RESTORATION IN THE SHEPHERD
Psalms 23:3
Psalms 23:3
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name\’s sake.
THE CONTINUOUS WORK OF THE SHEPHERD
Jesus our Lord and Savior, does a continuous work in us. His purpose is
to perfect the best in us. To mold and shape us into His image and His
likeness.
Like Adam, we listen to the wrong voice do the wrong things
, and find ourselves in the wrong places. We fall short of His glory. We have
a history that is not pleasing to God. We find ourselves in sin intentionally
and unintentionally. We were born in sin shaped by inequity. The shepherd\’s
work in us is none ending.
Like sheep, we are short-sighted with heads down consuming the grass of
the world. Before we know it we have lost connection with the Shepherd
enjoying the pleasures of sin.
HE RESTORES MY SOUL
He causes my life to return to me. There is a life in Christ and a life in
the world and they are opposed to each other. Life in the world is common
to us, because we were born in it, lived in it, and are accustomed to it. It is a life
full of the joys of the world that leads to destruction.
The Lord knew before the foundation of the world when He chose us (Ephesians 1:4)
that He would have to do a good work in us. David the shepherd, expressed his
confidence in the Lord.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Not only is David expressing confidence in Jesus, but confidence in the
success of His work in us. We are never a lost cause, but a developing cause
in Christ.
He restores my soul. That means something is wrong or lacking that He must correct. The restoration takes place on a number of levels. We are complex
individuals. All of us have something that needs to be restored. If it has to
be restored, it means we once had it but we lost it or strayed away from it and
must regain it. Whatever it is , is important, that God has to take charge and
restore it. Whatever it is that needs to be restored, we can’t do it ourselves.
Do you know it is exhausting to live in this world. With all the demands,
the time restraints, the regulations, the expectations of others, the changing
standards and the break downs that occur when you least expect it. We try
but we cannot control any of it.
Our spirit can get weary, sad, troubled, frustrated, and anxious. We can get
completely worn down, emotionally and physically. The worries of the world
can and does lead to mental brake now. Sometime we don’t measure up
to somebodies standards.
That is the opposite what God wants. God has to step in and renew the peace
and joy in our lives.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus said this to His 11 faithful disciples. Jesus was getting ready to go to the
cross. He gave them the job of making more disciples. They would be received by
some and rejected by many. They would be persecuted and all would die horrible
deaths. Yet Jesus tells them I am giving you my peace.
How does peace happens in you in this stressed out environment? It in the verse above.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
You can only find mental and spiritual peace in the Word of God. Three things;
You must study the Word of God to know what He said. You must allow the
Holy Spirit that lives in you to remind you what He said. You must trust that
what He said will happen in your life. Easy right! No it is not easy, but God
can step in and make it happen. The peace of Jesus is available to you. You must
take hold of it.
Your problems are not going to go away. But Jesus can give you peace in them
till he works them out. What do you do NOW. Meditate on the Word day and
night. Take all your request to the Lord with thanksgiving.
Psalms 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
HE RESTORES MY SOUL
Like sheep we can easily wonder away from God, following the pursuit of happiness in the world. Once dedicated to God, now dedicated to self, or
half dedicated to God and half dedicated to self. One feet in the church and
one feet in the world. That don’t work. God don’t want Sunday visitation,
He wants full custody.
God will remind you of who you are. How many of us are doing the Peter?
Sunday morning is over. Bible study is finish. Its Friday night, party time.
Now I am in the world trying to fit in and be accepted.
Matthew 26:74-75
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: \”Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.\” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
God will correct you, but He want beat you up or beat you down. His tenderness
toward you will show up. He will bring you back to Himself.
John 6:37-38
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 6:39-40
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
Jesus knows we are human, in the flesh. He took on human flesh, so He knows our
frailties and how we can yield to temptation. He is careful to lift you up and encourage you when feeling down.
HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
God has but one path, that is the path of righteousness. But we have two natures.
We have the new nature created in Christ. We have the old nature still alive
and fighting for position. We have the higher nature leading us to heaven. We have
old nature seeking hell. It is a constant battle. We have conscience of Christ
through the power of the Holy Spirit that reminds us of what is right.
HE GUIDES (LEADS)
Sheep can’t be driven. They have to gently led. The shepherd is never on a
horse, but on foot in close reach talking to the sheep. Sheep have a hred
instinct. They play with each other. Likewise the shepherd must spend time
with the sheep touching and talking to them so they know his voice and his smell. As the shepherd feeds the sheep they learn to trust him. Sheep will follow
the one they know and trust.
You and I must get to know our shepherd (Jesus). When we study His word
we know His voice. We know the difference between His voice and the voice
of the world. We should never follow a voice that is different from the Word
of God. The guiding hand of the Shepherd is His Word.
We are a new creation in Christ. We have a new heart. The Old stony heart
was replaced with a tender heart of love, compassion and a tendency to obedience
when we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Coming to Jesus was not our decision.
John 6:44-45
\”No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
The shepherd was guiding us before we knew Him as shepherd. The Father drew our attention to Jesus to be guided by Him
WE NEED HIS TRUTH
Psalms 25:5
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
WE NEED HIS COUNCIL
Psalms 73:24
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
WE NEED HIS WISDOM
Proverbs 4:11
I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
THE PATH
It is a well known path
It is a well traveled path
It is a straight path
It is a path filled with trials and tribulations
It is a path of spiritual growth and development
It is a safe path
It is the only recommended path
WHAT YOU FIND ON THE PATH
The guided tour
You will find forgiveness
You will find tolerance
You will find compassion
You will find grace
You will find mercy
You will find love
You will find truth
You will find Holiness
It is a righteous path
It is a path that ends in heaven
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PATH?
It is for His name sake.
God has a vested interest in you
To reveal Himself to those on the path
To give His name honor
To reveal His character and graciousness
To makes us fit for Heaven
That We might be saved
