Need

What do I need most in this world today?

I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD."

Once we have accepted THE LORD JESUS CHRIST as our personal Saviour, we find true REST IN HIM.

NO LONGER DO WE NEED TO FEND FOR OURSELVES IN THIS WORLD.

WE HAVE A SAVIOUR, A VERY PERSONAL SAVIOUR, WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US.

THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE SCARY EVERY PASSING DAY.

THE MORE WE GET TO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS WORD, THE MORE CONSCIOUS WE BECOME OF THE EVIL IN THIS WORLD AND THAT THIS WORLD, IS ON A VERY FAST DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

MAN THINKS THAT HE IS IMPROVING HIMSELF, AND THAT THE WORLD IS GETTING BETTER BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

ANYONE, WHO IS HONEST WITH THEMSELVES, WILL REALIZE THAT IN THIS WORLD, WHERE SIN IS SO PREVALENT - THEY NEED A

SAVIOUR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.

THEY NOT ONLY NEED A SAVIOUR FOR THE FUTURE BUT THEY ALSO NEED A SAVIOUR FOR THE PRESENT.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY SAVIOUR FROM SIN.

HE ALONE PAID THE PENALTY OF SIN WITH HIS OWN BLOOD ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY AND THEREFORE HE ALONE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST ANY PERSON WHO WILL TURN TO HIM FOR SALVATION.

TODAY GOD SAVES ALL SINNERS WHO WILL ACT UPON THE MARVELOUS NEW DECREE OF GRACE THAT HE HAS SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD.

Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

THE LORD JESUS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL SAVIOUR. HE IS ALL GOODNESS.

GOD IS SO GOOD AND HE IS PATIENT AND KIND. HIS MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL AND HE IS ALWAYS THE SAME.

HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE LOVES HIS OWN DEAR CHILDREN WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.

Oh I long to be able to explain just what the Lord Jesus means to me. All I can say is

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good."

THE LORD JESUS WILL LIFT YOU SPIRITUALLY TO HEIGHTS YOU CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE.

Will you come to Him right now if you have not yet already accepted Him to be your personal Saviour?

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

GOD WANTS TO DIRECT US AND TOUCH OUR LIVES IN AN INTIMATE WAY.

God wants to guide us by His indwelling Holy Spirit. He is always standing somewhere in the shadows, keeping watch over those who belong to Him.

I used to sing this chorus at the Gospel hall I attended some years ago.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you'll find Jesus,

He's the only One who cares and understands,

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him,

And you'll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

KING DAVID COULD TRULY SAY

Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

Are you able to say the same?

THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER RESTS UPON THE SHEPHERD - not upon the believer.

SHEEP ARE REALLY STUPID ANIMALS.

THEY ARE VERY STUBBORN, HARDHEADED, AND ACTUALLY, QUITE FILTHY.

The Lord Jesus likened us to sheep and we can learn so much about our Saviour through this Psalm.

WE CAN TRULY, TRULY PRAISE GOD FOR DAVID.

I have learned many lessons from King David and it will be so wonderful to talk to him one day, hopefully soon.

SHEEP SURE NEED A SHEPHERD.

David was in a desperate need when he wrote this Psalm and it was the greatest comfort to his own heart as well as to millions of believers down through the ages.

It has been very special to me since the day that my Dad was murdered. I was 12 years old at that time and when we heard the news, my Mom took my sisters and my hands, and we sang together, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD."

This happened over 40 years ago now and I can truly testify to the fact that the Lord has been my Shepherd and He has been a Father to me for all these years.

HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME, AND HE HAS NEVER LET ME GO. HE HAS HELD ME IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND AND KEPT ME.

The Lord God has worked many miracles in my life and He has supplied my every single need spiritually and physically.

HE HAS TRULY BROUGHT ME INTO HIS BANQUETING HOUSE AND HIS BANNER OVER ME HAS BEEN LOVE, LOVE AND MORE LOVE.

CONSIDER OUR MERCIFUL, GLORIOUS, SAVIOUR AS OUR SHEPHERD.

SHEEP NEED SAFETY "I shall not want."

THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM RAVENOUS WOLVES AND ROARING LIONS THAT ARE ALL AROUND US.

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

THE DEVIL IS ON THE LOOSE IN THIS WORLD.

SHEEP NEED SECURITY "I shall not want."

