The Shepherd King
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 9th October 2010
Passage: Psalm 23:1-6
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Well, as Steve has said, we come to this psalm that we all know so well.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 It has thousands of articles written about it.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 It has thousands of images on Google.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 If you want to look at Google for the 23rd Psalm,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 beautiful pictures with all the words of the psalm that you can download.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 Actually, you can buy them.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:31 But in any case, you can see that there's many songs that are written about the 23rd Psalm.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:38 And it is the number one psalm that is preached at funerals.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:45 It is the most popular psalm, as Steve has mentioned.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:52 And so it is because of that, and it is because it is so familiar,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:59 I'm going to plead with you today that you put everything you know about this psalm aside.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:07 I want you to put it aside so that you can allow God to speak to you and to speak afresh to you.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 A psalm that has great richness in it.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:15 And let's ask the Lord to tell us something new.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 Okay, so let's pray with me.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 Or please pray with me.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 Our Father, we ask that by your Spirit, you will indeed speak to us.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 We thank you for this particular psalm.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 And Father, we ask that each and every one of us, including myself,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 will see new and fresh things about the Great Shepherd.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:42 Father, open our eyes and our hearts so that we would see you and be changed by you in Jesus' name.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 Amen.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:49 Okay, so it is a psalm that is written by David, as Steve has already said.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 It's in actual fact a song.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 I suspect David may have sung it, sitting under a tree.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:01 And David, as we know, knew a lot about shepherding because of his history as a shepherd boy.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:07 David knows that the shepherd is the one who watches over the sheep.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 He's the one who takes care of them.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 He's the one who protects them.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:12 He feeds them.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 He gives them water.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 And he gives every provision that is necessary for those sheep.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:29 And so with the majestic Lord of all that we've been listening to some fabulous sermons these last few weeks,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:38 this majestic one that we hold high, this one is given the character of a shepherd.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 I personally find that remarkable.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 I don't find it so remarkable that we are called sheep,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:51 but I find it pretty remarkable that the majestic one who is lifted high,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 that he is called a shepherd.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 Now, David compares himself with a sheep.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 As Steve has said, he's a creature who is weak.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 He's foolish.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 He's defenseless.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:13 He takes, but in this, he takes God as his provider.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 He takes God as his preserver, his director.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 And indeed, he takes God as his everything.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 But here's the thing.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 You see, I think that many, many people,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 and I think it's why 23rd Psalm is used in funerals so often,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:40 I actually think that everyone thinks that everyone is one of these sheep in this precious paddock
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 where the Lord is the good shepherd.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:52 And we all know that there's many, many different paddocks out in the farming rural area,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 and not all the sheep belong to all the same shepherds.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 But I think people do think that.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:04 I think that we make the mistake of thinking we're all one of these sheep.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:14 But only those who can call the shepherd their full,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 to give the shepherd their ownership,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 that the shepherd owns them,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 that there is a total dependence upon this shepherd,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 only those sheep are the ones that we're talking about today.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 And David had this dependence,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 because he didn't say,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 I hope that the Lord will be my shepherd one day.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 He didn't say,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 the Lord is my shepherd only on a Sunday,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 and all the rest of the days,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 I can do it all by myself.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 He didn't say that.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 The Lord is my shepherd.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 He watches over me.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 And the word is in the present tense.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:57 That meaning that whatever a believer's position is right now,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 the great Jehovah,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 even now,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 is watching over each and every one of us.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 And it is because he knows that the great Jehovah
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 is watching over him at all times,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 he can say,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 I shall not want.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 The Lord is my shepherd.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 I shall not want.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 When the Lord is over me and caring for me,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 there is nothing that I want except him alone.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 And he will provide all that is needed
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 because his heart is full of love,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 and therefore,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 I shall not want.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 It means that I don't need to be wanting
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 to match the money and the possessions
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 of every other person that I look out and see.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 It means that if famine was to strike our land,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 and certainly in rural country areas,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 they have had it hard,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 and we have had a blessed time here in the city,
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 or calamity was to strike our city,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 or when old age and the limitations
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 that come with old age,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 when they strike,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:10 or the position of a great job is not forthcoming,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 or the life partner that I dream of
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 doesn't seem to appear,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 I can even say in every one of those situations
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 very confidently,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 I shall not want.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 And it is because the Lord is my shepherd.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:32 And it is only if the Lord is my shepherd.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:38 Those who do not know this shepherd,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 those who do not know the Lord,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 will always be left wanting.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:44 Always.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 And yet with this great shepherd,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 I shall not want.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 Because everything I need is found in him.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 He will care,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 he will provide for those he loves
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 in ways that we cannot even dream of.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 So how dare we even think
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 that something over there
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 is going to be even better.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 he leads me beside still waters.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 Now Charles Spurgeon,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 the great theologian,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 points out that the Christian life
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 has two elements to it,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 the contemplative and the active.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Now first the contemplative.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 He says is in this psalm,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 he makes me lie down in green pastures.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 Now what are the green pastures exactly?
