toencourage May 25, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 13

‘He maketh me lie down in green pastures…’ Psalm 23.2a

Beloved, throughout the past few weeks we have seen the LORD Jesus Christ not just Shepherd, but the Sovereign Saving Shepherd of the world.  He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Greatest Shepherd.  Yet in all that, He is our ’Shepherd, the same LORD Who created the heavens and the earth is the same LORD Who became our protector and provider as well as our healer and helper.

Within all these, the Chief Shepherd devised a way to protect His sheep, which would be in a sheepfold.  In order to provide for them He gave them a shepherd, always remember the sheep are the (people), the sheepfold is the (church) and the shepherd is the (Pastor).

Having said that we understand we are the sheep of the Chief Shepherd.  Think of the great benefits and blessings of being His sheep”…

• Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3
• So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations. Psalms 79:13 
• For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Psalms 95:7

David wrote in our text: ‘He maketh me lie down, in green pastures…’  This is not a forced or dictatorial action, but rather a providential act.  We must always remember our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ is a Compassionate Shepherd.  Matthew 9:36 reveals as Christ looked upon His people having great passion fro His people.  He looked at them being weary and scattered as sheep having not a shepherd.  For that cause He was moved toward these poor souls, moved “with compassion”.  We are the sheep of His pasture, therefore He looks at us with the same warmth and tenderness.

Our Lord is also a Considerate Shepherd.  Isaiah 40:11 proclaims the LORD will ‘feed his flock’.  So many artist depict Christ with either carrying or holding a lamb, I am so glad that He does the same with us.  He carries you and I when the weight of the world is too great to bear, it is the considerate Shepherd that carries us forth.

He holds us firm when the pull of the world becomes stronger then we.

Our Savior is Compassionate and Considerate because He is the Concerned Shepherd.  John 10:9 states that Christ is ‘the door’.  The Shepherd is the door of the sheepfold, which is constructed in a circular shape, made of stones with one simple door way.  As night falls, the sheep come in under the staff, with the shepherd counting them, one by one.  The shepherd remains in the doorway until morning.  When morning comes as the sheep go out they are counted yet again, confirming their attendance.  Nothing is able to pass through the door without the approval of the Shepherd; in this the Shepherd knows the goings and comings of the sheep.  

He knows our every thought as well as the intents of our thoughts (Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

The shepherd loves the sheep, just as Christ Jesus loves us as our Shepherd and we His sheep.  With that thought, let’s say one particular sheep continues to go astray, drifting from the flock and wandering off inviting danger to him, his family, flock and even the fold.  Finally the loving shepherd will have to deal with the rogue, he will do so by fracturing one leg.  Almost as soon as the leg is hurt, it is set so to heal in the proper manner.  This wayward one will remain with the shepherd during the time of recuperation until he or she has healed fully and able to bear weight once again.  

As drastic as this may sound and as painful as it must be, the shepherd allows such to occur so that particular wanderer will need to fully depend on the shepherd, learning that he is all and who the sheep need.

There may come a time in our life where we continue to wander from the fold and flock of God.  Should the LORD allow an incident into our life it is only so that He may provide and protect us, His sheep enabling us to remain so to propagate the Gospel of Christ.

‘He maketh me lie down in green pastures…’

toencourage May 18, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 12

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.Psalms 23:1

Beloved, as I write I am in the UK, the mission field our Lord has called me thereunto.  I am on the front end of a preaching circuit throughout England and Wales.  The more our Lord reveals unto to me personally, my thankfulness for Him greatly increases.  I was called to preach at the age of 24 and thus surrendered to do so in whatever capacity He chose.  Never in a lifetime would I have thought that calling would carry me into the Pastorate, throughout the world and now as a missionary to the United Kingdom.  

Outside of last week’s edition on mothers, the two weeks prior we have discussed a great amount about the LORD, as our Shepherd and His attributes concerning the flock of God. This week, I thought it important to spend a little time discussing the sheep of the Great Shepherd.  The Psalmist said: Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalms 100:3).  Friend, people are like sheep and the church is likened unto a flock. The Lord has given the local church a pastor as a shepherd, to lead and guide the sheep.

Understand that sheep are Wayward Animals.  Have you ever seen a trained sheep or a circus act full of dancing sheep? Peter wrote: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (I Peter 2:25).

Sheep have a tendency to get lost as they wander around with their head down eating.

As a result of the waywardness of sheep, the Lord (Chief Shepherd) has given us a sheepfold (local church).  Iinside the sheepfold we must have a (local) shepherd, the pastor.  I feel sorry and pity for poor souls who feel they have no need of a shepherd, much-less a sheepfold. Many will say they love the ‘Chief Shepherd’ but they are in no need of a local shepherd.  Wayward souls are they, grazing in fields of the unknown, without protection and guidance. Solomon said: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14).  

