WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.040 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:04.719 So we are working our way through Psalm 23 this fall. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.320 We're just going phrase by phrase. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:16.960 And if you've noticed, we've been building our reading as we've been going, and hopefully that can build some reflection if you've been with us of like, oh yeah, I'm starting to understand the context of that and this and this next one. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:24.879 Because what this really popular and well-known chapter is, is it's about a shepherd and sheep. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:27.920 And King David, who wrote this, was a shepherd. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:36.560 So when he's writing about this, it's just filled with this rich imagery for us of a fiercely loyal and caring shepherd that takes care of his sheep. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:47.679 And they're on a journey because it begins with the shepherd and the sheep at the home ranch in the low country where there's provision, there's green pastures, there's still waters. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:01:01.200 And then it starts to turn halfway through the Psalm, and the shepherd begins to take the sheep through dangerous valleys, and then up to the high country, which we got to last week, the table prepared before them. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:07.519 That's that high country, high up in the mountains, where during the hot summer months, they would have provisions. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:12.239 So the shepherd is taking them where they need to go for the season they need to be in. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:21.599 And up in that high country, they would have provision, they would have grass, food, clear, running springs through the hot summer months. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:28.079 And so just when we think everything's okay for them, it ends up, it's not. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.239 It's not bliss in the high country. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:34.640 We learn that there are agitations that just won't go away. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.319 So let me reread Psalm 23, 4 and 5. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:44.799 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. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:45.599 They comfort me. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:48.239 All right, so they're through the valleys, they're coming up to the high country. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:51.680 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:57.040 And then today, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.719 And point number one is this this is not new news, by the way. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.319 It's just accurate. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.560 There will be agitations in you and around you. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:07.519 Amen. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.400 Yep, just this week, this morning, uh, there just will be. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:17.120 Last week I told you about a hike I went on this past summer in North Carolina. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:25.680 I drove up through the valleys, I drove up to the saddle in between two mountains, I hiked this beautiful grassy ridgeline, a table in the high country of North Carolina. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:27.759 Here's the picture I showed you last week. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.599 Sorry I'm not better looking, but the land behind me is beautiful, right? 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:33.120 Just focus on the land, okay? 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.199 So I was hiking this beautiful, incredible trail. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:43.199 I mean, it's 65 degrees, there's a breeze, it's there's nobody else out there. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:45.280 I mean, it is so quiet. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.280 My ears were trying to find something. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:48.080 You know what I'm talking about? 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:50.479 You've been somewhere where like it's so quiet. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:53.599 Your ears are trying to find noise, which is just crazy. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.039 It's beautiful. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.840 I mean, this is this is heaven for me. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:01.439 Quiet, no rush, no schedule, nothing's frantic. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:11.520 I end the hike, this kind of big rock up there on the table, and I climb up on the rock and I got my lunch, and so I'm eating my lunch, and then I finish my lunch, and I'm gonna take a nap. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.199 I'm like, I have nowhere to be. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:14.800 It is beautiful. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.680 I kind of prop up, start my nap. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.719 We're napping people. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:20.159 I don't know if you're napping people. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.240 I'm already thinking about my nap this afternoon. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.879 I woke up thinking about my nap. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.479 Sometimes it's the only reason I do wake up is so I can go back to sleep later in the day. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:38.960 It's the the one joy before me is that I can go back to sleep just to wake up again to think about going back to sleep. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:43.439 And so I'm settling in, and it, I mean, it is beautiful. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.120 It is beautiful. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.919 Just about to fall asleep, and then the flies start. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.000 Get bit a few times. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:54.639 Big horse flies. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:56.719 And then there's mosquitoes. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:02.080 You know, like the size of a dime, you know, where you just smear blood when you get pop. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.479 I mean, this is where I dream to be. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:10.319 Like this, I mean, this is this is like if I can only get there. 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:21.920 Like, you know, like on a on a crazy busy week where there's all kinds of stuff, you're thinking, man, if I could be, man, if I could just have a quiet lunch up in the mountains, I'm gonna fall asleep, I'm gonna take a nap. