Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV
Whatever you are walking through, you are not walking alone
Psalm 23 for the 21st Century
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I want. He lets me run wild & free in lush green fields and brings me refreshments when I ask. He loves me and calls me his special little lamb. He never leads me into dark valleys, I have no fear. His rod destroys my enemies and his staff corrects my wayward brothers. He prepares a table for me in his presence. He anoints me and I overflow with abundance. I am good and I am loved, He is before me, with me and behind me and I will dwell with him forever.
That may be how we would like to write it, but Christ, our good Shepherd, has chosen to write it differently.
You’ll walk through the valley… but I will walk with you
You will be surrounded by enemies… but I’ll prepare a table for you there
Four Ways You Know The Enemy is at your table
1) It’s Better at another table
2 Cor 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
2) I’m not good enough
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
3) I’m not going to make it
4) I’m All Alone
Don’t Give the enemy a seat at your table
1 Peter 5:8 “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
You may prowl around, but you can’t sit down
How to rest and find restoration the my world is rocked
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1) Humble Yourself, There is a table if you’ll look for it (vs 6)
2) Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ (vs 7)
3) Though the enemy prowls like a lion, your prince of peace is a Lion (vs 8)
4) Your decision determines who is invited to dinner (vs 9)
5) Restoration, Confirmation, Strength comes after the enemies roar (vs 10)
#UNITE714
Dates: 12 July 2020 through 18 July 2020
And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)
…so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:12 (ESV)
THE PRAYER
Lord, for the last few months, we have been coming to You, with one voice, from 179 nations around the world. We thank You for Your mitigation of COVID-19. Without Your divine aid, things could have been far worse. Yet, many of us find ourselves in nations still in the clutches of this pandemic. Our economies have not recovered. Our lands are in deep need of spiritual and social healing. Despite these realities, we refuse to lose heart. You promise to give justice to Your people as we cry out to you day and night.
Lord, with one voice, we ask You to eradicate COVID-19 and bring healing to our nations.
Heavenly Father, You are not an unjust Judge. Even when the answers to our prayers are seemingly delayed, there is a higher purpose at work. As we continue to cry out before Your throne, fill us with fresh power, hope, and love. May we have the faith to fully cooperate with You when Your Spirit is freshly poured out on the earth.
Heavenly Father, send a fresh move of Your Spirit that will lead to the salvation of millions of people around the world.
Lord, there are times when faith alone does not help us to see our prayers answered. It takes faith and patience to receive Your promised breakthrough. Therefore, we refuse to quit. Continue to build in us a faith that does not wither in the heat of crisis or break under the weight of impossibility.
Lord, we pray You would find faith in our hearts as You awaken Your church and save the lost through a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit.