Psalm 23, verses number 1 to 6. I hope you have your Bible with you tonight. Share your Bible, please, this evening. Psalm 23, verses number 1 to 6. Let us all stand, please, this evening. Shall we rise? All rise this time. Read it. I will read verse 1. Kindly read verse number 2. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He restored my soul. He leadeth me beside the still waters. I mean, He restored my soul. He leaded me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the word of God tonight. Thank you, O God, that we continually have this wonderful privilege as God's people to come to our church in this assembly tonight to worship thee and above all, Lord, to be fed with the word of God. Bring in our hearts the joy that we need, the understanding that we need, the humbleness that we need, Lord. May you receive all the praise and glory of everything that we do. In Jesus' name we pray, amen and amen. Be seated, please. I have entitled our message tonight, A Psalm That Deals With my personal relationship with God. A psalm that deals with my personal relationship with God. Do you believe you have a personal relationship with God tonight? Amen? You have a living relationship with God tonight. I hope that the word of God will find a place in our hearts this evening. Psalm 23 shows how God can empower us through a personal relationship with him. It shows how God can empower us through a personal relationship with him. This psalm contains an affirmation that God will provide for us. God will provide for you during your life. Now this should comfort us while we are living here today. This psalm helps us understand that while we are living, God will provide for us. There is a relationship between us and God. Psalm 23 is the best love single passage in the Old Testament. Let me say that again. It is the best loved single passage in the Old Testament. Untold millions have found comfort in this times, here in times of sorrows. Psalm 23, which begins with, the Lord is my shepherd, is the most quoted of all Psalms. Tradition says that its author was David, king of Israel, In his youth as a shepherd boy, he wrote this. It is a beautiful picture of God as he protects us, being our protector and our guide. He has been read, it has been read, I mean, it has been recited and set in, it has been set to music. It has been illustrated countless of times. Psalm 23 is It is a very personal psalm. So let me say that again. It is very personal. There is no we here. You do not find the word we. You do not find the word us or the word they, but only my and me and I. and he and you. So it is an overflow of David's personal experience with God. One of the reasons it has such an attraction for us is that we all hunger for such real experience with God. We want to really know experience that relationship with God. It is a psalm that comforts and at the same time empowers us. So we find here it deals with our personal relationship with God. And it shows how God empowers us through that relationship, personal relationship. First of all, there are six different ways God empowers us in this psalm. Six ways God empowers us in this psalm. Take note, please. Number one, he empowers us through his provision. What did I say? His provision. I shall not what? One. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. What does it mean? The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing that I lack. Or I have all I need. That is what it means. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. When you have God, you have everything you need. You don't lack anything. And so I shall not want. God empowers us by providing us. Let me say amen to that. That's the best empowerment coming from the Lord. When you have need, he provides it. for you. So he empowers us by providing us. He gives us all I need. And it is not all that I want. Let me say that again. Is it all I want? The answer is no. Is it all I desire? The answer still is no. Is it enough for us to make it through life? God provides. enough that will make us through life? The answer is yes. Not your desire, not your want, but everything that will keep you on going and that will just enough to make you go through life. And you say, well, Pastor Inga, I feel I am lacking something tonight. And why did you say the Lord is my shepherd? There is nothing that I lack. But I feel tonight I lack something. Instead of seeking that somewhere else, you might find the answer in knowing this. Number one, in Psalm 84, verse number 11. Psalm 84, verse 11, the psalmist declares, he says, Psalm 84, verse 11, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. So if you feel you're lacking something, you know it is not good for you at this point, at this time. So pastor, I lack something that might be, you might be lacking of something you want, not you need, what you need. And so God withholds it. Why? Because he knows it is not yet best for you today. And so, otherwise, if you would have needed it, your shepherd would have given it to you. For example, in Psalm 23, Psalm 23 tells us that the Lord is our shepherd, so we shall not lack. Jesus went to the birds during his time, not only to the birds, but also the flowers, and then Jesus noted He noted that if God feeds and clothed them, will he not do the same for you? Will he not do the same thing for you? Matthew 6, 25 to 33. And verse number 25, we read. Matthew chapter 6, verse number 25, please, in your Bible. Matthew chapter 6, verse number 20, 25. Jesus said there, and Matthew chapter 6 and verse number 25. And therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, nor yet for your body what ye shall put on is not life more than meat and body more than raiment. So believe God knows everything we need so he He will provide for us. In Psalm 37, David tells us in his long life, in his long experience in life, and you know what he says? He has never seen God fail to meet