The Good Shepherd: If --- Then

THE GOOD SHEPHERD… IF --- THEN?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

I have a shepherd’s rod, staff … I use in this lesson. (If needed you could use a broom stick.)

FAITH MAY NOT ALWAYS TAKE YOUR PROBLEMS AWAY… FAITH CAN KEEP YOU THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS. FAITH MAY NOT ALWAYS REMOVE YOUR PAIN, FAITH WILL HELP YOU SURVIVE THE PAIN. THE WALK OF FAITH MAY TAKE YOU INTO DEEP VALLEYS OF DISAPPOINTMENTS AND HURT. FAITH DOES NOT ALWAYS EXEMPT YOU FROM THE STORMS, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY TRUST FAITH CAN KEEP US CALM DURING THE STORMS.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR DAYS BECOME HARD, DIFFICULT TRIALS… WE MUST FIND JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD… THE SHEPHERD IS HERE. MAY WE RECALL THE TIMES THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD NOT MAKE IT! WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR DAYS BECOME HARD, DIFFICULT TRIALS… LISTEN FOR THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE. WE MUST FIND JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD…

SHEPHERD: ONE THAT CARES. ONE THAT KEEPS, TENDS, GUIDES, DIRECTS, GUARDS.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

WE KNOW THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE… We were in Israel, two shepherds were talking in the middle of the road. Both flocks had joined together. How can we ever separate them? The shepherds their called. The sheep knew the voice.

WE HAVE A GOOD SHEPHERD…

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

God is good when we have plenty… God is good in seasons of drought as well as in rainy seasons.

God is good, in everyday living God is good. When death is the unwelcomed visitor, God is good.

Psalm 23:1-6 …

1 The LORD is my shepherd:

CONNECTION, RELATIONSHIP… Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship. To share time and love… Complete trust.

I shall not want.

TOTAL AMOUNT NEEDED. SUPPLY AND DEMAND… long term, short term, resource, available.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

PEACE, R & R, REST-RELAX, no stress, free of anxiety, REST IS PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL. Rest, quiet, peace.

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

F-5 on computer. REJUVENATE, Give new strength, energy, REFRESHMENT.

3 He restoreth my soul:

TO MAKE SOUND, WHOLE, HEALTHY, TO BECOME WELL, HEALING

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

GUIDANCE, TO SURVIVE INJURY OR HURT.

for his name's sake.

MOTIVATION, THE AIM, THE GOAL, THE REASON.WHY THINGS WERE CREATED… INTENTION, PURPOSE

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

CHALLENGE, EXAMINATION, EVALUATION, TESTING, TESTING OF OTHERS --- TO TEST SELF, to find the real value, TO CHECK OUT.

I will fear no evil:

TO GUARD, TO KEEP SAFE, NO HARM, NO INJURY… PRESERVE, PROTECTION… FAITH WILL TRUST THAT THE SHEPHERD WILL KEEP US FROM THE BIG BAD WOLVES AND THE LITTLE FOXES….

for thou art with me;

STEADFAST IN TIMES OF AFFLICTION, LOYAL, FAITHFULNESS

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

ROD SPEAKS OF DISCIPLINE, CORRECTION. STAFF SPEAKS OF COMFORT.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

PREPARED, TO MEET THE NEED, SET ASIDE, PROVISION, HOPE--- DAILY BREAD.

thou anointest my head with oil;

TO DECLARE HOLY, SACRED, GIVEN TO SERVE, CONSECRATION.

my cup runneth over.

ABUNDANCE, TO MAKE AVAILABLE…

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

TO KNOW GOD’S FAVOR, BLESSINGS--- TO BE COVERED BY THE BLOOD, TO BE IN TUNE.

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

TO LAST FOREVER, ETERNITY, UNENDING, GOD’S TIME TABLE, NO DEATH, NO END,

CONCLUSION: THE SHEPHERD WANTS TO BLESS HIS SHEEP… NO MATTER HOW STEEP THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL, DON’T QUIT. NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFICULTY AND OBSTACLES MAY BE, DON’T QUIT. NO MATTER HOW BAD THE PAINS AND THE HURTS, DON’T QUIT. THERE IS A SHEPHERD STANDING BESIDE YOU TO LEAD, GUIDE, GUARD, PROTECT AND FEED YOU.

BE HAPPY. BE GRATEFUL. BE OPTIMISTIC. BE GENEROUS. BE KIND. BE LOVING. HAVE JOY. LAUGH A LOT. BE FAITHFUL. HAVE HOPE. WALK IN PEACE. The caterpillar is trapped in the dirt. CHANGE IS COMING… FLY.

LET GO… LET GOD… DON’T ASK TO HOLD GOD’S HAND… LET GOD HOLD YOUR HAND… SEEMS I CAN’T UNDERSTAND… THIS VALLEY IS PART OF THE LESSON THAT THE SHEPHERD CAN SEE MORE CLEARLY THAN THE SHEEP CAN.