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of Psalm 23. Possession “The Lord is my shepherd”. Of all the things that any one man can possess, there is none greater than a relationship with his Lord. “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘ My Lord and my God !’” - John 20:28
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Possession“The Lord is my shepherd” • Of all the things that any one man can possess, there is none greater than a relationship with his Lord. • “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” - John 20:28 • “...I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” – Philippians 3:8 • Can you say today that Jesus Christ belongs to you?
Provision“I shall not want.” • When one becomes a Christian, he has every need, of a Spiritual nature, filled: • We need to see?- Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world!” • We need guidance? – Jesus says, “I am the Way” • We need to learn? – Jesus says, “I am the Truth” • We need to be fed? – Jesus says, “I am the bread of life!” • We need to be comforted? – Jesus says, “Come unto me and I will give you rest!”
Provision“I shall not want.” • Matthew 6:25-32 – “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry..For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” • Philippians 4:19 – “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Paternal“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” • Just as a father tucks his precious child in bed for the night, our Heavenly Father gently cares for the well-being of His children. • Sometimes the softer paternal side of God gets lost in the strong, stern aura that often surrounds Him. • 2 Corinthians 6:18 – “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”
Paternal“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” • Matthew 7:11 – “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” • 1 John 3:1 – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” • Let us be more diligent to truly see God as our “Father”.
Pastorship“He leads me beside the still waters.” • In our Christian walk – Jesus Christ is the leader! • It is Him, then us – Not us, then Him. • It is the spiritual equal to “Follow the Leader”! • Matthew 15:14 – “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” • Who are you following? – Friend, Parents, Spouse, School Teacher, Girl/Boyfriend, Government leader,etc
Pastorship“He leads me beside the still waters.” • Jesus Christ is the Chief Pastor, The “Chief Shepherd” • 1 Peter 5:4 – “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. • John 10:3 – “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” • 2 Corinthians 2:14 – “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ”
Personal“He restores my soul.” • We cannot neglect the great depth that is involved in our personal relationship with God. • Our relationship with our loving Father goes beyond that which we have with our spouses and even children. • Probably the hardest thing to grip as disciples is that deep, personal, one-to-one closeness that we should have with God. • Do we think that God is too busy with all other believers?
Personal“He restores my soul.” • It is more than just “do what He says” • It is more than just “talking the Christian lingo” • IT IS DEEP! IT IS INTIMATE! IT IS PERSONAL! • It is that spiritual embracing that takes place just between you & God. • John 17:26 – “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Purpose“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” • We must always remember that in our discipleship, that is our following of Jesus, it is for the purpose of glorifying His wonderful name! • It is for the sake of Jesus that we live as Christians! • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Purpose“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” • 2 Thessalonians 1:12 – “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you...” • 1 Peter 4:14 – “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” • Why are you a Christian? For your sake or Christ’s?
Peace“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” • Even in the darkest hours of our lives, we can have peace knowing that God is with us. • Romans 5:1 –“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” • Philippians 4:7- “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Peace“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” • Sometimes, I think we talk the talk when it comes to having peace in Christ, but when we come to the crossroads and it’s time to demonstrate our peace in Christ, we fall flat on our faces. • What a great tool for evangelizing – when others see the peace we have in Christ, it can only be desired! • 1 Peter 5:14 - “Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus”
Protection“For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” • The staff and rod of the shepherd were used as and are symbols of security and protection. • We are comforted & protected by the Holy Spirit! • Acts 9:31 – “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Protection“For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” • Let us be comforted knowing that we are protected.
Preparation“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” • Jesus Christ is in the business of preparation! • John 14:1-4 – “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Permission“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” • “Anointing” carries with it the idea of confirmation or granting the permission of being accepted. • 2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’” • When we become Christians, we are accepted, confirmed or anointed to be partakers of His holiness.
Permission“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” • Hebrews 3:1 – “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider...Christ Jesus.” • Hebrews 3:14 – “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end..” • Colossians 1:12 – “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light”
Permission“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” • 1 John 2:18-27 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who do denies that Jesus is the Christ?..These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you...”
Preservation“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” • “Preserve” – to prepare for future use; to protect from loss and/or destruction. • What a great spiritual thought! So as long as we live for Him, He will ‘preserve’ us for future use! • 2 Timothy 4:18 – “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”
Promotion“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” • There will come a day when we must take the step from mortality to immortality; from corruption to incorruption! • For most of the world it will be considered a demotion; that is a transformation downward. • For the faithful Christian, it will be the promotion of all promotions – the upward transformation from flesh and blood to an eternal home in heaven.
Promotion“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” • 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 – “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...
Promotion“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” • ...For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law...
Promotion“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” • ... But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” • For you will it be a promotion or demotion?
Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Peace Possession Provision Protection Paternal Preparation Pastorship Permission Personal Preservation Purpose Promotion