November 10, 2013
Stetson Memorial United Methodist
Church
Sermon
4 of Fall Series
“Shepherd
Us O God”
Deuteronomy
7:9 MSG
Numbers
23:19
Psalm
23:4 King James Version
Psalm
139:23-24 King James Version
“Shepherd Me O God” by Marty Haugen
“Just
A Prayer Away”
A reading from
the Psalms, Psalm 23, verse 4. . . listen for the voice of the Shepherd to you
and me, the sheep of His flock. (Read from the King James Bible)
Psalm 23:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
“Shepherd me O
God beyond my wants,
beyond my
needs, from death into life.
Though I
should wander the valley of death,
I fear no
evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and
your staff, my comfort and my hope. (Sing)
I remember a time that Shanequa lost her
favorite blanket. She slept with it always. When she was sick, that was the one
thing that comforted her. She had it since the day she was born. It was
familiar and she knew she always had it to hold on to. Well. . . one day she
couldn’t find it when she was going to bed. She searched every where to no
avail. She came into our bedroom frantic. She had lost the one thing that she
could hold onto when she slept. . . the one thing that would help her sleep
with a sense of being safe and sound. She was inconsolable. So Ray and I went
back to her room to look again with her. After a short time we found it buried
in the blankets on her bed. It was as if we had performed a miracle for her.
She was so happy as she snuggled with the blanket, chastising it for hiding on
her. Everything was set right again. The chaos that had happened was now gone.
She slept safe and sound.
In the world in which we live. . . we
all need to have that thing that gives us comfort. With all the dysfunction and
madness around us. . . in that chaos that can feel as if it is taking over. . .
we need that thing that helps us get through the tough times. Where do we find
that comfort as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death?”
Over the past two weeks, we have been
journeying with the Shepherd found in the 23rd Psalm, the Good
Shepherd. We have talked about us not wanting because of our Shepherd, our
Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. . . how we are never without Him. . . how this same Shepherd
wants to bring us to peaceful pastures where we can rest beside the calm
streams of living water He gives so freely to all of His sheep. Last week we
talked a little about how He is the only one who can truly restore us and when
we are restored we are guided on the path of righteousness for His name. . . not
our own. We talked about how we can become “cast sheep” stuck on our backs
unable to get up and the fact that Jesus is the only one who can set us right
again. This week, we will discover why we feel comfort from our Shepherd in
those times of trial and chaos. . .
So there are two parts of this verse I
would like us to look at this week the first being walking through the valley
and the other is we are comforted by His presence with us. . . the Good
Shepherd. Now with sheep, in the summer they spend all their time in close
companionship with the shepherd under the shepherd’s solitary care. They go to
distant summer ranges with the shepherd who leads them there. The shepherd
takes them on long “drives” so that they can get there. Now the sheep move
along slowly and eat as they go. They gradually go to the feeding place behind
the receding snow and by summer they have made it to the summer feeding ground.
They move into unmarked territory. During this time they are completely alone
with the shepherd. They become intimately under the care of the shepherd both
day and night. But you see. . . as the shepherd moves His flock into
territories that they may not have traveled; the shepherd has already charted
the course through the wilderness places. The shepherd knows the way. . . the
path is familiar to him and his surefootedness gives them peace and comfort in
knowing they are cared for.
Jesus. . . the Good
Shepherd. . . knows the way for us. . . He has traveled the path before us and
is familiar with the path. We will not fear, for thou art with me. . . with us
in every situation, every dark trial, every disappointment, every distress. We
Christians, as the sheep, would love live beyond the low lands. . . in the
higher places with God. We want to have a more intimate relationship with God.
. . beyond the common. We even talk about those mountaintop experiences and
even envy those who have reached the top and entered in to a more sublime sort
of life with God. But. . . it is in those valleys that our Shepherd invites us
to come and drink from the Living Water He offers to His sheep. Pools of water
cool and clean in the dry arid landscape of the valley we are traveling.
As
it is with ordinary sheep management, so with God’s people, one only gains that
higher ground by climbing up through the valleys. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads His flock gently,
put ever moving up. . . moving ever forward. . . through the paths that wind
through the valley. “Yea, tough I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death”, the operative word is through the valley. . . not around. . . not avoid.
. . but through. Jesus
has said “Lo, I am with you always”. . . this includes as we walk through the
Valley of the shadow of death. And it doesn’t have to be a physical death that
the Shepherd goes with us. It could be our death to self. . . our death to sin.
. . our death to bad attitudes. . . Jesus, the Good Shepherd s always there. . . steering
the lost sheep. . . the frightened sheep. . . the willful sheep. . . on the
road that is best.
Thy
rod and thy staff comfort me.
. . Even to this day; shepherds still carry a rod and staff. They bring the
bare necessities with them as the go out to shepherd their sheep. A young
shepherd boy. . . or girl. . . take pride in the selection of their rod and
staff that is just the right size for them and works well with their strength.
The go out and find a young sapling and cut it down. After they have selected
“just the right sapling” they whittle it down with great care. It is the one
thing they have to fend off predators when they are out there tending the
sheep. This rod. . . .is actually an extension of the shepherd’s right hand.
With it they would shepherd the sheep and keep them together as well as
discipline those wayward sheep who would wander away. The sheep would sense the
comfort that the shepherd had because of having the staff.
