The Word This Week – THE WORLD MAY GIVE UP ON YOU BUT THE GOOD SHEPHERD NEVER WILL

 

WHEN YOUR HOPES ARE LOST, YOU CAN COUNT ON THE GOOD SHEPHERD 

The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23)

 

THE GOOD SHEPHERD CARES FOR HIS SHEEP

 

 

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

 

God is our Shepherd and like a Good Shepherd, He cares for us and often He carries us through our difficult times that we need to face in this world. Despite all the emotional, material and physical assaults of the enemy, the Good Shepherd is always there to restore, heal and sustain you in season and out of season.

 

Philippians 4:19:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

Perhaps He may not provide for everything according to your self-centered wants, but He will surely provide “for your needs” within His will.

 

DAVID HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

David’s understanding and comprehension of God was beyond any measure. Despite all the flaws, despite all his short comings, He expressed God so deeply from the bottom of his heart! When he fought the lion and the bear defending his sheep in the loneliness of his wilderness he experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God. He knew deep in his heart that his God will never fail him nor forsake him no matter what he had to face in his life. That is one of the reasons why he longed to be in God’s presence and be saturated in His anointing. He says in Psalm 42:1-2:

 

“As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?”

 

 

ALTHOUGH HIS JOB WAS INSIGNIFICANT YET HE WAS RESPONSIBLE

Before David became king over Israel he led sheep in the wilderness. He was insignificant and marginalized as a Shepherd boy. Nevertheless, he had an intimate relationship with the Lord.  At the same time he took his responsibility seriously. He was intimately involved in caring for his sheep and defending them by all means from the predators in the wilderness.  God saw his faithfulness and prompted him to be king over Israel.  Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10 (NIV))

He likened his God to a Good Shepherd!  He knew the valley was dark and dangerous and lonely but he feared no evil. He was a man of courage and responsibility despite the insignificant job that was thrown at him by his family.

 

HE WAS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD DESPITE HIS POWER AND WEALTH BEHIND HIM.

The amazing thing about David was that he acknowledges over and over again that his help came from the Lord God, the maker of heaven and earth (Psalm. 121:2). Despite his greatness, despite his power and authority as king over Israel he humbled himself to the point that he was nobody without God.

 

Prov.3:34

He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

 

Unfortunately you find people today who speak so arrogantly simply because wealth and pride have overtaken them but David was so humble despite his greatness! Despite his wealth! He said surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life! He said, “the Lord is my Shepherd!”

 

 

THE PURPOSE OF GOD FOR YOU IN THE WILDERNESS

How about you today? You know what? You will never experience and understand the goodness and reality of God until you go through the wilderness. It is vitally important for us to understand that the wilderness is an important place of GOD’S PREPARATION for ourselves if we are to be used by God. The wilderness is a process that will take us to new heights although it’s a very lonely and dark place where help is far and few between.  It’s a place where the breaking and crushing takes place. It’s a place of preparation for the future. It’s a place of testing and trials and in the process your character and faith is built to face future assignments in your destiny that God has lined up for you. This is what David went through the wilderness, the valley before he reached the mountain top.

 

 

HE IS SO NEAR YET WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE HIM

By the way, what will the Good Shepherd do when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death? He will follow you all the way through. You know what? Religion has taught us that God is seated in His throne in heaven and He is unapproachable. You need to perform and proof yourself worthy of Him. That’s not true at all! God is an Omnipresent God, He is present everywhere! Like a Good Shepherd He follows gently behind you, He guides you! He helps you! He sustains your pain! He heals your hurts, He restores your brokenness and gives you hope!

Unfortunately, so often we fail to recognize Him when He is so near and manifesting Himself in so many different forms and ways in our lives. He is so close to us. He follows us; never forcing us, yet never leaving us. Using all His Omnipotent power to convince us that He is who He is and that He can be trusted if we would only allow Him to lead us.

 

 

John 10:11-14

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

 

Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of   Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission    minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who  preaches  and teaches an uncompromising gospel  with  boldness. A member  of ECCM (Malaysia)  Spiritual Adviser &  overseer to various  ministries and churches. An itinerant  speaker.  He is also the  author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time  Clock.’ Currently he  worships  at C3 Subang.

 

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Rev Dr Jai Kumar