The Shepherd

Wed Service; 1/12/2022

Hymn: Revive Us Again

I love this song, probably the only song I ever request. The words are so powerfully to the point.

"We praise Thee, O God, for the Son of Thy love,

For Jesus who died, and is now gone above."

"We praise Thee, O God, For Thy Spirit of light,

Who has shown us our Savior, and scattered our night."

"All glory and praise To the Lamb that was slain,

Who has borne all our sins And has cleansed every stain."

"Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy Love; May each

soul be rekindled with fire from above."

Chorus:

"Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Hallelujah! Amen!

Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Revive us again!

I have started on this journey to praise God. I feel like God is helping my Christian walk, things are changing, and I feel I am in the will of God. Then next thing I know, buried with life's distractions I keep getting off track. Need to mature more as a believer and keep doing God's will. When I find myself continually in prayer, not missing church services, and reading the bible, things feel better. But soon as I get one trial, I am back to being too tired, and too busy.

Getting back to church again tonite, after getting back in the bible, and focusing on praising God, this was a great song to hear again. Feels like God is showing me why I love this song so much, it connects what I just learned "Praising God" through trials that uplift me. Also what a perfect lead-in to tonight's message with David Praising God.

Minister emphasizes verse 3, "... preventest him with the blessing of goodness." How God keeps us from bad things, things we are not to be doing with blessing us with good things.

Psalm 21

1. ... shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

2. Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah

3. For thou preventest him with the blessing of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

4. He ask life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days forever and ever.

6. ... thou hast made him most blessed forever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

7. ... trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

8. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

13. Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

My meditation drifted off praise with the verses in John 19. For as long as I can remember, I have always wished that my last words before I died would be Christ's last words. "...Woman behold thy son!" and "Behold thy mother!" My last desire in this world would be for my family to always be with each other and take care of each other. I would have always liked to say, "... Wife behold thy children!" and "Kids, Behold thy mother!". I was also drawn to Pilot's answer for writing "King of the Jews" on the cross. It made me reflect on what I am writing on this website. It is a responsibility to write what is true. Pilot may have been mocking the Jews, but it was a true saying. I write what I write in reverence of God and Christ, and it is all true what I feel the spirit says to me. So I feel, "...what I have written I have written." It reflects accountability to God for my words but also shows I am not writing it for approval, I am writing it for Praise to God. In todays times, we are being trained from a young age to seek "Like's", people's approval at all costs. We are more careful to not "Like" religious topics as we wouldn't want some of our "Friends" to think we are being too religious. We are less careful to "Like" immoral things that may be funny. It shows the state of spiritual condition. It is a challenge to share your beliefs with the world, but the scriptures tell us to do that. Then at times, there is too much not really sincere sharing of faith. Anyway, now that I went off on a rant I just wanted to reemphasize the reasons I write.

Minister talked about how John gave testimony, and how he praised God for Jesus with his testimony. I wonder if it was for "Likes" back then. There I go again. The challenge is whether will we as Christians, give testimony when there is persecution going on.

John 19

22. Pilot answered, What I have written I have written.

26. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

In John 10, a lot of references to "...enter" and the "door". Reflected on Psalm 100:4 Entering into His Gates".

John 10:

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

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: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

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

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Minister Closing. Would want a shepherd that really cared for the sheep. What a self-sacrificing shepherd we have.

Closing Prayer: My thoughts went to praise God for providing us a way to him. For providing a savior in Jesus for us.

Thank you, Lord for making a way.

Ak