Chased by Grace

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Good morning church. How are we doing today? >> Come on, let's stand in worship. He is so worthy of everything we can give this morning. Come on, clap your hands. This is the day you made. So I will rejoice and be glad. Rejoice and be glad in [music and singing] it. This is where [music] I believe that you are more than [music and singing] enough. more than enough for me. You are [music] faithful to your promise. You are strong when I am [music] weak. When I'm standing [singing] in your presence, I [music] have everything I need. The joy of the Lord. The joy [music] of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord. Joy of the Lord is my strength. Oh [music and singing] my soul, bless his name. All that is within this [music] day. The joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is [music] my Jesus [music] come. You are [music] worthy of all. Worthy [singing] of all my praise. [music] You are faithful to your [singing] promise. You are strong [music] when I am weak. When I'm standing in your [music] presence, I have everything [singing] I need. The joy of the Lord, [music] the joy of the Lord is my strength. Oh, the [music] joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my [singing] strength. Oh my soul, bless his name. All that is within me [music] say the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Oh, [music] [music] overflowing Holy Spirit. Let it pour out with no limits overflowing. [singing] Holy [music] Spirit, let it rise up like a river [music] overflowing. [singing] Holy Spirit, [music] let it pour out with no limit [music] overflowing. Holy Spirit, [music] the truth. [music] Oh, oh, [music] the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my [singing] strength. >> [music] >> The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord is my strength. Oh my [music and singing] soul, bless his name. All that is within me say, oh [music and singing] my soul, bless his name. All that is within me say. [music] Oh my soul, bless his name. All [music] that is to get me saved. The joy of the Lord. The joy [music] of the Lord is my strength. Oh, [music] the Lord is my [music] strength. I got the joy. I got the joy. I've got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I've got the joy. [music] I've got the joy. I've got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the [music] Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of [music] the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. [music] I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I [music] got the joy. [singing] I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got [music] the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. [music] [music] [music] Oh my soul, bless his name. All that [music] is within me. Oh my soul bless his name. All that [music] is within me say. Oh my soul bless [music] his name. All that is within me say the joy of the Lord. The joy [music] of the Lord is my strength. [music] You are the Lord. Thank you Jesus. He's anointed God, though I cannot See, he's been working it out for me. Oh, [music] [singing] when the night seems low and my doubts run [singing] deep, I'm reminded of [music] all the ways, all the [singing] ways that he carried me. Oh, this is [music] my soul. [singing] still holding on. And as [music and singing] long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason. Jesus, you came in at the nick of time. Pull back the stones [music] that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. [music] Your love made a way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you [music] take good care of me. So all I can do is praise you. Praise you. Your love [music and singing] made a way. Oh, [music] [singing] made a way. I had to walk through [singing] fire. I wish I [music] knew all this back then. That it was only a testimony [music] of how you bring me out again. And I [music] was bound in shame. [singing] I couldn't break my own chains. Heading straight for the [singing] grave. Oh God, you [music] made a way. Oh, this [singing] is my soul. Still [music] holding on. Even as long [music and singing] as I'm free. And I've got a reason. Jesus, you came in at the nick of time. [music] Roll back the stones [singing] that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. [music] You love [singing] me away. I may not be where I want to be, but I know [music and singing] you take good care of me. So all I can do is [music and singing] praise you. Praise you. Your love made a way. [singing] [music] love [music and singing] made a way. >> He'll testify what he's done for you cuz he'll do it for [music] your neighbor, [singing] too. And if all I've learned here in this life is the sick I he will lie. When people praise, when people shout, Jericho wars come crashing [music] down. Where is your hope? Where is your faith? He's more than able. I know he'll test [music] justify what he's done for you. He'll do it for [music] your neighbor, too. And for what I've learned here in this [music] life, yes, the sick are healed and the devil rise. Where people pray, where people shout, where straight wing [music] down. Where is your hope? Where is your faith? [music and singing] He's more than able. I know the savior. Oh, you love me away. [singing] Oh, [music] you love me. >> Jesus, you came and [music] at the nick of time roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is [music] thank you. Thank you. You're away. >> I may not be where I want to be, but I know you say good. So all I [music] can do is praise you. Praise you. Your love fade away. >> Jesus, [music] you came in at the nick of time and roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can [music] do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made a way. [music and singing] I may not be where I want to be, but I know [music] you take good care of me. I praise you. Praise you. [music] [music] Your love [singing] made way. [music] >> [music] >> Your love [singing] made the way. >> Jesus, you came and at the nick of time. Roll [music] back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made a way. [music] Jesus, you came and I let the stones [music] that were in my life and all I knew is faith. Your love fade away. Jesus, you came in at the nick of time. Roll back the stones that were in [music] my life. And all I can do [singing] is thank you. Thank [music] you. Your love has made a way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you'll take me. Cuz all I can [music] do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made the way. Woke me up this