It’s In The Bag
Psalm 23
Subject: Believe it to receive it!
The town preacher was walking through town one day. Mulling over in her head what to preach on Sunday morning. Wondering what word from on high would the Lord give her. She pondered upon the sickness that was running rampant in the congregation. She thought about the children who were dealing with various obstacles at school and at home. She thought about the mothers and fathers trying to raise their children in a world that seemed to be bent on hurting and abusing children. She thought about those who just could not stay sober long enough to come to church. She thought about the drug dealers on the corner across the street from the church. And her heart became heavy. As she walked in contemplation he spotted a young boy - 5 or 6 years of age. This little boy was sitting on the curb by the roadside. His clothes were tattered, his face was smudged with dirt. His shirt was missing a few buttons and his pants were to short. His feet were bare and he was in dire need of a haircut. He sat on the corner, clutching a small brown paper bag. The preacher watched in amazement as the boy gazed at the bag and giggle. She watched the small child for about 15 minutes. Finally the preacher walked over to the child and knelt beside him. When the child saw the preacher, a grin wrapped around his head and he lifted his bag toward her and asked, "Do you want candy?" The preacher smiled a looked at the small hand of the child and the small crumpled bag and he asked, where is the candy. "It’s in the bag!" The young preacher asked the boy.. "How do you know it is in the bag......" And the little boy grinned larger and said "Because My Daddy Said So!"
There was a phrase that was out a few years ago. Every time someone wanted to reassure you that everything was taken care of they would say, "it’s in the bag" or in other words it was done! Well I am here to tell you this morning that your Daddy wants you to know that it is taken care of, it is done. It is in the Bag!
When we look at this particular Psalm written by the chief psalm writer David we find him exalting and praising God and completely leaning upon him. He opens with the phrase "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want!" First of all he makes it personal! In order for us to be able to depend on God - we must have a personal relationship with him. That means more than on Sunday folks! Constant prayer, fasting, praising, reading His word, meditation, worship and repeat! We have to do like the song writer - Have a little talk with Him. Get to know Him. Commune with Him. Fellowship with Him. This way the Psalm can actually be the Lord is MY shepherd and not the one that my mom told me about or my dad told me about or my grandma used to sing about or the preacher preaches about. A personal one on one sho nuff no about Him relationship allows the Saints of God in times of trouble to look to God because He is an up close and personal! Giving us the reassurance that our blessing is on the way or It’s in the Bag!
When you do research and find what shepherd means, you will find that the shepherd is the complete care giver for his flock. He provides their shelter. He provides their food. He provides their healing. But most of all he provides them with direction! God provides us with the necessities of our lives as well...He sustains our faith with the direction of the word of God which enables us with the resources to live a life that is full. That means that we don’t have to live a life a meagerness unless we so chose! And what I mean by meagerness is not saying you have to have a great big house on a hill and two or three cars in the driveway. Meagerness in spirit...a life without joy....without peace....with out empowerment....without assurance. Meager lives come when you don’t know the Lord as your own daddy! Meager lives come when you don’t yet understand that Your Daddy will provide for you. Meager lives comes when you don’t understand that you have the assurance that your blessing is on the way - or It’s in the Bag!
Verse two "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters" When a shepherd leads his flock, he leads them to lush pastures so that they may be fed. Now the Lord leads us to His word so that we may be fed! Without the nourishment of His word, we become weak. When we go without our feeding we loose power. When we go without our feeding we miss our blessings. When we go without our feeding - when we forget to read when trials come we will not know that the storm is passing over. When we go without our feeding...when our bills get behind we won’t know that God does not forsake the righteous. When we go without our feeding when folk talk about us we won’t know that he will make our enemies our footstool. When we go without our feeding and our pillows are wet with tears we won’t know that weeping may endure for a night but Joy is coming in the morning. When we go without our feeding and our bodies are racked with pain, we won’t know that by his stripes we are healed. But when you get your feeding...and your strength is built up you will understand that even though you can’t see your blessing, because your faith is based upon the things you hope for and not upon the things you already have seen. When you get your feeding and you are told you will not make it You can shout I can do all things through Christ that Strengthens me! When some one asks you "how do you know that God is going to bless you: you can shout because He is in the blessing business. Because you have that blessed assurance that your blessing is on the way - Or it is in the Bag!
When he references the still waters - we must understand that sheep are frightened by swift moving waters - because they are poor swimmers. So the shepherd moves them to a still water so that they may drink because he recognizes their weakness. Well God knows our weaknesses too. 1 Cor. 10:13 Tells us He leads us and he promises not to put more on us then we can bear. God knows the limit and the stage of our faith. He also knows our attributes and strengths. And thusly encourages us during the period of temptation and tribulation to reach down into our still waters that run deep and wait on his direction because we are assured that our blessing is on the way. Or it is in the Bag!
Verse three gives us the assurance of direction! He restores my soul; he leads in the path of righteousness for his namesake! A lost sheep cannot find its way home so the shepherd must restore him or reconcile him back to the flock. Well God has reconciled us back to the flock through the birth life death and resurrection of Jesus! And once you become saved and you stray... he will not leave or forsake you! He will come and bring you back to the fold! He replenishes us when we become depleted! With the power of the Holy Ghost! He revives us when we become despondent. He restores us when we seem to have lost our way and then he directs us in the right way.. the path of righteousness! Oh isn’t it great news that He is our Daddy - our provider - our director - and our blessing is on the Way - Oh thank God it is in the Bag!
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - I will fear no evil; for thou art with me. Your rod and staff comfort me!
Number one a good shepherd protects his sheep against predators! So the sheep don’t have to be fearful of what is going to be! Well once we have given our lives to God, the fear of death and the grave has been removed. The resurrection nullified the finality of the power of Satan and the grave. Even with the possible outcome of death God has given us that candy in the bag guarantee of eternal life. So even when the possibility of death or dire circumstances come into our life - because we are no longer slaves to death because at judgement we have be promised eternal life We can say in dismal situations my blessing is on the way - or It is in the Bag!
Thou prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over!
When the Shepherd leads his sheep, to pasture, even if there are predators present - his presence keeps them at bay and thusly they may eat. Well the Lord who is our shepherd will not allow those on the outside to tear his children down. For his word says that there are no weapons that can be formulated to defeat His! And just as the shepherd carried oil to anoint the sheep as they became wounded and weary.. the Lord anoints us when we become weakened and weary with the holy ghost so much so that our blessing are overflowing. But in order to get to this point - that personal relationship must be in place so that you might say with authority oh God I know my blessing is on the way - It’s in the Bag!
Because Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.... and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER!
Because of this personal relationship
Because we know that God is our Daddy
Because we walk and talk with him
Because we sit down and read his word
Because we fast
Because we worship is name in spirit and in truth
Because we praise him in and out of season
Because we have a bond that is from personal experience and not from what we have heard... We can say like the song writer - Blessed assurance Jesus is mine! Because we know him and have felt him move in our lives - we can shout Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine. Because God is our Father - we are heirs of salvation - because Jesus died we have been purchased of God - because we have been baptized - we have been born of His spirit and washed by his blood. So when trials come we don’t have to worry but instead sing This is my Story! When the doctor is concerned = you don’t have to be - just say this is my song. When the bills are due to give up just keep praising the savior All the day long.........Oh when the teacher talks about you just sing this is my story - When your husband don’t act right just say this is my song.... When your children rebel just keep praising your savior all the day Long Because your blessing is on the Way! It is in the Bag!
