Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Derrel Strickland
In this week's message, Pastor Strickland reflects on the role of God as our shepherd, inspired by the stories of biblical figures like Jacob, Joseph, and David. He draws a comparison to a nursery rhyme question, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" to illustrate the challenges and fears we face in life. Pastor reminds us that just as these individuals were shepherded by God's grace and protection through trials and threats, we too need not fear the metaphorical "big bad wolf" in our lives today. Whether it's fears of the future, the burden of past mistakes, or the wolves of life that nip at our heels, our faith and trust in God as our ultimate shepherd can guide us through. His key message serves as a call to trust in God, forgive past wrongs, and embrace the security found in divine guidance: Our Shepherd is always with us, providing strength and protection.
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
Introduction
In the journey of faith, understanding the role of God as our shepherd is fundamental to building trust and overcoming fear. It is central to our identity and purpose as believers. As we explore the significance of the shepherd concept, we delve into the powerful words of Jacob, a patriarch who recognized God as the shepherd of his life, ultimately guiding us towards understanding the shepherd's care and how it relates to our fears and challenges today.
The Shepherd Concept
The concept of God as our shepherd is vividly illustrated in the unfolding story of Jacob from the book of Genesis. In Genesis 48:15-16, Jacob blesses his son Joseph, declaring that the God who shepherded him throughout his life will also bless Joseph and his children. Jacob’s name transformation from to highlights a profound spiritual journey; he embraced God’s protection and guidance through all life’s adversities.
Facing the Big Bad Wolf
The analogy of facing fears is powerful. Just as the nursery rhyme asks, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" we are prompted to consider our own fears, whether they manifest as external threats or internal anxieties. It’s easy to feel intimidated by challenges such as financial uncertainty, personal relationships, or unforeseen circumstances. However, God, as the shepherd, assures us that we do not need to be afraid of adversaries symbolized as wolves, lions, or any form of danger, as He is more powerful than any threat we may encounter.
Understanding the Enemy
In Scripture, we see that Satan is often depicted as a roaring lion seeking to devour. However, believers are reassured that they have a shepherd who stands stronger than any foe. Paul warns about wolves in sheep's clothing in Acts 20, emphasizing the need for vigilance and awareness among believers. While dangers may surround us, faith in our shepherd shields us from ultimate harm.
Joseph's Example
Joseph’s journey is a compelling narrative of enduring faith under hardship. From being sold into slavery to rising to power in Egypt, he exemplified steadfastness in the face of trials. His story highlights how God’s shepherding leads to restoration and fruitfulness—even in lands of affliction. God allowed Joseph to forget his hardships, enabling him to forgive and grow, a crucial step for anyone burdened by the past.
The Power of Forgiveness
The importance of forgiveness cannot be overlooked. Just as God enabled Joseph to forgive his brothers, believers today are encouraged to release past grievances. The act of forgiving not only liberates individuals from bitterness but also opens avenues for forward movement in life and relationships. When we allow God to shepherd our hearts, we can bring healing to past wounds.
The Good Shepherd
In John 10, Jesus declares Himself as the Good Shepherd, emphasizing His role as protector and guide. His sacrificial love propels believers to take courage amid trials. The assurance that nothing can separate us from His love equips us to face fears head-on. The shepherd leads us through valleys, granting comfort and encouragement, making it clear that our spiritual well-being is utmost.
Conclusion
As illustrated in the narratives of Jacob, Joseph, and David, the consistent theme is one of reliance on God’s shepherding. In a world filled with uncertainties and challenges, we have assurance that the shepherd walks beside us. We can indeed respond to the question, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" with confidence—knowing that our shepherd, mighty and powerful, guides us through every battle.
A Call to Trust
Ultimately, it is vital for believers to surrender their fears, seek forgiveness, and remember their identity in Christ. Presenting our anxieties to God allows us to experience His peace that surpasses understanding. As we trust in the Lord, the challenges become less intimidating and the shepherd's presence becomes our greatest comfort. In doing so, we embrace the purpose He has for our lives, moving forward with faith and courage.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Living Under the Protection of Our Shepherd
Reflect on Fear vs. Faith: Pastor Strickland mentioned that, with God as our shepherd, we need not fear the "big bad wolves" in life. What are some fears you have struggled with, and how have you witnessed God's protection in those situations?
