Untitled Sermon (25)

Psalm 23:1 NKJV

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

1. We have all seen fear at one time or another. Fear that’s on many forms, anxiety, stress, panic, and obsession.

a.But what is the most common fear that people face? WORRY.

b. We have all worried about a situation or circumstance that we knew would be disastrous; something we knew it would completely devastating; only to see it eventually worked out.

c. We have to learn to observe God’s hand at work so we don’t miss the most important details in the situation. If we don’t we will find out ourselves running scared and we consume ourselves with worry all over again.

2. Thankfully God gives us some insight how to do the fear of worry.

a. David deals with the issue of fear in one of the most familiar passages of scripture known.

David writes compares his time as a Shepard to Gods protection over us.

“I watch over them, I protect them, I have to defend them, I lead them, I chase after them when they go astray, I bring them back home to safety, I keep them out of danger.

David thinking this is what I do for the sheep because I am a shepherd. This is what God does for me, The Lord is my shepherd. And since he is, why worry?

Four important Characteristics about worry.

1. Worry is unhelpful:

Worry never accomplishes anything. It’s like sitting in your car with it in park, while you press your foot on the gas.

It creates a lot of noise, fumes and smoke, but it accomplishes nothing. Your car in park, with the engine running, and you’re going nowhere.

2. Worry is unreasonable:

Worry is a useless exercise. Why worry about something when there is nothing you can do about it? There are times when we can do something, but there are many times when we are powerless to do anything. So way worry about something you can do nothing about?

3. Worry is unhealthy:

Our bodies were not designed for worry. Charles Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic, studied what happens to the body when people worry.

He found out that worry affects the circulatory system. the heart, the glands, and the entire nervous system.

Mayo wrote, he never knew anyone to die from overwork, but many that dies from over worry.

You cannot worry yourself into a longer life, but you can worry yourself into a shorter one.

4. Worry is unnatural:

There is no such thing as a natural born worrier. It is a learned behavior. The more you practice it, the better you get at it.

What David is saying in the first part of the 23 Psalm is, we can face the unknown without the worry that produces fear.

We can handle anything that comes our way, if we know God. When David says “The Lord is my Shepherd, he is saying I know God.

The 23 Psalms starts with 2 simple, but very profound words: “The Lord” This is God who addresses my past. This is the God of present in the here and now. And this is the God who is the God of the future and all eternity.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever”

He is with us past, present, and future.

It is unnecessary for us to worry about the past. He is the God of the past.

It is unnecessary for us to worry about the present. He is the God of the present.

It is unnecessary for to worry about the future. He is the God of the future.

He is the God who is there holding out his hand.

This is easier said than done. We may worry about things we use to take for granted. Work, food on the table, safety if kids in school. Etc……..

THE WORK OF THE SHEPHERD

“The Lord is my Shepherd” Not a shepherd, or the Shepherd, but “my shepherd”

David claims a possession of ownership by God. As believers we have that same claim.

David knew that there were four critical things that a shepherd does for the sheep.

He provides. Shepherd provides food, water, and others necessities of life. Sheep cannot provide anything for themselves. They are incredibly helpless animals.

If they were left alone in a pasture, they would eat the grass down to the dirt and destroy the land. The shepherd had to guide into new fields. They ate not very intelligent animals.

He protects:

David when getting ready to fight Goliath, spoke of fighting off a lion and bear that had come after his sheep.

Sheep have no natural defense; they have no way to protect themselves. They have to depend on the shepherd to protect them.

He guides:

Sheep have no sense of direction and very poor eye sight. If they see something if front of it, they follow it.

Sheep don’t have the ability to find their way back home like a dog does. Sheep need to be guided. They are a lot like people; they will follow whatever is in front of them even if it leads to certain destruction.

He directs:

The shepherd is responsible for directing the sheep when his behavior leads towards danger. That is what the Lord does for us.

He directs us away from that which is harmful, He directs us through the valley of the shadow of death and back home again.

So the shepherd does four things. Provides, protects, guides, and directs. That is exactly what God does for us. Isaiah 40:11

Real sheep don’t worry

David said “the Lord is my shepherd. He cannot be your shepherd if he is not your Lord.

What does it mean for him to be Lord? It means to recognize that he is the one in charge of our lives.

John 10:14 NKJV

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

The Lord says that his sheep know him, listen to him, and follow him. Do you do that? That is what it means for him to be Lord.

It makes it very clear that nothing can snatch you out of his hands. So why worry?

Worry and faith do not go together.

“I shall not want”

Think of things you have gone through in the past, and what you are going through now. If the Lord has taken care of your past needs, don’t you think he will take care of you future needs?