Sheep are also Weak, now is not the time to get offended thinking that I am calling you weak as a person, it is the characteristic the Lord attributed to His people.  Think about it in theses terms; sheep have no way to protect themselves and the Bible says in Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Now that is a referenced prophecy of Christ, and God used an illustration of sheep to show that Christ defended not Himself, but willing laid down His own life.  The reality is we are no match for the world and especially not the god of this world. Why? Because we are weak; Jesus Christ said of his disciples struggling against the flesh: KJV – “…the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.”(Matthew 26:41).  It is not a criticism to referred or likened unto sheep, it is a fact.  Yet even though we are no match for the world and it’s god, we know the One that is: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4.4). 

Even though sheep are wayward and weak there is Worthiness in their existence. Sheep possess wool which provides clothing and material, milk for nourishment, lambs for the field and meat for the body.  Despite being weak and wayward God loves them for their worthiness.

Now because we are wayward, weak but also worthy unto God we must be protected.  Sheep are protected in a sheepfold, unto us as the LORD’s sheep the church is our sheepfold.  The LORD so loves the sheep that He placed them together in a church, a flock purposed to protect and provide for them.  As sheep we are given a sheepfold and a shepherd to be together.  Sheep were never intended to go out on their own.  One simple rule in ministry that successful businesses across the globe employ, is to know ‘none of us are as strong as all of us’.

There is the Chief Shepherd over the flock of God, who is Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5).  It is imperative that the flock of God congregate, for not only is there safety in numbers, but security and strength as well.

I know men that have tried it alone, they became an island within a sea of loneliness.  It is one thing to stand strong on Biblical convictions, it is another to stand stubbornly in isolation. It is then when thieves come to steal, wolves to slay, and lions devour the flock.

Brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, He did so to reconcile us unto the Father.  He referred to Himself as ‘the Truth’, and the local church (sheepfold) is called the ‘pillar and ground of the truth’ (I Timothy 3.15).  Enjoy the fold, feed in fold and get full in the fold…for the field is where we as sheep flourish in providing nourishment and clothing to a lost a dying world by simply sharing what great things our Shepherd did for us!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

May 11, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 11

I Timothy 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The Apostle Paul finished issuing the qualities of the church officers, leaving Timothy with this statement: ‘But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God’  How many remember words growing up such as: ‘behave yourself’, ‘mind your manners’, ‘watch your P’s and Q’s’ and the ever infamous ‘keep your nose clean’?

Today we honor mother’s for their great and wonderful work they provide in the life of children across the world, in the life of the next generation of leaders, pastors, presidents and preachers and preacher’s wives everywhere. The teaching from mom has kept us on track.  However the opinion of ‘Mom’ seems to vary as life moves forward:

• 4 years of age: My mommy can do anything!
• 8 years of age: My mom knows a whole lot!
• 12 years of age: My mother doesn’t really know quite everything.
• 14 years of age: Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that either.
• 16 years of age: Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned.
• 18 years of age: That old woman? She’s way out of date!
• 25 years of age: Well, she might know a little bit about it.
• 35 years of age: Before we decide, let’s get Mom’s opinion.
• 45 years of age: I wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
• 65 years of age: I wish I could talk it over with Mom.

Our parents made a difference in our life with words of admonition from our fathers and the guiding grace of our mothers, without them where would we be?  There was a time when mothers made such a difference in their child’s life, Dad would go to work and mother would work even harder to raise the children.  The mother, we find, would teach the children how to behave themselves in life, be it at home or community.  Friend, our mothers taught us about Morals Paul wrote:  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6.10) These are the values the aged women of old taught their children; to treat everyone and anyone as they would like to be treated, but ladies and gentlemen, ESPECIALLY those of the of the household of faith!  You may be saying to yourself: “preacher, you mean I should give special treatment to those in the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ?”  Absolutely!  Sam’s club members have benefits, Kroger gives you a discount and even coffee shops will give a free coffee after you buy 10 cups. There are some benefits to being a member of the bride of Christ!

Even though, today, we live in an age of moral decay making morality to appear as an attribute of the past, a fore gone lifestyle of old fashion desire. Yet, the word of God still reigns true.  

We need to remember the words of our great mothers saying: ‘speak no evil’ or ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t anything at all’. 

Our mothers taught Morals…they also taught us Manners Solomon wrote: “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” (Proverbs 29:20) Do you remember the days as a child?  Who taught you proper manners of what to say, but more often of what NOT to say?  It was our mothers.  Paul said:”…evil communications corrupt good manners.”(I Corinthians 15:33).

Paul also penned: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)  We know these verses as Biblical truths, yet most if not all of our mothers taught us manners with the same underlying intentions.

