Jesus my Shepherd

Introduction

I remember asking a working colleague of mine sometime ago when I was working for Acer, a computer and electronics company. We were in the lunch room and I remember having this discussion with them about politics and how crazy our society has gone, you know, a normal discussion that you have in a lunch room. This was some 14 years back, but it came to the point about the concept of morality and where we get our morality from.

We were in there having this discussion and I remember we were focusing on the part about where we get our morality from? Do you want to know what their answer was?

They responded that the source of where morality comes from is from TV, interesting hey?

However, set yourself back before TV or even the radio was invented, where did morality come from? Some would say church and I would have to agree with that, however, look at some of the atrocities that the church have committed in the name of the Christ.

The unfortunate news is that history has shown that the mass control or a dictator controls the principles of morality, whether Christian or non-Christian, they determine the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong; good or bad behaviour.

In Germany in the 1940s, where were the Christians? Only a few remained and held a high integrity to their Saviour’s standards, even unto death, for most Christians and Catholics the morality of the masses overcame the character of Christ and they disregarded the creature that He had died for.

It’s not only 1940s, it goes way back to the time of Christ, and further still, it goes way back, either an individual or the mass, they control the principles of what is right and wrong; what is good or bad.

It’s easy to be caught up in mass hysteria unfortunately, it’s also easy to be influenced in it as well, I remember reading about this in ‘social psychology’ called ‘Deindividuation theory’ it purports that individuals in large gatherings loses self-awareness. Meaning, the individual identity and belief is diminished to uphold the standard belief held by the mob.

Makes me think about what is happening with the world when it comes down to these government mandates, now, I don’t want to sound like a revolutionist telling you to go out and protest these mandates or support this or that. My job is to uplift Jesus and so this isn’t my message, but I want you to realise what is going on with the world and how people are being guided by the hysteria to the point that it is infiltrating our churches.

That’s why it is important for us to have Jesus central to our lives and to never lose sight of Him, don’t be distracted by what this world has to say, Jesus should be your shepherd and guide for your moral compass!

Psalms 23

Let’s have a look at Scripture and go to a well known chapter found in Psalms. We’re going to Psalms 23,

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

This Psalm is considered to be “The Pearl of Psalms”, others have called it “The Shepherd’s Song about His Shepherd””, Augustine mentions this Psalm to be the hymn of the martyrs.

No matter how you put it, this Psalm does have its place in many of us and it is here we can find who we should look to, not only for morality but for guidance and wisdom.

Here, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes an account of his personal journey with God. Yet, this journey that David has experienced is a similar experience that we have all been through.

Well as you aware by now, you know my style when I look at Scripture, let’s exegete these verses so we can have a better understanding in what David was inspired to write.

In Psalms 23:1 we have:

Psalm 23:1 NKJV

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

When I was young, this verse confused me, because it felt as if it sounded like, God is my shepherd but I don’t want Him. You can understand that how confusing the English is here, especially if English isn’t your first language or isn’t well off.

But eventually, I understood it as “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want any other.” meaning He is all that I need and there is nothing that I lack.

Is that true for all of us? Is the Lord really your Shepherd that you don’t want anyone or anything else? How often do you allow the Lord to shepherd you through life? Or, do we allow other people to shepherd you?

Psalm 23:2 NKJV

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

The verse, it’s a wonderful and beautiful verse, because here it tells us that the Lord knows when we need to lie down and when we need to move , when we need to rest and when we need to work, in all scenarios the God will provision and supply us in all conditions. There nothing that would make us be in want.

However, even though the Lord makes us rest on nice green pastures or leads us beside peaceful still waters, it is easy for us to get distracted by what the world has to offer. We’re like a child with ADHD, we can’t sit still and we can’t focus, we’re so easily distracted that we lie down when the good Shepherd didn’t ask us to lie and we follow what we shouldn’t.

Are we following the true Shepherd? Is He all that you want?

Restoration

Psalm 23:3 NKJV

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

What does the restore mean?

Bring back or re-establish.

Return to a former condition, place or position.

Repair or renovate so as to return it to its original condition.

Friends, what is being restored? Our soul, the word restore in Hebrew is שׁוּב (shoov) and it means to turn or to return, it refers to turning toward or away from something, often used with the sense of turning away from God (apostasy) or turning back toward God (repentance).

Realising something new!

But do you get the picture here though, I always thought of this chapter as God walking with us in some nice and peaceful place. But, if you get words like restore my soul that is God turning me back towards Him to restore my soul, then it paints for me a very different picture, it shows to me that God is shepherding me away from this sinful earth and nature, He is restoring my soul on the path of righteousness for His name’s sake through green pastures and still waters, which could be few and far between for some us.

He is bringing you back, re-establishing you, returning you to your former condition, place and position and repairing the relationship to its original condition as He leads as your shepherd. You’re that one lost sheep that He is after, He personally went out to get you so that you can be restored.

The only problem is that, we’re easily distracted, we’re easily swayed by public opinion, our moral compass is off track that we’re like a drunken man staggering heading home through the wilderness.

Don’t put your trust in this world, don’t put your trust in men, but put your trust in Jesus your Shepherd, and let Him guide your soul through green pastures and still waters. Let Him be you only want in this world, what other being could possible restore your soul than Jesus?

Why do we worry if the Lord is restoring us? Why do are we afraid? Why are we anxious? Why are we sad? If God is restoring us, and leading us in the paths of righteousness “FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE” then why?

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

4 Yea, 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.

This verse is interesting because it tells us that even though the Lord will lead us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake, this would also mean that the Shepherd would also lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.

This would indicate that even this valley of the shadow of death is considered an upward journey of restoring, in bringing us back, re-establishing us, returning us to our former condition, place and position, repairing the relationship to its original condition.

