WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.720 Can you look back at your childhood, and I'm talking about as a kid or a teenager, and see how God used certain experiences to shape you into the person you are today. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:28.440 Think back of some of the things you did, had to do, when you were growing up, that have greatly influenced the way you look at life today. 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:30.359 The way you do certain things. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:36.760 For example, maybe you took care of a younger brother or sister when you were a teenager. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:45.320 Maybe they were a lot younger than you, and it may be that you didn't really want to do all you did, but you were forced by your parents to help out. 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:52.880 Well, that has influenced you, maybe helped you, you would admit, to be a better parent today. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:59.859 Maybe you played a sport, learned to play a musical instrument. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:04.579 Or maybe you had parents who made you work around the house, do chores. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:12.480 And now, looking back, you think, through those experiences, I learned to be disciplined. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:17.300 I learned to complete a task. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:23.120 I learned that you just don't quit because something is difficult. 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:26.399 And today, you can get things done. 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:38.519 You know, we can look at David's early life experience as a shepherd, a shepherd boy, probably a young teenager, 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:45.959 taking care of his father's sheep, and how that prepared him to write the 23rd Psalm. 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:47.659 You think about it. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:48.979 David was the youngest. 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:53.199 He probably hated taking care of those sheep. 00:01:54.280 --> 00:02:01.899 Being at home, taking care of sheep by himself, and his brothers out doing something important. 00:02:02.919 --> 00:02:05.939 At least more important than what he was doing. 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:13.379 But God used that experience to prepare David to write what was probably the most well-known chapter in all the Bible, 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.979 and what may be the most loved one chapter in the Bible. 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:29.039 David wrote Psalm 23 from his experience as a boy, as a teenager, taking care of sheep. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:35.159 But he wrote from the perspective of one of those sheep. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:37.560 Look at it with me. 00:02:37.799 --> 00:02:39.979 I want us to read the first three verses this morning. 00:02:41.019 --> 00:02:46.459 The first verse is where we see David is writing from the perspective of a sheep. 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:49.259 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:52.039 God is the shepherd. 00:02:52.399 --> 00:02:52.959 I'm the sheep. 00:02:53.459 --> 00:02:54.539 I shall not want. 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:56.979 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 00:02:57.340 --> 00:02:59.459 He leads me beside still waters. 00:02:59.959 --> 00:03:01.259 He restores my soul. 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:06.359 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:09.659 Last week we looked at the first part of verse three. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.239 He restores my soul. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.139 And we saw how the Lord restores us when we need it. 00:03:16.019 --> 00:03:17.500 The way that we need it. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:26.259 I pointed out that sometimes the Lord restores us after we have drifted away or maybe just rebelled. 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:31.180 We've walked away from God or we're ignoring him. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:39.060 And in those kind of situations, he restores us by rescuing us from our sin. 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:42.460 He restores us by forgiving us. 00:03:42.460 --> 00:03:46.879 Now sometimes God restores us. 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:51.100 It has nothing to do with sin or rebellion or anything like that. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:54.620 Sometimes he restores us after we go through a difficult time. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.460 Maybe when we are just physically or emotionally exhausted. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:02.939 Life has just been stressful. 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:06.460 We've had some major responsibilities. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:10.200 We've had to put in a lot of time. 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:13.119 We haven't got to sleep as much as we normally do. 00:04:14.239 --> 00:04:21.300 And God just seems to come at just the right time to refresh us. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.819 And maybe he does something to make us rest. 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:31.259 Maybe he helps us to see we need to slow down, rest. 00:04:31.500 --> 00:04:35.339 Or maybe he does something to put us in a position where all we can do is rest. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.339 But at the same time, he's helping us. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:42.759 He's helping us to stop, slow down. 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:44.619 He's refreshing us. 00:04:45.619 --> 00:04:52.339 Well, as we move on into the next part of verse 3, we see that once the Lord restores us, however it is that he does. 00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:58.620 Once the Lord restores us, he then guides us in the way that he wants us to go. 00:04:59.479 --> 00:05:00.339 Let's look at it. 00:05:00.539 --> 00:05:02.299 The Lord guides us in the right direction. 00:05:02.599 --> 00:05:05.479 He leads me in paths of righteousness. 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:08.840 First thing I want us to think about is why. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:12.660 Why does the Lord have to lead us in paths of righteousness? 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:16.020 Well, he has to because we naturally go the wrong direction. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:24.560 We are born into this world with a bent toward living life my way and not God's way. 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:28.960 David, he lived that out. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:36.199 David knew from experience that sheep need constant guidance. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:38.979 They easily wander off and get lost. 00:05:39.719 --> 00:05:45.219 If you've read anything about sheep and shepherds, Philip Keller's book or others, 00:05:46.719 --> 00:05:50.339 sheep are notoriously dumb animals. 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:55.599 Even in familiar surroundings, they'll wander off. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:58.000 One might wonder and others follow. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:05:59.800 They get lost. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:09.620 Some commentators point out that in the places where David would have tended sheep in the land of Israel throughout that time period, 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:13.180 for many years afterwards, people walked wherever they went. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:20.199 And if you walk the same path to the same place over and over again, you wear out the ground. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:31.920 And so what some commentators say is that in any given area, there were many well-worn paths that might entice the sheep to go down that trail, 00:06:32.039 --> 00:06:35.120 go down that path and get lost. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.800 And so the point is a shepherd had to work. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:50.340 In David's day, he understood, I've got to work as a shepherd to keep these sheep together and to guide them from one grazing area to another, 00:06:51.340 --> 00:06:53.639 to the place to get good water. 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.879 I've got to work and stay at it. 00:06:59.099 --> 00:07:05.039 Then, David, he had that experience as a boy, but then he thought about his experience as a man. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:10.240 David knew from his own experience of committing adultery and murder, 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:18.220 that even as a man of God, and you know, he's called, he's the only person in the Bible called a man after God's own heart. 