Provider For All My Needs
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Ezekiel 34
Eat the fat, wear the wool, but don’t feed the sheep
Don’t help the weak, sick, injured, stray
Rule with harshness
They became scattered, prey
Ezekiel 34:11b “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”
Ezekiel 34:15 “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.”
CONNECTION
In the difficulties of life it is easy to become focused on what we lack, but in Psalm 23, we are told with Yahweh as our shepherd we shall not want.
THESIS
No matter how unfamiliar or challenging the path before me, I can face it with peace, confident that Yahweh equips me with all I need to persevere.
MESSAGE FOCUS
Finding peace in God’s guidance.
Message
David
From shepherd of sheep to people, but he knew however skilful he must be led by God
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The thesis of the Psalm. The following verses give further explanation.
Psalm 23:2–6 “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.”
Your Shepherd
Your Shepherd
Continue on the highway, but suddenly the highway splits into two exits- someone to help you navigate.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The idea of being near God is a major focus of this Psalm
Leads
Knows the setting (wellbeing of the sheep is dependent on the shepherds knowledge of the pasture). Therefore, we should let Yahweh decide what we need, recognizing whatever it is, I will lack nothing.
That my accounting of what I need will differ from Yhwh’s seems probable, but Psalm 23 is partly in the business of training my sense of need to be better attuned to what God provides. -Richard S. Briggs
Protects (wander & attack)
Aware of your difficulties. He encounters the problems first
No matter the circumstances, Yahweh is with you.
Knows (us)
Personal care
Provides
Yahweh is continuously tending to your needs.
Rest
Makes me lie down
Heals
Counselor
Rescues
When we stray
He does this because he love you, wants to comfort you, honor and keep you, in sickness and in heath, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer.
*APPLICATION
I should trust Yahweh to determine what I need, knowing that I will never lack anything truly necessary.
*IMPLEMENTATION
The LORD is my shepherd
Omnipotent (All Powerful)
Omnipresent (All Present)
Omniscient (All Knowing)
Eternal (No Beginning or End)
Holy (Beyond Ordinary)
Infinite (Without Limits)
Sovereign (Rules Over All)
Immutable (unchanging)
Personal (active with creation)
Gracious (Caring)
Righteous (Always Good)
Truthful (Never Lies)
Your Worth
Your Worth
Being chosen for a steering committee
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Your identity and worth can never be diminished through others judgments or your actions.
*APPLICATION
You may think your a failure, a mess, or irrelevant, but you are
Ephesians 1:4–14 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
*IMPLEMENTATION
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Challenge yourself to reach out to someone who may think they are invisible by inviting them into conversation or including them in activities.
Your Advantage
Your Advantage
Using a hammer to cut a small tree.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
To be lacking or devoid of something.
Not so much to desire something as to lack it
Not because David has been faithful to the covenant, he hasn't been.
APPLICATION
This is not a spiritual slogan we state when in reality we actually want so many other things than he provides.
through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
The negative may be true, but there is more to your life in Jesus. The first is the reality of this earthly life in a sin cursed world that will eventually pass away, but the second is the heavenly reality that is eternal.
Matthew 6:25 ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:31–33 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
*APPLICATION
Instead of dwelling on what we believe we lack, let us find joy in trusting our shepherd and delight in his faithful care.
Training our sense of need to what God provides.
*IMPLEMENTATION
Of the things Paul lists in 2 Corinthians, is there one negative aspect you tend to focus on more than others—such as being an impostor, unknown, dying, punished, sorrowful, poor, or having nothing?
The means to overcome this is to focus on the heavenly reality— such as true, well known, live, not killed, always rejoicing, rich, or possessing everything.
Your Acceptance
Your Acceptance
The steering committee president invites you their house for coffee.
Chiastic Pattern- Parallels
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Ultimately, if Jesus is my Shepherd, I lack nothing for my ultimate destination -Iain D. Campbell
He is leading us home by the scenic route.
*APPLICATION
You are not just part of his flock, you are a family member in his household.
You belong
You have status
*IMPLEMENTATION
Challenge yourself to reach out to someone who may think they are invisible by inviting them into conversation or including them in activities.
You might feel the urge to conceal your true self, worried about judgment. Instead, embrace the freedom of being accepted by Jesus.
Actively engage in conversations where you can authentically express your beliefs. Start with small, approachable discussions about faith or values in a casual setting.
Your willingness to be open will fortify your faith.
Summary
No matter how unfamiliar or challenging the path before me, I can face it with peace, confident that Yahweh equips me with all I need to persevere.
Reflection
What supposed “lack” are you willing to give up to Jesus.
Is there something you want so you feel secure?
Is there something you want to happen to alleviate your worry?
Is there something you want that would allow you to relax?
Is there something you want that would solve your complaint?
Recognition; Health; Money; Status