the needs of his people. Psalm 73, look at verse number 25. This is his testimony of King David. Psalm 73, verse number 25. Verse number 25 and Psalm 73 and verse number 25. It is where he said, I have been young and now I'm old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. I have been young, and now I'm old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." His experience has proved God to be worthy of our trust. He will work things out, so you can count on the fact that he will provide for us. So, this psalm talks about how the Lord empowers us. Number one, he empowers us through his provision. Number two, he also empowers us. Another way that God empowers us is through his peace. There is his provision and now his peace. That you can say, I have rest from a weary journey. It's been a long journey in life, but I can find, I know I have rest from a weary journey. Look at verse number 5. Back to our text in Psalm 23, verse number 2. Psalm 23, verse 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. So there is peace. There is peace. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. and he leaded me beside the still waters. God empowers me by giving me peace. That's number one. He has provision, number one, and now he provides us peace. That through a wearisome journey, you can always find rest from the Lord. He supplies us rest, so he empowers us, he empowers me. It's a personal relationship with God. He empowers me through that relationship with him. He empowers me by giving me peace. He continues to lead me, and his leadership provides peace. If he goes before us, then we can have peace. The Lord goes before us. No matter what kind of a journey we go through in life, we can always have peace. Why? Because we know that he is leading us. This is what the Christian means when he says, we have peace about this. And you go into troubles in life and trials in life, deep trials in life, and you can always say, I have peace. We have peace about this matter. Why? God helps us to come to a point where we understand that I don't have to worry. God takes hold, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep or guard your heart." Because God helps us when we come to the point and be able to say, I don't have to worry about this. There is peace that guards your heart and your mind. God is going to take care of it. You have that peace. that I can have peace about it. It doesn't matter what the situation, God gives us peace along the journey. God's guidance is personal, amen? You can claim it because of your relationship with him. He wants to direct us safely to our journey's end, up to the end. He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until when? Until the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can safely land to our journey's end. God's guidance is personal. Number two, God's guidance is practical. The Lord is so interested in directing us in every area under all circumstances. God's guidance is perfect, not only personal, not only practical, but also perfect. What does it mean? His guidance is invaluable, reliable, and trustworthy. You can trust God. Lastly, God's divine guidance is patient. He leads us, his children, step by step. And he doesn't force the issue overnight. God is patient. Day by day, little by little, step by step, we can trust his leading, his guidance to us. You see, God empowers us, number one, through his provision. Number two, he empowers us through his peace. There is peace. And then number three, he empowers us through his providence. Provision and providence are two things. They're not the same. And through His providence, you can say, I have guidance in times of confusion. Verse number three, please, in our text. He restored my what? Soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. There is provision. There is peace. There is providence. So you can say, I have guidance in times of confusion. In the midst of confusion, you can say, God is guiding me. He restored my soul. He leaded me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Have you ever been in a situation that seemed confusing? That's the question. Where do you look at this situation? And you come to a point that you consider the whole situation, you size up the whole situation, And you wonder, how am I going to get through this? How am I going to survive this? How? And God is going to, you say, well, it's confusing. I don't know where to go. I don't know what to do. Well, God empowers you by bringing you along the right path. God opens ways. He leads you for his purposes. And he, because he knows it is good for you. God can always guide us. So his provision, and then his peace, and then his providence. God also, number four, guides us, empowers us through his presence. You can say I have companion when the way is lonely. In verse number four, look at this, please. I say the loneliest journey in life is when you wonder, and so will I survive this sickness this month, this week? And it's a lonely journey, actually. And for your loved ones watching around, it's a lonely journey. But yet though, yet though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Why? Because thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff. They comfort me. It is important to note the change in personal pronoun here as David reflects on his shepherd, as he contemplates on God being his shepherd. So verse number two and verse number three, David speaks about his shepherd. Now notice the fourfold use of the word he, the pronoun he. He make it me to lie down in green pastures. And then number two, he leaded me beside the still waters. Number three, he restored my soul. Number four, he, pilakahini. Number four, he leaded me in the path to righteousness. But notice the verse number, that is in verse two, verse three. Notice in verse number four, the change. And he was able to look upon the prospect of death with peace because he knew that it would mean meeting his glorious shepherd face to face. Notice, please. And when it comes to the valley of the shadow of death, David drops the he in favor of thou and die. Yea, though I walk, To the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou, you, art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. So that's number four. He empowers us through his presence. You're not afraid to go on, why? Because whatever happens, he will never leave us nor forsake us. Number five, he empowers his people through his protection. that you can say, I have safely went through. I have all safety from my enemies. Look at verse five. Thou preparest a table in the presence of mine enemies. In the presence of mine enemies. