Jehovah Roi - The Lord is My Shepherd

We are studying the Names of God on Wednesdays. There are about 80 distinct names for this awesome God we serve. We will not study them all, but I am challenging our people to start to think of God’s name that applies to the situation or challenge they may be facing. If we can’t remember the Hebrew, at least remember the characteristic of that name.

I think God is perhaps the most overused word in the world today. Whether we are saying God or Allah or Lord do we really know Him? Do we really know what His expectations are, His desires for us, His ways with us.

David wrote: Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. Psalms 86:11. As we unite our heart to reverence the Name(s) of God, we will learn His Ways. Jesus expounded on this when He said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” “He who has seen me has seen the Father”. “I and the Father are One”.

Jesus is the “sweetest name I know”, but in order to know Jesus and to know the Father, a study and a renewed reverence for the Names of God is in order.

Last night we looked at the beloved Psalm 23. In just a few verses David reveals 8 names of God! That is a man who has learned God’s ways! David said “My eyes are ever toward the Lord (Ps 25:15). If we are to know Who this God is that we praise, we must know His Names.

Jehovah Roi - The Caring Name of God

Eight Actions (Qualities) of Jehovah My Shepherd

1 Jehovah Roi, "The LORD is my shepherd" (Ps. 23:1). He shepherds us by:

a. Leading 1 Pet. 2:21
b. Feeding (teaching) John 21:17
c. Protecting. John 10:10

2. Jehovah-Jireh ("the LORD shall provide"), "I shall not want" (Ps. 23:1).

a. The LORD provided the sacrifice for Abraham. Gen. 22:14

b. God provided Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Zech. 12: 10.

3. Jehovah Shalom, (the LORD [our] Peace), "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters" (Ps. 23:2).

a. When Gideon faced a challenge, he discovered God as Jehovah Shalom (see Judg. 6:23.)

b. Gideon responded by giving Jehovah a new name (Judg. 6: 24).

4. Jehovah Rophe (the LORD [our] Healer), "He restoreth {shub} my soul" (Ps. 23:3). Note of interest about restore: [The basic meaning of the verb is movement back to the point of departure. In the first occurrence of this verb God told Adam that he and Eve would "eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19). Used in this emphasis, ‘shub’ can be applied specifically of returning along a path already traversed: "So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir" (Gen. 33:16). The word can mean "turn away from," as in Psa. 9:3: "When mine enemies are turned back …," or "reverse a direction," as in 2 Kings 20:10: " —Vine's

a. At Marah the water needed healing (Exo 15: 22-26). The log or branch that God showed Moses was able to take all the bitterness and poison out of the water, and make it fresh and drinkable.

b. We sometimes need physical, mental and/or spiritual healing. Combining the concept of Jehovah Rophe with “restore” means that God has the power to return us back to him along the same path we have travelled AWAY from Him. He is the God of Healing and New Beginnings. Not just a fresh start, but He has the power to restore us to that place of New and Fresh Joy in His presence. David knew this when He cried out to God to “restore unto me the Joy of my salvation”. It is possible to be healed and restored completely by Jehovah, to the point where the past has no hold on us, the scars are completely healed and our Love is as fresh and new as when we were first born again!

5. Jehovah Tsidkenu (the LORD our Righteousness), 'He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness" (Ps. 23:3).

a. We deserve the judgment of hell John 3:36

b. Through the LORD our Righteousness, we receive mercy, grace and righteousness Ps. 103:4 (In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:6;
c. I Cor 1:30 –The Christians “BLANK CHECK” "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption and ____________ (Fill in the blank with whatever your need is)

6. Jehovah Nissi (the LORD my Banner), "Though I walk through the valley of death thou art with me" (Ps. 23:4).

a. The banner or flag was held high in battle. (Military Use)

b. The LORD was with Israel in their battle against Amalek Exod. 17:8-15

7. Jehovah Shammah (the LORD is there), 'Thou art with me" (Ps. 23:4); Ezek. 48:35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE."

a. Rod was used as a club to beat off wild animals. The staff was a crook that rescued sheep in trouble.

b. Believers are comforted by the Good Shepherd's rod and staff Ps. 110:2

c. God meets the need of loneliness Matt. 28:20; John 14:18;

8. Jehovah Mekaddishkhem (the LORD that sanctifies), "Thou anointest my head with oil" (Ps. 23:5; Exod. 31:13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

a. Oil is used to clean, heal, soothe and replenish. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Sam. 16:13; Isa. 61:1; Acts. 10:38).

b. God meets the needs of moral or spiritual uncleanness and defilement (see Phil. 4:13; 1 John 2:1,2).

