David: A Man of War

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2026

Psalms 144

 

Introduction:

A.  In our day, many denominations teach pacifism, and many of god’s people have developed that same thinking.  God’s people are not and never have been pacifists, and war (spiritual or physical) is a way of life. 

 

B.  The bible is clear on both killing and war as being, at times, a necessity.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 

Ecclesiastes 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

C.  Psalm is both contemporary as well as prophetic, both in David’s time and our time.  The Psalms are relevant!

 

1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

It is also prophetic concerning the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation chapter 19.

 

Revelation 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

D.  Verse 1.  King David was a man of war!  Psalms 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

 

1.  King David was a man after God’s own heart!  Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

 

2.  King David was a man of war from his youth.  1 Samuel 16:18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

 

3.  King David, as a Warrior, was feared by his enemies.  1 Samuel 18:6-7  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.  (7)  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

 

E.  To fully understand the concept of war, we need to remember that God is a Man of War!

 

Exodus 15:2-6  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  (3)  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  (4)  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  (5)  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.  (6)  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

 

Psalms 24:8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

 

Revelation 19:11-14  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

 

F.  Verses 1-2.  “Blessed be the LORD!  Who is “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.”

 

1.  The Lord is our Goodness.  In both times of peace and times of war.  Ecclesiastes 3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

2.  The Lord is our Fortress.  Psalms 94:22  But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

3.  The Lord is our High Tower.  Isaiah 40:29-31  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  (30)  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  (31)  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

4.  The Lord is our Deliverer.  Psalms 37:39-40  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  (40)  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

5.  The Lord is our Shield.  Psalms 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

6.  The Lord is our Confidence.  Proverbs 3:25-26  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  (26)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

7.  The Lord is our Might.  Deuteronomy 7:21  Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

G.  Look at verse 1.  Psalms 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

1.  It was the LORD who taught David how to fight and wage war.  From a shepherd boy to a soldier, from a shepherd to a general, and from a general to a warrior king.

 

2.  Our military uses Basic Training to teach the basics of combat and to teach soldiers to follow orders without question.  AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) teaches specialized weaponry and tactics for warfare. 

 

3.  We parents are to teach our children to fight for the things we cherish and that are right!  Today’s children, for the most part, are soft and non-confrontational.

 

H.  Now, let us look at King David as our example of warring a good warfare.

 

1.  King David knew how to fight! 

 

a.  He Fought With Courage - 1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.  (He was fearless in his attack upon the giant!)

 

b.  He Fought With Conviction - 1 Samuel 17:26, 29 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  (He fought with the knowledge that he was on the right side!)

 

c.  He Fought With Confidence - 1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (He fought in the name and power of the Lord!)

 

2.  King David knew who to fight.  1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

 

David always fought the right enemy.  A man once said, “The church is the only army in the world that shoots its own soldiers in the back.”  How sad, but how true.  So many good men are divided by things that do not matter and united by things they should be divided over.  We are not here this morning to fight with one another; we are not here to fight with other churches; we have a common enemy.  In both WWI and WWII, nations that were different came together to fight a common enemy and defeated it in both cases. 

 

a.  David Never Fought God’s Man.  1 Samuel 24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.

 

b.  David Never Fought God’s People - 1 Samuel 28:1  And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

 

c.  David fought the enemies of God.  Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

3.  King David knew when to fight.  3.  David Knew When To Fight – 1 Samuel 16:29  And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?    

 

God’s men do not just fight for the sake of fighting.  I do not want to leave you with the impression that David went around killing people just for the fun of it.  A man after God’s own heart fights when his cause is just.  He fought when no one else would!  This had been going on for forty days!  The “cause” was right, making the fight right.

 

4.  He Knew Where To Fight - 1 Samuel 17:40  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

 

David did not take a defensive position; he took the offensive one.  Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 

I still do not care for the message in the song “Hold The Fort!”  We are not holding ground!  The best defense is still a good offense.  You do not win wars in a defensive position.  The church is to be the aggressor, not the defender.

 

Conclusion:  We are in a battle in our day!

 

1.  A battle for our Children.

 

2.  A battle for our Convictions.  Our Homes.  

 

3.  A battle for our Church.

 

4.  A battle for our Country.

Be Careful For Nothing

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2026

Philippians 4:6-7

 

Introduction:  This morning, I want to look at verses that we are so familiar with.  Every Wednesday, we quote verse 6 before we read our prayer list and take requests.  Then, why preach on the verse?  Because we quote it concerning prayer and supplication without giving thought to the first part of the verse. 

A.  Our verse for this morning deals with worry.  Someone once said, “Worry is like paying interest on a load that you may never have to take out.”  Here is a cute little poem concerning worry.

 

Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill.
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear.
Worry never fixed a heel,
Worry never cooked a meal.
Worry never composed a song to sing,
Actually, worry never did a worthwhile thing.

