From The Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
The Sheep of His Pasture
Psalms 100:1-5 Note Verse 3
Intro: This is one of the most well known and well loved Psalms in the Bible. I learned it as a child when I was only 5 years old. There are given in this chapter seven commands. All of them encourage us to give unto God praise, honor, and service.
1. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands
2. Serve the Lord with gladness
3. Come before his presence with singing.
4. Know ye that the Lord, he is God.
5. Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
6. Be thankful unto him.
7. Bless his name.
Then there are seven reasons given why we should carry out these commands of praise.
1. He is God.
2. He made us.
3. We are his people; therefore, he is our God
4. We are his sheep; therefore, he is our shepherd.
5. The Lord is Good.
6. His mercy is everlasting.
7. His truth endures to all generations.
What I am most interested in, however, is the reason to carry out these commands of praise as listed in verse 3. Particularly, where it is said, “We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.” I want to preach on the “Sheep of his pasture.”
I. The Privileges of a Sheep:
A. The Privilege of a Shepherd
1. Certified Shepherd: eight times the Gospels call Jesus the beloved Son.
2. Chief Shepherd: I Peter 5:4
3. Crucified Shepherd: Matthew 26:31 “It is written, I will smite the shepherd...”
4. Caring Shepherd: I Peter 5:7
5. Church’s Shepherd: I’m not the shepherd, He’s the shepherd
6. Common Shepherd: That is, he is humbled to be the shepherd, Genesis 46:34
7. Compassionate Shepherd: Mark 6:34
8. He’s the Good Shepherd (John10:11, 14)... The Great Shepherd (Heb 13:20)... The Gathering Shepherd... My Shepherd... He is The One Shepherd (Ecc 12:11)... Feeding Shepherd... Keeping Shepherd... Jeremiah said “He’s the Appointed Shepherd”... Ezekiel said “He’s the seeking Shepherd”... Amos said “He’s the Protecting Shepherd”... Zechariah said “He’s the Wise Shepherd”... Jesus said “I’m the only Shepherd” (John 10:1)...and in John 10:3-5, He’s the Calling Shepherd
B. Privilege of knowing other Sheep- Thank God for the friends I have made!
II. The Place of a Sheep
A. A Place in the Pasture: Thank God for a church!
B. A Place in the Protection: Thank God for His Watch!, Luke 15 (99 & 1 lost)
C. A Place in his Power: Thank God For Prayer and the Holy Ghost!
D. A Place in the Provisions of the Sheep: Psalms 23, I shall not want. All that I need!
III. The Prospects of His Sheep: We’re not being reared by the shepherd to be sold for slaughter, but his sheep will live forever. In the Old Testement sheep were raised for sacrifice. All of them were raised for death. We are raised for life! In the Old Testement the sheep died for the sins of the shepherd; in the New Testement, the shepherd has died for the sins of the sheep!
Conclusion: I’m glad I’m one of his sheep, and He is my shepherd. I thank God that I know his voice and a stranger I will not follow. Do you know him? Will you trust him? Will you follow him? If you are a wayward sheep (lost), a wounded sheep (hurt), a wandering sheep (backslid), why don’t hear the voice of the shepherd this morning, and follow his call?
