Boulder Creek Community Church

John 18 - 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

"Take this cup from me..." Cup was a metaphor for God's wrath... we might struggle with that concept... that God gets angry. It doesn't fit our nice, good teacher, image of Jesus in our Western Culture. But if we stop and think about it... we really need and want a God of wrath.

Luke 22 - 9 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

What happened between the "green pastures" and the "still waters"? Life is lived often between these two places... For David, this would probably have been the desert. Desert is a common biblical theme where we are challenged to relate to God through faith... not our feelings.God sometimes leads us to the desert... to make us thirsty.How's your soul? We live in a loud... fast... and distracted world! Sometimes we use distractions to avoid dealing with the deep soul work that needs to be done in our lives?

He leads... The invitation of the Good Shepherd is to be led... That's not as simple as it seems! In fact, it can be risky, dangerous and even unpredictable at times! But... if we trust the good shepherd, and surrender to him, it will be good.

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In the original language, the concept is that the Shepherd causes us to lie down and lean against Him.Only sheep that are full... unafraid... and trust the Shepherd can lie down. This is a picture Where there is both delight and plenty.“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”Hebrews 4:1 NIV“For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.”Hebrews 4:2 NIV

Imagine a life without lack...“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”Psalms 23:1 ESV“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”Psalms 23:1 NLT“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”Psalms 23:1 NIVWhat you have in your shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life. You have grace for every sin... you lack nothing. You have an anchor for every storm... you lack nothing. You have power when your enemy attacks... you lack nothing. You have redemption for your past... you lack nothing. You have God’s approval as you are... because of what Christ has done... you lack nothing. You have His presence when you feel alone... you lack nothing. You have hope when the future seems bleak... you lack nothing. You have freedom.... to live courageously... you lack nothing. You have an Advocate intercedes for us when we’re not sure how to pray... you lack nothing. If God is for us who can be against us? you lack nothing. A Puritan once prayed when he sat down for dinner, “All this and Jesus too!”Max Luca

God is not only his shepherd, he’s a good shepherd. And he is your shepherd! And even more astounding is the fact that the good shepherd became a sheep and sacrificed himself for you. A lot is made of sheep being stupid… And that may be true! Nevertheless your God wants you to see him as your good shepherd. That means he will lead you and guide you provide for you and even hold you close to his heart. Rest and that awareness today… You are loved and you were cared for.

Today we spend a little bit more time looking at who Yahweh is and who he is for you. Today I read Psalm 29 and in 11 versus “LORD” is used 17 times! David wants to remind his people in a time of crisis and in a time of uncertainty that God is more powerful than anything they can imagine. And that power is available to gods people.

God first revealed his proper name, Yahweh to Moses. When Jesus used God’s proper name “I am“ he was making an astounding claim on his identity! Jesus is the full and complete revelation of who God is and what God is like. Most people project on to God what they imagine him to be like. Doesn’t it make sense that if God is really God that he would sometimes disagree with us or contradict us? We must come to God as he really is if we are going to experience all that he has for us.

Whenever LORD appears in the Hebrew Scriptures, the writer is referring to the proper name of God. It signifies nearness, closeness, intimacy and that he is a God who even shelters us.

Paul wraps up his teaching on dealing with anxiety by challenging us to think on the right things. The battleground for your heart is in your mind… Our lives are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

The power of living with an attitude of gratitude. Choosing to be thankful in all things is not only pleasing to God he can change and bless your own heart and soul.

Prayer is a gift given to us by God for many reasons… One of them being that we can cast all of our cares upon him, for he cares for us! Prayers away to talk to God but it is also a way for us to talk to our own souls. Noticed how David preaches to his own heart and soul in Psalm 43:5 says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭43:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬https://www.bible.com/111/psa.43.5.niv

Philippians 4:4-7 tells us to rejoice always. To rejoice is a choice we make that has the power to defeat anxiety.

Do you ever think about what you think about? The Bible tells us to take every thought captive so that we can obey Christ. We all deal with anxiety, but God wants to give us his shalom. Take a few minutes today to be still and to be quiet… The Good Shepherd is speaking to you. His sheep know his voice…