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October
6-7, 2001 Contents
Under Pressure! Psalm
23 THE PRESSURE OF THE
FUTURE! ***
Psalm 23:1-6 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me
lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my
soul. He guides 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 love will follow me all the days of my life, and
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever " [NIV] THREE REASONS
YOU DON’T NEED TO BE FEARFUL OF THE FUTURE! 1.
BECAUSE GOD IS WATCHING OVER ME! *** Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness … will follow
me all the days of my life …” *** Psalm 145:20 “The Lord watches over all
who love him …” [NIV] *** Romans 8:28 “And we know that all that
happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his
plans.” [Living Bible] *** Psalm 121:8 “The Lord keeps watch over you
as you come and go, both now and forever.” [New Living Translation] *** Psalm 121:3 “He will never let me stumble,
slip, or fall. For he is always watching, never sleeping.” [Living Bible] 2.
BECAUSE GRACE IS WORKING IN OF ME! *** Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life…” *** Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a
merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and
truth.” [NIV] I DON’T NEED TO FEAR
THE FURTURE BECAUSE GOD FOLLOWS ME ALL MY LIFE WITH GRACE! *** Psalm 103:2-5, 8-12 “I will bless the Lord
and not forget the glorious things he does for me He forgives all my sins. He
heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and
tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! He is merciful and tender
toward those who don’t deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness
and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not
punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy to ward those who
fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He
has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.” [LB] *** Romans 8:38 “I am sure that nothing can
separate us from God’s love – not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the
present of the future....” [CEV] 3.
BECAUSE HEAVEN IS WAITING FOR ME! *** Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever " [NIV] *** 2 Cor 5:1 “We know that our body—the tent
we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will
have a house for us. It will not be a house make by human hands; instead, it
will be a home in heaven that will last forever.” [NCV] *** 2 Cor 5:6,8 “Now we look forward with
confidence to our heavenly bodies… And we are not afraid but are quite content
to die, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” [LB] *** Hebrews 9:27 “Just as man is destined to
die once, and after that to face judgment.” [NIV] YOUR NOT READY TO LIVE
UNTIL YOUR READY TO DIE! A. WHAT
WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE! *** Luke 22:30 “You will eat and drink at my
table in my Kingdom… " [TEV] *** John 14:2 “There are many rooms in my
Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there
to prepare a place for each of you.” [CEV] *** Rev. 7:13-17 “Who are these people dressed
in white robes? Where did they come from?” I answered, “You know sire … These
are the people who have come out of the great distress. They have washed their
roves and made them white in the blood of the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [CEV] *** Rev. 21:3-5 “And I heard a loud voice from
the throne, saying “Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with
them, and they will be his people. He will wipe away every tear from their
eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all
the old ways are gone.” The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am
making everything new! Write this, because these words are true and can be
trusted.” [CEV] B. WHO IS
HEAVEN MADE FOR? *** 1 Peter 1:4-6 “God has reserved for his
children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure
and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty
power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are
trusting him. It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see. So be
truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a
while down here. " [LB] C. HOW LONG
DOES HEAVEN LAST? *** 2 Cor. 4:17 “For our present troubles are
quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably
great glory that will last forever! " [LB] D. ARE
YOU SURE YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN? B.A.S.E.
– Believe, Admit, Surrender, Express *** Acts 2:36-41 "Therefore let all
Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both
Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart
and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we
do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all
who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many
other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves
from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were
baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." [NIV] *** John 10:27-28 "My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." [NIV] IF
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD THEN I DON”T NEED TO FEEL THE PRESSURE OF: ·
Worry! “I shall
not be in want” ·
Business! “He
makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” ·
Indecision! “He restores my soul” ·
Dark Times! “Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me” ·
Painful
Experiences! “You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows” ·
The Future! “Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever” |