00:07:19.780 --> 00:07:22.960 But yet he sinned, he rebelled against God this way. 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:27.000 Don't you? 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.600 I was thinking about this, this week. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:37.920 And I thought, there are times when my picture, and you, you're no different than me. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:44.400 There are times when your picture or mine could be used to illustrate this point from Scripture. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:45.319 Look at this verse. 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.259 All we like sheep have gone astray. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.780 We have turned everyone to his own way. 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:54.020 We do that, don't we? 00:07:55.280 --> 00:07:59.040 We just have that natural tendency to want to do things my way. 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:03.160 To go off in that direction, 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:08.020 regardless of the fact that God's called us to go in the other direction. 00:08:09.020 --> 00:08:12.900 Well, David describes God's way in verse 3 as paths of righteousness, 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:16.760 or you may have a translation that says right paths. 00:08:16.880 --> 00:08:18.520 That's the more literal translation. 00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:23.220 The paths of righteousness, or the right paths, 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:25.320 simply mean right living. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.180 Or holy living. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:30.819 And the word holy means to be set apart. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:36.560 To live like a man or woman of God. 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:42.180 But don't misunderstand what he's talking about. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:48.340 He is not saying that living life God's way is just a matter of following a certain rule, 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:51.279 a certain direction. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.519 Let's have a little review here. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:58.519 When you put your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:04.279 God immediately declared, by virtue of your faith in Jesus, 00:09:05.079 --> 00:09:07.000 that you are right with him. 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:10.159 He declared that you are righteous. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.000 When you trusted Jesus in God's eyes, 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.179 immediately, 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:22.099 He considered you His holy child. 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.859 His righteous child. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:27.199 You were right with Him 00:09:27.199 --> 00:09:29.359 through faith in Jesus. 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:31.979 You became one with Jesus. 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:33.759 And as we've said before, 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:35.759 when you became one with Jesus, 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.399 His death on the cross 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:40.419 became your death to sin. 00:09:41.479 --> 00:09:42.240 Penalties paid. 00:09:42.959 --> 00:09:44.479 He died, paid the penalty for your sin. 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.759 That's credited to you. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:46.679 You are forgiven. 00:09:47.179 --> 00:09:48.419 Slate clean. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:50.899 Through faith in Jesus, 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:51.779 you're one with Him. 00:09:52.079 --> 00:09:55.019 His perfect, obedient life of fulfilling God's law, 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.779 that is credited to you as well. 00:09:58.859 --> 00:10:01.299 It happens at the moment you trust Jesus. 00:10:02.099 --> 00:10:03.819 That's why you are declared, 00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:05.099 at that moment, 00:10:05.739 --> 00:10:06.139 righteous, 00:10:06.599 --> 00:10:07.439 right with God. 00:10:07.719 --> 00:10:08.459 Another way to say it, 00:10:08.859 --> 00:10:10.319 sometimes you are justified. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.060 Now, 00:10:11.060 --> 00:10:14.379 from that moment, 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:18.520 when God declares you to be righteous, 00:10:19.020 --> 00:10:21.500 He starts working in you 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:24.280 to actually make you 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:27.879 live righteously. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.200 And one of the ways He does that, 00:10:30.260 --> 00:10:31.640 He puts His Spirit in us, 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.840 and His Spirit gives us the desire 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.820 and the ability 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:36.580 to obey God. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.720 I want you to look at this 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.420 very familiar verse of Scripture. 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.040 In fact, 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.720 to be honest with you, 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:42.500 I look for ways 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.700 to put this 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.540 in just about every sermon. 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:46.220 It is this, 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:47.720 it is so important. 00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:51.000 Every person who is a Christian, 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:52.160 look at this, 00:10:52.540 --> 00:10:53.440 Philippians 2, 13, 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:55.800 for God is working in you, 00:10:56.280 --> 00:10:57.560 giving you the desire 00:10:57.560 --> 00:10:58.960 and the power 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.180 to do what pleases Him. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.540 If you don't have 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:05.920 any desire 00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:08.080 to please God, 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.460 you're not a Christian. 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.700 The Spirit of God 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.520 does not live in you. 00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:15.660 If you have no desire 00:11:15.660 --> 00:11:16.420 to please God, 00:11:17.380 --> 00:11:18.740 no desire to put forth 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:19.460 the effort 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:22.600 and see some good results, 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.640 you have no reason 00:11:24.640 --> 00:11:25.520 to think from a 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:26.980 biblical description 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:27.480 of a Christian 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:29.320 that you are saved. 00:11:31.880 --> 00:11:33.260 Paul explains 00:11:33.260 --> 00:11:36.180 how God works in us 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:37.120 to make us 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.020 live like Jesus, 00:11:39.640 --> 00:11:40.720 live righteously. 00:11:41.760 --> 00:11:43.040 He puts His Spirit in us, 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:44.220 He gives us the desire 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:45.380 and ability to please Him. 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:46.480 Now I want you to go, 00:11:46.540 --> 00:11:47.300 I want us to go on 00:11:47.300 --> 00:11:49.300 and look how Paul explains 00:11:49.300 --> 00:11:50.300 what it means 00:11:50.300 --> 00:11:52.460 to follow these right paths 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:55.460 in a very straightforward 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:57.240 and detailed way. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.540 He does it in his letter 00:11:58.540 --> 00:11:59.620 to the Thessalonians. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.220 Look at this. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.379 God's will is for you 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.139 to be holy. 00:12:04.280 --> 00:12:05.360 That's a general statement. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.519 He's telling those people, 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:08.580 God's will is for you 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.120 to be holy, 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:10.340 for you to be set apart 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:11.080 to live for Him. 00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:12.340 God's will is for you 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:13.300 to be righteous, 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:14.580 to live that kind of life. 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.720 And now, 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.620 in writing to these people, 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.920 He's going to tell them 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:20.079 one specific way 00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:21.319 that they need 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:23.059 to start living a holy life. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:24.699 God's will is for you 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.219 to be holy, 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.120 so stay away 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.979 from all sexual sin. 00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:30.419 There was sexual sin 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.199 taking place 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:31.719 in the church 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.559 at Thessalonica. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.199 He goes on to say, 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:36.559 then each of you 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.120 will control 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.139 his own body 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.579 and live in holiness 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:41.299 and honor, 00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:43.919 not in lustful passion 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.799 like the pagans 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.980 who do not know God 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.300 and His ways. 00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:51.600 Look next in verses 7 and 8, 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.480 that same chapter. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:54.300 God has called us 00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:55.519 to live holy lives, 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:58.320 not impure lives. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:12:59.300 Therefore, 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.240 anyone who refuses 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.720 to live by these rules 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.100 is not disobeying 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.259 human teaching, 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:07.180 but is rejecting God 00:13:07.180 --> 00:13:09.259 who gives His Holy Spirit 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.399 to you. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:12.740 Now remember, 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.080 the Holy Spirit lives in us 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.759 if we're Christians. 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.860 He gives us the desire 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.800 and the ability 00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:22.420 to live this holy life 00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.700 that Paul's describing here. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:27.460 We don't make ourselves Christians. 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:29.539 God makes us Christians 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.600 through faith in Jesus. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:34.060 God enables us, then, 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:35.659 to start living like Christians 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:37.620 because we have the desire to 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:40.779 and we have the ability to. 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.620 Now, 00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:44.000 let's stop and think. 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:46.339 We're talking about path, 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.379 the right path. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.740 What paths 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.120 have you been traveling lately? 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.360 Think about it. 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.240 Be honest. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.279 Have you desired 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:00.059 to live a holy life 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:00.879 this past week? 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.000 Have you desired 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.519 to live a life 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.720 that pleases God? 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.160 there at home, 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.060 at work, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.639 in whatever you've been doing? 00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:15.160 Let's take it a step further. 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.160 Have you put forth 00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:17.700 the effort 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.600 to please God 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.720 by following through 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.580 on those desires? 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:24.660 Now, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.019 it's important to understand 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.000 when we think about this, 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.639 it's not just 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.600 what we do, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.540 but it's our attitude. 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:33.379 Living a holy life 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.019 includes having 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.819 the right kind of 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:35.599 thoughts, 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.879 attitudes. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.579 It also applies 00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:41.779 to the words we speak. 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.459 All of this 00:14:44.459 --> 00:14:45.419 is who we are. 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.539 What path, 00:14:49.339 --> 00:14:50.740 what path 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.740 has your mind 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.779 been on this week? 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.719 What path 00:14:55.719 --> 00:14:56.559 has your mouth 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.519 been on this week? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:00.799 What path 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.600 have you been on? 00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:05.179 Following the path 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:06.980 of righteousness 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:09.840 with God 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.399 as your leader? 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.699 Or have you 00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:13.340 detoured 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.720 or just 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.559 exited 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:18.000 and took off 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.860 in another direction 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.779 after someone 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.519 or something 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.500 else 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.279 that appealed 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.039 to you more? 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.539 You know, 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.719 God will lead us 00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:29.639 in the right 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.599 path of life 00:15:30.599 --> 00:15:32.379 if we will 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:32.919 follow Him. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.839 He's going to lead us. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.179 It's our responsibility 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:36.819 to follow Him. