Grace World Outreach Church
Psalm 23: Would You Like Dessert?
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 11:30 AM
http://www.graceworldag.churchonline.org
Sunday 10:00 AM
Greetings from Grace World
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness. <br><br>If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests <br>Every week we place these request on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.<br><br>We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at <br>http://www.graceworldag.org<br>https://www.facebook.com/graceworldag<br>https://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
Ps 23 Reprise: Such a great place to find “Rest and Restoration when your world is rocked”
The Lord is my shepherd - That’s Relationship
I shall not want - That’s Supply
He makes me lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest
He leads me beside still waters - That’s Refreshment
He restores my soul - That’s Healing
He leads me in paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance
for his name’s sake - That’s Purpose
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing
I will fear no evil - That’s Protection
for you are with me - That’s Faithfulness
your rod and your staff they comfort me - That’s Discipline
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - That’s Hope
you anoint my head with oil - That’s Consecration
my cup overflows - That’s Abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever - That’s Serenity
Final Thought # 1 - When I pursue the Good Shepherd His goodness pursues me
Vs 6a Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
A few deeper observations…
1) Surely could also have been translated, Only
As you move, anticipate good, not negative (don’t doubt your step)
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
2) "Mercy" in Hebrew is LOYAL LOVE. “A love or affection that is steadfast based on a prior relationship”
David appeals to this love in Ps 51
As you pursue, trust that His mercy, Loyal Love, guides my steps and corrects my missteps
Ps 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
3) "goodness and mercy shall follow me” the translation as “follow” is far too weak.
Follow - Radaph means to chase after, to pursue. The goodness and mercy of God do not follow us like a good little puppy dog, trailing along behind us. They gallop after us like a celestial stallion.
David, says that now, Goodness and Your Love is chasing you down to overtake you and consume you
Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Final Thought # 2 - The life He promises is found in the pursuit of the One who promised
Vs 6b and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Is this
- As Long as my days are upon earth?
Ps 27:4One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
- At the end of my days?
Is it, the promise of his peace and presence until death or after death?
The answer is both! Heaven On Earth and Heaven* After Earth!
What is the key to obtaining any of the promises?
- If I pursue the promises, I will never fully possess
- If I pursue the promiser, I will live what He promised
John 10:10
Life in all its fullness is found in the pursuit of the one who promised
So if I am not fully pursuing, I am not fully living
"dwell in the house of the lord forever"
Psalm 23 has 55 Hebrew words in it. What’s fascinating, however, is what forms the numerical center of this psalm.
At the heart of Psalm 23 are the words, “For Thou art with me.” There are exactly 26 Hebrew words before that phrase, and exactly 26 words after it. What’s more, in the verses leading up to that phrase, the poet speaks of God in the third person: “he” does this and “he” does that. But when we get to this numerical center, the psalmist transitions into speaking to God directly, in the second person: for “Thou” art with me, “Thy” rod and staff, “Thou” dost prepare.
It’s in the Walking through the valley, the dark places that we discover the Personal, God… encounter his loyal Love, and goodness that run us down! It is being with Him!
The Lord is my shepherd - That’s Relationship
I shall not want - That’s Supply
He makes me lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest
He leads me beside still waters - That’s Refreshment
He restores my soul - That’s Healing
He leads me in paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance
for his name’s sake - That’s Purpose
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing
I will fear no evil - That’s Protection
for you are with me - That’s Faithfulness
your rod and your staff they comfort me - That’s Discipline
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - That’s Hope
you anoint my head with oil - That’s Consecration
my cup overflows - That’s Abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever - That’s Serenity
Final Thought # 1 - When I pursue the Good Shepherd His goodness pursues me
Vs 6a Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
A few deeper observations…
1) Surely could also have been translated, Only
As you move, anticipate good, not negative (don’t doubt your step)
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
2) "Mercy" in Hebrew is LOYAL LOVE. “A love or affection that is steadfast based on a prior relationship”
David appeals to this love in Ps 51
As you pursue, trust that His mercy, Loyal Love, guides my steps and corrects my missteps
Ps 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
3) "goodness and mercy shall follow me” the translation as “follow” is far too weak.
