The Staff of God. Psalm 23 1{A Psalm of David.} The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 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 for ever. Many people claim the Lord is my Shepard but I would like to look at what a Christian can expect from their Shepard in a brief and short teaching. 1) First let’s look at a verse by verse analysis of what the sheep is saying about his Shepherd in Psalm 23. After claiming the Lord as the Shepard he recognizes that Jesus is good and that no matter how things might look the Good Shepard provides for his sheep. This is saving Faith. Ezekiel 34:11 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 2) Second the Good Shepard is recognized to be trusted to lead the His sheep to provide their daily needs. 1Timothy 6:6-7 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 3) Jesus promises to lead His sheep in the ways of Righteousness for His own glory. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Isaiah 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another. 4) As a sheep I do not have to fear anything including death itself because my Shepard will use His Staff of Correction on me if I go astray and He will use His Rod of Safety on the wolves that try to steal me from Him. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 5) Jesus prepares a place for me at His table to welcome me home even while I am still in the presence of my enemies. John 13:36 Simon Peter asked him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied, Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. John 14:12 In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 6) The sheep trust in the Lord’s promise to return and give them a place where they will ever be with the Lord and have his free gift of eternal grace dwell over them forever. Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. This is what we as the sheep of the Lord are to expect from the Lord. Now I want to address what the wolves should expect. Those who say it is okay to want more and teach a gospel of the Lord promising anything more than our basic needs met should expect a great disappointment when their money fails in the Day of Judgment. Those who do not receive correction from the Lord which leads to change and sanctification should expect hellfire. Those who claim that the enemy will never surround them should expect a great beating when trials and tribulations come. Finally those who look for an earthly mansion should expect that they have received their reward already. Leviticus 26:14-14-20 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. Luke 6:24 -26 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. If you have been part of the wolf pack and fallen for their predatorily ways there is yet hope!!!! Ezekiel 18:20-23 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Repent for the time of the Lord is at hand………….Your sins can disappear into a sea of forgetfulness and the Lord promises that He will never even bring them up ever again. This is the Good Shepard I serve!!!
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 23:49:55 +0000
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