THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD : I SHALL NOT WANT- PSALM 23
OUTLINE
1.RELATIONSHIP
2.REST
3.RESTORATION
4.REFINING
5.REFUGE
6.RENOWN
7.REWARD
THE MESSAGE
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD : I SHALL NOT WANT- PSALM 23
1.RELATIONSHIP:
’ The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. ’
We must have a relationship with the Lord as our Shepherd.A sheep is under the care of the shepherd and follows the shepherd.We must be submitted to the Lord as our shepherd and follow Him.We should not live any way we want and go wherever we want.We must follow the Lord and be under his care.Then we have the promise that we shall not want or lack anything because the Lord will take care of us like a shepherd.
2.REST:
’ He maketh me to lie down in green pastures .He leadeth me beside the still waters.’
When the Lord is our shepherd we will nourish us and enable us to experience peace and rest.A sheep will not lie down if it is uneasy or fearful or restless. When the shepherd causes the sheep to relax it will be willing to lie down. The Lord wants us to rest and enjoy his peace. He will lead in green pastures of rich nourishment for our life and lead us beside still waters of serenity and peace.A sheep will not drink if the water is not still. The Lord wants us to experience this deep peace in our soul.
3.RESTORATION
’ He restoreth my soul ’.
When the Lord is our shepherd He restores our soul .When our soul is discouraged or cast down within us He will revive us. He will preserve our soul. When Elijah was discouraged and wanted to die God strengthened him and encouraged him to continue.When Peter and the disciples went back to fishing in discouragement Jesus met them and encouraged them to continue serving Him.When the Lord is our Shepherd He will restore our soul.
4.REFINING
’ He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake ’.
When the Lord is our shepherd He will lead us in the path of righteousness. He will refine us and purify us and cause us to walk in the right path. We can identify whether someone is following the Lord if they follow the path of righteousness. We should not beleive those who work unrighteousness and wickedness and claim that they were led by the Lord to go in that path.The Lord never leads anyone in the path of unrighteousness.
5.REFUGE
’ Yea , though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil For though art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me’.
When the Lord is our Shepherd He is a refuge for us when we go through the valley of the shadow of death. His presence is a great reassurance for us in the lonely experience of the valley. The loss of a loved one or a fond hope and expectation can be a painful valley of the shadow of death. We need not drown in that valley of tears because the Lord is there to comfort us and heal our broken hearts.
6.RENOWN
’ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.Thou anointest my head with oil.My cup runneth over ’.
When the Lord is our Shepherd He will honour us before our enemies.He will anoint our head with oil. He will cause our cup to run over wherein we are filled to overflowing.Our cup is full and there is more left to overflow and bless others. He will bring renown and honour to our lives especially before the eyes of our enemies who want to humiliate us.
7.REWARD
’ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever’.
When the Lord is our Shepherd He will reward us by causing goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our life. There is no doubt about it because His word says surely it will happen. We need not chase after goodness and mercy and run desperately after it. We need only to follow the Lord as our Shepherd and He will make goodness and mercy to follow us like a shadow all the days of our life in this world and also throughout eternity and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. All these blessings can be ours when we submit our lives in the hands of the Lord as our Shepherd and follow Him faithfully.
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