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 Well Spurgeon says that the green pastures
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 are the scriptures of truth.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 It's God's word.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 Always fresh,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 always rich,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 never exhausted.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 sweet and full doctrines of the gospel.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 It's food for souls,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 just like the green pastures
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 are nutrients for the sheep.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:10 When by faith we can rest
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 in the promises of God,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 we are like the sheep
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 who can rest in the pastures,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 finding peace,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 finding refreshment,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:21 safety,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 security
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 and deep satisfaction.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 You see,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 a sheep will not lie down,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 my sheep owning friend told me this,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 I know nothing about sheep,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 but apparently,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 sheep will not lie down
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 if they believe that they are in danger
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 or they suspect that there's potential danger.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 They need to be on all fours
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 so that they can quickly make haste
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 and get away when the danger comes.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 But in confidence,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 these sheep,
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 they're resting in complete security and comfort
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 for they know and understand
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 that the shepherd is nearby
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 and the shepherd is actually going to protect them
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 from every angle.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 David has been nourished
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 by God's word
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 and it is that that sustains him.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 He rests in the comfort
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 that only God himself can satisfy.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 Now,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 spending time in God's word
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 will nourish
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 all of our souls.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 It will grow you
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 in wisdom
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 and discernment.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 It will correct
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 and rebuke you
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 where needed.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 It will constantly
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 show you
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 the glory
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 and the majesty
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 that we've been learning about
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 all these weeks
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 and it will cause you
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 to surrender
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 to him
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 because all
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 is already his.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 That's what happens
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 when we spend time
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 in God's word.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 Now,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 some of you may be
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 distracted
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 from the truth
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 and so remain restless
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 and find it impossible
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 to lie down
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 in those green pastures
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 and if that is you today,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 I need to say to you,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 you need
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 to seek
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 the shepherd.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 You need
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 to spend time
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 in God's word.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 You need
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 to be fed
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 and you need
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 to be nourished
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 for that
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 is what
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 will be lacking
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 in your life.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 I know
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 personally
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 that when
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 my life
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 goes
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 off
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 on the wrong track,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 I can immediately
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 look and see
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 how much time
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 I am spending
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 in God's word
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 and I know
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 that there is
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 an absolute
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 direct correlation
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 between the two
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 and I know
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 there is many
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 of you out
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 there who
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 think the same
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 too.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 The second
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 element of the
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 Christian life
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 that Spurgeon
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 talks about
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 is gracious
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 activity.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 Now,
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 we are not
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 only to
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 think
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 but we are
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 to act.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 We are not
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 only to talk
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 but we are
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 to walk
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 the talk.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 You know
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 what I mean.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 You see,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 we have a real
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 danger
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 of just
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 gathering
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 heaps
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 and heaps
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 of head
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 knowledge
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 of the
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 Bible
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 and we
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 do not
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 walk
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 the talk.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 Now,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 what is
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 the point
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 if we
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 can find
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 any verse
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 at the drop
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 of a hat,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 find all
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 those little
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 letters
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 that we
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 find in
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 the Bible?
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 We can
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 go to
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 them
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 because we
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 know our
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 Bible so
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 well.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 What is
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 the point
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 of being
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 able to
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 do that?
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 What is
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 the point
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 of being
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 able to
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 discuss
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 every
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 theological
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 debate
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 and feel
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 that you
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 have come
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 out a
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 winner?
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 What is
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 the point
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 of that
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 if in
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 fact you
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 are not
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 loving
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 people as
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 Christ wishes
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 for you
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 to love
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 them?
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 What is
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 the point?