“I learned more about God from my mother than from all the theologians in England.”—Charles Wesley

So where are we today in the church, community, county and country?  It means in order for our Morals to be sound and our Manners suffice, we are going to have to have some God fearing Mothers  “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”  (Proverbs 14:1) 

That mother of yesterday built her house with wisdom, wisdom in her hands (works), wisdom in her feet (walk), wisdom in her speech (wishes) and wisdom in her life (ways). 

 “Praying mothers are America’s greatest assets.”—Theodore Roosevelt

There is nothing in this world as strong as a mother’s love with no tragedy or disaster great enough to separate it…

On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport, killing 155 people. One survived: a four-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, named Cecelia. When rescuers found Cecelia they did not believe she had been on the plane. Investigators first assumed Cecelia had been a passenger in one of the cars on the highway onto which the airliner crashed. But when the passenger register for the flight was checked, there was Cecelia’s name.
Cecelia survived because, even as the plane was falling, Cecelia’s mother, Paula Cichan, unbuckled her own seat belt, got down on her knees in front of her daughter, wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia, and then would not let her go.

America needs mothers that are willing to train up their children in the right ways of Christ – despite the age we need mothers to set a good example, we need morals to maintain what Christ has given us in a church and we need manners for the sake of the church of tomorrow. Thank God for Mothers!

Psalm 144:11-12 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

“I cannot tell how much I owe to the prayers of my good mother.”—Charles Spurgeon

toencourage May 4, 2013 Vol. 1 Issue 10

Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (emphasis added)

The 23rd Psalm is a remarkable chapter written by a monarch and former shepherd that simply proclaims praise of God as being the One that among other things is his Provider.  V.1 exclaims “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”   That is the provision at its finest.  Beloved, a shepherd is one who is there to provide for the flock, so they will not wander off in a state of want.  The shepherd has the responsibility to provide all that is needed for his flock.

Once the sheep are released from the fold it is the shepherd’s responsibility to become their Protector.  In the process of providing the sheep with pastures to meet their every need, he watches over them without distracted eyes and ears protecting their every move.  The sheep are free to feed upon the verdant green grass, receiving needed nutrients as the shepherd has provided.  He now stands in protective watch over them, allowing the sheep to thoroughly enjoy as well as partake in all that has been given.  

As night falls and the sheep return to the fold, the shepherd will count them as they pass ‘under the rod’ through the ‘doorway’ to rest safely. Therefore the shepherd who had been the provider and protector, now becomes the Passageway.  There is one doorway into the sheepfold and it comes by way of the shepherd.  Not only is this the opening where the shepherd will count the sheep, knowing them by name and all characteristics, but it is where the shepherd rests as well.  It is here the shepherd continues to provide protection and providence for the flock without fail.

Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our Provider, Protector and Passageway!

This is why David is able to proclaim, “the Lord is my Shepherd.”  He is our provision, He has and will always provide for us.  He has given us great comfort in the thought of the promise that He will always provide which He has done in life and through death.  There is a great picture seen in three of the Psalms (22,23 and 24).  Psalm 22 is a picture of the suffering of Christ. Psalm 23 is a picture of Christ’s resurrection as we read David unapologetically claim that the LORD ‘is’, not was, my shepherd.  Therefore, Psalm 24 becomes the picture of the return and reign of Christ.  Brothers and sisters, therein lies our comfort of knowing that our Shepherd, the great Shepherd, will always provide for us – because He is always there.

David concludes in v.1 with “I shall not want”.  The modern language or definition of need has strongly been misconstrued with that of want; we live in a world which holds more to a value system of hedonism, pleasure and leisure than with the theocratic system of depending upon the LORD for our daily life.  The marketing world has tapped into this ideology with advertising slogans such as “you need”, “choose” and “X is fun”. In our everyday language, we associate things as needs more often than not with statements like: “the truck needs washed” and “the grass needs to be mowed”.  Political groups today appear on television dictating to the public their ‘needs’, stating “you need this and you need that” rather than the truth which is “you want this”. 

There is a difference and that difference is found in THE Shepherd becoming MY Shepherd.  That is THE Lord becoming MY LORD.  It is the Apostle Paul who providentially proclaimed, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil 4:11).  This becomes reality when we fully accept the idea of the LORD as our Shepherd.  He is the One that suffered and died for us providing the passageway for salvation.  He also is the One that loves us forever, thus continuing to protect our every need so that in the life we have on this side of glory, we shall not want. This is accomplished by knowing and trusting that the LORD is providing all that is needed this very day…be it good or bad.  Paul wrote Romans 8.28, then lived it six months afterward trusting that whatever would lie before will work for the good of others.  I think we would agree that Paul’s travels to Rome worked out good for us all.  With all roads leading to Rome, they also led from Rome, thus spreading the Gospel throughout the entire world.

I am sure Paul echoed the words of Israel’s greatest king, a man after God’s own heart:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.