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:32.720 And like even here, even here in the dream, in the high country on a summer day, even then there's these flies. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:34.560 There's agitation, right? 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:36.000 I know you don't feel bad for me. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:38.240 It's a pretty average sermon illustration, to tell you the truth. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:39.759 But you get the point. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:48.480 You get the point that even when we get somewhere we hope to be, there's still agitation. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:56.879 So the sheep get to the relief of the high country, but then the flies would start in on them. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:01.759 These flies would fly up the sheep's nose and agitate them. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.720 The flies would lay eggs. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.600 Worms would come. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.120 The worms could infect the brain. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:16.240 The sheep would become so frantic and agitated and afraid. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:21.680 They would hide in the brush rather than being with the rest of the flock. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:29.519 The sheep would bang their heads against the ground because of the relentless agitation inside of them. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:32.079 They could become blind, they could die. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:39.519 They're just looking for relief because all of their peace is gone. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.240 And you know agitation. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:52.560 Because you worry about your health or your kids or your marriage or that one friendship you thought it would last, and for some reason it's not. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:56.079 We can worry about the stock market, right? 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:58.639 It's easily done. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:05.920 Worry about your career or your lack of career or your future, how something might play out or not play out. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:16.000 We can worry that we don't have control or we won't be respected, or we won't be safe, or we won't be secure, we won't be cared for, we might not be loved, or we just might not be enough. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:19.439 It's even possible to worry that God doesn't love you. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.920 Or that you'll never shake this sense of condemnation or shame. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:31.680 It's also possible that you could worry, you know God loves you, but you could worry that he doesn't like you. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.959 Yeah, theoretically loves me, but I'm not sure if he actually really does like me. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:41.199 Rats keep coming up on my back porch. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.639 They poop all over my back porch. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.480 We built this back porch like a year and a half ago. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:50.160 Finally get it. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:52.720 And there's rat poop. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.360 So I've become an expert rat trapper. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.319 I caught one last night. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.800 I mean, you would have thought I won a national championship, like the touchdown at the end of the game. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:06.560 I get so excited when I catch one of these rats. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.560 And I won't tell you what I do with them. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.720 He's no longer with us, but I won't tell you the process. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:15.680 But because he's he's my enemy. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.000 Um he poops all over. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:23.839 And so, why can't my like why can't my house just exist? 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.839 Like, why can't why can't it just be somewhere I live? 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.439 Like, why does why does it have to be complicated? 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:30.480 Why do rats have to come up on it and poop all over the place? 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.040 Like, why can't why just why can't everything be okay, right? 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:33.920 Like, whatever. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.399 You have your thing, whatever it is. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.920 Why are all these agitations, why do they all exist? 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.040 So we are agitated. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.399 But we are anointed. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:47.680 And that's the good news. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:55.439 And that's what Psalm 23 tells us, verse 5 you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:07.120 Intimate language back toward the shepherd, because that caring shepherd, these sheep are in that condition, they're agitated with the flies, up their nose, messing with them. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.240 And the caring shepherd would come with oil. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:16.480 And he would pour oil over that sheep's face, over their head, their neck. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.600 He would rub it in to their face, their neck, ears, up their nose. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:26.240 And the oil would protect them from the flies. 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:34.879 And so, point number two is this our anointing is an immeasurable endowment of Christ's goodness inside of us. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:42.080 Our anointing is our immeasurable endowment of Christ's goodness inside of us. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.600 It's what He pours over us and into us. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.799 John helps us understand this in 1 John chapter 2. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:55.039 But you have, this is verse 20, but you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:03.679 Now, anointing, that word, comes from the word chrisma, meaning smearing or special endowment. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.840 You can see the imagery there in Psalm 23. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.440 The smearing over, this intimate relationship with the shepherd. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.480 John is saying that you have the Holy Spirit in you. