# 1 in Series
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.
Isa 53:6… We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
So we desperately need a Sheppard.
Of all of God’s creation the sheep are some of the least able to care for their self.
1. Sheep are dumb: Ever seem a circus sideshow with Marry and her lambs. Can’t teach them to roll over or play dead. I never met a sheep trainer.
2. Sheep are defenseless: No fangs or claws. They can’t bite or out run you. You won’t find sheep as a team mascots
3. Sheep are dirty: Can’t clean themselves. No such thing as a sheep bath.
So sheep need a Sheppard and we are just like them.
1. We do not know all that God knows
2. We can not defeat our enemies in our own power
3. We can not rid our life of the sins that so easily comes into our life.
We need a Sheppard
Some here really don’t like being compared to a sheep. We have to eat a little humble pie to put ourselves on a sheep level.
So let’s have a little test. See if you succeed in self-reliance. Raise you hand if the following describes you!
1. You can control your moods.
• You’re never grumpy or sullen.
• You are always upbeat and upright.
• Never pout, or discouraged or down in the dumps.
• Does that describe anyone here?
2. You are at peace with everyone.
• Every relationship is as sweet as the Christmas fudge.
• Even all of your old flames speak highly of you.
• Love all and are loved by all.
• Is that you?
3. You have no fears.
• Wall Street plummets---no problem.
• Heart condition discovered--- no concern.
• More war on the horizon--- old news
• Would that person be present?
4. You need no forgiveness.
• Never lied or never cheated.
• Never lied about cheating
• Never made a wrong statement or a mistake.
• Could that person raise their hand?
Lets evaluate all of this:
• We can’t control our moods
• Some relationships are shaky
• We have fears by the truck load
• We all have many faults
The 23rd Psalm of the self-reliant
I am my own shepherd. I am always in need
I stumble from mall to mall and shrink to shrink seeking relief but never finding it.
I creep through the valley of the shadow of death and fall apart
I fear everything from pesticides to power lines and I am starting to act like my mother
I go down to work every morning and am surrounded by my enemies.
I go home and even my gold fish scowls at me
I anoint my headache with extra strength Tylenol
My jack Daniels runneth over
Surely misery and misfortune will follow me, and I will live in self doubt for the rest of my life.
Closing:
To start of the new year it would be best to come to THE LORD and allow Him to be THE SHEPPARD.
Lets unload all the extra baggage and admit that we are just simple sheep by rededicating our mind, will and emoticons to the lord.
Altar:
• A suitcase of guilt.
• A sack of discontent.
• A duffle bag of weariness
• A hanging bag of grief
• A backpack of doubt,
• A over night case of loneliness
• A trunk of fear
• We do not know all that God knows
• We can not defeat our enemies in our own power
• We can not rid our life of the sins that so easily comes into our life.
Prayer
