“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;  He  guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”- Psalm 23

Have you considered the LORD YOUR Shepherd recently?  We know as David, that it is sheep who need a shepherd, and thank God it is the Lord who is Our Shepherd and we “shall not want.” It is He who makes us lie down in the green and nutritious pastures of His Word, where we can feed our souls and behold the Lord Jesus- {Read Luke 24;27.} It is He who leads us beside cool and refreshing and quiet waters where we may drink in from His Word,  His beauty, and know rest and refreshment for our hearts – {Read Matt 11:28-30; Phil 4:7.}

It is He who restores us when we have need of His gentle and tender care, for He is Affectionate – {Read Phil 1:8}…The Lord who is the Leader of the child of God, whose trust alone is in Jesus Christ to Shepherd their souls, it is this One we speak of and because He is our Shepherd, who leads, guides, corrects,refreshes, and takes care of us…We shall not lack access to His Throne-to receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” {Heb 4:16} . We do not lack anything for “life and Godliness”- {Read 2 Pet 1:3} because the Lord IS {Present tense} our Shepherd-Hallelujah!!

Three Truths to Ponder on the Lord YOUR Shepherd
1. He is the “GOOD ” Shepherd –  {John 10:11}
“I Am the Good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” He voluntarily and joyfully laid down His life for the sheep-that’s YOU!!!! The word “Good ” can also be translated “noble” or… “BEAUTIFUL.” Isn’t that wonderful He is the Beautiful Shepherd.

2. He is the “GREAT” Shepherd – {Hebrews 13:20}
“Now the God of peace who raised up from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep…”

The “Beautiful” Shepherd died for you, The Great Shepherd was raised for you…SO THAT through His Perfect and sinless sacrifice on the cross, for your sins, as an Acceptable Offering to God for you…He not only died for your sin, in your place, as your Substitute- the Sinless One standing in place and receiving the just punishment of God for the SINFUL Ones… Because He was slain, the Sinless Lamb of God on your behalf, God on the third day raised Him from the dead – Having accepted His Complete and Finished Work on your behalf and accounted to you the very righteousness of God whereby He could declare you Right in His eyes- Because of the work of His Son…and not only Forgive you completely of ALL sins, but ADOPT you into His family and ACCEPT you Completely – {Read Eph 1:3-6}… ” For By Grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the GIFT of God, not as a result of works so that no one should boast.”-{Eph 2;8-9}

The Good, BEAUTIFUL Shepherd, Beautiful because of His Character, His Sinless Nature, His Love and Righteousness and His Loveliness laid down His life voluntarily and Joyfully for you – {Read Heb 12:2-3.} The GREAT Shepherd of the sheep was raised for your Justification…and now hold onto your hats and look at this…

3. He is the “CHIEF” Shepherd – {1 Peter 5:4}
“And when the Chief shepherd APPEARS….”

The beautiful Shepherd died for you. The Great Shepherd was raised for you and the Chief Shepherd is coming BACK to Get you!!! He will not leave you…He is Returning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords…Hallelujah…does it get any better than this? He may return in the air:  – “For the Lord Himself will descend From Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds TO MEET THE LORD in the air, and so WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” -{1 Thess 4:16}

Either death will be used to bring us into His Presence. Something He has prayed for “Father where I am I desire that they may be WITH ME also, to behold My glory”- {John 17:24.} The Prayer of the Shepherd is His “desire” to have you present with Him. The Delight of the Father is to grant that request to Him.

Psalm 116:15 says “PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of His Godly Ones.”  The word “Precious” in the Hebrew can also be translated “Excellent” or “Honorable”…The death of one of Gods people- His own “sheep” is Excellent, Honorable and Precious from Gods perspective. From ours to be sure, there is pain and grieving and hurt and at times bewilderment…but we have a hope… a living hope- {1 Peter 1:3}… An Anchor for the soul- {Heb 6:19} …that death is but a “shadow” for the child of God – {Psalm 23:4}…and shadows cannot hurt us… Death is but an entrance into the Splendor of the Presence of God who loves us.

