<<<< the WORD on-line >>>>

(Sermon Notes by John Mitchell)

OPENING
We are an older group of people, having traversed God’s Road together for many years. And each one is different, a unique individual. We all are being melted, molded, and used by God in the plan He has for each of us, the ultimate goal being eternal life in the KOG!!
Although we are ALL ONE in purpose--we are ALL DIFFERENT in how we have traversed this path we have been lead on by the chief shepherd-JESUS CHRIST!! And just like the many who have gone before us, as we age-we not only REMEMBER-WE REFLECT!! Remember we DO--Reflect we LEARN and we STRENGHTEN!!

SPS
Today, let us follow in the footsteps of 4 biblical giants and learn and be strengthened by their reflection on their Christian life!!

BODY

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus is of course the greatest, the entire bible revolves around our SAVIOR and soon coming KING!! But He did lead a physical life, and spiritually depended on HIS chief shepherd-God the Father- for all His needs while walking this earth and setting us the example. At the age of 33 ½, Jesus came to a point where He knew His time was about up, that His Destiny to redeem mankind to God was about to be fulfilled.
JOHN 13-17=EXPOUND JESUS’S REFLECTION! HIS PEACE,JOY & LOVE!!

PAUL
ACTS 9-=EXPOUND-Paul’s calling and experiences of over 30 years as an Apostle of Jesus Christ!! This Paul--preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit--withstanding the attacks of the enemies of Christ in stoning-- beaten with rods-- jail (Philippi)--shipwreck, finally being allowed to preach the gospel for 2 years from a rented home in Rome. What a wonderful time that must have been to him, a little PEACE for a change. How he had longed for and believed that the resurrection would occur in his day!! How he had fought his own carnal sinful flesh as we read in Romans 7! But it was not to be, and as the years wore on, Paul realized it was for a future time. He was arrested, tried, and condemned to be beheaded by Nero-the narcissistic emperor of Rome who committed suicide. As his end neared, Paul became very reflective, and we find the account in the entire book of
2 TIMOTHY-EXPOUND!! CULMINATE IN CHAPTER 4!!

JOHN
1,2&3RD JOHN-EXOUND-John, the apostle of LOVE, who had been one of Jesus’ closest friends and faithful ministers. Who had preached the gospel for some 60 years, who had been persecuted by false ministers, who had been exiled to Patmos where he wrote Revelation, where upon return from Patmos went to Ephesus and became the bishop of Ephesus, and until the day he died of old age continued steadfastly in the TRUTH, REFLECTING on that TRUTH and passing it down to the next generation of God’s Servants.