The Role of a Shepherd: Reflect on Jacob’s view of God as his lifelong shepherd. Do you feel God's guidance and protection in your everyday life? How so?
Forgiveness and Release: Joseph was able to forgive and forget his past tribulations. Is there something in your past that needs forgiveness? How can you work towards releasing it?
Facing Giants: Like David against Goliath, we all face personal "giants". What are some "giants" in your life, and how can faith help you confront them?
God's Warriors: Pastor Strickland noted that God sometimes turns adversaries into allies. Have you experienced a situation where God changed someone's heart towards you? How did it impact your faith?
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In Pastor Strickland's sermon, several biblical figures and stories are referenced, notably from the book of Genesis and the tale of David. Genesis captures the patriarchal period in ancient Israel, a time termed by the life stories of figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. This historical setting is rooted in the Mesopotamian background of ancient nomadic tribes around 2000-1500 BC.
Jacob's Journey: Jacob, known as Israel, exemplified the transitional period where nomadic lifestyle was giving way to more settled life. His acknowledgment of God as his shepherd took place against a backdrop of familial unrest, migrations, and divine encounters, typical of the patriarchal narratives.
Joseph's Egyptian Context: Joseph's story intersects with Egyptian history, a powerful civilization where he rises to prominence. The narrative of Joseph reflects themes of exile and God's providence, orchestrating redemption from hostile societal and familial dynamics around 1800-1700 BC.
David and Goliath: David's narrative represents the united monarchy phase of Israel around 1000 BC. Known as a young shepherd and future king, his story encapsulates themes of divine selection and empowerment amidst sociopolitical challenges, such as battles with neighboring Philistines.
Saul's Transformation into Paul: Moving to the New Testament, Saul’s transformation reflects early Christian history within the Greco-Roman world. Saul's background as a member of the Pharisees and subsequent conversion on the road to Damascus marks a pivotal movement in early Christian evangelism around the 1st century AD.
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Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Introduction:
Hello, kids! Today, let’s talk about a special story that Pastor Strickland shared about how God is our shepherd. Do you know what a shepherd does? That's right! A shepherd takes care of sheep and keeps them safe.
Main Message:
Pastor Strickland mentioned a nursery rhyme called "The Three Little Pigs," where there’s a big bad wolf. Just like the big bad wolf in the story, we sometimes feel afraid of many things. But guess what? We have a shepherd who is bigger and stronger than any wolf!
Who is Our Shepherd?
God is our shepherd! Just like Jacob said, "The God who has been my shepherd all my life!" This means that God promises to take care of us. We can trust Him even when we're scared.
Courage Against Fears:
Don’t be afraid! Just like the three little pigs built their houses to be safe, we have our faith in God to keep us safe. Whenever you feel scared about school, friends, or anything else, remember that God is with you, and you don't have to be brave all by yourself.
Activity: Big Bad Wolf Craft
Let’s make a fun craft to remember our story. We will make a little puppet wolf!
Materials Needed:
Paper
Scissors
Glue
Cotton balls (for fur!)
Markers or crayons
Instructions:
Cut out a wolf shape from the paper.
Glue on some cotton balls for the wolf's fur.
Use markers to draw a friendly face on your wolf puppet.
When we finish, let’s have a puppet show! We can make our wolf say, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me, because God is my shepherd!"
Conclusion:
Remember, kids, just like the three little pigs were brave in their houses, we can be brave because God is always with us. So, when you ever feel scared about anything, just say: "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me, because I have my shepherd, God, who cares for me!"
Prayer:
Let’s pray together. Dear God, thank you for being our shepherd. Help us to trust you and not be afraid. We love you! Amen.
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For the last 40 years, it has been my honor to share the bread of life. It has been my privilege to be the under shepherd to the greatest flock of sheep anywhere. What a joy. Now, somebody asked my wife the other day if she had waterproof mascara, and I said, I don't have it, but if mine starts running, you know, it's been a moving service. Okay?
