God's Plan for the Family

The following is the manuscript used in basis for the sermon given on September 15 at GracePointe Church.

 

Sermon Outline: “God’s Plan for the Family”

Good morning, Church. Wow it’s good to be back. As most of you know, last week I was not able to be here, and I am so grateful that Bodie Beaman not only came in at the last minute to preach, but out of 66 books of the Bible, God led Bodie to preach the same text of Scripture as I had two and three weeks prior from the book of Nehemiah.

Bodie didn’t know I had already preached out of Nehemiah. But he said this in his sermon, “If you have read Nehemiah, go back and read it again with this in mind. You may read the scripture in one season and then the next season you read it again and that same scripture will say something different to you. That's the Living Word of God. That's what I love about God because his Spirit speaks to us and His word speak to us differently in different seasons.”

So, what is God saying to GracePointe? We need to get out and rebuild the walls of protection around our church, our community, our country, and today, I want to talk about building a wall around our families.

The Government does not produce families. The government schools do not produce families. Only God produces families.

The Government is not the parent of families. If we ever get to the point where we call the Government “Mother Russia” or “Mother America” we have gone to communism. If we go and let society dictate what we as families should and should not do or be, then we’ve gone to socialism.

No, we are not communists. We are not socialists. And when it comes to families, God’s plan is not even a democracy. In the family, we don’t pledge allegiance to the republic for which it stands. God’s plan for the family is that we are to be a theocracy where God reigns and rules. The problem with the family is we are not following the rule, the reign of God, found in the Bible.

No, the government does not produce families, it’s not the parent of families, Government is the product of families. Our families are foundational to our church and to our state.

So, the title of the message today is God’s Plan for the Family. Turn with me to the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 6.

Deuteronomy means the second reading of the law, given after the 40 years of wandering are about to be over. The people of God are about to go into the Promised Land. In chapter 5, Moses reminded them of what the ten commandments were.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Father God, open our ears this morning. This message is for us and for our children. We don’t know what is going on in this world, but you do, and you know the urgency of our times. We got to get this message, the Good News of the Gospel, out. More than that, we have to live it out ourselves. Let us be better listeners than Israel was; let us be better hearers than our parents were. Bring us to restore the walls of our family for our part of the wall. We pray this desperately in the name of Jesus. Amen.

THIS was the centerpiece of Deuteronomy, the second hearing of the Law, and the famous line is called the Shemah, which means hear or listen.

Moses says, “Listen, Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone, and you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your might.” This became a very important daily prayer in Judaism, and it brings all of the themes of the book together.

So, the word “listen” or Shema in Hebrew, means much more than just to hear; its meaning includes responding to what you hear, or in English we would say obey.  It means to TAKE heed

I. The Command to Obey (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Notice this is not just a good Idea. This is not just a suggestion. It’s not a hopeful pep talk from a 120-year-old man who led Israel for the last 40 years.

These are commands. God wants His people to obey. They are about to be in battle of their lives and the previous generation did not leave much of a legacy of obedience for the future generation.

All of the people who were 20 years old and older had all died and now Moses would not be there to lead them. The next generation needed to take the lead.

FAMILIES: Do you hear? Are you listening?

In order for us to conquer the land, to possess the land, our families, our children and grandchildren, our future need to listen, to hear, and to do what God says.

Has anyone ever gone to IKEA? Have you ever bought a new gadget and right on top of the gadget is the instruction manual. How many of you love an instruction manual? You know what I don’t like about an instruction manual? I hate it when they put it in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, all on the same sheet or book.

But more than that, I hate not getting the instructions. If I don’t get the instructions, I’m calling the manufacturer. You see, if I get the instructions and I don’t follow it, that’s on me. But if I don’t get the instructions, that’s on the manufacturer.

Our families got the instructions. The people of Israel are getting the manual. Did you see that in verse 3. It’s not the government. It’s not the church or synagogue. It’s the families who are to be teaching our children and grandchildren to take over our land. We need to get serious. There is a great shaking coming. There is an impending battle is coming and our families need to get ready.

II. Not only is some commands of God that need to be obeyed, there is a commitment than that needs to be made and that is LOVE.

