Thank you for looking into the Lord's Food bank web site and this blog. The blogs name is Looking Up for it's aim is to help each person to look up to God. Most people naturally look up when they are in trouble. We seek God's help often when we finally come to the end of ourselves. However looking up to God should be the first thing we do daily. Not a last resort. The 23rd Psm. Is a Psalm that almost everyone has heard, or knows. One can hardly go to a funeral and not hear it. Helping preach just about everyone into heaven, if that is where they are headed or not. There is however a key word in this Psalm. It is only two letters long, but what is in the Psalm hinges on this word small word. It is the word my. The Lord is, my Shepherd. David the one who wrote the Psalm could say this in all honesty, and humility. But how about you and I? Are you certain that the Lord is your Shepherd, today? That He is the one that you follow and listen to. That it is He is whom you rely on to be your provider and your protector. The one whom you rely on for your salvation from the judgement and punishment for one’s sin? You see the 23rd Psalm will only be true for you if the Lord Jesus Christ is your Shepherd, your personal Lord and Savior.. If He is your Shepherd then one will not want. This not wanting is in two ways. One because He will take care of you, and secondly that one is to trust Him to such an extent that one is content with what one has, knowing that if there is a true need ones Shepherd will provide it. Having one lye down in green pastures, a place of provision, safety and rest. Leading us beside still waters a picture of rest and of provision. He even restores our souls. Have you ever felt empty? Physically and emotionally drained, at the end of your rope? Often this happens when we are trying to cope with the pressures and difficulties of life, relationship problems, financial problems, health problem, mental or emotional problems or all of these things pressing down on one at once. We are trying to carry the load of life alone. Rather than relining on the Lord our Shepherd. If one does repent and accept the Lord as ones God and Shepherd the problems may not go away or disappear, but beside us upholding us, guiding us, providing for us, encouraging us, giving us inner strength and the hope of glory, will be the Lord our Shepherd. Be careful that you are not fishing when you cast your cares on the Lord. You know giving the problems into His hands only to real them back a little while latter and worrying over them again. Then if the Lord is our Shepherd He also will lead us in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. He knows what is truly right. You ask twenty people what is right and many different answers will be given. He alone knows what is truly right. In this path of right living for Him many pitfalls, dangers and that which would tear us down will be avoided. And even when the hard days come we will be able to say with the Palmist David “Yea though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil. Why? Because the Good Shepherd is with us. God’s rod and staff are for our protection and guidance and discipline when needed. But all for our good. Even amongst our enemies God’s blessing will be on our lives. Anointing us to do His will for our lives. He is the one that will give us a joy filled life. A life with purpose, a fulfilled life a life worth living and a reason to live. That being for Him not for ourselves. His mercy will be upon our lives and we will have our sins forgiven our relationship with our Heavenly Father restored and Heaven to look forward to living with Him forever. But we must come back to the question is the Lord your shepherd today? Do you know your Creator? Do you know the one who has made all things. I am not talking about dead religion, of lists of does and don’ts. But rather a living relationship with the almighty God. One told me last week when I asked her if she would like prayer, that she was not into religion. She would probably been surprised if I had answered her and told her neither was I even though I am an ordained minister. I am into a living relationship with the Almighty God that motivates me to live for Him. To follow my shepherd. Remember the Lord leads the sheep we are presumed to follow Him. Are you willing to follow Him today? One may ask, how can the Lord become my Shepherd? How can I become a child of God?
1. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR GOD. JOHN 1:1-3, 20:31, ISH. 9:6.
2. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD. JOHN 14:6, ACTS 4:12,
MATT. 6:24. 1 JOHN 5:11-13. JOHN 3:18. TITUS 3:5&6, EPH. 2:8&9.
3. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO PAY FOR ALL YOUR SINS BY DYING ON
THE CROSS. 1 COR. 15:3, 2 COR. 5:21. HEB. 9:22.
4. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD. 1 COR. 15:4, ROM. 10:9.
5. ADMIT ONE IS A SINNER, (has a need-can not save themselves) . Rom. 3:23, 6:23.
6. REPENT FROM OUR SINS, (ask God to forgive all our sins, and then turn from living for
ourselves- sinning as we desired, to living for God in righteousness, doing His will for
our lives.) LUKE 13:3,5, 15:7. ROM. 6:13,19,22-23, MATT. 7:20. LUKE 14:26-35.
7. BELIEVING ON, AND RECEIVE INTO OUR LIVES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
JOHN 1:12, 3:15-18,36.
AFFIRMATION -CONFESS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BEFORE MEN. And live a life truly following the Lord. A changed life in His power. ROM. 10:10, MATT. 10:32&33, LUKE12:8&9.
-ILLUSTRATION-TRAIN-ENGINE AS-FACT, COAL CAR AS-FAITH, CABOOSE AS-EMOTIONS.
-ASSURANCE OF SALVATION- CAN I LOSE MY SALVATION?
-GOD'S PROMISE -JOHN 3:16-ETERNAL LIFE, IF ETERNAL CAN NOT LOSE.
-JESUS'S PROMISE- REVELATION 3:20
- HOLY SPIRIT OUR PLEDGE- EPH. 1:13&14, 4:30.
-IN GOD'S FAMILY- JOHN 1:12, 1 JOHN 3:1&2
- TO KNOW YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN- 1 JOHN 5:13
-CAN NOT BE TAKEN FROM GOD'S FAMILY- JOHN 10:27-30
-THE REAL QUESTION IS IF ONE HAS TRULY REPENTED OR NOT!
SALVATION PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father I believe, that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, that He is the only way to You. That He came to earth, paying the debt of all my sins by dying on the cross for me. I believe that Jesus Christ rose again, from the dead the third day. Father I admit that I have done things that are wrong, things that are against Your holy will, which is sin. I now repent, turning from my old way of life, living for myself, I choose to live for You Heavenly Father, and for your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus Christ, I now receive You into my life, to be my Lord and Savior. I now ask you Heavenly Father, that You would forgive me of all my sins. I reject Satan, and any work he ever had in my life. I thank you Heavenly Father for giving your Son, and I pray, that You will help me do the things that You want me to. Guide me to the church of your choosing for me to attend. I pray all these things, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Keep looking up to God. Pastor Dan