morning. [music] Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me [music] up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got [music and singing] to ring you praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got to ring you praise. He woke me up [music] this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got to ring you praise. He [music] woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got to ring you praise. [music] He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food [music] on my table. I got a ring to praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food on [music] my table. I got to ring you praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food on [music] my table. I don't need to praise. You woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food [music] on my table. I don't need to pray. You woke me up this morning. Start [music] me on my way with food on my table. I got to praise. You woke me up this morning. Start me on [music and singing] my way with food on my table. I got to praise. [singing] Oh, [music] your love [music] made a way. >> I've got sweat in my eyes. I can't see anything. [laughter] [snorts] There it is. The Lord is my shepher and he has everything I need. So I will not worry but I will not doubt the enemy. He said that he loves me. He said that [music and singing] he's with me even though I walk through the valley with shadow [music] and death and still I know he has good he [music] >> has good plans. He [music] has good plans for me. So I know my father [music and singing] and all my father's >> good plans. [singing] I know my father and my father. >> The Lord is [music] my savior. So why should I doubt my victory? Why would I question the rod and the staff [music] that comforts me? He quiets the waterers. He quiets the storm inside [singing and music] of me so I could be better. The walking with him when I [music] believe he has good plans. He has good plans for me. So I will take [music] God in deserts. He has good plans. [music] He has good plans for me. If I know my [music] father, [singing] I know my father has. He has good plans. [music] for me. So I [music] will take God in deserts of God. He has good plans. [music] He has good plans for me. If I [music] know my father, I know my father. Good place. [music] Good place. My father know my father. He has good plans. Surely your goodness and mercy will follow after me. [music] So farwell now find me cuz I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Surely goodness and mercy will follow after me. You'll find me cuz [music] I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Surely your goodness and mercy will follow after me. So far well find me cuz I'll be dwelling in the house of God. Surely your [music] goodness and mercy will follow after me. [music] to feel well about me cuz I'll be dwell in the house of God. He has good plans. [music] He has good plans for me. [music] He has good plans. [music] He has for me. If I know my father, I know [music] my father has. Oh, he has [music] good place. [music] Oh. [music] >> [music] >> He [music] has good. Oh, Christ is my firm foundation. [music] Come on. You know this. My step was I put my faith in Jesus. He's never let me down. [music] So I would [music] he was [singing] [music] he was [music] I've still got joy in chaos. [singing] I've got peace that [music] makes no sense. So I [singing] won't be going under. [music] I'm not held by my own strength cuz I put my [music] life on Jesus. He's never let me down. He's faithful. [music] So why would he fail now? He was [music and singing] He was [music] He won't [music] He won't [singing] He won't [music] He [music] won't He won't [singing] fail. He won't [music] fail. [singing] Christ is my firm foundation, [music] the rock on [music] which I stand. [music] I've never [music] been more God, but I put my faith in Jesus. [music] So I [music] would be there now. He was [singing] [music] he won't [music] fail. He won't fail. [singing] [music] No, he won't. >> [music] [music] >> came [singing] when blue my house was [music] built on you. I'm safe with [music] you. I'm going to make it free. Make me [music] my house was built [singing] on you. I'm safe with you. >> [music] >> I'm [singing] going to make it through. >> Rain [music and singing] came when blue. My house was built [music] on [singing] you. I'm safe with [music] you. I'm going to [singing] make it. I'm going [music] to make it [singing] through. Cuz I'm [music] standing strong on you. I'm [music] going to make [singing] it through. Cuz my house was built on you. Christ [music] is my f foundation. The rock [music and singing] which I stand and everything around me shen. [music] I've never been before God, but I put my faith [music] in Jesus. He never [music and singing] let me down. through. [music] No, I [music and singing] would even now he was he was [music] he [music] was [singing] he Oh, [singing] he won't fail. [singing and music] He won't fail. No, he won't. Hallelujah. [singing] You have won the victory ring. [music] Hallelujah. [singing] You are worth it all. Cuz death could not [music] hold you down. [singing] You are the ris king. Oh, you [music] are seated [singing] in mesty. You are the risen king. [music] Hallelujah. [singing] [music] You have won [singing] the victory. Oh yeah. Hallelujah. [music and singing] You have [music and singing] won it all for me. Cuz death [music and singing] could not hold you down. Oh, you are the ris [music] king. Oh, you are seated [singing] in [music] mesty. Oh, [music] >> you are [singing] the risen king. [music] Just the voices we sing hallelujah. >> Hallelu. >> You have won [singing] the victory. [music] Hallelu. [singing] You have one it all for me. Death could not [singing] hold you down. >> You are the ris [singing and music] king. Yeah. seated in mesty. [music and singing] >> You are the ris king. [music] We invite you in [music] this place, Holy Spirit. [singing] [music] Your name [singing] is the highest. Your [music] name is the greatest. Your name stands [music] above them all. We worship all foes and dominions, all powers and positions. [music] Your name stands [singing] above it all. Your name is the [music and singing] highest. Your name is the greatest. Your name [music] stands [singing] above all. All thrones [music] and windings, all powers and positions. [music] Your name stands [singing] above. Oh, your name is the highest. Your name [music] is the highest. Your name is the greatest. [singing] Your name stands above all [music] and the king [singing] of God and position. [music] Your name stands [singing] above the world. Your name, your [music] name