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 See,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 the life
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 we live
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 needs to
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 reflect the
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 truths
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 that we
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 know.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 Otherwise,
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 we run
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 the risk
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 of being
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 in the
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 pasture
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 not as
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 a sheep
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 but as
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 a wolf
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 dressed as
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 a sheep.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 And as
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 you might
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 know,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 scripture
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 tells us
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 that Jesus
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 will be
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 coming back
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and he
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 will call
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 his sheep
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 to himself
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 and there
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 will be
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 many who
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 say,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 Lord,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Lord,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 and Jesus
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 will turn
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 and say,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 I never
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 knew you.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 I do
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 not want
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 for any
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 person in
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 this building
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 today to
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 be one of
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 them.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 I want
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 you to
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 be the
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 sheep that
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 calls out
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 and Jesus
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 welcomes
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 you with
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 open arms.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 Now,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 in our
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 living
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 out this
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 walk,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 we are
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 slowly
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 being
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 changed
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 to reflect
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 the character
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 of Jesus.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 Not for
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 our own
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 sake,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 but for
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 the Lord's
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 and for
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 his glory
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 and for
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 his majesty.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 And we're
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 all in a
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 process of
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 change.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 None of
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 us have
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 arrived and
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 none of
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 us will
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 until
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 heaven,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 but we're
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 all in a
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 process of
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 change that
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 the Lord
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 will give
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 us.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 change.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 We are
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 to expect
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 change in
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 ourselves and
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 we are to
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 expect change
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 in others.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 The angry
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 person that
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 comes to
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 the shepherd
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 cannot expect
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 to continue
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 to get away
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 with being
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 angry.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 Sure,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 change doesn't
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 happen overnight,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 but it does
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 happen when we
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 allow the
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 Holy Spirit
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 to touch our
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 lives, to
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 minister to
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 us, to
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 convict us
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 of sin,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and then
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 helps us
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 to become
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 the person
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 God wants
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 us to
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 be.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 The one
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 with a
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 critical spirit
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 cannot expect
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to be allowed
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 to continue
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 exercising the
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 negative traits
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 if the Lord
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 is their
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 shepherd.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 That person
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 would be, on
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 the other
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 hand, be
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 grieved at
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 the criticism
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and be asking
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 the Lord to
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 help them see
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 all that is
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 right and
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 pure and
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 honourable,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 all of that
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 that is around
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 them every day,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 every moment.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 The person
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 who says
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 that the
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Lord is my
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 shepherd and
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 yet is
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 totally self-centred
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 needs to
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 actively seek
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 what the
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Lord would
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 have them
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 do to be
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 other person
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 centred and
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 to start
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 serving.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 But the
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 great news
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 for all of
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 that, and
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 we all have
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 our own
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 little quirks
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 that need
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 changing,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 they're just
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 a couple of
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 the common
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 ones, but
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 we all have
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 it, me
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 included.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 But the
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 great news
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 is that we
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 are not
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 alone.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 See, the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 Holy Spirit
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 is there
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 graciously leading
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 all of us
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 by those
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 still waters
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 to minister
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 to us, to
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 change us, to
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 renew us, but
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 he will do it
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 quietly and he
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 will do it
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 gently.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 And we
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 cannot change
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 ourselves and
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 we cannot be
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 the one who
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 takes ourselves
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 along the
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 still waters.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 But with an
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 open and
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 willing heart,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 we can be
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 led, we
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 can be ministered
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 to and we
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 can be
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 changed.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 He restores
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 my soul.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 At some
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 stage in our
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 life, we
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 have all
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 been in
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 the place
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 where our
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 soul needs
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 restoring.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 The great
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 news is, when
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 our soul grows
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 sorrowful, he
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 revives it.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 When it is
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 sinful, he
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 sanctifies it
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 and makes it
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 whole.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 When it is
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 weak, he
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 strengthens it.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 he does
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 it, the
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 shepherd.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 He restores
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 my soul and
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 so I need
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 to stop and
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 ask you, does
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 your soul need
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 restoring today?
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Is your
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 spiritual life
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 at a low
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 ebb?