When we are going through tough times do you really lack what you need?

God takes care of our needs and he provides for us.

Everything you go through the Lord knows about it. Elab

“I shall not want” Is looking to the future, and not worry about what lies ahead because “The Lord is my shepherd”

Psalm 23:2 NKJV

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

Just as a shepherd leads sheep to fresh grass, so does the Lord lead His people. Those who follow the Lord does not lack any spiritual nourishment.

God’s word feeds our soul. This is what a pastor should doing. But you have to be in Gods word ourselves.

Time in prayer.

When you spend time in prayer and time in Gods word, it will nourish your soul.

“He makes us lie down” Maybe that is what God is doing to us now.

Sheep are timid animals. They need the Shepard for protection. He was always with them.

The Shepard was the one in charge. We know God is in control. But is He in charge of your life, or are you trying to handle everything yourself?

Sheep have no natural way to defend themselves. They needed the Shepard to be with them to give them the comfort they needed.

We have an enemy that loves to brings us down, who loves to put us in a state of fear. But we have a Shepard leads us to a place of peace.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

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.

2. Why did David sue the plural from?

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

4. 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.

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

We have to allow the Lord our Shepard to lead us. Bible, prayer.

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. 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.

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

Psalm 23:3 NKJV

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

Restores: Bring back.

Why does our soul need restored? Because at times we can grow wearer. We can feel all is lost. Sometimes it because of things that are out of our control.

But there are times when we bring things on ourselves. Sin will cause us to grow wearer.

.We experience guilt over things we’ve done; things we’ve said; Things from our past that weight a ton of guilt on us. And we need to be restored. Not re-saved, but restored.

Psalm 51:12 NKJV

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

It can be things we haven’t done, and we don’t deal with it. Things you know God wants to do, but for some reason you don’t or just want do it.

Sheep would stray away from the rest of the flock. They would not follow the lead of the Shepard, and this would cause them to get into danger. But, the Shepard, who loved and cared for the sheep would go after them.

I would imagine there were certain sheep that didn’t this often. But the Shepard kept going after them to restore them.

When a child of God strays away. For whatever reason, that can bring a feeling weariness, hopelessness, God keeps on coming after them, to restore them.

He never leaves us, even when we leave Him. He will deliver us from whatever we have gotten ourselves into.

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness fro His names sake”

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness”

How does He lead? He leads gently. A Shepard doesn’t drive his sheep let cows, Our Shepard speaks, we hear His voice and we follow.

He leads down the right pathway in our daily walk. People will lead down the wrong path. False teachers out there that will lead down the wrong path. But as He (Our Shepard) we have to follow.

We have to follow His word, His will, His voice.

When we will His lead down the righteous path, we will be a better witness for His name sake. When we follow His lead down the righteous path we will love others for His name sake.

Our Shepard cares of us because He loves us.

He proud His love for us on the cross.

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.

In VS 3

1. He leads us in the paths of righteousness. But the paths are not always easy.

a. Path of righteousness do not protect us from the valley, but it is the Lord who leads us through the valley.

b. It is important that we do not compare righteousness with ease. To stand for what is right will cost you. The path to the peace of God, the righteousness of God, and the holiness of God will always lead through the valleys of tribulation.

c. It is through these valleys, hard times of struggles and difficulty that moves us to where He wants is to be.

2. Remember, David as a boy David was the shepherd of his father’s flock. Depending on the time of year would move his sheep from one place to another.

a. In the spring time the sheep would gaze down near the Jordan River, but when the summer time came the shepherds would turn their flocks to the highlands, towards the hills where the temperatures were cooler and the grass was more plentiful.

b. Not far from Jericho, there is a deep valley that runs up towards Jerusalem, known as the valley of the shadow of death. It is about 4 ½ miles long and as deep as 1,500 ft. There are some places in the valley that are only about 12 to 14 ft wide.

c. Elab 2 flocks could not pass going the different directions. One way in the morning and the other in the evening.

There are 3 important characteristics that are helpful to understand this valley.

Difficult:

1. It’s not a gentle rolling meadow. It is a deep and narrow canyons with some of the harshest terrain imaginable.

a. The valley floor is rough and uneven; there are deep potholes that have been carved out by rain. It is not smooth, it I not level and the way is difficult.

b. A lot of times life is like that. We have to go through narrow, confining place where the ground is dangerous and unpredictable and we must watch every step we take.

The valley is depressing.

Death: Shade of death. It implies darkness or gloom

1. The valley itself is so narrow and deep so not a lot of sum light gets in. A lot of darkness.

a. We may walk through valleys where it seems like the darkness seems so real. It may seem like the shadows of defeat and failure hang over you; as though the very shadow itself is closing in around you.

b. Even though the valley is dark, and gloomy, and can be depressing. It is passable.

