15.8.10 “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD’

Intro: Recall Ps 22 sermon ‘My God, My God why have you abandoned me”?

Jesus experienced the worst that sinful people and Satan could bring against him so that he totally can identify with us in troubles and trials we face. He cried out to God and so God wants to hear our cries as well. Ps 22 is about the suffering and death of Jesus to bring us salvation and healing. Ps 23 is about the risen Shepherd who brings us resurrection life and comfort and hope. Later we will teach about Ps 24 which is a celebration of Jesus mighty victories and reign from Heaven.

Today Ps 23... perhaps the most popular and well known psalm because it is a psalm that has been of great comfort for over 2000 years to people in times of loss and grief.

Start: Who has a pet cat or dog? Talk about how our family feed and provide for Flynn our dog. This is a simple illustration of how a shepherd cares for his sheep.

“The Lord is my Shepherd”

A) WHO IS THIS SHEPHERD?

3 major Biblical figures show us the Shepherd heart of God

1. Moses worked as a shepherd looking after his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep before God called him to look after His people and lead them out of slavery in Egypt. He was perhaps the greatest leader in the world at that time because, by God’s strength, he took that group of dispirited Hebrew slaves and through many trials turned them into a warrior nation of the 12 tribes of Israel. He confronted Pharaoh the most powerful tyrant in the world with miraculous signs from God to deliver the people from his power and brought them by another miracle through the Red Sea to Mt Sinai where with the Lord he established them again as a nation. Then he with God led them around the desert for many years enduring 10 major trials from them and God’s provision each time.(read the book of Exodus)

2. David the 2^nd outstanding leader of Israel was called by God from shepherding sheep to shepherding God’s people and leading them to overcome their enemies and establish the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem. On the way David gathered a group of dejected and downtrodden people around him and turned them into a victorious army. Like Moses David faced many trials including betrayal by Saul and even by his son Absalom.(read 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel and1 Kings 1-2)

3. Jesus identified with the both Moses and David by feeding the people and showing even greater signs and wonders from God. He said he was ‘the Good Shepherd’ and contrasted himself with thieves and robbers from Satan who only came to steal and kill and destroy. He said, “I have come that you may have life and life in all it’s fullness.”(John 10:10) read Jn 10:11 -18 and Jn 10: 2 -5.

4. NZ examples of Shepherd and sheep and sheep dogs… “Get in behind Blue!“

Fr Dennis Bennett said he was like the Lord’s sheep dog helping Jesus gather in his sheep. Pastoral ministry is carried out by many caring people in our Church such as: Drug Arm; Prison Ministry; ministry to the elderly; ministry to children ; ministry to the sick, carrying out ministry to Jesus as in Math 25:40. Our primary ministry and love must always be to Jesus the Chief Shepherd as Peter’s call was in John 21:15 -19.

(B) WHO IS THE LORD?

The name Lord is a divine name in the O.T. Jehovah or Yahweh.

In the N.T. Jesus was acknowledged as Saviour in his Name Jesus which means Saviour and Lord particularly by his disciples by his resurrection. Even Thomas fell down and called Him, “My Lord and my God”!(Jn 20:28) On the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit came in power for the first time Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus to the people, “God has made Him both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified.’ (Acts 2: 37) He exhorted the people to turn away from “this corrupt generation” and follow Jesus as Lord and God.

(C) We must now acknowledge and submit to Jesus as our Lord and so we come to him as our Shepherd and truly say: “ the Lord is my Shepherd.” Only those who surrender themselves to him as Lord have a right to come to him as Shepherd. Have you made him your Lord and are you willing do what he calls you to do. Are you ready to “Get in behind Blue?”

(D) HOW DOES THE SHEPHERD PROVIDE FOR US?

Just like we feed and care for and protect our animals the Shepherd cares for us.