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:21.120 You've been anointed, and it is secure because it is God to you. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:23.919 It's an inner endowment that does not run out. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:35.840 That word anointing carries with it this image of the sheep, but also the image extends to the oil that would be poured over kings and priests in the Old Testament. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:45.919 So, you and I are like sheep, but we're also like kings, and we're also like priests. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:59.360 So we could say it this way: we have both a dependence on Christ and an internal, internal, limitless endowment from God in Christ. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:02.159 So let me just remind us like what does this mean? 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:08.399 Let me just remind us of our inner wealth that we have that's going on even while we have all these agitations. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.519 And I'm pretty sure I stole this from somebody. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.200 I don't know who I stole it from, to be honest. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:13.840 It could be you. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.399 Good job. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.159 Great job if you wrote these sentences. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.759 But let me just remind us. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:23.120 You may feel unworthy, but in Christ you are loved by God. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.919 This is what it means to be anointed. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:30.399 You may feel guilty, but in Christ you are spotless. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:34.799 You may feel rejected, but in Christ you have been chosen by God. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.200 You may feel condemned, but in Christ you are righteous. 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.919 You may feel lonely, but in Christ you are never alone. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.720 You see, we are agitated. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.080 We have agitation. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.559 All sorts of agitation in our lives. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.240 But we are anointed. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:59.679 Point number three is this Knowing your identity in Christ is the place of rest and growth. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:04.159 I mean, this is one of the biggest values of our church that we say over and over again. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:08.799 The way that you rest and the way that you grow is knowing your identity in Christ. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:32.000 Back to 1 John, 1 John 2, verse 27, he says, but the anointing that you receive from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you, but as his anointing teaches you about everything and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you abide in him. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.600 So John is not saying that teaching means nothing. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.240 I hope not. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:37.840 I wouldn't have a job. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:44.799 John is saying that we're not dependent on human wisdom or opinions. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:58.960 That's really good news for me because I'm always wanting an opinion, particularly affirming me, and I'm always wanting the next book, some bit of extra knowledge, because if I just know something else, then I'll be okay. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:07.759 And John says that the Holy Spirit in you, the Holy Spirit in you is what makes you okay. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:12.639 And he is your seal and your source. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:20.799 Not me, not some other leader, not some other person, not some opinion. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.879 But the Holy Spirit is your seal, meaning you have the Spirit of God in you. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.759 You are secure in your position with God. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.559 You are already anointed. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.919 And he's your source. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:41.679 That we have the gift of a God who wants to live in us and speak to us, to the core of our being. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:47.679 And learning to hear how God speaks to us inside of us is incredibly powerful. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:51.440 Now back to our verse, Psalm 23, 5. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:55.840 You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:00.159 I love the story in the Old Testament book of Zephaniah or King Manasseh. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.200 He has led Judah into idolatry. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.840 Then his son comes to reign, Amon. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:10.639 After two years, the son's assassinated, bit of a soap opera story. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.399 Then Josiah, he becomes king. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.279 At age eight, he becomes king. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.799 And the people are in full rebellion to all the ways of God. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.600 At age 16, Josiah's in the temple, sort of like an Indiana Jones discovery moment. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:34.799 He discovers the scroll of the law, he begins to read it, and he realizes, oh my gosh, our people are not even living close to the ways of God. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.720 No wonder this is all of a mess. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.200 So he discovers that, he begins to restore his people. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:44.799 Now, during this whole time, Zephaniah is a prophet speaking to the people. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.480 Their lives are a mess. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.000 Jerusalem's about to fall. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:52.799 And at first, Zephaniah, if you read the book, judgment toward the people. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.519 Rightful judgment over their sin. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.919 Destruction awaits you. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.879 But the judgment is in preparation for the word of grace. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:02.080 It always is. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:06.080 The judgment is real, and the grace is the relief. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:10.799 In our sin we deserve judgment, but in God's grace we receive delight. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.440 Listen to it in Zephaniah 3, 16 and 17. