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You Anoint My Head with Oil – Outline

Katrina Tyler (2nd from left) is restored to our Good Shepherd

This continues our series on Psalm 23, “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”

Psalm 23:5 You Anoint My Head with Oil

As we have studied this psalm, we have learned that King David is guiding us through the events of a full year in a sheep’s life. He takes us from the home ranch where every need is carefully supplied by the owner, out into the green pastures, along the still waters, up through the mountain valleys to the high tablelands. It is in this beautiful setting that the sheep and their shepherd get to enjoy the summer together.
(BBQs with Mosquitoes that ruin everything.)

Today, we are going to talk about three problems that can ruin the summer for the shepherd and his sheep.

1. A Fly in the Ointment.

Someone or something that spoils a situation which could have been successful or pleasant. For example: The only fly in the ointment was my brother, who insisted on whispering through the first half of the show.

In the terminology of the shepherd, summer time is fly time. Warble flies, bot flies, heel flies, nose (nasal) flies, deer flies, black flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and other minute, winged parasites proliferate this time of year and make life a misery for the flock. The nasal flies attempt to land on the damp mucous membranes of the sheep’s nose and deposit their eggs there. If they are successful, their eggs will hatch a few days later and form slender, worm-like larvae which will work their way up the nasal passages into the sheep’s head. There they burrow into the flesh and cause intense irritation and inflammation. For relief, the sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, posts or brush. They will rub their faces into the dirt. In some cases, the sheep will kill itself in attempts to get relief from this torture. Often, advanced stages of this infection will lead to blindness. They will run back and forth frantically or toss their heads up and down for hours in search of relief until they drop from sheer exhaustion. Some refuse to graze in the open at all as wooded areas offer some protection. All of this has a devastating effect on the sheep, as the ewes and lambs rapidly lose conditioning and begin to drop in weight.

At the very first sign of flies among the flock, the shepherd will apply an antidote composed of linseed oil, sulfur and other chemicals to their nose and heads as a protection against nose flies. (He anoints my head with oil.) Immediately, the aggravation, frenzy, irritability and restlessness is gone. The sheep will begin to feed quietly again and soon they would lie down in quiet contentment. One application is not enough by the way, the process has to be repeated and the fresh application provides the antidote.

Isn’t it incredible how easy it is for problems to arise and ruin almost any day? So often it is the small, petty annoyances that ruin our attitude. Even the loftiest spiritual experience can be spoiled by a “fly in the ointment.” Little distractions that become burning issues drive us up a wall and cause us to bash our heads against that same wall. It is then that our behavior before God degenerates into a disgraceful and frustrated tirade. (Me this past week.)

So what’s the antidote for us?

(John 7:37-39); streams of living water / spirit gives life

John 14:1-3: The apostles had just received some disturbing news and Jesus says, “Trust in God” and “Trust also in Me” is the antidote for a troubled heart.

What Is Trust?

‘Trust’ indicates a sense of assurance that is based on strong but not logically-conclusive evidence, or based on the character, ability, or truth shown by someone or something over time or across situations. Trust makes for a sense of being safe or of being free of fear, enough so your focus can be on other matters because that matter is taken care of. It becomes easier to simply enjoy life. Trust breeds confidence and conviction.
No human is totally trustworthy.

No human is totally untrustworthy.
No human can always trust themselves.
No human is totally trusting of any one other person.

Trust is a risk. We leave ourselves open for loss. Betrayal of trust hurts so much because the lost sense of security multiplies the damage.

Some keys to building trust:

1. Communicate. Say accurately what you are doing, and don’t assume others ‘just know.’ Also helpful: suggest some way they can help out.

2. Do what you’ve communicated. Nothing is more important to building trust than actions which match the words, non-verbal cues, and stated reasons. (Actions that don’t have to have ‘spin’ to make them seem like they match.)

3. No scorekeeping. The game of tit-for-tat does not create a sense of trust. Quit reminding others of what they did wrong in the past. Focus on what’s happening now.

4. Look in the mirror. Are you giving other people reason to distrust you? Were you acting this same way in a past instance where you were shown unworthy of trust?

