Previous Service
Welcome
Please keep praying for Bethel to flourish, Amen!
Worship
Word
Please read: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd.
Psalm 23:1
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Generally, people don’t like talking about death. I have heard a number of people say that if only they had known how sudden death was to come to a loved one they would have talked, and talked deeply. If they could just rewind the clock even a few months, they would talk about it. It’s as if something is missing when a loved one is suddenly taken and there hasn’t been anything spoken about it beforehand.
In the light of David’s words in this Psalm he will fear no evil and the reason why is that he is confident that the Lord his Shepherd will be with him and will comfort him. The promises of God are sure and certain, even in the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with us and will comfort us.
We can also claim other promises of God.
(a) Light will be given
The same word appears in Isaiah:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.
Isaiah 9:2
Jesus our Good Shepherd is also the Light of the World and He will give His light to those who love and follow Him even in the darkest valley, He gives the light of life, not the darkness of death (John 8:12).
(b) Grace is given
Generally, weakness increases as we near our time and yet is this not when God’s grace is sufficient,
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Cor. 12:8-9
Grace is available for the time we need it, not before.
(c) Goodness will result
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him
Rom. 8:28
And the apostle finishes off this passage:
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death … nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 8:37-39
(d) Jesus’ death has removed death’s sting
The venomous poison of the serpent is swallowed up in Jesus victory, see 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, Amen!
Quote of the week
Where is death’s sting? “It is but the shadow of death: the shadow of a serpent will not sting, nor the shadow of a sword kill”.
Matthew Henry
Verse of the week
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21
Let’s Pray
Gracious Loving, Heavenly Father we thank and praise You that through Your Son we have the victory over sin, fear, and death itself. Strengthen us by the power of Your Spirit that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil, for You are with us always even to the very end of the age, in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour and Friend, Amen!