Think
about this for a moment. God sent Moses to Pharaoh to free His people with a
staff. . . a rod. . . that showed God’s might. Even in David’s day, the rod was
comforting to the sheep as they saw it in the hand of their shepherd. As a
matter of fact, the Scriptures are known as God’s rod. In times of trouble how
comforting it is to Christians to turn to God’s word. . . His rod. . . and know
it to be His Shepherd’s. . . the Good Shepherd. . . hand of authority. Now the shepherd used the end of the staff. . . the
knob. . . to discipline the sheep. . . those who would try to wander off. . . those
who were stubborn and not want to go where they were being lead. But not as you
might think. They would swing the rod in the air and it would go whistling
through the air and scare the sheep back to where they needed to be. For we as Christians, doesn’t the word of
God. . . God’s rod. . . come to our hearts with surprising subtleness when we
go astray? It is the living word of God that convicts us and helps us stay on
the right path.
The shepherd also used his rod to count
the sheep. A sheep that has passed “under the rod” was one that had been looked
at. . . examined to make sure everything was OK with it. You see. . . the wool
is very thick and the shepherd would use the rod to split the wool so that they
could see if there were any parasites or wounds or disease going on with the
sheep. This takes time because the shepherd wants to be very through. Now. . . we.
. . as God’s sheep. . . are searched. . . looked at by the tender, caring
Shepherd. If we allow it. . . Gods Word searches us. Psalm 139 verses 23-24
exclaims: “Search me, O God, and know my
heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” God will get below the surface and
bring things to light that need to be healed. . . things that need to be made
right. . . This rod. . . comforts us. We live in a world that is contrary to
what Jesus. . . the Good Shepherd would have us be. We are tempted from all
sides. How awesome it is. . . how comforting it is. . . to have the “rod of
God”. . . God’s word. . . to help guide us on our path.
The staff that is carried by a shepherd
is unique. Only those who shepherd sheep have a staff. It wouldn’t work for
large animals but it is perfect. . . just right. . . for sheepherding. It is
designed and shaped perfectly for sheepherding. And it is used ONLY for their
benefit. It is a symbol of concern and compassion. The rod is used for
discipline but the staff is one of comfort. It is used in three ways:
1. The shepherd uses the staff to gently lift a newborn
lamb and bring it to its mother if separated from her. The shepherd doesn’t
want the lamb to have the scent of human hands on it
2. It is used to reach out and catch individual sheep
and draw them close to himself for examination. It works well for shy and timid
sheep that will usually keep at distance to the shepherd
3. It is used to guide the sheep. They guided gently
into a new path or through a gate and even along dangerous and difficult paths.
The Shepherd doesn’t beat the sheep with it but uses the tip to gently apply
pressure to the sheep’s side.
Some shepherds use the staff to keep a
favorite sheep, a pet, close to them. They walk almost as if they were
hand-in-hand with each other. We, as
Christians have the Holy Spirit. . . the Comforter. . . that draws us together
with others, draws us the Good Shepherd, and guide us on the path of
righteousness. Through the Spirit we are in touch with Christ.
Are you feeling the staff of the
Shepherd drawing you close to Him. . . or even into an even closer
relationship? Is the Spirit prodding you on a path that might be different or
even a little “dangerous” in your opinion? Our Shepherd is just a prayer away.
He is always listening for voice of His sheep in need of help. . . lost in the
shadowy valley of death. Let the Good Shepherd lead you through the valley into
a new grazing land where there are streams of Living water and cool breezes of
the Spirit. Come and be comforted by the Good Shepherd, our Risen Lord Jesus
Christ, and find comfort and guidance for the journey. He say’s come all you
who are weary and I will give you rest. Let Him be your guiding light on your
journey of life everlasting.
Shepherd us O
God beyond our wants,
beyond our
needs, from death into life.
Amen!
November
10, 2013
Sermon
4 of Fall Series
“Shepherd Us O God”
Deuteronomy
7:9 MSG
Numbers
23:19
Psalm
23:4 King James Version
Psalm
139:23-24 King James Version
“Shepherd Me O God” by Marty Haugen
4th
service of Fall Sermon Series:
Psalm
23
children’s
sermon
When you are afraid and
need something to hold onto,
hold onto Jesus, hold
onto God.
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Just A Prayer Away”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/sermon-just-prayer-away-by-pastor-ruth.html
by Pastor Ruth Foss
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
November 10, 2013
&
Sermon
3 of Fall Series
“Shepherd Us O God”
Psalm
23:3 (King James Version)
James
3:18 (Common English Bible)
Psalm
31:24 (Amplified Bible)
Isaiah
40:29 (Amplified Bible)
Psalm
32:8 (Amplified Bible)
“Shepherd
Me O God” by Marty Haugen
3rd
service of Fall Sermon Series:
Psalm
23
Lord’s
Prayer
All Saints Sunday
Communion
children’s
sermon
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Strength For The Day”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
November 3, 2013
&
Sermon
2 of Fall Series
“Shepherd Us O God”
Psalm
23:1-2 (King James Version)
James
3:18 (Common English Bible)
2
Samuel 22:3 (New Living Translation)
Proverbs
14:30 (New International Version)
Psalm
121:8 (King James Version)
“Shepherd
Me O God” by Marty Haugen
2st
service of Fall Sermon Series:
Psalm
23
Lord’s
Prayer
Offertory
– “I Stand In Awe”
children’s
message
“listen
to the right voices, listen to God’s Word”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Safe and Sound”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
October 27, 2013
&
1st
service of Fall Sermon Series:
“Shepherd Us O God”
John
10:11-18 (The Message)
John
10:1-10 (The Message)
John
10:1-18 (The Message)
Psalm
23
Lord’s
Prayer
children’s
message
follow
the bible
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “The Good Shepherd”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
October 20, 2013
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