100:00:00,440 –> 00:00:03,960There is a reason why Psalm 23 is the best loved200:00:04,060 –> 00:00:06,060and best known of all of the psalms300:00:06,160 –> 00:00:09,600and one of the best loved chapters in all of the Bible.400:00:09,700 –> 00:00:12,540And that reason is that God has used this Psalm500:00:12,640 –> 00:00:17,040to encourage his people for more than 3,000 years.600:00:17,400 –> 00:00:19,780Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:19,879 –> 00:00:22,180I’m David Pick, I’m glad you could join us today,800:00:22,280 –> 00:00:25,320and Colin, Psalm 23 is one of the best loved900:00:25,420 –> 00:00:26,820and well known psalms.1000:00:26,920 –> 00:00:28,420I know you absolutely have used it1100:00:28,879 –> 00:00:31,559possibly one of the best known passages in the whole Bible.1200:00:31,639 –> 00:00:33,680What do you think it is about this psalm1300:00:33,779 –> 00:00:36,060which so captivates us?1400:00:36,160 –> 00:00:39,299Oh I think that it is so wonderfully encouraging1500:00:39,380 –> 00:00:42,599and all of us desperately need encouragement.1600:00:42,700 –> 00:00:45,720I’m so glad that we are able to delve1700:00:45,820 –> 00:00:47,360into this psalm right now because,1800:00:47,459 –> 00:00:49,759I mean isn’t this a time when so many folks1900:00:49,860 –> 00:00:53,799are feeling tired and jaded and rundown and discouraged?2000:00:53,900 –> 00:00:56,740And just to lift up our minds and our hearts2100:00:56,759 –> 00:00:59,900to say the LORD is my shepherd and then2200:01:00,000 –> 00:01:03,680all that flows from that, that he’s going to lead me2300:01:03,779 –> 00:01:06,599and he’s going to protect me and he’s never going2400:01:06,699 –> 00:01:07,639to let me go.2500:01:07,739 –> 00:01:09,779I just found this to be such a rich2600:01:09,879 –> 00:01:11,620and wonderful encouragement.2700:01:11,720 –> 00:01:14,540I know it’s a very familiar passage of Scripture2800:01:14,639 –> 00:01:17,059and maybe you’re thinking right now,2900:01:17,160 –> 00:01:21,459oh Psalm 23, I know that, well will you spend3000:01:21,559 –> 00:01:24,559some time with me and just pause to take in3100:01:24,559 –> 00:01:28,059what God says he is towards you.3200:01:28,160 –> 00:01:31,279You’re shepherd and take in what it means3300:01:31,379 –> 00:01:33,919because it’s wonderful and I think as we slow3400:01:34,019 –> 00:01:36,419down to take in over these next days,3500:01:36,519 –> 00:01:39,800what the LORD does for us in Jesus Christ.3600:01:39,900 –> 00:01:41,099It’s going to be a blessing, it’s going to3700:01:41,199 –> 00:01:43,000be an encouragement and it’s going3800:01:43,099 –> 00:01:45,699to renew your strength and give you hope.3900:01:45,800 –> 00:01:48,139So join us if you can in Psalm 234000:01:48,239 –> 00:01:51,040as we begin the message, He Owns Me.4100:01:51,139 –> 00:01:52,739Here is Pastor Collin.4200:01:53,360 –> 00:01:56,500Now I expect for all of us there are some gems4300:01:56,599 –> 00:02:00,559of wisdom that we hear once and never forget.4400:02:00,660 –> 00:02:04,040One of those in my life came from Warren Wearsby,4500:02:04,139 –> 00:02:06,099some of you may know that name,4600:02:06,199 –> 00:02:09,139one time esteemed pastor of the Moody Church4700:02:09,240 –> 00:02:11,240here in Chicago and then Bible teacher4800:02:11,339 –> 00:02:14,479with the Back to the Bible Radio Program.4900:02:14,580 –> 00:02:16,580He was speaking this is a good number of years5000:02:16,679 –> 00:02:19,740ago in a conference in Britain,5100:02:20,720 –> 00:02:23,779and there was a Question and Answer session.5200:02:23,880 –> 00:02:27,059I was just a young pastor in London at the time.5300:02:27,160 –> 00:02:29,160And at this conference, Warren Wearsby,5400:02:29,259 –> 00:02:32,399who I admired so much was asked the question,5500:02:32,500 –> 00:02:35,759what would he do differently if he could have5600:02:35,860 –> 00:02:39,839his years of ministry over again?5700:02:39,940 –> 00:02:42,339And I remember leaning forward in my chair5800:02:42,440 –> 00:02:43,399as a young pastor,5900:02:43,500 –> 00:02:48,740to hear what this man I respected so much would say.6000:02:48,880 –> 00:02:51,720And he said in his senior years then,6100:02:53,179 –> 00:02:56,880if I could have my time in ministry over again,6200:02:57,820 –> 00:03:02,320I would encourage God’s people more.6300:03:03,500 –> 00:03:05,360I’ve never forgotten that.6400:03:06,300 –> 00:03:08,259It stayed