Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Tonight I will be going over  Psalm 23, with a few added touches of what God gives me to share.  I hope you are blessed and will be touched by God's Living Word.

The Lord is my Shepherd.  He says that "His sheep know His voice, and He knows His sheep."  He leaves the ninety-nine to go find that one lost little lamb.  He is the door (the gateway) through which all men must enter in.  The door to the sheepfold.

I shall not want.  He watches over the sparrows and lilies.  He knows what we need and how to take care of us.  He is a good Father, Who gives good gifts to His children.  If your earthly father is good, how much more good is your heavenly Father.  He says that even Solomon in all his splendor, was not arrayed as fine as the flowers.  He took the children of Israel through the desert for 40 years and their clothes and shoes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.  They had food and water each day.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He gives sleep to those He loves.  He watches over us with a hedge of protecting angels.  He gives His angels charge over us, to keep us safe.  He is a strong tower in our times of deepest need.  He covers us with His wings.  He hides us in the secret place.

He leads me beside the still waters.  I can drink in safety.  I can know that my thirst will be quenched by His Living Water, the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We cannot live life to the fullest, unless He is leading us in His Way, in His Truth, and in His Life.  He is our example.  In Him, we live and move and have our being.

He restores my soul for His Names Sake.  He who Jesus sets free, is free indeed.  He refreshes me with the River of Life.  He is the Balm of Gilead, who soothes the sin sick soul.  He is the Bread of Life.  As we sup with Him, He abides in us and His Life flows through us.  Take communion.  Let His Body and His Blood wash over you with His Power and Love.  Restoring you to the relationship with God we all need.  Be washed in the Baptismal waters of His Blood.  Let the cleansing flow wash over you from head to toe, to bring you renewal in your soul.

Yeah, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall fear no evil, for You are with me.  He gave us victory over the grave.  He gave us power over the enemy.  He said that "the gates of hell, shall not prevail against us".  We do not need to fear death, but to welcome the start of a new life,  within our heavenly home.  He is there, and wherever He is, nothing can stand against Him.  He said that "if I am for you, who can be against you?'  Wherever two or more are gathered together, He is there.  He said "One can put a thousand to flight, with two, ten thousand will fall."

Your Rod and Your Staff comfort me.  A shepherd's rod helps the shepherd to protect the sheep.  He uses it as a weapon against the wolves and the bears and the lions who would come to steal his sheep from him.  It is a staff to help draw the sheep from danger, and help the shepherd walk steadily along the path.  The Word of God is our rod and staff.  it helps us to fight against the enemy's lies, and take authority over our minds , souls, and spirits to bring them under the authority of Christ.  It helps us to stand strong on the Cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Christ.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You told us "that we were not of this world."  You told us "that even though we lived in this world, we were set apart from the world."  The table we eat at, is in Communion with You.  We eat Your Body.  We drink Your Blood.  We eat the Word of God, the Bible, daily.  Our daily Bread.  We drink Your Life.  We drink the Living Water of Your Spirit.  We stay in step with Your Spirit, so we will live in heavenly realms, and not be sucked into the miry clay of earthly drama.  Of the enemy's desire to cloud our minds with his lies.  We feast at an abundant table laden with good things, as we keep our minds set upon God and His goodness to us.  So, even though we live on an earthly plane, we walk in heavenly places.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  "All things work together for good, to those who are called by God, in Christ Jesus."  If we believed this verse to be true, we would be walking in such powerful faith.  If all things truly do work together for our good, than why do we worry and fret?  Why do we feel lonely and abandoned?  Why do we groan and complain?  God is good all the time.  All the time, God is good.  He has always gone to the side of mercy in dealing with His children.  He has delayed disaster time and time again, to give people a chance to repent.  Look at Nineveh.  Look at Sodom and Gomorrah.  In both of these places, God sent someone to tell them the truth, and get them to repent.  In Nineveh, they heeded the warning, and in Sodom and Gomorrah

And I shall dwell in the House of the Lord, forever.  He goes to prepare a place for us.  We have a mansion waiting for us.  There is a city being built, as we speak.  The Lord's House is a house of prayer.  It is a House of rejoicing and praise (remember, God dwells in the praises of His people).  It is a kingdom.  Eternal life is ours, as we give Christ Lordship of our lives.  Hallelujah.  Praise His Holy Name.  Let us dwell in the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, as we hold onto His Words of Life.  God bless you all.

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