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.279 I want us to look now 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.299 at how He normally 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.459 leads us. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.279 The Lord guides us 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.299 in the right direction 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.139 through His word, 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:45.620 prayer, 00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.039 and the leadership 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.579 of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.319 That's what I want 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:47.919 to focus on. 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.039 But the truth is, 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.519 God guides us 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.719 in all kinds of ways 00:15:51.719 --> 00:15:52.339 and you know that. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:53.959 Some of you 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:54.959 have been helped 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.200 along the way 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.780 of life 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.780 by someone. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.879 Someone has 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.100 taught you, 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:03.800 helped you, 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:04.879 explained things 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.360 to you. 00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.240 Some people 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.920 have imparted 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:07.820 wisdom to you. 00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:08.519 You've learned 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.060 some things 00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:09.700 the hard way. 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:10.879 You've learned 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.440 some things 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.200 by experience. 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.160 Some things 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:13.840 just through 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.560 the circumstances 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.000 of life. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.600 God is not limited 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.480 in how He works. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.420 But sometimes 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.700 we fail 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:22.820 to look at 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:24.500 and utilize 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.780 these three 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.440 that I want us 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:26.800 to look at 00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.260 right now. 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.320 Let's look at 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:28.840 them individually. 00:16:29.260 --> 00:16:29.820 The Lord guides 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.560 us through His word. 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.860 The way God 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.360 does this 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.080 is by revealing 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:34.400 Himself and His will 00:16:34.400 --> 00:16:34.879 through the pages 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.340 of Scripture. 00:16:36.140 --> 00:16:36.840 The Bible's not 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.480 a magic 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.500 word, 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:41.140 a magic book. 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:43.600 The way we 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.439 get guidance 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.960 from God 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.480 by reading 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:45.840 His word 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.699 is as we 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:47.319 read the Bible 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:47.899 over a period 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.500 of time, 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:49.960 we come to 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:50.580 understand 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.720 better, 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.419 more clearly 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.620 who God is, 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.319 what pleases 00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:57.639 Him, 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.879 what does 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.600 not please 00:16:59.600 --> 00:16:59.860 Him. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:02.080 See, 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.379 the effect 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:03.840 of the Bible 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.319 is really 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.099 cumulative. 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.059 The more we 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.720 read and study 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.139 the Bible, 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.740 the better we 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.559 understand who 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.139 God is, 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.079 how He is, 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.600 the better we 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:13.740 understand ourselves, 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:16.780 who we are, 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.920 our sin problem, 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.080 our selfish 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:21.700 problem. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:23.800 The more we 00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:24.320 read the Bible, 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:24.620 the more we 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.320 understand what 00:17:25.320 --> 00:17:27.780 God is concerned 00:17:27.780 --> 00:17:28.520 about that we 00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:29.520 develop in terms 00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:30.240 of character. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.520 Now, 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.360 the more we 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:33.980 read the Bible 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.620 with the attitude 00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.200 that we do 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.660 want to know 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.220 God better, 00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:37.960 we do want to 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.460 know His way 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.780 better, 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.100 the more clearly 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.759 that way will 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.439 stand out to 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:42.779 us. 00:17:44.219 --> 00:17:45.480 In Psalm 119, 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.119 there's a verse 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.679 of Scripture that 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.379 points that out 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:47.980 and I'm going to 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.539 guess that a lot 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:48.899 of people in this 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:49.279 room, you're 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:49.899 familiar with this 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.659 verse, look at it. 00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:53.679 Your word is a 00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:55.279 lamp to my feet 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.279 and a light for my 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.659 path. 00:17:58.699 --> 00:17:59.559 Your word, 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.859 it lights up the 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:04.000 right way for me. