The Lord Is My Shepherd; He Restores My Soul

Sermon: The Lord Is the Great Shepherd (He Restores My Soul)

Part Two: Psalm 23: 1-3

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God wants to take us to the green pastures and quiet waters. He restores us. If we are rebellious and disobedient, we are going against our best interests.

Yea, although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will have no fear because you are my God, my shepherd, and death has no hold on me. Since I am a child of God and know His son died and rose again on the third day, I know where I am going.

What about you? Do you where you are going?

Death has the last word on this side of life.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, death has lost. Without Jesus, death casts a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We will struggle with enemies, pain, suffering, disease, and injury, but with all of our strength we cannot overcome death.

Only Jesus Christ can walk with us in the valley of death and bring us into His eternal light. Life is uncertain, but God is not.

Psalm 23: 5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

In ancient near eastern culture it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil at a banquet. The host was also expected to protect his guests at all costs. God offers the protection for us even when the enemy surrounds us.

Psalm 25: 2

O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

The Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Perfect Shepherd, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into His Father’s house.

Read the Full Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm Chapter 23
Psalm Chapter 25

Read Part One of the Sermon, The Lord Is the Great Shepherd

The Lord Is the Great Shepherd

Sermon: The Lord Is The Great Shepherd

Part One: Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

We are God’s child. He is our Father, Protector, the Great Shepherd. When David describes the Lord as a shepherd, he is writing about of his own experience as a shepherd when he was a young boy.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.

The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd. The Lord is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. We are not to be frightened or passive. We are to be obedient followers who place ourselves in His hands. He will lead us in the path of rightness.

If we go our own way then we are going to walk the path satan has for us. Do not think that satan isn’t waiting to lead you.

Job 2: 2

“And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Matthew 4:1

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a]by the devil.”

Now the devil thought he could tempt Jesus. What do you think he can do with us?

When we put ourselves in God’s hands, we have contentment.

Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior. However, when we choose to sin, we go our own way and we can’t blame God for the consequences of that choice.

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm Chapter 23
Job Chapter 2
Matthew Chapter 4

Join us later this week for Part Two of the sermon, The Lord is My Shepherd.

Do What Is Right – Tell Others About God!

Scripture: Acts 10: 34-35

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Scripture Commentary: Always strive to do what is right in God’s eyes.

This chapter in the Book of Acts tells us about Peter doing what is right by carrying the Word of God not only to the Gentiles but also to the world. God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ because Cornelius was seeking God but he did not know Christ.

We are God’s Messengers.

God saw the good in Cornelius. In his position, he would carry the Word to Rome. What would happen to people who don’t know Jesus Christ if we don’t tell them? We aren’t to judge if people should know about Jesus. We are to spread His message whenever and wherever we can.

God told Peter to take the gospel to a Roman and Peter obeyed. Are you obeying God’s mission for you? In every corner of the world there are hearts restless for God’s Word. They are ready to receive the gospel but someone must take it to them.

Seeking God is not enough. Someone must help place people on the correct path.

We are to take down all barriers of language, culture, prejudice, geography, socioeconomic level, and education to bring people the good news of Jesus Christ.

How will seekers find Jesus without someone to point the way? God is asking you to show someone the way to him.

Read the Entire Chapter
Acts Chapter 10

Every Life Involves Struggle … Endure!

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 1, 4, 7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (1) … In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(4) It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (7)

Scripture Commentary: We do not struggle alone.

We are not the first to struggle with the problems we face. Being a Christian involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to resist sin with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Many have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. We are alive so God still has a job for us.

God’s discipline is a sign of His love for us.

God keeps us, corrects us, and even chastises us at times because He loves us. It is never pleasant to be disciplined by God, but His discipline is a sign of His deep love for us.

When God corrects us, we should view it as proof of His love and ask Him what He is trying to teach us. When we talk to God and ask Him questions, He will answer.

Our God is a living God who takes care of us. Talk to Him.

Let the Holy Spirit grow in you. God will never lead you in the wrong way. Christ is both sufficient and superior.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hebrews Chapter 12

You Do Not Carry Your Burdens Alone

Scripture: Galatians 6: 1-6

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus bears our burdens daily.

No Christian should ever think that he or she is totally independent, not needing help from others. No one should feel excused from the task of helping others. We are to help alleviate each other’s burdens.

The body of Christ – the church – functions only when the members work together for the common good.

Do you know someone who needs help?

If you do, hold out your hand and do whatever you can.

