Msg The Lord is My Shepherd

Thou Art Worthy
Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,
Thou art worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory, glory and
honor,
Glory and honor and pow'r;

Thou Art Worthy (cont’d)
For Thou has created, hast all
things created,
Thou hast created all things,
And for Thy pleasure they are
created:
Thou art worthy, O Lord!

The Lord
is my
Shepherd
(Psalm 23)

<<A Psalm of David>>
• Perhaps as a shepherd, David often
mused or thought on the things of
the Lord.
• The word MUSE means to think,
ponder, or consider.

Psalm 23, is evidence
that David spent time
considering and
meditating on God
("musing").

How much the Lord
might teach us about
Himself if we would only
muse on Him more.
(c/w Psalm 1:1-3)

Sadly, these days so many
people only want
a–musement*
*the prefix “a-”means contrary
or opposite of = NOT thinking.

How SAD for us
when we could
know the God of
the Bible even
more intimately
(c/w Psalm 139)

PSALM 23
• Often called the Shepherd’s Psalm it is
quoted often by those who are having
hard times in their lives.
• Many have it memorized or displayed
in their homes.

2Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they
with feigned words [false teachers will] make
merchandise of you [profit from you] . . .

Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not
want.

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a
shepherd: he shall gather the
lambs with his arm, and carry them
in his bosom, and shall gently lead
those that are with young.
The LORD is often
compared to a Shepherd

“The LORD is my Shepherd”
• From the very beginning of the Psalm,
we see that it is quite PERSONAL
– MY indicates a relationship
– MY is a possessive pronoun
identifies Psalm 23 as for those
whose Shepherd truly is the LORD.

Psalm 100:3
Know ye that the
LORD he is God …
we are
his people, and
the sheep of his
pasture.

As our spiritual Shepherd, the Lord
feeds his sheep
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed
his flock like
a shepherd:

A spiritual leader* should also feed
the sheep
1Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of
God which is among you
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give
you pastors according to mine
heart, which shall feed you with
knowledge and understanding.
*Under-shepherd  An assistant shepherd

3. A shepherd guides the sheep

Isaiah 40:11
He shall gently le
ad those that are
with young.
Psalm 23:2 … he
leadeth me
beside the still
waters. (3) … he
leadeth me in the
paths of
righteousness *Notice the position: In front, NOT behind pushing!
A good leader is an example!
LEADS and GUIDES his sheep

A spiritual leader should also lead
and guide the sheep
1Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which
is among you, taking the
oversight thereof …

4. A shepherd rescues lost sheep

Isaiah 53:6 “all
we like sheep
have gone astray
…”
A: As our spiritual Shepherd, the Lord
saves (finds, rescues, delivers) his sheep

Luke 19:10
For the Son of
man is come to
seek and to
save that which
was lost.
*Seek  search for // Save  rescue, deliver, recover

1Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going
astray; but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd giveth his
life for the sheep.
The Lord our Shepherd, gave
His life to rescue His sheep

He GAVE his life for the sheep
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

So you and I could be forgiven our sins, and
become clean in the sight of God, He took our
sins upon Himself (even though HE had done
NO sin)

A spiritual leader should point the lost
sheep to CHRIST to be saved

5. A shepherd disciplines the sheep

disciplines his sheep
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord
loveth he
chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth.

Therefore the church must also
discipline sinning brethren
1Peter 4:17
For the time is
come that judgment must begin
at the house of God:
1Corinthians 11:31
For if we would judge ourselves,
we should not be judged.
Matthew 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear
them, tell it unto the church …

6. A shepherd takes cares of his sheep

cares for his sheep
John 10:14
I am the good
shepherd, and
know my sheep,
and am known of
mine.

A spiritual leader should also take
care of the sheep
Acts 20:28
Take heed
therefore unto
yourselves, and to
all the flock, over
the which the Holy
Ghost hath made
you overseers …

7. A shepherd protects his sheep

protects his sheep
John 10:11
I am the good
shepherd: the
good shepherd
giveth his life
for the sheep. What did the Lord give His life for?
To protect us from what?

