100:00:00,900 –> 00:00:09,480Psalm 23 of course is about what God does for His people and like all of the200:00:09,480 –> 00:00:12,580Bible it points us to the Lord Jesus Christ300:00:12,580 –> 00:00:20,459David said the Lord is my Shepherd and when Jesus Christ came into the world He400:00:20,459 –> 00:00:28,660said I am the good Shepherd. So this series then is going to remind us of all500:00:28,820 –> 00:00:34,560that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor600:00:34,560 –> 00:00:38,900Colin Smith I’m David Pick and glad you could join us today. Colin what700:00:38,900 –> 00:00:44,340exactly does it mean to belong to Jesus when we are in Him? Well it is the most800:00:44,340 –> 00:00:48,619marvelous thing isn’t it to be able to say the Lord is my Shepherd, to be wholly900:00:48,619 –> 00:00:55,119owned by the Son of God and this wonderful psalm makes it clear that when1000:00:55,180 –> 00:00:59,860you belong to the Son of God He will always lead you, He will always1100:00:59,860 –> 00:01:04,940restore you, He will always guard you, He will always feed you and He will always1200:01:04,940 –> 00:01:10,080love you and these five themes these five certainties these five wonderful1300:01:10,080 –> 00:01:15,680gifts that the Shepherd always gives to His sheep these are ours in Jesus Christ1400:01:15,680 –> 00:01:19,239I love the fact that you don’t have to do anything to make them happen when the1500:01:19,239 –> 00:01:23,680Lord is your Shepherd these are the things that he does for you and you can1600:01:23,680 –> 00:01:28,300count on them and that’s why this Psalm is so wonderfully encouraging I think1700:01:28,300 –> 00:01:32,019and why we come back to it again and again and I’m so glad we have the1800:01:32,019 –> 00:01:36,400opportunity to delve into it again today. Let’s do just that join us if1900:01:36,400 –> 00:01:40,239you can in Psalm 23 as we continue the message2000:01:40,239 –> 00:01:45,900He Owns Me, here is Pastor Colin. Karen and I have been watching a series2100:01:45,900 –> 00:01:52,239on television called This Farming Life I think we’ve actually got rather hooked2200:01:52,639 –> 00:02:00,379on it and the scenes of various parts of Scotland and the life of small holding2300:02:00,379 –> 00:02:07,440farmers in that part of the world and one of the features of life in the2400:02:07,440 –> 00:02:13,919farming year is the sheep auctions that regularly take place farmers will show2500:02:13,919 –> 00:02:20,800up at these large sheep auctions and they will buy rams or tups as they’re2600:02:20,800 –> 00:02:25,860sometimes referred to for breeding the next generation of sheep or they will2700:02:25,860 –> 00:02:32,199buy ewes in order simply to add to and grow their flock and it’s quite2800:02:32,199 –> 00:02:39,559fascinating you know seeing these these large markets and these multiple pens2900:02:39,559 –> 00:02:45,820with all of these sheep and the potential buyers will walk around3000:02:46,039 –> 00:02:51,240before the auction and have a look at the sheet and decide which ones they’re3100:02:51,240 –> 00:02:59,380going to bid for and how much they are going to bid now think about this the3200:02:59,380 –> 00:03:08,559Lord Jesus Christ himself has purchased you and the price he paid for the3300:03:08,580 –> 00:03:19,419purchase is his own precious blood you are not your own you are bought with a3400:03:19,419 –> 00:03:26,839price and because you are bought with a price the Lord is your Shepherd and that3500:03:26,839 –> 00:03:33,380is why you will not want what you need will be given to you because the3600:03:34,240 –> 00:03:40,119own life in order to make you his own and having given this very self to3700:03:40,119 –> 00:03:45,639purchase you you can be sure that he will give you all that you need is that3800:03:45,639 –> 00:03:50,839the logic of Romans and chapter 8 in verse 32 that he who did not spare his3900:03:50,839 –> 00:03:54,740own son but freely gave him up for us all how will he not also