with me, I think partly because6500:03:08,360 –> 00:03:09,699Warren Wearsby is one of the most6600:03:09,800 –> 00:03:13,360encouraging people I’ve ever met in my life.6700:03:13,460 –> 00:03:15,000But as he and his senior years,6800:03:15,100 –> 00:03:17,039looked back on his time in ministry,6900:03:17,279 –> 00:03:21,600he said, I would encourage God’s people more.7000:03:24,020 –> 00:03:26,679Now there is a reason why Psalm 237100:03:26,779 –> 00:03:30,080is the best loved and best known of all of the Psalms,7200:03:30,179 –> 00:03:33,720and one of the best loved chapters in all of the Bible.7300:03:33,820 –> 00:03:35,899And that reason is that God has used7400:03:36,000 –> 00:03:38,059this psalm to encourage his people7500:03:38,160 –> 00:03:41,100for more than 3,000 years.7600:03:42,339 –> 00:03:45,139And my first prayer for this series7700:03:45,300 –> 00:03:47,500is that God will use these familiar words7800:03:47,600 –> 00:03:50,679to bring fresh strength and hope and comfort7900:03:50,779 –> 00:03:54,919and encouragement for each and every one of us.8000:03:56,139 –> 00:04:00,679Psalm 23 of course, is about what God does for his people.8100:04:00,779 –> 00:04:02,559And like all of the Bible,8200:04:02,660 –> 00:04:05,699it points us to the Lord Jesus Christ.8300:04:05,800 –> 00:04:10,699David said, the Lord is my shepherd.8400:04:10,800 –> 00:04:13,039And when Jesus Christ came into the world,8500:04:13,039 –> 00:04:17,200he said, I am the good shepherd.8600:04:17,299 –> 00:04:21,040So this series then is gonna remind us8700:04:21,140 –> 00:04:25,140of all that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ.8800:04:25,239 –> 00:04:30,320When you belong to him, everything in this Psalm is yours.8900:04:30,420 –> 00:04:31,760And throughout this series,9000:04:31,859 –> 00:04:35,619we’re going to see that it is a marvelous thing9100:04:35,720 –> 00:04:39,320to belong to the Son of God.9200:04:39,440 –> 00:04:42,540Now, when you eat rich food,9300:04:42,640 –> 00:04:45,459you go out for a sumptuous meal,9400:04:45,559 –> 00:04:48,260you want to eat it slowly9500:04:48,359 –> 00:04:51,660so that you can savor its taste.9600:04:51,760 –> 00:04:55,100And this Psalm is super rich,9700:04:55,200 –> 00:04:59,760and so we are going to savor its delight slowly.9800:04:59,859 –> 00:05:01,239The plan is, if you notice,9900:05:01,339 –> 00:05:05,200there are six verses in the 23rd Psalm,10000:05:05,260 –> 00:05:09,359and we have six weeks to savor this truth together.10100:05:09,459 –> 00:05:12,059We begin then with Verse one today,10200:05:18,179 –> 00:05:21,540Now, let’s begin simply with that word shepherd.10300:05:21,640 –> 00:05:27,040The Lord is my shepherd.10400:05:27,140 –> 00:05:31,220Now, it is sometimes alleged,10500:05:31,320 –> 00:05:33,959and I’ve got to admit, as I’ve read many things10600:05:33,959 –> 00:05:36,820on the 23rd Psalm preparing for this series,10700:05:36,920 –> 00:05:40,220I got really rather tired of it being alleged.10800:05:40,320 –> 00:05:41,459But it is often alleged10900:05:41,559 –> 00:05:45,339that because most of us live in cities or in suburbs,11000:05:45,440 –> 00:05:48,059that somehow we don’t know what a shepherd is11100:05:48,160 –> 00:05:52,179and cannot grasp what a shepherd does.11200:05:52,279 –> 00:05:53,640And I just want to say to you,11300:05:53,739 –> 00:05:57,540even if you should never have seen a flock of sheep11400:05:57,640 –> 00:05:58,880in your entire life,11500:06:00,739 –> 00:06:03,480reading this psalm will tell you what a shepherd is11600:06:03,839 –> 00:06:06,140and what a shepherd does.11700:06:06,239 –> 00:06:07,799Notice just going through the psalm.11800:06:07,899 –> 00:06:09,320And this is where we’re going, God willing,11900:06:09,420 –> 00:06:11,940over these next six weeks.12000:06:12,040 –> 00:06:14,480A shepherd owns the sheep.12100:06:14,579 –> 00:06:17,519The Lord is my shepherd.12200:06:17,619 –> 00:06:18,859I’m owned by Him.12300:06:18,959 –> 00:06:20,380I’m one of His sheep.12400:06:20,500 –> 00:06:23,420Jesus says, my sheep never perish.12500:06:23,519 –> 00:06:26,100That’s a statement of ownership.12600:06:26,200 –> 00:06:27,859Because the shepherd owns the sheep,12700:06:27,959 –> 00:06:30,100therefore the shepherd leads the sheep.12800:06:30,200 –> 00:06:31,100Next week, God willing,12900:06:31,100 –> 00:06:32,959we’ll look at how He leads the sheep13000:06:33,059 –> 00:06:37,399into rest