How to be Stress Free

1.  The Lord Offers Security – He makes me

"Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” "So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 2 Samuel 15:13–14

Let’s look at the Nature of the sheep and the shepherd:

• The Nature of the Sheep
  
  Sheep are by nature dumb animals
  "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

• The Nature of the Shepherd
  
  Shepherd always thinking about his sheep
  Shepherd is responsible for sheep – Isa.53:6
  
  

2.  The Lord Offers Serenity – lie down

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ” John 14:27

3.  The Lord Offers Satisfaction – green pastures & still waters

How to be Satisfied

1. The Lord is Sovereign - The Lord Is
2. The Lord is Shepherd – My Shepherd

• He is the Good Shepherd – John 10:11
  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
• He is the Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20–21
  “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
  
• He is the Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4
  “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does   not fade away”.

3. The Lord is Sufficient – I Shall Not Want
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”  Philippians 4:19

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

What Will Tomorrow Bring

"A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

1. An Attitude We Should Never Take (13-14)

• God alone holds the future
• “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” 2  Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3  and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4  Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5  “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.”  Isaiah 38:1-5

• God always knows what is best

"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel."For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them” 2 Kings 21:1–3

• Manassah’s son Amon “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father” 2 Kings 21:20;
• Israel suffered 57 years because of their disobedience

2. An Assumption We Should Never Make (15)

• Our plan is God’s will

3.  An Activity We Should Never Forsake (16-17)

• Never forsake doing good
• Sin of Omission – Knowing God’s will and ignoring it
• Jonah-Go to Ninevah and tell them judgment is coming
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path” Prov.3:5-6