Try praying these names of God when you are faced with a corresponding need in your life. Which Name applies to your need? Lift His Name High! Glorify His Name! Is there anything too small for Him? Is there anything too large?

State of the People, not State of the Union

America is Truly a Great Nation

Our President may not be very popular, but he certainly sticks to his guns. He doesn't put his finger to the wind to see which way popular opinion is blowing.

According to his State of the Union Speech, he should be listening to the people, for multiple times he expressed his faith in our ability to govern ourselves and to make the right decision.

"In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. And so in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives for their futures."

Does our Government really believe in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions? If we do, why do we need government to tell us what to do? Why do we need laws? In another excerpt he states:

"Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament. We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom. These images of liberty have inspired us.

I believe that people prefer freedom and peace, but peace can not be defined by "cessation of hostilities". And freedom for one man may not mean the same as for another man. Witness the 'religion' based conflicts between Sunni's and Shiites. Witness the Taliban in Afghanistan. Witness Muslim activities against Christians around the globe. Our President Continues:

"The strength -- the secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, "We the undersigned delegates." When Governor Morris was asked to draft a preamble to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: "We the people."

By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong.

So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America."

Our Founding fathers had a strong sense of the Divine and His expectations for mankind. They were well acquainted with God's Law and His Word. They held God (Jehovah Elohim) in reverence and respect. The Bible was read in classrooms. Public Prayer was commonplace and even expected. I'm not saying that people were perfect, but I am saying there was a different attitude toward the God of the Bible when this Nation was young.

Today we live in an America wher God is an after thought. Our children are taught to question and to accept all thinking (religious included) as plausible. Standards of righteousness and behavior are being lowered each and every day. Justice no longer reigns in our land. Our courts are centered upon the subjective concept of 'fairness'.

God exclaimed in Psalms 2:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalms 2:10-12 (ESV)

We should not boast in our people, in our wealth, in our generosity, in our military might. We should boast only in that we know our Creator God. If we trust in man, we will surely be disappointed. There will be no Peace without God. There will be no Freedom until we are freed from our sins through Jesus Christ. Of course, our President could never say that. But returning this Great Nation to a 'Nation Under God' would be a great step.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV)

Do We Have the Ear of a Disciple?

God got me up early this morning.

A verse that awaits me (over my toilet) every morning is:

"The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. Isaiah 50:4 (NASB77)

Something is stirring in my soul, something that God is wanting me to see and then to obey. In the closing days of 2007 He led me to teach on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as presented by R. A. Torrey. His series of sermons had touched my life early on when I was in Bible College. Now God wants to touch me again with His teching on the Holy Spirit. He is wanting to see the desire of my heart-to see if He can use me further in ministry. God has been stirring my heart, impressing upon me the need to lift up His Word. To devote myself to proclaiming His truth. There are so many 'trends' that tear at a Pastor. Do we make the message 'simpler' or more 'practical' to reach the 'seekers' or this 'media generation'? The discouraging truth is that in this 21st century, people want an easy way to understand the Word of God. They want instant knowledge, instant Christianity. As I have thought back over what gave me my thirst for the Word, it had to be the Holy Spirit, not some slick promotion. It wasn't any one person, although I owe much to writings by Watchman Nee, T. Austin Sparks, and Bill Gothard. There were things I heard and read that opened up certain passages to me. But through the years there has always been a stirring, a hunger, a desire to get into God's Word that was in my gut, regardless of who or how it was presented. My discipline has not always been good, but that hunger has been there in feasting and in famine, in sin and in righteousness. Even as a young boy of 12 I remember having a desire to know the ways of God. I even carried my Bible to the secular High School I attended. I wasn't a great witness, but I wanted it by my side. God's Word was important to me. I have been told that today's generation doesn't buy in to the authority and even the power of God's Word. That really disturbs me. They say we have to present it in a "new, relevant" way. I understand the importance of being 'up-to-date' but I will never abandon my firm belief that it is not how it is packaged that is important, it is WHO is doing the presenting! Am I surrendered to the Holy Spirit? Am I depending upon Him or upon some pre-packaged trendy sermon series? Is the ache of my heart for His Presence and Power or for some great looking power point backgrounds? As for me, God is stirring my heart to seek His Heart and His Word and then to faithfully proclaim His Message. I must partner with the Holy Spirit that I might have "utterance" as Paul prayed, (and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel-Eph 6:19).