and into righteousness.13100:06:37,500 –> 00:06:39,160Then the shepherd restores the sheep13200:06:39,260 –> 00:06:42,100because, though they are His, we often go astray.13300:06:42,200 –> 00:06:44,700Therefore He restores my soul.13400:06:44,799 –> 00:06:46,880He retrieves me when I wander and He13500:06:46,980 –> 00:06:50,679restores me when I am spent.13600:06:50,779 –> 00:06:52,640The shepherd, because he owns the sheep,13700:06:52,739 –> 00:06:54,459protects them.13800:06:54,559 –> 00:06:56,380Even though I walk through the valley13900:06:56,480 –> 00:06:58,880of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,14000:06:58,980 –> 00:07:00,299for you are with me.14100:07:00,359 –> 00:07:02,160The good shepherd protects from evil14200:07:02,260 –> 00:07:05,420and he protects from enemies.14300:07:05,519 –> 00:07:08,040And the shepherd feeds the sheep.14400:07:08,140 –> 00:07:09,940He spreads a table before me.14500:07:10,040 –> 00:07:13,559He gives a cup that overflows.14600:07:13,660 –> 00:07:15,500And the shepherd loves the sheep.14700:07:15,600 –> 00:07:17,880Surely goodness and mercy will follow me14800:07:17,980 –> 00:07:19,980all the days of my life.14900:07:20,079 –> 00:07:24,380And after my life, I will be welcomed into His home15000:07:24,480 –> 00:07:26,380forever and forever.15100:07:26,480 –> 00:07:27,980Now, that’s what a shepherd does.15200:07:28,079 –> 00:07:29,019Very simple.15300:07:29,019 –> 00:07:30,480It’s all laid out in the Psalm.15400:07:30,579 –> 00:07:32,239If you’ve never seen a flock of sheep,15500:07:32,339 –> 00:07:36,260this is what a shepherd does.15600:07:36,339 –> 00:07:38,760These are the things that the shepherd does for the sheep.15700:07:38,859 –> 00:07:42,279And David says, these are the things God does for me.15800:07:42,380 –> 00:07:43,920And when you are in Christ, you’ll15900:07:44,019 –> 00:07:46,559be able to know with assurance that these are16000:07:46,660 –> 00:07:51,299the things that he does for you.16100:07:51,399 –> 00:07:53,239Now, one more word by way of introduction.16200:07:53,339 –> 00:07:56,000And it is that some of you may, perhaps,16300:07:56,100 –> 00:07:58,100just as an instinctive reaction, think16400:07:58,480 –> 00:08:01,380this all sounds a little bit sentimental,16500:08:01,500 –> 00:08:05,019fluffy sheep, shepherd with his crook,16600:08:05,100 –> 00:08:07,959all a little quaint, is it not?16700:08:08,059 –> 00:08:10,899Maybe you were read, as a young child,16800:08:11,000 –> 00:08:14,500a storybook with these pictures of fluffy sheep and a shepherd.16900:08:14,600 –> 00:08:16,440And it was based on Psalm 23.17000:08:16,540 –> 00:08:18,779And you have that as a kind of memory.17100:08:18,880 –> 00:08:21,179And you say, well, it’s a long way17200:08:21,279 –> 00:08:25,820from the harsh realities of life today.17300:08:25,839 –> 00:08:29,940Well, remember that David was a shepherd.17400:08:30,040 –> 00:08:34,979He knew what it took to do this job.17500:08:35,080 –> 00:08:38,359It was a dangerous job because wild animals17600:08:38,460 –> 00:08:41,460would come and attack the sheep.17700:08:41,559 –> 00:08:43,419You remember famously, of course,17800:08:43,520 –> 00:08:46,900that David was such a good shot with the sling17900:08:47,000 –> 00:08:49,239where he slew Goliath with the pebble18000:08:49,340 –> 00:08:50,700that he shot with that sling.18100:08:50,799 –> 00:08:53,840How did he become so good with the sling?18200:08:53,900 –> 00:08:56,039Well, the answer is he was a shepherd18300:08:56,140 –> 00:08:58,340and he knew what it was for wild animals to come18400:08:58,440 –> 00:09:03,239and that was the first line of protection for the sheep,18500:09:03,340 –> 00:09:06,440but sometimes it took more than a sling.18600:09:06,539 –> 00:09:11,320David tells us in 1 Samuel in Chapter 17 and Verse 3418700:09:11,419 –> 00:09:14,780about how he fought on at least one occasion18800:09:14,880 –> 00:09:18,919with a lion and with a bear.18900:09:19,020 –> 00:09:20,900David said to Saul, I quote,19000:09:21,080 –> 00:09:24,659your servant used to keep sheep for his father19100:09:24,760 –> 00:09:28,059and when there came a lion and a bear19200:09:28,159 –> 00:09:29,760and took a lamb from the flock,19300:09:29,859 –> 00:09:33,000I went after him and struck him19400:09:33,099 –> 00:09:35,039and delivered him out of my mouth.19500:09:35,140 –> 00:09:36,900And if he arose against me,19600:09:37,000 –> 00:09:42,000I