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup, is overflowing, my cup, run it over. This is one of the hardest times to sense that God is there to empower us. He's there even in the presence of my enemies. God empowers us by protecting us. That's power, amen? And if you are surrounded with fierce enemies, You have the power to survive. Why? Because you know the Lord is there with you. You know the Lord is there with you. Then number six, he empowers his servants, his people through his preparation. Not only his presence, but also not only his protection, but his preparation. You can say, I have a home awaiting for me in heaven no matter what. John 14, verse four, verse one to verse number three, I go to prepare a place for you. Verse number six, he says, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And when my life ends here on earth, I will dwell, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. So number one, he empowers us through his provision. He empowers us through His peace. He empowers us with His providence, His presence, and then His protection. And lastly, He empowers us through His preparation. I go to prepare a place for you. In Psalm 23, we learn that God will be our shepherd in the midst of crisis. He will accompany us through the valley of the shadow of death. God will protect us when life's uncertainties and difficulties surround us. Remember those six things that God uses to empower us. I hope you know you claim his provision, you can claim his peace, you can claim his providence, you can claim his presence, you can claim his protection, and you can always claim his preparation for us. Number two, let us look at David his deep experience of a personal relationship with God. I ask you this evening, do you see your relationship getting deeper with God? Is it a deep relationship with you? Strong and deep, profound relationship with God? David's deep experience of a personal relationship with God has resulted into at least two things tonight because of the limitation of time. Dunay Duha Kabutang that resulted into that, as a result of that deep relationship with God. Now, deep relationship with God has resulted into what we consider precious moments with the Lord. Precious moments David deals, he's telling us that as a result of his personal relationship, he's confident that the shepherd will take care of him. All of his needs will be provided. He says, I shall not want. Is it a precious moment with God with you? Do you feel Precious moments with God. Do you spend precious moments with God? In fact, the rest of this psalm is the development of that thought. I shall not want. In every verse, six verses, actually it is developed there in those six verses. The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing that I lack. Meaning everything that I need is being provided by God. David, the Lord's little ship. is telling us tonight all the things the Great Shepherd provides for him. He provides him protection. He provides him comfort, guidance, precious moments for his experience. During that moment, he experienced the tender, loving touch of the Lord's hand. Do you feel God's hand in your life? People like Nehemiah, people like Esther, their testimony was the good hand of the Lord was upon me. The touching hand of God. Elijah had experienced the loving, touching care of God. Do you feel that when you go through hard times in life and a good friend of yours comes around and says, A simple, you know, touch on your shoulder and say, well, Brad, I'm praying for you. It helps a lot. God, precious moments. Those are precious moments after you went through, you go to those trials. Remembering the people who held your back. You see, he experienced the tender touch of the Lord's hands. David tells us the Lord makes him to lie down in green pastures. If I were to write the Bible, if I was the Holy Spirit, if I were on his shoes, I would say, he makes me lie down. David, he makes me to lie down in green pastures. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He makes me lie down in green pastures. I'm not, Ma'am Shell is looking at me. But my simple understanding of the thoughts there. You know what I see? More loving touch. And you can make somebody lie down immediately. But when David says, he makes me to lie down, I believe the touching hand of God was there. That's the touching care of the hand of God. Gently. The gentle touch of God. The shepherd actually He make it me to lie down in green pastures. That's a lot of touching. That's a lot of caring on the part of God. And try to go back and see what happened when during the time you were so downhearted. You were so discouraged. How the Lord has carefully, gently touched you and put you in an ease. providing peace and comfort in your life. The shepherd knows that unlike goats, you compare it. I was reading it a while ago. You compare it with the goats. Goats will eat any kind of weeds out there. Tinood na. Baski ka nang makahilo. Kauno na sa kambing. Wala na sila'y respeto. Baski ka tong makahiya. Nga dunay tunok. Kauno na sa kambing. So the sheep prefer green grasses. Pilihan kayo ni sila. Artihon ni sila. Shepherd leads them to the