•Therefore Therefore •I will beI will be

•FEARLESS & BOLDFEARLESS & BOLD

• Daniel in the face of a certain grizzly deathDaniel in the face of a certain grizzly death• Noah in the face of uncertainty/criticismNoah in the face of uncertainty/criticism• Moses facing an entire nation’s doubt Moses facing an entire nation’s doubt • David standing on behalf of an entire armyDavid standing on behalf of an entire army• Elijah calling down fireElijah calling down fire• Esther facing the wrath of the King; deathEsther facing the wrath of the King; death• Ruth leaving her homelandRuth leaving her homeland• Mary becoming the mother of JesusMary becoming the mother of Jesus

Fearless…Fearless…

……and boldand bold• Acts 4:13 “…they observed the boldness of Peter & Acts 4:13 “…they observed the boldness of Peter &

John…uneducated & untrained…”John…uneducated & untrained…”• Acts 4:29 “…that we may speak Thy word with Acts 4:29 “…that we may speak Thy word with

boldness.”boldness.”• Acts 4:31 “…and they were filled with the HS and Acts 4:31 “…and they were filled with the HS and

began to speak the Word with boldness…”began to speak the Word with boldness…”• Phil 1:27 “…standing firm in one spirit, one mind…in Phil 1:27 “…standing firm in one spirit, one mind…in

no way alarmed by your opponents…”no way alarmed by your opponents…”• When’s the last time people were astonished by When’s the last time people were astonished by

your courage and boldness for the Lord?your courage and boldness for the Lord?

Secure in the ShepherdSecure in the Shepherd

• Ps 23: The “funeral” psalm; the “trendy” Ps 23: The “funeral” psalm; the “trendy” psalm; the “everybody knows it” psalmpsalm; the “everybody knows it” psalm

• PK’s musing: I think we’ve exegeted the PK’s musing: I think we’ve exegeted the beauty right out of Ps 23beauty right out of Ps 23

• Understanding the character of our Shepherd Understanding the character of our Shepherd can raise the confidence and peace level of can raise the confidence and peace level of any believer no matter his circumstancesany believer no matter his circumstances

• Jm 5:17 – even Elijah was a man “just like us”Jm 5:17 – even Elijah was a man “just like us”

Walking through the valley…Walking through the valley…

• Rm 8:31 – If God be for us, WHO (or what) can be Rm 8:31 – If God be for us, WHO (or what) can be against us?against us?

• Deut 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Deut 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

• Heb 13:5“… I will never fail you. I will never Heb 13:5“… I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”abandon you.”

• We try to protect ourselves from ever going We try to protect ourselves from ever going through a valley…but He LEADS us there…through a valley…but He LEADS us there…

Discerning the Shepherd’s leadDiscerning the Shepherd’s lead

• Ex 3:1-4 Moses is sent back to Egypt by I AMEx 3:1-4 Moses is sent back to Egypt by I AM• Gen 22: Abraham is commanded to sacrifice IsaacGen 22: Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Isaac• Mt 2: 13+ Joseph flees into EgyptMt 2: 13+ Joseph flees into Egypt• 2Tim:4 Paul returns to Rome and certain death2Tim:4 Paul returns to Rome and certain death

• “…“…those who go down into the furnace of Egypt and those who go down into the furnace of Egypt and find there the flower of Acceptance come up find there the flower of Acceptance come up changed and with the stamp of royalty upon them” changed and with the stamp of royalty upon them” ~Much Afraid~ in Hind’s Feet on High Places by ~Much Afraid~ in Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah HurnardHannah Hurnard

• Satan tells us we should be afraid… “Surely, Satan tells us we should be afraid… “Surely, this can’t be God…”this can’t be God…”

• A heart that is afraid of the cross will never A heart that is afraid of the cross will never have the discernment to know if what we are have the discernment to know if what we are experiencing is from Satan and should be experiencing is from Satan and should be rebuked, or from the hand of a loving, Good rebuked, or from the hand of a loving, Good Shepherd, and should be embraced.”Shepherd, and should be embraced.”

• The whole point of Ps 23 I that nothing can The whole point of Ps 23 I that nothing can happen to me outside the Sovereignty of Godhappen to me outside the Sovereignty of God

• ““One day I’ll stand before God,, and I One day I’ll stand before God,, and I don’t want Him to ask me, “Why were don’t want Him to ask me, “Why were you so afraid?”you so afraid?”

»~Francis Chan~~Francis Chan~

• The Lord is my Shepherd The Lord is my Shepherd -relationship!-relationship!• I shall not want I shall not want – supplies my needs– supplies my needs• He makes me lie down in green pastureHe makes me lie down in green pasture-rest-rest• He leads me beside still watersHe leads me beside still waters-refreshing-refreshing• He restores my soulHe restores my soul -healing -healing• He leads me in paths of righteousness He leads me in paths of righteousness -guides-guides• For His name’s sakeFor His name’s sake –purpose –purpose• Even though I walk through the valley of the Even though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of deathshadow of death - testing - testing

• I fear no evil;Thou art with meI fear no evil;Thou art with me-belong/faithfulness-belong/faithfulness• Thy rod & staff comfort me Thy rod & staff comfort me protection/disciplineprotection/discipline• Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of

my enemiesmy enemies -hope -hope• Thou hast anointed my head with oilThou hast anointed my head with oil –consecrated –consecrated

in the Holy Spiritin the Holy Spirit• My cup overflows My cup overflows -abundance-abundance• Surely goodness & kindness will follow me all the Surely goodness & kindness will follow me all the

days of my life days of my life –blessed living–blessed living• And I will dwell in the house of the Lord foreverAnd I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever – –

security & eternity in Himsecurity & eternity in Him