For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there a four Scripture readings that proceed the Message. Today's appointed readings are: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25 and John 10:1-10
BIBLE "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." END
King David is the obvious person ....to write .... such a psalm.
A Psalm about The shepherd ......and his sheep.
For He ...... David, .... was a shepherd.
He was a Shepherd practically from childhood ...... all the way ...... to young adulthood...... following in the footsteps .... of his father Jesse.
He writes ............from experience.
He shares...... the relationship of a shepherd ......with his sheep .... and mirrored it ...... to our relationship with God, ... the Shepherd of Our soul.
The Lord is our Shepherd.... We have heard it since (hand down) ... our Youth. (Long Pause)
Illustration: A Sunday School class teacher ......required all the children in her class ......to recite the whole chapter.... of the 23rd Psalm......on the day ......of their graduation.
All the kids were so excited except one, ...Robert, ......was very shy ......and had difficulty memorizing.
Well......Graduation day came ......and every child was wearing a robe ......and a corsage.
One by one, ......the children recited Psalms 23 ...... with much enthusiasm.
Robert was to be last.
As he watched the other children recite the Psalm, ......he ducked under his seat ......fidgeting with the tassel of his cap ...... and the buttons .... of his robe.
When it was his turn, ......he jumped off his seat, ......grabbed the microphone, ......cleared his throat ......and with much gusto he declared...... "The Lord is my Shepherd"
There was a pause for several seconds.
Then with even a louder voice he continued, ......"That's all ... I need to know".
Beloved ... Indeed .... that is all ......we need ... to know.
"The Lord is my Shepherd?"
Today I would like to look at ...... this Psalm, ...... and share at least three perspectives ......to the journey of life.
David states in the Psalm............ "Even though I walk through the valley" (REPEAT)
Beloved ... First (1 Finger) ... Accept the reality ...... of the valley. (REPEAT)
Why do sheep ......need to go through a valley ......if it is such ......a difficult path?
Shepherds in the past ... and some to this day ......take their flock on a long journey ......to the mountains ......at least once a year.
During the spring, ......they graze in the fields near their home ......while the mountaintops ... are still covered ... with snow.
Then in the summer they seek the newer fields .... ......up in the hills.
They take the route through the valleys ......because it is cooler under the summer heat, ...... and ......it is well-watered.
The journey may not be easy, ......but it is necessary.
And there can be difficulties in the Valley. (Pause)
And Beloved ... There will also be valleys and difficulties...... in our lives.
Days when the sun does not shine as bright, .... Days when things look a little dark.... a little gloomy.
Valleys are inevitable.
Yet we must learn to accept .......... the reality of the valley.
There will be persecution and problems ....in life.
Life cannot ......and will not ......always be smooth.
There will be difficult days .... There will be difficult times.
Everyone will face them...... Some more.... some less.
Some deeper...... others not so deep.
Some longer...... some shorter.
Yet ... we all ....... will face them.
Beloved ...... Be of Good Cheer....... For the Lord is with us in the valley.
Jesus goes on to share these words with us, BIBLE "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." END John 16:33
In other words, we are told to...... Look to Jesus ......And do not to dwell on the troubles ... you will experience in the valley. (Put Down Bible)
(1) First (1 Finger) Accept the reality of the Valley. (2) Second (2 Fingers) How will you respond in the valley?
Beloved ......The Valley.... will make you ......or break you.
Do not ... Do not ... focus on the Valley...... Focus on the Shepherd.
Declare to God your faith in Him...... just as David did.
Notice in the first part of Psalm 23 ......David speaks of God in the third person,
"The Lord is my shepherd, He makes me lie down, He leads me, He restores my soul."
Now in verse 4, David speaks directly to God and states ...... I shall fear no evil "I am not afraid, because ... You are with me;
I will go through the Valley ....and I will go through it safely .... Why?...... For You are with me.
I am secure ......because You will protect me.... your rod and staff ....in Your hand. (Pause)
In the midst of difficult circumstances ......In the midst of fearful times, ......declare your ... victory in God.
David proclaims.... I will walk, .... I will not fear...I will get through.
David is reminding himself...... of the truth of God's Word. ....... He is reminding himself...... of what God has promised.
We are to keep on ...... keeping on, ......even though the path of life ...... may be difficult.
David had life...... in perspective.
He did not say, I walk IN the valley ...... He Said I Walk ... Through the Valley.
Beloved (Slow) The valley is temporary. (REPEAT)
But We need to...... go through the valley ......We must go through the valley......to reach the new pastures.
Hear these words of comfort from Paul's second letter to the believers gathered in Corinth:
BIBLE "For this slight momentary affliction ... is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen...... but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, ......but what cannot be seen is eternal." END 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
The affliction is momentary... The valley is temporary.
David was determined ......David was confident ......that he...... will walk...... through the Valley.
Why? ......Because the Shepherd...... is with him.
The Sheppard.... will protect him. (Long Pause)
A second-grade boy named Jason......stood in front of his classroom ......to address the topic of the day: The topic was: "What I want to be .... when I grow up."
Jason proclaimed, ......When I grow up ......I am going to be a lion tamer in the circus.
I will have lots of fierce lions.
I will walk into the cage and they will roar.
And I will use a whip to control them.
He paused for a moment...... thinking through what he had just said. (Pause)
Then added, ......But of course, ......my daddy will be with me! (Pause)
Beloved.... Remember The Good Shepherd will be with you...... He is... with you ...... in the Valley.
First (1 Finger) Accept the reality of the valley.
Second (2 Fingers) The Valley will make you .... or break you.
Lastly (3 Fingers) Remember the Resources...... that God has for you.
David was not focusing on the valley.