5. Repetition. Each time you act in a trustworthy manner, you earn more trust. After a while, the trust starts adding up. Be thorough about it: build trust in every matter, big or small.

6. Show trust. People who are trusted are more likely to trust. Most people actually are trustworthy in most matters most of the time. Trust them, and the trust may spread. (That doesn’t mean blind trust, which is a way to become an untrustworthy person’s enabler.)

If you are stressed out all the time, you don’t trust God. We trust wealth and materialism. We put all our trust in things. God will test your trust in him. He wants to see if we will get up and have our quiet time. What makes you faith and trust collapse. Things go crazy and we go crazy. God’s timing and not our own.

John 14:15-18:
Many misunderstand the Holy Spirit. See First Principles for classes on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit

John 14:25 to end. Holy Spirit will remind you of all I’ve said to you.
He counsels ( John 14:26 )

John 15:26 HS. Will testify about me / We will testify.

Galatians 5:16-25 / Life by the Spirit /
Wherever the Holy Spirit is at work, so is self-surrender.

Just as the sheep need to be anointed with oil (so that the flies wouldn’t want any part of them), we need continuous applications of God’s gracious spirit to counter the attacks of our tormentors (so that the Devil won”˜t want any part of us). God alone can form in us the mind of Christ and when outside forces “bug” us, his Spirit alone can help us to react to aggravations and annoyances with quietness and calmness.

2. A Meeting of the Minds: Romans 8 / Acts 7:51 (Stephen) / James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8-9

Summer time is also scab-time. Scab is an irritating and highly contagious disease common among sheep the world over. It is caused by a minute, microscopic parasite that is highly contagious and spreads by contact. Sheep love to rub their heads together in an affectionate and friendly manner, but when they do this, the infection is easily spread throughout the flock. It is therefore common to occur on the head of the sheep. Keller, the author of “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” once purchased a few extra ewes from another rancher to increase his flock. They, unknown to him, had a small infection of scab that began to spread rapidly throughout the entire healthy flock. It took great amounts of time, heavy labor and great expense to purchase a huge dipping tank and put the entire flock, one by one through the solution to clear them of the disease. That’s exactly what David meant when he wrote “You anoint my head with oil.” The only antidote for scab.

(In the Old Testament, when they talked of offering an Unblemished Lamb, that lamb had to be free of scab. / Contamination, sin and evil.)

In our case, most of the contamination and sin that comes to us comes through our minds. Our world is about mind meeting mind to transmit ideas, concepts and attitudes, and all of these can damage us. When we put our heads together with those that do not have the mind of Christ, we come away with concepts that are not Christ-like. (People in or out of the church) In our day and age the danger of mass mind is grave. Television, magazines, internet, radio, newspapers, classmates and teachers influence our minds. Media is often controlled by those who are anti-Christian in thought.

Ellen Johnson, leader of the American Atheists went on the television show
OUT IN THE OPEN which aired November 13, 2007. because a United States governor had called for a meeting to pray for rain. The meeting was to be outside of any state building and he had invited Jews, Christians, Muslims and Hindus “¦ anybody who wanted to come and pray. Some of the things that Ellen Johnson said were:

“It’s 2007 and we’re conjuring the spirit world? This is a
Bronze Age mentality… I’m sick and tired of politicians acting like intelligence is the equivalent of a four-letter word. Even presidential politicians… I am just sick and tired of politicians acting like this idiot. There is no life after death. We weren’t poofed into existence in some mythological Garden of Eden. And there are no miracles.”

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas. No one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ” Holiday “.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate “Winter Break” under your “Dream Tree”

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

3. The Butting of Heads:

As the summer changes into fall, there are also changes in the countryside and in the sheep. As the nights become cooler and the first touches of frost come, the insects disappear and the foliage on the hills turns to crimson, gold, and bronze. This is the season of the rut; the mating season. During this time there are great battles between the rams for possession of the ewes. The necks of the monarchs swell and grow strong as they strut proudly across the pastures and fight furiously for the favors of the ewes. The crash of heads and thud of colliding bodies can be heard through the hours of day and night.