DAVID
DAVID- The mighty King of Israel who reigned from 1005 BCE to 965BCE, the man after God’s own heart, although he had committed grievous sins against God. It was upon his heartfelt repentance that he earned that title. David, slayer of the giant Goliath as a teenager, a mighty warrior in battle and leader of men, at one time for some years pursued by Saul throughout the region to be killed. David--THE SHEPHERD BOY IN HEART!! He too became very REFLECTIVE on his life, and it is recorded for us in:
23RD PSALM-Follows the 22nd Psalms’ prophecy of Jesus’ Crucifiction!!
Let’s look at David’s reflection as he writes this Psalm in his later life.
V1-The Lord is MY Shepherd! Sheep are not wild animals, they are property, and as such are to be tended to, cared for, watered, fed and protected. It is not a question of IF, MAYBE, OR I HOPE SO- JESUS IS MY SHEPHERD. If He is a shepherd to no one else, he is to ME, Cares for, Watches over, Protects--In the Present Tense.
I Shall Not Want! Apart from God I will want! But under the Chief Shepherd I shall not lack for Temporal things-scripture says He feeds the ravens, and clothes the flowers. Many times I get to the bottom, but God always provides for me. Neither will I lack for Spiritual things-God’s grace is sufficient for me!! Not only do I NOT WANT, BUT I shall not WANT!!
V2-Green Pastures & Still Waters-Green pastures are the deep scriptures, and the peace of steadfastness in God & His word & the quietness of the spirit are the Still Waters!!
V3-He restores my soul-When your soul is sorrowful-He revives it again, when it is weak, he strengthens it!! He leads in the Paths of Righteousness We do NOT chose which to obey-He leads us on a straight and narrow path of revealed Truth.
V4-YES,Though I WALK-A walk is a steady gait-steady pace-steady ADVANCE, and it is ours who KNOW it’s road-it’s end-and the results of following God’s path. To WALK is to feel SAFE, CALM.
Through the valley of the SHADOW of death-Death in it’s substance has been removed by Jesus Christ. No shadow can kill anyone!! Even as we too will approach the end of our days, we are to Fear No Evil-no one, No thing, Not even Satan himself!! For Thou Are With me-Fearing nothing with Perfect Comfort and Security!! Thy Rod & Thy Staff-By which Jesus both GOVERNS & RULERS His flock (US). They Comfort Me-In every Situation & Emotion of Life God is our comforter.
V5-You Prepare A Table Before Me-We all have enemies-Jesus said we would have tribulation. A soldier in battle eats on the run-not a sheep of God’s. In the face of our trials, God continually lets us sit down and eat as if everything were in perfect peace.
You Anoint My Head With Oil-Filling us with the Holy Spirit every day. My Cup Runs Over-With ALL of God’s Provisions, Protection, and Promises and we ALL can say this.
V6-Surely Goodness & Mercy-Through Good Days & Bad-Feast & Fasting-Dark Days as well as the Days of Sunshine-GOODNESS-God’s care, protection, watching over us and MERCY-God’s MERCY that ever forgives us through the blood of Jesus!!
AND-We will, as a result of obedience to God and through the forgiveness of our sins, at the last trump-Rise to Eternal Life in the KOG!!

CONCLUSION
Jesus, Paul, John & David all reflected on their lives under the hand of Almighty God, and left their reflections for us today. As we reflect on our lives as well, learn from what God has done for us and what Jesus, our Chief Shepherd, has done and does for us every day of our lives. Like them- Our Future is Also Assured!!
To Him be the Honor and Glory Forever!!!!!

