Following the Shepherd
Part 2
Psalm 23:1-2
Ps 23
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 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
Review: Part One
• The Lord We need the power of the Lord
• Is My Sheppard who care for His Sheep
I.) I Shall not want:
Illustration: If I can get you to look carefully today I would point out to you the largest prison in the country.
The facility has more inmate than bunks, more prisoners than plates. If you speak to these inmates they will tell you that they are overworked and underfed.
No prison is so populated or oppressive or permanent.
Most inmates never leave, never escape and never get released.
The name of the prison is WANT:
Those in this prison just want:
Something bigger
Something new like a car or a house
Something faster, nicer, better, or just different
Some inmates even receive what they want: only to fine out that what they wanted did not satisfy very long so they were only in the prison of wanting again.
Are you in this prison today?.... Symptoms of the WANT prison
Do you feel better when you have more?
Do you feel worst when you have less?
Is Joy receiving……?
One transfer
One delivery,
One make over
One award
If your happiness comes from something you ……?
Drive
Deposit
Drink
Digest
Ps 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
NKJV
The place where the discontent of life begins to die is where the Sheppard is able to guide you to the pasture of satisfaction.
Questions:
Do you own a house, a car, some cloths? How about some fishing or hunting gear? What about other hobbies like crafts, sports, painting. Think about the jewelry, stocks or the retirement fund.
Truth: First it is not ours:
We really don’t own any of these things. None of this stuff is ours!
Eccl 5:15… As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,
To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor
Which he may carry away in his hand.
Truth : Second it is not you!
Luke 12:14-15
15 Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are."
TLB
The lord does not know you by the clothes you wear or the car you drive
1 Sam 16:7
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
NKJV
When God thinks of you he is seeing your compassion, devotion, sacrifice, obedience, your love, your relationships your integrity, your honesty.
We know we are locked in the prison of WANT when we identify ourselves or others with material possessions.
Illustration: Missionary on Tobago Island was only her for a few weeks. She went to the leper colony eachday to lead a song service and preach a short sermon.
During the song service she decided to take request and asked he lepers if they had a favorite song;
On woman began to speak. Her ears were missing, lips eaten away very little hair left. Her face was much disfigured and missing the nose completely. She made the request, “Could we sing “Count Your Blessings”?
The missionary started the song but could not finish it. She said she would sing the song again but never sing it the same.
1. If your are hoping that a change in circumstances will change your attitude you are locked in the prison of WANT
2. If you believe when you receive the cherished item that your values will adjust than your locked ion the prison of WANT.
What is the one thing separating you from Joy?
How would you fill in this blank? I will be happy when ________________?
• When I am Healed
• When I am Promoted
• When I am Married
• When I am Single
• When I am rich……..
Now with your answer firmly in your mind answer this next thought. What if your ship never comes in? What if your dream never comes true? What happens if your sitituati0on never changes?
Would you still be able to be Joyful? If not than you are sleeping in the clod dark cell of WANT.
Any one and everyone in the “WANT” prison really needs a Sheppard!
With the Sheppard you have a:
God who hears you
The power of love behind you
The Holy Spirit within you
All of heaven ahead of you
Grace for every sinful temptation
Mercy for every failure
Direction for every turn
A candle for every corner
And an anchor for every storm.
ILLISTRATION: Counseling
A man went to the pastor for some financial counseling. He was in the midst of a financial collapse.
“ I’ve lost everything he complained”
The minister said, I am sorry you lost you faith
No the man said, “I have not lost my faith.
(Also Character and salvation)
The minister said, You have you faith, your character and your salvation. It seems to me you lost none of the things that are really important.
What we have in our Sheppard is greater than what we don’t have in life.
ILLISTRATION: Puritan prayer who sat down to eat with only a small glass of water and one piece of bread, “All this and Jesus too”
1 Tim 6:6
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
NKJV
Today the prison doors are going to open for those who decide to get out of jail.
For every person who comes to God and says:
The Lord
Is MY Sheppard
And I shall not want
• If you will mead that statement you can be free today from the grinding pain of WANT.
• Some need a new way of thinking!
• Others need a better understanding of God’s blessings
• Some will surrender their inner desires to God
• Others need the desires of God to become their p
