A Testimony Of Salvation (Part 1)
Psalm 23:3(a) “He Restores My Soul…”
Previously:
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [Messages 1 & 2]
Yahweh-Rohi, I Shall not LACK!
Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures,He leads me beside the still waters. [Messages 3 & 4]
Today: “HeRestores My Soul…” [Message 5]
Introduction:
Remember: In Psalm 23 it is a sheep in the Good Shepherd’s care who is speaking
Essentially, it is a Christian’s claim of belonging to the family of God and its benefits.
So why do we have in our text today the necessity for Restoration?
David was acquainted with the struggle of feeling hopeless and without strength in himself.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 37:23 - 25 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
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Paul spoke to the Corinthian Church about being “hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, forsaken, and struck down” ….
2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
So Today – we’re going to talk about “He Restores My Soul.”
[Cast Down - October 07]
1. There is an old English shepherd's term for a sheepthat has turned
over on its back and cannot get upagain by itself – it’s called = “CAST”
- A cast sheep is a very pathetic sight.
- Lying onits back, its feet in the air, it flays away franticallystruggling to stand up, without success.
- David mentioned his soul being “Cast Down” several times..
2. Nothing demanded the constant care anddiligent attention of the
shepherd to the flock more than the possibility of a “cast sheep.”
- The Shepherd must constantly be on the watch for a “cast sheep!”
- Eventhe largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiestsheep can become cast and be a casualty.
- Actually itis often the fat sheep that are the most easily cast.
3. It is not only the shepherd who keeps a sharp eyefor cast sheep,
but also the predators.
- Dogs, bears, coyotes, cougars, Buzzards, vultures and other stronger animals are always looking for “cast sheep” because they are easy prey
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4. A “cast sheep” can easily die!
- As it lies there struggling, gases begin to build upin the abdomen.
- As the gases expand, they tend to retardand cut off blood circulation to extremities of the body,especially the legs.
- If the weather is very hot andsunny a cast sheep can die in a few hours.
5. God has the same identical sensations of anxiety,concern and
compassion for “cast men and women” asthe shepherd does has for
“cast sheep.”
- Many people have the idea that when a child ofGod falls, when he is frustrated and helpless in aspiritual dilemma, God becomes disgusted, fed-up andeven furious with him.This simply is not so.
- We discover that often when we are most sure ofourselves we stumble and fall.
- Sometimes when weappear to be flourishing in our faith we find ourselvesin a situation of utter frustration and futility.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God….
(Again) Psalm 37:23 & 24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
6. As with sheep, so with Christians, some basic principles and parallels
apply whichPaul in writing to the Christians at Corinth warnedthem
of this danger.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
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3 Things That Cause A Sheep To Become Cast:
1. When Things Are Too Comfortable!
A. There is, first of all, the idea of looking for a softspot.
B. The sheep that choose the comfortable, soft,rounded hollows in the
ground in which to lie downvery often become cast. In such a
situation it is soeasy to roll over on their backs.
C. In the Christian life there is great danger in alwayslooking for the
easy place, the cozy corner, the comfortable position where thereis
no commitment, no hardship, no needfor endurance, no demands.
2. When There’s Too Much Baggage.
A. When the sheep’s wool is long, and heavily matted with mud,
manure, burrsand other debris.
B. The Sheep can become “cast” by literally being weighted down with
it’s own wool filled with “baggage”.
C. Wool in Scripture depicts the old self-life in theChristian.
1) It is the outward expression of an innerattitude, the assertion of
personal desire and hopesand aspirations.
2) Here is where we find the clingingaccumulation of things such
as problems of the past, hidden sins, anger, and worldly ideas
beginning to weigh you down, drag you down, holdyou down..
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It is significant that no high priest was ever allowedto wear wool when he entered the Holy of Holies. Wool spoke of self, of pride, of personal preference which God could not tolerate.
Similarly - we cannot enter God’s presence until we get rid of the “baggage” of life weighing us down!
D. Shearing Becomes Necessary!
1) This was not alwaysa pleasant process.
2) Sheep do not really enjoy beingsheared
3) It represents some hard work for theshepherd, but it must be
done.
Similarly in dealing with our old self-life, therewill come a day when the Master must take us in handand apply the keen cutting edge of His Word to ourlives.
Oh, the pleasure of being set free from ourselves! What a restoration!
3. When There’s Too Much Success.
A. It is a well-known fact that over-fatsheep are neither the most
healthy nor the most productive.
B. Turning to the Christian life we are confronted withthe same sort of
problem. There is the man or woman,because they may have done
well in business ortheir careers or their homes, feel that they are
flourishing and have "arrived."
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C. The time when we think "we have it made," so tospeak, is actually
when we are in mortal danger.
1) The same point was made by Jesus inHis account of the
wealthy farmer who intended tobuild more and bigger barns,
but who, in fact, facedutter ruin.
2) Material success or affluence are no measure of spiritual health or
godliness!
When the Shepherd found the “cast” sheep, he would quickly stand it up (if possible) and begin to rub it’s legs and neck to get the blood flowing as quickly as possible.
Once going again, the shepherd kept his eyes open for the next time the sheep would become “cast.”
Conclusion:
Are You “Cast” Today?
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, said He had been sent to “restore”
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
If you have fallen let the Good Shepherd lift you up today!
Remember Paul said:
2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—