along with him4000:03:54,740 –> 00:04:01,979graciously give us all things you have been bought into the flock of God by the4100:04:02,080 –> 00:04:09,220precious blood of Christ and you have been born into the flock of God it’s4200:04:09,220 –> 00:04:14,160fascinating to me that Peter immediately after stating so wonderfully that we4300:04:14,160 –> 00:04:17,820have been ransomed we have been purchased he then goes on to say that4400:04:17,820 –> 00:04:22,799we’ve been born you have been born again not of perishable seed but of4500:04:22,799 –> 00:04:26,820imperishable through the living and enduring Word of God here’s what4600:04:27,220 –> 00:04:31,500not only is it true that the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood for you two4700:04:31,500 –> 00:04:37,059thousand years ago but at some point in your life you may not be able to discern4800:04:37,059 –> 00:04:40,980especially what it was. But here’s what has happened in your life and experience4900:04:40,980 –> 00:04:48,140the Holy Spirit brooded over your dead soul like he brooded on the dark5000:04:48,140 –> 00:04:55,980waters and the creation and he brought you to new life he opened your eyes to5100:04:55,980 –> 00:05:00,220the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ awakened you to your need of a savior he5200:05:00,220 –> 00:05:05,720brought you to faith he changed you from the inside out giving you a new desire5300:05:05,720 –> 00:05:11,579to leave behind a life of sin and follow hard after the Lord Jesus Christ and not5400:05:11,579 –> 00:05:16,339only has he brought you to this new life he sustains this new life in you you’ve5500:05:16,339 –> 00:05:22,739had so many doubts and fears you still have so many unanswered questions you5600:05:22,899 –> 00:05:28,500many sins and so many feelings and yet still you love Christ and still the Lord5700:05:28,500 –> 00:05:36,500is your shepherd having bought you and then having birthed you the shepherd is5800:05:36,500 –> 00:05:42,540utterly and entirely committed to you lives with you and you are the constant5900:05:42,540 –> 00:05:48,940focus of his care and attention so do you see that this psalm is very6000:05:49,500 –> 00:05:56,260not only about the Lord but it’s also about the relationship that you have6100:05:56,260 –> 00:06:03,440with the Lord as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. you can say with David the6200:06:03,440 –> 00:06:10,519Lord is my shepherd he makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me besides6300:06:10,519 –> 00:06:16,739still waters he restores my soul thank God for that. he leads me in paths of6400:06:17,619 –> 00:06:21,880even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I’m gonna fear no6500:06:21,880 –> 00:06:27,440evil because you’re with me and your rod and your staff they comfort me you6600:06:27,440 –> 00:06:31,779prepare a table before me and the presence of my enemies you anoint my6700:06:31,779 –> 00:06:37,440head with oil my cup overflows surely goodness and mercy is going to follow me6800:06:37,440 –> 00:06:42,720all the days of my life and I’m going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever6900:06:42,739 –> 00:06:49,559now do you see that this Psalm then is especially a psalm for believers it’s7000:06:49,559 –> 00:06:55,480all about how rich we are when we are in this relationship with Jesus Christ in7100:06:55,480 –> 00:07:00,559which he wholly owns us because he bought us and birthed us and he then is7200:07:00,559 –> 00:07:08,720our shepherd this is a sound for believers the Lord is my shepherd now I7300:07:08,720 –> 00:07:16,600have an old book nearly a hundred years old now by a Scottish pastor by the name7400:07:16,600 –> 00:07:26,480of John McNeil and John McNeill preached on Psalm 23 all over the world and what7500:07:26,480 –> 00:07:31,160was very striking to him was this that as he travelled the world and preached7600:07:31,160 –> 00:07:36,399in different countries he found that many people came