Category: Ministry

“The Good Shepherd”

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd”

David experienced many hardships and challenges that many of us still face today.

Often times when someone mentions David, they automatically think about a young shepherd boy who rose to become a great King and who also wrote many of the Psalms. The 23^rd Psalm is the one that may come to most people’s mind.

In the 23^rd Psalm David progressively unveils his personal relationship with the Lord.

 Vs. 1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

David states that He (the Lord) is, and makes it personal.

• He is Lord
• He is a shepherd
• He is a provider

A shepherd is:

• A person who takes care of sheep
• A person who provides protection for the flock
• A person who searches each day for an area where the sheep can graze and be watered

Vs. 2 ^“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.“

David describes the rest, peace and direction that he receives from his Shepherd.

Vs. 3 “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.“

David describes what God does if or when we back slide, and how He leads his sheep down the right path, to give God the glory:

• He (God) restores us back to Him in good standing and then leads us in the right direction to insure we stay in good standing

Vs.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.”

David again describes how God is with us to help us go in the right direction, especially if we are in the presence of evil or danger.

We are living in perilous times. At any given time of the day or night, we can be in the presence of danger. Because He (God) is the great “I am” and is omnipresent, we as believers do not have fear of danger or the presence of evil. Why? Because of God’s peace that surpasses all understanding is upon us giving us comfort.

Vs.5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

David describes how God will bless us:

• God will not only bless us – but He will do it in a way that other people will clearly see you being blessed and how the blessing is over flowing
• God anoints the sheep with oil
• Provides plenty to drink (my cup runs over) there is more than enough

Vs.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.”

David describes how God’s blessings will continue to follow us each day of our lives. (David gives the reader hope of having eternal life with God in heaven).

^{Blessings in the 23rd Psalms}

1. The Lord is their Shepherd
2. No want for anything
3. Being able to rest in choice green pastures
4. Guidance to still, waters that are deep restful and refreshing
5.  Having restoration of the soul
6. Guidance in righteous paths for His names sake without the danger of falling or going astray
7. Having safe travel through the areas of ravines where there is danger, wild beasts and unsure footing on rocks
8. Being able to have no fear of evil because of the shepherds constant protection and watch
9. Receiving the comfort of the rod and staff of the shepherd that he uses to fight and protect against dangers or threats
10.  Abundance of food to be eaten in the presence of  enemies
11. Receiving an anointing with precious oil
12. Plenty to drink preventing to quench any thirst
13. Having the confidence that these blessings along with goodness and mercy are not just for a day, but for a life time
14. Reassuring faith of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever

John 14 :1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

” Lord Jesus, thank you for being the good Shepherd that watches over, protects, and provides…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev

Not on My watch

Psalm 121:4  Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep. (NKJV)

The phrase “not on my watch” is from the nature of command on board a ship that has different shifts that have been divided and called ‘watches”. Individuals take turns to be “the person on watch” and is in charge of the ship.

To be “the person on watch” entails serious status, having a great responsibility for the entire ship itself, also everyone that is on the ship.

Everything that happens on “your watch” is your responsibility. So if any mishaps, accidents or any kind of damage occurs, the person “on watch” will be held responsible, even if they don’t have anything to do with it.

It is considered to be a bad mark against the person “on watch” if a problem occurs when they were in charge, and did not take corrective action to stop the wrong doing from happening.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch” 24/7 for His people, and will keep them from dangers seen and unseen.  

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (NKJV)

A believer never has to feel that they are alone or unprotected.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. (NKJV) Selah

Because God is a safe hiding place, He can keep his people from any danger that may come their way.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” (NKJV)

No matter what season a person may be in, whether it be day or night, the word of God will persevere in a season of trials or tribulation that may arise.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord. (NKJV)

God can see weapons that are being formed against His people. Because He is on watch constantly and will intervene on His peoples behalf, He prevents what is being done, or what is being said from prospering and having an effect on His people.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 91:10-11 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways. (NKJV)

“Thank you heavenly Father for being “on watch” for your people and for preventing any evil or plague to come near. Thank you also for encamping angels around and about your people, that keep your people each and every day. You said in your word that you would never leave us or forsake us. Our trust is only in You, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Strength in the struggle

1st John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (NKJV)

Butterflies go through a four stage cycle before becoming a actual butterfly. These four stages are, the egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and finally the Imago stage (the actual butterfly itself). In each of these stages, there can be a struggle not only to get to the next stage, but to also avoid outside threats in order to continue to exist.

Some of these threats include, bacterial, viral, fungal infections, predators and crop spraying by local farmers. Only a small percentage of butterfly eggs ever reach adulthood.

One of the main reasons some of the butterflies make it to the (Imago) adult stage, is because of the strength they gained in struggles in their previous stages.

In our daily walk as Christians, there can be different struggles that we will experience to hinder us from growth and from getting to our next stage.

If we look at struggles as an opportunity to gain strength and become stronger, we can use struggles to make it to our next stage in our Christian growth.

1st Peter 2:2 “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”(NKJV)

What a Christian feeds upon, will also help with gaining and determining how much strength is obtained in the struggle.

As a Christian grows and gains strength in their struggle, their desire will change from “milk” to “meat.” The “milk” of the word will only sustain growth to a certain level. If a Christian wants to continue to grow and gain the strength that is needed for the next level of struggle, they will have to have the “meat” of the word.

Hebrews 5:13-14 ” For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Vs. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age that is, those who by reason of use of their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” (NKJV)

The butterfly has set a powerful example for Christians to follow that in spite of any hardships or struggles that are encountered in it’s stages of growth, uses struggles to strengthen itself to obtain mature adulthood.

Personal testimony

To those who have subscribed to the website, I first want to say thank you for your subscription and support to this ministry. I normally have a post on the site by 7:00 am every Tuesday. Please know that I personally experienced a “struggle”with this post that I haven’t had with previous topics and posts. I firmly believe that God gave me the strength needed in this struggle to find the wording and scriptures to share this topic. Continue to be encouraged when you encounter struggles and believe that there is “strength in the struggle.”

“Lord Jesus thank you for the strength that is gained in struggles, in Jesus name. Amen!

Continuing in Is service…Rev

Luke 11:1 “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples.”

Jesus’s disciples had observed Jesus and had come to believe that His prayers were always heard and answered. The disciples also believed that the continued source of His power came through secrete prayer. The disciples developed the desire to know how to pray, so they asked Jesus to teach them.

In this model prayer, God is acknowledged for both who He is, what He does and for His many attributes.

I encourage you to take some time, and find a quiet place where you can read this prayer out loud, and then be ready for God to do what you have prayed to Him.

Matthew 6:9  (NKJV)

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father
Not only is God a Father, He is a Father to all

in heaven,
He has a Holy place of habitation

Hallowed be Your name.
His name is Holy

Your kingdom come.
He has a kingdom and He will rule and reign fully and completely both in Heaven and on earth

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
He has a will for His people here on earth as it is being done in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread.
He gives and provides for His people

And forgive us our debts,
He forgives and sets an example to be followed

As we forgive our debtors.
we are to follow the example that God has set before us

And do not lead us into temptation,
He will not lead is people into trouble or harm’s way

But deliver us from the evil one.
He delivers and protects His people from the schemes, tricks or traps put before His people by the enemy

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
The true kingdom belongs to Him, and the power also belongs to Him. He gets the glory and it is everlasting
Amen.

“In the name of Jesus we cast out all fear and any doubt, that our prayers are not heard, or will not be answered. O God, thank you hearing and answering prayer.”

Continuing in His service…Rev