He Restores My Soul
April 2nd, 2006 Psalm 23:2-3
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: We are not a people understand rest… Vs 1 assertion – now proof…
Ps. 23:2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. (He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.)
• Last part goes with the next verse
• He Restores is summary statement – first two parts are how restored
• We’ll start with the conclusion and work backward
1. The _Need_ for Soul Restoration.
3He restores my soul.
• Restore = replenish – the pantry, fuel tank, keeps me going, fills my tank
• Not physical = soul - immaterial part of man – “nephesh” – breath
• That’s the part that gets depleted and needs to be restored
Five things that deplete our souls…
1. _Godly_ people. – fun, too much public -
2. _Draining_ people. – ministered to and been that person
• People who have acute need – poor social skills – demanding nature
• They can siphon off your soul strength and resources.
3. _Busyness_ - 1973 avg work week = 40.6 hrs. – 1999 = 50.2
• Where do those 10 hours come from? – things that restore our souls
• 1973 leisure = 26.2 hrs. / 1999 = 19.8 – all that’s been said about saying no and setting boundaries – not very good at it.
• Though tried to be a God example to you – failing!
• We are not a people that say no – nor do we tolerate people who do
• It depletes our souls
4. _Problems_ - “Things aren’t going well right now…”
• Health, conflicts, irritations, persistent financial, incompetence of others – drain our soul strength.
5. _Coveting_ - “I need a better job – need a mate – need children –
I have a boy, now I need a girl – need grandchildren, etc.
Five things that restore our souls…
1. _Sleep_ - not in church! – it restores souls – sleep quality study…
• 62% experience a sleep problem 1 – 2 nights per week
• 56% - 1 or more bouts of insomnia per week
• “I woke up feeling unrefreshed” – 38%
• “I was awake a lot of the night” – 34%
• “I woke up too early and couldn’t get back to sleep” – 24%
• “had difficulty falling asleep” – 23%
• Only 35% of adults sleep the recommended 8 hrs. per night.
• Many are failing in the depletion category and sleep category
2. _Rest_ - common picture in Scripture – “rest in the Lord” – “wait
patiently for Him”
• Lord took time to rest – withdrew from multitudes…
• We need times of rest – sit quietly – move slowly
3. _Reflection_ - restores the soul – but if try to reflect when low on
sleep / rest / depleted – going to get into a negative pattern of
thinking.
How do I reflect? – this is the soul gazing in on itself in 4 directions…
Look back_,
• Where been this week / month? – failures to confess?
• What priorities have been lost – can be regathered?
Look __up_,
• Turning to God – His word – a mirror - knees
Look around,
• Who am I neglecting? – who have I hurt? – who has needs I should be meeting?
• I’m not alone in world – they matter to God – should to me
Look _ahead,
• How should I be different? – How can I make it so?
• What’s important that’s been neglected?
• What’s unimportant that’s had my attention?
When we’re centered on things that really matter than you’re ready for…
4. _Diversion_ - can restore the soul…
• Harris poll – good things to do – something different from the grind
1. Reading
2. T.V.
3. Spending time with family and friends
4. Gardening
5. Fishing
Also: walking, movies, etc. – something different from the grind
It’s healthy and restores my soul
5. _Ministry_ - when other things are in place – restoring/renewing
• It’s God at work through me
• Other things not in place, ministry = one more demanding hassle
But you said God restores my soul! These are things that I do!
• God is at work in all these things
• Here’s God’s most direct involvement in the restoration of our souls…
How He restores our souls…
2. The _Crisis_ of Soul Restoration.
God uses crisis to get our attention –“Hey, you need to restore your soul”
Ps. 23:2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Green Pastures = the tender shoots of grass
• not the mature grass ready for mowing – but early nutrient rich sprouts – best grass has to offer – satisfies
• Place you want to be – grass greener on other side
• But in summer turn brown – shepherd needs to lead to green…
Close eyes…
Paint picture of greener pastures – think of a place – garden – gate – garden with trees, flowers – sun shining – in morning sky (not too early or late) dew is on leaves – find bench – sit down – 3 things going for you…
1. You’re alone
• Happens so seldom – kids, work, pressure, people…
• In a really good way – you’re by yourself
2. You have time
• Not even wearing watch – not in a hurry – not trapped between the last thing and the next thing – alone with time and…
3. It’s quiet
• TV isn’t blaring – phone isn’t ringing – no one’s calling your name…
• Except the Lord – open your Bible and begin to read…
• Gradually and increasingly – you sense the Lord’s presence with you as you reflect on what you’re reading
• You unburden your heart to Him…
Over 100 years ago a man wrote a hymn describing the very situation you’ve been picturing right now…
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
ISA 51:3 The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
• I’m talking about a place of God where He meets with me. – and He restores me – we desperately need that!
• Doubt anyone here wouldn’t say – “I need more of that in my life.”
Ps. 23:2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
• Got the green pastures part…
Lie Down – notice you lie down – in places of intimacy with God…
• Doesn’t make us run in green pastures
• Not – pace back and forth…
• Not standing, sitting – what? – Lie down – why?
• In scripture – lying down is picture of humility / total relying on God
• Spoken before of prostrating self before God – lie down before God.
