THE RESTORED SOUL

Psalm 23:1-3

READ THE SCRIPTURE

Psalm 23:1–3 NASB95

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

INTRO

LEAD IN

Everything that God creates, is created to serve Him, to worship Him, and to bring Him glory.

The Angels- God’s messengers

The Devil and all of his demons

Human being- One day we will stand around the throne of God and worship Him

Even those bond for Hell

Proverbs 16:4 NASB95

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

When the Christian understands that, their soul finds peace in our Shepherd.

There are three actions of a restored soul, First...

THE RESTORED SOUL ACKNOLEDGES THE SHEPHARD

Psalm 23:1 NASB95

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

When your soul is satisfied in Jesus, there is nothing in this world that your soul desires more

However! Do not get confused.

Our flesh desires all kinds of things, but we are called to bring our flesh into obedience with the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 40:11 NASB95

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

The restored soul is a shepherded soul

It is a soul that is tended, cared for, protected.

John 10:14–15 NASB95

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

The restored soul has an intimate relationship with the Shepherd.

The restored soul sings with Mary,

Luke 1:46–47 NASB95

And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Not only does a restored soul acknowledge the Shepherd, ...

THE RESTORED SOUL FOLLOWS THE SHEPHARD

Psalm 23:2 NASB95

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

It’s not enough to say that God exist, that you love Jesus, and put the bumper sticker on your car, we must actively follow Him.

Jesus said in Matt 16:24

Matthew 16:24 NASB95

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

He also said, in John 14:15

John 14:15 NASB95

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

James put it this way,

James 2:26 NASB95

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

The restored soul is a lead soul.

The Lord leads us in two ways

By the Holy Spirit in us

By reading His Word

Outside of the Lord Himself, the most valuable thing in this entire world to the restored soul is the Word of God.

That’s why David said in Psalm 19:7

Psalm 19:7 NASB95

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

We Baptist have always been know as, People Of The Book.

We are restored by the Word of God.

the Restored Soul acknowledges and follows the Shepherd, but we do a third thing that is just as important...

THE RESTORED SOUL REST IN THE SHEPHARD

Psalm 23:3 NASB95

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

1 Peter 2:25 NASB95

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The restored soul has a Shephard and a Guardian

I Love how Augustine puts it

You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Oswald Chambers once said...

Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself.

Oswald Chambers

King David went on to say

Psalm 23:4–6 NASB95

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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 have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

TAKE AWAY

God restores our souls by guiding us back to His presence, for His purpose, offering hope and renewal in every difficult moment we face.