caught him by the beard and struck him and killed him.19700:09:43,039 –> 00:09:45,619So how’s that for risk in your job description?19800:09:45,719 –> 00:09:49,580You may have to go face-to-face with a lion or with a bear,19900:09:49,619 –> 00:09:51,460grab it by the scruff of the neck,20000:09:51,559 –> 00:09:54,059grab it by the hair on its head20100:09:54,159 –> 00:09:56,179because it’s got a lamb in its jaw20200:09:56,280 –> 00:09:59,099and it’s your lamb and you’ve got to get that lamb back.20300:09:59,200 –> 00:10:01,599David says, that’s what it took for me to be a shepherd20400:10:01,700 –> 00:10:05,140and that’s the kind of care that God gives to me.20500:10:05,239 –> 00:10:08,479The Lord is my shepherd.20600:10:08,580 –> 00:10:10,739So I just want to say to you if you think20700:10:10,840 –> 00:10:12,239you know, this all sounds rather quaint.20800:10:12,340 –> 00:10:13,419Listen.20900:10:13,520 –> 00:10:17,880This deals with the harsh realities of life.21000:10:18,119 –> 00:10:23,719David knew what it was to have enemies hunting him.21100:10:23,820 –> 00:10:27,460He had at one point in his life the pain21200:10:27,559 –> 00:10:32,900of one of his own sons hating him.21300:10:33,000 –> 00:10:36,239He knew what it was to live with failure.21400:10:36,340 –> 00:10:40,640He knew what it was to live with fear.21500:10:40,739 –> 00:10:43,599He was given the task by God of seeking21600:10:43,599 –> 00:10:49,400to lead a chronically divided nation.21700:10:49,500 –> 00:10:51,400And he knew what it was to be discouraged21800:10:51,500 –> 00:10:53,799and to be exhausted.21900:10:53,900 –> 00:10:56,099So I’m wanting to say to you right at the beginning,22000:10:56,200 –> 00:10:58,640now, if you know what it is to be exhausted,22100:10:58,739 –> 00:11:02,239to feel drained, this psalm is for you.22200:11:02,340 –> 00:11:04,419If you know what is to endure great pressure22300:11:04,520 –> 00:11:07,760over a long period of time and sometimes to lose heart,22400:11:07,840 –> 00:11:10,359this psalm is for you.22500:11:10,580 –> 00:11:13,880If you face enemies and when you find yourself22600:11:13,979 –> 00:11:19,719staring into the face of great evil, this psalm is for you.22700:11:19,820 –> 00:11:22,219And since one day you will walk through the valley22800:11:22,320 –> 00:11:25,840of the shadow of death, this psalm is for you.22900:11:26,539 –> 00:11:28,000You’re listening to Open the Bible23000:11:28,099 –> 00:11:29,299with Pastor Colin Smith23100:11:29,400 –> 00:11:31,900and a message called He Owns Me.23200:11:32,000 –> 00:11:33,479It’s originally from a series23300:11:33,580 –> 00:11:35,599called the Lord is my Shepherd.23400:11:35,700 –> 00:11:38,179And we’ve compiled this and a number of other23500:11:38,599 –> 00:11:41,900very popular messages into a series that we’re calling23600:11:42,000 –> 00:11:44,580Listener Favorites 2026.23700:11:44,700 –> 00:11:46,679If you ever miss one of the messages in the series,23800:11:46,780 –> 00:11:49,619it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again23900:11:49,719 –> 00:11:50,940by coming to our website.24000:11:51,039 –> 00:11:54,520That’s at opennessbible.org.uk.24100:11:54,619 –> 00:11:55,840There you’ll find all the messages24200:11:55,960 –> 00:11:57,460which have already been broadcast.24300:11:57,559 –> 00:11:59,659And you can also find them as a podcast24400:11:59,760 –> 00:12:01,280on all the main podcast sites,24500:12:01,400 –> 00:12:03,599either follow the link from our website24600:12:03,700 –> 00:12:06,619or search for Open the Bible UK.24700:12:06,840 –> 00:12:08,000Back to the message now.24800:12:08,099 –> 00:12:09,979We’re, of course, in Psalm 23.24900:12:10,059 –> 00:12:11,799Here again is Pastor Colin.25000:12:11,919 –> 00:12:17,960In Christ you have a shepherd.25100:12:18,059 –> 00:12:23,239And because he owns you, he will lead you.25200:12:23,340 –> 00:12:25,659he will restore you.25300:12:25,760 –> 00:12:27,659he will protect you.25400:12:27,760 –> 00:12:29,520he will feed you.25500:12:29,619 –> 00:12:33,320and he will love you always.25600:12:33,320 –> 00:12:37,619That’s what it means to be shepherd.25700:12:37,719 –> 00:12:39,760Now, let’s focus in on the second thing.25800:12:39,859 –> 00:12:41,580Who, then, is the shepherd?25900:12:41,679 –> 00:12:47,380David says, the Lord is my shepherd.26000:12:47,479 –> 00:12:49,739Very simply here, I want to make the observation26100:12:49,840 –> 00:12:53,719that