Sermon in LLC Winter Services 2016, Phoenix 27.02.2016

As we continue our services this afternoon, we ask of God with prayerful hearts that He would bless us as He has until this moment with His blessings of His Word. I will read for our service this afternoon the 23rd Psalm. And the words are as follows in Jesus' name.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of God. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, you were expecting on your program to see Mati Gontkinen. It was our hope that Mati could still be here. In fact, it was my hope up until just a few moments ago, expecting that he would come through the back door. But Mati has been sick the last few days. He's feeling better today. He's up in Prescott Valley with his wife, Eva. Now, today, Eva got sick. So, they are there convalescing in Prescott Valley. So, Mati's not here. But I wanted to bring greetings in the beginning to you brothers and sisters, as others have from their home congregation. Home congregation of Rockford.

Also, greetings from earlier in the week. I was able to go and visit our dear sister in faith, Judith Reynolds, in prison there at the Perryville Prison on Thursday. It was a very, very nice opportunity. I was able to go there. She's due to get out soon, in the next month or so from the prison. And she's looking forward to the opportunity where she can gather. When I told her that we were here for the winter services, I remember originally her plan was to be released from prison for these services, but things have been delayed, as they often do. And so, she'll be now getting out in the next month or so. But she asked that her greetings would be given.

I find it so wonderful when we consider God's ways. And perhaps part of the reason that this text came to mind is that we have this kind of opportunity as free children of God. Not only free. We can't do anything in sin, but also free dwellers in our countries to go about and do as we do and as we wish. But there are others who are in prison, who are in trials of health, who are in difficulties, who face and feel the tribulations of life, maybe more poignantly or more difficultly, than we do from time to time.

And I thought of this Shepherd's Psalm. Psalm of David. David, a dear believing brother in faith. The motto of these services also, words of David. David knew, David knew, David knew, at least partially, his corruption. As we heard earlier today through our dear brother, and as we've heard through these services, that we don't so readily understand how corrupt we are. I think that's also God's blessings for us. That he's able to hide at least some of our corruption from us. Because if we were able to, I think if we understood how corrupt we were or are, I don't know that any one of us could actually raise our head and meet people and actually face life. But we are those kinds of corrupt beings.

And David also, excuse me, recognized this corruption. 51st Psalm. After Nathan had gone to speak to David, and speak to him about his falling into sin, there in that Psalm, David very clearly writes of his corruption. And he says, all the way from the time I was born, he was corrupt. And that's how we are also as people. We're corrupt, aren't we? But we're also righteous. And this is such a mystery that we can be both sinful, corrupt people, and also righteous at the same time. But it is this righteousness of which David also writes in this Shepherd's Psalm, that this righteousness of God was a blessing and a gift to him as well.

So when we remember those who are in bonds and difficulties, whose lives have gone a certain way or a certain direction, may we be thankful that God has preserved us and protected us, even from our own sinfulness, our own corruption, our own desires. Because I think all of us would have to lament and say that even as God looked at those people, and God's word says that, when God looked down, that the hearts and minds of man was only evil continually.

But now, David, in this Shepherd's Psalm, such a familiar Psalm, and perhaps when I was reading it, you also, in your own minds, have thought of times in your life where this Psalm has been especially dear. I know one family has used this Psalm and also the song in our songbook often in family situations when they remember their departed father and husband. We each have those kinds of special memories.

And so, one of the blessings that we have, blessings of the Psalms when I read them, is that they're written in a way that's poetic, but they're written in a way that each one of us can attach to it in a bit different way. And we approach it from our station in life or our own perspective in life. A male will have a certain perspective, a female another. An older one, one perspective, and a younger, another. And so, this is also the richness of God's word when we can read from God's word and we can find comfort and solace and strength in the written word and how it means and what it means to us at this time.

So when David began this Psalm, he says, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. When I was a little boy and I heard this text read, it didn't mean much to me because I didn't know what the Psalmist was saying. When he says that, I shall not want. As a little boy, I thought, I want all kinds of things. And what does the Psalmist mean that I shall not want? I thought this Psalmist must be much different than I am in that I guess I find often this kind of corruption where I would want much more than I give.

