Untitled Sermon (15)

Psalm 23:2 NKJV

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Paslm

Restlessness

We live in a time of restlessness. We are a nation of bored, restless people. Why are people restless? Because we want to be in control of every part of their lives.

WHO IS IN CHARGE? We know that God is in control. But do we allow God to be in charge of our lives?

He should should be in charge of your life? We get restless when we try to be in charge.

The answer to restlessness lies in us trusting the shepherd to lead.

In this vs we will see that this is what David is talking about.

“He makes me”

Do we really want someone telling us what to do?

When I was a foreman. I had to tell people what to do. But, I also had to lead them. Elab

God not only tells us what to do, he also leads. But to goes down to our human nature, do we want someone leading us, or do we want to do things on our own?

. God not only tells us what to do, he also leads. But then again, do we want someone leading us, or do we want to do things on our own?

Most children don’t like to just go take a nap on their own, you have to make them lay down.

“He makes me lie down”

. Why does God (Shepard) makes us lie down? Because he knows that we are not always cooperative.

1. Why does he makes us lie down? Because he knows that we are not always cooperative.

Because at times we want to be in charge of our lives instead of letting God take control.

We have to realize that He has brought to a place where we can relax and trust Him to meet our needs.

Last week we talked about fear (worry). Sheep have no natural defenses, even the smallest movement causes them to react in fear. For this reason sheep are very timid animals

Sheep will not rest as long as see are hear something moving, unless the shepherd comes and stands in the midst of them. Only then will they settle down.

For us as humans, what is us worked up? Storms in life. It may just be small things that irritate us, ans cause us to be restless.

. We may get worked up about a storm that comes into our life. Sometimes it may be the little things that irritate us, and cause us to be restless.

Traffic in Gainesville. Waiting in line. some little thing that a person does. It cashes us to be irritated, aggravated, and restless.

“He leads us besides the still waters”

Notice to the word “waters”. If you were thirsty you would ask for a drink of water. Or on a hot summer day you would swim in the water. You wouldn’t use the term waters.

1. Take notice to the word “waters”. If you were thirsty you would ask for a drink of water. Or on a hot summer day you would swim in the water. You wouldn’t use the term waters.

Why did David sue the plural from?

David repeatedly lead them, over and over again to places where water is restful.

He does not provide for you one time, but he provides for you over and over. He repeatedly leads us besides the still waters; a place of rest.

Throughout scripture we see God caring and providing for the needs of his people, including rest.

Deut 12:8-

Deuteronomy 12:8–10 NKJV

8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— 9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you. 10 But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety,

It’s important that we truly follow our shepherds lead. If we don’t we will be detouring, and departing from his leadership?

When we refuse to follow his leadership we miss out on the blessings that he has for us.

You may wonder “how did I get in this situation?” Answer: Because we try to be in charge of our own lives.

When we don’t follow the shepherds lead and take a detour and veer off course, we get farther and farther off course and the result; we get lost and end up restless, weary, and fatigued.

10. The result; we get lost and end up restless, weary, and fatigued.

Physical fatigue; you can go away on vacation for a few days and get some rest.

b. Mental and emotional fatigue; this takes more than a few days to recover. It can have a negative impact on our bodies.

Mental and emotional fatigue; this takes more than a few days to recover. It can have a negative impact on our bodies.

Spiritual fatigue: comes from going our own way; letting sin gain a foothold in our lives.

You may feel hopeless, and that you can’t get past whatever struggle you are facing.

You may feel like you can’t resist temptation. You may feel like you know what the Bible says but have a hard time doing what is right.

When these things happen the Lord is not in charge of your life, and you will be restless.

How do we recover from restlessness?

David said that if allow the Lord to be our shepherd, we will make us to lie down in green pastures. He does the work. He will take you to a place of rest.

NASCAR: Whenever there is a coition, the pace car pulls out in front of the race leader with his lights flashing. Ever car on the track has too slow down, and get behind the pace car and follow his lead.

Every driver has to submit to the direction and guidance of the pace car.

18. Every driver has to submit to the direction and guidance of the pace car.

Will you let the Lord set the pace for your life?