to faith7700:07:37,119 –> 00:07:43,019Jesus Christ through his preaching of Psalm 23 and this struck him as being7800:07:43,019 –> 00:07:49,440rather odd because some 23 clearly is all about the relationship that a7900:07:49,440 –> 00:07:54,779believer has with the Lord and yet when he preached some 23 people were8000:07:54,779 –> 00:08:00,440converted unbelieving people came to believe now this is what he wrote about8100:08:00,440 –> 00:08:03,619and I think it’s very significant. He says8200:08:30,440 –> 00:08:34,979In His reaction to that, He begins to evangelize Himself8300:08:35,840 –> 00:08:39,640and gets to the shepherd without you.8400:08:40,460 –> 00:08:41,840Do you see what He’s saying?8500:08:42,700 –> 00:08:46,760When you describe the richness8600:08:46,760 –> 00:08:49,919of what belongs to those who are in Christ,8700:08:51,479 –> 00:08:54,179the Holy Spirit can use that8800:08:54,179 –> 00:08:57,080to make the mouth of an unbeliever begin to water8900:08:57,080 –> 00:08:58,780and say, I wish that was mine,9000:08:59,780 –> 00:09:02,700and then he or she finds their way9100:09:02,700 –> 00:09:05,239to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.9200:09:06,320 –> 00:09:07,580You’re listening to Open The Bible9300:09:07,580 –> 00:09:10,280with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called9400:09:10,280 –> 00:09:12,900He Owns Me based on Psalm 23.9500:09:12,900 –> 00:09:14,520We have to pause very briefly9600:09:14,520 –> 00:09:18,119but we’ll be back very shortly so please stay with us.9700:09:18,119 –> 00:09:20,580Just to remind you that if you ever miss one of the message9800:09:20,580 –> 00:09:22,280or if you have to leave early today,9900:09:22,280 –> 00:09:24,359you can catch up or go back and listen again10000:09:24,500 –> 00:09:29,320by coming online to our website at openthebible.org.UK.10100:09:29,320 –> 00:09:30,640There you’ll find all the messages10200:09:30,640 –> 00:09:32,559which have already been broadcast.10300:09:32,559 –> 00:09:34,840If you prefer listening to a podcast,10400:09:34,840 –> 00:09:37,880you can find Pastor Colin on all the main podcast sites10500:09:37,880 –> 00:09:40,940by searching for openthebible.UK.10600:09:40,940 –> 00:09:44,559Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.10700:09:44,559 –> 00:09:47,039So, I have two aims for this series.10800:09:47,039 –> 00:09:50,200I already told you, the first one is to encourage.10900:09:50,200 –> 00:09:53,599To encourage all who belong to Christ to be able to say,11000:09:53,599 –> 00:09:55,000you know, I really am blessed11100:09:55,000 –> 00:09:56,940because the Lord is my Shepard11200:09:56,940 –> 00:10:00,179and everything that was true of David is also true of me.11300:10:01,340 –> 00:10:04,780But I want not only to encourage, I want to entice.11400:10:05,840 –> 00:10:08,080Because some of you are not yet owned11500:10:08,080 –> 00:10:09,440by the Lord Jesus Christ,11600:10:09,440 –> 00:10:13,419you’ve never given yourself over into his hands.11700:10:13,419 –> 00:10:15,940You’re still trying to run your own life,11800:10:15,940 –> 00:10:19,700and you actually think that you can do it better11900:10:19,700 –> 00:10:22,140than if you were wholly owned by him.12000:10:23,599 –> 00:10:25,979And actually, a lot of threatenings from the pulpit12100:10:25,979 –> 00:10:27,539don’t make a lot of difference to you.12200:10:27,539 –> 00:10:29,119So I want to do something different.12300:10:29,119 –> 00:10:30,780I want to entice you.12400:10:32,239 –> 00:10:34,479I want to show you from Psalm 2312500:10:34,479 –> 00:10:38,520what could be yours if you were Christ’s.12600:10:38,520 –> 00:10:41,099I want your mouth to begin to water.12700:10:41,099 –> 00:10:44,080And say, I wish that was true of me.12800:10:46,320 –> 00:10:50,080And as you begin to say, I wish that was true of me,12900:10:51,320 –> 00:10:52,719I want to say to you from the Bible,13000:10:52,780 –> 00:10:54,900it can be true of you.13100:10:54,900 –> 