Understanding the 23rd Psalm in Times of Trouble

Thank you, brethren. Please be seated.

Today for services, we're going to have a couple of split sermons.

I thought it would be very enlightening and helpful to see a video by Mr. Luca a little later on.

For my split sermon today, I would like to discuss one of the most beautiful and comforting chapters in Scripture in the entire Word of God.

It is a psalm that is perfect for this situation that we've been through the last few weeks.

It's called the 23rd Psalm, and I believe it would be good for us to closely examine the six verses that comprise the 23rd Psalm.

It might be something that would be good for us, considering the stress and anxiety and the worry and concern that many of us have experienced for the last couple of weeks.

The 23rd Psalm is actually the center, like a sandwich, of a trilogy of three chapters.

As in anything in the Old Testament, it's all about Christ.

Psalm 22, which is the chapter obviously in front of what we're going to discuss today, it's the story of how Christ gives his life for his sheep.

You may recall a verse in chapter 22, the same words that Jesus uttered when he was hanging on the cross, or the stake, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The 22nd chapter discusses the fact that Christ would give his life for his sheep.

Then the 24th chapter of the book of Psalms is millennial. It talks about Jesus returning to the earth to appear as the king of glory and to reward his sheep.

Between the 22nd and the 24th Psalms is the 23rd Psalm.

The theme of the 23rd Psalm is that the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, whom God brought back from the dead, now tenderly cares for his sheep.

If you'll turn to Psalm 23, it has only six verses, but we'll look at them in a little bit of detail today and learn what we can and hopefully be comforted by the powerful words here from this Psalm.

This Psalm of David actually encompasses three distinct scenes. You know what a scene is in a movie? It's a snapshot of something going on, and there are actually three different scenes within these six verses.

The first verse through the fourth verse is known as the Shepherd scene, and it's a very beautiful, very visionary, picturesque about the shepherd taking care of his sheep.

The fifth verse, the scene changes, it's the host or the banquet scene.

It talks about a great banquet or feast going on.

And then the third scene within these six verses is the sixth verse itself.

It's a millennial home scene about coming home, a homecoming, being where you always belonged all along. So let's begin by going to chapter 23, verse 1.

It says, and this is the beginning of the Shepherd scene, it says, The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.

The New Century translation has this, The Lord is my shepherd I have everything that I need.

You see, a deep relationship with God can give us assurance. It's a promise that our physical and our spiritual needs will be fulfilled, that they'll be met.

The problem is that when we try to do everything ourselves, that's usually when we get ourselves in trouble, and it's an inclination of Americans who by nature are a very independent people, that we want to fix and we want to solve every problem ourselves. And when we do that, we inhibit God's Spirit from performing miracles and doing great things in our lives. What we have to understand here is what the Good Shepherd wants us to do is everything we can in the natural, and then step back and let Him do the supernatural. To do what we can, but to acknowledge and say to God, as I've had to say a number of times in the last few weeks, I've done everything that I can do. I've said everything that I can say. Father, it's in your hands now. You've got to intervene in hearts and minds. You've got to open up people's eyes to see and understand what's going on. So it's important that God wants us to do everything we can in the natural and then allow Him to do the supernatural. Let's turn to Matthew 6, verse 25. I think, again, a very important scripture that relates to what's been going on in our lives the last couple of weeks, or by extension, in my life, the last 39 years, on and off. Jesus says something that's very, very important. Again, Matthew 6, verse 25. He says, Therefore I say unto you, Do not worry about your life. Have you been in anxiety the last couple of weeks? Have you maybe had some nights that you had trouble sleeping? I sure have. Have you been through stress? Have you been worried and concerned? What's going on? What's going to happen to the church? What's going to happen to my life? Will there be a place to worship? What kind of church will there be in 20 years? Will we finish the work that Jesus Christ gave us to do? These are worries that may be going on in our minds. And Jesus says, Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or what you'll drink, or about your body, or what you put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather in the barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and yet I send you that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not a raid like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? He says if we're worrying about things, then we're obviously not trusting that God is in control of the universe, He's in control of the church, and He's also in control of your life.

