Sermon Manuscript072306
Sermon Manuscript – 7/23/2006 Robert Hutcherson, Jr.
Sermon: “GOD’S LOVE HAS YOUR NAME ON IT”
TEXT
Psalm 23
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Several weeks ago I started a series of messages entitled “The Source Of Our Help”. Listen to what the Psalmist said in Palms 121:1-8 as he confessed and confirmed his faith in the Living God of Heaven.
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
By way of introduction I want to point a couple things out about this scripture.
First of all the Psalmist said I will lift Up Mine Eyes. If you and I are to ever experience all that God has for us then we must Lift Up Our Eyes Toward God. We need to stop looking down. We know what happened to Peter when he took his eyes off the lord Jesus, he began to sink. The word of God instructs us to look to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Second of all the Psalmist said he would lift up his eyes unto the hills from whence cometh his help. Then he said, “My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth”. In biblical times God’s people would have journey to Jerusalem for the festivals. The journeys would take days and often the people would travel through valleys surrounded by hills. At night the people would set up camp and post guards on the hills to keep watch while the people slept. The guards would warn the people of any danger that was approaching the camp. Just before the people lay down for the night they could look up at the hills and see the guards on the hills keeping watch. As the Psalmist thought about this, he knew that it was God that kept watch over them as they slept. He looked passed the guards on the hill to Him who is invisible that neither slumbers nor sleeps. The Psalmist knew that it was God who was keeping watch over the people.
As we examine the names of God, we have discovered that God is:
1. God is Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Who is there. God is always there, in the good times and the bad time. He is there in the bright times and the dark times. He is there if you feel Him or not.
2. El Shaddi, The Almighty One or The Strong One. God is all-powerful and nothing is impossible for Him. When you need strength God will be there to give it to you.
3. Jehovah Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. God is the healer of broken homes and broken lives. He is the healer of our hidden wounds. The wounds that no one else knows about. He sees, knows and understands the pain of your hidden wounds and desires to heal them.
This morning I want us to look at another name of God. Jehovah Rohi, The Lord Our Shepherd. In the 10th chapter of John the Lord Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd that lays down His Life for the Sheep. He then goes on to say that I know My sheep. The Lord is my shepherd not some distant nameless or faceless or unknown God. The Psalmist Said, “ The Lord Is MY Shepherd”. My Shepherd denotes intimacy, a personal relationship. The only way that God can be anyone’s Shepherd is that they know Him as Lord and Savior. They have confessed and repented of their sins and asked God for forgiveness. Then they become His sheep and as His sheep there are benefits that we can enjoy, benefits that meet certain needs in our lives.
There are five benefits mentioned in the 23rd Psalm that correspond to our daily needs. Let me mention these five benefits before looking at each one in detail.
1. Rest
2. Restoration
3. Guidance
4. Protection
Nurture
These benefits reveal the Love of the Shepherd for His sheep. God knows me and still loves me. The fact that He knows me and still loves me answers some of the fundamental questions that we have: “Does God know me? Does He know I exist? Does He care about my problems or are they too petty for Him?” Nothing is too petty for God. Matthew 10:30 says, “God even knows how many hairs are on my head.” Psalm 145 “The Lord is loving toward all He has made.” That includes everyone. God knows me and still loves me. That is God’s unconditional love. God’s word teaches us that God is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”
Jeremiah 31 “The Lord said ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with a loving kindness. You wonder why you came today. It’s because God’s love is drawing you to Him. God loves you very deeply and He wants you to know it today. God’s love is so different than that of the world. God’s love says, There is no limit. Ephesians 3, Paul says, “I pray that you may be able to feel and understand how long, how wide, how deep and how high His love really is and to experience this love for yourself.”
I. GOD GIVES US REST.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not lack restful security, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters; (or more literally, waters of quietness)
God wants His people, the sheep of His pastures, to enjoy rest, trusting in the Shepherd's provision for the future.
