PSALM CHAPTER 23 - PART 1

MAINTAINING HAPPINESS:
Being blessed by personal involvement of God

Recognizing the unfailing faithfulness of our God !


1. THE PERSONAL POSITION OF GOD.

2. FINDING OUT WHAT HE DOES. DID NOT COME EASILY.
   A. HE SATISFIES ALL PARTS OF MY LIFE. V.1. PHIL 4:19.
   B. HE PROVIDES GREAT TIMES OF EASY BLESSINGS. V.2.
        USING PEOPLE ? I PET. 4:10, WHERE ? EPH. 1:3.
        *HOW DOES HE “MAKE” US LIE DOWN ? TROUBLES ?
   C. HE “LEADETH” US TO ADDITIONAL PLACES OF BLESSING.
         *WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US IN THIS CASE ? GEN. 24:27,
          IS. 48:17, MARK 9:2—FOR DEEPER REVELATION.
   D. HE “RESTORETH” MY SOUL. CONDITION OF A SINNING SOUL=
                 REMOVED FROM FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

Restoreth=Heb.= bwv shuwb, shoob=“to return (to God)”

          TODAY, HOW DOES GOD RESTORE ? JOHN 14:26, 2 TIM. 2:25.
        LAST DAYS RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. MARK 9:12
   (1. STEPS TO RESTORATION:
        —GOD CREATES IT FOR THE PERSON. JAMES 1:17
        —THE PERSON RECOGNIZES IT IS AVAILABLE. MATT. 4:17.
        —THE PERSON RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR IT. LUKE 11:32
        —THE PERSON ASKS FORGIVENESS FROM GOD. LUKE 11:4
                  NOT AS JUDAS. MATT. 27:3
                  (ACTING ON THE REPENTANCE GOD GAVE).
        —GOD RECEIVES THE SINNER’S REPENTANCE. I JOHN 1:9
   (2. WHICH STAGE WAS DAVID AT IN PSALM 51:12 ?
   E. HE LEADETH ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
        —GOD GAVE POWER TO CHOICE TO MEN.
                   JUDGES 5:8, ACTS 15:40.
        —IF WE WATCH & LISTEN, GOD LEADS. GEN 24:27, 48.
        —SOME CHOICES ARE MORE DIFFICULT AND LESS EASY TO
                   SEE THE BIBLICAL ANSWERS THAN OTHER. PHIL. 1:22-24.

3. WHY MUST WE FOLLOW THE LORD’S LEADING ?V. 3
        ***FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE—TO GLORIFY HIM, WE MUST FOLLOW.
   A. IT PLEASES HIM. REV. 4:11.
   B. IT BRINGS US INTO A RIGHTEOUS WALK. HEB. 12:10.
   C. THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SEE OUR GOOD WORKS. MATT. 5:16
   D. TO KNOW THE RIGHT TEACHING. JOHN 7:17.




PSALM CHAPTER 23 - PART 2


1. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. V.4.
   A. NOT FEARING THE END—PAUL’S FAITH. ROM. 8:38-39.
   B. SOME COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT WHEN
          THEY HAVEN’T. JOB. 38:17.
   C. THE FEAR OF IT CAN SOMETIMES BE A GREAT MOTIVATOR
          FOR GOOD. PS. 107:10-13.
        —PEOPLE OFTEN CONSIDER THEIR SINS UNDER THIS FEAR.
            I COR. 15:56.
   D. FEAR OF IT CAN SOMETIMES MAKE PEOPLE CHOOSE THE
          WRONG PATH. HEB. 2:14-15
   E. THE VICTORY OVER IT IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
          NEVER TASTE IT. JOHN 8:52
          NEVER EXPERIENCE IT. JOHN 11:26.

2. THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES. V.5. (God’s enemies are our enemies)
   A. THE HUMAN KIND. PS. 56:4, PS. 118:6, HEB. 13:6, DEUT. 3:22.
        —DOESN’T MATTER WHO COMES AGAINST US. ROM. 8:31.
        —FEARING WHAT MAN CAN DO IS MORE THAN FEARING
          DEATH— IT INCLUDES REPUTATION, ACCEPTANCE,
          “SECURITY,“ ETC. MATT. 21:26,
        —FEAR OF FACING UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. MATT. 1:20,
          LUKE 8:50.
   B. THE SPIRIT KIND. 2 TIM. 1:7.
        —DOESN‘T MATTER WHAT POWER THEY CLAIM. I JOHN 4:4.
   C. OF FEAR ITSELF. PROVERBS 3:21-26, ROMANS 14:23.

3. FAITH FOR HIS LIFE. V.6
   A. FEARING GOD. MATT. 10:28.

4. THE REFRESHING OF THE LORD. V.5 (anointest my head).
   A. BY ANGELS. I KINGS 19:5,6, MATT. 4:11.
   B. BY THE SPIRIT’S MINISTRY BY THE WORD. IS. 28:12, ACTS 3:19.
   C. BY GODLY MUSIC. I SAM. 16:23.
   D. BY THE BRETHREN. I COR. 16:18, 2 COR. 7:13, 2 TIM. 1:16.
   E. BY OBEDIENCE. MARK 6:31.
   F. BY KNOWLEDGE OF PURPOSE. I SAM. 16:12, I KINGS 19:16.
        —HELPS US TO SEE MORE CLEARLY. REV. 3:18.

5. DAVID’S STATEMENT OF FAITH. V.6
   A. IT IS STATED, NOT HIDDEN AWAY. PS. 35:18, PS. 40:10
   B. CONFIDENT THAT GOD WILL GIVE GOODNESS.
        Can be enlightenment, revelation, joy, spiritual blessings, etc.
        I CHRON. 17:16-19. Same word as in EX. 33:19.
   C. CONFIDENT THAT GOD WILL GIVE MERCY. PS. 13:5, PS. 59:16,
         Must be received in an acceptable time. Ps. 69:13, 2 COR. 6:2.
   D. CONFIDENT THAT GOD WILL GIVE THEM ALL THE DAYS OF
        HIS LIFE. PS. 102:27, HEB. 13:8.
   E. ASSURED OF DAVID’S LOCATION AND POSITION WITH GOD.
        I JOHN 2:3, I JOHN 3:24.
   F. THE SHEEP IN THE HOUSE.
        —THE BASIS—2 SAMUEL 12:1-5
        —WHAT KIND OF SHEEP STAYS IN THE HOUSE ?