JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

  • the Lord is Present
  • the Lord is Here
Psalm 23:4 – “FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.”
v4a – Walk through the valley of the shadow of death”
-this speaks of ADVERSITY
-ADVERSITY means difficult times…times of misfortune…unfavorable events
                       3 POINTS ABOUT ADVERSITY
(1.) EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE ADVERSITY
-no one is exempt from adversity
               a. Do not paint a wrong picture of Christianity
-Being saved  does not eliminate tough times in our lives
-being close to the Lord will create alot of adversity
               b. You will never be given more than you can handle – 1 Cor 10:13
               c. Adversity introduces you to yourself
-adversity reveals the issues we have in our lives
                d. Adversity will end
-Here on earth – times of adversity are just moments in our lives
-Heaven – there will be no adversity in heaven – v6
        HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH TIMES OF ADVERSITY
1. YOU HAVE TO GET TO HIGHER GROUND – v5
-sheep live in the lowlands during the winter – less food & better weather.  They go to HIGHER GROUND starting in the summer…….
-IT IS TIME TO GO TO HIGHER GROUND-
-this is moving forward in the Lord, spending time with the Lord daily and staying on fire for Jesus
-too many believers are living in the lowlands
-allow the shepherd to take you to HIGHER GROUND
verse 5 – 2 Things Happen As You Go To Higher Ground
1. YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL
-the presence, glory and anointing of the Lord will rest upon your life
-it will keep anything away from you that is bugging you
2. YOUR CUP WILL RUN OVER
-there are abundant blessings from the Lord
-during times of adversity the Lord will pour out upon us His blessings to help us get through the adversity
2. REALIZE THE LORD IS WITH YOU – v4
-The Lord is present with us at all times
-Jehovah Shamma is with us
-this brings comfort to me
-Since Jehovah Shammah is with us, He fights our battles – v4b
Rod – was a club 2-4 feet long used to hit & push back predators
-Since Jehovah Shammah is with us, our fear ends right now – v4a
3. WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH TIMES OF ADVERSITY BY NOT STOPPING AND CONTINUALLY MOVING FORWARD – V4A
—“Yes, I walk through…”
-we all have to walk through adversity
the staff – was around 6′ long and was used to keep the sheep moving forward
***We keep moving because we are motivated from the people in heaven – Hebrews 12:1.  This cloud of witnesses is cheering us on to make it across the finish line…