SPEAKS OF THE FUTURE. THE BELIEVER CAN TRULY REST IN THE LORD JESUS BECAUSE HE PROMISED US

Hebrews 13: 5 " ... for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

This promise, written on a beautiful wall plaque with a little girl sleeping peacefully in her bed, was given to me by my father before he was so brutally murdered. He had no idea when he gave it to me what I was about to go through in my life. Then I was a little girl and I was afraid of the dark, and I had no idea about the roaring lion that was waiting to devour me. Well, needless to say, the Lord Jesus has been faithful to His Word and He has kept me for many years now and I now know that He will keep me to the end. Oh my friend, He, is a very personal Saviour to me.

I do trust He is to you as well. If not, then please ask Him to come into your heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

FAITHFUL IS HE THAT KEEPETH THEE.

THE LORD JESUS IS GOING TO PROTECT HIS OWN IN THIS WORLD, HE IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN IN THIS WORLD AND HE IS GOING TO RESTORE HIS OWN IN THIS WORLD.

WE CAN TRULY SAY WITH DAVID, "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want."

SHEEP NEED SUFFICIENCY "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

HERE WE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT SHEEP WILL NOT LIE DOWN IF THEY ARE HUNGRY.

WHEN THEY LIE DOWN IT IS BECAUSE THEIR TUMMIES ARE FULL.

THE BELIEVER CAN TRUST THE LORD JESUS BECAUSE HE SAID

John 6:35 "I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Are you resting in the Lord Jesus?

HYMN. Jesus I am Resting.

Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos 379.

Verse 1.

Jesus I am resting , resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart:

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For, by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

Chorus.

Jesus I am resting, resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Verse 2.

O how great Thy loving kindness!

Vaster, broader than the sea:

O how marvelous Thy goodness

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Verse 3.

Simply trusting Thee Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings;

Thine is love indeed.

Verse 4.

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee,

Resting 'neath Thy smile Lord Jesus,

Earth's dark shadows flee;

Brightness of my Father's glory,

Sunshine of my Father's face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

AMEN.

SHEEP NEED SATISFACTION "He leadeth me beside the still waters."

SHEEP ARE FRIGHTENED BY TURBULENT WATER AND THEY DON'T LIKE STAGNANT WATER.

THEY REALLY DO NOT LIKE TO DRINK WHERE THE PIGS DRINK.

OH HOW WE ALL NEED REST FOR OUR SOULS.

DAVID LONGED FOR REST, HE COULD SAY

Psalm 55:6 "Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away, and be at rest."

DAVID LONGED TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL, BUT HE SOON REALIZED THAT HE HAD TO PLACE HIS COMPLETE TRUST IN THE LORD AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM.

HE SOON LEARNED THAT RUNNING AWAY WOULD NOT SOLVE HIS PROBLEMS.

HE HAD TO RUN TO THE LORD JESUS

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me , all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Have you found true rest for your soul?

SHEEP NEED TO BE RESTORED "He restoreth my soul:"

SHEEP LIKE TO WANDER AWAY AND SOMETIMES THEY EVEN GET LOST.

WHEN WE GET INVOLVED WITH SIN, WE FEEL LIKE RUNNING AWAY AND HIDING.

THIS IS VERY NORMAL BEHAVIOUR FOR A CHILD OF GOD.

But the child of God will always be found by the Lord Jesus.

He is the Great Shepherd who takes care of His own in the world.

We often hear people say - "they found the Lord."

Well this is not exactly true as the Lord Jesus is not "lost." It is sinful people that are lost and they are the ones who need to acknowledge that they are indeed lost in sin in this world.

They need to know that they need a Saviour.

A Saviour who can deliver them from sin.

Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

SHEEP NEED TO BE LED "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His own names sake."

THE LORD JESUS SAID TO THE RELIGIOUS RULERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY HIS ENEMIES

John 10:25-28 "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not my sheep, as I said unto you, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE GREAT SHEPHERD ARE IN HIS HAND.

THEY FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AND THEY FEED ON HIS WORD.

THEY LOVE HIM AND THEIR HEARTS DEEPEST DESIRE IS

Philippians 3:10 "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."

OH HOW DESPERATELY WE NEED TO KNOW THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS (Meditate on Psalm 22).

THE LORD JESUS NEVER CHASES, OR DRIVES OR PUSHES HIS SHEEP.

THEY FOLLOW HIM BECAUSE THEY TRUST HIM COMPLETELY.

THEY KNOW HIS VOICE AND HE LEADS THEM IN THE RIGHT PATH.

Are you fully trusting the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the One and only Saviour of this world, the Lord Jesus Christ?

If not, please may I beseech you in the name of the Lord Jesus to accept His free gift of salvation.

HYMN. Have you been to Jesus? Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos 379.

Played by Caryl.

Verse 1.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?