Even though the journey may seem like we’re facing death, remember that it is only a shadow, so what does a shadow mean to you? Something permanent or something temporary? We are also to fear no evil for His rod and staff should comfort us. What is the purpose of the rod and staff? Why doesn’t the Shepherd have a sword or even a giant torch, wouldn’t that be a better weapon to fight the shadow of darkness?

The rod and staff were used as an offensive weapon as well as for defence, the rod was particularly used to discipline for stray sheep, a tool that is needed the most for stray sheep, especially with sheep like us.

This tool that the Shepherd uses, isn’t meant to cause us harm or endanger us, as the verse says, it is meant to comfort you and secure you. Why would God put you on the path of righteousness for “HIS NAME’S SAKE” just to destroy you? Why kind of Shepherd do you think we are following?

And like stray sheep that could other sheep astray, we too can lead others down a path where the Shepherd isn’t leading or following the wrong shepherd, like following the wrong crowd and principles.

Turn to Jeremiah 3:14-15, here we find some similarities with Psalms 23.

Jeremiah 3:14–15 NKJV

14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

You see, we were once back sliding children, or stray sheep. But, the Great Shepherd calls our to us because He wants to restore us, to restore our soul.

He is taking us away from this sinful world, and He is restoring us to bring us back to Zion. That’s what He wants, but get this in verse 15 God says that He “...will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

If Jesus is our Great Shepherd, then who are these shepherds that He is sending?

David a man after God’s own heart

According to the Bible, David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart, yet God sends shepherds according to His heart and that will feed His people knowledge and understanding.

What did David have that we could have? What was David’s relationship with God?

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

Paul recognises that David followed the will of God, how are you doing in that department in following God’s will?

What about David’s character? I mean, he did a few bad things right?

But it is how David humbled himself before God, how he repented, how he was devoted, faithful, trusting and obedient. Now matter what, this was an example of a man after God’s own heart. Are you any of these?

Now, I don’t want to assume anything, but does anyone know the other word for shepherd? Pastor

This is not saying that I am a man after God’s own heart, neither does that mean that I am the shepherd that will feed God’s people knowledge or understanding. I do not feel that I am worthy to take this title, however, this is the standard that we as Seventh-day Adventists need to uphold rather than be caught in this hysteria that the world is facing.

God could be using you to shepherd the lost sheep to the Great Shepherd, not in theories or assumptions but in feeding His flock with knowledge and understanding. In telling people to not to fear as they walk in the valley of the shadow of death because the Shepherd’s rod and staff should comfort them rather than hurt them.

I see too many people using the Bible prophecy as a way too to prove that the Bible is right, like prophecy is used as a tool, instead of what prophecy is meant to be pointing to.

John 5:39–40 NKJV

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Sometimes we emphasis our point by pointing to the rod and staff; to the tool rather than Him who holds it, the Great Shepherd who holds that rod and staff.

This is why we need to be that shepherds that feed His people with knowledge and understanding. What the Word of God says and how it points to Him and what it all means for us and our salvation in Him.

As you’re aware, Pastor Andre will not be here next year to feed you with knowledge or understanding, another pastor will take his place. Some of you may be aware of who it is, and that pastor is Pastor Joshua Gonzalez, he will be your next pastor for 2022.

I believe he will be an excellent pastor that will lead 3am Ryde as we venture out of this lock down restrictions and settle you. However, he will not be the only shepherd that will lead people to the Great Shepherd so don’t think that you are off that easily.

Are you an elect of God after His own heart to feed His flock understanding and knowledge? How will you help the lost sheep return to the Shepherd for their souls to be restored? How will you encourage people to follow the right path of righteousness?

Psalm 23:5–6 NKJV

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Friends, there is a reward that awaits those that follow the Shepherd through the valley of the shadow of death. But the reward isn’t something that is material, it is the reward of dwelling in the house of the Lord Forever, meaning, being at the side of the Lord Forever. The Shepherd has fulfilled His duty and brought us home, He has restored us, brought us back, re-established what was lost, returned us to our former condition. That’s what we’re looking for, we’re rewarded for our hard work in shepherding the sheep to our Great Shepherd, Jesus our Lord.

This is the will of God, seeking the Lost and leading them to Him.

And as you venture into 2022, with your new pastor, I pray and hope that this is what you will take up in being the shepherd that God has sent to lead His sheep to our Great Shepherd.

I say this because next year, I have been assigned to another church in 2022, as of the 1st of January I will be starting my new placement in Waitara SDA Church and I pray and hope that you all will be inspired and encouraged by the Holy Spirit to be the shepherd that God wants you to be and lead the community of Ryde to know Jesus Christ our Great Shepherd.

But it isn’t only me that is leaving, Luba has accepted a role in the Australian Union, and will be leaving us next year as well. I would like to publicly acknowledge Luba’s role in organising the sermon roster for 2020 and 2021, where she invited various guests from here and abroad to come share the Word with us, as well as her leadership in with Food Pantry and other roles that she took part in our church. Her talents and enthusiasm will be missed in this church, but we believe it will be a huge blessing at the church she will be attending to in Melbourne.

Yet as the church has people leaving, it is up to you to step up and take the reign, to be the shepherd that God would want you to be, to lead and to feed.

Conclusion

There is no greater privilege than to do the Lord’s work, to be rewarded by the many lives that have been changed. To see people live a new life because of Jesus. God has given you the talents needed to shepherd the lost sheep to Him.

We’re going to look at Jesus and Peter and their last dialogue in the book of John, but I want you to add your name instead of Peter’s name as we read this passage.

John 21:15–17 NKJV

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Will you go? [go to each congregant repeating the samething]

Go and feed His sheep. Amen.