He has a plan, He knows everything that's going on. Totally, completely aware of it. And He allows it to unfold because He has a purpose behind it, even if we don't understand what that purpose is. Verse 31, And when we make that our priority, then everything else in life falls into place. If we make seeking the kingdom of God and keeping a close relationship with God one on one, and not worrying about what other men do, or what other individuals do, but when we keep that relationship the way it should be, seeking the kingdom of God first, and trying to become righteous like Christ, who lives in us, trying to strive to live our lives in that way, everything else will just fall into place. All these things will be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. And isn't it interesting that, just looking at materialism that's so prominent in our world today, the Gentile world is obsessed with materialism. Aren't people judged by the foods that they eat? Jesus mentions foods, and I'm amazed how many times I'll be out with a client at lunch, and they have to make sure that they brag that they want to get the large shrimp, because that's a sign or symbol of, I've made it. I'm wealthy enough to buy these large shrimp to have for lunch.

It's wines they drink. People, I would never drink wine out of a box. I drink California, whatever, $832 a bottle. People take pride in those kinds of things. Don't they? In our world today, they certainly do. Fashionable clothes to wear. People, they want all the famous name brands. I have a name brand here. It's an Italian. It's called Biga Lots.

That's the fashion that I wear. But people get all wrapped up in Armani suits or some brand name that is so important because they want to impress other people. That's what materialism does to us, unfortunately. And of course, some folks are concerned about their height and hair loss and all these physical things that we focus on. But Jesus teaches his flock to focus on the most important thing, and that is not what other men are doing, not what other men are saying, not what the naysayers or the complainers or belly acres are saying, but he says focus on the kingdom of God and the righteousness of Christ.

If we do this, we'll be blessed in all the material things that we need, and we'll be happy because we put the priority on the right thing, and that is on the kingdom. God will give us everything we really need, but you know that God will not give you everything you want. He gives me everything I need, but he has never given me everything I want because he knows that if Greg got some of these things he wants, it would probably destroy him.

He would become distracted by them. He would become obsessed by them. He would play with them too much. He would spend too much time with those things, and he would not be focusing on the kingdom of God. So he'll give us everything we need, but he will not give us everything we want because some of those things will destroy us. And verse 34 also tells us to simply focus on the challenges of today, not tomorrow.

We can't worry about what's going to happen three months from now or six months from now. My plate is full getting through today, and then I'm going to reload tomorrow morning. I'm going to get some prayer in, and I'm going to handle all the challenges of difficulties tomorrow morning. But it does us no good to worry about something we have no control over because that time has not arrived yet. Tomorrow will have its own troubles, so let's not be concerned about that. Let's now take a look at verse 2 of the 23rd Psalm, and obviously keep a place there. We'll be going to other scriptures, but we'll be going back to the 23rd Psalm.

Verse 2, He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. The New Century Version translates as, He lets me rest in green pastures, He leads me to calm water. This is the image of a shepherd depicting the Good Shepherd as a guide, as a protector, as a constant companion, lying down, as in the phrase, He makes me to lie down as a position of rest, like we enjoy on the Sabbath day. It's like, all those cares and stresses and troubles and trials, at least for a few moments, are behind me, and I'm not going to think about them. So the sheep, through the providence of the Good Shepherd, they lie down, they rest, their anxieties are gone, their worries are transferred to the Good Shepherd.

They take His yoke on instead of their own burdens, and it's a much easier yoke. The green pastures represent spiritual abundance, lots of food. You know, sheep eat a lot, and they obviously are more nourished when the pastures are lush and green, and everything is just growing in a very beautiful and vibrant way. Turn with me, if you would, to John 6, verse 35.

