For His faithful, God has valleys, fear, evil and death S30e4

For His faithful, God has valleys, fear, evil and death.  

For His faithful, He also has one more secret ingredient.

Listen 7 minutes to hear of the sometimes harsh realities of this world and what the Lord does about it.  Listen, I think you'll be encouraged.  There is more than just valleys, fear, evil and death. Subscribe if you like it.

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https://youtu.be/YzxUWD6hbOs

Transcript

Selected Psalms Podcast 

For His faithful, God has valleys, fear, evil and death S30e4

But wait! He’s got ONE MORE THING as well. Watch for it.

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

2        He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

       He leads me beside still waters. 

3        He restores my soul. 

       He leads me in paths of righteousness f

for his name’s sake. 

4    Even 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. 

5    You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies; 

       you anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

6    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

all the days of my life, 

       and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

apprecitate aloneness which is to say AVOID aloneness, appreciate its dangers

         by our awareness of it, and. By God’s design: which is:there is no such thing, at least for believers who should know and act better 

To fail to do so is to create a sheep emergency. In the NT an alone sheep was so at risk that 99 non-alone sheep were put on hold to go fetch the alone one

Teaching point there is: do everything in your power to not be that guy/gal

What does God have for His faithful sheep? Pastoring by the great(Shepherding),  provision in green pastures, rest near peaceful waters, soul repair by Go Himself, leading, fearlessness despite evil + our secret ingredient ( Presence.)

What is also near is: EVIL enough to cause FEAR; Enemies present to see a table prepared; valleys that must be walked through; death close enough to see its SHADOW

What does God have for His faithful sheep? 

         EVIL enough to cause FEAR; Enemies close enough to see a table prepared; valleys that must be experienced one footstep at a time; death so near to block the light from above; Death close enough to bring darkness by interfering with the light. What does God have for His faithful sheep? 

Fear, enemies, valleys, and death

Ladies and Gentlemen, He does not take His faithful sheep out of the world.  It almost sounds like He is putting us in the world, possibly even putting us at risk?  

But, To what peril can befall rams, ewes and lambs that are with the Lord?

This is the Lord that does not carry a rod and staff for nothing 

This is the Lord that carries a big stick.  The Lord’s big sticks have a purpose that is beyond the correction of His wayward.  

1 cor 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it

This also means that 

He will not allow temptation outside of what is common; 

He will not allow temptation more than you are able and 

He will not allow temptation without a path of escape

He will not tempt you in an unendurable way. 2 Corinthians 12:9 

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

His grace is sufficient… and His power is perfected…when?  in weakness

His grace is sufficient in Fear, enemies, valleys, and death and in weakness

Ladies and Gentlemen, He does not take His faithful sheep out of the world.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, He also does not break faith with His sheep, , no matter where they are in the world.

Let me say it again:  He does not take His faithful sheep out of the world. 

Nor does He break faith with His sheep, no matter where they are in the world.

Yes, you have Fear, enemies, valleys, and death and in weakness in Psalm 23

What don’t you have: Aloneness. I have “Not aloneness” to fight the fears. You have not aloneness for battle with your enemies. You have not aloneness to walk in valleys you’d Prefer not to be walking.

You already have and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

         Which is the “not aloneness” of the other people you find dwelling in the same location, 

And now you have the NOT ALONENESS of Ps23:4                      for you are with me;

It then is the nuclear power plant of ps23.  From His presence is the protection of the rod and staff, the leading to quiet waters, the wantlessnessbeing Shepherded, the setting of table; the anointing of head; the being pursued by goodness and mercy.  Without His presence, there would be no Psalm 23

Yes For His faithful, God has valleys, fear, evil and death, but He also has HIMself