The Lord is My Shepherd I Will Not Lack Any Good Thing
(Psa 23:1-6)
It has been said that the greatest strain on relationships is the fear of not having enough provisions, money or material needs. Yet, people like Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, understood that his 5000 missionaries would never have to lack any good thing as long as they looked to the Lord as their Shepherd. During the worse times of famine, persecution and shortages, Taylor assured his fellow missionaries that God’s promises for provisions given in Psalm 23 was certain.
Let us begin our new year with the full assurance of God’s provisions for our financial, physical, emotional, mental, social, moral, and spiritual needs:
Illustration:
The amplified Bible translates Psalm 23:1 as
"The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not lack."
Consider the ways that we will not have to lack this year:
1. I shall not lack PROVISIONS - He makes me to lie down in green pastures. The Shepherd always leads the sheep to a place where they have plenty to feed upon. We will never lack the financial, physical or spiritual supplies that are necessary to complete His will for our lives. His pastures provide us with everything that is necessary for life and godliness. David wrote, "I have been young and I am old and I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed beggging for bread." Be willing to give more of what you have realizing the shepherd promises, "Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, it will be given to you." (Luke 6:38) Many people lack because they are not giving generously. Paul wrote, "He who sows sparingly, we also reap sparingly. But he who sows bountifully, we all reap bountifully. Provisions are provided as there is need so we should not hoard what we have but use it to bring others to the good shepherd who gives life and give it abundantly. (John 10:10)
Illustration: John Wesley’s father, Samuel, was a dedicated pastor, but there were those in his parish who did not like him. On February 9, 1709, a fire broke out in the rectory at Epworth, possibly set by one of the rector’s enemies. Young John, not yet six years old, was stranded on an upper floor of the building. Two neighbors rescued the lad just seconds before the roof crashed in. One neighbor stood on the other’s shoulders and pulled young John through the window.
Samuel Wesley said, "Come, neighbors, let us kneel down. Let us give thanks to God. He has given me all my eight children. Let the house go. I am rich enough." John Wesley often referred to himself as a "brand plucked out of the fire" (Zech 3:2; Amos 4:11). In later years he often noted February 9 in his journal and gave thanks to God for His mercy. Samuel Wesley labored for 40 years at Epworth and saw very little fruit; but consider what his family accomplished!
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, Moody Press, 1984, p. 251.
2. I shall not lack REST - He makes me to lie down. Too many people try to get rest from other means than from the Lord, the good shepherd. We can praise God that he provides peace that passes understanding as we refuse to give in to anxious or worried feelings but in everything by prayer and supplication make our requests known to God. Then the peace of God that passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He reduces our stress when we praise Him for being our truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, loveliness, excellence, admirability and dignity.
Application: He calms the storms in our lives so we can sing every morning, "You can only be blessed and have peace and sweet rest when you yield him your body and soul."
3. I shall not lack REFRESHMENT - He leads me beside the quiet waters. We can praise God that He will always lead us to where we can find a source for refueling our inner most being. He gives fresh vigor, renewal and energy to those who look to Him for their source of strength. He promises that to those who wait upon the Lord He will renew their strength. God told Isaiah, Though youths grow weary and vigorous young men stumble badly. Yet, they who wait upon the Lord, will run and not be weary and walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31) He reassures our hearts that He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who calls us by His own glory and excellence. (2 Pet 1:3,4) He rejuvenates us in a way that helps us persevere when it seems that the marathon of life is too long for us to endure.
4. I shall not lack REVIVING - He restores my soul. We can praise God that He reinvigorates the weary. No wonder Paul was able to say, "I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, perplexed but not in despair, put down but not put out. Always bearing in my body the death of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus can be made manifest in me." (2 Cor. 4) God helps us resuscitate those who appear to be out of breath. He replenishes our mind, emotions and spirit with his limitless supply of resources.
5. I shall not lack GUIDANCE - He leads me in the beside the quiet waters. We need to ask the Lord for continual guidance in what we are to say, do and think. Paul prayed, "I pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of His will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding so you can walk in a way that pleases the Lord in all respects and bears fruit in every good work while increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col. 1:9-11)
5. I shall not COMPANIONSHIP - "For you are with me." We can praise God that He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. One of my favorite songs that was used of God to lead the famous missionary John Hiebert to Christ went like this:
Song: Well, I found a friend in Jesus. He’s everything to me. He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. He’s the lilly of the valley. The bright and morning star. He’s the one who came and made me fully whole. In sorrow He’s my comfort. In trouble He’s my stay and I roll on Him my every care and woe.
Praise God that He is our closest, dearest and best friend who will never leave you or forsake you so that you can confidently say, the Lord is my helper, what can man do to me.