Text Size Larger / Text Size Smaller
REFLECTION
(Sermon Notes by John Mitchell) OPENING We are an older group of people, having traversed God’s Road together for many years. And each one is different, a unique individual. We all are being melted, molded, and used by God in the plan He has for each of us, the ultimate goal being eternal life in the KOG!! Although we are ALL ONE in purpose--we are ALL DIFFERENT in how we have traversed this path we have been lead on by the chief shepherd-JESUS CHRIST!! And just like the many who have gone before us, as we age-we not only REMEMBER-WE REFLECT!! Remember we DO--Reflect we LEARN and we STRENGHTEN!! SPS Today, let us follow in the footsteps of 4 biblical giants and learn and be strengthened by their reflection on their Christian life!! BODY JESUS CHRIST Jesus is of course the greatest, the entire bible revolves around our SAVIOR and soon coming KING!! But He did lead a physical life, and spiritually depended on HIS chief shepherd-God the Father- for all His needs while walking this earth and setting us the example. At the age of 33 ½, Jesus came to a point where He knew His time was about up, that His Destiny to redeem mankind to God was about to be fulfilled. JOHN 13-17=EXPOUND JESUS’S REFLECTION! HIS PEACE,JOY & LOVE!! PAUL ACTS 9-=EXPOUND-Paul’s calling and experiences of over 30 years as an Apostle of Jesus Christ!! This Paul--preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit--withstanding the attacks of the enemies of Christ in stoning-- beaten with rods-- jail (Philippi)--shipwreck, finally being allowed to preach the gospel for 2 years from a rented home in Rome. What a wonderful time that must have been to him, a little PEACE for a change. How he had longed for and believed that the resurrection would occur in his day!! How he had fought his own carnal sinful flesh as we read in Romans 7! But it was not to be, and as the years wore on, Paul realized it was for a future time. He was arrested, tried, and condemned to be beheaded by Nero-the narcissistic emperor of Rome who committed suicide. As his end neared, Paul became very reflective, and we find the account in the entire book of 2 TIMOTHY-EXPOUND!! CULMINATE IN CHAPTER 4!! JOHN 1,2&3RD JOHN-EXOUND-John, the apostle of LOVE, who had been one of Jesus’ closest friends and faithful ministers. Who had preached the gospel for some 60 years, who had been persecuted by false ministers, who had been exiled to Patmos where he wrote Revelation, where upon return from Patmos went to Ephesus and became the bishop of Ephesus, and until the day he died of old age continued steadfastly in the TRUTH, REFLECTING on that TRUTH and passing it down to the next generation of God’s Servants. DAVID DAVID- The mighty King of Israel who reigned from 1005 BCE to 965BCE, the man after God’s own heart, although he had committed grievous sins against God. It was upon his heartfelt repentance that he earned that title. David, slayer of the giant Goliath as a teenager, a mighty warrior in battle and leader of men, at one time for some years pursued by Saul throughout the region to be killed. David--THE SHEPHERD BOY IN HEART!! He too became very REFLECTIVE on his life, and it is recorded for us in: 23RD PSALM-Follows the 22nd Psalms’ prophecy of Jesus’ Crucifiction!! Let’s look at David’s reflection as he writes this Psalm in his later life. V1-The Lord is MY Shepherd! Sheep are not wild animals, they are property, and as such are to be tended to, cared for, watered, fed and protected. It is not a question of IF, MAYBE, OR I HOPE SO- JESUS IS MY SHEPHERD. If He is a shepherd to no one else, he is to ME, Cares for, Watches over, Protects--In the Present Tense. I Shall Not Want! Apart from God I will want! But under the Chief Shepherd I shall not lack for Temporal things-scripture says He feeds the ravens, and clothes the flowers. Many times I get to the bottom, but God always provides for me. Neither will I lack for Spiritual things-God’s grace is sufficient for me!! Not only do I NOT WANT, BUT I shall not WANT!! V2-Green Pastures & Still Waters-Green pastures are the deep scriptures, and the peace of steadfastness in God & His word & the quietness of the spirit are the Still Waters!! V3-He restores my soul-When your soul is sorrowful-He revives it again, when it is weak, he strengthens it!! He leads in the Paths of Righteousness We do NOT chose which to obey-He leads us on a straight and narrow path of revealed Truth. V4-YES,Though I WALK-A walk is a steady gait-steady pace-steady ADVANCE, and it is ours who KNOW it’s road-it’s end-and the results of following God’s path. To WALK is to feel SAFE, CALM. Through the valley of the SHADOW of death-Death in it’s substance has been removed by Jesus Christ. No shadow can kill anyone!! Even as we too will approach the end of our days, we are to Fear No Evil-no one, No thing, Not even Satan himself!! For Thou Are With me-Fearing nothing with Perfect Comfort and Security!! Thy Rod & Thy Staff-By which Jesus both GOVERNS & RULERS His flock (US). They Comfort Me-In every Situation & Emotion of Life God is our comforter. V5-You Prepare A Table Before Me-We all have enemies-Jesus said we would have tribulation. A soldier in battle eats on the run-not a sheep of God’s. In the face of our trials, God continually lets us sit down and eat as if everything were in perfect peace. You Anoint My Head With Oil-Filling us with the Holy Spirit every day. My Cup Runs Over-With ALL of God’s Provisions, Protection, and Promises and we ALL can say this. V6-Surely Goodness & Mercy-Through Good Days & Bad-Feast & Fasting-Dark Days as well as the Days of Sunshine-GOODNESS-God’s care, protection, watching over us and MERCY-God’s MERCY that ever forgives us through the blood of Jesus!! AND-We will, as a result of obedience to God and through the forgiveness of our sins, at the last trump-Rise to Eternal Life in the KOG!! CONCLUSION Jesus, Paul, John & David all reflected on their lives under the hand of Almighty God, and left their reflections for us today. As we reflect on our lives as well, learn from what God has done for us and what Jesus, our Chief Shepherd, has done and does for us every day of our lives. Like them- Our Future is Also Assured!! *To Him be the Honor and Glory Forever!!!!!*

REFLECTION