Following Jesus and it’s earthly and eternal blessings.

Following Jesus and it’s earthly and eternal blessings.

Psalms  23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  

What will you not want or lack?

Days of heaven upon the earth or

Fulfilment on earth according to God’s perfect will 

Blissful eternity with God 

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

But then who is this Shepherd?

John  10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Hebrews  13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

1 Peter  2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter  5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Who are the sheep?

John  10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What will you not lack or want?

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: 

Meaning 

Days of heaven upon the earth or

Fulfilment on earth according to God’s perfect will 

Deuteronomy  11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Obadiah  1:17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

3 John  1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Blissful eternity with God 

Psalm  23:6  and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Revelation  21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

What then must you do for all of these to be your portion? 

Be a good and abiding sheep.

John  10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

You must know that in the church we have the sheep and the goats. Both claimed to be following Christ.

Both the sheep and goats are in the church. The sheep are wholeheartedly obedient to Christ.

The goats are reprobates. They claimed to be for Christ, but live unto themselves.

Titus  1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Examine yourself, are you a sheep obedient to Christ or reprobate?

2 Corinthians  13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

To partake in the earthly and eternal blessings of the Shepherd, you must be a sheep.

Repent now and be blessed.

Let us pray.