October 30 2016 I am the Good Shepherd

Connecting With The Real Jesus - I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:14, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.... My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me."

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

1. As my good shepherd, Jesus provides for my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 "“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

2. As my good shepherd, Jesus protects me from harm.

Mark 4:35-40 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Psalm 34:9 "The good man does not escape of troubles. He has them, too, but the Lord helps Him in each and everyone."

3. As my good shepherd He will guide me on what is right.

James 1: 5-8 (TLB) 5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you,

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go and search for that one that is lost until He finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." And when he arrives, he will call together all of his friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep." "In the same way, there is more joy in Heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away.

August 9 2015 Trusting God For Every Need

TRUSTING GOD FOR EVERY NEED

God's Answer to Your Needs ­ Part 8 of 8

Matthew 6:9­ "This, then, is how you should pray: "‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

­ God is waiting for you to ask!

GOD'S ANSWER TO ...

1. My inferiority: His PERSON

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. . .

2. My confusion: His  PLAN

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3. My worry­ His PROVISION

"Give us today our daily bread.

4. My guilt: His  PARDON

"Forgive us our debts. . .

5. My strained relationships: His PEACE

... as we forgive our debtors.

6. My temptations: His PROTECTION

"And lead us not into temptation. . .

7. My fear: His POWER

"but deliver us from evil"

PRAYING THE LORD'S MODEL PRAYER

I can't say "OUR FATHER" unless I've been born again into God's family. (John 1: 12)

I can't say "HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME" unless Christ has first priority in my own life.

I can't say "YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH" unless I am committed to doing his will all the time.

I can't say "GIVIE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD" without a willingness to share it with those in need around the world.

I can't say "FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS" if I am holding onto an unforgiving attitude toward others.

I can't say "LEAD US NOT INTO TENDTATION" if I continue to expose myself to compromising situations.

I can't say "DELIVER US FROM EVIL" unless I really desire to walk with integrity and purity.

May 1 2011 When You're Running Out Of Everything

WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF EVERYTHING

(I Kings 17:1-16)
(I Kings 17:1 – Now Elijah confronted King Ahab, as surelyas God lives, the God of Israel whom I worship and serve, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word!)

KERITH: THE RAVINE OF OBSCURITY
(I Kings 17:2-7 Then the Lord said to Elijah, Go east and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. The Kerith brook will give you fresh water to drink and I’ve commanded ravens to bring you food there every day. SoElijah obeyed what the Lord said to do. He moved to the Kerith Ravine and lived there. The birds brought him food each morning and evening and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain.)

3 REASONS GOD ALLOWS BROOKS TO DRY UP

1. To keep from depending on the brook
2. To move me to a better place.
3. To prove He hasn’t forgotten me.

JOURNEY NORTH: THE ROAD OF INSECURITY
(I Kings 17:8-9a – Then the Lord said, now get up and go to Zarephath and live there. I’ve prepared a widow there to take care of you. So Elijah went to Zarephath.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. The path to a miracle is always through discomfort.
2. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.
3. The pattern for a miracle is C.P.R.

ZAREPHATH: THE REFINERY OF SCARCITY
I Kings 17:9b-16 – When he reached the town gate, Elijah saw a widow gathering firewood. He asked her, Would you please bring me a drink of water? As she was going to get it, Elijah added, And please bring me a small piece of bread too. The woman answered, As surely as your God lives, I swear I have no bread. I only have a handful of flour left in a small jar and a little olive oil left in a jug. I came to gather some wood so I could go home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and we’ll die of hunger. Don’t be afraid, Elijah said, Go home and first make a small loaf of bread from what you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son. God says, I assure you that jar of flour will never be empty, and the jug of oil will never run out, until the day I send rain to the land. So the widow did what Elijah told her to do, and she and her son and Elijah had enoughfood every day. The jar of flour and the jug of oil never ran out, just as God had promised.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. What I need more of, give what I have to God.
2. What I have the least of, give that to God.
3. I give to be a blessing.

LESSONS FOR TOUGH TIMES

1. God is all you need.
2. Where God guides, God provides.
3. Trust God one day at a time.
4. God’s promises hinge on my obedience.