We need to understand from the 23rd chapter of the book of Psalms that it will be fed often and richly if we rely on the Good Shepherd for His providence, if we go to Him during times of trouble or times of stress. John 6, verse 35. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life, He who comes to me shall never hunger, and He who believes in me shall never thirst. What a contrast between that statement and verse 2 of the 23rd Psalm where it says, green pastures, meaning never hunger, and still waters, never thirst.

Continuing here in the book of John, But I said to you that you have seen me, and yet do not believe, all that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me, this is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has given me I should lose nothing.

He loves every one of His sheep, even those who stray. As we'll see in the final Scripture today, even those who lose their way, He always wants to bring them back to the fold. He always loves them, thinks about them, and is willing to go the extra mile to do that. He says I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent me, everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.

We see here, of course, that the Good Shepherd provides plenty of nourishment for His beloved flock. By reading God's Word daily and celebrating together on the Sabbath, we are in green pastures. We are being spiritually fed with not the negative, but with the positive fruits that are generated by God's Word. I think that's very important. When we drink in of God's Word daily through our Bible study, when we talk back and have a communication with our Father through our prayers, when we celebrate together on the Sabbath day, that in total gives us a healthy spiritual diet. The Believer's Study Bible says this about the phrase, Still Waters, in that he leads me besides still waters.

It says, Still Waters denote the calm water necessary for sheep to drink. The truth is, as someone who is a shepherd knows, that sheep find it hard to drink from turbulent or rushing waters. It's very difficult for them to get the nourishment they need from that water. And the Good Shepherd says, if you have faith, if you trust in Me, I will provide you still waters, calmness, serenity, spiritual maturity, and I will take care of you, Jesus Christ says, and I will nurture you.

You know, sheep are not always around water. So when they do find water, they need to drink deeply. They need to hydrate themselves as much as they can because they never know where or how long it may be before they find water again. And that's why daily it's important to get our relationship with God right. Daily it's important to study the Bible. Daily it's important to pray. Weekly it's important to come and worship our Creator God publicly in front of our brethren along with them and give praise and honor to our great God.

Those are times when we need to drink in of His spiritual word and drink it deeply because He provides it to us. And on the Sabbath, which is a day of rest, He provides His word besides still waters. I mean, this is our home, and we will work hard. Every ounce of energy we have to provide a stable and a positive and a secure home for God's people on the Sabbath day.

So the Good Shepherd not only offers us the comfort of His presence and spiritual nourishment, He also offers us the Holy Spirit as His helper. And I think that's very important for us to understand as well. The power of the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and Jesus Christ.

And because of that, their presence is always with us. 24-7. The presence of the Father and Jesus Christ is always within us because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Now let's go to verse 3. It says, He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake. The New Century translation has it, He gives me new strength, He leads me on paths that are right for the good of His name.

You know, brethren, we struggle with our weaknesses because of our limitations and because of those things, because of the stresses and problems that we face, we need constant restoration. Don't we need new strength daily? Don't we need to be restored? Don't we need our souls restored day by day? Isn't that a very important thing for us? Let's go to 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 7. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 7. This is what Paul wrote regarding having his soul restored.

2 Corinthians 12 and verse 7, he says, Unless I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And it's possible that this could have been an eye affliction that Paul had.

It might have even been depression he was struggling with. We don't actually know for sure. It may have been a physical illness. It may have been discouragement and depression. And if you face the kind of life he did, where virtually every city you went into, you were run out on a rail, you were beat, you were humiliated, you were mocked. That's pretty stressful for any human being. So it could have been that he was battling discouragement. Verse 9, here's the response that he got from God. And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore, most gladly, I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. So Paul says that he was told, The fact that I favor you, that you are one of my beloved flock, that I love you and that I care for you, is all the strength that you need. And when you're weak, I'll make you strong. And when you're in a position that your physical weaknesses, your limitations are hurting you, are a void, if you have the right kind of relationship with me, I'll intervene and I'll strengthen that.

