Series: The Shepherd and the Sheep
Title: The Shepherd Restores Me
Text: Ps 23:3
I. He Retrieves Us When We Wander
a. Isa 53:6
b. Galatians 2:20
c. Quote: Octavius Winslow,” If there is one consideration more humbling than another to a
spiritually-minded believer, it is that, after all God has done for him...there should still
exist in the heart a principle, the tendency of which is to secret, perpetual, and alarming
departure from God.”
d. Rev 2:2-4
e. Rev 2:5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen
f. Rev 2:5, Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the [d]deeds
you did at first;
II. He Revives Us When We Falter.
a. Faith can falter when we are disoriented by injustice
i. Psalm 73:2
ii. Ps 73:3, “...I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
b. Faith can falter when we are drained by conflict
i. 1 Kings 19:10, “And I alone am left;”
c. Faith can falter when we are disappointed by outcomes
i. Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good
d. Faith can falter when we are disheartened by suffering
i. Heb 10:32, “after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings”
e. Faith can falter when we are depleted by demands
i. 2 Corinthians 2:16 “Who is adequate for these things?”
f. How were they restored?
i. Asaph was restored by getting busy
1. Psalm 73:16-17
ii. God restored Elijah after a time of rest
1. 1 Kings 19:5
iii. God restored the Galatians through a promise
1. Galatians 6:7-8
iv. God restored the Hebrews with a challenge
1. Heb 12:2-3 “...who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against
Himself, so that you will not grow weary [c]and lose heart.”
2. Heb 2:12
v. God restored the apostle Paul through the gift of a faithful friend
1. 2 Cor 7:5
2. 2 Cor 7:6
III. He Restores Us Himself
a. Psalm 18:35