His eyes were obviously focused ......on the shepherd ......and on the resources ......that the Shepherd was holding ......in his hands.
He clearly could see the rod and staff ......in the Shepherd's hands.
His eyes ......were on the Shepherd.
That too ......is where our focus.... must be!
The Shepherd will guide us and protect us with his rod ......and the Shepherd will help us ......He will Save us ......with his staff.
The Sheppard's rod.... is used to guide and more so to fight off attacks from wild animals; ......and His staff is used...... to rescue, ...... and to assist .... the sheep.
David speaks from experience...... He knew how important these tools ...... these resources were ......to a Shepherd.
We know from the book of 2nd Samuel .... that David when he was a Shepherd .... personally, fought off a lion ......and a bear.
David knows the power of the rod ......in the hands...... of a good shepherd!
It was through his past experiences as a shepherd ......that he understood ......what it meant to be ...... a Good Shepherd.
That is why David begins this Psalm by boldly declaring, ....... "The Lord is My Shepherd."
All the experiences ......describe in this psalm .... are based on the foundational truth ...... (Slow) "The Lord is my Shepherd."
Beloved...... The Shepherd .... does not observe us .... from a distance.
He is actively involved...... in our journey.
He is there ......with His sheep.
His rod and staff ......in His hand, ...... He is not a passive observer.
He is actively involved in the life.... of his sheep.
Our God is actively involved...... in the life of those who call Jesus.... both their Savior and their Lord.
He is in it .... with you.
The Lord states in our Gospel text ... that he ...... the ... Good Shepherd. (Pause)
So what is meant ... by this term ... Good?
In the Greek, ... which was the language that New Testament was written......There are two words that are translated ... into English ....As good.
The first is agathose (ä-gä-tho's) ... which implies a moral and capable quality ......about a person.
That is ... A person is good .... If they perform their assigned tasks well.
Now there is another Greek word that is also translated good ... and it is: kalos. (kä-lo's)
Kalos not only encompasses the attributes of the agathose, (ä-gä-tho's) ......but adds the qualities of being genuine, ... of ... being praiseworthy.
And that is the term that Jesus uses in our text ... a goodness ... far beyond just doing the reqired work ... of a shepherd.
It is a type of goodness ... that would make you feel secure ... and at Peace.
A goodness that is permeated...... with a love.
A love so deep...... That this Good Shepherd ... would lay down his life ... for the sheep.
Jesus was not a hired hand, ......one seeking ....to get paid .... To just complete a job... he was willing to lay down his life down, .... For the sheep.
For those that who have turned to Jesus for salvation.
For those who know him as their Savior and Lord.
We have more than a good shepherd.
Beloved ... our Lord is the kalos, (kä-lo's) Shepherd. (Pause)
Often, we pray individually ... or corporately ......requesting that God allow us ......to be an inspiration ......to someone else.
We want...... instinctively...... to be a channel ... a blessing ......to others.
And that .........is a ......good thing.
But The truth is .........that just as water can only flow in A channel ......or valley ......so it is for those ......that are followers of the Christ.
The blessings of God ......can only flow through the valleys .... that have been carved ......and cut ... into our own lives ...... Often times ......trough painful experiences.
The one who can best minister to a broken heart ......is one .... who has known ......a broken heart.
Most of us do not want valleys ......in our lives.
We shrink from them ......with a sense of fear ......and foreboding.
Yet in spite of our worst misgivings ...... God can bring great benefit.
God can bring lasting benediction to others ...... through the valleys .... that have been carved .... into our lives.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff...... they comfort me. (Long Pause)
A famous actor.... was the after-dinner speaker ......at a large function ......and when he stood up to speak, ......he invited his audience ......to choose a poem for him to recite.
There was a long silence .... until a retired pastor raised his hand ....and asked for... the 23rd Psalm.
The actor was slightly taken back.... but agreed to do so ......provided ...... that the pastor would recite it after him.
The actor recited Psalm 23 ....and received a standing ovation. (Pause)
Then the elderly Pastor stood ....and recited the Psalm,
And when he had finished .... there was not a dry eye ......in the house.
The actor came over to the clergyman ......and announced to all of the guests.
"The difference between his version... and my version is this.... I know the 23rd Psalm ...... he knows the Shepherd." (Pause)
O' Beloved......Do you know the Good Shepherd?
Do you truly know him ......do you truly trust him?
(Ending 1) Well Beloved ... The Lord is my Shepherd ... That's all I need to know.
(Ending 2) Beloved......Please stand with me (Lift up the Scripture insert) and let us recite ... slowly and in unison as the St. __________ Family ......the 23rd Psalm.
Amen and Amen!
(Another Illustration Below)
I received much insight from a message by Robert F. Collins titled "We Are Not Alone" and I commend it to you.
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings In Christ Jeff.
Another Illustration:
In the classic novel: ... "Alice in Wonderland," ... Alice comes to a fork in the road.
One path leads to the left, ... and the other path leads to the right.
So she asks the Cheshire Cat.... for advice:
"Would you tell me please," ...... "which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," ... said the cat.
"I don't much care where," answered Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," ... said the Cat.
Sadly ... There are a lot of people ... who just like Alice ... do not seem to know where they are going.
They just seem to drift thru life.
For all intents and purposes it looks like they are not going anywhere.
They are not really doing ... all that much ... with their lives.
But if you were to ask them, ... I am sure most would say ... they really want to do more ... with their lives.
They would like to believe that there is more to living than just "getting by".
They would like to believe they have a reason to live.
And, you know, that's natural, because God has built that yearning into our hearts.
God has placed a yearning in your heart and in mine ... that there is more to life than just "existing".