And as a little boy, when I heard that, I thought, Well, this Psalmist must have a much bigger faith or a stronger faith than I because there are so many things I want. But what the Psalmist is writing when the Lord is our shepherd, He is that kind of shepherd that cares for things so perfectly that we are in need of nothing.

What do we need when we are God's children? We ask ourselves, we ask ourselves that this afternoon, that do you find, brothers and sisters, yourselves in a place of want? I don't know hunger, although I thought I've been hungry. Do you? I don't know that any of us who have been born and raised in this western world understand at all what hunger is. So in that sense, we haven't been needy.

But the Psalmist, the writing here is much more than this. It's not just speaking of temporal things. It's not just speaking of our earthly wants or wishes. It's not talking about cars or homes only. Of course, that's all a part of it. Because God blesses and gives. He gives according to His will and His blessing. Not as I would, and not as you would, but as He would.

And so David was able to see that when God is the shepherd, when Jesus is the shepherd, He shall not want. And so now, when we pause before God's word and consider these things, I can honestly say that for temporal needs, I have lacked nothing.

And how, although my flesh would desire more, I can look around very easily and often do, and I think of, well, how come God has blessed them with so much? And in my mind, me so little. I can see someone driving with new cars and being given a beautiful new home, and there's a part of me, this old corruption that is desirous or envious of others and what they have.

On the other hand, brothers and sisters, when I stop to think, and God stops me, and this is what God needs to do for us, isn't it? That He gives us trials. He gives us those, as we heard earlier today, of those difficulties in life, because it stops us in our tracks to consider, as it did again last Thursday when I went to the prison.

And I looked around me. There were those kinds of impossibilities, I would think, to live in. Impossible situations. And as I was leaving from that place, a tear came. And I thought of my own unthankfulness in this life. How often I've wanted more than I've been given. And for what reason? I'm not sure, except that it's just my corruption, my own fleshly corruption. I don't know. My own fleshly corruption.

You know, there's that teaching of Jesus when He says that we would seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all else will be added onto us. Isn't that enough, brothers and sisters, that we can learn to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness?

So here we are at these services of God's children. We've traveled from afar, this oasis in the desert as we've heard where God's word has been preached, hearts have been comforted, our souls have been fed and we've made those kinds of renewed promises.

So what does David write? He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. The world around us rages. Last night when Brother Andy was doing that presentation there's that one picture that he put there and it struck me and I didn't like the picture at all. And it was the picture of New York City on New Year's Eve. It felt strange for that to be here in this assembly. But it was good that it was there because that kind of a picture it gives us pause to think that here we are in God's kingdom. God has called us to this place. The world is raging somewhere but it's out there somewhere.

Today during these services we've been able to feel the voice of the Good Shepherd. We have been able to be stilled. We've been able to be quieted. I know I have.

I think of the children of Israel when they left Egypt and they were now soon facing the Red Sea. They looked back and they could see the armies coming. The Egyptian army. And think of that when you're there or if you were there looking back and there's this enemy approaching. The fear that it would cause in the heart of a person. What would be their demise? What would happen? And what's going to happen?

But Moses told them to stand still. I think one of the first things that happens when we're in a panic is that we want to run somewhere or do something. I heard recently of one sister who said that there was a fire alarm that went off in the middle of the night when she was in a motel room. And when that fire alarm went off she got out of the bed and she turned circles. Not knowing which direction to go.

Too often when we feel the dangers lurking or imminent danger so quickly we're ready to run here or there. But Moses said to stand still and see what God will do for them. That God will fight for us. You also experience now in this world as it rages. And now we're here in God's kingdom and we're here at these services.

And the psalmist David says he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Not just to walk through these green pastures. But to actually lie down. To take a rest. It's important that we do take these moments out of our lives to be ready. Refreshed. Around God's word. Be in the fellowship of His children.

Often they have said these are like filling stations of life where we receive additional fuel and power to continue. God has done this for us. God has granted us these opportunities where we can gather around His word.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. And brothers and sisters, green pastures are not bad to lay in. You've been there. In fact, when I lived here in Arizona, I dreamed about a green pasture. There's not many green pastures here that you can find other than maybe a sod farm that requires lots and lots of water. The desert isn't very kind if you were just to lay down in the desert.