Some of the sheep can and will actually kill, injure and maim each other in these deadly combats. The shepherd has a simple remedy for this problem. Generous portions of (axle) grease is applied to the head and nose of the rams. Then, when they collide in their great crashing battles, the lubricant makes them glance off each other in such a ludicrous way that the rams stand there feeling rather stupid, frustrated and embarrassed. In this way, much of the heat and tension is dissipated and little damage done.

In God’s people, when we don’t see eye to eye with one another, many times we try to assert ourselves and become “top sheep.” In this way, many become hurt and bruised. Much of the grief, wounds, hurts, ill will, the unforgiving things in people’s lives could usually be traced back to old rivalries or jealousies or battles that had broken out between believers. Many skeptical souls will never enter a church because at some point someone battered them badly.

In John. There was rivalry and then Jesus said the comforter would come and love one another. When we are stiff-necked with pride and self-assertion, we hammer each other. We get intolerant, dogmatic and show NO GRACE with other Christians. The Holy Spirit helps us see how petty that is, and the fruits of the spirit overflow.

Think of the song we sing to the Spirit of God:

Let Your living water flow over my soul
Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control
Of every situation that has troubled my mind
All my cares and burdens on to You I roll

Come now, Holy Spirit, and take control
Hold me in Your loving arms and make me whole
Wipe away all doubt and fear and take my pride
Draw me to Your love and keep me by Your side

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Richard Enyi (center) gets baptized

You Prepare a Table Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies – Outline

As much as I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving, the table that King David is talking about here had no turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, candied yams or apple pie ala mode. There were no plates, napkins or silverware. In fact, there were no chairs and there was no table as we know it.

A good portion of this material is adapted from the book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23″ by Phillip Keller.
In the western United States and southern Europe you will find some of the finest sheep country in the world. The high plateaus of these ranges are always referred to as “mesas” – the Spanish word for “tables.” Interestingly, the Kiswahili word for a table is also “mesas.” This probably came from the first Portuguese explorers to touch the East African coast. In fact, this word is not uncommon in referring to the high, flat-topped plateaus of the African continent. The classic example is Table Mountain, near Cape Town South Africa, which is world renowned. To anyone that knows how to care for sheep, It is clear that what David referred to as a table was actually the high mountain country of the summer ranges which are known as Tablelands.

These mesas (tables) are remote and hard to reach (as is the table God is preparing for us). Even so, they are very much sought after by shepherds. In fact, as soon as the snow begins to melt, the energetic and aggressive shepherd will go and survey the land in preparation for the summer’s journey, and then once or twice more just before the sheep arrive. This is an incredibly arduous and lonely job; one that requires much labor every spring. (One of the things I never missed after moving to New York City from Texas was the overwhelming amount of leaves that would fall every autumn and the subsequent hard work of raking and burning them or hauling them away.) But that was nothing compared to the work that faced the shepherd who would “prepare a table” for the sheep. Picture David walking over the summer range with his eagle eye preparing a table for his sheep.

*He would decide well in advance where his camps would be located so that the sheep would have the best bed grounds.

*He would decide where the sheep would graze more heavily or lightly depending on the richness of the grass and vegetation.

*He would check for poisonous weeds as only a few nibbles of certain plants or weeds would spell certain death for the sheep.

*He would clear out the water holes so the sheep could have clean water to drink.

*He would distribute salt and minerals at strategic points to enrich the land for grazing.

All of this, for the benefit of the sheep that would be coming to the tablelands that summer. When David said, “You Prepare a Table for Me,” he was boasting of all that God had done to prepare a table for him. Are you prepared to boast of all that God has done to prepare a table for us?
(Gratitude or Grumbling?)

Luke 14:16-24

*(Imagine preparing a Thanksgiving Dinner and no one shows.)

*God is angry and says not one of them will get a taste of my banquet.

*God says to go and make others come in so His house will be full.
(Christmas Service on December 16th. Pray for 200.)

*God has prepared a table for us, and all we have to do is accept his invitation without excuses.
(What are your excuses today?)

Now, we need to talk about the last half of this phrase, “You Prepare a Table Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies.

*Predators often hide on the rim rock, watching. It is up to the shepherd to prepare for the enemy in advance to keep an attack and subsequent hysteria and slaughter from happening.

In order to do that, the shepherd must know and prepare for his enemy.

