(Section 2) The Lord Is My Shepherd Series

III. THE LORD IS

A. What does the word “is” imply? (Elmer Towns @sermoncentral.com)

1. Some only testify to past experiences with God.

“The Lord was my Shepherd.”

2. Some only plan to get close to the Lord-Shepherd in the future.

“The Lord will be my Shepherd.”

B. What two things can I count on when you use the verb “IS”?

Elmer Towns @sermoncentral.com

1. Right now. The Lord will care and protect you today.

2. Right here. You don’t have to go some place else to get into the

Shepherd’s care.

IV. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A. The Shepherd

1. In the Old Testament, sheep died for the shepherd. In the New Testament, Shepherd dies for the sheep. (Robert McKenzie)

2. Jesus is our Three-fold shepherd. (Robert McKenzie)

a. The good shepherd.

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

b. The great shepherd.

Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”

c. The chief shepherd.

I Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

3. Why is He called “Shepherd”?

a. He knows us.

John 10:14 “I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of mine”

b. He relates to us.

John 10:3-4 “He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out and when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.”

c. He loves the sheep.

Matt. 9:36 “He (Jesus) was moved with compassion on them, because they were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

d. He provides for the sheep.

John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

e. He sacrifices for the sheep.

John 10:11 “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

John 10:15 “I lay down my life for the sheep.”

f. He protects the sheep.

Psalm 23:4 “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

g. He feeds the sheep.

Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of

mine enemies”

Isaiah 40:11 “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

3. Not a hireling.

John 10:12 “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”

B. The Sheep (Robert McKenzie)

The nature and habits of sheep make them very different from most other animals.

1. Sheep are an object of property, not a wild animal.

a. Only domestic animal that cannot exist without man.

b. Horses, dogs, cats left to themselves will become wild.

c. Not sheep, they will be killed by wolves or winter.

2. We are compared to sheep:

Psalm 100:3 “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

a. Cannot train them to do anything.

b. They are defenseless. No claws, teeth, horns, fangs.

c. They have no sense of direction.

1) If ever lost cannot find way back. Sheep have no homing instincts. A dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home, but when a sheep gets lost, it’s a goner unless someone rescues it.

2) Must be brought back by Shepherd; must be found by Shepherd.

d. They are easily disturbed.

1) Least little thing will frighten them. Sheep are near-sighted & very stubborn, but easily frightened. An entire flock can be stampeded by a jack rabbit.

2) Prone to stray.

3) Weak, very little strength.

e. Unless their shepherd makes them move on, sheep will actually ruin a pasture, eating every blade of grass, until finally a fertile pasture is nothing but barren soil.

f. Sheep just can’t make it without a shepherd.

C. My Shepherd (Elmer Towns @sermoncentral.com)

1. He is mine.

a. The Lord is a shepherd, means He is one among many. Who or what is your shepherd? Job? Family? Retirement fund?

b. The Lord is the shepherd means He has the priority, but He is not personal. “The shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

c. The Lord is our shepherd means He relates to me in a crowd. “I’m only one among many.”

d. The name “shepherd” so precious in both Old and New Testament.