And that will make what most people perceive as a weakness to be a strength and a positive quality. That's what he promises to do with us. And Paul says, Therefore, I take pleasure in my infirmities, his physical illnesses, in reproaches, in being mocked and humiliated, in his needs, some of which were not fulfilled.

He says, I take pleasure in persecutions and in distresses. Have we been in distress the last couple of weeks? I know I've been in a distress the last couple of weeks. He says, For Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. Who makes us strong? The Good Shepherd makes us strong. Because he's working in us, he's blessing us and strengthening us.

Here's a great spiritual truth. God's strength is made mature. It's made complete in our weakness. Yes, we are weak, but he restores us daily and he gives us new strength. Because he loves us so much, he leads us to righteousness so that we can give glory to him. It's true that the weak of the world are confounding the mighty. It's the weak of this world that will pull themselves together and complete the commission that God has given us to do.

That is, to preach the gospel to the world. We're going to do that. The world may look upon us and say, look at this small, pathetic group. Yet, as it says, God is going to confound the mighty because he's working through the weak. Let's go to the book of Lamentations. Lamentations 3, verse 21. This is an important scripture because I'm curious on how long it will take people to find it.

Obviously, I'm just kidding because it took me five minutes to find it. Lamentations 3, verse 21. This certainly ties in, I believe, so well with the verse in the 23rd Psalm about our souls being restored, being led in the paths of righteousness. Lamentations 3, verse 21. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. He says, okay, this I think about, and this next statement gives me hope. It says, through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because his compassion fails not. Do we make mistakes? Do we struggle? You bet we do. Do we fall down? We fall down often.

But it says here that it's because God loves us so much that his mercies and his compassion never fail towards us. Even when we do ridiculous things, hurtful things, shameful things, his mercy and his compassion is so great that he continues to protect us and love us and call us his own. Verse 23, they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Every morning we can go to that throne of grace and reboot, and no matter how shameful we were yesterday and the things that we said to other people or the things that we wrote or the offenses that we caused, that we can go to the throne of grace every morning is new and fresh and say, Father, this is a new day. Please grant me a full measure of your Holy Spirit. Help me to live the kind of life that you want me to live. Help me to be strengthened through your Spirit. Great is your faithfulness. Verse 24, the Lord is my portion, says my soul. Therefore, I hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him. Sometimes it's hard to wait for God, for him to intervene when we see things that are wrong or that we see things that upset us. Obviously, we'd like God to change things now. I have times when I say, God, please, this would be a great time for you to intervene right now. And it seldom happens. And it says here, the Lord is good to those who wait for him because he has a plan. And he is so high above us. It's like pieces on a chessboard. And we're sitting here making this nervous move the next phase in our life. And God is 15 moves ahead of us. That's what it's like trying to compare our lives to the plan that he has had designated from eternity. It's his will, and he's going to fulfill it in his own way. And I don't understand why things happen. And I don't understand why he allows things to happen that happen. But I do have the faith in knowing that he is totally in control and that his plan is exactly where he wants it to be. Verse 25, the Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should have hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. A line from one of my favorite hymns, you may have noticed, is great is thy faithfulness. And that line in that hymn says, morning by morning, new mercies I see. To me, that is just so rich, so powerful, so encouraging. Let's now go to verse 4. In the 23rd Psalm, go back there. 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.

The New Century version translates this, even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because you were with me, your rod, and your walking stick, comfort me. You know that Jesus Christ laid down his life for us? He shed his blood on our behalf. We have nothing to fear. We don't even need to fear death, because his shed blood paid the price for our sins.

And if we yield to his spirit, Jesus protects us from all evil influences. If we look to him, rather than looking to men, or the theories of men, or the opinions of men, or the attitudes of men, or the ideas of men, and we look to the Good Shepherd, to his words and his teachings, then we're going to stay on the right track.