Jesus our risen Lord and Shepherd gives us:

Ÿ REST Math 11:28 - 30 ‘Come unto me all who are weary…. and I will give you rest’

Ÿ REFRESHING with still water (Isaiah 43:20)

Ÿ FOOD Jesus told us to pray in faith, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ (Math 6:11)

Ÿ RESTORATION of our mind , emotions and will (2 Tim 1:7; Mark 5:15)

Ÿ LEADING IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS righteousness (justice restored) Romans 14:17)

Ÿ DELIVERANCE FORM FEAR from the fear of death and all fears( Ps 27: Ps 34:6)

Ÿ PROTECTION FROM EVIL the rod to kill enemies and the staff to rescue his sheep(1 Sam 17:34-36; Luke 15:4)

Ÿ SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT a table in the wilderness (Ps79:19)

Ÿ ANOINTING of His presence with us always (Math 28:19 Ps 23:4)

Ÿ FILLING with His Spirit for overflowing to others (John 7.39)

Ÿ GOODNESS and MERCY like angels following us

Ÿ ETERNAL SECURITY everlasting life with Jesus in Heaven (Rev 7;17)

Jesus Christ is our redeeming GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:11);

our resurrected GREAT SHEPHERD (Hebrews 13:20) and

our returning CHIEF SHEPHERD (1 Peter 5:4)

Finish with everyone standing and proclaiming:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures

He leads me beside still waters

He restores my soul

He leads me in right paths, for his names sake

Even 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.

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

PERFECT REST 8 August 2010 Hebrew 4:1-11

I am about to go away for a few days holiday and rest. As I thought about that aspect of rest I was drawn to this passage in Hebrews. In my devotional readings for July and August we have been going through Hebrews almost verse by verse. We don't know who the author of Hebrews is, but the purpose of Hebrews is clear. It is to emphasise and remind us of the sufficiency and superiority of Christ. Continually as we read through the book our attention is re-focused on Jesus - he is always seen as the solution - as being superior in all ways - as being our sufficiency. There is a song we often sing - "In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.

This Cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease, My Comforter, my All in All, He is my light, my strength, my song."

When strivings cease…………………..Through these 6 months I have tried to continually focus our attention on Jesus - a reminder for me as well for you. In starting a new role it is very easy to roll up your sleeves and get stuck it - to try and make things happen and carry on without too much change or disruption. But in so doing it is very easy to therefore try and do things in your own way and strength. That may be OK for a little while, but I am sure we all know there is only so long that you can sustain things my human effort on your own. Our own efforts are never enough. It is only in Christ, by his Spirit, that we can accomplish his work.

So I have tried to remind myself to seek God's strength, and wisdom, and leading, and empowering. To stop striving, because I know that as Paul says………I can then do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

But it is human nature for us, isn't it, to fall back and rely on our own abilities. It is the way our society works - we are trained to do things - to be self sufficient - often highly competent and qualified. But………when we leave God out of the equation we do so at our peril, because we will be continually striving to make headway - and that will be tiring - and it may not work out the way God wants it to.

At a recent PALS business ministry committee meeting we were reflecting on how the ministry had got to the point it was at. It had seemed easy. I don't mean easy in the sense that things had just fallen into place without having to do anything. On the contrary a huge amount of prayer and ground work had been done. But suddenly when God's timing was right he brought together the right people, the right circumstances, and the result is that things did "just start to fall into place" There has been a very enthusiastic response and an energy to progress the ministry, and interest to start it in other places. That is a great lesson for me. Some of us have put a great deal of time and effort into developing that ministry, and absolutely happy to do so, but it has only "just started to fall into place" because God's hand has been on it. Without him it would not be gaining momentum the way it is.

We MUST involve Jesus in whatever we do. It will make it a whole lot easier, and it won't sap our energy, but especially because his anointing and blessing will be on it. And I have to be honest - occasionally I forget that aspect of trusting the Lord and I get a bit stewed up wondering what the future holds - usually only for a day or so - but then I remember what God has done for me and how he has led me especially over the past year or two. That causes me to believe that he has my future well and truly planned out and taken care of and I get my act together and trust him that he will continue to lead me. It is putting those two things together - belief and action. That creates trust.