So there were those days when I, in the heat of summer, would ache for those kinds of days where you could walk through this cool grass. But this is God's kingdom. The psalmist speaks, David speaks, of how in these green pastures God makes us to lie down. To sit still and quietly listen. To remove from our minds and our thoughts those things that whirl and rage that take away our peace and our freedom.

And as the world goes on, as the world goes on, as the world rages, and it becomes more dark, God's kingdom becomes more of a beautiful and a place of brilliance that the world will even see.

But in this pasture, He also, as He says, He leadeth me beside the still waters. When I read from this stilling waters, of course, in our lives, I've had those opportunities personally to experience this. You in your own light, in your own place of watching, as you reflect.

And I find it so interesting, as one brother once said, that when services are kept, the sermon is preached. It's one sermon, one list of words, but it affects each listener differently. It's one of the mysteries of God's Word. It may mean one source of comfort for you here. Somebody else may think of this.

And of course, much of that is drawn from our own life's experiences that God has given. A child only has experiences from a short life where an older person would have experiences of many more years.

So when the psalmist says, He leadeth me beside the still waters, surely there have been those moments in your life where you have experienced the stilling waters of the gospel. The gospel brings comfort. It brings relief. It gives us strength to take another step towards heaven.

Think of the prophet, Elijah. Elijah. When he was there in that cave, he had recently been in battle with the prophet Baal. And he was sure that he was the only one left. And there, when he was in that cave, he was given to see different things. Strong, rushing wind, mighty wind. So strong that it would break the rocks of the mountain. Those kinds of natural things that would cause anyone to fear.

But in the end, he heard a still, small voice. And that still, small voice reminded him that this is God's kingdom. And God has promised, through His Word, to take care of His children. He won't let any of His children, God won't let any of His children fall away.

Remember those words that Jesus had. In His farewell sermon. He promised protection for His children. And one day, Jesus will present us to His Father. And He will tell Him that these are those that You've given Me. I've lost none.

Those are such comforting words for me when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, when I consider, my own journey of faith, how it has gone so poorly. And how often it has been where you find that there's sin that makes the journey slow. Doubts come and fears come.

So often we wonder that will we make it to that final destination. But we'll remember from God's Word those kinds of words of comfort that Jesus Himself said. These are those that you've given to Him. That you've given Me.

We heard earlier today in the honor of our brother when he spoke of that 139th Psalm. How from the time of conception God has known us. He's given us life. And He loves us. And He wants us to make it one day to the glory of Heaven. He wants us to make it there so bad that He gave His only begotten Son. That no man would perish but all would have everlasting life in the glory of Heaven.

Is this, brothers and sisters, so easy for you to believe? I doubt seldom. In fact, rarely do I ever doubt you brothers and sisters making it to the glory of Heaven. But when I watch you walk in faith as you are strengthened in your journey, as you speak, as you teach, as you comfort me, I don't have those kinds of doubts that you'll make it.

But do you doubt that you'll make it? I think so. I know I do. But I think we doubt because we feel our own corruption, our own sinfulness. We don't doubt God's goodness. We don't doubt the merit work of Christ. But we doubt because we carry this treasure in earthen vessels as the Apostle says.

So, this stilling water of the Gospel is important that we can come and to hear and to be refreshed by those fountains of grace here in God's Kingdom.

David continues that He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. David also would have understood very personally because of the effect of sin that he carried how he needed to be restored. He fell from faith when he had committed adultery. He was adultery and murder. But God also restored him to the place of a child. Prophet Nathan went and spoke to him and he was able to believe that those sins were forgiven. And he speaks of that often. David did.

And so when he speaks of this and I don't know if this psalm was written at what age of David's life. I don't know. Of course he had been a shepherd. And he knew that job of a shepherd. So he speaks of that. Perhaps he had read from the book of Ezekiel when Prophet Ezekiel also speaks of the shepherds. Those shepherds that were good shepherds but also those shepherds that were evil shepherds.

