Finding Fulfillment in God: Our True Shepherd
Summary
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves yearning to be somebody, to be known and loved. This desire manifests in various ways, from the pursuit of fame to the longing for deep, meaningful relationships. Yet, these pursuits often leave us feeling empty, as they are mere illusions of what we truly seek: to be fully known and fully loved. This longing is not just a human desire but a spiritual one, pointing us to the ultimate relationship with God, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally.
Psalm 23 offers profound insights into this relationship, portraying God as our shepherd. This imagery, though ancient, remains relevant today. A shepherd's role is to guide, protect, and provide for the sheep, ensuring their well-being. Similarly, God, as our shepherd, offers us guidance, protection, and provision. The psalm begins with the declaration, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." This statement is not just a comforting thought but a transformative truth. It challenges us to align our desires and needs with God's will, trusting that He knows what is best for us.
The name of God, Yahweh, signifies His eternal presence and power. He is the "I Am," the self-existent, all-powerful, and all-loving Creator. This understanding of God as our shepherd invites us to trust Him fully, knowing that He is capable of meeting all our needs. It also calls us to examine who or what is shepherding our lives. Are we being led by culture, politics, or personal ambitions, or are we allowing God to be our shepherd?
Choosing God as our shepherd requires us to align our lives with His values and teachings. It involves a conscious decision to follow His guidance and trust in His provision. This choice is not forced upon us; it is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from being under the care of the Good Shepherd.
Key Takeaways:
- Our deepest desire is to be fully known and fully loved, which can only be truly fulfilled in a relationship with God. This longing points us to the need for intimacy with our Creator, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. [29:51]
- Psalm 23 presents God as our shepherd, offering guidance, protection, and provision. This ancient imagery remains relevant, reminding us that God cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. [38:20]
- The name Yahweh signifies God's eternal presence and power. Understanding God as the "I Am" invites us to trust Him fully, knowing He is capable of meeting all our needs. [44:46]
- We must examine who or what is shepherding our lives. Are we being led by culture, politics, or personal ambitions, or are we allowing God to be our shepherd? This choice impacts our spiritual well-being. [41:26]
- Choosing God as our shepherd requires aligning our lives with His values and teachings. It involves a conscious decision to follow His guidance and trust in His provision, leading to a life of fulfillment and peace. [59:37]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[26:34] - VIP Tour Experience
[28:47] - The Illusion of Being Somebody
[29:51] - The Desire to Be Known
[31:24] - Acts of Love and Acceptance
[33:43] - Already Known and Loved
[34:46] - Introduction to Psalm 23
[35:37] - Old Testament Context
[38:20] - The Shepherd's Role
[40:46] - Who is Your Shepherd?
[44:46] - Understanding Yahweh
[46:27] - Life-Changing Truth
[53:54] - Aligning Wants and Needs
[59:37] - Choosing Your Shepherd
[01:06:39] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 23
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does the imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalm 23 convey about His role in our lives? [38:20]
2. How does the sermon describe the cultural and personal influences that can act as "shepherds" in our lives? [40:46]
3. What significance does the name Yahweh hold in the context of God being our shepherd? [44:46]
4. According to the sermon, what are some modern-day examples of things people do to feel known and loved? [31:24]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God as the "I Am" influence our trust in Him as our shepherd? [44:46]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our desires and needs should align with God's will? [53:54]
3. How does the concept of being fully known and fully loved by God challenge our pursuit of validation from others? [29:51]
4. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of allowing culture or personal ambitions to shepherd our lives? [41:26]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current "shepherds." Are there influences in your life that you need to reevaluate or change to align more closely with God's guidance? [40:46]
2. The sermon discusses the desire to be known and loved. How can you cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships in your life that reflect God's unconditional love? [29:51]
3. Consider the ways you seek validation or recognition. How can you shift your focus to finding fulfillment in your relationship with God rather than in temporary achievements? [30:35]
4. The sermon mentions aligning our wants and needs with God's teachings. Identify one area in your life where your desires may not align with God's will. What steps can you take to realign them? [53:54]
5. How can you actively choose God as your shepherd in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to ensure His values and teachings guide your decisions? [59:37]
6. Reflect on the story of the shepherds and the sheep. Are there areas in your life where you feel spiritually malnourished? How can you move towards the "green pastures" God offers? [01:00:37]
7. The sermon encourages us to trust in God's provision. What is one specific area where you struggle to trust God fully, and how can you work on building that trust? [46:27]
Devotional
Day 1: The Deepest Longing of the Human Heart
Our deepest desire is to be fully known and fully loved, a longing that can only be truly fulfilled in a relationship with God. This yearning is not merely a human desire but a spiritual one, pointing us to the need for intimacy with our Creator. God knows us completely and loves us unconditionally, offering a relationship that transcends the superficial connections we often pursue in life. In our quest for fame or deep relationships, we may find ourselves feeling empty because these pursuits are mere illusions of what we truly seek. Embracing a relationship with God allows us to experience the fullness of being known and loved in a way that no human relationship can provide. [29:51]
Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt misunderstood or unloved. How can you invite God into that space to experience His unconditional love and understanding today?