*In his book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” Phillip Keller talks about cougars: “On several occasions these cunning creatures came in among my sheep at night and killed ewes, their blood drained and livers eaten. Others were torn open and badly clawed as if the great cats were chasing and playing with them as a house cat would chase a mouse. Some had stumbled and broken bones in their frightened stampede.”

*Despite all the damage, dead sheep, injuries and fear caused by these attacks, Keller, in his book says he never actually saw a cougar on his range. They are so cunning and skillful.
(We may have never seen Satan personally, but we see lives ripped apart by his cunning everyday.)

*Believe it or not, it is rather fashionable in some contemporary Christian circles to discredit Satan. There is a tendency to try to deny him or laugh him off, but
1 Peter 5:8 tells us something different. (A lion sneak into a camp, follow the scent of one man, find him and drag him out of the camp and eat him. At full speed, a lion can run the length of a football field in the three seconds and jump a thirty foot gorge. Feel safe?)

*It is always the distant sheep that are killed by the predator. The blood is spilled before a bleat is heard.
(National Geographic) We are the same when we get ourselves into trouble, then we are frozen and unable to cry for help and then we are dead. We would all be smart to walk a little closer to Christ and his church where it is safer. Our shepherd wants to protect us, but we have to have the common sense to stay near him. (Bible, prayer, meditation and fellowship.)

*He is a liar and the father of lies.

A. Taking things out of context and twisting them to persecute us.

B. Telling us that after we become Christians, it’s all a bed of roses. In the Christian life there are valleys and mountaintops, and even on the mountaintops there may be some tough experiences. Don’t assume it’s one glorious garden of delight after conversion. Predators can still attack, poisonous weeds can still grow, Storms can still come swiftly over the peaks and a dozen other hazards can haunt the high country. Remember, Christ himself has gone ahead of us in every temptation. He therefore understands us and has a care and compassion for us that is hard to grasp. He has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies who would demoralize and destroy us if they could. We must prepare for the enemy.

Luke 22:7-34 The Last Supper

*Woe to that man who betrays him.

*But I am among you as one who serves.

*That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.

*Jesus goes ahead of us as he did with Peter (and as a good shepherd does) when he said,
31″Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Christ, as the shepherd, has spent much and been lonely to prepare a table for us. When we come to the Lord’s Table and partake of the communion service which is a feast of thanksgiving for His Love and care, ask yourself, “do I full appreciate what it has cost Him to prepare this table for me?” Page 111 and 112. His chose us and suffered for us to save us and help us live on a higher plane above the mundane level of common humanity. He is pleased as a shepherd watching his flock on the lush table lands when we walk in the ways of holiness, selflessness and contentment in his care, aware of his presence and enjoying the intimacy of his company.

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Walk through the Valley – Outline

This continues our Psalm 23 series on “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”

Psalm 23:4 “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.”

As a shepherd walking through tough terrain, David was fully prepared to guard the flock. He knew that God is fully prepared to lead us in every situation. God knows how to take us through the difficult valleys. There is no such thing as a rose colored life. We will only gain the higher ground by going through the valley, where it’s tough. God will lead us.

To get to higher ground, we must walk through three valleys:

1) The Valley of Past Hurts
Genesis 37 through Genesis 45
Joseph was the favorite and his brothers hated him, so they hurt him. But God was with him in the cistern, in slavery and in the Egyptian prison. Joseph forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph could have been bitter, but he understood that God sent him to Egypt. God sent Joseph through the valley… to save lives.

Matthew 6:14-15 Forgiveness. The higher ground is loving relationships with God and his people.

2) The Valley of a Guilt-Ridden Life
Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious…”
Reacts to this verse:
- This doesn’t apply to me. I’m a good person.
- Be cut to the heart and repent. That is healthy guilt.
- Just don’t care… No fear of God.

Jeremiah 8:10-12 Do not dress the wound of God’s people as if it were not serious. Take sin seriously.

Hebrews 10:11-14 The grace of God. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. “…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” The blood of Jesus is what God sees for baptized disciples when they sin.

Hebrews 10:22 Don’t live with a guilty conscience.