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

Pastors and Preachers must spend time before the Lord and in His Word. We must weep before the altar. We must cry out for our words to be empowered by the Holy Spirit! We must speak what is on God's heart, and not what we think will attract the most people. We must make it relevant and practical, but not at the expense of obscuring God's message. Samuel was such a beloved Priest unto God. He epitomized attentiveness, obedience and service before the Lord. If I am to be a Pastor and a Preacher profitable to God, I must be as Samuel. God called Samuel "A faithful priest that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind" (I Sam 2:35) The next chapter begins with: "And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation". God's Word was rare. But then, when He did speak, He spoke to a little boy. Why? Because Samuel was wholly committed to serving God, he was attentive to God's Word, and when he received God's Word, he obeyed. As a result, the Word records:

^3:19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. ²¹ And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3:19-21 (ESV)

If we Preachers are to expect God to use our words to His profit, and to have God let 'none of our words fall to the ground', then we must have the same heart and attitude toward God's Word as Samuel. We must not let any of His Words fall to the ground in our life!

God's Mercies Never Fail

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

Lydia and I visited Mary and Marvin Borth. Mary was doing great! She told us that the Doctor told her the tumors are shrinking! She is praising the Lord! She knows that the Doctor's still don't give her much hope, but her hope is in the Lord!
I'm just excited that she is continuing steadfast in the Lord. Her spirits are great and her love for the Lord is strong as ever! Too many times I have encountered people who give up on God because of some trial or sickness they go through. It is never about us. It is always about God!

There are three kinds of sickness: Sickness unto death, sickness unto chastisement and sickness unto God's Glory. For a Christian, sickness is always a time to praise the Lord. For regardless of the end result, we have a chance to fellowship with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. And no matter the result, we will either be with Him, or draw closer to Him (if we respond correctly), or bring Glory to Him.

I hate cancer, but I love my God who triumphs through it all!

The Call No Pastor Wants to Take

Marvin Borth called me yesterday. Marvin and Mary had become an integral part of the little church I first pastored in Edgerton, KS. Marvin is a distinguished looking former Master Sergeant and Mary is the perpetual bundle of energy disguised as a caring, lovely 'mature' woman. For some reason they loved our church and jumped in with both feet. Mary played the organ, organized and directed the children's hand bells, and was active and committed to growing in the Lord. Marvin was a newer Christian but was eager to grow and become active as well. He eventually became our Treasurer and was in charge of keeping our facility looking sharp.

The amazing thing about Mary and Marvin was that they were in their early 70's and Mary was a Stage IV Breast Cancer Survivor. When they first came to our church Mary was in the second year since her surgery and radiation/chemo. She was praising the Lord for every day. They even got involved in Awana's. But where Mary excelled was in her love for the Lord as she played the organ. She could set the mood for worship in such a Holy and Spirit-filled way-just by playing the organ.

I grew to love Mary and Marvin, just as I had loved my own Mom and Dad who had passed away in 95 and 96. In many ways seeing them each Sunday filled the void of not seeing my Parents realize their dream of their son becoming a Pastor.

I learned many things from Mary and Marvin. We even had to work through some 'church' problems together. They responded to my 'pastoring' with discernment and love. We sharpened each other as we moved toward that prize of the high calling in Jesus.

Even though I had moved to another church, they asked me to come back just this past June and help officiate at their 50th Anniversary and Renewing of Vows. Such a wonderful day! And now this call.

