MORE OF THE GREAT SHEPHERD
Friday – August 17, 2018, Elul 6, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this wonderful study from the Bible Book of Hebrews. What a wonderful faith building study. The featured picture was taken on a recent trip to Boothbay Maine, a wonderful coastal experience. As my regular readers know we are working our way through the Book of Hebrews and we are now very near the end. I will now dive back into a study of the “great shepherd”. First let’s go ahead and read our primary text aloud.
Hebrews 13:20-22 (KJV)
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
As noted above I will be focused today on the twentieth verse and the phrase “great shepherd”. Yesterday we talked at length about how the under shepherds had scattered the flocks but the Lord is bringing them back to their folds. They have been receiving very poor feed and therefore are not being fruitful or multiplying (increasing). Furthermore, they are in fear, confusion, and lack. God says all of that which is brought about by poor feed. The enemy or our spirit, soul, and body can only be repelled by those who will take hold of the Truth and do it in these last days. Now let’s go ahead and dive into the Twenty-third Psalm.
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 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 for ever.
This is such a beautiful and wonderful passage of Scripture. Notice right off the bat in the first verse there is a reference to no want because the LORD is our shepherd. As I hope you are well aware this does not just fall on one because they are born again. The individual has to be diligent with the Word of God, be sure they are getting premium feed (Word of God) and spitting out all of the chaff. It is one thing to get good feed and it is altogether another thing to receive, believe, and put that good feed to work. Also consider that there is a significant difference between needs and wants. Our needs are the essentials of life. Our wants are the things of life that bring delight to us, bring a positive testimony for the Kingdom of God, and are otherwise positive tools for the Kingdom. It is never the will of God for us to be in lack but it is always the will of God for us to walk in overflowing abundance. In the text from Psalm twenty-three notice the green pastures, and the still waters. Notice the guidance and comfort of the Shepherd. We proceed through the shadow of death and do not camp out in the valley of the shadow of death. The shepherd makes sure we have an abundant table with enemies on every side but they are not at the table and they cannot keep us from the table or partaking of the table. In verse five, the number of Grace (Holy Spirit) we have the Anointing all over us and we walk in overflowing abundance. I know all of this makes the poverty people cringe and they try to spiritualize the passage. All thing physical have their start in the spiritual realm. However, this Psalm is not speaking of the sweet bye and bye but right now in this physical world or realm. The thing that brings this physical abundance, the satisfaction of our wants is making the Lord our Shepherd. Our Father considers abundance to be a part of our Covenant. The abundance in the Kingdom is achieved by the discharge of our responsibilities in the Kingdom. If one does not have abundance in one or more areas of life it is because they are not faithfully discharging their responsibilities and receiving the benefits by faith in love led of Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Isaiah 48:17 (KJV)
17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Haggai 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here on Monday. Until then I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 3:14-17 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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