3) The Valley of Broken Dreams
Jeremiah 29:11 God has a plan for your life, no matter how messed up your life may be. Don’t believe the lie that you can’t change, or that your situation can’t change. The truth is that you can change. Repentance is change. To get out of the valley, face the challenges.

Romans 4:18 Abraham believed against all hope. Do you believe in God? Face the facts but have faith in God that the situation can change. Face the fact that your dreams have been broken, and get open and get help. When faith in God is not in the picture, it can lead to worldly practices: shopping into debt, addictions, watching TV too much, over eating, immorality or impurity. Don’t give up. Be fully persuaded (like Abraham) that God comes through with his promises.

Don’t let your heart get hard. This valley of despair is a place to face God with faith, and strive for repentance and victory through God.

With God, there is great victory. Without God, there is no victory.

The question is, “Do you want to be with God?”

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Peggy Diaz (center) gets baptized!

Paths of Righteousness – Outline

This continues our Psalm 23 series, The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Proverbs 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Report: “The Gathering” The 1st European Missions Conference: By Kip McKean

On the weekend of October 19-21, God gathered in London, England more than a hundred souls from as far away as Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Poland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States and of course England! God’s new movement of sold-out disciples is rapidly spreading, as disciples from Paris have decided to join us and start a Bible Talk this week in the heart of continental Europe!

Friday night I was privileged to speak on the theme of “The Dream.” Jesus’ dream was to change the world by giving every man and woman an opportunity to have a personal relationship with God, and thus eternal life. Particularly moving to me was the preaching and testimony of Lance Underhill, one of our shepherds at the City of Angels Church. He shared that his prayer and dream was that all of his four children would be baptized, and they were! Yet, when lukewarmness came into the church and then into his life, each of his children fell away. As a victory story, three of the four are now in the City of Angels Church and the other son, upon his return from Iraq, wants to be a disciple with us as well! (Dave Cadell has returned from Germany and we are planning a Campus / Singles New Year’s Eve Party.)

Upon our return home, good news awaited us. During the past ten days there have been six baptized into Christ, three of whom are college students from the Cal State Fullerton ministry, led by Kyle and Joan Bartholomew! (Jane will be here for a couple of days as her brother is graduating from boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Academy.) Also, I had received an email from Raul Moreno, who flew from Santiago, Chile to Honduras to preach at the first anniversary service of the San Pedro Sula International Christian Church. During this past year, with no full-time people, the San Pedro Sula Church has grown from 50 to 75 disciples! At their anniversary service there were 320 visitors and 105 kids, giving a total attendance of almost 500! Dorian and Rosa Bonilla, who lead the congregation, had 27 visitors! Amazingly, 240 of the visitors expressed a desire to study the Bible! Truly the world is being evangelized in this generation!

Paths of Righteousness, preached by Chris Broom

Psalm 23:3 He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Sheep are creatures of habit. They will walk the same paths over and over until they wear ruts into the ground. They will graze the same hills until the grass is eaten up by the roots. This leaves the ground bare and when rain comes it causes erosion. Well worn spots become infested with parasites of all kinds and soon the sheep are infested as well. When a pasture has been destroyed like this, it is said to have been “sheeped to death.” The land as well as the owner’s reputation is ruined and the sheep become thin and sickly. The greatest safeguard for the sheep is to keep them on the move. In the summer, itinerate herders take their sheep to the hills. They deliberately drive their sheep to new grazing pastures almost every day. Management and intimate knowledge of the pastures are key to being a good shepherd, as a pattern is worked out well in advance so as to not over-graze. (“He guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.”)

5 Paths of Righteousness that God wants to guide us in today:

1. The Path of Humility. Isaiah 53:6

People are so much like sheep it is embarrassing. We deliberately, stubbornly and blindly follow the same paths over and over again even when they have proven to be destructive habits. As Isaiah says, we go our own way. Our pride is so incredible that in spite of warnings, we will not yield.

The path of humility leads to righteousness while the path of pride leads to unrighteousness.

Proverbs14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. This shows the destructive self-determination of a human being. We insist we know what is best. We would rather turn to our own way; even if it leads to trouble. The world we live in is full of broken homes, broken hearts and derelict lives because of this pride. We don’t want to be led in paths of righteousness.

