Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 23:1 – 6 (KJV)
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 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 forever.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:1 – 3 (KJV)
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) The discipline, guidance, protection, and even the chastening of the LORD, Who is our Shepherd, are just the beginning of the facets of our relationship with God, Who loved us enough to send Jesus, that Great Shepherd as the embodiment of His grace and promises to all with trust in Him by faith.
2) Even the “shadow of death” that we are constantly dealing with; that looms over and around us inciting grief, pain and suffering; producing anxiety and fear of every stripe, however, Jesus {God the Son} was sent for the very purpose of dealing death a DEATH-BLOW; so that when you trust Jesus alone believing that God has raised Him from the dead, the Scripture explicitly proclaims that You Shall Be Saved!
3) Having learned all this about Jesus the Christ of God, Peter schools us on the fact that we desperately need to minimize the choke-holds of fear; and rather embrace the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who has been given to all who believe the testimony of God to lead them to put off the old man and how to put on the New!