In v2 of the passage that Bronwyn read to us from Hebrews says "….did not combine it with faith." The writer is remembering the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. They could even see the land - they had no doubts it was there - and that it contained everything that God had promised. But they failed to put their belief into action by going in and taking the land - and they ended up wandering around in the wilderness.

Faith is more than mere belief. Faith is acting upon that belief

Do we do that I wonder? It is relatively easy for us to believe that what God says is true isn't it? I think that is probably the case for most of us. But is it another thing entirely for us to have the faith - from having the knowledge - being trusting - and personally committed to act on this belief. Belief needs to be put into action. Someone has said of the church in general………

When all is said and done, more is said than done

Isn't that true? When you think of all the words that are spoken - in sermons - in meetings to organize things - in comparison with action it does really make you wonder if we really are going about things the way God wants us to. It has surprised me to find how much time and energy from many people, for example, is put into preparing for these 2 hours on a Sunday morning. And I do wonder how intentional are we, as individuals, about taking personal responsibility to grow in our relationship with Jesus - to the point that it is truly a personal relationship with him, rather than knowing about him? I hear of people who rely on the Sunday sermons for their feeding. That is fine as long as we go away and do something about what we learn. But does that honestly happen? Look at Hebrews 4:2 again.

How much do we actually retain of what we hear? I am not sure of the percentages, but learning by hearing and observing AND then putting the learning into action is known to be by far the most effective method of learning. It was Jesus' way of teaching his disciples. We must put it into ACTION! And only you and I can do that. No preacher, however great they may be, can do that for us. We have to personally take responsibility. I was talking to someone recently who was asking advice on doing some serious bible study. That person was longing to know how to carry on in his relationship with Jesus. What an example and inspiration to us. We would all do well to make that sort of commitment.

It is so much more than just knowing about Christ. It is knowing him personally. Then we can trust him, and that what he says is true, and we can then act in confidence in that knowledge.

In the comment on the front page of the Wine Press there is a quote from Selwyn Hughes - "If we believe that Jesus is God's Son we are saved, but not that we might sit back and indulge ourselves in the thought. We are saved to serve. We are meant to put our belief into action.

That passage from Hebrews 4 speaks a lot about rest. The Greek word for rest in verse 1 and the remainder of this passage means literally to cease from striving and settle down. The true rest of God comes only for those who adopt the attitude of perfect trust in him. Without that trust how can we possibly enter that perfect rest that God offers? As I explained before, I have my moments when I too see I am not trusting God as I should, but I am reminded of his promise in Jeremiah the hew knows the plans he has for me - to prosper and not to harm………...

How do we enter the perfect rest that God offers? It is very simple. God sent Jesus to be our Saviour and Lord. We must believe that at the moment you believed and openly acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of God you became a Christian (Romans 10:9-10). Believe and confess - belief followed by action = trust and faith. When we really believe this fact and act on it by trusting him - only then can we enter by faith into that perfect rest. Jesus said………

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30). We have to act - to come to Jesus - to take what he offers - then we will receive rest.

To be yoked to Christ is to be taught and guided by him and to share the load. And as we do (like the young oxen used to be yoked to an older one to learn) we too will learn to trust him, that he does know what he is doing, and where to go, and when. That builds trust. And Jesus is gentle and understanding. He won't push us beyond what we are capable of doing or enduring. BUT we have to put that trust into action, and be obedient to him.

Because - God's rest is only for those who adopt the attitude of perfect trust.

So we have to intentionally put that trust into action. Perhaps it seems strange doesn't it, that to enter God's perfect rest, we actually need to be active. But that is God's way. Faith is active. Do we want that place of perfect rest and peace? Then we have to adopt the attitude of perfect trust.