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.360 This is a new living translation. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.360 So if you have your Bible, it might be a bit different. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:25.759 On that day, the announcement to Jerusalem will be cheer up Zion, don't be afraid, for the Lord your God is living among you. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.840 He is a mighty Savior. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.879 He will take delight in you with gladness. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.279 With his love, he will calm all your fears. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:39.919 He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:50.879 It's almost as if Zephaniah knew about a caring shepherd, so loyal, so caring, to delight over his sheep and his people. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:58.639 Point number four is this living in our anointing is rest and growth with a quieted heart. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:06.559 I can remember 13 years ago, 14 years ago, we had our first baby. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.000 Lose track. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.399 First year of her life. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.720 We were working downtown, living downtown. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.240 I was working to church downtown. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.320 We lived on a schedule. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:20.559 We were scheduled people, and some of you aren't scheduled people, non-schedule baby people. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:23.919 We judge schedule people, schedule people judge non-scheduled people. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.279 I know how, I know how it is. 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:27.120 Well, we were scheduled people. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.879 And our baby slept wonderfully. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.840 We'd like to report that. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.840 Scheduled people like to report that. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.120 But Sundays presented a problem. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:37.840 Schedule people, you know what I'm talking about? 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.360 You're worried about it right now. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.159 Schedule people the baby, right now, you're worried because you're just not quite sure. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.200 Will he preach late? 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.559 How will this affect everything? 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.440 Will we make it home? 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:47.919 Will we not? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.200 Do we have time to stop for food? 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.639 So many things. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:54.320 So normally church ended at 12 if the preacher was long-winded. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.919 Sometimes it would end at 12:15. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.480 We'd get out to the parking lot at 12.30, and it was past her nap time. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.080 We were in danger zone. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.559 It was a 20-minute car ride home. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.240 Cranky baby. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.840 Baby's wailing. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.360 I'm hungry. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.120 Christy's hungry. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.679 I can't say anything correct to Christy. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:16.720 Christy can't really say anything correct to me. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.559 We love and hate each other. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.240 It's like, you know, we're just like, we gotta get, and we're napping people, okay? 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.399 So all this is about protecting the naps. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.720 The babies nap so that we can nap, okay? 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.879 Let's I mean that's what's going on here. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:37.279 Because we just know if we can just get, if we can get the nap, like our marriage will survive. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.960 We will be okay. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:41.919 And we don't want the baby to fall asleep in the car. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.679 I know your baby transfers, and you tell everybody how easy it is. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.399 Our babies don't transfer, they never transfer. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:50.480 So that baby has to stay awake. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:59.039 So Christy's in the backseat, cold water on the feet, windows are down, cold play blasting. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.559 Baby hates us. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.640 We don't care. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.359 Because that baby's gonna nap. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:18.160 And we get home and we get her into her room, and we lay her in her bed, and we turn on the sound machine, and you close the door. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.400 Right, parents? 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.440 Wonderful moment. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:34.400 And the house is quiet, and you're quiet, and that busy, frantic heart is quieted. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.319 Now that's the power of a napping baby. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.559 Don't mess with a napping baby. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.240 It's an image of how something can powerfully affect us. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.519 We can go from a very busy frantic heart in just a moment. 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:52.960 It's amazing how quickly our hearts can be calmed. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:57.200 Zephaniah's talking about that quieted heart. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:01.920 All that fear and agitation that was going on, it gets quieted down. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:15.039 Zephaniah says, and I like where the ESV translates this idea of calm your fears in verse 17 and says, he will quiet you by his love. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:21.759 And think about the shepherd, these agitated sheep. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:29.279 And the shepherd would know his sheep so well that he knew when they were being agitated. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.599 And he would go to them. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.279 He would anoint them. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.359 He would pour oil over them. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.519 And be with them. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.519 And everything would change. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:45.119 The flies still existed, there would still be agitation, but the shepherd was active. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:50.799 His love and care quieted their frantic hearts. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.000 Psalm 23, 5. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.759 You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.640 So the anointing with oil has an effect. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.920 There's a response. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.920 My cup overflows. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.200 Point number five. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:10.559 Abundant joy is the fruit of resting in the wealth of our anointing. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.519 So maybe you know there's a drought out west. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.480 Maybe you don't know. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.200 Maybe you don't care. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.000 It's possible. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.119 We don't live there. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:23.279 But Lake Mead is the reservoir above the Hoover Dam. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.680 It's the largest reservoir in the U.S. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.279 It provides water to Arizona, California, and Nevada. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.920 So it's at historic lows right now. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:35.279 Here's a picture of Lake Mead out there. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:41.359 And so this is Lake Mead at full pool, or just what we would hope it would be. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:41.920 Okay. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:48.960 Now here's a picture of it at drought stage where we are at now. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.599 Okay. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.680 Now, in 1983, it overflowed like crazy. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.119 Now here's a side-by-side picture. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.720 I love this image. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:12.960 So on the left is a full pool, overflowing, and on the right is last year and what it looks like today. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.599 Let's just contemplate this image. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:20.160 Just look at this image because maybe you have felt half full. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.799 It's easy to feel empty. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:26.160 So agitated, you're just worn down. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:33.440 Whether that be condemnation, whether that be guilt, whether it be shame, whether it just be stuff and schedule. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.920 Exhausted. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:46.000 Now maybe you feel that way right now, or maybe you can remember a season you felt that way. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.400 Or maybe it's gonna happen next Tuesday. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.680 Good. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:54.480 And we all want to be full and overflowing. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.359 Like we all want to be the side of the image on the left. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.079 We're full and overflowing and there's enough in us, right? 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:17.519 Well, Psalm 23 gives us the gospel this morning of how, not as a perfect equation, but as the fruit of the gospel, as resting in our anointing, that response becomes an overflowing joy. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.000 The key to overflowing is nourishment. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:28.000 The key to nourishment is resting in your anointing. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:37.839 That's what Psalm 23, 5 gives us the gracious goodness of who we already are in Christ, that we have been anointed. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:48.400 The good shepherd fully knew his sheep, fully loved them in their hiding, in their hurting, in their agitation, in their exhaustion, and he went toward them. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:53.759 He was drawn to their weakness, drawn to their exhaustion and their messiness. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:22:03.119 He intimately knew them and went toward them to restore them, to pour oil over their inability and their exhaustion. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:08.000 They were agitated, but they were anointed. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.640 This is the cross. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.119 This is the cross. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:17.599 Christ to us while we are still messy sinners. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:25.839 Taking on our sin on the cross, giving us his righteousness, pouring over us a secure anointing as the beloved. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:30.400 So we are always righteous and always loved and always forgiven. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.480 Beloved, we may be agitated. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:37.680 You may be agitated, but you are anointed. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.119 Let's pray together. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:47.920 God, thank you that in your goodness to us, not our goodness to you, that you chose to anoint us. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:23:04.799 That we have an inner endowment, such great lavish wealth inside of us of identity, that we are fully forgiven, fully yours, fully righteous. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:16.000 Help us only to trust in you more, to rest more in your sufficiency as the great shepherd who knows us, moves towards us, dies for us, and even lives inside of us. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:22.480 Help us to learn to rest in your goodness, of your work for us and not our work for you. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:33.200 Help us to learn what it means to hear your spirit in our hearts to convict us and to comfort us, to give us great relief when we were agitated. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:38.319 God, as each of us sitting here this morning, we have our own form of agitation. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:44.799 And would we have open hands to let you minister to us this morning? 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.240 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.039 Amen.