828 Church

od’s plan isn’t a snap and upload destiny, but a destiny developed through His process.

The process reveals the vision the photographer had when he captured the photo in the first place.

When your life is captured by Christ, you realize His vision by trusting His process.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” 2 But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” “Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.”

4 So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” 5 “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.

6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” 9 Next Jesse summoned Shimea,[a] but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

Your Future has a past…. And that past is the process

We don’t need to be discovered, we need to be developed.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:15-16 NLT

The amount you’re willing to let God do in you is the amount God will be able to do through you.

God is not worried about our outward appearance or performance, He looks at the heart.

We all have issues, but the real issue is when we don’t bring our issues to God.

Gods presence in our lives is cultivated in the darkroom and its the only thing that will ever truly satisfy us.

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed in around him. Mark 5:21-24 NIV

Jesus honors “nothing to lose” trusting when we’re truly trusting in Him.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:20-21 NIV

We all have issues, but the real issue is when we don’t bring our issues to God.

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22 NIV

Desperation leads to restoration if it causes us to bring our brokenness to God.

And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. Matthew 9:23-25 ESV

We don’t have to be Jairus desperate to realize how desperately we need to trust Jesus.

Choosing determined when we’re not desperate is key to living the life God wills for us.

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matthew 8:1-3 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Distrust robs us of real relationships and eternal impact.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 NASB

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 ESV

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Psalms 37:3 NKJV

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:4-5 NKJV

We have hurts and holes in our hearts that only Jesus can heal and fill.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart… Proverbs 3:5a ESV

The heart of the matter with Trust is that it is a matter of the heart.

Trusting people comes down to what you believe about their heart. That’s even more true with God.

Do we trust Him enough to say yes to to His Word and Will, His Placement, Process and Promise?

We say we want God’s will but fill our lives with our will because of impatience and insecurity.

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV

The amount of your will your willing to lay down will determine the amount of God’s will you are able to pick up?

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Psalms 34:10 NLT

Trust is a matter of the heart and when we learn His heart we learn to trust…

Trust - Reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 ESV

The most reasonable choice we can make it to look for find and follow God’s will and wisdom.

Trust His Direction, His Timing, His Covering and Council, His Provision and His Process.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden… Hebrews 13:17 NIV

The command to Trust God didn’t come with any conditional out clauses?

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Sagacious - having keen mental discernment and excellent judgment.

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

The best made human plans cannot begin to approach the significance or sagacity of God’s plan.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 NASB

The sooner we learn to trust Jesus and His plans, the sooner we walk in His grace and favor.

Choosing obedience over the objections of our opinions or emotions is what it means to trust in Jesus.

You can be certain that Jesus is always aware and able to find you in your deepest desperation.

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Matthew 14:28 ESV

Peter knew Jesus was more trustworthy than the boat and his own ability to keep it afloat.

A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:1-4 ESV

Unchecked disobedience will cause at best discontentment and at worst real destruction.

If you’re not being comforted and corrected, you’re not growing as a disciple.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 ESV

David, while still running from Saul, had awareness of God’s presence, favor and provision.

God is an expert on what your spirit needs, and on when and how to prepare and provide it.

Are you just borrowing God‘s kitchen to cook what you want, or are you trusting Him for the menu, recipe, and finished meal?

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

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6b ESV

He has put eternity into man's heart. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

The guidance and goodness of God are a safe and satisfying place for every homesick soul.

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

We live with lack when we’re lost looking for contentment anywhere but in Christ.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

Your stuff is not yours and you are not your stuff. Max Lucado

If you believe satisfaction can be found in something you own or achieve you are traveling down a path of perpetual discontentment.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:2-3 ESV

Recognizing who deserves the glory releases you from carrying the weight.

Submission to the leadership of the shepherd releases joy only found in living a shepherd lead life.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalms 23:3b NLT

Uncontrolled, unrepentant disobedience always causes discontentment.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 ESV

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

Stepping out of the shadows is as simple as stepping into the Son.

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalms 139:12 ESV

Show the video.

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

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. Psalms 23:2 ESV

The Good Shepherd leads or directs us to His place of provision, rest and restoration.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalms 37:23-24 NLT

Soul rest is found in an intentional everyday relationship with Jesus.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 ESV

Some of our most exhausted seasons come because we are complacent or even lazy about doing the things that matter.

He leads me beside still waters. Psalms 23:2 ESV

Peace is a constant, recurring theme in the 23rd Psalm, the book of Psalms and the bible.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 NLT

Chaos and drama are not the result of a shepherd led life. #23rdPsalm

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 ESV

Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 5:14 ESV

You don’t have to be baaad to be bad at making decisions you were never meant to make alone.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6 ESV

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

THE LORD is my shepherd.

You are to have no other gods but me. Exodus 20:3 BBE

Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all. - Hudson Taylor

Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 ESV

Unless Jesus is Lord of your living, the life you’re living will live in want.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

The Lord IS MY shepherd.

The present tense personal in Psalms 23:1 is important and powerful.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NLT

The Lord is my SHEPHERD. (The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. - Psalms 23:1 ESV)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 ESV

Here I lie a man who knows very little about anything doing all the talking to a God who knows everything about everything.

No one loves you like Yahweh!

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 ESV