August 9, 2015
Our Journey With the Good Shepherd!
Mike Fritscher

Psalm 23

Fresh Grass, Quiet Waters and Valleys of the Darkness

2 Corinthians 3:17 The Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. 18 and we all with unveiled faces are beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same Image from Glory to Glory, just as from the Spirit!

I. God’s Name, His Character! He Is Good! John 10:10-13

In the NT Greek there are two words for good: Agathos – useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, honorable. Kalos – Beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, commendable, admirable, Magnificent, excellent in its nature and characteristics, genuine, precious, competent, able, such as one ought to be , praiseworthy, noble. Beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, honorable, conferring honor, comforting and confirming!

1. The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life For You, the Sheep!

• 2k years Ago: Isaiah 53 – speaks to the cross and what Jesus did when He laid down His life for us!

• His presence in your life 2k years later , Right now, right here as a follower of Jesus Christ!

Ezekiel 34 – The Good shepherd: strengthens the sickly, heals the diseased, binds up the broken, brings back the scattered, searches for the lost.

2. The Good Shepherd Knows You, His Sheep, who know His Voice, who Follow Him!

3. The Good Shepherd Unifies!

Yahweh Rohi – I Am Shepherd! He Leads, guides, knows you, loves you, takes care of you, protects you, delivers you. He comforts, gives your rest and gives you His best. He is always with you, never leaves you. When you are lost He leaves the 99 and searches for you. He shows you the right way to go every time. He is with you in Hard ties even in the valley of shadow of death. He heals you, anoints you, follows you with goodness and loving-kindness. You have confidence that He will never leave you but you will dwell with him all the days of your life. When God is your Shepherd, your cup overflows.

II. God’s Work! Transforming you From Glory to Glory!

part of the journey! It’s the places of hunger, harassment, aggravation. It’s the trials of life. It’s the threat of death. It’s when the wolf, or the robbers or the thieves threaten. And you may be going through a Valley of Shadow of death. A dark time. When you are going through it remember that He is leading you through the valley. He is with you in this.

“I fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff comfort me!”

Isaiah 43:1-8 – I am With You!

Matthew 1:23 Behold the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with Us!

Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age!

Psalm 46:7 The Lord of hosts is with us

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Hebrews 13:5 I will never desert You, nor will ever forsake you!

2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal

III. The Good Shepherd Invites You to Shepherd His People!

John 21 – The Invitation to Shepherd Jesus’ Sheep

Yahweh Shepherd Is Always Present! Be Present – Yahweh Shepherd Leads! Lead Yahweh Shepherd Feeds! Feed!, Yahweh Shepherd Dies for the Sheep! Lay Down Your Life! Yahweh Shepherd Knows and loves the Sheep! Yahweh Shepherd Protects, No one snatches you from His hand!

The Good Shepherd Unifies! Be a Peace Maker! He empowers you to be what God has invited you to be!