The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
What is a shepherd? The dictionary says that a shepherd is a man employed in tending, feeding and guarding sheep in the pasture. A shepherd was not a prestigious job; it was given to the one who could do nothing else. It was usually given to the youngest in the family, or hired out to those with no family. Shepherds didn’t have much of a social life, he was usually an outcast. A shepherd was a man of no reputation, living usually in cabins with their flocks, or teaming up with shepherds from other flocks. Such was probably the case when the angels appeared before the shepherds watching their flocks. Jesus was a shepherd, coming to earth having no reputation; an outcast to many, and not wanted. Now we are known as God’s sheep, and He is our Shepherd. So if God is our Shepherd, then He will take care of us, protect us, and feed us. A shepherd keeps all the sheep in one place, because he knows that if the sheep wonder off, there are dangers out there that could hurt or kill it. So if a sheep keeps running off, the shepherd may have to break the leg of the sheep. Now the sheep can’t go astray, and it is totally dependent on the shepherd to take care of all its needs; feeding it, protecting it, and so on. So by the time that the leg is healed, that sheep has gotten so close to the shepherd that it doesn’t want to go anywhere again. Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Sometimes we get too much of the world in us and we go astray. Now at first, we stay within an ear-shot of the Masters voice. We still read our Bible, we still go to church, we even pray from time to time, but we are so in love with the things of the world that we become more worldly than Christ like. But unlike the sheep, when The shepherd has to put us down, we attack Him, saying “well I don’t know how a loving God could let this happen to me.” Sometimes He needs to put us down so we will look up. But He does it out of love, not hate or anger.
Now the shepherd will watch as the sheep goes farther and farther away hoping that they might come back on their own because the Bible tells us in Romans 2:4b not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? He is longsuffering, and waits longer than we think for us to come back on our own. But when we don’t and we cross that line, then He will come for us. He will take care of us while we are under His authority, but if we want out so bad, then He will let us go. (into the world; not meaning losing your salvation)
But don’t get mad when He doesn’t protect you and feed you. We do what we want to do, yet we expect God to take care of us. When you were growing up, did that work with your parents? I believe God might be at least as good as your parents. We are in a war, and as long as we stay within the compounds of our camp, we have protection from General Jesus, but if we leave the compound and go off on our own, we do so without His protection. What will God do if we stay? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He leadeth me beside the still water. Sheep are very spookish animals; they scare easily. It is said, that they will dehydrate and die if the place where they drink is rippling. Have you ever been scared? God said that He will comfort you. I can remember growing up with hurricanes and tornados. I remember how scared I would be when they came through, and the lights would go out, and the wind would howl. I would be terrified, until daddy would pick me up in his arm and tell me, “don’t worry, everything is going to be ok.” It didn’t bring the lights back on, or stop the howling of the wind, but suddenly it was ok, because daddy said it was. We were going home one night with Jerry’s grand-baby in the back seat. She was screaming bloody murder. I asked Jerry what her name was, and he told me. I said to the baby from the front seat in a calm gentle voice, “Hush, everything is alright”. She never made another sound until we got to my house. Now if that gave her security, and my dad saying it’s ok gave me security coming from my earthly daddy, how much more comforting should it be coming from my heavenly Daddy?
God is telling us when we go through things that scare us in our lives; “it’s ok!” He tells us in Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. I’m so glad He gives me peace and comfort in the times of trouble. And if He gives it to me in times of troubles, He will give it to me when things are good too. But sometimes, people don’t believe God, when He promises us things. They would rather worry than rejoice Why they have a back-up list of worries and complaints, in case God takes care of the first list.
That is why people do drugs, and get drunk so they can forget about their problems for a while. Just remember, there is pleasure in sin; but only for a season. Sin is like a credit card; you can enjoy it now but it is going to cost you a whole lot more, down the road. But people go back to it time after time because it is just like the Bible says in Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
He offers peace and protection from the enemy to His sheep, but for the wolf in sheep’s clothing, who does good things, goes to church, gives to the church, He tells them in Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For these too, He has a promise. He will take care of their need for salvation.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: It isn’t enough to know the facts; we need to believe it in our heart. It says in Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You ever promise someone to go to church knowing good and well that you weren’t going to go? But you told him what he wanted to hear. Or have you ever said “hey friend it is so good to see you” when in your heart you know they are going to borrow something from you?
And you know if they EVER brought it back, that it was going to be broke. There is no equal sign between your heart and your head. They don’t necessarily agree. And so it is, when people go through the motions of getting born again. They say it with their mouth (from a head knowledge) but it doesn’t mean anything in their heart; therefore there is no equal sign, meaning no salvation.
You may believe in God, and you may even believe in Jesus, but you have never, in your heart, relied on His sacrifice paying for your sin. Even satan believes in God, and Jesus, but I can assure you that he will not be in heaven. Neither will the person that just says a prayer. The heathen pray all the time but it doesn’t mean anything. I am so glad that I have a loving God that supplies ALL my needs.