God’s plan for the family is that we understand that the Lord Our God is ONE. Now we know that God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all three of these are ONE, right?

When for the family, the HUSBAND, the WIFE needs to be under the LORDSHIP of God in a holy reflection of the TRIUNE God. Look at your sermon notes.

Do you see our PURPOSE STATEMENT?

Our purpose is to glorify the Triune God through fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission

The plan for the family is for the family to reflect the triune God. Three in One. One in Three. I did a marriage this summer for my daughter, and I said that the purpose of a marriage is to procreate, but even more important than that it is to provide and protect, but even more important than that we are to be a parable, a picture to the world of what Jesus Christ is to the Bride the church.

God is looking primarily to the men to be a parable a picture to the world of what God is to us. Yes, we have the instructions but the instructions are based in the language of LOVE.

We got the instructions, we have the commandments, but if we are not reading them in the language of love, we are never going to put this IKEA furniture of family and society together.

Men it starts with you. There are FAR too many examples of men who do not step up to the plate and being the godly leaders in their family. Moses looked to the men to love their God and love their wives.

Men, God looks to you to be the spiritual leader. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Men, the families are not under the authority of the pastor. MEN, you are under Christ. If you want your wives and families to get under your headship, then you need to get under the headship of Jesus Christ, who is under the headship of God the Father.

It doesn’t say the head of every man is the pastor. The Pastor is not the head of the family. God is. And under the Father is Jesus, who is called the WORD. The Revelation of God. And men, Do you know what the most recurring command for the man is in relation to the family.

To love his wife as Christ loved the church.

Men does Christ love the church? How much? Enough to die for her?  Enough to live for her? Men Love you wives by first loving God with all your heart Soul and Strength.

Not your jobs. Not your gaming. Not the finances. Not sports. LOVE YOUR WIVES. To Live and Die to yourselves for her.

It’s a commandment. It’s a commitment.

Encourage the congregation to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

III. Thirdly, it’s a commandment, it’s a commitment, but it is also a continuation that needs to be laid for future generations.

 (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Verses 6-9: Look at this: The Bible is the inerrant infallible and inspired word of God, and it tells us that it’s not the church’s job to teach the next generation. It’s the Dad’s job and not just to little johnny when he’s three years old. It’s all the way until he’s a dad himself.

We have way too many Dads and Moms who stop being parents to are training their adult children to Love God with all their heart soul mind and strength.

We have to continue to the next generation.  Do you know when we fumble the ball? It’s when they are little, we don’t show them. It’s not telling. Telling is not teaching. And Listening is not learning. We have to show them how to love God. How to love our neighbors. How to love the lost to bring them the great commission.

I feel for Moses. He’s at the endzone. It’s the fourth quarter. It’s the final countdown. And he wants the people to go into the promised land.

We have to continue this on to the next generation. It is not the church. It’s the family. The dads and Moms to convey the importance of instilling God’s commandments in the hearts of children.

Teach diligently, talk about them at home and on the road, bind them as symbols.

I want to ask you. How are you showing and incorporating Loving God, loving your neighbors, loving the lost in your lives.

Finally let’s look Commands that need to be obeyed, the Commitment that needs to be made in Love, the Continuation that needs to be laid for the future generations, but church hear Moses, Hear the word of the Lord. Let’s look at the consequences when the commands are disobeyed.

Do you want to really mess up a child? Do you know what is the worst thing for a child and really for us if we don’t follow God’s plan for the family?

Deuteronomy 6:10-12: Warning against forgetting God in times of prosperity. Remember God’s deliverance and blessings.  Encourage gratitude and remembrance of God’s faithfulness. Every Wednesday night we start off with praises to the Lord.

Verses 13-19: Avoid idolatry and remain faithful to God. Serve God alone and avoid the gods of surrounding nations. There are modern-day idols and how to stay faithful.

23. The Sanctuary of Eternal Blessings: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23:6b

 

            As I finish the 23^rd psalm, today’s lesson is perhaps among my favorite of this psalm and of all of the Bible. The spiritual need that I had which led me to my salvation was simply this: I wanted to go to Heaven! I still want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I am a little jealous when I go to a funeral and while there is still work to do here on earth, Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain.