is the highest. Your name is [music] the greatest. [singing] Your name stands above them all. All forms and [music] dominions, [singing] all powers and position. Your name stands [music and singing] above them all. And the angels cry. Holy [singing] all creation cries. Holy. [singing] [music] You are lifted high, holy, [music] holy forever. >> And your people sing and your people sing. Holy to the King of Kings. Holy. [music] You will always [singing] be holy. [singing] [music] Holy forever. We sing again. Your angels [music] cry. Holy [singing] creation cries. [music] Holy. [singing] You are lifted high, holy, [music] holy [singing] forever. And your [music] people sing. And your people [singing] sing. Holy [music] to the King [singing] of Kings. Holy. [music] You [singing] will always be, oh, [singing] [music] holy forever. You will always be holy, [music] holy forever. Come on, focus on him. We worship. You will always [singing] [music] be holy, holy forever. >> You will always be holy, holy [singing] forever. You are holy Lord, holy forever and ever and ever and ever. Always holy. All the angels cry. All the people sing holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Father, we worship you in this place today. We glorify [music] your name. Hallowed [singing] be your name. Glorious God. Beautiful one. Majesty, we bow before your throne. We thank you, Lord. seated in heavenly places. Far above principalities and power, FAR ABOVE SICKNESSES, FAR ABOVE DISEASES, FAR ABOVE THE TORMENTS, FAR ABOVE POLITICS. Seated in heaven, only you reign in majesty. Father, we thank you. Oh Jesus, we woke up THIS MORNING. YOU STARTED US ON OUR WAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU. WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING. You put food ON OUR TABLE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU. WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING. WE CAN LIFT OUR LEGS. WE CAN WALK AROUND. FATHER, WE THANK YOU. OUR JOY IS FULL. The Bible SAYS, "THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. I'VE GOT joy inside me." Ah, Jesus replies you. Joy is a fetcher. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT JOY. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT JOY. IT'S A FETCHER. IT CONNECTS. IT IS CONTAGIOUS. THE JOY of the Lord is my strength. >> Father, we worship you. Thank you for joy in this place. Joy overflow. UNSPEAKABLE JOY. JOY IN A GRIEVING HEART. JOY IN A SICK BODY. JOY IN THE HEART THAT IS DISPRESSED. JOY EVERYWHERE. Joy overflow, >> joy in abundance. >> FATHER, WE THANK YOU. >> HALLELUJAH. >> OH, the veil is lifted. It is lifted. THE COVERING IS GONE. THE DARK CLOUDS WILL PASS AWAY AND JOY WILL COME. A NEW RAIN WILL FALL AND IT SHALL BE JOY UNSPEAKABLE. FATHER, we connect to joy. Joy like never before. Joy in our workplace, joy in our relationships, joy in the church, joy in the family, joy everywhere. >> [music] >> Hey, you need to be joyful in this. He woke me up this [music] morning. Started me on my way. The food on my table. I got a reason to praise. [music] He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way. The food on my table. I got a reason to praise. [music] He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. [music] He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way to food on my table. I got to [music] win you praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food [music] on my table. I got to reach you praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food [music] on my table. I got to ring you praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me [music] on my way with food on my table. I got to win [singing] praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me [music] on my way with food on my table. I got to reach your praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on [music] my way with food on my table. I got to reach your praise. You woke me [music] up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason [music] to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on [music] my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. [music] He's got me on my way. The food on my table. I got a praise. Oh Jesus. [music] Come on. Rejoice. [music] >> Express your joy. >> Your [music] love [singing] made way. >> You made [music] us Jesus. But it felt like there was none. Lord, there is none like you. That's what your love does. Jesus. Jesus. >> Jesus. [music] >> It says the joy of the Lord is my strength. Psalm 16:11, it says in God's presence there is fullness of joy. It is not a half joy. It is a fullness of joy. I don't know who has got joy on the inside. You are holding it. You need to LET IT OUT. THERE IS JOY IN THIS PLACE. There is joy. You cannot fake joy. When the fullness of joy comes on you, IT IS NOT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. IT IS NOT THE INVESTMENT. IT IS THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD HAS GOT YOUR BACK. NO matter what, there is fullness of joy. [laughter] One of the things that is impossible for God to do is to lie. Another thing impossible is for him to fail. He cannot fail. Thank you, Jesus. Oh my God. Joy of the Lord. Joy overflow. Joy like never before. I want to live in joy. I want to [music] experience joy. I want to be a distributor of joy. I want to be a distributor of joy. I WANT WHEN THEY COME AROUND ME, THEY LIVE WITH JOY. I WANT TO BE the joy overflow. A channel FLOWING JOY LEFT, RIGHT, AND CENTER. Joy in this place. Father, we pray that the clouds are over. The dark clouds are over. [music] We take them off in this place. It is prophetic on anyone experiencing dark clouds. [music] It is over. It is gone. It is gone. The depressing cloud is gone. The clouds are over. That of impossibility is gone. It is shifted. It is gone. And that cloud of guilt, it is gone. The joy of the Lord is our strength. [music] It is prophetic. I don't know if you came here weak, downtrodden. I didn't come here with this spirit myself. It came up when I came up. But the joy of the Lord, >> there is something about the joy of the Lord when it comes on you, when it's in you, it's not only for you, it goes around you. It goes before you. It sets the crooked places straight. It makes our generation great again. I don't know if you're here in the morning and you say, "I've got no joy in me." And you want us to pray for you. Someone will connect with you. The atmosphere is [music] joy, but you think that there's a cloud over me. I need this cloud to be over. If you raise your hand, someone will come to you. Someone will lay their hands with you and they will [music] pray joy. They will pray the fullness