***Share about UIC and the people that have come to decision, including Peggy who was baptized today.

So how about you? Are you ready to “Humble Out?”

Mark 8.34: Jesus never belittled the cost of following him.

2. The Path of Self-Denial.

The journey of becoming like Christ is a journey from selfishness to selflessness. So many people are merely nominal Christians “¦ in name only. We insist we are led of the Lord and then we sing the songs of salvation, but precious few really follow the path they sing about. Phillip Keller said, “There are many willful, wayward, indifferent, self-interested Christians who cannot really be classified as followers of Christ. There are relatively few diligent disciples who forsake all to follow the Master.” When we go from self-pleasing to just wanting to please God (Selfish ambition to Godly ambition), so much of the daily trouble of life goes away. (Please God and the right people will be pleased.)

The path of self-denial leads to righteousness while the path of selfishness leads to unrighteousness. Example of both.

(The greed, laziness and selfishness of mankind leaves behind a legacy of ruin and remorse.)

Instead of insisting on your rights, are you willing to forgo them in favor of others. Instead of exercising and asserting your will, are you willing to deny yourself and follow His will. “Not my will, but yours be done.” Instead of choosing my own way, I will choose to follow Christ’s way. Simply to do what He asks me to do. I will obey. I will go and I will stay where he wants. For my best interest, for others and for His reputation.

So, are you willing to take the backseat, play second fiddle without feeling abused or taken advantage of. (It is hard to hurt such a person because self is out of the equation.)

3. The Path of Total Commitment. Genesis 4:1

The path of total commitment leads to righteousness while the path of partial commitment leads to unrighteousness.

Luke 14:33: Unless you give up everything you have, you cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 22:37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart”¦

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

When I sacrifice of myself so that I can deliberately do something for God and / or others, that is love.

***Share about Pat Jr. and the Harold Washington Bible Talk. (Victor baptized and 18 at bible talk. Pat”˜s goal is 40 for this week.)

***We need leaders. Can’t lose mission mindset. We are here for the millions. The Mission team is not done, till the city has been won.

4. The Path of Persecution. John 15:18 / Galatians 1:8 / Romans 16:17

Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to “Singled Out” and set apart from the gang. Most of us want to be part of the crowd. We don’t mind being different in little ways that serve our egos, but we don’t want to be different in a deeply meaningful way. Jesus said only a few would find His way acceptable and they would be persecuted by a cynical society.

***Share about Theo Jr. and Marshan sharing their faith in K-town, as well as JJC and Annie and Mike’s Baptisms.

The path of persecution leads to righteousness while the path of people pleasing leads to unrighteousness. Example of both.

Matthew 5:10-12

Acts 5.41-42 (They had just been flogged and ordered not to preach in Jesus’ name.)

5. The Path of Gratitude.

Instead of finding fault with life and always asking, Why? Are you willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude. (Attitude is non-negotiable.)

We feel entitled to question the reason for everything that happens to us. We look for someone or something to pin the blame for our misfortunes. If we really believe every event is in God’s hands, we must submit to God’s plan, knowing He is working for the good of those that love him.

The path of gratitude leads to righteousness while the ungrateful path leads to unrighteousness. Example of both. (Grandma and the peas.)

It’s time to “Humble Out,” get “Self Out,” and get “Sold Out.” Yes, you will be “Singled Out,” but we still need to be “Flat Out” Grateful.

God may allow His servant to succeed when He has disciplined him to a point where he does not need to succeed to be happy. The man who is elated by success and is cast down by failure is still a carnal man. At best his fruit will have a worm in it.

A. W. Towzer

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
The Man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

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Victor Sulaimon (2nd from right) and Mike Sesay (center) get baptized

He Restores My Soul

Psalm 42:1 “As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”

If that is not your heart, you are either a non-Christian or you are in need of restoration. Now is the time to be restored. This continues our series on another incredible psalm, Psalm 23.

Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul…” means he “revives” me.

David, the Shepherd King, writes Psalm 23 from the perspective of a sheep in God’s care. He boasts about who his owner is when he says, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Really, it’s the Christian’s claim of belonging to the family of God and the benefits of such a relationship with the Great Shepherd himself. “I shall not be in want “¦ He makes me lie down in green pastures “¦ He leads me beside quiet waters.” So why in verse 3 does David say “He restores my soul?” Could anyone in God’s care ever become so distressed as to need Restoration?