            The Persuasion: “I will dwell…” God wants me to be assured of my future dwelling place. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.” Yesterday we saw the surety of earthly blessings, but our eternal blessings are equally sure. Eternal life would not be very long if you could lose it. Paul was persuaded than nothing could separate him from the love of God (Rom. 8:38). He told Timothy, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  The psalmist didn’t say “I hope to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” He knew he would.

            The Place: “…in the house of the Lord…” Wherever Christ is, that will be the house of the Lord. Revelation says that Heaven will come down to earth and Christ will reign here so Heaven is wherever Christ is. Until then, we have a place, and it’s a place that began with the thief on the cross. Jesus assured that criminal who died with Him that he would be in paradise with Christ the same day. Luke 23:43 says, “And Jesus said to him, Verily (most assuredly, truly) I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in paradise.”

No “could”.

No “maybe”.

No “might possibly be with Me.”

            Paul assured us that we would be immediately in Heaven. 2 Cor. 5:6-8 “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight). We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

The Permanence: “forever.” We may not permanently be in the heavenlies, but we will permanently be in the house of the Lord, in His presence. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says we will ever be with Him: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

What will we be doing there? We will be reigning “forever” and then the Apostle John adds“and ever” in Rev. 22:5. 

Shepherd like a Savior continue to lead me.
Allow mercy and goodness to be what I leave behind.
I so much look forward to dwelling in
Your eternal house, my mansion, forever.
Amen.

22. The Surety of Earthly Blessings: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Ps. 23:6a)

Psalm 23:6a

            The promise. As we finalize the last verse of this short but rich psalm, there is surely a promise of protection of God’s goodness and mercy. This word “surely” is not like our “surely” which we use today. You know, the “Surely, you can’t be serious!” phrase. There is a certainty in this final word of encouragement.

            The protection. The promise of protection is two-fold: goodness, which is the extension of God’s kindness, His righteousness, and bestowing of good things; mercy is the withholding or retraction of God’s punishment and anger. Goodness is revealed when we are obedient. Mercy is revealed when we are disobedient.

           The pursuit. Since the shepherd always leads in front, there must be “sheep dogs” who follow behind. Those two rearguards of goodness and mercy are like the hounds which pursue the fox. In fact, the word “follow” is more often translated as “to pursue” or even “to chase.” The word is literally a dogged word (Please do not groan so loudly). 

           F.B. Meyer in the Shepherd’s Psalm wrote, “In the East the shepherd always goes in front. And our Good Shepherd never puts us forth to the work or warfare of any day without going before us. But His shepherd-dogs bring up the rear. We have a rearguard against the attack of our treacherous foes.”

 Michael Card wrote a song, The Hound of Heaven, based on a poem by an opium addict, Francis Thompson. The song and poem speaks of God’s pursuit of us, likening our Shepherd to a hound. Once the wandering sheep surrenders to God’s pursuit, he hears a voice saying,

“I did not take him for your harm /

I only wanted you to seek them in my arms/

The dark and gloom you said you could no longer stand /

Was, after all, the shadow of My loving hand /

How little worthy of My love could anyone be /

Who else could ever love you, save only … Me”

            There is not only a promise of blessings to me, but a call for these blessings to come through me. Perhaps the writer is saying that goodness and mercy will be my legacy which follows after me. Wouldn’t we all like to have it said of us as our epitaph: “He was a good man,” or “she was always full of mercy.” Jesus said, “A good tree will bear good fruit” and “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

     Since God follows me with such assured goodness and mercy all the days of my lifetime, then while I am here on earth, I should likewise extend goodness and mercy to others.

             

“Bless you Father, for pursuing me with goodness and mercy.

Let me bless others by doing the same. Amen.”

Part 4: Declaring to the World Our Eternal Destination (Psalm 23:6)

Part 4: Declaring to the World (23:6)

     The final section of this psalm is declarative. At first the psalmist, writing in the form of a sheep, was speaking about the Shepherd. Then he was speaking to the Shepherd. Now, I believe, the sheep is speaking to the world, declaring both of this world’s blessing of following the Shepherd, and also in the next world.