Life is hard and can be very stressful at times. We get so caught up in what we are doing that we fell to take time out to relax, rest or enjoy life. Before we know it we are drained of our energy. In this frantic life that we live God wants us to learn to rest and relax and enjoy His presence. But our world has become so goal oriented that we fail to do this.
We have a Shepherd that will lead us away from the lights and glamour of this world. He will lead us away from the hustle and bustle of a busy life to a place of rest and relaxation. Notice the David said, “ He maketh me to lie down.” Sometimes the Lord as to force us to rest because we are to busy to do it ourselves. Not only is this true in the physical since but it is true in the spiritual since as well.
Philip Keller in his book A Shepherds Look At The 23 Psalms says that in order for sheep to lie down 4 things are required:
1. First of all, they have to be full. Hungry sheep stay on their feet searching for another mouthful of food.
2. Secondly, they must be unafraid. They will not lie down if they’re fearful. The least suspicion of wolves they stand ready to flee.
3. Thirdly, they must be content. If flies or fleas are bothering them they’ll not lie down. They must be comfortable before they’ll lie down.
4. Finally, sheep will not lie down unless there is harmony in the flock. If there is friction over the butting order among them, then they simply cannot relax & lie down.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.” (NCV)
Jesus is extending an invitation to people who are loaded down with the religious rules and regulations of a man made religion. Man-made religion always requires more of you than it offers you. Jesus offers a relationship with Him rather than a religion about Him. Jesus offers a relationship that will affect you and I throughout eternity.
II. GOD RESTORES OUR SOUL. 3He restoreth my soul:
This has a two fold meaning, (1) To renew ones strength when he is worn down, or (2) To return after wandering off.
It is a well-known fact that sheep can’t find their way back to the sheepfold after wandering off. When the sheep wander off the shepherd has to go and find them and bring them back.
Luke 19:10 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
A lost sheep cannot find its way home, so the shepherd has to restore the stray or it is lost forever.
A Christian drama depicts a little boy working in his parent’s carpentry shop in Jerusalem. He protests his chore, which is to assist in building a cross. The parents insist that he help because Rome has given them a contract for construction of crosses.
In Scene 2 the boy is weeping. "What is wrong?" his parents ask. He responds, "I went to the market place & I saw Jesus of Nazareth, the Man we love to hear preach, & He was carrying OUR cross! They took Him to Golgotha & nailed Him to MY cross."
The parents insist, "Oh no, son, that wasn’t our cross. Other people in Jerusalem build crosses. That wasn’t our cross." "Oh yes, it was! When you weren’t looking, I carved my name on the cross that we were making. When Jesus was carrying His cross, He stumbled right beside me, & I looked, & my name was on His cross!"
My name was on that cross, too. So was yours. He died in our place. He went to the cross to restore our souls.
That is why the Apostle Peter wrote, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins & live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd & Overseer of your souls" 1 Peter 2:24-25.
Not only does he restore the lost wondering sheep, God also restores us when we are discouraged.
When we are discouraged or depressed He will revive us. He will preserve our soul. When Elijah was discouraged and wanted to die God strengthened him and encouraged him to continue. When Peter and the disciples went back to fishing in discouragement Jesus met them and encouraged them to continue serving Him. When the Lord is our Shepherd He will restore our soul.
Psalm 42:5 5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
When you are discouraged and down cast continue to trust in God for He will restore your soul.
III. GOD GUIDES US. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Sheep need guidance, without proper guidance they would not make it to their destination. God lead us by His Spirit and word. He marks the path that we are to walk. Notice that the shepherd leads his sheep. He does not drive the sheep by force but guides them with love. He goes before them carefully checking the path as they go to insure that it is the best and path to take.
A careless shepherd might lead his sheep over steep & dangerous paths where they could fall. But a caring shepherd leads his sheep over paths that are safe.
The Bible clearly teaches that there are 2 paths we can take. One leads to destruction, which Satan tries to lead us along.