And it is important that the shepherds of God's Kingdom are those kinds of obedient shepherds to lead and to God. And so God said, to guide and to preach and to teach that which God's Word teaches.

We've heard at these services the importance even of parents, mom and dads teaching their children. Bringing them into the hearing of God's Word and reassuring those little ones, not only little ones, but older ones with that Gospel.

Through this preaching of the Gospel, our soul is restored and we are given again, and we are encouraged to take another step towards Heaven.

And then he continues and says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And I don't know other translations, but this King James Version says, Yea, that I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I've thought of this shadow. That a shadow itself is harmless. On the other hand, I've been afraid from time to time of a shadow, especially at night. Darkness at night and you see a shadow and maybe something move. You're not sure if it was a shadow or something real.

So, sometimes we even say that people, people are so afraid, they're afraid of their own shadow. But a shadow, really, there's no harm or ill or no danger in a shadow. It's only a shadow of something.

So when David writes of this, Yea, that I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it is true that we live in this very sinful world. And it's, there's death and corruption, evil and sin. But if he would have said simply this, that yea, I walk through the valley of death, well, none of us could make it if we were in a valley of death. We would perish because it's a valley of death.

It's the shadow of death. And so, we can see death there. We can see death in the world. And we can see all around us this corruption and evil. The world in recent years has become more and more corrupt and evil. All of us would have to agree to that. So much so that I wonder that how much more corrupt will it become before the end. Sometimes I fear.

But I've been reminded by my dear travel escorts, my friends in faith, even as Jesus said, all of these things must come to pass. But the end is not yet. So, the world needs to become and will become more evil. This shadow of the valley of death we see all around us.

But what does David say? I will fear no evil. We can be so, so thankful today that with God's protective hand, and He loves us. He wants us to make it to heaven. He keeps that hand so close to us. So close that we can feel it from time to time. And we can feel it in the midst of our brothers and sisters in faith. Those loved ones that come close. Especially during those times of trial and difficulty. And they come. And we can feel them escorting us. They come to us. Step by step. Step by step towards heaven.

This is God's kingdom. David said, I will fear no evil. Because, what does he say? Well, fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Brother Duane spoke earlier of that portion from Prophet. It was in Zechariah where he spoke about those old men and leaning on those staffs. Such a picture. I watched here at services. Many of you who, when I grew up as a little boy, were those strong and vibrant and energetic. My aunts and uncles, mom and dad were those ones that I relied on and leaned on. They were the source of my strength.

But now, as we witness age creeping on all of us and the elders now, many of you walking with those kinds of aids and helps. It pictures for us also so perfectly, I think, again, God's kingdom. How David was able to see that thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

We can lean on that staff. We can lean and use that rod as protection. God's word. We can look to God's word for our source of strength and comfort. For instruction and doctrine as Paul has written. For admonishment and comfort and so on. All of that is given by God for us as his children to use.

When we read from God's word, we read of those former saints who have gone before us. They travel by faith as the book of Hebrews is written. The author of the book of Hebrews is written. And enumerates so many of those lives of individuals. Abraham and Isaac, Jacob, Sarah. He remembers Moses and Noah.

But we could very easily put now those names of you dear brothers and sisters. Elders who have traveled by faith. Who have trusted in God's care. Who have leaned on that staff as your source of comfort and strength as you journey homeward.

Has God left you without? Or have you found that God has given in your time of need and even in your time of old age? Hasn't he still cared for you as his own? He hasn't forsaken you. I look to you for encouragement and comfort. I've watched you raise your families now. Living in the twilight years of your life. Willing to share so much about your life, about your experiences, about how God has blessed and cared for you.

I think you would be well for us and for you younger people especially, and I still kind of from time to time count myself as one of those young ones. It isn't so anymore. I realize that. It became very evident a few years ago when I turned 55. I went to Fry's first Wednesday of the month. I think that's what it was. They have this discount for seniors.