6. I shall not lack a RESCUER - "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." We can praise God that He is able to deliver you from any danger, harm or distressing situation. David wrote, "He is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer the one whom I will trust." (Psa 18:2) Call upon the Lord and He will rescue you from trouble. "I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from ALL of my fears." (Psa 34:4)
Illustration: The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
6. I shall not lack COMFORT - "Your rod and staff they comfort me." Not only does the shepherd provide protection, security but He also comforts us throughout our life. Paul wrote, "He comforts us in ALL our afflictions so that we can comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort that we receive from God. The Lord does not comfort us just so that we can be comfortable but so that we can provide comfort for others who are in distress.
7. I shall not lack SUSTENANCE - "He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Even when it appears that we may suffer want, the Lord assures us that He will provide all that is necessary to sustain us. Do not think that you have to worry, fret or feel insecure when you undergo times of shortages. If you allow the Lord to be your shepherd, He will provide for you in way that it will amaze even your enemies.
8. I will not lack JOY - "You anoint my head with oil." We can rejoice in the Lord always because He bestows upon us the oil of gladness, healing and soothing calm when we need it most. Look to Him for your joy that gives you a complete sense of strength, healing and infusion of happiness that overcomes the gloom in the world, your flesh or the discouraging darts from the evil one. He is the glory and the lifter of your head.
8. I shall not lack ANYTHING - "My cup runneth over." We can praise God that they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. He fills us up with the river of life that Jesus promised in John 7:38. He who believes in me as the scriptures said shall from his innermost being flow rivers of living water." We have everything we need when the Lord is our total Shepherd.
9. I shall not lack ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE - "Surely His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." God refuels us whenever we tap in to his unlimited reservoir of goodness and mercy. We need His goodness as in our sinful nature dwells no good thing. We need His continuous infusion of mercy as we naturally are selfish people who need forgiveness, cleansing and merciful grace from the only one who is able to make us right and holy.
9. I shall not lack ANYTHING IN ETERNITY - "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." WE can look forward with a sure hope that throughout eternity we will have everything that we need. Never again will we even have to worry about food, shelter or how we will pay our bills in heaven.
Illustration: One man asked God if he could bring one thing to heaven. The Lord said, "Sure, but tell me what you want to bring along." The man said, "Just my foot-locker that is filled with gold." God said, "You mean you want to bring along pavement?" The man had forgotten that heaven’s streets are paved with gold. The greatest riches on earth will pale in comparison with the riches we will enjoy in heaven for all eternity.
Here is a description of some of the characteristics of our Shephering God:
1. Calculator of rewards, recompense
2. Caleb inspirer
3. Caller
4. Calmer
5. Capability giver
6. Capacity giver
7. Capstone
8. Captain of our souls
9. Captivator
10. Care Giver
11. Caring God
12. Carries our burdens, pain, hurt
13. Catcher of the wicked, deceitful
14. Cause Giver
15. Caution Giver
16. Caution giver
17. Celebrator
18. Celebrator
19. Champion
20. Change Agent
21. Changes Not
22. Character builder, shaper
23. Charitable
24. Chart setter
25. Chastener
26. Checker of motives, ideas
27. Checker-upper
28. Cheers the broken hearted
29. Chief
30. Children Blesser
31. Chooser of what is best
32. Chooses the weak of this world
33. Chosen One
34. Christ the Savior, Lord, King
35. Church builder
36. Cleanser from all unrighteousness
37. Clears the way
38. Client giver
39. Collision preventer
40. Colossus
41. Combater of evil, wrong, harmful
42. Comforter
43. Coming King
44. Commander
45. Commissioner
46. Committed one
47. Communication facilitator, enabler
48. Communicator
49. Communicator
50. Community giver and builder
51. Companion
52. Compass
53. Compeller
54. Competency giver, builder, maker
55. Complete Source
56. Concerned one
57. Confidence giver, enabler
58. Configurer
59. Conflict Resolver
60. Conqueror
61. Conquest enabler and effecter
62. Consideration expert, enabler
63. Consoler
64. Constant love
65. Contemplator
66. Contentment
67. Contentment giver, enabler
68. Continual infuser of love, hope faith, power, purpose, perspective, truth
69. Continuity giver
70. Contrast provider
71. Contributor of blessings, love, peace
72. Contributor of every good gift
73. Controller
74. Converter
75. Convictor
76. Coping director
77. Coping enabler
78. Corrector
79. Counselor
80. Country owner
81. Courage giver
82. Course setter
83. Creative One
84. Creativity giver
85. Creator
86. Crisis manager
87. Cultural king
88. Curer of sick
