KNOWING IS GOD REAL: Have you ever had one of those moments where you questioned whether God is real or not? It seems that lots of folks do in our world. You can do an Internet search and literally find thousands of articles that address both sides of the thought. So, if you have ever had one of those moments you are not alone. You can search and find many deep and complicated answers to the question, but I’m basically a pretty simple guy and like the simple answers. Here is a simple little story that helps explain what I believe: It seems that there was a little boy flying his kite on the top of a hill one day. His kite was so high that the clouds sometimes hid it from view. A man walking nearby noticed the boy holding the string for the kite, with no kite in view. He asked, "How do you know that your kite is still there?" To which the boy answered, "Because I can still feel the pull on the string." Is there any of us who does not, from time to time feel that upwards pull? When you look around at God’s creation or perhaps sit quietly and listen to the sounds of nature. When you see how God paints a sunrise or sunset and you feel a little thrill in your heart at the beauty those things say to our hearts, "God is real". I believe that people have to be persuaded that there is no God that they don’t come to that conclusion by themselves. We were created with the knowledge that God is real in our hearts. Someone described this as "a God shaped void within the heart and soul of man," a hole that can only be filled by placing God there. What about you, is there something missing in your life? Could it be a longing that can only be satisfied by remembering and acknowledging what God build into your soul from the beginning? The fact that you will never be complete, never be whole until you welcome The God of the Universe into your heart. Do you feel the pull? Russ Lawson
The Good Shepherd makes me to lie down Psalm 23:2
As we know this as the Shepherd Psalm We will relate much to sheep. The one animal that Jesus uses to liken mankind to is sheep. As we talk about sheep lying down in green pastures we have found that it is impossible for sheep t o lie-down unless four requirements are met. They must be free from all fears, they must be free from friction among the flock, they must be free from pests and physical aliments and free from hunger. I would like to sum this up with four words, freedom from fear, conflict, irritation and hunger. Only a good shepherd can provide for these freedoms. It takes the shepherd to make sure that his flock does well. A flock that is restless, irritated, tense and uneasy does not do well. It is the same with people.
1. First we will conquer freedom from fear. When sheep are together just a stray jack rabbit can make them leave from lying down. There are also wild animals that disturb the sheep. When the shepherd knows that there is a cougar or wolf out he calms the sheep by being with them and he carries a gun and flash light at night to ward off the evil intruder. What is it in your life even this week that has disturbed your peace with God? Have you had trouble at work? Have you heard some bad news about a loved one? Has what the leaders of our country have done bothered you? If I would come and sit with you right now would you be able to share something that is bothering you? 2 Tim. 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” A sound mind is one that is at rest and not troubled, under pressure or gripped with fear of the future. This can only come as we know the Good Shepherd is with us.
One has written nothing in all my study of psychology helped me overcome fear. My studies had not given me anything I could use to test what was truly rational versus what was irrational-what was truth versus what was a lie. Since my early beliefs were grounded and rooted in religious doctrines, I turned to the Bible for answers. I made a decision to hold every belief to be false or corrupted until I could validate it in God’s Word. First, I humbled myself and decided that in order to overcome fear, I needed God’s help. Second, I made the decision that I would cast all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all on Him and trust Him to teach me what I needed to know to change fear into faith. Third, I began to overcome fear when I took a stand against the devil, declaring him to be the liar while choosing to believe God, accepting everything He said as truth!
Here are some scriptures that deal with fear:
Ps 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever. 34:4I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. PR 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 19:23 The fear of the Lord tends to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. IS 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. MT 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
2. We must conquer freedom from conflict. This means that in a flock there is not tension, competition, jealousy among the sheep. Did you know that in some churches there are some that act like the animal world? In penful of chickens there is the pecking order. With cows there is the horning order. With sheep there is the head butting order. These animals do this so they will have the best of the grazing land or have power over the other animals. When there is conflict among people in a church things do not go well. Those who want power take away what needs to be given to those who are weaker in the faith. In the church we are all equal when it comes to having access to the Shepherd and the goodness He has for us. Do you have any trouble with those who are sitting around you? In the early church there was no completion or jealousy. They preached the word and brought people to Jesus. They did not have all the programs that we have, they did not have high tech with power point and movie clips to show, they had no buildings, no denominations, no seminaries, no seminars or counseling centers. The early church prayed and God answered. How are you doing? A man went to church for prayer meeting and was asked if they could pray for him. He had been in this church and was the choir director. He said “no, because I do not see that God answers your prayers. I suppose I need to be prayed for, I am conscious that I am a sinner, but I do not see that it will do any good for you to pray for me for you are continually asking, but you do not receive. You have been praying for revival since I have come here, yet you have not. You have been praying for the Holy Spirit to come upon you and yet complain of you spiritual leanness. You have prayed enough in your meetings to have prayed the devil out of your town but you are still complaining.” The man went on in his own thinking that he could not go on what people thought or understood but if the Bible were true or not. He had to come face to face with Jesus. No church will save you. The conflict that might be in the church is gone when the good shepherd comes into the midst. EK. 34:15-16 “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” 20-22 “Therefore thus says the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.” I pray that this truth will stand out in your minds today that it is Jesus that makes the difference in your life. If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart: Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God.
3. We must conquer freedom from irritation. In the flock of sheep this refers to any kind of disease, parasites or pests that harm the body. A good shepherd will take time to makes sure his sheep are anointed with oil that will repel parasites or diseases. He will take time to inspect each sheep for ticks in the wool. He will carefully examine each sheep to see if there are any sores that need to be medicated to heal. He will also keep the sheep that are sick away from the other sheep so that the sickness will not be spread. This is the job of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life. The Bible says that He comes to convict the world of sin, judgment and righteousness. JN 16:1-33 and when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” I am saying this here and now that when you live close to God he demands that you live a holy life. The standard of holiness includes the Ten Commandments, tithing, doing good works and worshipping in His house. As I have endeavored to live the Christian life I find it requires more than those I have mentioned. MT5 "You have heard it said ’Do not murder. But I say if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger. If you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. If you are standing before the altar you remember that someone has something against you, go and be reconciled to that person. “You have heard ’Do not commit adultery.’ I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. MT 6 When you give, when you pray, when you fast, don’t make it noticeable. Are you praying, giving and fasting?
4. We must conquer freedom from hunger. To have good green pastures it takes work of the good shepherd. He has to go out clear out all the rocks, brush, roots and stumps. This takes deep plowing, seeding, planting and irrigating. God’s green pastures is His word. His word shows us what being born again means. It is being justified, adopted and regenerated in a simple act of faith. His word gives us faith in God. His word gives us the meaning of being sanctified and holy in His way. His word tells us what grace is and how it is freely given by God.
The World Needs Men who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be as honest in small things as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it" because everybody else does it"; who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success; who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular; who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes." Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity,