A.W. Pink wrote concerning the death of one of Gods children, those whom He has Given to His Son:
“While we are sorrowing over the removal of a saint, Christ is rejoicing. His prayer was “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory” (John 17:24), and in the entrance into Heaven of each one of His own people, He sees an answer to that prayer and is glad. He beholds in each one that is freed from “this body of death” another portion of the reward for His travail of soul, and He is satisfied with it. Therefore the death of His saints is precious to the Lord, for it occasions Him ground for rejoicing.”

The Shepherd Is ACTIVE;

  • What a Shepherd who “Makes…Leads…Restores…Guides…us in the path of righteousness for His Names sake…”and even in the valley of the shadow of death we need fear “no evil, For You are with me, Your rod, and Your staff, they Comfort me. “BEHOLD The Lord our SHEPHERD who will lead us into His presence one day and we will behold our Beautiful Shepherd!! –  Glory to God. – {Psalm 23:4}

In light of such Love why don’t you STOP … and Praise Him… Thank Him … and Rest in the midst of your trial in the Beautiful Shepherd who loves you…and laid His life down for you. so you could have eternal life.

The Shepherd is GREATER Than…

  • THANK Him that He is the Great Shepherd. Greater than sin, Greater than Death which could not hold Him, GREATER than satan who could not defeat Him. Greater than the valleys of fear and evil. He is GREAT, and GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.

You are PERSONALLY KNOWN to The Shepherd;

  • Thank Him that as the CHIEF SHEPHERD- He has not forgot you. He Knows where you are and one day either in the air or through death He will bring you home. AND BECAUSE HE IS The Lord your shepherd, you will arrive safely Home to be with Him for all eternity and to enjoy and revel in His Presence and enjoy His Kindness which He will lavish upon you for all eternity- {Read Eph 2:7},and to Sing and shout His PRAISES.

PRAY now AND SPEAK to Him on behalf of some of His people, His sheep …who need some prayers… who need reminder of this BEAUTIFUL…GREAT…CHIEF…SHEPHERD.. who is the LORD their SHEPHERD…intercede before Him on behalf of them that they would be encouraged, they would not be entangled with the affairs of this world but would look around to encourage Gods People and Evangelize those still outside the Fold…

 

ASSIGNMENTS:
For Further Fuel for Worship of and study of the Lord your Shepherd…Read:

1. Isaiah 53:6 – What characterizes “sheep” in this verse? What is it God does for them?

2. Psalm 23:1-6 – Note the word “HE”…what does it say “HE” does for His sheep… MAKE A LIST of what are the benefits when “HE” acts in this Psalm.

3. John 10:10 – Compares the difference between the Shepherd and the hireling-

A. In John 10:11 – Write down what Jesus says about Himself. Who He is and What He does.
B. In verses 12-13 – Write down what characterizes the “hireling” or hired hand.
C. In verses 14 -18 – Write down the Relationship between the Lord Jesus and His “sheep.” As Shepherd what does HE DO for them?

4. Read Hebrews 13:20-21 – What did “God” do in this passage list them. Inverse 21 What is one of the purpose’s now possible to those “sheep.” List the Four things mentioned in verse 21 that are now possible – through Jesus Christ.

5. If you have done the above assignments you should have some “fuel” for praising, thanking and worshiping God with as you see what He is to His People, What He has and is doing for His “sheep”… Pray them back to Him and thank Him, He is Your BEAUTIFUL Shepherd, GREAT Shepherd, CHIEF Shepherd…

HOW CAN I KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY?
If you do not know Him as Your Shepherd, then dear friend you can!  If you will acknowledge you have been living your life, on your terms, for your sake and realize you have been living a self centered life. …and you desire to Know Him. Then perhaps these words may help you

A – ACKNOWLEDGE your SIN TO GOD. You are a sinner and have not lived your life for His honor, nor have you lived your life to Love Him supremely.

T – TURN TO GOD now- And acknowledging your own inability for change, Turn to Him and tell Him by His strength you are willing to turn away from all sin, all that offends Him…You are Turning to God- and submitting the control of your life under His authority alone

T – TRUSTING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST – ALONE TO DO for you what you cannot do for yourself…Forgive you and cleanse you and make you right in standing with a Holy God. Place your trust in Him Alone for forgiveness, and freedom to Love Him and Follow Him – and By His Grace change you to live to please Him, and Know and Love Him supremely

THANKFUL TO THE SHEPHERD…