INTRODUCTION
Psalm 23:1-6
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 nameās sake.
4 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.
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. (NKJV)
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evilā¦ (NKJV)
When Jesus conquered death, He protected us from what we fear!
THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS
1. He is with us in the battle
Psalm 23:4
4 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. (NKJV)
Matthew 28:20
ā¦ālo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.ā (NKJV)
John 14:16-18
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you foreverā 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.(NKJV)
Deuteronomy 6:4
āHear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!ā (NKJV)
John 14:18
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (NKJV)
John 14:7-9
āIf you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.ā 8 Philip said to Him, āLord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.ā 9 Jesus said to him, āHave I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Fatherā¦ā (NKJV
Iām excited about His second coming, but I donāt want to overlook the Spirit coming!
Psalm 23:4
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV)
The rod isnāt meant for you. It is meant for the enemy!
2. He blesses us in the battle.
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (NKJV)
Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (NKJV)
Psalm 73:1-3
Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (NKJV)
Psalm 73:16-17
When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for meā17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. (NKJV)
3. He refreshes us in the battle.
Psalm 23:5
ā¦You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (NKJV)