00:10:58,039But in order for these things to become true of you,13200:10:58,039 –> 00:11:01,159you must take the Lord as your shepherd.13300:11:02,159 –> 00:11:06,640These things will be yours as you become His.13400:11:08,299 –> 00:11:10,239The first thing about the relationship13500:11:10,239 –> 00:11:13,900between the shepherd and the sheep is ownership.13600:11:13,900 –> 00:11:15,859The shepherd owns the flock.13700:11:15,859 –> 00:11:17,919That’s why he does all these other things for the flock13800:11:17,919 –> 00:11:18,919because he owns them.13900:11:18,919 –> 00:11:20,979They’re his.14000:11:21,219 –> 00:11:24,500If you become his, these things will become yours.14100:11:24,500 –> 00:11:25,900That’s how it works.14200:11:27,059 –> 00:11:29,359You see this priority of ownership14300:11:29,359 –> 00:11:30,880in the words of the Lord Jesus.14400:11:30,880 –> 00:11:33,000In John chapter 10, where he says,14500:11:33,000 –> 00:11:36,179the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.14600:11:36,179 –> 00:11:39,460He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd14700:11:39,460 –> 00:11:43,059who does not own the sheep, notice that word,14800:11:43,059 –> 00:11:46,739sees the wolf coming and then leaves the sheep and flees.14900:11:46,739 –> 00:11:47,820Do you see what Jesus is saying?15000:11:47,820 –> 00:11:51,340He’s a hired hand, well if the job gets too costly15100:11:51,340 –> 00:11:53,520for the pay that he’s given, he’s just off.15200:11:53,520 –> 00:11:54,979If he’s just a hired hand.15300:11:54,979 –> 00:11:58,159But if he’s a real shepherd, he has ownership.15400:11:58,159 –> 00:11:59,900This is the distinctive thing about the shepherd.15500:11:59,900 –> 00:12:02,359He owns the sheep.15600:12:02,359 –> 00:12:04,299That’s the first thing.15700:12:04,299 –> 00:12:07,000So if you are to be led and restored,15800:12:07,000 –> 00:12:10,039if you’re to be protected and fed and loved15900:12:10,039 –> 00:12:15,039you must first be owned by the good shepherd.16000:12:15,099 –> 00:12:16,739And that raises this question.16100:12:18,460 –> 00:12:22,219Do I want to be wholly owned?16200:12:23,940 –> 00:12:26,020And for some even here this morning16300:12:26,020 –> 00:12:28,219that maybe where you’ve hit difficulty.16400:12:29,359 –> 00:12:31,580Because something rises up from your own heart16500:12:31,580 –> 00:12:34,619and says, I’m not sure I want to be wholly owned by anybody.16600:12:36,380 –> 00:12:38,179I want to be my own master.16700:12:39,460 –> 00:12:41,039I’ll be my own shepherd.16800:12:42,460 –> 00:12:43,659You might not put it this way,16900:12:43,659 –> 00:12:46,960but what you’re really saying is I want to be my own god.17000:12:48,739 –> 00:12:53,739You know one of the most bare faced expressions17100:12:54,020 –> 00:12:57,260of this that I think I’ve ever read17200:12:57,260 –> 00:12:59,539came from the actress Shirley Maclaine.17300:13:01,099 –> 00:13:02,619She said this, and I quote,17400:13:04,179 –> 00:13:08,520I know that I exist, therefore I am.17500:13:10,520 –> 00:13:14,539I know that the god source exists, therefore it is.17600:13:14,739 –> 00:13:15,580It is.17700:13:16,659 –> 00:13:19,380And since I am part of that force,17800:13:19,380 –> 00:13:24,380then I am that I am.17900:13:27,700 –> 00:13:30,859Now when I read these words,18000:13:31,979 –> 00:13:35,020I feel heart sorry for Shirley.18100:13:37,099 –> 00:13:41,039If you are your own god you are completely18200:13:41,039 –> 00:13:43,859and utterly alone.18300:13:43,900 –> 00:13:47,460You have no one to look to except yourself.18400:13:48,840 –> 00:13:51,280And nothing in all the world could be more tragic18500:13:51,280 –> 00:13:55,219than sheep without a shepherd.18600:13:55,219 –> 00:13:57,340I mean, other animals seem to be able to do fine18700:13:57,340 –> 00:13:58,179on their own, you know,18800:13:58,179 –> 00:14:00,479you don’t need a shepherd for rabbits or for deer.18900:14:03,059 –> 00:14:08,059Other animals can hunt but sheep need to be fed19000:14:09,739 –> 00:14:12,179and left to themselves, they will soon grow hungry.19100:14:12,179 –> 00:14:16,380When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,19200:14:16,380 –> 00:14:17,200the Bible says,19300:14:17,200 –> 00:14:20,260because he saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd19400:14:20,260 –> 00:14:21,640and sheep without a shepherd19500:14:21,640 –> 00:14:24,780will soon be in a desperate state.19600:14:24,780 –> 00:14:26,619They’ll wander off, they’ll become lost,19700:14:26,619 –> 00:14:30,940their hooves will rot, their wool will grow so long19800:14:30,940 –> 00:14:34,020that it will exhaust them in the heat of summer.19900:14:34,020 –> 00:14:36,020Wolves will come and destroy them,20000:14:36,020 –> 00:14:39,820to be a sheep without a shepherd would be disastrous.20100:14:40,440 –> 00:14:43,940And for sinners like us, it would be worse.20200:14:45,500 –> 00:14:46,679The worst that can happen20300:14:46,679 –> 00:14:49,080to sheep without a shepherd is that they die.20400:14:49,080 –> 00:14:51,280But the worst that will happen to sinners20500:14:51,280 –> 00:14:53,919who choose to be their own god20600:14:53,919 –> 00:14:57,359is that when they die, ahead of them is a dark hell20700:14:57,359 –> 00:15:01,260in which they will be utterly alone forever and forever.20800:15:03,520 –> 00:15:05,200But David is not on his own.20900:15:06,200 –> 00:15:07,200He can say,21000:15:08,359 –> 00:15:10,059the Lord is my shepherd.21100:15:11,599 –> 00:15:13,299The Lord owns me,21200:15:14,940 –> 00:15:16,299and because he owns me,21300:15:16,299 –> 00:15:18,500I am confident that goodness and mercy21400:15:18,500 –> 00:15:21,179will follow me all the days of my life21500:15:21,179 –> 00:15:25,700and when I die, I will not go into outer darkness.21600:15:25,700 –> 00:15:29,099My shepherd will welcome me home21700:15:29,099 –> 00:15:34,099and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.21800:15:35,280 –> 00:15:36,820Forever.21900:15:36,820 –> 00:15:39,599Friends, what a marvelous thing it is22000:15:39,599 –> 00:15:42,320to be wholly owned by the Son of God.22100:15:44,119 –> 00:15:45,820To know that you are his22200:15:46,919 –> 00:15:50,000in life, in death, forever.22300:15:50,000 –> 00:15:52,059To know that you’ve been bought22400:15:52,059 –> 00:15:54,900and that you’ve been born into this flock.22500:15:54,900 –> 00:15:56,659To know that he owns you22600:15:57,659 –> 00:16:00,500and because he owns you, he will lead you,22700:16:00,500 –> 00:16:02,820he will restore you, he will protect you,22800:16:02,820 –> 00:16:05,260he will feed you, he will love you forever.22900:16:06,619 –> 00:16:09,500And, even the darkest valley is made safe23000:16:09,500 –> 00:16:11,359for you by his presence23100:16:11,359 –> 00:16:14,719and you have a glorious, eternal future23200:16:15,659 –> 00:16:16,500in his home.23300:16:18,179 –> 00:16:19,979The Heidelberg Catechism,23400:16:19,979 –> 00:16:22,380an old document from a previous century23500:16:22,380 –> 00:16:23,799that teaches the Christian faith23600:16:23,799 –> 00:16:25,700in the form of questions and answers23700:16:25,700 –> 00:16:28,460begins with this very important question23800:16:28,460 –> 00:16:30,179and a very important answer.23900:16:30,179 –> 00:16:34,080The question, what is your only comfort24000:16:34,080 –> 00:16:36,359in life and in death?24100:16:37,919 –> 00:16:38,859And the answer?24200:16:40,919 –> 00:16:43,960That I am not my own.24300:16:45,299 –> 00:16:47,539Now do you see that that is the exact opposite24400:16:47,539 –> 00:16:49,179of the way that the world thinks?24500:16:50,919 –> 00:16:52,979Life will be good if I’m my own.24600:16:53,900 –> 00:16:56,239If I’m in charge, if I’m my own master,24700:16:56,239 –> 00:16:58,979the captain of my fate and all the rest of it.24800:17:01,080 –> 00:17:03,619Heidelbert Catechism says the greatest comfort24900:17:03,619 –> 00:17:06,060in life and in death is