of joy. The fullness of joy because in his presence there is fullness of joy. At his right hand are pleasures forever more. Father, we pray fullness of joy in the spirits, in the souls, in this body. We pray that they will smile. They will find the gladness of God, [music] the inspiration of God, the shalom of God, the peace of God that supersedes human understanding. Father, we pray joy overflows. Joy flows in their system. It flows in their body. It quickens their mortal BODIES. UH JOY REPAIRS THE SICKNESSES. Joy fixes the issues. Uh in the name of Jesus, MARITAL CLASHES, UH JOY COMES in it. We pray for you Jesus in the name of Jesus. WE DECREE THAT HOME THAT IS ALMOST BROKEN, joy comes in it. We speak and we decree. We speak that relationship that is broken. We pray joy comes in. Joy fix it. We decree joy overflow. >> I got the joy. I got the joy. >> It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of [music] the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. I [music] got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the [music] joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the [music] joy. Can you be on your feet, please? Joy. Can you express your joy? I got the joy. Show your joy. Show your joy. Joy [music] is not here. It's the joy of the joy of the Lord. If you can't joy, I [music] got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the [music] joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. So, let's dance. Let's joy. [music and singing] It's the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord. Yeah. [music] It's the joy of [singing] the Lord. It's the joy. [music] Joy. Let's bring it. Father, we thank you. Thank you for your joy in this [music] place. Joy unending. Joy unending. Joy like a river. Joy like a river. It never stops. It keeps flowing. Joy like a river. Joy overflow. Let's go down. I got the joy. Got the joy. [music] I've got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. [music] I got the joy. It's the joy of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of [music] the Lord. It's the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. You ready? I got the joy. [music] I got the joy. I got the joy. Yes. The joy of the Lord. The joy [music] of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the [music] joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy [music] of the Lord. It's the joy of the Lord. I got the joy. I got the joy. I got the joy. It's the joy of [music] the Lord. Joy of the Lord. I got the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my [music] strength. The joy of the Lord. The joy of the [music] Lord is [singing] my strength. Oh my soul, bless [music and singing] his name. All that is within me. Say the joy [music] of the Lord. The joy of the Lord [singing] is my strength. I've got the joy. Weep him and endure for a night only for a night. But the Bible says in the morning joy cometh. >> AH THANK GOD THAT THIS IS OUR good morning. [laughter] Last night was the night. But joy cometh this morning. And so my pain is gone. My shame is gone. My guilt is gone. The persecution's gone. I FACE JOY. I REAP JOY. I walk in joy. I dance joy. It looks like those who were in the upper room. The Bible described them. It says that when they were taken over by the spirit, a lot of people thought they were drunk, but they had the joy. There was something on their inside. And the Bible says the joy is also the fruit of the spirit. When you got joy, you've got God. The [music] joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength. [music] The joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Oh my soul, bless his [music and singing] name. All that is within me, say, Oh my soul, bless [music] his name. All that [singing] is within me, say, Oh my soul, bless his [music and singing] name. All that is within me say the joy of [music] the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my worth. [music] Come on, lift up his name. Jesus. [music] You're worthy. We thank you Lord Jesus [music] for your presence. >> A shout of victory. Thank you Lord. >> Thank you. >> Thank [music] you for joy. >> Thank you for lifting the veil. >> Thank you the clouds [music] are gone. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Can we be seated in this [music] place? Can we put our hands together for the band again? And please be seated. Put our hands together for the time. Please be seated. Please be seated. There's something about joy. Don't forget, you may just be getting home and you get on your door and you do some step because joy is still on your inside. [laughter] There is something about joy. You may be in your car hearing the radio and YOU SCREAM OUT LOUD BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING about joy. >> It's on the inside and it flows around you. This week, share joy to everyone around you. Share joy to the family. Share joy to your friends. Make the joy go around. You're a distributor of joy. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Can we take our offerings and our tithe? Um, we believe in giving in this place. Um, if you're new here, you're not compelled to be part of this, but if you believe in it, you can also be a part of it. Um, we can give by using the card. You can also give with cash or uh hopefully the QR code is working now. Um but you can try it. If not, you can also tap with the machine. [music] Um the kids, can we prepare the children to go for the kids church as they go around to play some joyful plays there? [laughter] Children, are you ready for that joy moment? >> [music] >> Glory to God for a time of ministration to introduce to some and present to others a father in the house. Spectacular awardsmith rooted in the word of God. I'd like you to please celebrate as we bring up for a time of message Pastor Phil. Please put your hands together for him. Celebrate your home. Celebrate him. Celebrate him. >> Good morning everyone. >> Am I on? >> It's warm, isn't it? Goodness, you should be up here. You know, heat rises. It's warm up here, but it's a good day to be in the house of God. And uh you know, God has got good things for each and every one of us. And we've got to start believing it. We've got to start confessing that and declaring that that God has good things. He's got good plans for us. You know that? >> Anybody here this morning? He's got good plans for us. >> The trouble is we like to believe the lies that tell us otherwise. That problem is that we listen to lots of voices, lots of noise around us, lots of information that tells us otherwise. But God has good plans for us. >> He's got good plans for you this morning. And that's