He Protects
The Good Shepherd • Sermon • Submitted
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The Good Shepherd Week 2
The Good Shepherd Week 2
He Protects
He Protects
Robert Morris
Robert Morris
We’re continuing our series The Good Shepherd
We need a shepherd because we’re sheep (SHOW VIDEO)
Last week: He Provides. This week: He Protects
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:2
Psalm 23:2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:3
Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 23:4
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.
Psalm 23:5
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Even through it’s the valley of the shadow of death. (Snakes, Heights…)
He takes the #1 fear (Death) and totally annihilates it for the believer!
The reason we don’t have to fear is because he is WITH us!
1. He is with us in the battle.
1. He is with us in the battle.
Psalm 23:4
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.
He’s not cheering us on from the stands!
He’s not praying for us from heaven
He sent the Holy Spirit (God) to be with us all the time!
John 14:16 (NLT)
John 14:16 (NLT)
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
John 14:17 (NLT)
John 14:17 (NLT)
He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
John 14:18 (NLT)
John 14:18 (NLT)
No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
I’m going to give you another advocate
Someone who works on your behalf who will never leave you!
And you already know Him! How did they know Him?
Because He lives with you now! Jesus lived with them!
And later, He will be in you! I will come to you!
I will not abandon you! I will come to you!
This is not talking about the Second Coming
This is why so many people feel discouraged!
If Jesus would just hurry up and come
He came when the Holy Spirit came (There’s still a Second Coming)
But He came and lives in us now!
You can enjoy life now and feel safe
Even in a dark and mixed-up world
He is with you all the time!
He never leaves us!
He does not, and did not and will not, abandon us!
He is with us in the battle!
Why would His rod and staff comfort us?
Because He protects us with them.
He doesn’t hit us! He hits the wolf
I never said to the principal
“Your paddle comforts me!”
We had a contest to see who get the most swats!
He doesn’t use His rod and staff on us! He leads us!
Do you realize what the wolf is afraid of? The Shepherd!
He’s not afraid of you (a sheep)! He’s afraid of the Shepherd!
I got into a fight with a boy and gave him a bloody nose
His father came and found me in my yard and was threatening me
Then my father pulled into the driveway!
All the fear left because my father was with me!
Our earthly fathers can’t be with us all the time
But Jesus said I am with you always, even when He was ascending!
2. He blesses us in the battle.
2. He blesses us in the battle.
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
Get the picture in your mind of the battle going on all around you and
You’re eating with Jesus a great meal, candlelight, white tablecloth…
And He has huge Angels posted all around you! (IN the battle!)
You prepare a table IN the battle not AFTER the battle!
Why don’t we have that kind of peace IN the battle?
I think it’s because we’re not at the table with Jesus!
Matthew 6:6 (NLT)
Matthew 6:6 (NLT)
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.”
I’m not saying not to pray when you first wake up in your bed
I’m not saying not to pray in your car or outdoors
But how much time do you spend in private with the Father?
I think we also don’t spend enough time in the sanctuary!
Psalm 73:1 (NLT)
Psalm 73:1 (NLT)
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
Psalm 73:2 (NLT)
Psalm 73:2 (NLT)
But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
Psalm 73:3 (NLT)
Psalm 73:3 (NLT)
For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
Psalm 73:16 (NLT)
Psalm 73:16 (NLT)
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
Psalm 73:17 (NLT)
Psalm 73:17 (NLT)
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Do you know why many people don’t feel blessed in the battle?
Because your time with God alone and at church is sporadic!
If you can’t attend or don’t feel comfortable yet, that’s ok!
I love all of you online and on television
We got some of the sweetest Christmas cards and read them all!
Some have lost loved ones, some struggling with addiction
Some funny cards and some with great family pictures
One movie star said, “When I get to heaven, I want your hair!”
Which sheep do the wolves get? The ones on the edge!
You need to get right up next to the Shepherd like cats do!
They rub their backs on your leg and get hair on your pants!
He likes you! I like you too lady but I’m not rubbing my back on your leg!
When I traveled to smaller churches I stayed in homes
Nice people but one had seven cats!
Fluffy is mad at you because you’re sleeping on his pillow!
3. He refreshes us in the battle.
3. He refreshes us in the battle.
Psalm 23:5
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Oil is for refreshing and strength!
He doesn’t just give you a little drink like a canteen in the desert!
He fills your cup up so much that it runs over!
Last week we talked about God providing and this week protecting
But part of the way He protects us is He provides abundantly for us
Even in the battle! Even in the valley of the shadow of death!
The Shepherd provides! You don’t have to provide for yourself
With sons, you raise them to send. Daughters you raise to give!
I paused when Preston asked me, “Who gives this woman to this man?”
I told Josh and James and Ethan! You’re not the Provider! Jesus is!
We have over 100,000 members and millions that watch on television!
Can I provide for them? Can I protect them?
I’m A shepherd, but I’m not THE shepherd
Can I lead you to green pastures and still waters?
Can I restore your soul? Can I lead you in paths of righteousness?
Can I be with you in the battle or protect you? No!
No, but THE Shepherd can!
Spend time with the shepherd and get in the middle of the sheepfold!
New King James Version (NKJV) © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.