this.25000:17:07,099 –> 00:17:08,839That I’m not my own.25100:17:09,979 –> 00:17:14,979But that I belong body and soul in life25200:17:15,260 –> 00:17:18,439and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.25300:17:18,439 –> 00:17:20,900The Lord is my shepherd, that’s what it’s saying.25400:17:22,540 –> 00:17:25,099And because the Lord is my shepherd,25500:17:25,099 –> 00:17:28,819here is what inevitably follows,25600:17:28,819 –> 00:17:31,699I shall not want.25700:17:33,180 –> 00:17:35,260Now in these last moments, think about this with me,25800:17:35,260 –> 00:17:37,619David carried an enormous weight25900:17:37,619 –> 00:17:40,119of responsibility on his shoulders.26000:17:41,060 –> 00:17:43,099He grew up as a shepherd,26100:17:43,099 –> 00:17:46,739but God’s great calling on his life was to be a king.26200:17:46,739 –> 00:17:48,420And when he became king,26300:17:48,420 –> 00:17:53,420his task was to unite a chronically divided nation.26400:17:54,540 –> 00:17:58,439He had to shepherd the people of God,26500:17:58,439 –> 00:18:00,900and in second Samuel, chapter five,26600:18:00,900 –> 00:18:03,199the tribes of Israel come to David,26700:18:03,199 –> 00:18:06,560and they say, we are your bone and your flesh,26800:18:06,560 –> 00:18:07,760and the Lord has said to you,26900:18:07,760 –> 00:18:12,060you shall shepherd my people, Israel.27000:18:13,239 –> 00:18:15,239So David was called as the king27100:18:15,239 –> 00:18:17,119to shepherd the flock of God.27200:18:17,119 –> 00:18:18,920How could he do that?27300:18:20,719 –> 00:18:24,680I mean, how could David lead God’s people?27400:18:25,599 –> 00:18:28,119How could David protect God’s people?27500:18:28,199 –> 00:18:29,760How could he restore God’s people?27600:18:29,760 –> 00:18:31,599How could he feed God’s people?27700:18:31,599 –> 00:18:33,520How could he love God’s people?27800:18:35,119 –> 00:18:40,119Question, David, how in all the world27900:18:40,359 –> 00:18:42,880are you going to shepherd the flock of God?28000:18:43,959 –> 00:18:48,959Answer, because the Lord is my shepherd,28100:18:52,119 –> 00:18:55,119and what he has called me to do for others,28200:18:55,119 –> 00:18:57,859he himself will do for me.28300:18:58,979 –> 00:19:01,859Now you think about that in regards to your own life28400:19:01,859 –> 00:19:02,959in these last moments.28500:19:02,959 –> 00:19:06,199God has put responsibility on your shoulders.28600:19:06,199 –> 00:19:08,619How are you gonna discharge it?28700:19:08,619 –> 00:19:11,000Other people look to you for leadership,28800:19:11,000 –> 00:19:13,160here you are, you’re a parent,28900:19:13,160 –> 00:19:15,420and you have the responsibility29000:19:15,420 –> 00:19:18,459of raising these little children with wisdom.29100:19:18,459 –> 00:19:22,140How in the world are you gonna do that in this world?29200:19:23,119 –> 00:19:25,760You have responsibility for parents.29300:19:25,760 –> 00:19:27,800You’ve been given trust in your employment.29400:19:28,300 –> 00:19:29,579You’re gonna have to make decisions29500:19:29,579 –> 00:19:32,280that will affect the lives of other people.29600:19:32,280 –> 00:19:33,479You’re a shepherd.29700:19:34,959 –> 00:19:37,520You have a duty of care.29800:19:39,260 –> 00:19:42,660How in the world are you going to carry this responsibility29900:19:42,660 –> 00:19:45,280and how are you going to discharge this duty?30000:19:45,280 –> 00:19:48,199Listen, you can shepherd others30100:19:48,199 –> 00:19:50,859because the Lord himself will shepherd you.30200:19:52,400 –> 00:19:55,439You will be able to restore and refresh others30300:19:55,579 –> 00:19:58,599as the Lord restores and refreshes you.30400:19:58,599 –> 00:20:00,760You will be able to provide for others30500:20:00,760 –> 00:20:02,839as the Lord provides for you.30600:20:02,839 –> 00:20:05,699You will be able to keep on loving others30700:20:05,699 –> 00:20:08,359as the Lord keeps on loving you30800:20:08,359 –> 00:20:09,959and that is why David