There you have it. Three powerful images that God uses in the Psalm to communicate how He will sustain you and me. The table, the oil, and the cup. The table reminding us that He renews us by giving us strength. The oil reminding us that He sustain us through an ongoing sense of purpose and the cup reminding us that God sustains us by giving us joy. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and Colin, we may know about strength, purpose, and joy and believe that that’s God’s promise but how come I don’t feel that right now? Well you know, these wonderful gifts that are described in Psalm 23 are all found in the Lord Jesus Christ. I mean, that’s really the central truth of the Bible that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ. When you’re saying I don’t have strength, where are you going to find it? You’re going to find it in Christ. You don’t have purpose how are you going to find it? You’re going to find it in Christ. You feel like you don’t have joy, you’re going to find it in Christ. So what we’re going to look at today is what these experiences meant for Jesus himself. What it meant for him to come to the table, what it meant for him to drink the cup, and when we see what Jesus has done for us I think we’re going to see from the Scriptures today that what we need really can be found and will be found in and through him. That’s the hope that we’re looking at today. Well that’s all in the message today. It’s called He Sustains Me and we’re in Psalm 23. Here’s Colin. Three powerful images that God uses in the psalm to communicate how he will sustain you and me. The table, the oil, and the cup. The table reminding us that He renews us by giving us strength. The oil reminding us that He sustains us through an ongoing sense of purpose. And the cup reminding us that God sustains us by giving us joy. Now here’s the obvious question that arises at this point. How do these things become yours? Clearly they were David’s. He’s testifying to them. He says, this is what God does for me. How does what David enjoyed become yours? That’s the question that’s before us today. And the answer to that throughout the Bible, and you can help me complete this verse, is that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. We’re blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. By the way, that was true of David, who lived a thousand years before Jesus. The blessings that were purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ and given from His hand came to David a thousand years before Jesus in the same way as they come to those who believe in Jesus two thousand years after the birth, death, resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole of the Bible points us to Jesus. And by the way, our Lord Jesus knew the twenty-third psalm. In fact, we know from the number of times that our Lord Jesus quoted the psalms, which were really the hymn book of His day, that the psalms were constantly in His mind. So I want us to think about this, because we’re asking the question, now, how did these things become ours? And they become ours through Jesus. What then did the table and the anointing of oil and the cup mean for Jesus Christ? Think about the table. David says, you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. What did the table mean for Jesus? Well, on the night that he was betrayed, Jesus met with his disciples to celebrate the Passover. And Matthew tells us specifically that he reclined at table with the twelve. And think about this, Jesus sat at the table in the presence of his enemies. Judas Iscariot was there at the table with him. And it was at the table that Jesus took the bread and he broke it, as he had broken it when he fed the crowd of five thousand people. But this time, he had said something very important. He broke the bread and he said, Take, eat. This is my body. Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, Drink of it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. You see, this is my body. This is my blood. So Jesus does more than prepare the meal. Jesus is the meal. In other words, Jesus gives you strength by giving you Himself. That’s why he says, I am the bread of life. Whoever feeds on me, will live because of me. The heart of the Christian life is that Jesus Christ gives you Himself, he is your strength. And you feed on him by believing in him. And as you trust him, day by day in all that you face, you will draw strength from him. That’s how the strength becomes yours. Jesus, yours, and you drawing strength from Him. What about the anointing? What did that mean for Jesus? David said, you anoint my head with oil. What task, what calling was assigned to Jesus for what was he anointed? Now remember the image here. We thought a few moments ago about Aaron being anointed for the task of being the High Priest, and the oil was poured over his head and it ran down his beard and onto his collar and soaked into his robes. Now I wonder if you remember that something very similar happened to Jesus in the house of a man called Simon. Jesus had gone there with a group of friends, and among them was Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who Jesus had raised from the dead. She was filled with gratitude for all that Jesus had done, and wanted to show her love for Jesus. She had a jar of very expensive ointment, and Mark tells us that she broke the flask and poured it over the head of Jesus. It was about a pint in volume the Bible says. So if a pint of ointment was poured over the head of Jesus it would have run down his face over the collar and soaked into his robes. The disciples said that it was a waste. But Jesus said this, and notice the words that he uses, she has done a beautiful thing, she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. Do you see the significance? Aaron was anointed to be the high-priest. David was anointed to be the king. Jesus was anointed for burial. Here’s the work that the Father has given Him to do. Your task, your mission is to give your life. Your assignment for which you are anointed is to be crucified, to be dead and to be buried. It is to lay down your life for the sheep. Jesus was anointed for death and for burial so that you should be appointed to everlasting life. Jesus died so that you might live. And He anoints His own with the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit so that you may be equipped for the work that the Father has prepared for you to do.’ And what about the cup? David says my cup overflows. What did the cup mean for Jesus? Well you’ll remember that Jesus spoke about the cup when He came to the garden of Gethsemane. We’re told that going a little further He fell on His face and prayed saying, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as you will. Now what was this cup that was so horrific that Jesus would say if it is possible let it pass from me. Well, in the book of Revelation there is a powerful description of the judgment that awaits unrepentant sinners. This is Revelation chapter 14 and verse 10. It is the wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger. That is an extraordinary description. The wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger. Now, that is the cup that was given to Jesus. And if the thought of it made him shrink back in horror in the garden of Gethsemane, what must the reality of drinking that cup have been like as he endured it on the cross? Now why did the perfect Holy Son of God have to drink the wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger? Well, because all we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned every one of us to his own way, and the Lord laid on him, on Jesus, the iniquity of us all. As Peter puts it in the New Testament, he bore our sins in his body on the tree. And when he took our sins upon himself, what that meant was that the wrath of divine justice that should have been ours was poured out upon him instead. Let me put it to you this way, Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so that you, like David, could drink the cup of God’s blessing. Now try and take in this picture that I’ve adapted from an old Scottish pastor. God holds a cup in his hand. The cup is full and it has your name written on it. He hands it down to you, and you shrink back in horror because you know what is in that cup that has your name written on it. The wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger. But before it reaches your hand, the good shepherd who is besides you, raises his hand takes it from the Father on your behalf. As he takes it, he shrinks back in horror because he knows what is in it. As he looks at it in his hand, he says, Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me. And then he says, nevertheless, not what I will but your will be done. And then the good shepherd drinks it. The wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He drinks it all until the cup is empty. And then he takes this cup with your name written on it, and he fills it until it is running over. What is in the cup now? Love, grace, mercy, peace with God, everlasting life. And now he offers this cup with your name on it to you. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so that you should receive the cup of God’s blessing and David says my cup overflows. You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and the message He Sustains Me – it’s part of the series The Lord is My Shepherd based on Psalm 23 and if you’ve missed any of the series or you tuned in late today, you can always come online and catch up or go back and listen again, that’s at openthebible.org.uk And you can also now find us as a podcast, go to your favourite podcast site, search for Open The Bible UK and subscribe to receive regular updates. You’ll also find a link to the podcast on our website, and that address again openthebible.org.uk Now Open the Bible is supported by the generous donations of our listeners We want to thank you for that, and if that’s something you’ve been considering doing this month we have an offer for you, and that is a copy of Pastor Colin’s new book Green Pastures, Still Waters. It’s a devotional to study 31 days in Psalm 23 so it’s very much a publication that goes with this months series And a copy of that book is our gift to you, if you’re able to set up a new donation in respect of Open The Bible, in the amount of £5 per month or more Full details on our website at openthebible.org.uk Back to the message now, here’s Colin Now I want in these last few moments here to speak to the person in this first service who is not yet a believer so glad you’re here, but you know that you have not yet committed your life truly and unreservedly to the Lord Jesus Christ something in you is holding out on him and perhaps you’ve become used as someone who comes to church to hearing the claims of Jesus Christ on your life and brushing them off and you say, well I’m not ready and it’s not for me and I don’t need this and so forth and so on you’re quite used to doing that, that’s become the habit I want you to hear me for these couple of minutes here just now I’ve got a question for you when you hear that the Good Shepherd leads his sheep into rest and into right paths and when you hear that the Good Shepherd restores his sheep so that he brings them back when they wander and he picks them up when they falter when you hear that the Good Shepherd guards his sheep so that even when they walk through the darkest imaginable valley he is right there with them always and when you hear that the Good Shepherd sustains his sheep by giving them strength and giving them purpose and giving them joy isn’t there at least something within you that says I think I’d like that to be mine? Isn’t there just something within your heart today that says, you know, I’d like to be able to say the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want because he leads me, because he restores me, because he guards me and because he sustains me. And I’m here to say to you today that these wonderful gifts and more can be yours. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and went to the cross in order to gather a flock, to make them his own. Why shouldn’t you be among them? Why not you? You said, well, how do I become one of Christ’s sheep? Well, let me give you the two words that Jesus used when he spoke about his sheep. The two words are hear and follow. This is what Jesus says. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Hear. In other words, right now in this service this morning, recognize the shepherds voice speaking to you, out of his word. He’s speaking to you. See, you could go home after this service, and you could say, oh, I went to church today and yes, there was a talk and it was about the shepherd and the sheep and he spoke about, you know, a table and an oil and a cup and all the rest of it and that could be the end of it, but you could respond in another way. You could say, I heard the shepherd’s voice today. God spoke to me today. God awakens something in my heart today. I began to actually feel today that I would want to have what he is offering to me. You know, Jesus said that no one can come to him unless the Father draws them. But you see, if you have a desire within your heart today to enjoy the leading and restoring and guarding and sustaining of the good shepherd, then you have every reason to conclude God is drawing me. You’re hearing the shepherd’s voice right now. He’s calling you. Right now the good shepherd is inviting you to find strength in him at his table. Right now think of this. The good shepherd is holding this flask of oil. He’s ready to anoint you. Give you His holy spirit so that you can find your place in His purpose in the world. Wouldn’t that be the most marvellous thing for you to know why you’re in this world and for you to be pursuing God’s purpose. Right now he’s holding out a cup for you with your name written on it. And it’s not the cup of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of His anger. It’s the cup of blessing. This can be yours. And you’re going to go out and say, that’s not for me, I don’t need this and all of that stuff again. Oh, today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart. God is speaking to you out of His word. The good shepherd is drawing you, he’s whistling for the sheep to come. And when you recognize the voice of the Son of God, the good shepherd of the sheep, there’s only one thing for you to do, and that is for you to follow. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. So give up your self-owned and your self-directed life. Where is it getting you? It’s a complete dead end. Submit yourself to the good shepherd. He will lead you, he will restore you, he will guard you, he will sustain you. He’s gonna give you new strength, he’s gonna give you new purpose, he’s gonna give you new joy. I’m inviting you today to begin a new life in which you follow the good shepherd. Give yourself to him, believe Him, trust Him, obey Him, follow Him. And then you will be able to say with David and with all of the flock of God, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil and my cup overflows I do hope you’re in that position today that you already enjoy that relationship with the Good Shepherd. And if that’s something you’ve been thinking about and feel that it may not yet apply to you, then I’d really encourage you to go along and talk to someone about it. Go to your local Christian fellowship and talk to the pastor or to the prayer ministry team there, or seek out a trusted Christian friend or family member. Speak to them about it. It really does help to speak to someone else about what you’re feeling and to answer any questions you may have about how to commit your life to Jesus and how to live it for Him. You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Collin Smith and a message called He Sustains Me. And as part of our series, The Lord Is My Shepherd, which is all based on Psalm 23. And if you’ve missed any of the series or you want to go back and listen again, don’t forget you can always do that by coming online to our website OpenTheBible.org.uk. You’ll also find us as a podcast if that’s a more convenient way for you to keep up with Pastor Collin Smith’s teaching. And you’ll find that on your regular podcasting site by searching Open the Bible UK. Subscribe to the podcast if you want to receive regular updates. Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners. That’s people just like you. And this month, if you’ve been thinking about setting up a new donation in respect of, open the Bible in the amount of £5 per month or more, we’d love to thank you by sending you a copy of Pastor Collin Smith’s devotional Green Pastures, Still Waters, 31 days in Psalm 23. It’s very much a devotional that goes with this series of messages. Collin, what do you hope that people using this devotional will take away from it? Oh, well, it will fix your eyes and your mind on the Lord Jesus Christ. I mean, he is the good shepherd. He is what Psalm 23 is all about. And to know that you have a shepherd in Christ and that he’s going to lead you in right paths, he’s going to give you rest, he’s gonna restore you when you’re spent and your energy is exhausted and gone, he’s gonna guard you, he’s going to sustain you, he’s going to love you all the days of your life and eventually bring you into His nearer presence. I mean, a month fixing your mind and heart on Jesus Christ the good shepherd is going to renew your strength, it’s going to encourage you greatly and that’s what Psalm 23 does and I think that’s why it’s one of the best known and best loved chapters in all of the Bible. So that’s Pastor Colin Smith’s devotional Green Pastures, Still Waters, 31 Days in Psalm 23 and it’s our gift to you if you’re able to set up a new donation to the work of Open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month during the course of this month signals full details on our website openthebible.org.uk for Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time When the Lord is your Shepherd his love surrounds you find out more next time on Open the Bible