November 30th, 2022

I LACK NOTHING

Sermon by: Harrison Chokka
Summarized by: Josh Kelly

Does your life feel like it's moving too fast?  Like you're constantly running on empty? This Sunday we opened up a new series: “Overflow”, the last series before the new year! A series focused on remembering the goodness and grace of God in our lives, where we can begin to slow down and see what God is doing. "Looking back at the faithfulness of God gives me faith for the future”.  These next few weeks we will look to solve those questions and begin to examine what a life overflowing looks like and how to get there. 

This week's message dives into Psalm 23.  A psalm written by David which gives us an example of what it looks like to live a life of overflow with God leading your life.

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my Shepherd I Lack Nothing.

What does the word Shepherd mean? Imagine David trying to think of a word to describe the creator of the universe:
-One who cares for me
-One who tends and loves 
-One who guides and corrects 
-One who provides and protects 

And he comes to the word shepherd, a word that does not elicit images of a high rank. The job of a shepherd is to go where no one else will go for his sheep (you and I), who will go to the dirtiest and lowest places because that's where his sheep go sometimes. “In the midst of my mess and brokenness the king of kings is coming after you”. “If I care for the birds in the air and I dress the lilies, how much more do I care for you”?

Why do I feel like I'm lacking? I like the promises of God. But why doesn’t my life match up with his promise? Simple answer: We don’t like the position of sheep. We have an inward pull to have control, to do things our way and be the provider. But the truth is that: “If I am the shepherd I can have what I want, but I'll never have what I need”

God has given each of  us time, talents and treasures. By giving them back to God, he will always do more than we can ever imagine. All of us have things of value, no one is empty handed by the grace of God.

Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. 

"To Him"
This is the part we often miss. We want to read it as, from him and through him, all things are for me. But instead of having a deficit mindset of “I don’t have enough”, we can shift to a mindset of I do not lack.

Psalm 23:2-3
He refreshes my soul and leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his namesake.

“When I don’t know where to go or what to do, He does”. When you invite him in, he will actually guide you. Give it to Jesus and watch what he does. Rest for your soul doesn’t come from more naps or doing less or a self care Saturday, but from releasing control and the burden you carry  and giving it to God. 

“When we are faithless, God is still Faithful. It's his nature and character. A guarantee you can take to the bank”

Matthew 16:25
Those who save their life will lose it and those who lose their lives will save it

The more my life is about me the more exhausted I tend to feel. But when life is pointed outwards instead of inwards I tend to have more rest in my soul. “The church is missing you, your talents and time”, “My gift isn’t just for me”.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and staff, they comfort me

The byproduct of following Jesus brings Peace. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t darkness or bumps in the road. But we do have a promise that the good shepherd will walk with us in that darkness. When I’m afraid of the future and fearing what's next, “I hold onto what is secure and true, he will always walk with me”

David fought lions and bears with the rod for his sheep. We don’t know the times that the Lord brought the rod to the enemy's face in the dark valleys. Sometimes our valley is not from us and sometimes we walk into them and it can be painful coming back to the path; forgiveness hurts and repentance is hard, but they both bring freedom, coming back into alignment with God.

Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil: my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of Lord forever.

“I can have peace in the presence of my problems”. When we don’t give up, God uses what was meant for evil for good. My mess becomes his message, remembering that his promises are true and that God has been busy behind the scenes.

“You can do more with what I have than I can”. We don’t know what the future holds, but we can give it all to Jesus. 

Thank you for being here! If this message resonates with you and you want to see more, here’s our YouTube channel, where we post live sermons every Sunday. 
 
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