says,30900:20:09,959 –> 00:20:13,979Now the Lord is my shepherd, that’s why I shall not want.31000:20:13,979 –> 00:20:15,680It is the inevitable consequence.31100:20:15,680 –> 00:20:17,439This is the logic of faith.31200:20:17,439 –> 00:20:18,760If the Lord is your shepherd,31300:20:18,760 –> 00:20:22,400it follows inevitably, irrevocably,31400:20:22,400 –> 00:20:25,400that I shall not want.31500:20:25,400 –> 00:20:27,920You will face hard decisions31600:20:27,920 –> 00:20:30,439where it is very difficult to know the way.31700:20:30,439 –> 00:20:32,479But you know what, the Lord is your shepherd31800:20:32,479 –> 00:20:35,880and he will lead you in right pats.31900:20:35,880 –> 00:20:39,400And you will have times when you feel depleted,32000:20:39,400 –> 00:20:41,300but you know the Lord is your shepherd32100:20:41,300 –> 00:20:44,479and he will restore your soul.32200:20:44,479 –> 00:20:47,000You will have times when you face great opposition32300:20:47,000 –> 00:20:49,400and you will look evil in the face32400:20:49,400 –> 00:20:50,800and it will be frightening32500:20:50,800 –> 00:20:55,079but the Lord is your shepherd and he will protect you.32600:20:56,160 –> 00:20:58,599And when you face the dark valley of death,32700:20:59,599 –> 00:21:02,160the Lord will be your shepherd.32800:21:02,160 –> 00:21:03,479He will walk with you.32900:21:04,479 –> 00:21:06,760And on the other side you will dwell33000:21:06,760 –> 00:21:09,280in his house forever.33100:21:10,339 –> 00:21:11,319Brothers and sisters,33200:21:11,319 –> 00:21:13,599isn’t it the most marvelous thing in the world33300:21:13,599 –> 00:21:16,739to be wholly owned by the Son of God.33400:21:16,739 –> 00:21:18,599For you to be able to go into this week33500:21:18,599 –> 00:21:21,079and say the Lord is my shepherd33600:21:21,079 –> 00:21:22,760and because he’s my shepherd,33700:21:22,760 –> 00:21:24,199I have33800:21:24,199 –> 00:21:25,040all33900:21:25,040 –> 00:21:26,400that I34000:21:26,400 –> 00:21:27,880need.34100:21:27,880 –> 00:21:30,939The King of love my shepherd is,34200:21:30,939 –> 00:21:34,160whose goodness faileth never.34300:21:34,160 –> 00:21:39,000I nothing lack if I am his34400:21:39,000 –> 00:21:40,479and he is mine34500:21:41,839 –> 00:21:42,660forever.34600:21:43,780 –> 00:21:44,619You’ve been listening to,34700:21:44,619 –> 00:21:46,479Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith34800:21:46,479 –> 00:21:48,339on a message called He Owns Me,34900:21:48,339 –> 00:21:51,180based on psalm 23.35000:21:51,180 –> 00:21:53,199This message was originally part of a series35100:21:53,199 –> 00:21:55,219called The Lord Is My Shepherd,35200:21:55,219 –> 00:21:58,060but we’ve included it in a bundle of programmes35300:21:58,060 –> 00:21:59,900called Listener Favorites.35400:21:59,900 –> 00:22:03,260They’re the most requested and downloaded messages35500:22:03,260 –> 00:22:04,780in the past 12 months.35600:22:04,780 –> 00:22:05,619Don’t forget,35700:22:05,619 –> 00:22:08,280if you ever miss one of the messages in the series,35800:22:08,280 –> 00:22:10,839you can catch up or go back and listen again35900:22:10,839 –> 00:22:12,180by coming to our website.36000:22:12,180 –> 00:22:14,140That’s at openthebible.org.uk36100:22:14,579 –> 00:22:18,760and you can also find them on your favourite podcast site36200:22:18,760 –> 00:22:22,000by searching for Open The Bible UK.36300:22:22,000 –> 00:22:25,439Also on our website you’ll find Open The Bible Daily.36400:22:25,439 –> 00:22:28,959That’s a series of two to three minute daily reflections36500:22:28,959 –> 00:22:30,800based on Pastor Colin’s teaching36600:22:30,800 –> 00:22:32,920and read specially in the UK.36700:22:32,920 –> 00:22:35,160Open The Bible Daily.36800:22:35,160 –> 00:22:36,140At Open The Bible,36900:22:36,140 –> 00:22:38,359we welcome contact with our listeners.37000:22:38,359 –> 00:22:41,520If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching37100:22:41,520 –> 00:22:43,400and you’d like to reach