The lady behind the cash register there says, Oh, thank you for shopping. Oh, thank you for shopping here, Mr. Germo. I gave you your discount. And I asked her that, What was the discount for? She says, Oh, it's a senior discount. And I said, How old do you have to be for that? And she says, 55. I said, Well, how do you know I'm 55? And she says, Well, look in the mirror. Duh.

So, sometimes I think I'm much younger than I actually am. But it would be well for you young people to listen, to sit there, as I did as a boy, listening to grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, visit and talk about how God protected them.

The world would like to give all kinds of new ways and new answers. The enemy would like to give new ways and new directions as to how one might make it to heaven. The enemy is tempted in such a way that he has even drawn some from God's kingdom with those kinds of enticements that that kingdom is an old fashioned kingdom. They teach old things and they come up to speed on this new and current age. This age of enlightenment, some say.

But brothers and sisters, I've found so refreshing that there's one thing that hasn't changed. It's God's word. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. This staff that we lean on is a staff that is tried, it is true, it has been from the get-go, from the very beginning. God's road map and direction before eternal life.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me. Have you felt, brothers and sisters, God's presence in your life? I sure have. Thou art with me and thy rod and staff, they comfort me.

And then he says, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. And thou anointest my head with oil and my cup runneth over.

This table that he's set is this table of grace. And this table of grace has been lowered so low in God's kingdom that if there are those who cannot even yet walk, who feel themselves to be with those feeble knees as we heard earlier today, if there are those of you who feel yourself to be even the littlest and the poorest in God's kingdom, that table of grace is set so low that the weakest and poorest can still reach to that table.

This is God's doing. He has seen it fit because He knows so well how weak and poor we are as travelers. But He's gracious and loving and He wants you, dear brothers and sisters, He wants His children to be those kinds of beggars of grace that need His care and His comfort and His protection.

And when we pray, Our Father who art in heaven, that prayer sounds as a loud knock to God when a child asks of God, of, of those things that he is needful of. God wants to carry us and take care of us. This is His promise.

And in the midst of our enemies, in the midst of thine enemies, this table has been set. This dark world, this sinful world, there's this table of grace.

Last evening I stopped at the corner store here and there was these, two young boys, I don't know who they are, I'm sure they're here today. They recognized me and they greeted me with God's peace. I was moved at the boldness of those young men.

That they, even there in the presence of my enemies, our enemies were able to even, with that small way, confess their faith. And I was moved that they, even there in the presence of my enemies, with that small way, confessed their faith. And greet with that greeting of God's peace.

It is such a greeting that we have for each other. When we greet each other with that greeting that is so common to us as God's children, it's a comfort to be able to greet each other with God's peace and know that we have those kinds of fellow escorts and travelers.

So this table of grace, this joy of believing, spills over when we are those kinds of children. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Our cup runneth, anoints our head with oil, and our cup runneth over.

But in the end, what does David say? Surely, goodness and mercy shall find us. Follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

What does this mean to you brothers and sisters? What does it mean that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever? It speaks surely of that eternal home that waits for us. And we will make it there one day.

When we remain simply believing by faith in God, by faith in the merit work of Christ, endeavoring to put sin away, we will make it there one day to the glory of heaven. Don't doubt, don't worry, don't fear, but trust. And uplift your hearts again this afternoon to again believe that all of those sins, doubts, are forgiven in Jesus' name, precious atoning blood.

Through believing, God will carry us one day to the glory of heaven. It will be interesting to be able to find David and visit with him, of his life. And what was it that he wrote? Of course he wrote these words, but from his life experiences, what did he write?

I think we would find that as David had that testimony, he was a man that had a heart that God recognized and knew. That kind of a traveler that struggled surely, but a grace beggar in God's kingdom.

Some day we'll have an opportunity in heaven, I hope, to visit with those brothers who have gone before us, those sisters who have gone before us, so we can share there about those joys, those sorrows, but the blessings that God gave us. So much so that he took us all the way there to heaven.

Brothers and sisters, can I also today, with my own doubts, which are many, and my own fears and sinfulness so close, can I also be reassured of the gospel? Can I believe my sins forgiven? I want to believe with each of you, brothers and sisters.

And so believing, I know that I will make it one day to the glory of heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.