I Have All That I Need

Theme: Surrendering the Hunger for More to Find Sufficiency in Christ

It’s good to be back.  Spent 2 ½ weeks in the UK on a walking vacation.  Thank Julie and Jasper for covering me.

Nine of these days were spent walking the 82 mile Dales Way, a trail that runs from Ilkley in the Yorkshire Dales to Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District.  For those who are fans of All Creatures Great and Small, I was essentially in Herriot country.

Unlike the Camino de Santiago, this was not a pilgrimage per se.  I didn’t set out with any particular spiritual goals.  But like the camino, it offered the opportunity to simply unplug from the speed of normal life and be present in the moment.  This is why, imho, walking vacations are the best vacations.

So while I didn’t have a particular spiritual goal in mind, you do become more aware of your surroundings and to God’s presence.  One thing you can’t escape when walking in the Yorkshire Dales is sheep.  There are sheep everywhere.  For nine days I walked beside sheep, past sheep – even around sheep that were laying on the trail.  It’s no wonder that Psalm 23 often came to my mind.  Maybe we could recite it together now:

Psalm 23 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

In running Alpha groups in the past, one of the ice-breaker questions I liked to ask was, “If you could be any animal, what would it be?”  You get all kinds of answers.  A lion was a popular one for obvious reasons.  Some would say a horse because they are beautiful and fast.  I’ve heard dolphin or bear.  Probably others I can’t remember.  But one answer I don’t think I ever heard was “I’d like to be a sheep”. 

As you are probably aware, sheep aren’t particularly bright animals.  They are slow and easily caught.  And they have no means of defense.  In fact, without the diligent oversight of a shepherd they quickly become the animal equivalent of McDonalds.

And yet, by and large, the animal that people are most often compared to in the Bible is… sheep.

It’s a little embarrassing the comparisons that can be made between us and sheep.  Like sheep we often lack wisdom.  We are all too easily caught in the snares of the enemy.  And while we like to believe in the illusion of being in control, when major events happen we realize just how vulnerable we are.  We are a lot like sheep.

And yet the glorious, good news of Psalm 23 is that, because we are like sheep, we don’t have to struggle through life on our own.  We have a Good Shepherd watching over us, and so we can rest in contentment in a restless world.

Over the next 3 weeks we will work together through this Psalm seeing different ways the Lord relates to us: as a shepherd, a companion, and a host. This morning we will look at the first three verses and see the Lord as our shepherd, and it comes with an invitation to surrender our Hunger for More to Find Sufficiency in Christ.

Pray…

1. The Myth of the Next Thing

There is a silent, exhausting question that haunts almost every human heart: 'When will it finally be enough?'

From the moment we wake up and scroll through our feeds, we are bombarded with subtle messages telling us that contentment is always one step away. If we could just secure that next promotion, reach that financial threshold, find the right partner, or fix that stubborn health issue, then our anxiety would quiet down. We build our lives around the lie that peace is a destination reached through accumulation and control.

Riding the subway in London you hear a mechanical voice every time you get on or off a car reminding you to “mind the gap”. The gap is the space between the car and the platform.

But the gap is also a good metaphor for the space between what we have and what we think we need to be content. We strive and strain, not to mind the gap, but rather to fill it. But the tragedy is that even when you hit the milestone, you look up only to find that the goalposts have moved.

The quiet panic returns. We end up perpetually tired—not just physically, but deep down in our souls—running on an endless treadmill of discontent, driven by a quiet, nagging terror: What if I run out? What if I'm not enough? What if it all falls apart?

What if our sense of lack, the gap we all feel, is because we insist on shepherding ourselves?

Three thousand years ago, a king who started out as a shepherd wrote four words that completely dismantle the myth of the self-made life: 'The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.'

2. The Delusion of Self-Shepherding JULIE

What is David really saying here? Get your mind right. This is David, the youngest son of Jesse who tended sheep on rugged hillsides and then became the king sitting on Israel’s royal throne. He is saying - WE ARE SHEEP! Does that hurt your feelings a little? I’ve heard the word “sheeple” thrown around as an insult. We don’t like it but David speaks as a realist who knew the nature of the animal inside and out.

Left to themselves, sheep are notoriously bad at basic survival:

They cannot feed themselves safely: They will eat toxic weeds and graze the same plot of land down to the root until it becomes a barren dust bowl. Hmm… addiction, stuck in patterns of sin sound familiar?

They choose bad water: A thirsty sheep will drink from stagnant, parasite-ridden puddles rather than walk a few extra yards to a clean spring. Hmm… sounds like last week’s sermon - we want instant gratification-unwilling to wait.

They cannot relax on their own: For a sheep to lie down certain conditions must be met – none of which they can provide on their own. They are completely dependent upon the shepherd.   Holy Spirit anyone?