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 Because if it
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 is, you need
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 to ask the
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 great shepherd
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to restore
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 it.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 don't leave
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 here today
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 feeling lost
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and empty
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 and downtrodden.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 And we can
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 confidently ask
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 the great shepherd
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 because as we
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 can see, he
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 is the one who
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 guides us in
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 paths of
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 righteousness for
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 his name's
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 sake.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 Now it is
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 the one who
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 can truly say
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 the Lord is
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 my shepherd
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 that will
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 follow the
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 leading that
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 the Lord
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 gives.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 And we
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 do that
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 because we
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 love the
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 master, we
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 love the
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 shepherd.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 We cannot
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 pick and
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 choose which
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 parts of the
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 commandments we
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 want to
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 follow.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 We cannot
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 ask the
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Lord to
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 grow us
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 into the
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 people he
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 desires us
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 to be but
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 to say,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 but please
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 don't touch
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 this part of
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 my life over
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 here because
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 that bit's
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 for me to
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 take control
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 of.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 What we
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 come to the
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 shepherd and
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 we ask the
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 shepherd to
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 change absolutely
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 every part of
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 our life to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 his glory.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 When the
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 Lord is our
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 shepherd we
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 allow leading
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 to occur because
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 it will lead to
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 righteous living
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 because of
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 God's love for
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 each and every
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 one of us.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 And we need
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 changing, we
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 need to be
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 made new, we
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 need a saviour to
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 deal with our
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 sin and we
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 have one and
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 the leading
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 occurs for his
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 name's sake,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 not for our
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 own.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 Even though I
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 walk through the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 valley of the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 shadow of
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 death, I
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 will fear no
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 evil for thy
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 rod and thy
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 staff, they
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 comfort me.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 This verse has
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 always challenged
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 me because it
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 does not say
00:17:27 --> 00:17:31 if you go
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 through the
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 valley of the
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 shadow of
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 death.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 It actually
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 says when.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 There is an
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 expectation that
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 there are tough
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 times and that
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 we're going to
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 go through
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 that valley.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 That's a
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 given.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 That's not a
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 surprise.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 We should never
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 be surprised when
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 tough times come.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 It's a given.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Now many of
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 you actually
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 know, have
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 known fear and
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 many choose to
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 live with fear of
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 going through the
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 tough times,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 whatever they may
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 be.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 But might I
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 say I actually
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 do not believe
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 that for
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 somebody who
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 is saying that
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 they follow the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 Lord as their
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 shepherd, that
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 indeed living with
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 fear is possible
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 or that it is
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 allowed or that
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 it is correct.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 It's not okay
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 because it
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 reflects a
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 lack of trust in
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 the shepherd for
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 all things.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Now there's a
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 word in this
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 particular verse
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 that excited
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 me and that
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 word is the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 word shadow.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 This is a new
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 revelation for
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 me.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 You see, what
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 dawned on me is
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 that a shadow
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 cannot harm you.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 It says that we
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 go through the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 valley of the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 shadow of death
00:18:58 --> 00:19:01 and what I also
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 learned is that
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 where there is a
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 shadow, there is
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 always light.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 light.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 There is light to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 cast the shadow
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 and I love
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 that.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 I love knowing
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 that there is
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 light because it
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 is the light of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 the shepherd that
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 is being cast.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 See, a shadow
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 of a dog cannot
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 bite you, a
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 shadow of a
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 sword cannot
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 kill you, and
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 the shadow of
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 death cannot
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 destroy us.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 So let us
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 not be afraid.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 There is light
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and the light is
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 the one who is
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 with me.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 That is, I have
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 a perfect comfort
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 and security because
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 the Lord is with
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 me in any and
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 every situation
00:19:48 --> 00:19:52 if he is my
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 shepherd.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:55 And now finally
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 we come to the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 last two verses
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 and we change
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 from a pastoral
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 scene and we go
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 to a banqueting
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 scene.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 You prepare a
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 table before me
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 in the presence
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 of my enemies.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 You anoint my
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 head with oil.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 My cup overflows.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 Now many of us
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 would like to
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 think that we
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 have no enemies.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 I'd like to
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 think I have no
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 enemies.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 But if we are
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 aligned with
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Jesus, we have
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 many enemies
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 for the world
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 hates God
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 and the world
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 will hate
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 those who
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 belong to God.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 But there is a
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 calmness in front
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 of the enemies
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 here.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 Nothing is
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 hurried.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 There is no
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 confusion, no
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 disturbance.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 The enemy is
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 at the door
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 and yet God
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 is preparing a
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 table and the
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 psalmist sits
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 down and eats
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 as if everything
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 is at perfect
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 peace.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Is this your
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 life?
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 It's a
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 picture of
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 peace.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 Is your
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 life a
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 picture of
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 peace at
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 this moment
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 in time?
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 Have you
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 ever tried to
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 eat when
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 you're worried
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 or you're
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 sick at heart
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 or you're
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 feeling heavy
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 at heart
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 or you're
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 afraid?
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 For some
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 reason, food
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 loses its
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 attraction when
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 we're worried
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 and when we're
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 afraid.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 Our stomachs
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 are taut,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 our adrenaline
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 sort of goes
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 sky high and
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 the last thing
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 our bodies
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 want to do
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 when we're
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 afraid is to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 sit down and
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 eat something.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 That's why
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 people lose
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 their appetite
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 when danger
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 is present.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 But the one
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 who has the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 Lord as their
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 shepherd is at
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 peace in all
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 things.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 You anoint my
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 head with oil
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 and my cup
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 overflows.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 If only we all
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 lived in this
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 daily enjoyment
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 of this
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 blessing,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 receiving a
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 fresh anointing
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 for our
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 everyday duties,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 day by day
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 we all need
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 to go to
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 God to be
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 refreshed by
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 his spirit,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 to live the
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 day under
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 the Lordship
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 of Jesus,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 to be refreshed,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 to be renewed
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 by God alone
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 for we cannot
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 do this in
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 our own
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 strength.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 But we are
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 not left
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 alone.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 we have
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 God's
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 spirit to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 daily empower
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 us to be
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 who God
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 wants us
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 to be.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 So can
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 you say
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 your cup
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 overflows,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that you
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 are abundantly
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 and lavishly
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 filled with
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 the love,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 the mercy,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 the protection,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 the forgiveness,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 the renewal
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 of the Lord
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 that the Lord
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 offers you?