But it's so thankful that God has made these years possible, not only having a gracious congregation, but serving the greatest shepherd, and that's our Lord Jesus Christ. What an awesome privilege Jacob was blessing his son Joseph and his children. And he made an awesome statement in Genesis, chapter 48, verse 15 and 16. He says this. The God before whom my father Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day.
The angel who has redeemed me from all evil blessed the boys, and in them let my name be carried on and the name of my fathers and Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. What a statement that Jacob. Jacob's name had been chained to Israel. Jacob means deceiver, thief. God had changed his name, but he made the statement that God has been my shepherd all my life.
How many are glad that God's been your shepherd?
Jacob knew all about being a shepherd because he was from a family of shepherds. Now, there's a nursery rhyme that was written prior to 1850. So that's prior to most of us being born before 1850. The title of that nursery rhyme was the Three Little Pigs. Walt Disney made a movie about it in 1933, and since that time, there's been several other movies and renditions of it.
But in that animated movie, there was a little song. Some of you remember it. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Big bad wolf, Big bad wolf who's afraid of the big bad wolf? That's the question I want to ask you today.
Who's afraid the big bad wolf? Now, don't turn me off just yet, because several months ago, I was teaching on Wednesday night about the Lord being our shepherd, and I was vividly reminded that as sheep that has Jesus as the shepherd. He's taking care of us.
And we do not need to be afraid of the big bad wolf. We don't need to be afraid of the bear, the lion, the government, the future, the new year, your spouse. Oh, I shouldn't have said that. But who is afraid? Whatever form your enemy takes?
As Jacob said, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day. The new living translation puts it this way. May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life, and the angel who has kept me from all harm. Now, I don't think I'd ever noticed he mentioned an angel because, you know, I've never thought too much about guardian angels. I'm glad my family has had some.
Some of you know what I'm talking about. Glad that somebody was there to keep those devils at bay. So when we realized that he's been our shepherd. I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf, you say. Well, what's going on in your future?
I don't have a clue. But I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf. How about you? You're probably saying, pastor Satan is not compared to a wolf. He's compared to a lion.
And that is true. That's true, says your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And that includes you, that includes me. Satan is looking for someone to devour. But as a believer and as having Jesus as our shepherd, we don't have to be afraid of that roaring lion.
But Jesus also told us this. He said there would be wolves and sheep's clothing, and he says we would be lambs among wolves. In the book of Acts, chapter 20, Paul warned the church. He says this. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock.
See, he was talking about church leaders. He said, pay careful attention to. To all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own cells will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them.
Therefore, be alert. Remembering that for three years I did not cease, night or day, to admonish everyone with tears, he said, be alert. Folks, we need to understand something. It's dangerous out there. I said, it's dangerous out there.
If you don't believe it, get on 75 today, huh? If you don't believe. Some people say, man, I need the Holy Spirit to get to heaven. I need the Holy Spirit to get to Walmart. It's dangerous out there and there's wolves out there of different shapes and sizes.
But I'm glad to say that I don't have to be afraid of the big bad wolf, because I have a shepherd that's bigger and badder than any wolf. Go back to the book of Genesis and take a peek at the life of Joseph. See, that was one that he was praying over, Joseph. Now, we don't have time to get into his story, but he had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He had been falsely accused by his boss's wife.
He had been thrown into prison. And to me, one of the greatest things that happened to him in the negative, he had been forgotten about. See, two people promised. Hey, I'll be there. You can call on me 24 7.
You can call on me. I'm there. But they forgot him.
And it's an awesome story. You need to read it. But I'd like for you to go back to chapter 49 of that chapter book of Genesis, and read the blessings that this man that said, I've always had a shepherd all my life. Jacob said, joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring, his branches run over the wall. The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him and harassed him severely.
I can tell you Joseph was attacked by the enemy, yet his bow remained unmoved. His arms were made agile by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob. From there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel, by the God of your Father, who will help you by the Almighty and will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breast and of the womb. The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph and on the brow of him who is set apart from his brothers.
Wow, what an awesome statement. Prayer that God prayed over him, that God would be with him. But then it changes drastically in the next verse. Verse 27, Benjamin as a ravenous wolf in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil. Now, Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother, and the Bible says here he was a ravenous wolf.
