My Shepherd

My Assignment

One of my greatest assignments when I preach is to convince you that serving the Lord is better than anything else you might choose to do.

More than dishonesty

More than pleasure from things that make you feel good temporarily.

More than what your instincts tell you to go a different way.

The task is absolutely ridiculous because He is so great that he is indescribably higher and more glorious than I can put into words.

Panera - someone showed up not to talk with the pastor, but with a word of encouragement for a pastor.

I go to SC simply to see my father as he is getting up there in years, but coincidence and testimony of previous pastors, youth pastors, grocery store managers, all with words of encouragement that reminded me that my call is real and true and worth more than any other path I might have chosen.

At this moment in time my life was disrupted and rearranged so that I could be the pastor that God called me to be.

Being in the right place and the right time with the right word to help someone meet their answer in Christ Jesus.

You might say coincidence--- but it can’t be… it happens over and over and over and over again

But these words are insufficient… they don’t even come close.

I will often brag to people and tell them that God has blessed me so much that I got to marry the Home Coming Queen.

If that person that I was bragging to said, “Here is a paint brush and some paints and a canvas, show me how pretty she is.” I would do my best but my representation wouldn’t match.

That’s how I feel sometimes.. I have 30-40 minutes to tell you how great God is. But the time doesn’t matter… my words won’t even come close.

Today is another miracle...

As I read over our dear sister, the Lord quickened that word to me enough so that I wondered if I should speak on it Sunday, but I wanted to stay with what I planned for in the series we are on. But I couldn’t settle on that.

I’ll tell you a secret.. sometimes if I am not sure what to preach on I take a look at what the Revised Common Lectionary tells me I should preach on. And if I have a considerably busy week I will look at what the Psalm for that week is… Guess what it was.... that’s right.... .

Coincidence… cmon. God cares to much for that.

While I feel the pressure (that I place on myself) to use these 30 minutes to demonstrate to you how great a provider and guide and host He is, I’d rather use His.

Psalm 23:1–6 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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.

The Lord is MY

Intro: David a shepherd boy, called to be a king, knew well the responsibilities and duties, the watchful care and diligence that are required of a shepherd. He sees Jehovah as his shepherd yet more also as Guide and Host.

The Lord is My Shepherd

David as a Youth

David

He new the responsibilities of a shepherd

Protecting them from Danger

Finding good pasture

Bringing them to still waters

Keeping them from straying

He loved to thing of the LORD in that light

“I shall not want”

Think of the want in the world.

a. We usually think in material terms: food, shelter, transportation, safety.

We usually think in material terms: food, shelter, transportation, safety.

b. Think of the spiritual wants. Deeper & more persistent.

Think of the spiritual wants. Deeper & more persistent.

Others who are wiser than I may want. Others who are stronger than I may want.

2. Others who are wiser than I may want. Others who are stronger than I may want.

Psalm 34:10 ESV

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

For provision "He maketh me lie down in green pastures."

For refreshment "He leadeth me beside the still water."

4. For refreshment "He leadeth me beside the still water."

For spiritual satisfaction "He restoreth my soul."

5. For spiritual satisfaction "He restoreth my soul."

JEHOVAH IS MY GUIDE.

"He leadeth me in the path of righteousness."

How confusing our lives can sometimes become.

How important that we make the right decision.

2. How important that we make the right decision.

a. Our entire future sometimes dependent.

Our entire future sometimes dependent on the decisions we make.

The decisions we make can also effect the lives of those around us.

b. Young man in for counseling. Agnostic.

"I can't afford to make a mistake."

The LORD leads us in paths of righteousness (as long as we are His sheep)

"I feel very sorry for you."

How beautiful and comforting as I walk the path of life to know it is the right path.

3. How beautiful and comforting as I walk the path of life to know it is the right path.

Not the easy path the right path.

a. Not the easy path the right path.

Here is where I mess up. The easy path is not always right.

1. Here is where I mess up. The easy path is not always right.

It may lead to a cross.

b. It may lead to a cross.

And somehow, He can make our mess ups a thing to bring glory

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 co 12:8-10

"For His name's sake."

4. "For His name's sake."

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

"Yea thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

If Jesus does not rapture His church first, this is inevitable for each of us.

Note "shadow of death."

2. Note "shadow of death."

a. What does that tell you? There is light on the other side.

What does that tell you? There is light on the other side.

The darkest times in our lives are simply shadows of things that are blocking the light and require light to exist.

b. Death to us is not as Goethe described "I am about to take my last journey..."

Nor need we scream as Voltaire "More light."

c. Nor need we scream as Voltaire "More light."

The light is eternal… darkness is not.

3. "I will fear no evil."

"I will fear no evil."

When I approach that valley I shall not slack my stride for fear of evil.

a. When I approach that valley I shall not slack my stride for fear of evil.

b. "For thou art with Me."

"For thou art with Me."

1. God's presence always so near in hour of death.

God's presence always so near in hour of death.

"Thy rod & thy staff they comfort me."

c. "Thy rod & thy staff they comfort me."

"Thy rod & thy staff they comfort me."

1. Rod like shepherd's crook, pull sheep back in line, also at end of day held low over entrance of sheepfold every lamb must pass under.

Rod like shepherd's crook, pull sheep back in line, also at end of day held low over entrance of sheepfold every lamb must pass under.

2. Staff was club to defend self & sheep.

Staff was club to defend self & sheep.

JEHOVAH IS MY HOST.

"Thou preparest a table before me."

"Thou anointest my head with oil."

"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER."

"Because He is my shepherd guide and host "goodness & mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

Conclusion

1.

What then? "I shall dwell in the house..."

The shepherd holds my hand as we walk this path of life; soon the path is to dip into a valley, there a shadow shall cross the path, but holding His hand, I shall emerge on the other side to dwell in His house forever.

John 10:14–18 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Isn’t this the Shepherd you wan’t?

The one who gave everything?

The one who will bring you to where you are to be?

He wan’t you in His flock? Will you be His sheep?