Psalm 42:1 The answer here is a resounding yes.
Even the people of God need restoration of the soul. “My soul is cast down!” To say that a sheep has been “cast” or “cast down” is to say that it has rolled over onto its back and can’t get up. Sheep are made in such a way that once they are in that position, they can’t get up by themselves. It may sound funny, but in fact It”˜s very dangerous because, once on their backs, their circulation is cut off so that blood can”˜t reach the extremities of their bodies. Then gasses begin to build up and If the shepherd is unable to find and help that sheep, it will die in a matter of hours or days depending on the weather. That’s why the shepherd in Matthew 18 will leave the ninety-nine sheep in search of the one that is missing. If one sheep is missing, fear grips the shepherd, because that sheep could be “cast down.” (Even the strongest and fastest of the flock can be “cast down!”) If a sheep is missing, he will run in hopes of finding it before it’s too late. As he approaches it, he is filled with joy and fear. Is he in time? If he is, he will pick up the sheep and help it on its feet. He will then massage its outer limbs to help the blood circulation. He may even talk to the sheep while he does this. Finally, that sheep will rejoin the others, free from fear and able to live a little while longer. The shepherd restores the sheep not only to its feet, but to its flock and its shepherd as well.

What can cause a sheep to be cast down?

(1.) Looking for the most comfortable spot to rest. (Act it out and explain how it relates to us.)
(2.) The sheep can become weighed down if it’s too fat or if it has too much wool. The wool becomes matted down with mud and manure and the sheep becomes weighed down by it’s own wool. The shepherd must deal with this by sheering the sheep so that it won’t lose its life. It”˜s hard work for the shepherd, and the sheep don’t like it, but it must be done. When sheered, the sheep is set free from its hot and heavy coat as well as the fear of being cast down.

So what does this mean for us?
When we seek a comfortable, worldly life, we become weighed down by all kinds of worldly things and worldly ideas. Then we start living for ourselves and building our own paneled houses instead of living for God and building His kingdom.
IT IS AT THAT POINT THAT WE NEED RESTORATION. HE RESTORES MY SOUL. HE REVIVES ME. HE REFRESHES MY SPIRIT.

Psalm 51:1-13 KING DAVID GOT COMFORTABLE AND DIDN’T GO TO WAR “¦ THEN HE SAW BATHSHEBA, FELL INTO GREAT SIN, AND NEEDED RESTORATION.

John 21:15-19 PETER DENIED JESUS 3 TIMES, AND NEEDED RESTORATION. PETER GOT DEFENSIVE. SO MANY GET DEFENSIVE: ARE YOU SAYING I’M LOST? No, not necessarily. I’M SAYING IF YOU DON’T GET RESTORED TO YOUR FIRST LOVE, YOU WILL BE LOST.

Jeremiah 2:19 (Let’s look at the word “Backsliding” in the Old Testament.) “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me,”

Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.”

Jeremiah 15:6 You have rejected me,” declares the LORD. “You keep on backsliding. So I will lay hands on you and destroy you; I can no longer show compassion.

New Testament Scriptures
Revelation 3:14-22 and Revelation 2:1-5

Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

2 Peter 2:20-22 (“¦again entangled in it and overcome”¦)

HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP EACH OTHER AND KEEP EACH OTHER FROM BEING CAST DOWN. FROM BACKSLIDING. FROM BECOMING LUKEWARM. FROM LOSING OUR FIRST LOVE. FROM LOOKING BACK AND THEREFORE NOT BEING FIT FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. FROM ONCE AGAIN BECOMING ENTANGLED AND OVERCOME BY THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD.