the quality of life enjoyed by any flock of sheep26200:12:53,820 –> 00:12:57,380depends entirely on their shepherd.26300:12:57,419 –> 00:13:00,440The quality of life enjoyed by any flock of sheep26400:13:00,539 –> 00:13:04,280depends entirely on their shepherd.26500:13:04,380 –> 00:13:07,619In the Old Testament, God appointed prophets, priests,26600:13:07,719 –> 00:13:10,659and kings to shepherd his flock.26700:13:10,760 –> 00:13:13,359They were to feed the sheep, seek the sheep, guard the sheep,26800:13:13,460 –> 00:13:16,739and they did not do a good job.26900:13:16,840 –> 00:13:20,859Most professions have a system of an annual review.27000:13:20,960 –> 00:13:25,299And in Ezekiel in chapter 34, God27100:13:25,500 –> 00:13:29,260gives, as it were, a review of those who have been appointed27200:13:29,359 –> 00:13:30,900as shepherds of his flock.27300:13:31,000 –> 00:13:33,500And it is not a good review.27400:13:33,599 –> 00:13:35,440To Ezekiel, God says, Son of man,27500:13:35,539 –> 00:13:38,539prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.27600:13:38,640 –> 00:13:39,799Why?27700:13:39,900 –> 00:13:44,140Because, God says, the weak you have not strengthened,27800:13:44,239 –> 00:13:46,840the sick you have not healed, the injured27900:13:46,940 –> 00:13:48,780you have not bound up, the strayed,28000:13:48,880 –> 00:13:51,619you’ve not brought back, the lost, you have not sought.28100:13:51,719 –> 00:13:54,679And with force and harshness, you have ruled them.28200:13:54,679 –> 00:13:56,739So the flock of God had a really bad time,28300:13:56,840 –> 00:13:59,880because the shepherds weren’t caring for them.28400:13:59,979 –> 00:14:01,979The quality of life of any flock of sheep28500:14:02,080 –> 00:14:05,419depends entirely on who their shepherd is.28600:14:05,520 –> 00:14:08,359And in Ezekiel’s day, the appointed shepherds28700:14:08,460 –> 00:14:10,059had failed in their task.28800:14:10,159 –> 00:14:11,520No one was looking for the lost.28900:14:11,619 –> 00:14:13,619No one was helping or strengthening29000:14:13,719 –> 00:14:15,000the sick or the injured.29100:14:15,099 –> 00:14:17,500No one came to the help of the weak.29200:14:17,599 –> 00:14:19,840So what happens?29300:14:19,940 –> 00:14:21,659Well, God said this.29400:14:21,820 –> 00:14:24,580My sheep were scattered over the face of the earth29500:14:24,679 –> 00:14:28,799with none to seek or search for them.29600:14:28,900 –> 00:14:33,599And so God looked upon His own sheep with compassion.29700:14:33,700 –> 00:14:38,940And God said, I myself will become their shepherd.29800:14:39,039 –> 00:14:42,500I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out.29900:14:42,599 –> 00:14:45,239I will seek the lost.30000:14:45,340 –> 00:14:46,840I will bring back the straight.30100:14:46,940 –> 00:14:50,080I will bind up the injured, and I30200:14:50,099 –> 00:14:52,979will strengthen the weak.30300:14:53,080 –> 00:14:56,440And you see, when Jesus Christ then came into the world,30400:14:56,539 –> 00:14:58,520he said, in effect, that’s me.30500:14:58,619 –> 00:15:00,419I’m the one that’s come to do this.30600:15:00,520 –> 00:15:04,679I am the Good Shepherd.30700:15:04,780 –> 00:15:05,960And here’s what it means.30800:15:06,059 –> 00:15:11,119I’m going to lay down my life for my sheep,30900:15:11,219 –> 00:15:16,159and my sheep will never perish.31000:15:16,260 –> 00:15:19,359Now do you see that all the way through this Psalm31100:15:19,479 –> 00:15:21,760is about the Lord.31200:15:21,859 –> 00:15:27,700The great assurance here is that it’s the Lord Himself31300:15:27,799 –> 00:15:30,020who is your Shepherd.31400:15:30,119 –> 00:15:33,900What this means is, by taking ownership of you,31500:15:34,000 –> 00:15:37,039the Lord takes direct responsibility31600:15:37,140 –> 00:15:41,840for you in every area of your life.31700:15:41,940 –> 00:15:43,539Let me just read it with that emphasis31800:15:43,640 –> 00:15:45,419so that it settles in your mind.31900:15:45,520 –> 00:15:48,179The Lord is my Shepherd.32000:15:48,460 –> 00:15:51,099He makes me lie down in green pastures,32100:15:51,200 –> 00:15:53,880He leads me beside still waters.32200:15:53,979 –> 00:15:57,320He’s the one who restores my soul.32300:15:57,419 –> 00:15:59,539He leads me in paths of righteousness32400:15:59,640 –> 00:16:01,380for His namesake, and even though I walk32500:16:01,479 –> 00:16:03,119through the Valley of the Shadow of Death,32600:16:03,219 –> 00:16:06,979even there I will fear no evil for you are with me.32700:16:07,080 –> 00:16:09,099Your rod, your staff comfort me.32800:16:09,200 –> 00:16:12,520You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.32900:16:12,619 –> 00:16:14,260You anoint my head with oil33000:16:14,359 –> 00:16:17,640and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.33100:16:17,900 –> 00:16:21,840The entire experience of life depends on who the Shepherd is.33200:16:21,940 –> 00:16:23,760And David says here’s the good news.33300:16:23,859 –> 00:16:26,679Here is where I find comfort and strength and encouragement.33400:16:26,780 –> 00:16:29,960That it’s the Lord who is my Shepherd.33500:16:30,059 –> 00:16:32,940He owns me and because He owns me,33600:16:33,039 –> 00:16:35,840He will always lead me and He will restore me33700:16:35,940 –> 00:16:37,880and He will protect me and He will feed me.33800:16:37,979 –> 00:16:41,440I will not go hungry and He will love me forever.33900:16:41,539 –> 00:16:44,039The greatest joy in life34000:16:44,320 –> 00:16:49,979is to be wholly owned by the Son of God.34100:16:50,080 –> 00:16:52,919And we’ve looked at what it means to be a Shepherd.34200:16:53,020 –> 00:16:55,419Psalm 23 tells us.34300:16:55,520 –> 00:16:57,260We’ve looked at who the Shepherd is.34400:16:57,359 –> 00:16:58,400It’s the Lord.34500:16:58,500 –> 00:17:01,400This Psalms all about Him.34600:17:01,500 –> 00:17:03,140And then I want us to look at this word34700:17:03,239 –> 00:17:05,479of personal relationship that’s so wonderful.34800:17:05,560 –> 00:17:07,439The little word my.34900:17:07,540 –> 00:17:11,640The Lord is my Shepherd.35000:17:11,739 –> 00:17:13,300Now here’s the question,35100:17:13,800 –> 00:17:18,079how do you become one of the Lord’s sheep?35200:17:18,180 –> 00:17:21,780Well, sheep are added to a flock35300:17:21,880 –> 00:17:27,880by being bought or by being born.35400:17:27,979 –> 00:17:30,880A Shepherd can breed sheep35500:17:30,979 –> 00:17:33,760or a Shepherd can buy sheep.35600:17:33,859 –> 00:17:35,459And of course, in farming is35700:17:35,560 –> 00:17:38,000the Shepherd has a flock of 200,35800:17:38,099 –> 00:17:40,199500 sheep or whatever it is.35900:17:40,300 –> 00:17:42,339One or other of these things will be true36000:17:42,339 –> 00:17:43,339of each and every one of them.36100:17:43,439 –> 00:17:45,800A lamb is added to the flock36200:17:45,900 –> 00:17:48,239either because it is bought36300:17:48,339 –> 00:17:51,819or because it is born.36400:17:51,920 –> 00:17:54,140Now, of course, in God’s flock,36500:17:54,260 –> 00:17:56,959both things are true of you.36600:17:57,060 –> 00:17:59,520Every Christian has been bought36700:17:59,619 –> 00:18:01,859into the flock of God36800:18:01,959 –> 00:18:03,300and every Christian has36900:18:03,400 –> 00:18:07,800been born into the flock of God.37000:18:07,900 –> 00:18:09,800And the New Testament makes this very clear.37100:18:09,900 –> 00:18:11,699Paul says, 1 Corinthians 637200:18:11,920 –> 00:18:12,959and versus 20,37300:18:13,060 –> 00:18:14,660You are not your own37400:18:14,760 –> 00:18:18,699for you were bought with a price.37500:18:18,800 –> 00:18:19,979And Peter says it this way.37600:18:20,079 –> 00:18:22,339You were ransomed.37700:18:22,439 –> 00:18:23,140You were ransomed.37800:18:23,239 –> 00:18:24,920In other words, there was a price paid37900:18:25,020 –> 00:18:28,219to buy you out of the futile way of life38000:18:28,319 –> 00:18:30,540that you had known before.38100:18:30,660 –> 00:18:31,880And the price that was paid38200:18:31,979 –> 00:18:33,420was not silver and gold.38300:18:33,520 –> 00:18:35,819It was the precious blood of Christ,38400:18:35,920 –> 00:18:38,119that of a lamb without plemish38500:18:38,219 –> 00:18:40,739or without spot.38600:18:40,880 –> 00:18:42,839Do you see what Christ has done for you?38700:18:42,939 –> 00:18:46,180He bought you.38800:18:46,280 –> 00:18:49,540And the price that He paid to buy you,38900:18:49,640 –> 00:18:50,640to purchase you,39000:18:50,739 –> 00:18:53,680to make you His own39100:18:53,780 –> 00:18:57,619is that He shed His own precious blood.39200:18:59,219 –> 00:19:01,459Karen and I have been watching39300:19:01,560 –> 00:19:03,359a series on television39400:19:03,459 –> 00:19:06,859called This Farming Life.39500:19:06,959 –> 00:19:09,140I think we’ve actually got rather hooked on it.39600:19:09,239 –> 00:19:14,000And the scenes of various