     He no longer is telling of whom he is following, but what is following him. He is no longer speaking of the blessings of the here and now but what will be for the rest of his days. He is declaring not only of his residence in green pastures and beside the still waters. No, now he is looking for his eternal home, one that will last forever and ever. His forever home is in the house of the Lord.

     Where is heaven? Can you point to it? Is it above us? If so, it is below those on the opposite side of the world and will be below us in 12 hours! Can it be seen with the Hubble telescope? No I cannot point to you where heaven is and I cannot describe in great detail what it will look like. But when I read in Scripture that it is a house of the Lord, and that the Lord is my Shepherd, I know one thing: It is wherever the Lord is! And wherever the Lord is, that is where I want to be.

     But if that is our eternal destination, what kind of trail are we leaving behind us? The sheep is leaving a trail of goodness and mercy. Are you? Do you have an aftermath of good works that will endure long after we have gone on to the house of the Lord? When you leave this world, will your kind and merciful acts be a part of your legacy? 

      The sheep is not so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly good. No! He is bringing God's kingdom to come HERE and His will to be done NOW on earth, hopefully as close as possible as it is being done in heaven.

     Is this your path? I so very much hope it is. Have you ever seen a trail of a jet stream in the sky? That trail is not determining its direction, it is proclaiming its direction! The "jet stream" of our lives should show where we are going. It is a stream of goodness and loving kindness following after us.

Dear God, let us live with eternity on our hearts. Let us not waste our lives. Let us live as if today was our last day to bring goodness and mercy to this earth, because one day it will be. Amen.

21. The Superabundance of the Spirit: "my cup runneth over" (23:5d)

Psalm 23:5d

    Oftentimes, we as Christians stop at the resurrection and don’t go on to the fullest purpose of our salvation. We are glad enough to go to heaven that we don’t appreciate the ultimate goal of Christianity.

    If eternal life in heaven was our ultimate goal, then why not go there now? What is the point of this life, just to decide where we will spend eternity? No, we have to go back to the fall, and the reason why Adam was banned from the Garden of Eden in the first place. 

“'Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.' Therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.”
 

     He didn’t banish us from the Garden to punish us, but to bless us by not allowing us to eat of the tree of life and as a result forever be in a fallen state. We are not to stay separated from God. David longed for those times when his cup overflowed with the anointing. He saw his predecessor and his nemesis, King Saul, as the anointed king and he also saw the Spirit flee from him (1 Samuel 16:4). David pleaded with the Lord not to ever take His Holy Spirit from him (Ps. 51:11). But now thanks to the cross, nothing can separate us from the Lord. (See Lesson 15: Psalm 24:4d)

    You see, God doesn’t want us to live forever in a fallen state and He never wants to be separated from us. If the oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit, then “running over” would surely symbolize the lavish flowing of the Spirit within us out of His mercy. He anoints our head and catches the runoff in a cup and even still, that doesn’t capture it all.

   Because of the cross, our sins were taken away.

    Because of the resurrection, we have eternal life.

      But because of Pentecost, 

        we have God’s Spirit living in us now and forever.

    The words “overflow” and “baptize” and “filled” means to saturate. We are baptized in the Holy Spirit at salvation and filled with the Holy Spirit in our obedience. 

    Jimmy Dean sang a song about drinking from the saucer because my cup has overflowed. It doesn’t exactly apply here, but I sure do like it.

I never made a fortune 

and it's probably too late now

But I don't worry about that much, 

I'm happy anyhow

And as I go along life's journey,
I'm reaping better than I sowed

I'm drinking from my saucer, '

'cause my cup has overflowed.

I ain't got a lot of riches, 

and sometimes the goings tough

but I've got kids who love me 

and that makes me rich enough

I just thank God for his blessings 

and the mercies he's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer, 

'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong, 

and my faith got a little thin

but then all at once the dark clouds broke, 

and the sun peeked through again

so Lord help me not to gripe 

about the tough rows I hoed

I'm drinking from my saucer, 

'cause my cup has overflowed.