2. He said he would walk through it, but he didn’t give in to it. The valley was dangerous, but the Shepard would guide the sheep through it.

a. When God guides you through the valley, He is eliminating your fear. David says, “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me

b. It is in this valley where our faith is built and proved.

c. It is this valley that God teaches us and builds our character. If we are going to be like Christ we are going to have to go through more of what Christ experienced and encountered.

.d Christ did not avoid suffering. He was not exempt from loneliness. He was not free from trials and tribulations.

e. We have to be prepared for the valley.

David said “ I fear no evil”

3.God never intended for the believer to be ruled and troubled by fear. David doesn’t deny the fact evil exists-he simply refuses to fear it.

a. How? Because he that the power of God in more powerful than anything that may come against us.

No matter what we face God is with us.

Relay on God’s protection.

“thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”

4.We don’t have a lot of need for a rod and staff today. But they were very critical tools for shepherding.

a. The rod was a heavy stick with a knot or root in the end of it. The shepherd could throw it. Elab

b. The staff. Elab on what it looks like. Elab on how the shepherd uses it.

c. Sheep were in the protection of the Shepard, He would get them through the valley.

d. The sheep would become fearful, but when they saw the Shepard, their fear would turn to comfort.

When we fear, we need to remember, the Lord is our Shepard, He is there.

Fear and anxiety will fade away if we (Hymn) “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full into His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace”

Psalm 23:5 NKJV

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Table: Sheep don’t eat from tables. So how does this relate to sheep?

1. On a table food, drink, is spread out. Table here is “something spread out”

Elab when the shepherd would move his flock to a new pasture he would prepare the land for the sheep.

6. He would walk over the land in order to eliminate any threats. Poisonous plants, predatory animals, snakes.

2. Nothing takes God by surprise. He knows whats lays ahead of us. He has prepared everything, we just have to be willing to follow.

a. The sheep trusted in the shepherd.

c. The best position we can take when we hurt is that of trust and patience. Allow the Lord time and opportunity to protect, heal, and defend you.

1. The shepherd would mix olive oil with sulfur and different spices and rub it all over the sheep’s head.

2. The first purpose was to protect the sheep. Sheep do not have tails like horses and cows, so they cannot swat away pests.

3. So files are able to land on a sheep’s nose or ears and lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch it drive the sheep crazy.

4. The oil was used to heal existing wounds. This is what the Lord does for us. PS 147:3

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

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.

Surely: Hebrew, without a doubt.

1. God’s goodness: He provides all that we need. Look at the 23 Psalm.

2. Gods mercy: It’s mercy that keeps us from his wrath. It’s God’s mercy that saves us for our sin.

a. All that we have read up to this point has been about Gods goodness, and mercy.

3. Shall follow me, all the days of my life.

a. The word in this verse is “follow” Elab this word in English.

b. But in the Hebrew it is much stronger. It means “to run after”

c.The cheetah is the fastest animal on land, and can run up to 60 MPH. When it chases it prey it will fixate its attention on the prey’s neck and will not moves its eyes off of it. Nothing distracts a cheetah’s focus once it commits to the pursuit.

d. Just like a cheetah commits and races after its prey, God’s goodness purses after us. (All the days of my life)

The Bible is full of testimony of the goodness of God. PS 145:9

Psalm 145:9 KJV 1900

9 The Lord is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.

2. Even in bad situations in life, God’s goodness is pursuing after His people. And no matter how bad our circumstances may be God will ultimately bring good out of them.

a. Along with God’s goodness is His mercy, (loving kindness)

Elab a Mom taking care of her baby. This is the picture of God taking care of us. He never gets tired of bending down and caring for us.

b. The loving kindness of God follows us all the days of our lives. It pursues us and stalks us relentlessly. It is limitless and He gives it freely.

God’s Goodness

1. Provides and protects

2. Supplies

3. Helps

4. Gives what we don’t deserve

God’s mercy

1. Pardons and forgives

2. Soothes

3. Heals

4. Holds back what we deserve

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”

1. The word “and” ties it all together. Yesterday, today, and all of our tomorrows.

a. God’s plan for our lives is for His goodness, and mercy to purse us all the days of our lives. But that is not the end. There is so much more.

b. Throughout this Psalm David as lead us along the shepherd’s path through green pastures, and still waters, up through the valley of the shadow of death into the highlands. Now he is headed home

c.David speaks of dwelling in the house of the Lord. After our journey on this earth, the Fathers house awaits us.