• Find a private place and get on your face before God!
• Pour out your heart like water before the Lord – restores me!
• Getting serious with God – spoken of – there is a dimension of intimacy God wants to bring us to – on face gets you there – not just talking about physical position – but posture of spirit…
• Poverty of spirit… - MT 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
He __MAKES__ me.
• I’ve taught before 4 things necessary to get sheep to lie down
• Free from fear, free from pests, well fed, shepherds presence
This is when sheep WANT to lie down – problem – doesn’t say “He helps me to lie down…” – “He suggests it would be a good idea if had the time…”
“He MAKES me lie down…” = sometimes God has to MAKE me lie down
• “If you keep going at this pace going to burn out”
• Scoffed at that idea before – Bible doesn’t talk about that…
• Pastor friend of mine made this a little clearer for me…
Burnout = in 20’s – want to accomplish something significant…
• Young and strong – set a pace for yourself – work/play hard!
• Neglect yourself in quest to accomplish a lot.
• 30’s created expectations – but can’t keep pace used to keep
• Spend 30’s pretending that you can!
• Late 30’s – don’t want others to know you can’t do what used to…
• Spend more energy making it look like you can – less to restoration
• More for external, less for internal
• More and more to look good – less and less to be good
• Mid 40’s – neglect comes to a place of critical importance – if don’t change thinking – whole thing collapse on your head
• When people just quit jobs, leave their families, personalities change
If that describes you – need to make some substantive changes!!
• Cannot neglect your inner world forever without major collapse
• Make time for God – if don’t heed message – He can MAKE you lie down!
“I’m lying down – but it’s not green pastures!”
• Maybe green from God’s perspective – because of good they’ll produce
• Takes the form of – hospital bed, funeral home, pink slip, penetrating loneliness, painful relationship with spouse or child, persistent financial need, - the Lord has made you lie down.
It’s said that when shepherd has lamb that constantly runs off – goes and gets – over and over again – shepherd takes lamb and breaks leg – makes it lie down! – puts in fold of garment – feeds/waters – voice/breathing – lamb learns to trust – never strays again.
• Maybe you’ve been there – maybe there now – let Him restore your soul
That’s the crisis of soul restoration…
3. The _Process_ of Soul Restoration.
He leads me beside still waters.
“Still” waters
• Powerful picture – seen pictures of serene lake settings – restores
• Seen those CD’s can play sounds to help you sleep?
o Sounds of water… - ocean, rain, brook – doesn’t make me want to lie down… - get up!
o Here’s the sound of still waters (10 seconds of silence)
• There’s not a lot of that in life is there?
• Still waters are deep / silent – shallow waters are fast / noisy
The picture is that He leads us to a place of plentiful depth – not fast and noisy – slow down – takes time – depth brings quietness to the soul…
“Beside”
• This isn’t down to the river and out – no! – not rushed…
• He leads beside – where I live my life – not weekly/monthly – daily!
• I’m walking with Christ beside still waters – I’m alone – not rushed – quiet – restores me.
He __LEADS__ me.
• Goes before you – ready to speak to you – restore you – where are you?
• “What are you doing over there? – come over here!”
• “This is where it’s deep – this is where your soul will be restored!”
• Won’t happen in a hurry – with a fast burst of scripture in one hand – and a cup of coffee in the other on your way out the door.
• “Slow down, walk with me – deep, plentiful – it restores your soul.
I know I need my soul restored when…
• Little things put me over the edge
• I can’t get to sleep and I can’t get up
• I can’t turn off the day and dread the next because I sense I don’t have the resources to get to the finish line – so I abbreviate the day.
• When my plat is too full and my heart is too empty
• When I can’t find my Bible and I’m not praying about anything important – not persisting about anything specific.
• When I know it’s wrong but I have no self-control.
If you read the gospels – can’t help but notice that Jesus repeatedly got alone – he left them on the shore, in the field, - walked away and got alone – and prayed.
If Christ could not walk this earth without those times alone with God…
How arrogant to think that we can!
Over next two weeks – challenge you – spend 3 separate hours alone with the Lord next week – take you from hearer of Word to Doer
Choose a Time – morning or night – pick a time
Choose a Place – where you can be by yourself – room can close door – car
Choose a Scripture – Suggest John 15-21 – 7 chapters / 7 hours – Easter
Start with prayer – sing a song – He loves the sound of your voice – as you read – write down what He’s saying to you – 3 separate 1 hour seasons by next week – 3 or 4 hrs. the following week – celebrate Easter
Want to see a difference in your life and thinking? – your soul will be restored – you’ll be a new person.
He Restores My Soul
April 2nd, 2006 Psalm 23:2-3
1. The ______________ for Soul Restoration.
Five things that deplete our souls…
1. _____________ people.
2. _____________ people.
3. _____________
4. _____________
5. _____________
Five things that restore our souls…
1. _____________
2. _____________
3. _____________
Look _________, Look _________,
Look _________, Look _________,
4. _____________
5. _____________
How He restores our souls…
2. The ______________ of Soul Restoration.
Green Pastures
Lie Down
He _____________ me.
3. The ________________ of Soul Restoration.
“Still” waters
“Beside”
He ____________ me.