 

B.  “Be” means to make something happen that probably would not happen naturally. “Careful” comes from two words, “care” and “full,” which mean full of care.  Something that occupies our hearts and minds in a negative way.  “Nothing” covers every aspect of our past, present, and future.  “Nothing” means nothing!

 

Luke 10:41-42  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  (42)  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

C.  When we worry, we allow our future fears of either something known or not yet known to overcome our faith in our ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful Lord.

 

D.  The opposite of “careful” is confidence or trust.

 

1.  The Lord cares about what we care about.  1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

2.  The Lord  is affected by what affects us.  Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

3.  The Lord  has promised to be there with us and there for us.  If God be for us, who can be against us?  1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

4.  The Lord  has guaranteed perfect peace to those who trust Him. (verse 7)  Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

E.  Worry causes stress, and stress is possibly the greatest killer in America.  People today are stressed out by the economy and rising prices, the wickedness that has permeated our Land, the uncertainty about the future of our children and grandchildren, and the list could go on and on.

 

1.  Worry will damage both your physical and mental health.  Look at the people on medication for mental health.  The Mayo Clinic states that statistically, 80-85 % of their case load of ill people was either directly or indirectly related to stress.  “Seventy percent of all patients who come to physicians could cure themselves if they only got rid of their fears, worries, and bad eating habits.”

 

2.  Worry will cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts.  The Bible says that we are to think upon good things.  (Philippians 4:8)  Most social, family, and church problems are stress-related.

 

3.  Worry will disrupt your productivity and purposes.  You cannot give yourself over to worry and do what needs to be done diligently.  Job performance across our land is caused by apathy and stress.  People who do not care or are consumed by their problems.

 

4.  Worry will negatively affect the way you treat and interact with others.  You will be self-centered because of the load of your cares.  You will seek your own good instead of the good of others.

 

5.  Worry will adversely affect your emotions.  Your “fuse will be short,” and your outward demeanor will not glorify the Lord.

 

6.  Worry will cause you to say things that you would not ordinarily say. 

 

a)  Out of the heart are the issues of life.

b)  As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

c)  Out of the abundance of the heart, a man speaketh.

 

7.  Worry will reduce your faith and trust in the Lord.  You cannot trust and worry at the same time.  These two are like oil and water, they cannot mix!

 

8.  Worry is more harmful than helpful!  It is a total waste of time and effort.  Some confuse worry and concern. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern: Worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. We should be concerned and not neglect matters of importance. We shouldn't worry about them and do nothing about it.

F.  Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, told the country during the Great Depression that the greatest fear was fear itself.  Here are some good quotes concerning worry.

 

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.”

 

“Work won't kill, but worry will.”

 

“Don't tell me that worry doesn't do any good. I know better. The things I worry about don't happen.”

 

“Tain't worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.”

 

“It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.”

 

“Happy is the man who is too busy to worry by day, and too sleepy to worry at night.”

 

G.  George McDonald wrote the following about worry. "No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this: It is your doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to Him and mind the present."

 

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

1.  Christians Are Not Immune To Worry!

 

a.  Though We Know That God Is In Control – He is in control of all that exists and that includes our circumstances!

 

b.  Though We Know That All Will End Well – Our life story has already been recorded in Heaven.  The final chapter of our life has been written, and it is alright!

 

c.  Though We Know That Worry Is Sin And Distrust – It is one thing to have concerns and another to worry.  We are concerned because we do not know the end of a thing, but worry is a “horse of another color!”  Worry is our failure to trust our lives, families, finances, protection, and provision to the One who holds it all in His hand.

 

d.  And Yet, We Still Have A Tendency To Worry

 

1)  We worry because we are affected by the world.

 

2)  We worry because we are robed in frail flesh.

 

3)  We worry because we are still imperfect in our faith.

 

2. And, Most Of The Time:

 

a.  We worry about things that either never occur or do not meet our expectations.

 

b.  We worry about things that we cannot change.

 

c.  We worry often times about things that really do not matter.

 

3.  How To Handle Worry:

 

a.  We Should Not Worry Because We Are Children Of God - Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

 

Romans 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

b.  We Should not worry because, as Christians, we are people of faith - Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

c.  We should not worry because our focus is to be on the kingdom of God, on the spiritual, not the material - Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

          Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

d.  We Need To Realize That God Cares - 1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,

 

"I should really like to know

 

Why these anxious human beings

 

Rush about and hurry so."

 

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,

 

"Friend, I think that it must be

 

That they have no Heavenly Father

 

Such as cares for you and me."

 

-- Elizabeth Cheney

 

5.  God’s Prescription For Peace – You do your job, verse 6, and God will do His, verse 7!

 

a.  The Requirement of Prayer.  Prayer is our worship.  Too often, when we get into a crisis or valley, we rely upon worldly means for the solution to our problems. 