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:12.059 God is much more 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.720 concerned with our 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.420 character than 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.259 anything else about 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.619 us. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.960 Some people think 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:17.500 about living life 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.480 God's way, doing 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.880 His will, and they 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.700 think about big 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.400 events, you know, 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.380 like who should I 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.059 marry, what kind of 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.940 job should I have, 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:25.500 should I live here, 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.339 should I do this or 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.579 that. 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.500 You know, God guides 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.140 us for sure in all 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.539 kinds of ways, but 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.160 God is more concerned 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.980 about who you are 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.560 in the house you 00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:34.000 live in. 00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:35.860 God's much more 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.420 concerned about the 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:37.140 kind of person you 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:37.940 are, where you 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.380 work. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.360 God is concerned 00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:43.380 about our character. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.700 That's why God's 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.480 leading will always 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.940 be about becoming 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.380 more like Jesus, 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.380 developing Christ-like 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.400 character than it 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.160 will ever be about 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.080 becoming wealthy or 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:58.340 even healthy or 00:18:58.340 --> 00:19:01.500 popular or anything 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.500 else that the world 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.079 says we should make 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.720 our priority. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.500 So let's think 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.980 about this. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.660 Are you putting 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.460 yourself in a 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:14.019 position to be led 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:15.319 by God in the right 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:18.660 paths by regularly 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.400 reading His Word? 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.079 I'm not talking about 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.920 reading a verse today. 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.480 I encourage you to 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.460 read through the Bible, 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.279 read through the New 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.759 Testament. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:32.180 Just start, read 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.920 through a book of 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.279 the Bible. 00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.700 Read a few paragraphs 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:38.639 a day, a chapter a 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:38.839 day. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:43.619 Learn more about who 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:45.220 God is, how to 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.440 please Him by looking 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.339 at all of it. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.599 And over time, God 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:54.279 will light the path of 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:57.440 holy living that He 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.160 wants you to take. 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.799 Day in, day out. 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.200 The Lord guides us 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.619 through His Word. 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.339 The Lord guides us 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.019 through prayer. 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.099 David is a good 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.160 example of seeking 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.240 God's guidance and 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.619 prayer as you see 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:09.160 there in Psalm 25. 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.559 David prayed. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.440 He wrote about it. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.960 Make me to know 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.039 Your ways, O Lord. 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.740 Teach me Your paths. 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.740 Lead me in Your truth 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.819 and teach me. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.960 For You are the God 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.720 of my salvation. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:23.220 For You I wait all 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.779 the day long. 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.000 The New Testament 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.059 book of James tells 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.579 us, if you lack 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:29.259 wisdom, ask God for 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.460 it. 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.140 He's talking about 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.500 praying. 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:30.960 Look at it. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.160 If any of you lacks 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.120 wisdom, you should ask 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:34.680 God who gives generously 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.960 to all without finding 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.120 fault and it will be 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.740 given to Him. 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.600 Are you regularly 00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.779 seeking God's guidance 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.640 in prayer? 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.779 Are you asking Him? 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.720 Are you asking Him to 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:50.920 help you to grow in 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.759 developing holy character? 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:56.240 Are you asking Him to 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:58.759 help you to break 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.860 sinful habits? 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.440 Do you ask Him to 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.220 help you to resist the 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:08.640 temptation that seems to 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.420 come your way all too 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:10.920 often? 