We are going to be protected from making mistakes, and we're going to be protected from evil influences. Turn to Romans 8, verse 33. Notice what Paul said about God's protection. There were times in Paul's life when he felt like he was walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We have some brethren in here that I know who have been on their deathbed at times, through heart disease or other diseases. And I'm sure they felt like they were in the valley of the shadow of death. So some of you have already experienced that feeling in a physical way. Paul says, who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God and who makes intercession for us. So people may complain and they may make negative statements about other people. They may make statements about someone's unethical or someone is ungodly or this. And Paul says, look, it's God who justifies. Every human being that I've ever known has sins and faults. Every minister that I've ever known, including this one standing up here right now, is quite weak and frail and sinful. But the encouraging news here is it says when someone brings a charge against God's elect, ignore it. It's God who justifies. God makes them just. The shed blood of Jesus Christ makes all of us just. Who is he who condemns? It says it's Christ who died and furthermore is also risen and at the right hand of God, Jesus Christ says, you know what? I paid for this person's sins. I paid for it with my own shed blood. Because of what I did, they are just in the sight of God. So who are you to condemn them? Who are you to make accusations against people that I have forgiven, people that I have blessed, people that I call my own? And that's true for each and every one of us.

Verse 35, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sort, as it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. And you know, the way the world views the Church of God is a bunch of little weaklings.

A small group of cult-like weirdos down there, keeping the Seventh-Day Sabbath, keeping those Holy Days, small, fragmented, trying to do their work. I mean, they scoff at us. They look at this very little flock that we are, and they just mock and look at us. It's like we could just once wipe of our hand, we could just wipe all of you people off the face of the earth.

But we know that Jesus promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against His Church. Verse 37, Paul said, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, or any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And you know what? Yes, there have been times when we have felt like we've gone through the valley of the shadow of death. The whole world is closing in on us. But we know that the Good Shepherd will give us peace where we are, wherever we are. Even if we're surrounded by our enemies, even if we are surrounded by turmoil and war and anxiety, the Good Shepherd will protect and love His flock. No matter what horrendous events we go through in this physical life, the Good Shepherd is there with us and offering us comfort. Nothing can separate us from His love. With His love, we can conquer anything. We can conquer anyone. We can conquer any event. And we will. Because that is His promise. In the fourth verse here, it says, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Well, a rod was a short club used, just a short little club, used to fight off and beat wild animals. And it represents us being protected from wild animals who would seek to scatter the flock or devour us. The shepherd's stick, the staff, was a long stick with a crook on the end of it. And it depicted guidance. And what the shepherd would do is he would guide this strange sheep with his staff. And if one of the sheep began to get off the path, he would even use the crook in and he would wrap it around that little lamb's neck. And he would give it a little jerk and pull it back onto the path or the areas where the sheep should be. And I can guarantee you, I know a lot of times in my life, spiritually speaking, I have felt that crook around my neck giving me a good jerk or two to get back on the path that I needed to be in. But that is also part of the love that the Good Shepherd offers us. Now let's go to verse 5. You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. This is the beginning of the banquet scene. I want you to notice the scene changed from the shepherd and the sheep peacefully grazing in the flock to a banquet scene. The New Century version translates this verse, you prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies, you pour oil in my head, you fill my cup to overflowing. This obviously describes a huge feast. Did you know that God is calling us to a feast? He is calling us to a great festival that we're going to be part of Revelation 19. Do you remember the story of the woman? This is in Matthew 26. Who poured oil on the head of Jesus at Bethany at the house of Simon the leaper. Do you remember that story in the book of Matthew? Well, the reason she did it is that Simon neglected a tradition. And that is when you were a guest in someone's home, they would pour oil on your head and they would wash your feet as a sign of welcoming you to their home.

He neglected that. But Mary fulfilled it for him. And of course, it represented Jesus being anointed for his death as well. Well, I want you to understand that God is inviting us to his wedding supper where the Lamb of God, again a different scene, the Lamb of God will marry his precious bride. Revelation 19, verse 6, and I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and in the sound of mighty thundering, sing, Alleluia, for the Lord omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. How does the wife make herself ready? She endures into the end. She rests peacefully in the green pastures of the Good Shepherd. She doesn't allow herself to be drawn away. She doesn't allow herself to be made anxious, angry, bitter because of the words or accusations of men. That's how the bride makes herself ready. She keeps herself unspotted from the world and the attitudes of the work of the flesh. We covered that a little bit in the sermon last week.