For most of this year Bronwyn has suffered from a bad back pain. After knowing something was not right for many months, and not being able to get any satisfactory advice or answers, we were finally referred to a specialist. He immediately ordered various tests including a C/T scan and some sort of 'oscopy (can't pronounce the real thing!). About 3 hours after the 'oscopy he came and told us "It is all good news. I was able to do a minor procedure at the same time which will fix the problem. There is nothing else there to be of any concern." This was of great comfort. However, the pain persisted for a few days and we managed to get back to see the specialist last Thursday. Again he reassured us - this time actually showing us the C/T scan pictures and some pictures from the 'oscopy - absolutely perfect as he had told us. Here is the point. Here is a highly qualified, highly regarded and respected specialist who has told us there is nothing to worry about. Who better to know? We believed what he told us - it was even there in picture form for us to see. Did it make sense for us to then say - well what if this happens? - Or has he thought about this or that? He is the qualified expert. We believe that, but for his knowledge and advice to be of any use we had to accept it, and act on it - to trust him, and only then when we did could we rest and be at peace about the whole troubling experience.

God wants for us to enter his rest and peace too. And Hebrews 4:11 says we must make every effort to enter that rest. It means for us to understand who God is and what he offers. We have to believe and trust him that it is so - to take him at his word - and to act (that word again) on it by accepting it is for real.

When we do, then we will know God perfect rest and perfect peace - even right now. We don't have to wait for the next life to experience that rest and peace. We can experience it right now in the present. As we heard in verse 7 TODAY is the time for that to be. I encourage you - act today and take God at his word, trust him, and in faith believe him and experience that perfect rest and peace.

Let us close by reading together an old hymn as a prayer:

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive my foolish ways!

Reclothe me in my rightful mind;

In purer life Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,

Beside the Syrian sea,

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let me, like them, without a word,

Rise up and follow Thee.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness

Till all my strivings cease.

Take from my soul the strain of stress,

And let my ordered life confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Amen.

1st August 2010: Facing trials with Jesus

Scriptures: Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Math 27:46; Luke 39-46; Hebrews 5:7-10: Jesus cries of intercession and suffering for our whole salvation.

Intro: This is the first of 3 sermons on Ps 22, 23and 24 that help us to identify with the death, resurrection and triumph of Jesus. These psalms help us to face trials and troubles with Jesus; to face fear and death with Jesus and to triumph in battle with Jesus.

(1) GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU TO GET DESPERATE AND CRY OUT TO HIM: Total salvation through Christ’s blood.

Ps 22 begins with perhaps the deepest cry of the human heart.

It brings us to the darkest hour of Jesus agonising 6 hour ordeal of crucifixion when he used the opening words of Ps 22 to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The sky was darkened for 3 hours and Jesus allowed all the evil of the world and of the devil to come against him. He willingly drank the cup of suffering and innocent sacrifice to the depth so that he could completely face the worst agony. He did this to pay the full price for our salvation and healing. He did this to totally identify with the worst suffering, that humans face. He did this so that you and I will always know that whatever pain, abuse and trials we face he understands and can meet us there.

eg My black pot experience when I felt I would be overwhelmed by darkness and mental illness. Jesus assured me that He would meet me there in a deeper way than he had ever met me before.

Healing Prayer of Fr John Rae’s book, ‘Healings and Miracles today’ Page 148

“My God , my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Lord Jesus, you prayed these words when you were dying on the cross. And so we begin our prayer by thanking you. We thank you for your passion and your death. Your Holy Spirit teaches us through the prophet Isaiah, that in those last hours of your earthly life… you took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows… you were pierced for our transgressions… you were crushed for our iniquities… by your wounds we have been healed. (Is. 53: 4-5) We believe that on the cross you saved us, spirit, soul and body. You saved us not only from sin but saved us by healing every part of our being. You saved us for bodily resurrection and everlasting life. Thank you, Lord Jesus for this universal healing which cost you every drop of your most precious blood. Thank you that on the cross you broke the power of any curses we have come under. As it is written in Galatians 3, Christ became a curse for us, for it is written; “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Accordingly, in your name, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I break every curse all in this church have come under, no matter how far back in history those curses were invoked on there families and whether they were invoked directly or indirectly. I break them now in the name of Jesus and in the power of his cross through which he redeemed the world. Amen.

