Listen to the sermonsIf you have enjoyed the devotions, please share them
If you would like to receive the devotions and you don’t already receive them, please email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com
NOONDAY DEVOTIONS
VS 2-3
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness[b] for his name’s sake. THE SHEPHERD’S LEADING We have seen that the Lord is my shepherd and that he is our provider.. Now let’s look in more detail at what he provides and how he leads. Please note the key word here, it is HE。 Not only is HE the Lord, but he is the leader. A shepherd seeks to give his sheep certain things; Food; all of us need food to survive, sheep like grass, so the pasture that the shepherd finds for them, is called green pasture, it conjures up the image of a lush green pasture filled with lots of grass for the sheep. Likewise, the Lord leads us to a place that is filled with all good things for us, he is an expert at leading us to the right place.Water; All of us get thirsty, we need water. The shepherd seeks a place where there is water, and not just any water. These are still waters and this speaks of a place of security. Rest; We all need to rest, sheep are always on the move, so the shepherd seeks a place of rest for his sheep, likewise the great shepherd of his sheep, seeks and finds a place, where his sheep can be revived and can rest. The Right Path; The shepherd leads his sheep on the right path, he does not and will not lead them into danger and likewise, our shepherd, will not and cannot lead us into danger. He knows the best way to go and he leads his sheep on the right path. Why can we trust him to lead us? For his name’s sake, because God is who God is. He is faithful, true to his sheep. We were sheep without a shepherd, but now we are in the care of the great shepherd. Trust Him to lead you He is willing and eager to lead you. God bless you
KK
Psalm 23
4 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.
The Loving Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd is a truth that applies to God’s people in every situation. We face every enemy in the knowledge that God is with us and stands by our side.
The greatest fear of anyone is death, fear of this fact grips millions of people, they seek remedies to prolong life, to avoid the fact that one day, they will die. Many will die alone, but not the believer, he/she does not fear this evil.
Why because the One who is guiding him/her, is the very one who has conquered death and the grave, Jesus Himself.
Matthew Henry says this:
[1.] It is but the shadow of death; there is no substantial evil in it; the shadow of a serpent will not sting nor the shadow of a sword kill. [2.] It is the valley of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark, and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God’s people. [3.] It is but a walk in this valley, a gentle pleasant walk. The wicked are chased out of the world, and their souls are required; but the saints take a walk to another world as cheerfully as they take their leave of this. [4.] It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it.
We know that our Saviour will guide us by His rod and His staff, He will guide us through many dark valleys, even the darkest one of death. We can fully trust our Shepherd; He has been through the valley before us
Again, Matthew Henry states:
The good Shepherd will not only conduct, but convoy (protect) His sheep through the valley, where they are in danger of being set upon by the beasts of prey, the ravening wolves; He will not only convoy (protect) them, but comfort them when they most need comfort. His presence shall comfort them: Thouart with me. His word and Spirit shall comfort them—His rod and staff, alluding to (suggestion of) the shepherd’s crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Lev. 27:32 ), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep.
The Precious word of God, which contains all the promises of God and the Blessed Holy Spirit, will be and is our comfort. They are our assurance, we are sealed by the Spirit, we are HIS. Jesus assures us that none of His true sheep will be lost, Paul states that nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ.
Nothing will take you true believer from out of the Father’s hand, not death, not tribulation. Nothing can separate you from Jesus.
Telling me He loves me Over and over and over again, Total trust, no need to fear Peace beyond measure Pure and true Down beautiful lanes By still still waters We walk side by side My beloved and I, Sun on our backs Gentle breezes upon our face
But then a dark cloud comes before Him And my Jesus becomes quiet and sad “My child, I must go now And die upon a cross To destroy the works of the evil one And set the captives free” “No, my Lord, that cannot be true That wasn’t the plan we disciple had planned”
“My child, he is coming, our friend Who we trusted and prayed with, Who saw blind eyes open and deaf ears hear” Judas bought the massed armed guards And I could never erase the shame I felt As I ran for my life, not prepared to die,
I heard the terrible whispers From within my dark mournful house My Jesus, whom I loved Now crucified and left alone to die Two whole days I did not eat Just wept and wept for all I was worth Afraid and alone, deserter of my Lord Afraid to testify to His outstanding love and works
When all at once on Sunday morn The widows rattled, the house shook A mighty wind blew, and an awesome peace came in One that surpasses all knowledge Thoughts and every fear beyond And there beside me once again Jesus came to stand I hid my face beneath the sheets And begged Him to leave me Such a sin filled man
But Jesus drew ever nearer And lifted the sheet from upon my face “My child, you do not need to hide Your sins are no more have paid the price No longer has death got the And I made anew your life There is no need to fear
From the great white throne Through me they clothe you In righteousness joy and peace My Father has made you His precious son
Then oh such joy filled my heart And rivers of pure love flowed over me “Now I must go to see my friends And bring them peace as well Go my friend and pray With brothers and sisters together as one And wait for my appointed anointed one To give you power and awesome gifts
The Holy Spirit fell in that upper room A day I will never forget Awesome power and boldness of speech With the languages of ten thousand gathered there And now I am no longer afraid to die Or testify about my king Forever I am changed By the transforming blood of Christ
Oh precious Holy Spirit I surrender and submit to you for you fill me with power and strength. You fill me with living water and the never ending love of God It was you oh Precious one who has been there throughout the bible, filling your people with awesome gifts that bring in the mighty Kingdom of God You remind me of Samson, filled with Supernatural strength to bring down the place where He was being held captive even though he had disobeyed you. you heard his cry to bring down the walls of His enemies You gave Elijah supernatural vision to see the chariots of fire when the army was camped around them You gave Isaiah Prophesy to call the nations to repent and warn them of what was going to take place because of their rebellion and sin Joseph Interpreted pharaohs dreams and had the dreams that He had given come true. You gave the people building the temple the vision to create the plans to the exact fulfillment, experts on their field but filled with much insight from you Then when Jesus came with His disciples. You filled them with your power prophecy. healing, Authority over the demons preaching the word of God with Such wisdom and insight and they returned full of So much Joy. Then finally at the day of Pentecost when you fell on Jesus’s precious baby church and gave them different tongues so all the people heard them preach in so many languages And now oh precious Holy Spirit I pray, that you would fill me, to the top and overflowing with the gifts that I need to further your Kingdom come now Holy Spirit I surrender and submit to you once again. Amen.
My father in heaven
I honor and glorify your name
In all the earth
Let your kingdom come soon
Let your will be done in me
Here on earth as it is done in the heavenlies
Fill me Lord Jesus with your living word
and forgive me for the wrong thing
That i have said and done today
and help me then with compassion
Fill me with forgiveness
For those who have hurt and dishonored me
Lord help me to stand when temptation comes
Taking up the shield against the fiery darts
that the evil one will fire against me
For you have all power and and authority over us
And so let your glory shine throughout the earth
For always and always until the end
Amen