So I want you to remember Benjamin and that God called him, or Jacob called him, as he was blessing his son Joseph, that he was a ravenous wolf. Now jot back with me to chapter 41. And again, we don't have time to read this whole story. Let me just read a couple of verses from 41. Verse 46.
Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. Now let me back up just a little bit. It says he was 30 years old when he entered the service. Now if you go back and read the whole story, you find that Joseph had a dream, godly given dream, that was more than one time.
It was reinforced. Now listen, let me just use a word of caution. If you get a dream in the middle of the night and it stands alone and it's not ever confirmed, just put it on a hold for a while. Because if it's God, he'll give you the same dream again. He will reinforce it.
He will let people come along and to share and to make sure of that dream. Joseph had that dream several times about his brother, brothers and his family honoring him, that he would be over them. And whenever he told them, they rebuked him and they got mad with him. And that's what led them to sell him into slavery. But when he was 30 years old, he was released from prison, he started working for Pharaoh.
He actually became what we would call vice president underneath Pharaoh and handled all his business. And he had received that dream prior to 17 years old. So for a minimum of 13 years, he held onto that dream through prison, through being mistreated, through being ridiculed. But now he's released from prison and he goes into service.
And it Sundays, during the seven plentiful years. So we know that that was at least seven more years, at least seven. During the seven years plentiful years, the earth produced abundantly. And he gathered up all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt. And he put the food in the cities.
He put in every city the food from the fields around it. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. Before the year of famine came, two sons. Before the year famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Athanas, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of on, bore them to him.
Verse 51 says this. Joseph called the name of his firstborn Manasseh. My Manasseh became one of the leaders, one of the descendants of Jacob. And you see his name throughout the Bible. And it says Manasseh.
But what did Manasseh mean? It says this. God has made Me forget all my hardship and all my father's house. God has caused me to forget. That's an awesome statement.
Because there's some of you here today, some of you that may be watching online, that you've been tormented by wolves of the past.
I said you're being tormented by something that's in your history. You say, how do you know that? Because that's what Satan does to us. He plays mind games. And he'll let those wolves keep nipping at your heels worse than a Chihuahua dog.
He'll nipping at you and nipping at you, barking and reminding you how you failed.
And Joseph understood something. He said, God has made me forget. Not only to forget, but to forgive.
Some of you are finding that wolf. You say, are you singling me out? Are you making fun? No, I'm just telling you that we've all made mistakes. And until you've allowed God.
And let me say that again, until you allow God to help you forget, because some of you have been terribly mistreated, some of you have been hurt, some have been used. And you say, I can never forgive them. Well, until you learn to let God cause you to forgive and to forget, your dream will never be fulfilled.
That's a wolf. But guess what? We got a shepherd. And you don't have to be afraid of the past. You don't have to be afraid of the past.
Then the second son, he called Ephraim. For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. In other words, in the place that you made a failure. God says, in the place of my affliction. Now, maybe I should correct that Joseph was not a failure, but he went through a lot of torment.
And God caused him to forget. But not only to forget. He allowed him to become fruitful. He allowed him to have his dreams fulfilled.
And we can come to that statement. But God. But God. God is the only one that can really cause you to forget. And not just forget, but to forgive.
It was just a few years later when Jacob was blessing Joseph. See, right before Joseph, Jacob died, he called his boys in and he began to bless them. And that's when that blessing was. He said, I want you to know something, Joseph. God has been my shepherd all my life.
Including when he left home with nothing, including when Laban deceived him, including when he wrestled with the angel all night long. And see, that's another one of those things cause me to forget God. Or Jacob wrestled with an angel all night long. And this is something I take from this you may disagree with me, but all night long he wrestled. And he asked, Jacob said, what's your name?
What's your name? And Jacob was ashamed to say it because I'm a deceiver. I'm a thief. But he could not bless him until he admitted who he was. Until he admitted that he needed forgiveness.
But then he was able to say, God has been my shepherd all my life, and now he is with you. And guess what I can say, he's been my shepherd all my life. And he'll be your shepherd as long as you will allow him to be. Cause it's an amazing thing. I've never had sheep.