Follow - Radaph means to chase after, to pursue. The goodness and mercy of God do not follow us like a good little puppy dog, trailing along behind us. They gallop after us like a celestial stallion.
David, says that now, Goodness and Your Love is chasing you down to overtake you and consume you
Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Final Thought # 2 - The life He promises is found in the pursuit of the One who promised
Vs 6b and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Is this
- As Long as my days are upon earth?
Ps 27:4One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
- At the end of my days?
Is it, the promise of his peace and presence until death or after death?
The answer is both! Heaven On Earth and Heaven* After Earth!
What is the key to obtaining any of the promises?
- If I pursue the promises, I will never fully possess
- If I pursue the promiser, I will live what He promised
John 10:10
Life in all its fullness is found in the pursuit of the one who promised
So if I am not fully pursuing, I am not fully living
"dwell in the house of the lord forever"
Psalm 23 has 55 Hebrew words in it. What’s fascinating, however, is what forms the numerical center of this psalm.
At the heart of Psalm 23 are the words, “For Thou art with me.” There are exactly 26 Hebrew words before that phrase, and exactly 26 words after it. What’s more, in the verses leading up to that phrase, the poet speaks of God in the third person: “he” does this and “he” does that. But when we get to this numerical center, the psalmist transitions into speaking to God directly, in the second person: for “Thou” art with me, “Thy” rod and staff, “Thou” dost prepare.
It’s in the Walking through the valley, the dark places that we discover the Personal, God… encounter his loyal Love, and goodness that run us down! It is being with Him!
UNITE714
Weekly Prayer
26 July through 1 August
And He said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”Luke 11:5-13 (ESV)
THE PRAYER Lord, as Your people, we have come to the “midnight hour.” It is an hour when a new day of Your presence and power is dawning. Yet, it is still too dark to be seen. We come before You, both as Your beloved people and Your persistent people. We know You will rise up and give us fresh bread for our hungering world. We ask for Your healing today.
We boldly ask You to eradicate COVID-19 and heal the people battling this disease.
Jesus, You said, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened...” Today, we go beyond merely asking. We also seek for the wisdom we need to serve as ambassadors of healing and reconciliation to a world broken by division and pain.
Use us to bring reconciliation and healing to our fractured cities and nations through the message of the Gospel and the power of Your Holy Spirit.
As our loving Heavenly Father, You promise to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask You. Today, we ask for those who do not know how to ask. In fact, we are knocking—even pounding—on the gates of Heaven for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit in the earth. We will not quit knocking. We will not quit until we hear from Heaven and You respond to our cry. The stark needs of our shattered nations drive us to You in desperation. You alone are the Answer.Lord, we—and the peoples of our world—are in dire need. Please hear our desperate cry and send a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
#UNITE714
Weekly Prayer
26 July through 1 August
And He said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”Luke 11:5-13 (ESV)
THE PRAYER Lord, as Your people, we have come to the “midnight hour.” It is an hour when a new day of Your presence and power is dawning. Yet, it is still too dark to be seen. We come before You, both as Your beloved people and Your persistent people. We know You will rise up and give us fresh bread for our hungering world. We ask for Your healing today.
We boldly ask You to eradicate COVID-19 and heal the people battling this disease.
Jesus, You said, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened...” Today, we go beyond merely asking. We also seek for the wisdom we need to serve as ambassadors of healing and reconciliation to a world broken by division and pain.
Use us to bring reconciliation and healing to our fractured cities and nations through the message of the Gospel and the power of Your Holy Spirit.
As our loving Heavenly Father, You promise to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask You. Today, we ask for those who do not know how to ask. In fact, we are knocking—even pounding—on the gates of Heaven for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit in the earth. We will not quit knocking. We will not quit until we hear from Heaven and You respond to our cry. The stark needs of our shattered nations drive us to You in desperation. You alone are the Answer.Lord, we—and the peoples of our world—are in dire need. Please hear our desperate cry and send a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
#UNITE714
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