out to us,37200:22:43,400 –> 00:22:45,280there are several ways you can do that.37300:22:45,280 –> 00:22:48,079You can write to us at Open The Bible,37400:22:48,079 –> 00:22:51,760P.O. Box 1420 Cheltenham37500:22:51,760 –> 00:22:55,000GL 50 9PG37600:22:55,000 –> 00:22:56,760or you can phone us on37700:22:56,760 –> 00:23:02,9200330 335 80 89.37800:23:02,920 –> 00:23:05,180If we’re not available when you call,37900:23:05,180 –> 00:23:08,199leave a message for us and we’ll return your call.38000:23:08,199 –> 00:23:10,560All of these contact details are available38100:23:10,560 –> 00:23:14,680on our website openthebible.org.uk.38200:23:14,680 –> 00:23:17,400If you listen to the programme regularly you’ll know38300:23:17,400 –> 00:23:20,640that Open The Bible is supported by our listeners38400:23:20,640 –> 00:23:23,560and if you already support Open The Bible financially,38500:23:23,560 –> 00:23:25,119thank you so much.38600:23:25,119 –> 00:23:27,160If giving to support Open The Bible38700:23:27,160 –> 00:23:29,040is something you’re considering,38800:23:29,040 –> 00:23:31,040this month we have a great offer for you.38900:23:31,040 –> 00:23:33,540Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham39000:23:33,540 –> 00:23:35,079to tell us about it.39100:23:35,079 –> 00:23:37,119How do we become more loving people?39200:23:37,119 –> 00:23:39,699It’s something many of us long for39300:23:40,060 –> 00:23:42,219but it’s not always easy.39400:23:42,219 –> 00:23:46,099The good news is that the more we experience God’s love39500:23:46,099 –> 00:23:50,520the more we are changed to love him and those around us.39600:23:50,520 –> 00:23:52,599Grow In Love by Pastor Colin Smith39700:23:52,599 –> 00:23:55,099is a new thirty day devotional39800:23:55,099 –> 00:23:57,380that explores one of the defining marks39900:23:57,380 –> 00:23:58,920of the Christian life.40000:23:58,920 –> 00:24:00,699Through daily Bible readings,40100:24:00,699 –> 00:24:03,739thoughtful teaching, and practical application,40200:24:03,739 –> 00:24:06,140Pastor Colin helps you discover40300:24:06,140 –> 00:24:08,819how God’s love can shape your heart,40400:24:08,819 –> 00:24:10,680strengthen your relationships,40500:24:10,680 –> 00:24:14,079and overflow into the lives of others.40600:24:14,079 –> 00:24:15,900Whether you’re new to these devotionals40700:24:15,900 –> 00:24:19,000or you’ve already enjoyed Grow In Faith and Grow In Hope,40800:24:19,000 –> 00:24:21,239this final book stands on its own40900:24:21,239 –> 00:24:23,280while completing a wonderful journey41000:24:23,280 –> 00:24:25,560through the three enduring gifts41100:24:25,560 –> 00:24:28,359of faith, hope, and love.41200:24:28,359 –> 00:24:30,359This month, Open The Bible is offering41300:24:30,359 –> 00:24:32,420a free copy of Grow In Love41400:24:32,420 –> 00:24:35,719when you give a one-off gift of at least £6041500:24:35,719 –> 00:24:39,640or begin a new direct debit of at least £5 a month.41600:24:39,640 –> 00:24:41,660To donate and get your free copy,41700:24:41,660 –> 00:24:44,859visit openthebible.org.uk today,41800:24:44,859 –> 00:24:47,859and don’t forget to leave your name and address.41900:24:47,859 –> 00:24:50,500Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Colin’s book,42000:24:50,500 –> 00:24:52,619Grow In Love, when you come on board42100:24:52,619 –> 00:24:55,739with the many folks who support Open The Bible.42200:24:55,739 –> 00:24:58,020Full terms and conditions are on our website,42300:24:58,020 –> 00:24:59,780that’s at openthebible.org.uk,42400:25:01,219 –> 00:25:02,819and you can give online.42500:25:02,839 –> 00:25:05,280For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,42600:25:05,280 –> 00:25:07,520I’m David Pick, glad you joined us today42700:25:07,520 –> 00:25:10,780and I hope to see you again next time on Open The Bible.42800:25:22,839 –> 00:25:26,839What’s the relationship between faith and obedience?42900:25:26,839 –> 00:25:29,400Find out next time on Open The Bible.