I don't know anything about sheep except they dumb. Maybe that's the reason he calls us sheep. I don't know. Now, I didn't say that. God did.
So if you get mad and offended, okay, he said, you're a bunch of sheep blindfollowing the blind. But I can tell you, a bunch of cows, if they insist on doing their own thing, most ranchers will get rid of them because they're troublemakers.
See, we have to yield to the shepherd. We have to yield to the shepherd.
Jacob said, I've yielded to the shepherd, and he has been my shepherd all my life. It was a few generations later. There was a guy by the name of David. Remember David? He stood before Goliath and he said these words in the 17th chapter of 1st Samuel, he said this.
This day, he was talking to the giant. Now, most people saw giant Goliath. Now, the Bible doesn't call him a giant. They call him as a champion. But everybody was looking at him and said, he's too big to fight.
Not David. He said, he's too big to miss this day. The Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the field, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves. Not with a sword and spear for the battle.
Lord's. The battle is the Lord's. And he will give you into our hand. What's he saying? He said, listen, it's not for yours to fight.
The shepherd is the one. Years ago when we were first starting putting our security team on, and they were doing a great job putting it all together. And the man heading it up said, now, Pastor, you understand priority is taking care of you and protecting you. I said, no. He said, yeah, all the teachers teach us that you're the one we have to protect.
I said, no, you don't protect the shepherd. You protect the sheep. The first responsibility is to the sheep. Now, if somebody comes in with a gun, if you want to take care of me, that's okay. But the first responsibility for the shepherd, it's not for me.
The shepherd takes care of the sheep. And David understood that. He said, but I want to tell you something. I'm not fighting this battle alone. I've got a shepherd.
I've got a shepherd that's bigger than I am. And I can tell you what, he wasn't afraid of him. You say, well, why not? Because he had faith. Now you say, did he have any fear at all?
Probably. You say, why would you say that? Because he's a smart boy. I mean, you know, you need to respect things. But he said, I'm not fighting on my own.
I've got a big bad brother that's my shepherd, but I'm not fighting it on my own.
And neither was David. And just like the shepherd was with David as he stood before the giants, he'll be with you as you stand before the giants of this world. And there's some big ones out there representing different things, but they're giants. See, Saul was the anointed king Israel. He was the first king.
Now, he was the tribe of Benjamin. What did we say about Benjamin? A ravenous wolf. Now, I never thought about this until I was working on this message. A ravenous wolf that Saul's primary intent, latter part of his ministry.
Now, he started out great. Saul started out great. He was very humble. Matter of fact, look it up. When they went to anoint him king, they couldn't find him because he's hiding among stuff.
But he started out humble, but then he became puffed up with arrogance. And his number one goal was to get rid of David, to kill David. Remember, whose tribe was Saul from Benjamin? Which tribe was David from Judah? And if he could have gotten rid of David, that means Jesus would have never been born.
See, Satan is very sly, and he will attack you in many ways. But we've got a shepherd. Got a shepherd that's bigger and badder and wiser than Satan ever thought about being. But just as Saul did his best to kill David, Jesus did his best to kill Jesus. He said, oh, he did?
Yeah, for a little while. He just borrowed that tune for three days.
Up from the grave he arose. Now, not only did the shepherd Protect David. But notice something else in First Chronicles, chapter 12. This is interesting. Now, these are the men who came to David at Ziklag while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish.
And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen, could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or left hand, and they were Benjamites, Saul's kinsman. Drop down to verse 16. And when some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold of David, David went out to meet them and said to them, if you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you. But if you betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong hands, then may the God of our Father see and rebuke you.
Then the Spirit clothed Amaziah, chief of the 30, and said, we are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse. Peace, Peace to you and peace your helpers for your God helps us. Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. Now, I don't know if you got it or not, but God not only protected David, he turned some of those enemies and to his biggest supporters. I can tell you, years of pastoring, that God has done that for me several times.
Somebody that was against me didn't like the vision, didn't like me. I know it's hard to believe, but guess what? The shepherd changed their whole demeanor. Not because I deserved it, but because the shepherd that was over me was also over them. Not only did God protect David, he turned many of those that were against him into some of his greatest warriors.