What is a shepherd? The dictionary says that a shepherd is a man employed in tending, feeding and guarding sheep in the pasture. A shepherd was not a prestigious job; it was given to the one who could do nothing else. It was usually given to the youngest in the family, or hired out to those with no family. Shepherds didn’t have much of a social life, he was usually an outcast. A shepherd was a man of no reputation, living usually in cabins with their flocks, or teaming up with shepherds from other flocks. Such was probably the case when the angels appeared before the shepherds watching their flocks. Jesus was a shepherd, coming to earth having no reputation; an outcast to many, and not wanted. Now we are known as God’s sheep, and He is our Shepherd. So if God is our Shepherd, then He will take care of us, protect us, and feed us. A shepherd keeps all the sheep in one place, because he knows that if the sheep wonder off, there are dangers out there that could hurt or kill it. So if a sheep keeps running off, the shepherd may have to break the leg of the sheep. Now the sheep can’t go astray, and it is totally dependent on the shepherd to take care of all its needs; feeding it, protecting it, and so on. So by the time that the leg is healed, that sheep has gotten so close to the shepherd that it doesn’t want to go anywhere again. Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Sometimes we get too much of the world in us and we go astray. Now at first, we stay within an ear-shot of the Masters voice. We still read our Bible, we still go to church, we even pray from time to time, but we are so in love with the things of the world that we become more worldly than Christ like. But unlike the sheep, when The shepherd has to put us down, we attack Him, saying “well I don’t know how a loving God could let this happen to me.” Sometimes He needs to put us down so we will look up. But He does it out of love, not hate or anger.
Now the shepherd will watch as the sheep goes farther and farther away hoping that they might come back on their own because the Bible tells us in Romans 2:4b not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? He is longsuffering, and waits longer than we think for us to come back on our own. But when we don’t and we cross that line, then He will come for us. He will take care of us while we are under His authority, but if we want out so bad, then He will let us go. (into the world; not meaning losing your salvation)
But don’t get mad when He doesn’t protect you and feed you. We do what we want to do, yet we expect God to take care of us. When you were growing up, did that work with your parents? I believe God might be at least as good as your parents. We are in a war, and as long as we stay within the compounds of our camp, we have protection from General Jesus, but if we leave the compound and go off on our own, we do so without His protection. What will God do if we stay? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He leadeth me beside the still water. Sheep are very spookish animals; they scare easily. It is said, that they will dehydrate and die if the place where they drink is rippling. Have you ever been scared? God said that He will comfort you. I can remember growing up with hurricanes and tornados. I remember how scared I would be when they came through, and the lights would go out, and the wind would howl. I would be terrified, until daddy would pick me up in his arm and tell me, “don’t worry, everything is going to be ok.” It didn’t bring the lights back on, or stop the howling of the wind, but suddenly it was ok, because daddy said it was. We were going home one night with Jerry’s grand-baby in the back seat. She was screaming bloody murder. I asked Jerry what her name was, and he told me. I said to the baby from the front seat in a calm gentle voice, “Hush, everything is alright”. She never made another sound until we got to my house. Now if that gave her security, and my dad saying it’s ok gave me security coming from my earthly daddy, how much more comforting should it be coming from my heavenly Daddy?
God is telling us when we go through things that scare us in our lives; “it’s ok!” He tells us in Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. I’m so glad He gives me peace and comfort in the times of trouble. And if He gives it to me in times of troubles, He will give it to me when things are good too. But sometimes, people don’t believe God, when He promises us things. They would rather worry than rejoice Why they have a back-up list of worries and complaints, in case God takes care of the first list.
That is why people do drugs, and get drunk so they can forget about their problems for a while. Just remember, there is pleasure in sin; but only for a season. Sin is like a credit card; you can enjoy it now but it is going to cost you a whole lot more, down the road. But people go back to it time after time because it is just like the Bible says in Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
He offers peace and protection from the enemy to His sheep, but for the wolf in sheep’s clothing, who does good things, goes to church, gives to the church, He tells them in Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For these too, He has a promise. He will take care of their need for salvation.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: It isn’t enough to know the facts; we need to believe it in our heart. It says in Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You ever promise someone to go to church knowing good and well that you weren’t going to go? But you told him what he wanted to hear. Or have you ever said “hey friend it is so good to see you” when in your heart you know they are going to borrow something from you?
And you know if they EVER brought it back, that it was going to be broke. There is no equal sign between your heart and your head. They don’t necessarily agree. And so it is, when people go through the motions of getting born again. They say it with their mouth (from a head knowledge) but it doesn’t mean anything in their heart; therefore there is no equal sign, meaning no salvation.
You may believe in God, and you may even believe in Jesus, but you have never, in your heart, relied on His sacrifice paying for your sin. Even satan believes in God, and Jesus, but I can assure you that he will not be in heaven. Neither will the person that just says a prayer. The heathen pray all the time but it doesn’t mean anything. I am so glad that I have a loving God that supplies ALL my needs.