#42 - Joby Martin // Beyond Worldly Pleasures

I think part of the reason Americans love this Psalm so much is because at this point we think , man , he's really into me . I mean , look how awesome I am that the sovereign king of the universal would be my shepherd and look what he's doing . I mean , we don't love the phrase he makes me lie down , but that's what he does . He makes me lie down .

See , this is the kind of shepherd that makes you do stuff . And if you would look at your life in Christ and you think , well , he hasn't made me do anything lately , then he might not be your shepherd .

Because nowhere in the Bible are you going to find this idea that the sheep go out , lead the way and then ask the shepherd to come and bless the direction of the sheep . No , no , no , he goes the other way . I mean , we'll spend some time here in a few weeks .

But in John , chapter 10 , the preeminent text on shepherding in the New Testament , jesus says that my sheep hear my voice and they obey my voice , and they do not listen to the voice of the stranger . And every single time we do what the shepherd tells us to do , it leads to life .

And every single time we disobey it and go our own way , it leads to death . And so this is the kind of shepherd that's not listen , man . You don't have to feather the hair of Jesus . He's not just a sky fairy telling you wonderful things about you and trying to fix all your problems . No , no , no , no , no .

This is the kind of shepherd that , for his own glory and for your own good , he makes you do things . He's going to make you lie down in green pastures . He's going to lead you beside still waters .

And what we get out of obedience to the good shepherd is this he restores my soul , and some of you need to have your soul restored , and there is nothing , nothing , nothing , nothing in this world that can restore your soul . There is nothing , there's not a trip on this planet that can restore your soul .

There's not an amount of money you can make that can restore your soul . Some of you need to put the bottle down because you're self-medicating and what you need is soul restoration , some of you smoking weed every day and trying to get in some political argument as to what's legal and not legal .

And what's really happening is you're looking for a substitute savior and you're looking for a piece , and it ain't ever going to be found in the pipe or the pill . It's only going to be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ , and what's crazy is when he makes you do stuff .

The joy of this world is found in the obedience to the thing that he tells you to do , and I'm telling you it's not submission until you don't like it . It's not submission until you don't like it .

Of course there's things in the scripture of which the shepherd speaks to us through , and of course there's things in there that we don't want to hear , like forgiveness and reconciliation , and that we should love our enemies , that we should not talk smack about people that we don't like . That includes political parties that you may disagree with .

Of course there's things in there that you don't like , but the reason that you don't like it is because you and I are dumb like sheep and we only have the purview of a stinky animal with his nose on the ground , two feet off the ground and the shepherd can see what we can't see . And the shepherd knows what we can't know .

And when we do what he tells us to do , there is restoration for our souls in ways that I just can't explain . You know what Christ wants for you . He wants your soul to be restored , and the only way it will be restored is in him .

In Matthew , chapter 11 , jesus gives this incredible invitation because some of you have been lying down in whatever pasture you want , some of you have been drinking out of whatever waters you want , some of you have been not led in paths of righteousness , but you went your own way and you're asking the shepherd to come and bless you .

And in Matthew 11 , jesus says come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened , and being the boss of your own life will wear you out . And you know what happens when we come to him . He says all you who are weary and heavy burdened , come to me and I will give you peace , I will give you rest for your soul .

So if you have a restless life right now , if you feel like your soul is empty , then come to the good shepherd and do whatever it is that he tells you to do , because in knowing him , that is where your life will be restored .

Whatever the shepherd tells you to do , march in that direction , especially when it doesn't make sense or you're scared or you don't understand . That's what trust is . The Lord is my shepherd . I shall not be in want . He makes me lie down in green pastures . He leads me besides still waters . He restores my soul , amen .