As I was studying for today’s message, I could hear the Pre-K class down the hall memorizing Psalm 23. Honestly, I don’t know if I was in Psalm 23 before they began talking about it or afterwards.
Psalm 23 is an amazing song of comfort to us. It is up on our walls, recited in GraceKids, read at funerals, and put to music.
I have enjoyed our series on Freedom in His Presence and wanted to be sure that we had an opportunity to look at God’s Presence on this side of the Cross. So, I imagine that it is strange that I would open with an Old Testament Psalm.
I suppose so but what we will find when we look at this song is that it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of the New Testament. The comfort that this Psalm brings to our hearts is satisfied in the person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
The Presence of Jesus
The Presence of Jesus
Have you been watching the series The House of David? It introduces us to David as he is with the sheep, caring for the lame, and protecting the flock. David speaks of God as his Shepherd, providing care and protection.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
As a shepherd himself, can you imagine David’s meaning behind it? David was a good shepherd, and he knew God to be good as well. In the NT Jesus offers the same comfort except this is straight from his own lips.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
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.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
As modern-day believers we can rest comfortably in the fact that we have a Good Shepherd who is willing to sacrificially care for His followers. This is the way the Psalm begins, and it sets the tone for the blessings that we have in Jesus; so, let’s apply Psalm 23 to those who know Jesus.
The Abiding Presence of Jesus
The Abiding Presence of Jesus
Let’s walk through the Psalm and understand it from the perspective of a modern-day sheep.
With His Presence Comes Provision
With His Presence Comes Provision
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
David declares he lacks nothing because of God's provision. [Gen Dayton, “Colonel, I know that your soldiers are patriots, but it is time for them to have hot meals and a place to sleep off the ground.”] I can tell you; I was glad when Gen. Dayton came into theater.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:31-33 not to worry about food or clothing, for God provides for His children.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Trusting Jesus removes fear of lack—He provides spiritually and physically.
With His Presence Comes Rest and Nourishment
With His Presence Comes Rest and Nourishment
Let’s move on to the next verse – promises to provide rest and nourishment.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Sheep need rest and nourishment, which the Shepherd provides. Sheep will usually not lie down until they are fed and satisfied and have no fear. You can’t make a sheep lie down; you can’t push it down, unless some basic needs are met. First, a sheep must be free of fear. Second, its coat must be cleared of any foreign objects that would disturb it if it were to rest in the green grass. Third, a sheep will not lie down while it is still hungry, only contented sheep will lie down. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Fourth, and most important of all, a sheep will not lie down without the knowledge of the presence of the shepherd.
Still water is very important to the sheep. Sheep have learned to fear rushing, moving water and to search for quiet pools from which to drink. If it fell into the water, its heavy coat of wool would soon be saturated. Jesus invites into rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
True peace comes through Christ, not through worldly success or possessions. Are you resting in Christ’s peace, or are you striving in your own strength?
With His Presence Comes Restoration and Leadership
With His Presence Comes Restoration and Leadership
Sheep are not too bright! in the Highlands of Scotland, sheep will often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can't jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass.
The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up.
You may ask, "Why don't they go down there when the sheep first gets there?" The reason is that sheep are so foolish they would jump right the cliff and be killed if they did!"
he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
God restores and leads His people in righteousness.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
No matter how broken you are, Jesus restores and leads you in righteousness.
With His Presence Comes Comfort
With His Presence Comes Comfort
Psalm 23 is often read or recited at times when we grieve the most. It is because the Psalm reminds us that God is with us even in times that are dark, dangerous, and disagreeable.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
His comfort is everything! As Pentecostals we understand the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort us, support us, and guide us. The entire book of Acts is filled with examples. As a reminder,
Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
about sin, because people do not believe in me;
about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
We are well equipped to withstand the darkest valleys because of the Spirit of Christ in us. When facing trials, do you trust Christ’s presence?
With His Presence Come Correction and Guidance
With His Presence Come Correction and Guidance
…your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The rod corrects; the staff guides—both show God's care. The protecting care of the shepherd was symbolized by his rod and staff. The rod was taken from the lower trunk of a sapling, including the roundness of where the roots were connected to the trunk. A shepherd learned to use that weapon with great accuracy and could beat off attackers.
The shepherd’s staff had a crook on the end of it. It was used to get hold of a wandering sheep and to keep the sheep together. Interestingly, the shepherd handled a new lamb by the crook because if he touched it with his hands, the smell of his hands would make the mother reject the lamb. The staff was the instrument of tender care. For David, it meant the Lord’s protection and His grace.
We just read in John 16 about the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting us of sin and keeping us out of trouble. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that healthy discipline is given because the parent or person in authority is concerned for the well-being of the individual
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
God’s discipline is for our good, and His protection is constant.
With His Presence Comes Victory
With His Presence Comes Victory
My childhood school district had a middle school from 5thto 8th grade. Middle school is the testing grounds for young boys. It is the time to be tested, especially on the dodge ball court. I was a June birthday which didn’t mean much except I’ve learned that some parents hold their children back a year, so they are a bit more mature. I was thrown to the wolves.
This ties in because boys who were behind a year or two by 5thgrade had facial hair and were throwing dodge balls like missiles which even my skinny little body couldn’t avoid. But I did gain an ally with a boy who was a year behind. Somehow, we sat close to one another in school and (let’s say), I allowed him to look over my shoulder at my answers. With him on my side, victory in dodgeball became possible.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Victory is good! A victorious feast symbolizes triumph over enemies. One day for those who are Christians, we will celebrate victory as we attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
We already share in Christ’s victory, so we can walk in boldness.
With His Presence Comes Abiding Hope
With His Presence Comes Abiding Hope
Finally, there is another promise.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
When Cindy and I married, we moved to Houma, Louisiana, where I was a youth pastor and a teacher in the private school. We hadn’t had children yet and one of the teachers would say that we would soon have “Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy” following us. I think she actually was pointing out that we really didn’t know much about kids (true).
Looking at this passage today I see a promise of goodness and love that abides with those who love Jesus. And, on top of that, there is the promise of eternal life. Jesus expresses it this way…
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Eternal dwelling with Jesus is the final fulfillment of Psalm 23. Do you have the assurance of eternity with Christ?
In His Presence We Are Filled with Joy
In His Presence We Are Filled with Joy
So, we have seen that we have a Good Shepherd…and
· With His Presence Come Provision
· With His Presence Comes Rest and Nourishment
· With His Presence Comes Restoration and Leadership
· With His Presence Comes Comfort
· With His Presence Come Correction and Guidance
· With His Presence Comes Victory
· With His Presence Comes Abiding Hope
It seems to me that the Presence of Jesus ought to be an exciting opportunity!
· If you haven’t made Jesus your Shepherd, today is the day.
· If you are struggling, trust in His provision, guidance, and victory.
· Close with prayer and an invitation to seek God personally.
[1]The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 23:4.