Here is our problem: We are sheep, but we insist on shepherding ourselves. Yet a sheep is left to shepherd itself it eventually destroys its pasture and starves.

Our burnout, envy, and underlying panic are not proof that we need better life hacks or greater willpower. They are proof that we were never created to be our own shepherd. When you make yourself the shepherd of your life, the weight of providing, protecting, and restoring falls entirely on your fragile shoulders. No wonder we live in constant want.

Where can I find rest in a restless world?

3. The God Who Satisfies

Look at verse one again: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need."

Notice the order. David does not say, "I have accumulated enough resources, therefore I have all that I need." Instead, he ties his sufficiency entirely to the identity of his Shepherd. David Gibson unpacks the profound weight of this declaration:

"Psalm 23 is not primarily about our path; it is about our Shepherd. The statement 'I shall not want' is not a boast about David’s self-discipline or small desires. It is a declaration of who God is. Because Yahweh—the self-existent, covenant-keeping God of the universe—is my Shepherd, lacking anything ultimate becomes a spiritual impossibility."— David Gibson

Notice also that David -the shepherd king- doesn’t claim he will never do without. If you read his story, he spent years living in the wilderness, running from Saul and even his own son, Absolom. David knew what it was to experience lack. Yet in spite of that, he still claimed to have all he needed.

Let’s look at the care David is talking about in the way the Shepherd provides across verses 1 through 3:

A. "He lets me rest in green meadows, He leads me beside peaceful streams"

Let’s imagine where David was shepherding - not like ARKANSAS! It was arid and rocky wilderness, "green meadows" were not vast, rolling lawns. They were specific, scattered patches of fresh grass that grew in shadowed ravines and mountain slopes. The sheep could never find them alone; only a skilled shepherd knew where to lead them.

Furthermore, a sheep cannot lie down unless four conditions are met:

*it must be free from fear- the Presence of the Master sets them at ease

*it must be free from tension with other sheep-there’s a butting order- competition for status, so they stand up and defend their rights, but when their eyes are on the Master instead of other sheep, they forget their foolish rivalries - they don’t have to keep up with the Jones’ or climb the ladder of success

* free from parasites - Master sees them being bugged and applies the oil of the Holy Spirit which brings comfort and relief

*free from hunger - fully fed.

When David says, "He lets me rest" it means the Shepherd has systematically eliminated every source of anxiety until the sheep feels so secure that it naturally settles into rest.

It’s important too, that David goes on to say “He leads me beside still waters.” Sheep are also terrified of rushing water; the sound of a roaring stream frightens them, and their thick, heavy wool makes swimming impossible—if they fall into a swift current, they drown. A good shepherd finds quiet pools or dams up a trickling stream so His flock can drink deeply without fear. God does not drive us into chaotic waters; He gently guides us to places of calm refreshment.

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13, NIV)

We cannot shepherd ourselves - we weren’t made to. Where are you looking for satisfaction or rest apart from the Lord?

B. "He renews my strength" KEVIN

Many translations say “He restores my soul”. However, this is often misinterpreted bc meaning of words in English have changed over time.  This has little to do with how we normally conceive of the “soul”.  In Hebrew, soul is nephesh - a living, breathing physical being. It is your total life-force, both inner and outer life.  You are a nephesh.  “Restore” is the word shuv - to turn back, restore, or renew.  Most likely what David has in mind here is a sheep that has wondered away and become either lost or “cast”.

In shepherd terminology, a "cast sheep" is one that has rolled over onto its back into a small hollow or pit in the ground. Its feet flail helplessly in the air. Blood circulation to its legs stops, gas builds up in its stomach, and within hours, the sheep will die if help does not arrive. It is totally incapable of saving itself.

When the shepherd finds a cast sheep, he does not kick it or abandon it for being foolish. He kneels down, tenderly rolls the sheep back onto its feet, massages its stiff legs to restore circulation, and holds it firmly against his side until it can stand again.  When Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep and of the shepherd carrying it home on his shoulders, he probably has in mind a “cast” sheep that is unable yet to walk on it’s own and must be carried back to the safety of the sheepfold.

When David writes "He restores my soul," he is saying: When I am upside down, helpless, broken by my own foolish choices, and completely unable to right myself, my Shepherd comes to my pit, lifts me up, and restores my life.

Where are you trying to fix your own problems, to put yourself right again?

C. "He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name."

The Hebrew word for "paths" means well-worn ruts or worn tracks. Sheep are creatures of habit that easily wander off the safe trail onto treacherous cliffs. The Shepherd guides them along safe, right paths—not necessarily the easiest or flattest paths, but the ones that lead home.