A couple months ago they found cancer in Mary's lungs. The radiation and chemo seemed to get rid of it all, but after a visit to the emergency room January 4th, they discovered it had gone to her brain in a very aggressive manner. Lydia and I visited with Mary and Marvin in the hospital. Mary is such an energetic person, so it was disheartening to see how the cancer was beginning to take the life from her. I get mad at cancer. I think it is the cruelest way to see a loved one go. When I saw it take the life from my Mom, I got mad at God, and I thought, no way you can do this. But I had to come to grips with man's sin and God's Sovereignty. His way is perfect. He was perfect in His dealing with my Mom and now He is perfect in His dealings with Mary Borth.

Marvin called me and said that the radiation and steroids do not appear to be working. Each day Mary seems to worsen. Even the Doctor is not hopeful. With tears he asked if I would do the funeral. I agreed to, but I don't know how I will be able to. I was not a preacher when my Mom died, but I don't think I could have done the funeral. If God calls Mary home, the only way I'll get through will be to focus on the JOY that she is experiencing in the presence of the Lord.

In May of 07 Mary and Marvin visited the church where I now Pastor. I had Mary give her testimony of how God had miraculously healed her from Stage IV Breast Cancer. It was going on seven years since the diagnosis. She was very encouraging to the ladies in our church. Since her testimony, two women have been found to have cancer, and are dealing with the surgery and post-op treatments. Her testimony has been beneficial to both.

Lord, I know you can do miracles like they are no big deal. I don't pretend to know your will, but I do know you care for Mary. She is one of your special saints. We want your will to be done, but we would really love to have Mary around a while longer. Shrink the tumor, Lord. Be merciful to Mary.

Power of Witness

The Church Needs to Re-Discover the Importance of Witness!

When Moses was shepherding the Israelites through the wilderness in their 40 year roundabout way, God met with him in a tent. It became known as the tent of witness or tabernacle of testimony. It became the tabernacle of worship that we see so many displays of. But the tent of witness was that special place where Moses met one on one with God. It was in the presence of the Ark of Witness or Testimony. It was probably called tent of witness because God promised Moses and his successors to meet with them and talk with them in that place as Exodus 25:22 declares: “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”

The Ark of Witness was the visible tangible evidence of God’s Power and works among His people. The Ark was there when the Red Sea parted. The Ark was there in the wilderness wanderings. The Ark was there when they crossed the Jordan River. The Ark was there when the Temple was built and dedicated by Solomon. The Ark of Testimony bore witness to Jehovah and His mighty power.

As we all know, the Ark is hopelessly lost (in some secret American depository according to Hollywood). God lost the testimony of His people when they rejected His Son as Messiah. Now the Ark of Testimony resides in a new Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Church as founded by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This Church built upon the blood of Jesus Christ and the eyewitness of His disciples is the Living manifestation of the Ark of Witness.

What gives Power to the Church? The Power of Witness!

Not only was the Ark witness to the Jews of God's Covenant and Care for them. But it was witness to the world of God's Power. The Church is the divinely appointed vessell of God's Power in this world today. God is using the Church to lift up the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to a dying world. Jesus lifted up the Cup at the Last Supper and said this cup is "Witness of the New Covenant sealed by my blood".

We no longer need a visible ark because we ourselves are witnesses of the Invisible Power of a Risen and Glorified Savior.

I used to have a construction company specializing in asphalt and concrete paving. We did a job for a general Contractor that required preparing a site with new curbs and paving in preparation for an OSCO that would be built later by someone else. Six months after we had finished they called and said we had put some curb in at the wrong elevation, and OSCO was demanding it be redone and a large section of the parking lot re-paved. What really happened was that we had done it correctly, but OSCO discovered that their sidewalk would not meet ADA (handicap) standards and there was an engineering mistake. I refused to do the work for free, which really irritated the General Contractor. A few months after that my company was sued for over $75,000 in costs and damages. My lawyers advised me to settle because according to state law, if my company was in any way at fault, I could be assessed all the attorney's fees etc. I did not want to settle. So we went to trial whicj lasted 3 and 1/2 days. (Lawyers are so slow). This General Contractor presented their case, but did not bring the guy who had been on sight the entire time. They did not bring a real credible witness. The owner of the comapny had never really been there, and his vice-president was there only three times. I was there quite often, plus I brought one of my guys who had been in charge of that section of the project. He testified as an eye-witness. The end result was that the jury sided with us, and ruled against the General Contractor. It was all because we had witnesses!