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Can you say
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 that?
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 Or are you
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 quietly grumbling
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 to yourself
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 on the side
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 that you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 deserve more,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 that you
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 deserve things
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 to go your
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 way?
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 For whoever
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 is discontented
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 in anything
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 whatsoever
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 cannot say,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 my cup
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 overflows.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 I'll say it
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 again for you.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 Whoever
00:23:05 --> 00:23:09 is discontented
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 in anything
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 at all
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 in life
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 cannot say,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 my cup
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 overflows.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 Surely
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 goodness and
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 love will
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 follow me
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 all the days
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 of my life
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 and I will
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 dwell in the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 house of the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 Lord forever.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Goodness and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 love here are
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 like guardian
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 angels that
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 follow every
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 believer
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 everywhere they
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 go,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 through the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 dark times
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 and through
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 the bright
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 days.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 God is
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 more than
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 a God
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 who provides,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 he is more
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 than a God
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 who protects,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 he is a God
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 that makes
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 all of our
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 life,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 both present
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and future,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 a wonderful
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 thing.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 He is a God
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 of promise.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 And Jesus
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 spoke of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 having and
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 giving an
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 abundant life.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 He says,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 I have come
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 so that you
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 may have life
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 and have it
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 more abundantly.
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 That's what
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 David is
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 describing when
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 he says,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 surely goodness
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 and mercy
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 shall follow
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 me all the
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 days of my
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 life.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 With God
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 by our
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 side,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 life is
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 good.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 Our lives
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 are fulfilled
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 in ways that
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 we cannot
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 even begin
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 to imagine.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 Not the
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 fullness of
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 possessions,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 not the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 abundance of
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 things,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 but the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 abundance of
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 God,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 God's love,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 God's peace,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 God's joy,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 God's goodness.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 And I
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 can guarantee
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 you,
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 if you
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 have these
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 things and
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 nothing else,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 you are
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 infinitely more
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 rich than if
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 you had all
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the material
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 prosperity that
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 the world has
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 to offer.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 But there's
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 more to this
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 psalm than
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 this present
00:24:43 --> 00:24:45 earthly existence.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 The shepherd's
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 psalm reminds
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 us that God
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 has prepared
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 for us a
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 marvellous
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 future, an
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 eternal
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 security, a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 heavenly home.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 Now many
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 people have
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 an uncertain
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 hope of
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 eternity.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 I can tell
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 you for all
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 the people I
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 have asked
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 over the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 years, many,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 many people
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 will say, if
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 I ask, are
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 you certain of
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 heaven, they
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 will say, I
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 hope so.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 Or maybe.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 But these
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 words of
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 Psalm 23,
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 they're not a
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 vague expression
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 of uncertainty.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 They are a
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 declaration of
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 certainty, a
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 confidence that
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 God has
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 provided a
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 glorious future
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 and an
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 eternal home
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 for us.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 David doesn't
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 say, I hope
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 to be there.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 He says, I
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 will be there.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 And in the
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 New Testament,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 the reason for
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 our confidence
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 is made clear.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 Paul said, it
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 is not by
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 works you
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 are saved.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Lest any
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 man should
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 boast, it
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 is by grace.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 What is
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 this grace
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 of God?
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 It is God,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 it is the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 God who
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 loved the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 world, who
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 gave his
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 only son that
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 whoever believes
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 in him should
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 not perish but
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 have everlasting
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 life.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 It is through
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 Christ's death on
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 the cross that
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 our sins are
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 forgiven.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 It is through
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 his resurrection
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 from the grave
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 that we are
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 given an
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 assurance of
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 eternal life.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 And it is
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 through faith in
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 what God has
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 done in
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 Jesus Christ
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 that we
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 receive this
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 precious promise.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 And when we
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 come to God
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 in faith,
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 trusting in
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 his provision,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 depending on
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 his protection,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 we know that
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 we can rely
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 upon his
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 promise.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 And with the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 assurance of
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 faith, we
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 can declare
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 our confidence
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 as well.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 And with
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 this, we
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 can also say
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 the Lord is
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 my shepherd,
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 I shall not
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 want.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 Amen.