Then, verse 9, then he said to me, right, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, these are the true sayings of God. So in the 23rd chapter of the book of Psalm verse 5, it looks forward to a time when we will be welcomed and to be part of that joyous festival, that marriage supper that's been prepared for us by Jesus Christ.

God is preparing a marriage supper, and many people who mock God today and mock His children will watch at one time in awesome amazement as they see the flock of God being honored and praised and rewarded for their lifetime of faithfulness. The whole world will witness this marriage supper taking place in the heavens, and they'll be amazed. They'll be awestruck as they see a group of people receive a full unlimited measure of God's Holy Spirit. You see, their cup will run over. They'll be given blessings. They'll be given glory. They'll be given sonship in the most valuable and important family one could possibly be part of, and that is the literal family of God.

So a meal is being prepared for us, and a time is going to come when oil is going to be poured in our heads. And our cup, the blessings and the honors and the glory that we receive by being the bride of Jesus Christ, are going to be so great that the people in the world will just stand in shock and awe at what they witness and see occurring.

Now let's go to the sixth verse, which is the millennial home scene, the 23rd chapter of the book of Psalm, the millennial home scene.

David wrote here, This is translated in the New Century version, Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Isn't that something we want? Goodness and love in this physical life and the ability to share in the family of God and to share all eternity with Jesus Christ and the Father. Turn with me to Ephesians 2, verse 19.

Brother Jesus is bringing his reward with him, and he's an intimate God. He wants to nurture us. He wants to nurture his flock.

But did you also realize he's also concerned about his children who maybe have strayed?

His desire is to give us goodness and mercy all throughout our physical lives, and he returns and he establishes his kingdom. But do you realize that what has occurred the last couple of weeks for all of us was a wake-up call? I've had three or four people contact me this week and say, you know what? I was in some type of spiritual fog. I was just going through the motions. I thought everything was fine. I thought everything was okay. Well, if you, as an individual, feel that you're not as passionate about God's way of life as you were a year ago or five years ago or ten years ago whenever you were called, if you feel like you're not getting in prayer daily like it's a good thing to do and a right thing to do or getting in Bible study every day, if you feel like you've let God down and you have not kept the commitment that you made at baptism, let's take a look at Ephesians 2 and verse 19. Because if you feel that way to any degree, this verse is for you, and it comes from the Good Shepherd. It says, now therefore, this is Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 19, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Again, Psalm chapter 23 and verse 6 said, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Now let's go back to Ephesians, verse 20.

Now, the final scripture, Matthew chapter 18 and verse 12. If you feel like you haven't been fulfilling your part of a member of the household of God, if you feel like you haven't been doing things right, you haven't been as faithful as you need, I want you to think about this. Matthew chapter 18 and verse 12, my final scripture. What do you think? Jesus said, if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that's straying? He just doesn't go off the trail a little bit and go, hoo hoo! It says that he's willing to go the extra mile, the good shepherd goes to the mountains to recapture, to restore one sheep who has left his fold. That's how much he loves us. That's how much he cares for each and every one of us.

Verse 13, and if he should find it, oh, shortly I tell you that he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. So if you feel like this was a wake-up call, the events of the last couple of weeks, and you've just been on cruise control or autopilot, you haven't been doing the things that you need to do, I want to assure you that the good shepherd loves you. He's looking for you. He's calling out your name. He's willing to go the extra mile. Won't we respond? Won't we heed his call? Won't we return to all the wonderful things that the good shepherd offers us as his sheep and as his flock? I hope we will. And I hope that you will be committed throughout the rest of your life to always follow the teachings, the love, the comfort, the mercy, and the compassion offered by the good shepherd.