The early church realized the importance of being witnesses. It was their zeal and boldness in testifying to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that turned the world upside down.

• (Act 1:22)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
• (Act 22:15) for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
  
• (Act 22:20) And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.'
• (Act 26:16) But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,

The church loses its effectiveness in reaching this world when it loses its witness! When the church has as much divorce, as much immorality, as much theft, as much gossiping, as much quarrellings as in the world, we have lost any witness to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. We might as well hold up a box covered with gold and tell the world that God lives in there, because He certainly does not live in us.

When we get concerned about our witness to the Living, Powerful, Resurrected Jesus Christ, we will once again start to touch lives for eternity. God desires that His church be a witness to the Power of His Word and His Testimony!

Are you concerned about being a WITNESS! What life-changing power of Jesus can you testify to? Are you a WITNESS to the Life-Changing Power of Jesus?

Do You Have an Ebenezer?

God led me to read about the early days of Samuel's ministry in I Samuel (of course). It was a time of transition, from the Judges to the more organized system of Kings. The final nail in the Judges coffin was when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. Granted to 21st century man it would seem like a game of 'Capture the Flag', but to Israel it was as though God had been captured and taken from Israel. In fact Eli didn't keel over and break his neck when he learned his sons Hophni and Phineas had been killed. No, he fell over when he heard the Ark had been captured.
Phineas' wife gave birth when she heard the news, and named her boy Ichabod; for she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

We know that God can't be kept in a box covered with gold. God is much greater than even our wildest imaginings. However, we need reminders of God's Power and Glory in our lives. That is why, when the Ark was miraculously returned by God's single-handed dealing with the Philistines, Samuel erected a large stone, probably a pillar, and called it "Ebenezer" - the Stone of Help. The stone was a symbol for God's miraculous help. For Samuel had assembled the Israelites for a time of confession and forsaking false gods. It was a time of returning to God as their God, just as the Ark had been returned. Even while they were offering a sacrifice and crying out before God, the Philistine army advanced upon their assembly. "But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel."
And so an Ebenezer Stone was placed in honor of the occasion.
Do you have an Ebenezer in your home? Do you have an Ebenezer at your place of work?

Is there something you have that when someone asks 'what is it', you can point back to something miraculous or amazing that God did for you?

It may seem overdone, but certainly we should have a cross in our homes. For the cross is a Christian's sign of miraculous help. For on the cross Jesus Christ worked the most powerful miracle this world has ever witnessed.

I believe we should also have a personal 'Ebenezer'. For me it is the letter 'P' from my 1971 Plymouth Duster. It is all I have left from a head on collision with a Semi-Truck and Trailer rig on January 19, 1972. I should have died in the wreck, for my car was demolished in the front and in the back as well when another car rammed into the rear. I can still hear the highway patrolman shaking his head and saying, "Son, I don't know how you can be alive!" I know, God spared me so that I could live for Him! This 'P' is my personal 'Ebenezer' of God's miraculous help.

Do you think it is 'corny' to have objects that remind us of what God has done? Next time you gaze at an American Flag and recite the "Pledge of Allegiance", remember our young men and women who have given their lives so that we can continue to gaze upon that Flag. Next time you sing the "Star Spangled Banner" try to feel the emotions of those soldiers as they saw that the Flag was still waving after a horrible night of warfare. In a very moving movie, "The Last Castle", Robert Redford as General Irwin, gives his life trying to raise that Glorious Flag for the benefit of fellow prisoners in a seemingly God-forsaken military prison.

What symbol did we hurriedly erect after the Twin Towers fell on 9/11? It was the American Flag, followed by a Cross formed from the twisted 'I'-Beams! We need our "Ebenezer's" as a reminder of God's help when we needed it most. So ask yourself again:

"Do I have an Ebenezer in my home?"