 

1)  The Bible says not to put our confidence in either man or things.  Our confidence is to be the Lord: maker of heaven and earth: He who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. 

 

2)  We belong to Him and He belongs to us.  His love, compassion, and pity belong to us and His thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered.  He truly “thinketh” upon us.  He loves us enough that He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our sins.

 

3)  He holds our future just as He held our past and present.  God can handle all of our problems, take down all of our enemies, and supply all of our needs.

 

b.  The Requirement of Supplication. 

 

1)  We are to pray for God’s will in our lives.  1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

2)  We are to pray in specifics.  Luke 11:9-13  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  (10)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  (11)  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  (12)  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  (13)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

 

3)  We are to pray in faith.  James 1:5-8  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  (6)  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  (7)  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  (8)  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

c.  The Requirement of Thanksgiving.

 

1)  Thankful to God for who He is.  Job 1:20-22  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  (21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.  (22)  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

 

2)  Thankful to God for what He has done.  1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

3)  Thankful to God for what He will do.  Genesis 18:14  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

 

Conclusion:  Here is the outcome of verse 6:  The Requirement of Trust. Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Understanding The Pastor/Teacher

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-22-2026

Ephesians 4:9-16

 

Introduction:

A.  Last week, I read these verses to let us all know that God has given to the local church evangelists (missionaries), the pastor/teacher.  I want to go back to these verses one more time before moving on, as many do not understand the person and work of the pastor/teacher.

 

B.  We read the list of reasons for having a pastor/teacher, not just a preacher.  Seven things were mentioned here.  Seven very important things.

 

1.  Perfecting of the saints.

 

2.  The work of the ministry.

 

3.  The edifying of the body of Christ.

 

4.  The unity of the faith.

 

5.  The knowledge of the Son of God.

 

6.  The doctrinal purity of the local church.

 

7.  The spiritual growth of the believers.

 

C.  Verse 16 speaks of the unity of the body, compacted together, effectual working, edifying itself in love.

 

Ephesians 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

D.  A vital part of the ministry is the perfect unity of the local church in love for each other and a sound doctrinal foundation.

 

E.  Division within the local church is the pastor’s nightmare!  As long as the enemy attacks us from the outside, we can band together and win the fight.  When the enemy sits on the pew, the fight becomes, at times, confused and therefore devastating.

 

F.  Paul reminded the Corinthian church to follow him as he followed Christ.  1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

1.  The pastor/teacher is a permanent gift because he is important to the proper functioning of the local church.

 

PASTOR, n. [L. from pasco, pastum, to feed.] 1.  A shepherd; one that has the care of flocks and herds. 2.  A minister of the gospel who has the charge of a church and congregation, whose duty is to watch over the people of his charge, and instruct them in the sacred doctrines of the Christian religion.

 

TE'ACHER, n.  One who teaches or instructs. 1.  An instructor; one who instructs others in religion; a preacher; a minister of the gospel.

 

2.  His Position – the Evangelist or missionary church-planter established the local church through preaching the gospel, baptizing the converts, and assembling the saints.  The Pastor-Teacher took charge of the local assembly, overseeing and teaching the flock.

 

3.  His Responsibility.

 

a.  The Pastor-Teacher Is An Overseer -   1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

(I believe in pastoral authority but not pastoral dictatorship.  My work is not to rule over your homes, that is your job.)

 

OVERSIGHT - look diligently, to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for, beware.

 

1)  He Watches For Disunity - 1 Kings 22:17  And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

 

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

Philippians 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

 

2)  He Watches For Wolves - Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

Luke 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

3)  He Watches For Doctrinal Impurity - 1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

b.  The Pastor-Teacher Is A Teacher.

 

1)  He Feeds His Sheep - 1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

Ecclesiastes 12:11  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

 

Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

 

Jeremiah 23:4  And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

 

Jeremiah 3:15  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

 

1 Timothy 5:17   Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

 

2)  The Pastor-Teacher Leads The Sheep - Psalms 23:1-3  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

Isaiah 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs     with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

4.  The Pastor-Teacher Is A Friend.

 

a.  He Will Die For His Sheep - John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 

1 Samuel 17:34-36  And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear,   and took a lamb out of the flock: 35  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36  Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  (We get our saying, “I would fight a bear for you!” from this verse.)

 

b.  He Will Live For His Sheep - 1 Peter 5:3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

 

c.  He Will Restore His Sheep - Luke 15:4-6  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours,

saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

 

Amos 3:12  Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

 

d.  He Will Comfort His Sheep - Psalm 23:4  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.

 

e.  He Will Encourage His Sheep - Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 

f.  He Will Love His Sheep - John 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  (He gets to know his people and, at the same time, he allows them to get to know him!)