Day 2: The Shepherd's Care
Psalm 23 presents God as our shepherd, offering guidance, protection, and provision. This ancient imagery remains relevant, reminding us that God cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd's role is to guide, protect, and provide for the sheep, ensuring their well-being. Similarly, God, as our shepherd, offers us guidance, protection, and provision. The psalm begins with the declaration, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." This statement is not just a comforting thought but a transformative truth. It challenges us to align our desires and needs with God's will, trusting that He knows what is best for us. [38:20]
Ezekiel 34:11-12 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's guidance and protection today? How can you actively seek His direction in these areas?
Day 3: Trusting the Eternal "I Am"
The name Yahweh signifies God's eternal presence and power. Understanding God as the "I Am" invites us to trust Him fully, knowing He is capable of meeting all our needs. This understanding of God as our shepherd invites us to trust Him fully, knowing that He is capable of meeting all our needs. It also calls us to examine who or what is shepherding our lives. Are we being led by culture, politics, or personal ambitions, or are we allowing God to be our shepherd? This choice impacts our spiritual well-being. [44:46]
Isaiah 43:10-11 (ESV): "You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior."
Reflection: Reflect on who or what is currently shepherding your life. What steps can you take to ensure that God is the primary guide and influence in your daily decisions?
Day 4: Examining Our Life's Shepherd
We must examine who or what is shepherding our lives. Are we being led by culture, politics, or personal ambitions, or are we allowing God to be our shepherd? This choice impacts our spiritual well-being. Choosing God as our shepherd requires us to align our lives with His values and teachings. It involves a conscious decision to follow His guidance and trust in His provision. This choice is not forced upon us; it is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from being under the care of the Good Shepherd. [41:26]
Psalm 100:3 (ESV): "Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you are led by external influences rather than God's guidance. How can you realign this area with God's values and teachings today?
Day 5: Aligning with the Good Shepherd
Choosing God as our shepherd requires aligning our lives with His values and teachings. It involves a conscious decision to follow His guidance and trust in His provision, leading to a life of fulfillment and peace. This choice is not forced upon us; it is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from being under the care of the Good Shepherd. By aligning our lives with God's will, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His love and guidance, experiencing a life of true fulfillment and peace. [59:37]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: What is one specific habit or practice you can adopt this week to align your life more closely with God's teachings and values? How will you implement this change?
Quotes
1. "We really want to be fully known and fully loved. What we really want is to have intimacy in relationships with people. We want to be able to be transparent, to be who I am. No games, no masks. And you accept me and you love me. And we have a relationship. But that's hard. That takes time. That takes sacrifice on my part. That takes risk to put myself out there for that type of a relationship. And sacrifice and risk and time are hard. And so we settle for a small moment of being somebody. Like a viral person. Somebody goes viral and influences doesn't last. But it's kind of like a relational dopamine hit. Like being known is hard. But being somebody for a moment lets me feel that just for a glimpse. And so I chase after it. Because we know deep down inside we want to be loved." [30:35] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What if you're already seen? What if you're already known? What if you're already loved? And what if you're already valuable to the most important being in the universe? If you got your Bible, I want you to Psalm chapter 23. I think Scott shared with you, we're starting four weeks through this iconic passage. It's iconic because even people who have never opened a Bible have often had moments with Psalm 23. It might have been at a funeral. Where they saw Psalm 23 written out. They might have been big Coolio fans and saying, though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Rest in peace, Coolio. It's an iconic passage we know. And so for the next four weeks, we're going to journey through it." [34:46] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for you're close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever." [38:20] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need. all have shepherds. Every one of us actually, everyone that walked in this room has something or someone that influences you. That's what a shepherd did. He influenced the sheep towards where they need to be. All of us have shepherds. Like for some of us, it may be culture. Culture shepherds us and, and wherever the current of culture goes, we find ourselves there. Some of us are shepherded by political affiliation. Like we go, Hey, this is my team or that's my team. And wherever my affiliation of politics goes, we find ourselves there. And wherever my affiliation of politics goes, that's where I'm going. And that's what I believe. And that's what I speak about. Some of us are shepherded by a career or bosses or a business, a company. Some of us are shepherded maybe by people, a relationship. We're all shepherded." [40:46] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The God who created everything, who sustains everything is your shepherd. And he's not going to force his way in. You get to choose. You get to decide who the shepherd is. It's a great story. Tell me I have a book written about Psalm 23. And the author was studying what it looked like to shepherd. And he was in East Africa watching shepherds, learning about it. And he came across an area where there was pasture that was divided by a fence. And on one side of the fence, there was green grass and there was healthy sheep. And on the other side, the grass had been overeaten. And the sheep really didn't have a whole lot to graze. They didn't graze on any longer. They were skinny. And on this side, they were healthy. On this side, they were diseased and in bad shape. Because the shepherd, the shepherd had just neglected. But the shepherd on this side of the fence was taking care of the sheep. And they were in great shape." [01:00:37] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "In John 10, Jesus said, I am the good shepherd. I am the good shepherd. Just as God said, I am who I am. And Jesus made the declaration to people. I am the God of Psalm 23. I am, Jesus, the God who is your good shepherd. I am the good shepherd. God who provides. I am the God who protects. I am the God who is transcendent. And I'm the shepherd. And Jesus talks. He uses that shepherd imagery all the time. I'll leave the 99 to go after the one that wandered off. Because He wants you. He wants you in the green pasture. He wants to meet your need. He wants you to be loved and known. And He wants you to be able to say, I'm valuable. Because the shepherd, the God of the universe, values me." [01:02:03] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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