He leadeth me...

Introduction

Last week I discussed how perplexed I was over the word paths. Why does David use the plural paths, when Jesus in Jn. 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. In John the word way is the Greek word odios meaning: way, road, or path. Indicating Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven.

Now in Psalm 23:3 He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. The word paths is the Hebrew word magal which means: wagon tracks or a firm path.

Now, bear with me. In or study we have discovered how fickle, how dumb, and how irresponsible sheep may be. If sheep are left in one pasture too long they eat all the grass, drink what ever water they can find, and infect the ground with parasites. Sheep must be moved from pasture to pasture. In guiding them to a different pasture the shepherd leads them down well worm, stable, and firm paths.

How does this fact relate to us? Haven’t we heard: when God closes one door, He opens another? I believe this is part of our sanctification process or growing in Christ. Moving us into different positions of service.

We are like sheep.

As we have seen throughout this study, humans are just like sheep.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We’ve gone astray: Just as sheep tend to be swept away by waters they should have avoided, just as the sheep wanders off having no defense against the lion seeking whom it may devour, we too get lost. We get lost in our own desires , our own whims, & soon it becomes a habit. Sheep follow gullies, ruts, trails, leading them away from the flock into danger; we follow our acquired habits, habits that ruin lives.

Gone his own way: Just like the sheep, we are stubborn, self-willed people. We want to do what we want, with my ideas, my thoughts; & we do these things despite warnings from God.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

It’s like Houston we have a problem. Most people do not want to come, we had rather go our own way, some say no one will tell me what to do, we are so filled with ourselves, so filled with pride we ignore Jesus’ command:

Mark 8:34b Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. BUT do we really want to do that? Do we really want to deny ourselves? Do we really want to allow someone else make decisions for us? Think about these hymns:

Lead me, Lord, I'll follow Anywhere You open up the door. Let Your Word speak to me; Show me what I've never seen before. Lord, I want to be a witness You can take what's wrong and make it right. Daystar, shine down on me, Let Your love shine through me in the night.

All to Jesus, I surrender All to Thee I freely give I will ever love and trust You In Your presence daily live

I surrender all, I surrender all All to Thee, my blessed Savior I surrender all

All to Jesus, I surrender Lord, I give myself to Thee Fill me with Your love and power Let Your blessing fall on me

We sing these hymns, but do we mean it? We need a change of attitude to follow down the right paths. We need to follow the Good Shepherd.

We have a Good Shepherd

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Not only does Jesus provide our salvation, but He leads or guides us throughout life.

Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, When ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. This requires a new attitude as described in:

Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: How, you might ask? 7 Steps:

Changing attitude of love.

Instead of loving myself, am I willing to love Christ more than self? Lawyer ; Greatest commandment:

Matt. 22:37ff Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Love is agape divine love. Agape love or self love?

Changing attitude of boldness.

Take a stand, don’t go along with the crowd. Daniel 3 and fiery furnace. (Bend, bow, break.)

Changing attitude of personal rights.

Can I really deny myself? Can I quit insisting on being right all the time? Can I play 2nd fiddle? Can I swallow my pride? Thought: aren’t most road rage incidents caused by someone believing their personal rights were violated? What about violent crime? Paul was beaten and jailed in Philippi; by rights as a Roman citizen he could have avoided both; gave up his rights to be obedient to HS.

Changing attitude of humility.

We like to assert our rights-back to road rage-our authority over others. But that’s pride.

Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, That holdest the height of the hill: Though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord. Naaman, Syrian general, leprosy, slave girl see Elisha, dip 7x in Jordan, before he did he went through a process of humbling himself. Just like God desires from us.

Changing attitude of circumstances.

Need to stop asking why. I must confess I sometimes ask God why, along with what did I do, & how do i correct it? We say God is sovereign, He’s in control, but do we believe it. David was chased around the countryside by Saul for years; he had several opportunities to kill Saul. But David accepted God’s plan. Thinking about this; did this make David a better leader? More faithful? Unknown.

Changing the attitude of will

Making a conscious decision to follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Daniel in the lions den. Truly a conscious decision.

Changing attitude of obedience.

Obedience is doing what I am told to do when I am told to do it, with the right heart attitude. If you are like me, you run into trouble with the right heart attitude. If we depend upon our selves we are doomed to failure. Why?

Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Phil. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Conclusion:

The Lord always seeks His sheep (us) when we stray. He loves too much to leave us to perish in the wilderness of this sinful world. He personally sees to our rescue and safety, leading us back to paths of righteousness or the right paths. The right paths were not always the easiest for the sheep, but they were the safest. This is the way God leads us; along the paths that He has chosen according to His perfect & Holy will.

As the Lord’s sheep we will not lack for guidance.