why the joy of the Lord can overtake us because God is a good God. He's got good plans for every single one of us. So this morning I I want to look at Psalm 23. Is that okay everybody? It's a It's a psalm I guess everybody can at least recite some of. Yeah. You know what it is? >> No. The Lord is >> my shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Yeah. He makes me lie down in green pastures. And so I want to talk this morning about being chased by grace. Chased by grace. God is in the business of running. We listen to the the prodical son story a few weeks ago. The father ran to meet the prodical son that was returning home. The father didn't stand there with his arms folded thinking when you're good enough. If you make all the effort, you can come. No, the father saw him and he ran to him. He threw his arms around him. He put a a cloak on his back. He put sandals on his feet. Listen, he put a ring on his finger. God loves the business of running. And God is a God that chases after us. And this morning I want to look at the whole passage of Psalm 23, chased by grace. See, God isn't just keeping you safe. He is chasing you down with his passion, with his protection. He's chasing you down with his his provision and his purpose. The Bible of course shows us that God's protective love for his people is frequently in the Bible depicted as a shepherd who leads. God is a a shepherd who gathers. He's a shepherd that carries his people. If we look in the Old Testament, we find that many of Israel's greatest leaders like King David and Moses began their lives as shepherds. In the New Testament, Jesus is called the good shepherd. In John 10, he says, "I am the good shepherd." The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. God shows the difference between himself and the hired hands that come to look after the sheep. See, they run when there's danger, but the shepherd protects the sheep. He stays with the sheep. He shows his deep and personal love for the sheep. In Hebrews 13:20, it speaks of the Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. And so, the Bible is all about shephering. Do you know even leaders of God's people are called shepherds? How many of you know a shepherd doesn't drive the sheep? Not a true shepherd. A shepherd leads the sheep. A true shepherd speaks and the sheep listen and hear his voice and their trust is great toward the shepherd and they follow the shepherd. In the western world, we got it upside down. We think it's right to get dogs out and drive the sheep. But the ancient practice of particularly in the Middle East and the East is very much about the shepherd leading his flock to safety or leading his flock to pastures green. Three points this morning. Number one, Jesus provides for the sheep. If you turn to Psalm 23, you'll see in there verses 1 to3, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Lord is my shepherd. He restores my soul. Say with me this morning, the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. That's what the The the New Century Version says, "I have everything I need." Not just, "I shall not want." See, that's old English, isn't it? But the translation is, "I have everything I need because he's a good shepherd." Say with me, "The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need." >> The Lord is also my provision. >> It isn't my employer. >> Yes. Say with me, "The Lord is my shepherd." Or, "The Lord is my shepherd." How about that this morning? Not just the Lord, but the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. The Lord is my provision. It's not my state benefits. It's not my pension. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. You see, none of us today. Live in a culture that understands that God is our provider. We live very much in a culture that says we must go out and find work. And listen, it's not wrong to work. The Bible's very clear about the importance of finding work. But God is always intended to be our source, our provision. One of his names is Jehovah Gyra. The Lord provides. I love the fact the children of Israel when they left Egypt and they went across the Red Sea into the wilderness which they spent 40 years wandering around, God was their provision. every day fresh bread. God provides. God is our source. And somehow in our western thinking, we've got to get beyond the fact that I can take care of my needs to actually God is the one who is my source and my provision. My trust is in the Lord. Does that mean I don't go out to work? Of course not. Because the Bible's clear that we work. But our source isn't our employer. >> Our source is the Lord. Here's our provider. You don't belong to your past. You do not belong to your mistakes. You do not belong to your economic circumstances. You are the sheep of his pasture. You belong to the great shepherd who leads you, who feeds you, who looks after you, who protects you. The sheep trust the shepherd to provide everything they need. The Bible calls him El Shai. The best Hebrew translation of that is the many breasted one. That's the literal translation. It means he is more than enough. You can never ever take that God can't provide. He is all sufficient. He is the one who is more than enough. He is the God of supply. He will meet every need. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. I love what Philippians 4:19 says. And my God, it's one of my favorite scriptures. and my God shall supply all your wants. >> No, no. See, I would rather like a Lamborghini. >> God isn't going to provide that for me, I don't think, because it's a want. I hardly need it. I don't need the insurance on it, that's for sure. Nor do I need the amount of petrol I have to put in it either. No. My God shall supply all your >> Come on, say it with me. All your >> need according to his riches. Notice this word. His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He is all sufficient. He is El Shadai. He is more than enough. That great shepherd's warehouse never runs empty. He is a God of supply. He's also a God of sustenance. He sustained the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years with that fresh manner. It translates what is it? Because the children of Israel looked at this stuff out of heaven and they didn't recognize it. What is it? And so every day they got what is it? This manner God provided it for them. Jesus taught us to pray this way. Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Then he goes on to say in verse six, give us this day our daily bread. See Jesus just going back to what happened with the children of Israel. Every day God provided. Jesus said, "Pray this way. Give us today our daily bread." What does that mean? It means what I need today, God provide this for me. Now listen, it's not simple. Well, it is simple. We complicate it. We simply have to learn trust in God. We simply have to put our faith in God's providing and trust him that he will do that. He's promised to. But everything we have in the kingdom comes by faith. And somewhere we've got to get beyond the natural inclination to to kind of doubt this because of the culture we live in and actually come to that place where we wow God if you don't provide. But I trust you give us this day our daily bread. Jesus himself in in John 6 calls himself the bread of life. He compares himself with the mana that was provided to the children of God in the wilderness. While manifed the body temporarily, Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. If you eat of me, you'll never be hungry again." Jesus provides everlasting spiritual nourishment and Jesus wants to daily feed our spiritual hunger with fresh mana. He is a God of sub sustenance. He's also a God of strength. This morning we've talked about the joy of the Lord is a what a wonderful way you led us in that this morning. That was fantastic. Amazing. And I hope this morning your faith is built up. Listen, we come into the house of the Lord this morning. How we come? We come looking to Jesus. He is the the author of everything that we need. He's the source of it all. We come and let God loose in our lives as we meet together. He is a God of strength. He revives our exhausted spirit when we feel we're running on empty. Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that you might have life." We need to remind oursel of this off more often. I've come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. >> Don't we? >> We need to remind oursel of this, don't we? >> Jesus is the good shepherd. He provides for an overflowing life, not a barely surviving life. I love the the passage of Isaiah 40. I once preached on Isaiah 40, at least the first few verses of it for a year. So they tell me our Bibles used to open up automatically Isaiah 40. Just open the Bible and it fell open at Isaiah 40. But I love Isaiah 40. And I love the bit at the end of it in in verses 29 to31. It says, "He gives power to the weak." Feeling weak this morning? Here's some power. To those that have no mighty and creative strength, feeling that you need some strength. He's your source. Even the youth may faint and be weary. Come on, you young guys that think you've really got it together with the, you know, the acrobatic stuff that you do outside on a Sunday morning after church. Even the youth may faint to be weary. The young men may utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their >> shall renew their >> strength. They shall rise up >> or mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. He is the God of strength and Jesus provides for the sheep. Number two, Jesus protects the shadow. Look at verse four. Yay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and staff, they comfort me. What a great declaration this morning. I will fear no evil. I will fear no evil for you are with me. There's so much fear in the world today. There's so much fear in our neighborhoods, in the workplace, in society, online, in social media. There's so much to worry about, to get afraid about. And fear isn't satisfied with our thought life. Like as a disease, it wants to dominate every waking hour. It affects our whole being. It affects our health. It's a disease that wants to dominate. But with an act of will. How many of us can do that this morning? Just put our shoulders back this morning. And with an act of will. With an act of will. Declare this. I will fear no evil. Can you do that? >> I will fear no evil. And again, come on this morning. I will fear no evil for you are with me. God is with us. I love the fact he's promised never to leave us nor forsake us. He said, "Lo, I'm with you even to the ends of the earth." God is with us. He's for us. I need to declare this on a daily basis. I will fear no evil. How can we be confident to make this declaration? Well, he is a God of presence. You you you are never isolated because the Holy Spirit walks with you. He is the pariclete. He's the one that comes alongside to help. He is just like Jesus. Jesus said, "When I go, I will send a pariclete, another pariclete, a comforter, helper to be with you." He is with us. He comes alongside to help us. He's the active guide in our situation, our counselor. He is our comforter. He's the source of divine strength. He walks with us and he talks with us. Remember those men on the way to to Emmas in the in the New Testament? Jesus had died and they were discouraged and a man came and walked with them. They didn't realize at the time, but it was Jesus. He walked with them and he talked with them and eventually revealed himself to them. Listen this morning, the Holy Spirit walks and talks with you on a daily basis. We just need to get better at listening. dis distinguishing the voice of noise around us to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking saying this is the way walk in it he walks with us he talks with us Isaiah 41:10 so do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you do we believe it this morning >> yes >> that he is with us and he will strengthen and he will help us. We do not need to be dismayed. He's the God of of presence. He's also the God of power. The shepherd's rod here in Psalm 23 was like a wooden club. It was used to protect the flock from predators like wolves and lions. Used the rod to get them out and clear them away. for us as the sheep of his pastures. The rod actively smashes the schemes of the enemy. Jesus said, "Pray this way, our father in heaven." He says, um, "Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. deliver us from the evil or from the evil one. Deliver us. It's a daily prayer. Listen, God takes the rod and he smashes the predators out of the way as we put our confidence and faith in Jesus. Here's the promises of Isaiah 43:2. When you pass through the fire or through the waters, I will be with you. Through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. See, the promise of God is not just for fires and valleys, but the guarantee of his power and his presence when we're going through them. God is with us on the mountaintop. God is with us in the valley. God is with us when the going is good. God is with us when it's a pain in the neck. God is is with us. He is a God of power. He's also a God of peace. The good shepherd's staff gently pulls us back when fear grips our mind. When the paralyzing shadows of the valley try to overwhelm us, the staff is put out to pull us back. The staff, remember, was used to to rescue a a lamb from a a pit just to pull it back to safety again. Aren't you glad that God does that for us, too? The Lord is my helper. Rather, Hebrews 13:6, the Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. He is a God of peace and he protects us in the shadows. Number three, and lastly this morning, I'll be brief. There's promotion before the slanderer. There's promotion before the slander. Look at verses five and six in Psalm 23. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. There's preparation. God sets up a feast of victory while the enemies of us watch. In those days, in the times that these passages were written, a host was obligated to safeguard vis visitors from all enemies at all costs. And so, he would prepare a table out in the open. And God publicly honors and restores us in full view of those that oppose us. In fact, no aspiracy can diminish God's sovereignty, can take away his protection, can uh denounce his his uh blessings in your life. See, the good shepherd, he surprises us with his intimacy. He provides a table for us with his refreshment, a table full of of good things, his abundance, even when the enemies surround us. So rather than waiting for life to get easier, God invites us to experience his goodness right in the messy middle. You finding it difficult at the moment? Are there tough times? Listen, God has prepared a table for you. Sit and feast on what God provides. Sit and feast on his love and his grace towards you. He's chasing you down with his grace. There's preparation, but there's also pouring. He pours your head with fresh oil of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:8, the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. The oil of anointing is cosmetic. In 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 15, now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. For you are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. Listen, the oil of anointing of the Holy Spirit is fragrance. means we smell like him. We smell like Jesus. He pours the oil upon our heads and we smell like him. It's cosmetic, but it's also functional. It breaks bondages. The oil of anointing breaks bondages. Isaiah 10:27, "The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." You know, sometimes we can feel bound up with all sorts of things. Habits that we can't get rid of in our lives. Habits that dominate our lives. Listen, the oil of anointing can break that bondage. God wants to set people free. How many of you know God doesn't intend for us to to remain in difficult things that we are trapped in that we can't free oursel from? God is a God of freedom. And today, maybe God is just speaking to one or two about this. Listen, bondages can be broken. Why don't you get anointed with oil and prayed for in the name of Jesus and receive freedom from some of those habits and addictions that can hold our lives captive. James 14 says, "If anyone among you is sick, let him call for the elders of the church. Let them pray over him, anointing him or her with oil in the name of the Lord. The anointing oil that brings healing. So sometimes we just need a call for the lead to say, "Come on, can you anoint me with oil and pray? I need healing in the name of Jesus." And so there is preparation, there's pouring, and finally there's pursuit. His goodness and his mercy will chase you down forever. The prodigal son thought he could run to a distant country, but the love of the father was ever there for him. I don't know whether today you're a prodal, whether God is speaking into your heart and life, even as I'm speaking now saying, "That's you. That's me. That's me. I'm way away from God. Listen, God is wanting to chase you down today. Chased down by his grace. Chased by his love. His goodness and mercy will chase you down forever. Surely the goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Do you know that word surely? Surely. This means absolute faith and conviction. Surely with faith and conviction, his goodness and mercy will chase you down forever. It's a declaration that despite love's life's hardship or adversaries, chased by grace, chased by grace is a guaranteed reality. Goodness, goodness and mercy. Goodness. This is God's tangible blessings, his provision, the beautiful beneficial things he brings into our lives. Mercy. This is God's loyal, unfailing love, his wonderful grace, his caring compassion that despite our shortcomings, he still welcomes us. Goodness and mercy shall follow me. Unlike being chased down by enemies, this is God chasing us with grace. God's goodness and mercy act as this constant, this active companion that tracks us down wherever we go. Regardless of whether our day-to-day circumstances feel positive or negative, we're chased down by his goodness and his grace. All the days of my life, don't you just love that? Not just for today. Not just for today. All the days of my life. Being chased by God isn't reserved only for good days when you're feeling good, but it remains steadfast during times of grief, uncertainty, difficulty, a feeling of of alienation from God, sin, or whatever may come in the way. All the days of my my life, we're being chased down by God's goodness and his mercy. from overflowing cups to unexpected [music] feasts. Psalm 23:5 reminds us that God's presence is not distant, but is deeply personal. He meets us in the valleys. He protects us at the table and fills our life with more than we can contain. There's promotion before the slander. There's protection in the shadow. There's provision for the sheep. Let's stand together. Isaiah 53:6 says this, "All of us like sheep have strayed away. We have left God's path to follow our own. But the Lord God laid on him, Jesus, the sins of us all. In these moments that these last few moments that follow, it's a call to surrender. See, if God chases us down with his grace and his love and his compassion, his provision, his protection. Surely, we need to surrender to him. Surely, we need to stop trying to work it all out ourselves and just say, "God, I surrender to you. I surrender to your ways. All of us here today, all of us like sheep, we've gone astray. We've gone our own way. We've left God's path. We follow our own way. But Jesus hung and died on the [music] cross 2,000 years ago so that my sin, your sin, could be laid upon him as he died. that he could take the punishment that was rightfully mine for going astray and going my own way and doing my own thing. And Jesus died in order that we might live. that if we will put our trust in the Jesus that rose again from the dead, the Bible says we