SF546 - WHAT_S YOUR HURRY (Psalm 23 2)

SF546

WHAT’S YOUR HURRY

Psalm 23:2

Introduction

It seems like we are all stressed up and nowhere to go!

God wants his sheep to learn to have a quite time.

Sheep graze from about 4 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  Then they will rest 3-4 hours.  During this rest time they grow and mature.  Every shepherd knows how important it is for his sheep to have a quite time.

1A.      The Sheep

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

We are a great deal like sheep:

1B.      Sheep are dumb

Spiritually speaking men without Christ are ignorant.

Romans 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

2B.      Sheep are defenseless

Sheep do not hear well, cannot run well, and have no natural defense....

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

3B.      Sheep have no sense of direction

Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Hosea 11:7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.  Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

4B.      Sheep are easily disturbed

When frightened they will run until they drop. 

We spend much of our lives running to and from things most of which do not matter or are not even real.

5B.      Sheep are dependant

A sheep can get on its back (cast) and not be able to get back on its feet.

We are the same way spiritually speaking we are easily “cast down.”

Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

2A.      The Stress - Four Causes

1B.      Fear

Of attack from predators

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Of the unknown

Ø      Often the most frightening things in our life is the unknown.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

2B.      Friction

Caused by competition

Caused by jealousy

Caused by turf wars

3B.      Flies

These are parasites, insects that deplete the sheep of their health and vitality.

The small things that “bug” you will have the same effect on you spiritually.

4B.      Famine

Lack of ample food or water

Ø      Sheep will not drink from rushing waters

Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.”

3A.      Our Shepherd

1B.      His compassion

Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Ø      “Felt” means to be moved

Ø      “Compassion” to suffer with someone

2B.      His care

Isaiah 40:11 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.

3B.      His Courage (John 10:7-13)

Shepherd sleeps across the opening - he is the gate!  (John 10:7)

4A.      His Solution

1B.      Our Shepherd brings freedom from...

Fear!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Friction (Ezekiel 34:15-16; 20-22)

2B.      We are to be filled with...

The Spirit

Ø      The shepherd would pour on oil to combat the flies.

Ø      Oil in the Scriptures represents the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit

The Water

Ø      Water in the Scriptures represents the Word. 

Matthew 4:4, 10, 14

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

APPLICATION

Hurry up and wait...

Do you spend time with God meditating on His Word?

This is the secret of abundant life

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God may “make” you lie down.  (Psalm 119:67, 71)

A distressed sheep

Ø      Produces no wool

Ø      Produces no fat

Ø      Produces no lambs

He makes us lie down because He cares for his sheep

Isaiah 30:15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not.