What a shepherd. What a shepherd we have. So we too can sing. Who's afraid? The big bad wolf.
The big bad wolf. Now, let's quickly go over to the New Testament. My introduction is almost done. No, just kidding. Acts, chapter eight.
Acts, chapter eight. Who was the biggest obstacle for the earliest church? I know, you say. Well, Satan was. But who was the biggest obstacle to the early church?
Well, let's look at what it says in chapter eight. And Saul, whose name was later turned to Paul, approved of his execution, talking about Stephen. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentations over him.
But Saul was what? Ravaging the church. It's kind of interesting that he used that word. Saul was ravaging the church and entering house after house. He dragged off men and women, and committed them to prison.
Now you say, well, big deal. Well, who was Saul? Let's just see what the Bible says about Saul. Glad you asked that question, because Romans 11 says this. I ask then, has God rejected his people?
By no means. For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah? How he appeals to God against Israel?
Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life. But what is God's reply to them? I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed their knees to Baal. So guess what? Sometimes when we think we're all alone, sometimes when we think we might as well throw in the towel, we might as well quit, guess what God the shepherd is saying, listen, I'm there.
I know what you're going through. I. I've got your back and I'm going to take care of you. So we can say who's afraid of the big bad wolf. But Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin.
He was a big bad wolf of his day. Now you say, what do you mean by that? Well, let's go back and read one more passage about Paul in Acts 9:1. But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord high priest, and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any belonging to the way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. In other words, he had a John Doe warrant that anybody that was claiming to serve Jesus could be thrown into jail.
He had that authority. And it says now, as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
I am Jesus who you are persecuting. Now you say, well, what significance is that? Well, what did Jesus say about himself in John 10:1? Truly, truly, I say to you. He.
He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way. That man is a thief and robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep to him. The gatekeeper opens, the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he has brought out his own, he goes before them, and the Sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Drop down to verse 11, written in red. Jesus saying this, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am. The Lord is my shepherd.
Remember what Jacob said. The God who has been my shepherd all my life long until this day. The Lord now. What happened to Paul? What happened to Paul?
He was struck down. He was driven to his knees. Jesus, our good shepherd, brought Paul to his knees. And once again those that were against him became one of his greatest warriors. Look what God has done.
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me. Because the shepherd will bring the enemy to his knees. He brought Saul to his knees. And I read in a book somewhere that says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Who does that include? That includes you. That includes me. But it also includes Satan. He's got quite a bit of power now.
But he too will bow. His knee too shall bow and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and the Lord is my shepherd. Now, we often quote Psalm 22, verse 1, and it's a great verse. One of those last words that Jesus spoke from the cross says, my God, my God, why have youe forsaken me? We often quote that as a defeatist verse and said that Jesus had to.
God had to turn his back on Jesus. Now, we do know that God cannot look at sin. And we do know that Jesus died a horrible death. But that one verse does not tell the whole story. I said the one verse doesn't tell the story.
If you go down and read that whole psalm, let's just pick up at verse 27. It says, all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord. And all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord. And he rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship. Before him shall all bow who go down to the dust, even the one who cannot keep himself alive. Speaking of Jesus, posterity shall serve him as to be told of the Lord to the coming generations. They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn. That he has done it.
So we don't stop at Psalm 22:1. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? We see that Jesus, our shepherd, defeated Satan once and for all. Then, of course, Psalm 23, David made the statement, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters. He restoreth My soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for namesake and yea, they'll walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Eyes fear death. Now, I know some of you say, well, anyway, Pastor, death is a terrible thing. Death is Satan's knockout punch.
But you know what the Bible said, What Jesus said? He said, don't fear the one that's able to kill your body.
Because guess what? If we're his sheep, we're just going through a valley. We're just going through the valley that they call the shadow of death. But our shepherds are leading us through into eternal life. Wow.
So we can proclaim, who's afraid of the big bad wolf then? If you go and read Psalm 24, verse 7 says this. Lift up your head, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the king of glory may come in. Now who is that? That's our shepherd.
Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the king of glory may come in. Who is this king of glory?
The Lord of hosts. He is the king of glory. Who is this king of glory? He was that little baby that we honored a few weeks ago. Huh?