And if God gives me strength and courage, 

when the way grows steep and rough

I'll not ask for another blessing, 

I'm already blessed enough

And may I never be too busy 

to help another bear his load

I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 

'cause my cup has overflowed.

Amen. 

20. The Sanctification of the Spirit: "Thou anointest my head with oil" (23:5c)

Psalm 23:5c

    Why would a shepherd literally anoint the head of a sheep with oil? For a practical reason, Phillip Keller, who worked as a shepherd, rather graphically explains, “Sheep are especially troubled by the nose fly. They buzz about the sheep’s head, attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membranes of the sheep’s nose. If successful, the eggs will hatch in a few days to form small, slender, worm-like larvae. They work their way up the nasal passages into the sheep’s head, irritating and inflaming their heads. But if the oil is applied to the sheep’s head and nose, the flies never get the chance to implant the irritating eggs.” 

     But beyond literal practicality, there are spiritual and sanctifying (setting apart) applications: 

A.   Spirit: Oil is repeatedly a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

1)    Anointed Servants: Other things also symbolize the Holy Spirit, such as the dove or water, but the anointing with oil physically demonstrated a spiritual reality and prepared the person for God to use them. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” 1 Sam. 16:13. Ask God to anoint His people. 

2)    Anointed Service: Often times the word oil is not used, but anointing is strongly associated with oil, so much so that oil is implied, even if not physically present. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel…” Luke 4:18 a (see also Isa. 61:1, and Ps. 89:20). Ask God to anoint His Work.

3)    Anointed Son: "Messiah" means anointed one so when I think of the Good Shepherd anointing my head, I need to ask for His power so that I can do good as He did. When He anoints me with His Spirit, I know I have the God of the universe within me.  “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38. Ask God to anoint Christ in our lives.

4)    Anointed Leadership: The Jewish people would also take notice that the head specifically was anointed. They would remember than Aaron, the priest, was anointed with oil on his head. Prophets, priests and kings are inaugurated into office with the anointing of oil on their heads (see 1 Kings 19:16, 2 Kings 9:3). 

a.    He has called me to be a prophet to declare His truths. (1 Cor. 14:1)

b.    He has called me to be a priest to present God to the people and to pray for people back to God. (1 Peter 2:9)

c.  He will, in the resurrection prepare me to reign as priest and king in His kingdom (Rev. 5:10). Ask God to anoint leaders of church and state. 

B.   Sanctification: Oil is also a symbol of setting apart, such as a greeting for a very special guest. Oil is often called “holy anointing oil,” (Exod. 30:25, 31; 37:29) with holy meaning “set apart.” Oil is used in praying over the sick

1)   Special: God sets us apart with the Holy Spirit to show we are special to Him.  When Jesus went to Simon’s house, where a woman anointed his feet and wiped them with her hair, Jesus mentioned that Simon did not anoint his head with oil. Elsewhere he was anointed with oil on His head and feet. It was not a common practice, but when it was done, it show extreme honor.

2)    Service: God sanctifies us with the Holy Spirit for service. Oil not only anointed people, but also the tabernacle and its utensils. When Stephen preached before the Council, the Bible says he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Other times the Spirit’s filling gives us boldness, discernment and other ministries for service. When we fast and pray, we are to anoint our heads with oil. We always have the Holy Spirit and He will never leave us, but there are times when we are filled with the Holy Spirit for anointed service.

3)    Sealing: God sets me apart with the Spirit as sealing me as a proof, promise and protection for our salvation and redemption.

a.    2 Corinthians 1:22 - who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

b.    Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

c.    Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

4)    Symbolism: Anointing with oil is also symbolic for sanctifying with healing. If any are sick, they are to call for the elders to anoint with oil and to pray (James 5:14). The oil reminds us that God has power for healing, whatever method He uses. The greatest healing is the healing from our sins. He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

     “Lord, sanctify me with your Holy Spirit.
Set me apart for your service today.
Keep me safe from Satan's infestation
in my thoughts and actions. Amen.” 

