OPENING SCRIPTURE: SHOUT for joy to the Lord, all the earth. WORSHIP the Lord with gladness; COME BEFORE him with joyful songs.  KNOW that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE. (Psalm 100:1-3)

What if you can see the pasture from a distance but you cannot access the pasture? JESUS ANSWERED THAT QUESTION IN JOHN 10

“I AM THE DOOR. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9)

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11)

• Jesus want you to know Him not just for His pasture. He wants you to know Him for being THE GOOD SHEPHERD THAT LEADS YOU TO THE GREEN PASTURE.

I don’t know any scripture that describes Him as a GOOD SHEPHERD better than Psalm 23. From this Psalm we get to know our shepherd in 3 aspect: Provider, Protector, Promise Keeper

THE PROVIDER (Psalm 23:1-3)

The Lord is MY SHEPHERD; I shall NOT WANT. ² He makes me to lie down in GREEN PASTURES; He leads me beside the STILL WATERS. ³ He RESTORES my soul; He LEADS me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

• When we make Jesus the Shepherd of our lives, we will “not want” – not lack.
• As a provider, what does our God provide:

Contentment and Peace

• GREEN PASTURES represent CONTENTMENT. STILL WATERS represent PEACE

Restoration

• “He restores my soul” (mind, will and emotions)

Leadership

• “He leads me in the paths of righteousness”

THE PROTECTOR- In battle (Psalm 23:4-5)

Yea, 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. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

He is with us in the battle. “For you are with me”

• Your rod (word) and your staff (spirit) comfort us.

He blesses us in battle “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

• He often calms the storm but sometimes HE CALMS US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM

He refreshes us in the battle “You anoint my head with oil”

• Oil represents the Holy Spirit and the effects are: Refreshing and Strength

3. THE PROMISE KEEPER (Psalm 23:6)

 “Surely GOODNESS and MERCY shall FOLLOW me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

• He promises: Goodness, Mercy and Eternal life
• The Hebrew word for “FOLLOW” is Radaph (Raw-Daf) which is the word “CHASE”
• GOD’S GOODNESS, MERCY AND ETERNAL LIFE WILL CHASE YOU

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?