I said, he was that little baby we honored a few weeks ago. He was the one that died on the cross and rose from the dead. He is the one that has been our shepherd all of our days long, and he will continue to be. And so we don't need need to be afraid of the big bad wolf. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
My shepherds defeated him today. I will be passing the baton in a few minutes to our new pastor.
But see, Pastor Tom and I are not the real pastors. We're under pastors. The Holy Spirit, Jesus, God the Father, they're the shepherds that we're under. We're the under shepherds.
And God has allowed me to the privilege of being the Under shepherd for 40 years of this great, great plot.
But this morning, before we pass baton, I want to talk to the sheep for a moment. Now you say, well, I don't want to be called a sheep. Well, according to the Bible, you're either a sheep or a goat.
Now, that's just what the book says. Okay, Isn't that what the book says? A sheep or a goat? So I want to talk to the sheeprot moment, and I want to make a threefold challenge. I want to speak first of all to those that you may have never yielded to the lordship of the shepherd.
Or maybe you've kind of become a prodigal and left the flock. Now, God didn't kick you out of the flock, but he might have let you walk off and leave it. And he's welcome. You say, come on back. Come on back, just like the prodigal son did.
And then I want to speak to those of you that need to forgive and forget so you can go forward. Man, that's a big wolf that you have to fight. And you say, well, I can't do it. I know somebody said, pastor, is living a Christian life hard? I said, no, it's impossible.
It's letting him lead us and guide us and direct us. Then thirdly, I want to address those that are fearful and anxious, because I'm going to tell you there's way too much fear in our world. But more importantly, and in my opinion, there's too much fear in God's people. We don't need to be afraid of the big bad wolf. Say, pastor, have you not read the news?
Have you not listened to CNN or abc? Whichever one you listen to, this is all bad news. But I can tell you there's a shepherd there that has been with me all my life, and he'll continue to be with me. So I'm not afraid of what's going to happen with the stock market. I'm not afraid.
You say, wait a minute. Do you have a lot of money in stock? No, I always put my money in stocks and barns. That means cattle, and I don't even have any cattle. But I want to tell you something.
I've got a shepherd that says, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness. And listen to me. I'm not ridiculing you or making fun because you're fearful. There have been times in every one of our lives that something fearful has come up.
The doctor's report, some other report. But I can tell you that we have a shepherd. We've had him all of our life, ever since we yielded to him. So those three things, those of you that are fearful, those of you that need God to give you comfort and help you to forgive and forget, and those of you that may not have yielded to the Lord, he wants to be your shepherd. So before we pass the baton today, I want you to bow your heads in prayer.
And after the prayer, Pastor Tom and Rob and our church staff, if y'all would come on up. And our worship team as well. Father, we come to this most important Part of this service, a time, asking you to minister to these, your sheep, minister to these, your people. And Father, we ask you to minister to those that are watching online, touch them, and help us to surrender our needs to you. So, Father, we ask you to have your will and way even right now, right now, if you're one of those, fit in one of those categories, you need God's forgiveness.
You need God to help you to forgive and forget. Need God to take care of your worries and your anxieties. If that's you today, I'm not going to ask you to come to the front. But as we. I'm gonna just count to three, and if you're here and you're one of those people, we're gonna pray for you.
Pray for you right where you are, that God would minister to you. So when I count to three, if you're one of those people, we're not gonna ask you which one. We just ask you to stand so we, as a church body, as this church staff, can pray over you. One, two, three. Would you stand?
If you need prayer, stand real quickly. Minister by your power, Holy Spirit. Minister by your power. Father, we ask you right now to minister to these that are standing.
I don't know. And it really doesn't matter what their need is, because you're bigger than every need. You're bigger than every circumstance. You're bigger than any giant, any wolf, any lion, any worry. And God, I pray for those very heavy on my heart that there's some here today that they need to release that unforgiveness.
They need to release that bitterness and anger. And God, they may have been hurt so bad. They may have been hurt so bad, it's beyond human ability. Father, you're a good shepherd. You're a God of forgiveness, a God of love.
And we ask you to help us to do that right now. So minister by your power and your strength in Jesus. Wonderful name, Amen. And amen.