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.860 You know, James says 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:16.100 that sometimes we don't 00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:17.319 have because we don't 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.620 ask or we ask with 00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.299 wrong motives. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.880 Look at this. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.860 You do not have because 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.959 you do not ask God. 00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.539 When you ask, you do 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.559 not receive because you 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.599 ask with wrong motives. 00:21:29.219 --> 00:21:30.479 How much do you ask 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:31.719 God to guide you in the 00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:32.559 way He would have you 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:32.819 to go? 00:21:34.959 --> 00:21:36.279 How often do you pray, 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.879 God help me to develop 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:42.240 more patience with my 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.519 children? 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:47.539 God help me to not be such a 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:50.400 reactionary and get mad and 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.400 frustrated at the least 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.920 little thing. 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:55.059 God help me not to lust. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.660 God help me to shut my 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:01.359 mouth and not say everything 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:03.160 that comes through my mind 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:05.019 and not put down everybody 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:08.039 that I think is not doing 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.420 exactly the way I think they 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:09.879 ought to. 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:12.480 How often do you pray, 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:15.940 God help me in these 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.220 kinds of ways more than 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:20.280 God help me to get over 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:21.660 this ingrown toenail and 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.620 junk like that? 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:25.620 I think a lot of our prayers 00:22:26.260 --> 00:22:29.540 are truly a waste of a lot 00:22:29.540 --> 00:22:32.580 of breath in the way that 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:35.220 we neglect praying about the 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.620 more important things of life. 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:39.419 We neglect praying about 00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:41.299 things that the psalmist 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:43.439 prayed about, that Paul 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:45.179 prayed about, that Jesus 00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:47.159 prayed about, the glory of 00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:51.039 God, developing personal 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.659 character, seeing someone we 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:55.859 know and love come to faith 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.419 in Jesus. 00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:00.000 That should be some of the 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.119 things that we are praying 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.419 and asking God about. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.179 The Lord also guides us through 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.880 his Holy Spirit. 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.779 And we've talked about that 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.279 a lot. 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.500 We have talked about that 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.060 today in terms of how he 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.840 works in us to give us 00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:14.580 desire and ability to please 00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:14.920 God. 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.100 I want to point out something 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.440 different today, something new, 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.100 a little bit new. 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.340 John Piper, he had what I 00:23:22.340 --> 00:23:23.380 think is a very helpful 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.880 explanation of how God works 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:26.380 both through his word and 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:28.580 his spirit, outwardly and 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.180 inwardly. 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.019 Look at what he says. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:32.720 We must not only have 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.299 revelation from outside, 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.379 namely the Bible. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.359 We must also have transformation 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:39.660 from the inside by the Holy 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.000 Spirit. 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.599 The word of God, the spirit of 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.420 God, together provide the 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.299 leadership we need. 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:46.180 The word and the spirit team 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:48.139 up to transform the mind. 00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:50.799 And in that way, God leads us 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:53.220 in paths of righteousness. 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.500 Notice this next sentence. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:58.799 He gradually shapes our 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.599 thinking and molds our 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.460 emotions. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.740 This happens over time. 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:07.920 Nobody becomes holy overnight. 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:10.799 God declares us to be holy 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.420 when he saves us and then it's 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.839 a lifetime process of actually 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.940 being that. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.799 And Piper, it's good that he 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.420 points this out. 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.420 He gradually shapes our 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.700 thinking and molds our 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:22.640 emotions so that when there is 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:24.380 no explicit command in the Bible 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:26.840 to guide us, we weigh all the 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:28.320 considerations with the wisdom 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:30.180 and the love of God and we are 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:32.580 drawn to the path of 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:32.980 righteousness. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.600 There's so many things that we 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.760 got to make decisions about 00:24:35.760 --> 00:24:38.520 that the Bible does not really 00:24:38.520 --> 00:24:39.560 teach us. 00:24:42.280 --> 00:24:43.380 That's why it's important for us 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.700 to understand the principles of 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.060 the Bible. 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:47.540 That's why it's important for us 00:24:47.540 --> 00:24:49.380 to understand God's wisdom and 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:52.240 then pray and ask God to help me 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.640 take what I do know of God's 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:57.259 ways and apply it to this 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.620 situation where there is no word 00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.140 from Scripture. 