19.The Surrounding of Adversity: "In the presence of mine enemies" (23:5b)

Psalm 23:5b

The Opposition’s Presence - Jesus never promised that this world would be easy. Nor did He say that His sheep would live without the presence of the enemies of God. Why would God allow evil in the world? We are not of this world, but we are to bring light to the darkness, and not the other way around.

     Sometimes THE enemy, that is, Satan, can use our friends, our family, even ourselves. The phrase, “We are our own worst enemy” is not entirely true. Our worst enemy is the devil and he just uses others to get at us.

     Jesus said in John 17:11-21 “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. …I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world….As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. …that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.”

     I felt some genuine evil this week, both in the source and in my reaction which I had. Sometimes our enemies are not really our enemies, but it is the evil force behind the attack. One of the things I kept repeating was “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

The Overcoming Peace – Jesus does not leave us as orphans, nor does He leave us to fend for ourselves alone. That table is prepared for us in the presence of our enemies so that we could have a witness.

     John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

     We need to be on the guard against the enemy but also remember that God also guards us against our enemy.

     There is a phrase: “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies sometimes to keep us close to Him.

Our Father in Heaven,
and my Shepherd on earth,
lead me not into temptation,
but deliver me from evil.
Amen.

18 (pt. 2). The Supply of Nourishment: "a table before me" (23:5a, pt. 2)

Psalm 23:5a

The Provision: God provides a table of spiritual nourishment. Nowhere in the Old Testament is the word “table” used for a “tableland” of grass. Indeed, most of the grass eaten by the sheep I saw in the Holy Land on both of my visits were mere nubs of barely perceptible blades of grass.

            Clearly the “table” used in Psalm 23:5 is a symbolic parable for spiritual food which the Lord prepared and prepares for me. This “table” is filled with abundant spiritual nourishment. When Peter professed his love for Christ, in his three-fold restoration at the Sea of Galilee found in John 21, Christ responded with one command “Feed My lambs…shepherd My sheep…Feed My sheep.”

             Lambs and sheep need feeding and shepherding so that they can find a table of food. Jesus said that “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." God's will was food for Him, and indeed it is food for us as well. 

            The Apostle Paul also was concerned that the church needed to be protected and fed in Acts 20:28: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to feed the church of God.”

            And if that were not enough, Peter, perhaps remembering Christ's final command to him (who could ever forget the aforementioned John 21 restoration)  also urged the pastors who read his epistle to “feed the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2). God will feed us through our pastors and spiritual leaders, but most of all, through His Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Place: God places the table in front of His sheep. 

            We already saw that the Shepherd “prepared a table” beforehand, as in time. But this “before me” is not so much of a time but rather a place. It is a dimensional placement of the table. The word before means “In front of my face and before my very eyes,”  It is in this place that the Shepherd shows me the table of nourishment He has prepared for me.

          God demonstrates the place of His provision in the parable of the separation of the sheep and the goats, found in Matthew 25:34 – “Then the King shall say to (the sheep) at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

            As mentioned yesterday, those who reject Christ, there is another prepared place, but it was prepared for the devil and his demons. “Then He shall say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

            If Heaven is prepared as a place where no evil can enter, and all that remains in our essence is the good that God has supplied within us, what else could Hell be, other than a place prepared where no good can enter, and all that remains there within those souls who have rejected Christ's supply of forgiveness in their essence is the utterly wicked that the devil and his angels has placed within their unforgiven souls? C.S. Lewis said of the unrepentant, 

"What are you asking God to do (for them)? To wipe out their past sins and, at all costs, to give them a fresh start, smoothing every difficulty and offering every miraculous help? But He has done so, on Calvary. To forgive them? They will not to be forgiven. To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He does."

The Problem of Pain, chapter 8, "Hell" 

            Then where is that kingdom place for the forgiven? where is the "table before me" which is that spiritual inheritance? God Himself through His Good Shepherd has prepared it “before me” spiritually in front of me, even though I cannot see it with my physical eyes. Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

“Dear Shepherd, before my spiritual eyes,
I see a table of heavenly food prepared.
May I feast at your banqueting table. Amen.”