parts of Scotland39700:19:14,099 –> 00:19:17,500and the life of small-holding farmers39800:19:17,599 –> 00:19:20,180in that part of the world.39900:19:20,280 –> 00:19:25,280And one of the features of life in the farming year40000:19:25,380 –> 00:19:29,260is the sheep auctions that regularly take place.40100:19:29,359 –> 00:19:33,319Farmers will show up at these large sheep auctions40200:19:33,420 –> 00:19:36,599and they will buy rams or tups40300:19:37,300 –> 00:19:39,699as they’re sometimes referred to for breeding40400:19:39,800 –> 00:19:43,000the next generation of sheep or they will buy ewes40500:19:43,099 –> 00:19:47,780in order simply to add to and grow their flock.40600:19:47,859 –> 00:19:48,900And it’s quite fascinating40700:19:49,000 –> 00:19:52,939seeing these large markets40800:19:53,040 –> 00:19:57,619and these multiple pens with all of these sheep.40900:19:58,520 –> 00:20:02,219And the potential buyers will walk round41000:20:02,319 –> 00:20:05,119before the auction and have a look at the sheep41100:20:05,339 –> 00:20:08,380and decide which ones they’re going to bid for41200:20:08,479 –> 00:20:12,160and how much they are going to bid.41300:20:13,260 –> 00:20:15,319Now, think about this,41400:20:15,420 –> 00:20:23,619the Lord Jesus Christ himself has purchased you,41500:20:23,719 –> 00:20:26,859and the price he paid for the purchase41600:20:26,959 –> 00:20:32,099is his own precious blood.41700:20:32,199 –> 00:20:34,439You are not your own.41800:20:34,619 –> 00:20:37,420You are bought with a price,41900:20:37,540 –> 00:20:39,699and because you are bought with a price,42000:20:39,800 –> 00:20:42,500the Lord is your shepherd.42100:20:42,599 –> 00:20:47,140And that is why you will not want.42200:20:47,239 –> 00:20:49,079What you need will be given to you42300:20:49,180 –> 00:20:51,079because the shepherd laid down his own life42400:20:51,180 –> 00:20:53,979in order to make you his own.42500:20:54,079 –> 00:20:57,520And having given his very self to purchase you,42600:20:57,619 –> 00:21:00,079you can be sure that he will give you42700:21:00,180 –> 00:21:01,699all that you need.42800:21:01,800 –> 00:21:03,680Isn’t that the logic of Romans chapter 842900:21:03,760 –> 00:21:06,800in verse 32, that he who did not spare43000:21:06,900 –> 00:21:09,140his own son, but freely gave him up for us all,43100:21:09,239 –> 00:21:10,900how will he not also along with him43200:21:11,020 –> 00:21:14,380graciously give us all things.43300:21:14,479 –> 00:21:17,920You have been bought into the flock of God43400:21:18,020 –> 00:21:19,800by the precious blood of Christ.43500:21:19,880 –> 00:21:25,160And you have been born into the flock of God.43600:21:25,260 –> 00:21:26,780It’s fascinating to me that Peter43700:21:26,900 –> 00:21:29,859immediately after, stating so wonderfully43800:21:29,959 –> 00:21:32,760that we have been ransomed, we have been purchased,43900:21:32,819 –> 00:21:34,819he then goes on to say that we’ve been born.44000:21:34,920 –> 00:21:38,560You have been born again, not of perishable seed,44100:21:38,660 –> 00:21:39,880but of imperishable through the44200:21:39,979 –> 00:21:42,380living and enduring word of God.44300:21:42,479 –> 00:21:43,500Here’s what happened.44400:21:43,579 –> 00:21:45,800Not only is it true that the Lord Jesus Christ44500:21:45,900 –> 00:21:49,760shed his blood for you 2,000 years ago,44600:21:50,260 –> 00:21:51,660but at some point in your life,44700:21:51,760 –> 00:21:54,040you may not be able to discern especially what it was,44800:21:54,140 –> 00:21:57,699but here’s what has happened in your life and experience.44900:21:57,979 –> 00:22:02,339The Holy spirit brooded over your dead soul45000:22:02,500 –> 00:22:06,599like he brooded over the dark waters in the creation.45100:22:07,160 –> 00:22:09,979And he brought you to new life.45200:22:10,520 –> 00:22:14,020He opened your eyes to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ,45300:22:14,119 –> 00:22:16,319awakened you to your need of a savior.45400:22:16,420 –> 00:22:18,839He brought you to faith.45500:22:18,939 –> 00:22:22,219He changed you from the inside out giving you a new desire45600:22:22,300 –> 00:22:25,500to leave behind a life of sin and follow hard45700:22:25,599 –> 00:22:27,300after the Lord Jesus Christ.45800:22:27,400 –> 00:22:29,619And not only has he brought you to this new life,45900:22:29,880 –> 00:22:32,339he sustains this new life in you.46000:22:32,439 –> 