Ps. 23:3

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”

“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Ps. 100:3

“But made His own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” Ps. 78:52

Four requirements for sheep to rest: 1.No fear 2.No friction 3.No pests 4.No hunger Matt. 6:25-34  Don’t worry about food or water  Don’t worry about clothing  God knows you need these “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” v. 33

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6 “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” Jn. 7:37 “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” 2 Pet. 1:3

 Wander around and get lost - can’t find their way  The shepherd must go and find them Isa. 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray…” Paul wrote, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” 1 Cor. 10:12

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Ps. 42:11 Ps. 42:6 “O my God, my soul is cast down within me”

1. Soft, comfortable, rounded place to bed down - Relax - Roll over on back = cast 2. Too much wool - Heavy, matted with mud and debris - Thrown off balance = cast - Must be sheared 3. Too Fat - Hard for them to move around - They need exercise & balanced diet

1. Soft, comfortable, rounded place to bed down - Look for easy way - 1 Cor. 10:12 “take heed lest he fall” 2. Too much wool - Weighed down with debris of this life - Heb. 12:1 “let us lay aside every weight” - Eph. 4:22 “Put off” 3. Too Fat - Need to be actively using the Word - Acts 20:27 “the whole counsel of God” - 1 Tim.4:7 “exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Shepherd finds a cast sheep - Turns it over and helps it get onto its feet - Regains it’s balance - rejoins the flock Our Shepherd restores our soul - Concern for us - feeling of compassion - Jesus will pick up “cast” sheep - Tenderness, love and patience - Peter is an example

Do not know how to care for themselves “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” Isa. 53:6 “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” Jn. 14:6 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” Jn. 10:10 “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matt. 16:24

In Christ = SAVED Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Hear (Rom.10:17) Believe (Jn.8:24) Repent (Lk.13:3)