Devoted Church

Even when the world is divided, the church of Jesus Christ is called to be United. Even when the world is divided, the church of Jesus Christ is called to be United.

IDENTITY IN CHRIST

WHO YOU ARE DETERMINES WHAT YOU DO.

I.D.O.L.S:
I - items
D - duties
O - others
L - longings
S – Sufferings

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

1. WE ARE SAINTS

Ephesians 1:1 (NLT)
Ephesians 1:1 (CSB)

We are saints not because of our actions, but because of the actions of Jesus.
- Sinners love their sin. Saints are remorseful over sin.
- Sinners are slaves to sin. Saints have power to overcome sin.

2. WE ARE CHOSEN
Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Isaiah 42:1 (CSB)

Because Jesus was chosen, holy, and without fault, we too are chosen, holy and without fault in Him.
3. WE ARE ADOPTED
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

4. WE ARE FREE
Ephesians 1:6-7 (NLT)
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB)

5. WE ARE FORGIVEN
Ephesians 1:7-8 (NLT)

6. WE ARE BENEFICIARIES
Ephesians 1:9-11 (NLT)
1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)

7. WE ARE SEALED
Ephesians 1:12-14 (NLT)
Ephesians 1:13 (CSB)

Sealed: What were seals used for?
1) Authentication
2) Security
3) Ownership

Even when the world is divided, the church of Jesus Christ is called to be United.

BIG IDEA: UNITY IS ONLY ACCOMPLISHED BY BEING UNITED IN CHRIST.

John 15:5 (ESV)
Romans 5:18-19 (The Message)
1 Corinthians 15:22 (CSB)

In Adam = Death
In Christ = Alive

Ephesians 2:1-3 (NLT)
Romans 5:12 (NLT)

IN-ADAM
1. CAPTIVE
Ephesians 2:2 (NLT)
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
1 John 5:19 (NLT)

2. CONTROLLED
Ephesians 2:3 (NLT)
Romans 8:7 (NLT)

3. CONDEMNED
Ephesians 2:3 (NLT)
John 3:18 (CSB)

IN-CHRIST
Ephesians 2:4-7(NLT)

1. SAVED FROM SIN AND DEATH
Colossians 2:13-14 (NLT)
Romans 8:1 (NLT)

2. SAVED FROM SATAN
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

3. SAVED FROM OUR SINFUL NATURE
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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.

Psalm 23:6
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Psalm 27:13
I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

1. THE SHEPHERD’S PERSONALITY

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever.

- - His goodness is expressed through His Presents.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

- - His Goodness is expressed through His Provision.

Psalm 34:8-10
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord for those who fear him lack nothing.

Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
- - His goodness is expressed by His Providence.

Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Psalm 23:6
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Psalm 63:3
My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.

2 Timothy 2:13
…if we are faithless, he remains faithful…

Psalm 23:6
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

2. THE SHEPHERD’S PURSUIT

1 Peter 2:25
Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (NLT)

Isaiah 53:6
We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way…

Luke 15:1-7
All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:

“What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?

When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’

I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

Isaiah 53:4-7
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.


TABLE //
- The Table represents Favor and Fellowship with the Shepherd.

-- Because our Great Shepherd laid down His life for us, we will always be invited to the table to experience His favor and fellowship.

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

- The Table represents Provision.

-- Our Shepherd provides what we need in our lives.

Phil. 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-33
So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

1. PREPARING

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

-- Our Shepherd has the best tables already picked out to bless us and satisfy us.

-- In order to experience the table our Shepherd has for us, we have to let Him remove the toxic things first.

-- When we follow our Shepherd, He orchestrates our lives so that they display the order He wishes.

Proverbs 16:9
A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

2. PROTECTING
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

1 Peter 5:6
Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

John 10:7-10
Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

-- The enemy cannot steal us from our Shepherd.

John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

3. HEALING

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.


-- Our Shepherd wants to heal our wounds.

4. BLESSING

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

-- There is an endless supply of blessing for all that we need from our Great Shepherd.

VALLEYS

• “The pearl of psalms whose soft and pure radiance delights every eye...it may be affirmed that its piety and its poetry are equal, its sweetness and its spirituality are unsurpassed” - Charles Spurgeon
• Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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.

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
• Psalm 23:4
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
1. RECOGNIZE DARK VALLEY’S
- Dark Valley’s are not Optional
• “Even When I go”
• Dark Valley of being Forgotten

Psalm 13:1-2
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me
• Dark Valley of Abandonment

Psalm 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.
• Dark Valley of Depression

Psalm 42:5-6
Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed…
• Dark Valley of Failure & Guilt

Psalm 32:2-3
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
• Dark Valley of Betrayal

Psalm 41:9
Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
• Dark Valley of Sickness

Psalm 38:6-8,10-11
I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart…
My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind. My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance (NLT)
• Dark Valley of Fear

Psalm 55:4-5
My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me
• Dark Valley of Hatred from Others
• Psalm 69:3-5
I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me.
• Dark Valley Loosing a Loved One

2 Samuel 12:18
On the seventh day the baby died.
• Dark Valley of Family Dysfunction
• We Live in a Broken World

Romans 5:12
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (NLT)

> We Have a Real Enemy

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

> Sometimes Because of own Choices

Psalm 51:4
Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight.
- Dark Valley’s are Temporary
“Even when I go through”

Psalm 27:13
I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
2. REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED

Psalm 23:4
“I will fear no evil”
3. REMEMBER YOUR SHEPHERD IS PRESENT

“For You are with me.”

Psalm 23:2-3
He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:4-5
“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.”

In the dark valleys we don’t want to talk about God, we want to talk to God.

Hebrews 13:5
I will never leave you or abandon you
4. RELY ON YOUR SHEPHERDS PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE

“your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

Psalm 91:14
Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name

Mark6:34
When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Psalm 23:2-3
He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Following the shepherd, leads us to rest, refreshing and renewal and right paths.

1. REST

Psalm 23:2
He lets me lie down in green pastures;

Dallas Willard once called hurry, “the great enemy of spiritual life in our day,” and said followers of Jesus (who was rarely, if ever, in a hurry) must “ruthlessly eliminate hurry.”

Matthew 11:29-30
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

2. REFRESHING

Psalm 23:2
…he leads me beside quiet waters

John 4:13-14
Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.

Psalm 63:1
God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you..

3. RENEWAL

Psalm 23:3
He renews my life…

Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? (ESV)

Isaiah 40:31
but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength

4. RIGHT PATHS

Psalm 23:3
…he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Prov. 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.

Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Psalm 100:3
Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his, his people, the sheep of his pasture

WHEN THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd

1. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR SHEPHERD.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd...

Colossians 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.


2. THE INTIMACY OF OUR SHEPHERD.
- David says, the Lord Is My shepherd.
- Is: Present

- My: Personal

John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me.."

John 10:3
"He calls his own sheep by name."

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

Isaiah 53:6
We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.