A spiritual leader should also protect
the sheep
Acts 20:28
Take heed
therefore unto
yourselves, and to
all the flock, over
the which the Holy
Ghost hath made
you overseers …

Q: What are the
enemies of the
sheep?

“Thieves, hirelings,
and wolves”
(John 10:8-13)

Thieves
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

Hirelings
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the
wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth …

John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Wolves
Matthew 7:15 Beware of
false prophets, which
come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves.
Acts 20:29 For I know this,
that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing
the flock.

A spiritual leader should always protect the
sheep from thieves, hirelings, and wolves
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false
prophets …
16 Ye shall know
them by their
fruits.

The World is also against
believers
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world.

How do believers AVOID our
enemies?
“The LORD is my Shepherd …”
HEAR the LORD
FOLLOW Him
Stay CLOSE to your Shepherd
Seek those things which are above!

Are we seeking those things
that are above or here below?
Colossians 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.

Q: How does the LORD feed, guide,
lead, save, discipline, care for, and
protect His sheep today?

He uses HIS WORD …
1. Feed : with knowledge (Jeremiah 3:15)
2. Leads : light unto my feet (Psalm 119:105)
3. Saves : Written for life (John 20:31)
4. Disciplines : Reproof and correction
(2Timothy 3:16)
5. Cares for : Comfort of the Scriptures
(Romans 15:4)

He uses HIS WORD …
6. Guides : Holy Spirit shall guide you into all
truth (John 16:13)
7. Protects : Sword of the Spirit; temptation;
false teaching (Ephesians 6:17; Matthew
4:4; Isaiah 8:20)
8. Gives his life : faith cometh by hearing …
(Romans 10:17)

Q: What does your Bible look like?

The Bible tells us:
That “faith comes by
hearing and hearing
by the word of God”
(Romans 10:17)
That we grow from
faith to faith (c/w
Romans 1:17; John
1:16; Proverbs 4:18;
2Peter 3:18).
Therefore, we need
to be taught and
established in the
Word of Christ.

Therefore, a spiritual leader must
ALWAYS speak from the Word of God
1Peter 4:11 If
any man speak,
let him speak as
the oracles of
God

Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my
shepherd …

Be sure the LORD JESUS
CHRIST is your Shepherd
Psalm 23:1
“The LORD is my shepherd…”

Sheep KNOW the voice of
their shepherd
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they
follow me:

Q: What do sheep do?
A: Sheep FOLLOW THEIR Shepherd

Q: Who else do
people follow?
• Politicians
– But they are often
corrupt
– Would they give
their lives for you?

"Relief goods discovered in DSWD
warehouses not distributed to
hungry victims.”

Q: Who else do
people follow?
• Politicians
– But they are often
corrupt
– Would they give
their lives for you?
• Sports stars
• Models
• Actors/Singers
• False Teachers

You say: The Lord IS my Shepherd?
 Where are you on Sundays?
(Where are you during training?)
Are you meditating on the Word of God?
 Praying?
 Seeking God’s will?

Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I
say?
Psalm 23:1
“The LORD is my shepherd…”

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet offend in one
point, he is guilty of all.
GUILTY!

1Peter 1:16
Be ye holy; for I am
holy.

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him
to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
It is finished…

Be sure the LORD JESUS
CHRIST is your Shepherd
OTHERWISE you are
headed for a fall

Shepherd Song
He shall feed His flock like a
shepherd
He shall gather the lambs in His
arms
And carry them in His bosom
And shall gently lead those
That are with young

This has been an excerpt from:
Ministry Essentials Training
Prepared by Dr. Jerry Smith, Missionary Pastor-
Teacher of Faith Missionary Church, USA
http://fmcoutreach.blogspot.com
http://ptrjerrysblog.blogspot.com/
Email: jfrsmth@gmail.com

Msg The Lord is My Shepherd