When you do your very best, you feel good about the results. And when you do things, don’t compare yourself to others. Your gift is what God gave you. People make comparisons to point out flaws in order to feel better about themselves. Others compare because they simply want reassurance that they are doing well.

When you are tempted to compare, look at Jesus Christ. His example will inspire you to do your very best, and his loving acceptance will comfort you when you fall short of your expectations.

We are in God’s hands. Let Him show you the way to live and to be Christ-like.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Galatians Chapter 6

Thanks Be to God for All He Has Done

Scripture: Psalm 30: 1-4

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Scripture Commentary: Did you give thanks to God today?

Have you thanked him for bringing you through this year? Have you thanked Jesus for taking your place on the cross and dying for your sins? If not, give thanks now!

We can get so into ourselves that we forget to thank Him for giving us another day. There have been times when we’ve gone to bed sick and in the morning have been healed. Praise the Lord! Also, there have been times when we’ve placed ourselves in danger, and He has shown us a way out. Praise God!

God has done more for us than we have for Him. All He asks is that we praise Him, and love one another. You haven’t yet been called to the grave so God has work for you. Are you ready to work for Our Lord Jesus Christ?

What does the future hold for you?

God has kept you alive so sing His praises, carry His Word, and give thanks to Him.

Be happy and blessed!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalm Chapter 30

What Does A Man Gain from His Toil?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1: 2-4

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Scripture Commentary: Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.*

All of our human toil and accomplishment will come to naught. As it was with our forefathers, so shall it be with us. We need to keep this in mind as we journey through life. It we don’t, we will become either proud when we succeed (thinking we did this on our own) or sorely disappointed when we fail.

Solomon’s goal was to show that earthly possessions and accomplishments are ultimately meaningless. Only by pursuing God do we achieve real satisfaction.

We should honor God in all we say, think, and do.

As you take a hard look at your life, as Solomon did his, you will see how important serving God is above all other options. Perhaps God is asking you to rethink your purpose and direction in life. As you set out to find the meaning of your life, you must be ready to feel, think, question, hurt, and do more for God.

When we ignore God, it only highlights our problems because there are no answers without God’s eternal perspective.

True wisdom is found in God, and true happiness is pleasing him.

*Ecclesiastes 4: 6

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1

Additional Reading:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you^[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ sacrifice has made us free!

Free at last, O mightly God, I’m free at last! This is what Jesus Christ did for us when he went to the cross. We were on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s Holy law. (If you haven’t accepted Jesus in your life, you are still there!)

Without Jesus we would have no hope at all!

Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. But if you don’t turn from sin, what he did is lost on you. You can’t say, “The devil made me do it,” if Christ is in your life.

Jesus’s sacrifice has declared us ‘not guilty’. He has offered us freedom from sin and the power to do his will through the Holy Spirit which is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian.

We have a choice to make.

We have a choice to be controlled by our sinful nature or to follow the Holy Spirit. Once you have said ‘yes’ to Jesus, you want to continue to follow Christ.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will. Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best for we are truly free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

We Are From God and God Is Love

Scripture: 1 John 4: 4-8

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Scripture Commentary: We, who are from God, should love everyone.

How can you say that you hate someone and still consider yourself to be from God? If we are God’s children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior, we are to love everyone.

If you truly follow Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. And if the Holy Spirit is in you, you will love everyone, even your enemy. When you choose to love even those who do you wrong, God reveals himself to others through you.

God is love.

John tells us that “God is love,” not that “Love is God.” Our world, with its shallow and selfish view of love, has turned these words around and has contaminated our understanding of love.

Real love is God, for He gave His only begotten son in order to show us His love for each and every one of us.

How can you say you love God and dislike someone? If you truly know God, you will love as He loves!

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 John Chapter 4

Saul, why do you persecute me?

Scripture: Acts 9: 1-4

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Scripture Commentary: Saul set out to persecute but then he met the risen Christ.

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute anyone who followed Jesus Christ. But on the way he was confronted by the risen Jesus Christ and was brought face-to-face with the true God.

As you travel your road to Damascus, you too will come face-to-face with God. And when you do and he stops you, will you take the time to listen to him?

Jesus comes to everyone to show them the way.

Sometimes God breaks into a person’s life in a spectacular manner, and sometimes it is a quiet experience. But as with Saul, God comes into your life to show you how to live, work, and love.

And like Saul, when that time comes you must acknowledge Jesus as Lord, confess your sins, surrender your life, and resolve to obey him. True conversion comes from a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It leads to a new life relationship with him.

What road are you on?

And are you hearing what God is saying to you? Or are you just hearing yourself?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 9