00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:03.779 And through his spirit and his 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:08.000 word, God will guide us even in 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.720 those ways. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.019 Piper then describes how we should 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:13.640 learn to cooperate with God as he 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:15.400 works in all of these ways. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:18.759 The word, prayer, and the Holy 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.079 Spirit. 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.380 Look at this. 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:22.380 He says, so I have learned to do 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.060 like David. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.660 Meditate on God's word day and 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:29.160 night and pray continually for the 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.940 work of the Holy Spirit in my heart 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.180 and mind. 00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:38.240 Do you want to be led by God in the 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.300 right paths? 00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:43.200 What Piper's talking about is what 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.780 we've got to do. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:50.619 That's a requirement to know God's 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:52.619 ways so that we can follow them. 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.899 Now, let's look at why the Lord 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.980 guides us in the right direction. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.899 The Lord guides us for the ultimate 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.399 purpose. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.399 He leads us in paths of righteousness 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:03.960 for his name's sake. 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:07.819 Now, the Lord guides us in the right 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:10.039 paths for a whole lot of reasons. 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:12.220 Not just this one. 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.680 We've looked at some and various other 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.180 studies. 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:18.139 He guides us for our good. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.139 Romans 8, 28. 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.619 That's what that verse is talking 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:20.839 about. 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.319 Look at it. 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:23.119 And we know that in all things, God 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:25.759 works for the good of those who love 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:25.980 him. 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:31.279 God does works in our lives, guides us 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.799 in the right way we ought to go because 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:34.159 he loves us. 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:37.359 He wants what's right and good for us. 00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:39.440 God guides us for the good of other 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.759 people. 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.920 God works in our lives so that we can 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:45.539 take what he does, what he gives us, and 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.360 spread it around. 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:48.200 I want to give you one example from 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.519 Paul's life, 2 Corinthians 1, verses 3 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.860 and 4. 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.400 He says, 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.759 Blessed be the God and Father of our 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.400 Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:58.559 mercies and the God of all comfort, who 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:02.259 comforts us in all our affliction so that 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:04.559 we may be able to comfort those who are in 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.900 any affliction with a comfort with which 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:09.980 we ourselves are comforted by God. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:13.500 God wants to use you to bless others. 00:27:16.280 --> 00:27:18.680 And we need to understand that it is some of 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:22.460 our painful experiences where we really 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:26.440 experience God's comfort that God most wants 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:29.519 to use us to be a source of comfort for someone else. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:32.160 There are some people in this church who have told 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:37.200 me, not a secret, it's widely known, people in our 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:45.059 church years ago lost a child to death as a little 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.420 child. 00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:51.740 And they went through that awful experience and 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.160 experienced the comfort of God. 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:58.220 So today, when they hear about someone who has lost a 00:27:58.220 --> 00:28:02.640 child to death, they want to seek to be used by God as a 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:05.320 source of comfort in that couple's life. 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:08.900 That's the kind of thing Paul's talking about. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:14.980 You've been, some of you, many people in this room, you have 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:18.000 been through some very painful experiences in your life. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:24.900 And if you did experience the comfort of God, you need to 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:30.700 think, now I have a responsibility to share that, be a 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:32.700 source of comfort to others. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:36.319 God comforts us for all kinds of reasons, but the ultimate 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:40.599 reason is this, He guides us for His name's sake. 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:44.299 To say that God guides us for His name's sake means that He guides 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:54.259 us for the glory and reputation of Himself, of His own name, of His 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.799 honor. 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:58.419 You know, in David's day, it was important for a shepherd to 00:28:58.419 --> 00:29:02.859 have a reputation for being faithful, taking care of his 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:04.460 sheep, not ignoring his sheep. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:11.819 It's always been important for God to have a reputation for being 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:16.679 faithful and responsible in the way He cares for and guides His 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:17.099 people. 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:20.500 Now, I want you to think about this. 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:24.960 If you claim to be a Christian, all of us in this room, if we claim 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:29.859 to be Christians, the name of both God the Father and the Lord 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:37.899 Jesus Christ are on the line wherever we go, whatever we do. 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:48.060 The way we follow our good shepherd is a reflection on Him. 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:59.480 The way you act at work, the way you act in this community, because 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.780 people know you're a Christian. 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:09.879 You are a reflection for good or bad on your Heavenly Father and 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.819 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:17.059 The name of the Lord is honored or dishonored by the way that we 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.559 live. 