can our sins can be forgiven and we can have right standing with God. We can have relationship with God restored and we can know that not only now but one day we can be with him forever and ever. So, I want to just uh I want to just say a prayer over us. And today you want to say, "God, I've tried it all my own way, but God, I choose to surrender to you today. Come into my life. Be my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sin. wipe away all the wrong things that I've done, all the shame and the guilt and make me a brand new person. I'm going to say a prayer. If you say this prayer in your heart today and you mean this prayer, I'm going to ask you at the end of the prayer if you'd raise your hand if you've said this prayer and meant it. not to embarrass you, but simply to acknowledge you and to come and chat with you afterwards. Let's pray. Dear Lord Jesus, my name's Phil. You might want to put your name in there. I come to you today. I acknowledge that you are my good shepherd. I recognize Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I confess that I've tried to do things my own way and to ask for your forgiveness. I can I surrender my life to you. Thank you for laying down your life on the cross and restoring me. And even when I walk through the darkest [music] valleys, I will not fear because you are with me. I place my trust in your grace and I thank you for the promise of eternal life in Jesus name. Amen. Just my heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning. If you said that prayer and meant that prayer today, just where you are, just raise a hand. Just going to just for a moment just pause. But if you said that prayer mentioned today, just where you are, just raise a hand and then you can put it straight back down again. Anybody today? Just one last call. I mentioned the oil of of healing today and the oil of deliverance. If that triggered in you a response, why don't you come forward as we sing a couple of songs to end with and some of the leaders will gather around you and anoint you with some more which I'm sure we'll find uh some oil. We can anoint you with oil this morning. God bless you. The Lord is my shepher. He has [snorts and singing] everything [music] I need. So I will not worry. I will not fail the enemy. He said that he loves me. He said that he's [music] with [singing] me even though I walk through the valley. The shadow of [singing] death and still I know he has good plans. He [music] has good plans for me. [singing] I will take heart in deserts [music and singing] and go. He has good plans. He has [singing] good plans for me. If I know [music and singing] my father, I know my father has good place. The Lord is my savior. [music] So why should I doubt my [singing] victory? Why would I [music] question the run and the staff that comforts me? He quiets the waters. [singing] He quiets [music] the storm inside of me so I could be better [singing] than walking [music] with him when I believe he has good [singing] plans. He has good plans [music] for me. The Lord God [music] in deserts and garden. He has good plans. He has good [music and singing] plans for me. If I know my father, I know [music] my father has. He has good plans. He has good [music and singing] plans for me. So I will take [music] He has good plans. He has [music] good grounds for me. If I know [music] my father, I know my father has good place. [music] He has good things. [music] [music] Surely your goodness and mercy will follow after me. [music] So far well find me [singing] cuz I'll be dwelling in the [music] house of God. Surely your goodness and [music] mercy will follow after me. So be well cuz I'll be [music] dwell in the house of God. Surely your goodness will [music] follow after me. So feel well now find me cuz I'll [music] be dwell in the house of God. your name. Your goodness and mercy [music] will follow after me. So will not find me [music] cuz I'll be dwell in the house of God. He has good [music] plans. He has good for me. So I will [music] say God in deserts this morning. He has good [music and singing] plans. He has good plans for me. [music] If I know my father, I know my father. [music] Follow my father. I know my father. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> He has good [singing] things. >> [music] >> Come on, let's church. Let's worship our way out here. [music] Want to dance like David. Want to faith like Paul. Want to sing like silence tearing down the prison [music] walls. Want to face that fire. Won't burn me though. God's got my back [music] shot like be shak. Want to walk like Moses ride through the waves. One day I'll see that promise that [music and singing] no longer stays. The fear is talking. No, can't take out my faith. I'm going to praise. I'm going to praise. [music] I'll praise the mountain body raising breaker of chains. Going to praise. [singing] I'm going to [music] praise. I'll praise the heaven seated undefeated highest names. That's who I praise. That's who [music] I praise. That's who I praise. [singing] like Mary. Want to break my face. Want to sleep [music] like Daniel. Even in the lion's ging promise just like Jero. [singing] Yeah, I know I will [music] make it full. I'm going to praise. I'm going to praise. I'll praise the mountain. [music] Moving body raising breaker of chains. Going to praise. I'm going [music] to praise. I praise the heaven [singing] seated undefeated highest [music] names. That's who I praise. Yeah. I praise the God who's proven he can do impossible things. That's [music] who I [singing] praise. Oh, that's who I praise. That's who [music] I praise. He is the lion of Judah. He is [music] the lamb [singing] who was slain. The only one who's [music] worthy, worthy, worthy [singing] of all of his names. That's who I praise. He is the [music and singing] risen Messiah. He is the ancient of days. The only one who's worthy, worthy, worthy of [music] all of his names. That's who I praise. I'm going to praise. I praise the mountain moving body raising breaker of [music] chains. [singing] Going to praise. I'm going to praise. I praise the head and seated undefeated highest. [music] That's who I praise. I praise the God [music] who's proven he can do impossible things. That's who I [music and singing] praise. That's who I praise. That's [music] who I praise. [music] That's who I praise. That's who I praise. Want to love like Jesus. That kind of grace. [music] Want to live like I got no more precious time to waste. Going to give [music] him glory with all my thanks. Cuz there's no greater, stronger, higher name, and that's who I praise. [singing] >> Hey church, [music] thanks for worshiping with us today.