Following The Sheppard (Part 1 Of 6)

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Following the Sheppard

Psalms 23

Ps 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.

NKJV

I. The Lord

Opening: Have you ever noticed the amount of baggage some people carry when they travel. It is amazing how one individual can go on a trip for several days and have very little baggage and a different individual go on the same trip for the same amount of time and have to have a lot of baggage.

The extra stuff is always packed and carried along for the “In case we need it” reason. It is a real discipline to be able to pack just what you need and nothing extra.

Application: In our spiritual life we need this same discipline of traveling light. Too many people stop by the baggage counter of life and pick up luggage that we really do not need but we keep the burden anyway, “In case we need it”

The baggage counter of life is located in the mind. As we rise to meet the day we pick up dozens of extra burdens.

• A suitcase of guilt.

• A sack of discontent.

• A duffle bag of weariness on one shoulder and a hanging bag of grief on the other.

• Add on a backpack of doubt, an over night case of loneliness and a trunk of fear.

No wonder we are all so tired at the end of the day. Luggage is heavy.

God said to set each of the luggage pieces down.

Matt 11:28… Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest NKJV

We have the opportunity to allow the Lord to lighten our load. If we are serious about following the Sheppard we will listen to his voice. Do you have luggage that the Lord can remove from your life. David’s 23rd Psalm will speak to your heart and mind bringing rest to your life.

Why not try traveling light, depending on the Sheppard, following His path? Try it for the sake of those whom love you. The cost of caring luggage is great.

Our excess baggage brings heavy burdens into the lives of our family.

• Our unforgiving spirit rains wrath upon the innocent.

• Our burden of guilt blocks the flow of Joy

• Our fear of the future inhibits spiritual growth.

• Our discontent with life plants negative seeds in hearts

But when The Lord is in control my baggage is in his care.

• He will help me to forgive

• He will remove the burden of guilt

• He can calm the troubled water of my future

• He can release the river of Joy into my life

For the sake of those you love… travel light

For the sake of God whom we serve… travel light

For he sake of your own joy an sound mind… travel light

1 Peter 5:6-7… Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. NKJV

II The Sheppard

The humbling is often the hardest part of our relationship. I continue to insist on doing everything my way instead of the Sheppard’s.

This is often seen in my golf game. I always want to go against the standard better logical way of play and go for the longest hit I can muster. Never mind the ditch, the tree or the water I’m goiong for the green.

Golf 101 says don’t go for the green.

Standard quality play says don’t hit the driver use the little club

Advice from a friend quietly urges do not go for the green,

But I can do this my self so…. I GO FOR THE GREEN!

Have you ever done this in life.

All that was needed was to:

• apologize but we had to argue

• listen but we had to talk

• be patient but we had to take control

• give it all to God but we had to try and fix it ourselves

Wanting things our way hinders the Sheppard’s perfect will.