(2) GOD ACCEPTS YOU AND HEARS YOUR CRY: Healing of relationships.

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me. Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? I cry day and night but find no rest.”

The Hebrew people had no hesitation to cry out to God when they were in trouble as a nation or personally. Many Psalms start with such cries. Ps 142 is an example(read)

The prophets wept before God for the people. Jeremiah was called ‘the weeping prophet.’

Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus and over Jerusalem. He cry out in agony in Gethsemene and on the cross.

I believe it’s healthier to share your pain when you are going through trials like Maori people at a tangi rather than always being so cool and so shut up that we suffer more. Often we don’t resolve grief and hurts for years because we don’t share them and particularly because when we don’t share them with God who is like a compassionate Father and is waiting for us to come to Him. Don’t hide your hurts and pains from God! Let him hear your cry and as with the psalmist He can bring resolution and comfort in time of need. The individualism of our society is not healthy and all the consumer goods in the world cannot meet the needs of the human heart.

eg. When I was facing the feeling of abandonment and rejection and shame in the unemployment bureau and I cried out in my spirit to God and felt Him say “Remember I’m still your Father and you’re still my son….”

eg. Aileen hitting the wall as a cry to God for her husband. He was saved from alcoholism and their marriage was healed.

Healing Prayer of Fr John Rae continued pg. 149.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me/ Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”

Lord, most of those close to you abandoned you when you were arrested. Your own nation did not accept you. The leaders wanted to kill you so they gave you to the Romans who nailed you to the cross. All these rejected you, and as you hung there dying you felt as though God had also abandoned you. We believe that on the cross you took our place. In Isaiah’s words… you took our infirmities and carried our sorrows… and the Lord laid on you the iniquity of us all. You exchanged the absolute fullness of life and love you enjoyed from eternity for our emptiness and lack of fulfilment in order to save us. In virtue of this exchange we ask you to heal all the rejection we have suffered throughout our lives - the loneliness we have endured, the isolation, the alienation from others particularly from members of our own family. Bring your cross to bear, we pray, on all these inward hurts so that not even a scar remains. So heal us now, that we may know, deep within ourselves, that even in those moments when we felt most alone you were always lovingly close to us. Heal our hearts broken when we were rejected. Heal the relationships that were damaged at those times. Amen

(3) JESUS SUFFERED IN HIS BODY. SO WE CAN EXPERIENCE HEALING OF OUR BODIES. Physical healing

Ps. 22 14-16 followed by Fr John Rae’s Healing Prayer pg.150.

I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd , and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me down in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet, I can count all my bones…

Lord you spent yourself utterly on our behalf. Let it be that in virtue of the amazing gift of yourself to us in your suffering and death that we be released from every sickness and disease of body, mind and spirit.

Heal our fingers and our toes, our hands and our feet, our arms and our legs. Heal head and neck and torso. Bring healing and health to our nervous system; to our blood and its circulation through our bodies, to our muscles, ligaments, tendons and sinews. From this day forward let all our internal and external organs function perfectly for people of our years. I pray healing for those couples who long to have a child but are unable to conceive, that you Lord, would bless them with family within the coming year. Bring wholeness to those who suffer a disability either from birth or because of an accident. Bless us all, this day, with physical well being. Amen

Conclude together with prayer based on Ps 22 v 22- 24

We will declare your name, Lord, to our sisters and brothers. In the congregation we will praise you. We will praise and honour and revere you. For you have not despised nor disdained the sufferings of your afflicted ones. You have not hidden your face from us. You have listened to our cry for help. We give you glory and bless you for who and what you are and for your goodness to us. Amen.