1 Timothy 4:16 (Keller: WATCH HER CLOSLY. SHE SURVIVED AND GAVE THEM TWIN LAMBS.) WATCH YOUR LIFE AND DOCTINE CLOSELY.

Matthew 18:12-18 WATCH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS CLOSELY. (LOW AND HIGH SELF ESTEEM v. CONFIDENCE FROM GOD.) FORGIVENESS / RECONCILIATION / (POLAR BEAR IN CAGE)

Today Mike and Victor are going to be baptized.
I don’t know what the future holds but I know who holds the future.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING WITH US. THAT SHOULD IN ITSELF BE ENOUGH TO CONTINUALLY REFRESH AND RESTORE OUR SOULS.
Many think that when they fall and are in a spiritual dilemma, God is disgusted, fed up, and even furious with them. NOT SO. He goes through the same pattern as the shepherd: concern and compassion. God weeps over those that spurn his correction and HE is eager to help. GOD MUST DO THE WORK of shearing the world off of us. WE KICK AND SCREAM, AND YES, WE GET HURT BY THE CUTS, BUT OH, THE PLEASURE OF BEING SET FREE FROM OURSELVES, WHAT A RESTORATION.

Don’t you want to be led beside quiet waters?

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He Leads Me Beside Quiet Waters – Outline
This sermon continues our series on Psalm 23.

Introduction: Revelation 7:9

Water is an incredible thing! It quenches our thirst. It’s refreshing. We need it to Live.

Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water.

At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant’s body weight.

Somewhere between 70 and 75 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water.

The average person in the United States uses anywhere from 80-100 gallons of water per day. Flushing the toilet actually takes up the largest amount of this water.

Were you ever really thirsty and then you finally found a water fountain, only to drink lukewarm water with a weird taste? What did you do? Spit it out, right? Sheep are more stubborn than that. The Shepherd can be leading them to the most amazing snow-fed waters and the sheep will stop to drink from puddles filled with bacteria and urine. The Shepherd must lead the sheep or they’ll drink this contaminated water, and it won’t just taste bad, it will hurt them.

God wants desperately to lead us to refreshing, soul quenching waters, but most people refuse to allow God to lead them. Instead, like sheep, we stubbornly follow the dictates of our own desires.

Jeremiah 2:13
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

God knows where pure, thirst quenching water is, and yet we forsake him thinking we know how to satisfy our own needs. We don’t know where to look, and therefore we build these broken cisterns.
Why would we do this?

Revelation 12:9 teaches us that Satan leads the whole world astray.

How does he do it? One way is in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame.”

Mark 8:38

What are you ashamed of? Jesus’ words or our sinful generation?

Luke 9:57-62
Are you ashamed of Jesus’ words as he challenges those that follow him?

Nickleback has a song called “If Everyone Cared.”
“If everyone cared, and nobody cried.
If everyone loved, and nobody lied.
If everyone shared, and swallowed their pride.
We’d see the day when nobody died.
I’m singing amen, I’m alive. amen, I’m alive.”

- In 1984, BOB GELDOF, a music journalist turned punk rock front man was inspired by a news report about Africa’s famine epidemic and began his fight against world hunger. Geldof organized the world’s first global charity concert LIVE AID. Performances by 100 artists around the world were viewed by 1.5 billion people. Live Aid raised 150 million pounds in one day. He Led Them.

- In 1976, BETTY WILLIAMS, a receptionist and mother of two witnessed three children killed during a political turmoil in Northern Ireland. Within two days of the tragic event, Williams obtained 6,000 signatures petitioning for peace. She then led 10,000 people on a peace march to the children’s graves. The peaceful march was disrupted by protesters. One week later, Williams organized another march. This time the march was 35,000 strong. Betty Williams was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. …She Led Them.

- In 1961, two students in Portugal raised their glasses in a toast to freedom. They were imprisoned for seven years. British lawyer Peter Benenson was shocked by the events. To rally support for the students, he wrote a letter to his local paper. The response was so overwhelming that a committee was formed to organize the campaign. It quickly grew into a world-wide movement known today as AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. He led them.

- In the 1920s, a boy from a small South African Village dreamt of a day when equality would prevail over his country. After years of activism, he was charged with political treason and sentenced to life in prison. His dream of equality never died. In 1990, after 27 years in prison, NELSON MANDELA was finally released. Mandela then led South Africa to its first ever democratic presidential election. Nearly 19 million people voted. Nelson Mandela won the election, ending the racist apartheid regime that divided South Africa for 46 years. He Led Them.

- Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – MARGARET MEAD