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:22.819 What do people who know you, know that you're a professing 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:26.819 Christian, what do they think about the Lord by being around you, 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:35.720 listening to you, observing you, do you think about in the way you 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:41.220 do your business, the way you treat people, the way you act under 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:47.700 stress, do you ever think about this is a reflection on God, on the 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.019 Lord? 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:53.039 When I was in high school, I did not live a faithful Christian life, 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:55.720 but I didn't get into trouble either. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.859 There were two primary reasons why I didn't get in trouble. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:04.819 I didn't want to raise the wrath or face the wrath of my parents. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:09.500 Throughout my high school time, my dad was the chief deputy in 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:13.139 Anderson County Sheriff's Department, and I knew if I got in any kind of 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.720 trouble, he would find out. 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:17.059 My dad was not a mean man. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.279 He was not a harsh man. 00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:26.579 But if I had crossed certain lines, I'd be afraid of what would 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:26.899 happen. 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:34.220 And so I didn't do some things because in some ways I was afraid of 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.879 Clyde Stone. 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:39.399 And I was equally afraid of Dot because she'd wear me out in a 00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.139 heartbeat as well. 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:45.240 I also stayed out of trouble because I didn't want to disappoint my 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.339 parents and grandparents. 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:49.779 My grandparents were close like other parents to me, live close by. 00:31:50.899 --> 00:32:00.459 I can honestly say that I didn't do some things because I loved my 00:32:00.459 --> 00:32:06.259 parents and grandparents, and I respected them enough to not hurt 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:10.439 them or embarrass them or disappoint them. 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:21.259 I say that to say it is not unheard of for us to do or not do some things for the sake 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:23.900 of somebody else. 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:32.600 It's not unheard of to behave yourself, to do the right thing out of respect for 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:34.680 another person. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:42.779 There is no one more worthy of us honoring and respecting than our Heavenly Father, is 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:42.920 there? 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.900 And our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:50.279 Stephen Lawson makes a helpful point about how living for God's glory will affect our 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.120 lives personally. 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.860 Look at what he says. 00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:55.799 Whatever most glorifies God results in our greatest good. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:33:02.080 These two realities, God's glory and our good, are never at odds or in competition with each 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.299 other. 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:05.619 They work in perfect harmony with each other. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:11.279 That which most glorifies Him is what works for our greatest good. 00:33:11.939 --> 00:33:20.259 Following God along His chosen paths for us, that does bring glory and honor to Him. 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:23.680 But it also benefits us. 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:30.519 God's way is the best way for God's children. 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:33.379 It makes sense, doesn't it? 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:37.980 If you're a Christian, you can be confident. 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:43.339 God is constantly seeking to guide you in the right paths of life. 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:46.519 The question is, are you following Him? 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:51.079 Are you wanting to be led? 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:57.819 Are you regularly reading His Word and then obeying it? 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:04.819 Do you, as a matter of routine, pray and ask Him to help you better follow Him? 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:10.019 To live His way and not your way? 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:14.980 And are you really seeking to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's presence in your life? 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:21.719 And then obey Him as He teaches you, prompts you, directs you? 00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:27.320 You know, it could be that as we've gone through this message, God's convicted you. 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.519 You're far from Him. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:32.639 It's not that you're not following Him this morning. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:34.559 You exited a long time ago. 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.099 You took a detour. 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:41.940 And it may be what God wants you to do this morning is just admit that, confess your sin, 00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:46.739 humble yourself and come back to Him and let Him restore you. 00:34:47.339 --> 00:34:49.239 Let Him restore you to fellowship with Him. 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:52.960 Let Him restore you by putting you on the right path and following Him. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:56.420 It could be that you just have to admit, I'm not a Christian. 00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:00.299 I've professed to be, but I'm not. 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:03.279 There's no desire within me to please God. 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:05.080 And I certainly don't put forth any effort. 00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:07.340 But God's convicted you of that. 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.760 And you don't want to leave here that way. 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:09.600 Good. 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.680 Admit it to God. 00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.580 Humble yourself. 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.280 Turn from your sin. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.500 Change your mind. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.260 Put your trust in Jesus truly. 00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:20.860 Call upon Him to save you. 00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:24.160 Call upon Him to become the Lord of your life. 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.480 And follow Him as your good shepherd. 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.240 Know this as you leave. 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:42.319 Our good shepherd desires to guide us through the paths of life for His glory and our good. 00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:54.759 And if we follow His leadership throughout our life on earth, when death comes, it's not going to be that big a deal. 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:58.860 We're just going to follow Him on into heaven. 00:36:00.540 --> 00:36:07.520 Where we'll enjoy Him and His good life forever and ever. 00:36:08.060 --> 00:36:08.980 Let's pray together. 00:36:09.680 --> 00:36:13.100 Father, show us now how we should respond. 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:21.739 What we need to do so that when we leave here, we leave here following your leadership. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:25.059 As you guide us in the right direction. 00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:29.619 For your glory and our good. 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:32.099 Let's just listen to the Lord and respond to Him. 00:36:32.099 --> 00:37:02.079 Let's pray together.