places where he knows they will be fed. He makes them lie down because he knows that they cannot properly digest their food unless they lie down. And he knows that the ship will not lie down unless they feel perfectly safe from enemies. So he takes care of them. That's the same touching care of God, Satoa. Then precious moments that only enabled him, allows him to feel the gentle touch of God, his hands, precious moments also allowed him to experience the thoughtfulness of the Lord, the thoughtfulness of the shepherd. The shepherd leads his sheep beside the still what? Waters, because he knows the sheep will not drink from a running stream. And you see sheep have extreme fear of water. And the question is why they are not designed for swimming. The problem with the ship, I just got this this evening, with their heavy coats of wool. And it's called flimsy legs. Kanabang nipis kayo, harus para bukong. Bukat sa taas. Gaandari sa ilang til. Bukat sa taas. Dakong karga mo naman. Pag maigo na siya sa tubig, dali na siya ma-flip over. So hindi sila kare-cover. Unlike sa kanding, hindi mangini mo tulog tubig ng kanding noon. Diba siya? One week kaliko limbro mo kanding. Pag naigam mo yung tubig, nyam! Bit siya ng kanding. Ang mga ship there are afraid of And of course, die. So, and the ship, no, the ship knows this. And so then, because of knowing this, they shy away from running water. The shepherd knows this and searches out for quiet, cool pools for them to drink from. So yeah, he leads them, he leads me beside the still water because he knows, he knows the danger. So David felt the touching, loving, tender care, the touching hand of his shepherd, and then also the thoughtfulness of the shepherd. David also experienced not only a deep personal relationship with God that resulted into a wonderful moment, precious moment, but also abundant provision. That deep relationship with God has resulted into abundant provisions. He restored my soul. He restored my soul to abundant life. Jesus says, the thief cometh not, John 10 verse 10, the thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. Number three, we find David. David here, expresses his praise to the divine shepherd. As a response to what everything that he has done towards David, everything that David receives from the Lord, he now expresses his praise to the Lord. He expressed praise for the shepherds, number one, he considers this the shepherds' power. Anga hum sigino. His power In his power, he provides us peace. He provides us his presence. He provides us his protection. And Lord, I am with you always, even at the end of the world. Thank God, all power is given unto me. All power is given unto me. Jesus said, go ye therefore. Go therefore, and Lord, I am with you. You see, his peace. His presence, his protection is always with us because we are serving a powerful God. He also expressed praise for the shepherd's provision, not only the shepherd's peace, but he provides us rest. He provides us remedies or solutions to all our problems. He provides us rejoicing of the heart. He provides us everything we need. And then lastly, he expressed praise for the shepherd's promises. When you talk about promises, there are promises that you enjoy today and then promises that you can claim for the future. Promises that you can claim today. Today, because he is my shepherd, I shall not want. What does it mean, everything I need is provided? Today, tomorrow, yesterday, whatever you need. Philippians 4, 6, and 7, be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." Do you have need right now, some needs right now? You say, the Lord is my shepherd. Amen. Do you need peace? Do you need protection? Do you need guidance? Say Psalm 21 verse 3, the Lord is my shepherd. When you say, the Lord is my shepherd, you can look at everything you need around, everything that you need right now, the Lord is my shepherd. He also promises hope for the future. Now, David concludes this psalm with a precious reminder that his life down here will someday, will soon end. But those who know the Lord will move to a new realm to live for eternity. Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you and receive you unto myself. We have constant battle that we face here in life. But one of these days, our life will end. It will not end there, but it will continue to the next level. Now some people believe that David was referring to tabernacle in this verse. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. But I think he's looking a little farther than that. I showed to my students in Bible school this morning that whenever you read the Bible, there's always the double interpretation there. You just do not read the passage You always have to look, there is something behind it that God intends for us to understand, meaning to say, for example, when the Bible talks about the son of David, yes, it refers to Solomon and his son, but it also refers to Jesus Christ, the future. And so when David says, and when this life ends, surely, he says, mercy, goodness shall follow me. all the days of my life. And when that life ends, then I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." What did he mean by that? David looks beyond, a little farther beyond the tabernacle. He loves to dwell in the house of God. He lives in his own house. David was not a priest, he was a king. He lives in his own house. I believe when David says, I dwell in the house of the Lord forever, he meant God's house in heaven. God's house, because of that personal relationship, that personal relationship with God has resulted into some precious moments in his life and then provisions in his life. Keep on praising God for who he is. Keep on thanking God for who he is. Keep on believing his word, his wonderful word in your life. And all the people say, amen. Let us pray. Find a partner tonight, and we will pray at least two minutes. And after that, I will close.