The Good Shepherd- The Conclusion

May 03, 2015

Matthew 13:44 (NLT) “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Realities of the Church
1. There is One Church:

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV) I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

2. The church is made up of people.

3. It’s His church
Matthew 16:18 (NLT) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Observations about the church…

Bringing health to the body
1. Take Ownership!
John 15:19(NLT) The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

2. Conversation not accusation.

3. Cooperation not Criticism.
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

4. Compassion not contention
John 13:34-35 (NIV) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 4:20 (NLT) If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar.

Galatians 6:1-2 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

5. Community not isolation

John 17:21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one.

Most of the New testament was written in the context of function as the Church

The Good Shepherd- Verse 6

April 26, 2015

II. You Prepare a Table
Prepares: arak to arrange & set in order(ordain) paying fine attention to detail.

Psalm 34:10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
Song of Songs 2:4 He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.

III…in the Presence of my enemies
“Because we have such a capable shepherd we are able to FEAST WHEN OUR ENEMIES ARE PRESENT.
Romans 8:17 Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
2 Timothy 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

IV. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

1. The Oil is for healing!
2. The Oil is for De-bugging
3. The Oil establishes purpose…..

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
V. my cup overflows.

Ministry:
Keep fork in hand.
Psalm 81:10 Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it

The Good Shepherd- Verse 5

April 19, 2015

Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's 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 will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Verse 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.

The Rod: Authority
1- Examination & Managing
Ezekiel 20:37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

2- Correction
Hebrews 12:10&11 God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

3- Protection
1 Samuel 17:32-37 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

The Staff: Leadership
1 Samuel 17:40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

1- Visibility

2- Drawing

3- Guiding
John 16:13 When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

4- Rescuing
Isaiah 43:1-2 “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

The Good Shepherd- Verse 4

April 12, 2015

Verse 3

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

3 ways to stay “up”

Psalm 16:7-11 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in the grave(sheol), Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

1- Live close to the Good Shepherd.
Psalms 16:11 In Your presence is fullness of joy

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

2- Lead your heart.
1 Samuel 30:6 David encouraged himself in the Lord.(KJV)
Psalm 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

3- Stay close to the flock.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Isaiah 40:27-31 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God,the Creator of all the earth.He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

The Good Shepherd- Verse 3

March 29, 2015

Ezekiel 34:14-15 Yes, I will give them good pasture on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in peace and feed in luscious mountain pastures. I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep and cause them to lie down in peace," the Lord God says.

Certain conditions must be met in order for sheep to lay down:
1. Free from Fear.

2. Free from Friction(of other sheep)

3. Free from Pests
Psalms 23:5 You anoint my head with oil.

4. Free from Hunger

He leads me beside quiet waters….

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Today you need rest or refreshing?
Psalm 36:8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The Good Shepherd- Verse 2

March 22, 2015

Jesus on Life:
1. He is THE Life.
John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life”
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” No one can come to the Father except through me.

2. His life is Abundant
John 10:9-10 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

3. The life he gives us Overflows
John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has LAID ON HIM the iniquity of us all.

Luke 24:5 "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

2 Timothy 1:10 Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus! (the Message)

John 8:24...unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins
Romans 3: 22-25 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

The Good Shepherd

March 08, 2015

2 Kings 4:1-7
1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha saying, “Your servant my husband is dead—you know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.2“What should I do for you?” Elisha asked her. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She replied, “Your handmaid has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3Then he said, “Go borrow for yourself vessels from all your neighbors—empty jars—not just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and behind your sons, and pour into all those vessels, setting aside what is full.” 5So she left him and shut the door behind her and behind her sons. They kept bringing the vessels to her and she kept pouring. 6When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But he said to her, “There isn’t another vessel.” So the oil stopped. 7Then she came and told the man of God. So he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt, then you and your sons can live on the rest.”

2 Kings 4:1-7
1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha saying, “Your servant my husband is dead—you know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2“What should I do for you?” Elisha asked her. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She replied, “Your handmaid has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3Then he said, “Go borrow for yourself vessels from all your neighbors—empty jars—not just a few. 4Then go inside and shut the door behind you and behind your sons, and pour into all those vessels, setting aside what is full.” 5So she left him and shut the door behind her and behind her sons. They kept bringing the vessels to her and she kept pouring. 6When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But he said to her, “There isn’t another vessel.” So the oil stopped. 7Then she came and told the man of God. So he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt, then you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Luke 14:21 ‘Quickly go out into the squares and alleys of the city and bring here the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame.’…23“So the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the thoroughfares and fenced areas, and press them to come in so my home may be filled.

Luke 14:23 (NASB) …and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.

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Abraham
Isaac

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Isaac
Jacob + Esau =
[Addition]
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Jacob (Israel)
Reuben + Simeon + Levi + Judah + Dan + Naphtali + Gad + Asher + Issachar + Zebulun + Joseph + Benjamin =
[Multiplication]

2 Kings 3:15 Now as the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 and he said, “Thus says the Lord: Make this valley full of trenches. 17For thus says the Lord: You will not see wind nor will you see rain, yet this valley will be filled with water. So you will drink, both you and your cattle and your animals. 18Yet this is an easy thing in the Lord’s eyes—for He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.