Someone tells about a man who pulled up to a red light and saw a truck towing a trailer with many sheep inside. The man rolled down his window and yelled to the truck driver, "You shepherds don’t move your sheep around like you used to."
To which the truck driver replied, "I’m not a shepherd; I’m a butcher."
The other is the path of righteousness that leads to the glory that God is preparing for us. Sometimes this way is narrow and difficult and filled with obstacles. But the good Shepherd knows which way His sheep are to go, and He leads them on that path of righteousness.
Jesus reminded us with these words, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11)." God has always been the good Shepherd, but we have to trust His guidance, even when "we walk through the valley of the shadow of death."
Many of us are facing important decisions and God loves us so much that He wants to guide us. God enjoys guiding us. He really does. He knows that life is too difficult to be lived on its own and He wants to guide us in decisions and direction. Romans 8 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” If you are a Christian, God wants to guide you. He wants to direct you.
Do you sense His guidance? Can you look in your life and know that He is guiding you? Do you feel His leadings?
God wants to lead us to deeper experiences with Him. Will you follow?
IV. GOD PROTECTS US.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
He protects me just like a shepherd protects the sheep. The big idea here that’s very consistent with scripture is that God is in control. Since I’m a child of God, I’ve got nothing to worry about. Some of you in here are saying, “I’m about to sink! I’m about to go under. God wants to protect us. When it all boils down, with everything that’s going on, my only hope is Your Protection. It’s the only thing I’ve got going for me. for my problems are too big for me to solve and are piled over my head.” God wants to protect us so that we’d have no wants.
The word of God says, “God is your refuge and underneath you are His everlasting arms.”
Notice that the Shepherd doesn't keep us from the valley of the shadow of death. He leads us through it. His presence is our comfort--no matter what the circumstances. "The I Shall Not Want" of verse 1 does not mean the absence of hardship. If anyone knew a life of hardship and sorrow, it was David. But he could say with confidence, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" because God was His portion and God was with Him in the valley of the shadow of death to protect him.
God doesn’t keep us from the hard times but He does protect us while we go through them. In fact God goes through the tough times with us. We are not alone in difficult times.
V. GOD NURTURES US. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
When God nurtures us He cares for us, looks after us, supports us, provides for us and sustains us. How does He do this? He Does It Through His Word.
1 Peter 2:2 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
There are many today that are dieing because of malnutrition. They are not looking to God for their daily supply of bread. They are looking here, there and everywhere but they are not looking to God. Many churches today are dieing because there is a lack of God’s word being preached.
Peter instructs us to desire the sincere milk of the word as newborn babes. The word sincere means without error, corruption and without being water down.
There are those today that deny the word of God. Many claim the bible is not the word of God and cannot be trusted as the source of truth.
I want to proclaim to you today that the bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant and incorruptible word of God. You can trust God’s word to be the only source of absolute truth about life and death, about heaven and hell and the only truth about how to be saved.
Notice the place where God nurtures us, in the Presence of our enemies.
We live in a hostile world. We live in a world that seeks to destroy Christianity. We live in a world that seeks to make a mockery of the Christian faith. In the midst of this hostile world God said I have prepared a table for you so you can come and sit down and eat a meal and be properly nurtured.
The church was designed to be a place where you could go and be ministered to not mistreated. The church should be a place where we can come and get some relief from the troubles that we encountered during the week, a place where we can be nurtured in the faith and encouraged in our walk with God by the preaching and teaching of God’s word. God wants to nurture us because He is our Shepherd.
All the blessings of verses 1-5 flow out of the goodness and mercy of God. The terms "goodness" and "mercy" refer to God's desire to act kindly toward people who realize they are lost sheep in need of a Loving Shepherd.
Are you lost? Do you need a Loving Shepherd to save you and bring you into His Flock? Jesus is calling for you today to come and be one of His sheep. How will you respond? Will you come? Or will you walk away? The choice is yours.