And He does it "for His name’s sake." The Shepherd’s personal honor and reputation are tied to the survival and flourishing of His flock.

Think about that: David is saying that God has tied his own reputation to how well he can take care of you!

4. The Good Shepherd Who Became Needy JULIE

How can we be certain that "I have all that I need" is a promise we can stand on when life falls apart? Because hundreds of years after David wrote this psalm, the Lord of Psalm 23 stepped into human history and made a breathtaking announcement:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NIV)

Look at the cross through the lens of Psalm 23. On Calvary, Jesus—the Good Shepherd—allowed Himself to experience ultimate loss and deprivation so that we would never lack the grace of God:

He forsook green pastures and chose a barren hill called Golgotha.

When he cried out on the cross "I thirst," he didn’t receive still waters but gall, so that we could drink from the water of eternal life.

His soul - total living, breathing being - was poured out unto death so that our lives could be restored. 

He was stripped of everything, dying in absolute poverty and nakedness, so that we could look at Him and declare for all eternity: "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need."

Jesus took on the ultimate "want"— the judgment and spiritual bankruptcy caused by our wandering — so that we could inherit the endless riches of His grace.

5. Practicing "I Have All I Need" KEVIN

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need."

What would your life look like if you put this into practice? Can you imagine the daily peace you could experience if you lived each moment realizing the Lord IS my shepherd? How can we begin to put this truth into practice?

Repent of Self-Shepherding: Identify where you are trying to act as your own shepherd. Are you relying on your wealth to protect you, your performance to validate you, or your control to quiet your fears? Lay down the burden of shepherding your own life and surrender leadership to Jesus.

Be content in your own pasture: trust where the Lord has you now, that it is the best place for you.

When you truly grab hold of the reality that Yahweh is your Good Shepherd, the phrase "I have all that I need" ceases to be a poetic slogan and becomes your daily experience. You will begin to be at rest in a restless world.

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Communion

Invite people to stand.

Step down to the table

Invite Communion/ministry team forward.

Every Sunday we come to this table to take part in a meal Jesus gave us. Jesus said the elements of bread and wine are his body and blood, true food and true drink. They are a grace given to us for our spiritual nourishment. In his final moments with his disciples before his trial and death, he didn’t give them a doctrine - he gave them a meal. That his body and blood would be the sacrifice of atonement needed to rescue the world. And we’re invited to regularly re-participate in this act of love and forgiveness each time we partake.

In Communion, we celebrate our union with God through Jesus by the indwelling Spirit. Here the air between heaven and earth “becomes thin”. We stand in God’s very presence.

If you would like to participate in this memorial meal, after I pray step into the nearest aisle. Someone at the front will take a piece of bread dipped in wine and offer it to you as the body and blood of Jesus. If you prefer not to have wine, close your hands together and that will be the sign for them to give you a sealed container with grape juice and a wafer.

Ministry prayer...

Could you describe yourself this morning as a “cast” sheep? I’m on my back struggling to get out of a pit? Maybe it was a sudden sin, a season of burnout, or the crushing weight of anxiety, but your feet are in the air and you can't right yourself. And you are exhausted.

Hear this clearly today: A cast sheep cannot save itself. It doesn't need a lecture; it needs a Shepherd.

You don't have to wait until your circumstances are perfect to be at peace. You don't have to shepherd your future, your family, or your soul another day.

Lay down the burden of being your own shepherd. Be still and let the Good Shepherd reach down into your pit, turn you right-side up, and speak over your life the ultimate promise of the gospel: Because the LORD is your Shepherd, you have all that you need.

Invite to respond in prayer...

Let us pray.

Father, we want to pause right now and thank you. Thank you for your incredible love for us. You created this world, you made us for relationship with you, and even when we wandered away, you never gave up on us. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to rescue us, to show us what you are like, and to bring us back into your family.

Jesus, as we come to your table today, we remember what you did for us. We remember that on the night you were betrayed, while you were sharing a meal with your closest friends, you took bread. You gave thanks to the Father, you broke it, and you gave it to them, saying: “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance me.”

In the same way, after the meal, you took the cup. You gave thanks, and you passed it to them, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance me.”

And so, Come, Holy Spirit… We come to meet you at this table. We ask that you would bless this bread and this cup. By your power, make the presence of Jesus real to us as we receive them.

As we eat and drink, renew our faith, heal our hearts, and refresh our spirits. Wash away our past and give us grace for tomorrow. Bind us together as your church—one body, united in your love, filled with your life, and sent out to serve your world.

Jesus, we do this in praise of your sacrifice for us, and we offer ourselves freshly to you today. All glory, honor, and praise belong to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

Invite the worship team to receive Communion first and then everyone else.