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TEACHING SERIES YAHVEH IS MY SHEPHERD #1
Shabbat shalom and Shnat Shabaton (Shabbat Year) dearly beloved: I began this Shabbat Year of 2007 with a fast and a retreat. As I was resting in prayer, The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) began to open before me the mysteries of Psalms 23, the favorite of many! This year He desires that we see Him as a Shepherd, a Hebrew Shepherd. It is therefore no surprise that this Eternal Psalm begins with a statement of PROVISION! “Yahveh is my shepherd I shall not want” Psalms 23:1 With us humans, the most important thing in life is that we are well provided for. In fact, if you ask anyone what is the source of most worries and anxieties, it is always about provision. People are willing to steal and even kill to satisfy their inner cravings and wants. Most marriages stick together very well when provision is plentiful, but when provision is lacking then strife begins and of course the famous “pointing of the finger”. It is your fault, my fault, their fault. Single mothers break their backs trying to provide alone for their children. In most households both parents work in order “to have enough” for the needs of the family. If you ask pastors what is the number one need of their congregations they will undoubtedly say “finances”. We are lacking for the building fund, the Sunday school fund, the widow’s fund, the missions program, etc…When you ask young people what they want to study or follow as a career, they will surely say that they want something that will bring in “enough money” They want a profitable career. In fact, most people choose their career according to how well it will provide. Is it a mistake that so many young people have fluctuated into “Business Administration” and the like? No, they want to be financially solvent. In some circles your ability to “make money” is equated with spirituality. The more money you are able to “make”, the more spiritual and close to God you are. But what is the opinion of YAH (God) in this matter? Yahveh is “Yahveh is my shepherd I shall not want”
The problem with orphans is that it is
very hard for them to trust authorities, parents or pastors. Their own mistrust
causes them to shipwreck their lives.
Even when a true parent or shepherd shows up in the scene of an orphan’s life,
(whether spiritual or physical orphan,) it is hard for them to honor, submit and
surrender to being cared for, nurtured and even disciplined for their own good.
For the most part orphans tend to be either CO-DEPENDANT or INDEPENDENT. The
co-dependant orphans are always needy and they will “suck you dry”. You can
never give them enough or care for them enough. It is very frustrating and
depleting to care for someone with an “orphan spirit”. Those that are
independent look better because they “mind their own business” and want you to
“mind yours”; unless they can get something out of you through manipulation. The
problem with the “independent orphans” is “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:15, 16 The only solution is to KNOW THAT YAHVEH IS! He is never absent. He is always present and you can always turn to Him. However, because of the orphan mentality, most people will judge YAH as absent if He does not do what they want, in the way they want and at the time they want. In that case, they will get bitter with Him and will begin to vent all the anger that they have bottled up against their absent parents or spiritual leaders on Him. When I say that Yahveh IS, I mean He ALWAYS IS in your PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE. It takes faith, trust and above all HUMILITY to enjoy His Presence. He will not be manipulated or coerced, He freely gives of Himself to those that hunger and thirst for Him and for His Presence. He gladly gives GRACE to the humble and needy that leans on Him. He is ALWAYS PRESENT. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 MY SHEPHERD “Yahveh is my shepherd I shall not want”
The second thing that we need to know in
order to walk with Him is that He is MY SHEPHERD! In other words though He may
have one million sheep, He is still my VERY PERSONAL Shepherd. He knows me by
name. He knows all about me. He is always watching my life and He knows what
is BEST for me! In other words His guidance, His nurturing and correction are
totally personal and impartial. He is never too busy to help me and or
discipline me. It is as if I am Most people are truly afraid of such intimacy, because most people have a lot to hide and true intimacy is very exposing. Truly a relationship with My Shepherd is s very exposing relationship. There is no use to hide. He knows all about me and He knows how to remedy every sick condition inside of me. He knows how to untwist me, unwind me, untangle me, correct me and make me whole. He knows when I need a kiss, a hug or the rod of correction. For those with an orphan spirit, intimacy with YAH can be very scary and very demanding. Such a relationship demands ABSOLUTE TRUST. It demands our following and obeying Him against our better judgment. Everything might say- “RUN and ESCAPE”. Yet He will be motioning us to follow. If we are to walk with the Shepherd, we are to trust Him when He leads us to the desert or the land flowing with milk and honey. We are to trust Him when He leads us to bitter waters or when He leads us to an oasis full of sweet water and seventy palm trees. He knows if I need the bitter waters to purge some old ungodly attitude or if I need the sweet dates to refresh my soul and be encouraged. He is My Shepherd, My Mentor, My doctor, My ALL. He knows BEST! Trust in Yahveh with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear Yahveh and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 I SHALL NOT WANT “Yahveh is my shepherd I shall not want”
WOOL OR NO WOOL THAT IS THE QUESTION Sheep some times need to be sheered of their wool. They walk “naked” for a while, but then new wool grows, which needs to be sheered again. The WOOL is the reward of the Shepherd. In Mexican slang, Wool is LANA and is a way of saying MONEY. We need to understand that all the life of the sheep, all their wool and EARTHLY POSSESSIONS belong to the Shepherd. He can do what He wants with it. We should be willing to give of ourselves to Him knowing that we are born for His Glory and His Glory alone! When we periodically give of ourselves and our “wool”, He gives us “more wool” for the next season, more provision for the next season! Though the wool will dress us and warm us up for a while, there will be a time when the Shepherd will sheer it and prepare us for another season of fruitfulness, provision and plenty. When sheep resist the sheering they get cuts and bruises as the Shepherd HAS to sheer them, even in spite of themselves. It is only trusting sheep that can be sheered “sweetly” without being hurt. Wise sheep give themselves willingly to the Shepherd to be sheered. If the wool is not taken periodically it becomes matted and attracts maggots and other unfriendly “bugs”. Whether with plenty of WOOL or without any WOOL, He knows best and I trust Him. It is in that absolute TRUST that we come to the place of absolutely NO LACK. We are made WHOLE inside. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through the Messiah who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 If we choose not to TRUST the Great Shepherd then this Scripture would read as follows: “Yahveh is absent in my life. I DO NOT TRUST Him. He is not my shepherd. I have no guidance, provision or correction and therefore I am broke and in moral, spiritual, emotional and relational bankruptcy.” Psalms ( -23:1) HOW CAN WE TRUST? The question that comes up immediately is how can we trust? Our life is built of experiences and for the most part these life experiences have taught us not to trust.
There is only one way to get there;
‘GRACE’. His Grace and His Grace alone helps us to trust Him. How can we get
this precious commodity that allows us to trust Him and not to lack? The answer
is HUMILITY: But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”[Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:6, 7 Humility will lead us to REPENTANCE of all heart attitudes that are an affront to Him and that obstructs our trusting like double mindedness, doubt, unbelief disobedience, anger, bitterness, immorality, idolatry and others. REPENTANCE will lead us to RESTORATION of RELATIONSHIP with Him, with others and to the much needed TRUST! “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Y’shua the Messiah, who was preached to you before” Acts 3:19, 20 Y’SHUA WILL BECOME PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU WILL NOT LACK! “Yahveh is my shepherd I shall not LACK” Psalms 23:1 In Shalom Your friends in Israel Bishop Dominiquae and Rabbi Baruch Bierman
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