00:22:35,420You’ve had so many doubts and fears.46100:22:35,520 –> 00:22:38,599You still have so many unanswered questions.46200:22:38,699 –> 00:22:41,319You have so many sins and so many failings,46300:22:41,420 –> 00:22:43,160and yet still you love Christ,46400:22:43,260 –> 00:22:47,479and still the Lord is your shepherd.46500:22:47,579 –> 00:22:51,680Having bought you, and then having birthed you,46600:22:51,780 –> 00:22:54,900the shepherd is utterly and entirely committed to you,46700:22:55,000 –> 00:22:56,839lives with you.46800:22:57,400 –> 00:23:02,160And you are the constant focus of His care and attention.46900:23:02,260 –> 00:23:04,900You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible.47000:23:05,000 –> 00:23:06,819And a message called He Owns Me,47100:23:06,920 –> 00:23:09,560based on Psalm 23.47200:23:09,660 –> 00:23:11,859If you ever miss one of the messages in our series,47300:23:11,959 –> 00:23:14,920it’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again.47400:23:15,020 –> 00:23:16,260By coming to our website,47500:23:16,359 –> 00:23:19,739that’s at openthebible.org.uk47600:23:19,839 –> 00:23:22,160Well as regular listeners will know,47700:23:22,260 –> 00:23:25,619Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially.47800:23:25,660 –> 00:23:27,420If that’s something you already do,47900:23:27,520 –> 00:23:30,099then thank you so much for your support.48000:23:30,199 –> 00:23:33,959If you’re considering beginning to support Open the Bible in the future,48100:23:34,060 –> 00:23:36,339this month we’d love to say thank you48200:23:36,439 –> 00:23:39,420by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s brand-new48300:23:39,500 –> 00:23:42,90030 day devotional book, Grow in Love.48400:23:43,000 –> 00:23:44,959Colin, what’s one thing you’d like people48500:23:45,060 –> 00:23:46,819to take away from this book?48600:23:46,920 –> 00:23:49,520Well, I think that most of us feel that we need to grow in love,48700:23:49,619 –> 00:23:51,560especially when it comes to loving those48800:23:51,660 –> 00:23:53,819with whom we deeply disagree.48900:23:53,920 –> 00:23:54,780But here’s the question49000:23:54,920 –> 00:23:57,380Do you think it’s possible for you to become49100:23:57,479 –> 00:24:00,239a more loving person than you are right now?49200:24:00,339 –> 00:24:02,839See, the thing is, if it simply depended49300:24:02,939 –> 00:24:06,079on what you can generate from within yourself,49400:24:06,180 –> 00:24:07,699the answer would have to be no.49500:24:07,800 –> 00:24:11,380Our love would depend on our experience and49600:24:11,479 –> 00:24:13,599if we hadn’t been well-loved by others,49700:24:13,699 –> 00:24:16,739well, we wouldn’t be able to give love to others.49800:24:16,839 –> 00:24:22,140But the good news is that love really can be learned.49900:24:22,239 –> 00:24:24,459It’s possible to grow in love,50000:24:24,500 –> 00:24:27,719and God’s Holy Spirit is given to every50100:24:27,819 –> 00:24:29,619Christian believer for this purpose.50200:24:29,719 –> 00:24:32,520So the thing I’d want people to take away from this50300:24:32,619 –> 00:24:35,500is the wonderful hope that, as you experience50400:24:35,599 –> 00:24:39,020the love of God poured into your own heart50500:24:39,119 –> 00:24:41,060by the power of the Holy Spirit,50600:24:41,160 –> 00:24:45,520so you will be better able to love others really well.50700:24:45,619 –> 00:24:47,219Well, we’d love to send you a copy of50800:24:47,319 –> 00:24:49,359Pastor Colin’s book, Grow in Love,50900:24:49,459 –> 00:24:51,920when you set up a new Direct Debit to the51000:24:51,920 –> 00:24:55,420work of Open the Bible in the amount of £5 per month51100:24:55,520 –> 00:24:58,920or more, or a one-off gift of £60 or more.51200:24:59,020 –> 00:25:01,819Full terms and conditions and to give online,51300:25:01,920 –> 00:25:05,420come to our website, openthebible.org.uk51400:25:05,520 –> 00:25:08,219and don’t forget to leave your full name and51500:25:08,319 –> 00:25:10,920address so we can send you your free gift.51600:25:11,020 –> 00:25:13,479For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,51700:25:13,579 –> 00:25:14,760I’m David Pick51800:25:14,859 –> 00:25:17,380and I hope you’ll join us again next time.51900:25:18,380 –> 00:25:21,380Who was Psalm 23 written for?52000:25:21,479 –> 00:25:23,239Find out next time on52100:25:23,339 –> 00:25:25,439Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.