Jesus Is My Shepherd Biblical Reference "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want" (Psalm 23:1) MODULE 1 LESSON 1 Objectives 1. Identify the characteristics that Jesus, the One true Pastor, had in His life. 2. To understand that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the only One who can show us the correct way to live our lives consecrated to God. 3. To understand that salvation can only be accomplished by the Son of God. 4. To understand Jesus purpose on this earth: to give us salvation and abundant life. 5. To find the example and inspiration that Jesus gives to each believer. INTRODUCTION David was one of the greatest kings of the people of Israel. He found the key that opened the door to success in all areas of his life, when he learnt to have a personal relationship with God from an early age. While confronting King Saul about his disobedience, the prophet Samuel said, "The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lords command (1 Samuel 13:14). When Samuel wanted to know who Saul s successor would be, he went to the house of Jesse, the father of David. After being introduced to seven of Jesse's sons, he saw David, and it was as if a beam of light illuminated the house. Then the Lord said, Rise and anoint him; he is the one. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power" (1 Samuel16:12b-13). Saul s servants, while reporting to the king about David, said, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him (1 Samuel 16:18). Everyone close to David knew that God was with him. David had probably met God whilst out in the fields, taking care of some of his father's sheep. Those of us who know the Father personally know that we met Him, simply because the Lord chose the correct moment to reveal Himself to us. 1
1. JESUS LISTENS TO PRAYER At the annual convention held in Singapore, there were twenty-three different nations represented from across Asia, including a pastor from Pakistan. When I had the opportunity to interview him, my question was, How did it come about that as a Muslim you made a decision to accept Jesus into your life? His answer was: I was the firstborn in a Muslim family. In my city, Dicran, I got to know someone who I later discovered was a Christian missionary. His name was Er-On. I began to visit his house, and he started to teach me the Koran; but, whilst studying with him, he spoke about a Jesus who was different from all the other prophets. If I asked questions about Jesus, he would teach me that Jesus was different and that He was above all the other prophets. Later I realised that this was his religion; and I thought that even though this was his religion, mine was in the Koran. I refused to accept his teachings. Two years later, I finished my high school studies, and one day I took a boat trip with some of my friends. They were jumping into the water, swimming and returning to the boat, and I also wanted to show my courage. People from the woodlands in my country see themselves as very brave, and it is necessary to demonstrate it in some way. I jumped into the water as far as I could, but people from the woodlands do not know how to swim; therefore, when I tried to come back, I found it extremely difficult. I was drowning! I prayed in the name of Allah, in the name of Mohammed, in the name of all the Islamic gods, but none of them was able to help me. It was then that I remembered that my friend used to pray in the name of Jesus, and I said. Lord, help me; if You help me, I will surrender my life to You, Jesus. At that very moment I fell unconscious. When I came out and opened my eyes, I was back on the boat. One of my friends told me that I had been drowning, but that when they turned around to rescue me, they saw something was supporting me in the water. I immediately knew that it could only be the hand of Jesus. This was my first baptism and my very first supernatural experience, and I promised myself, "I will do something great for Him." I experienced a radical conversion to the Lord. I began winning people for God, and He opened the doors for me to go back to my community to evangelise to Muslims." 2. JESUS, A MAN BEYOND COMPARISON The one man who has impacted the whole world throughout every age is known as Christ Jesus. Society has recognised many men as great because of their conquests, achievements, political abilities, religious or pious lives, their philosophies and world famous doctrines; some are eminent moralists, others are great conquerors, excellent political, military or religious strategists. However, none can be compared to Jesus. "All that He has done, no other man could ever equal; only someone who is God could have accomplished the work that the Lord Jesus did." 2
He is the wonderful Creator of everything that exists. The Word of God says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3). He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17). 3. BORN IN THE APPOINTED TIME For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The apostle Paul said. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a women, born under law (Galatians 4:4). We find the account of Jesus Christ's birth in the book of Matthew 1:18. Our God is a God of timing. Just at the right time, the Holy Spirit chose an ordinary, God- fearing woman to carry Jesus, the Saviour of the world, in her womb. Mary's pregnancy surprised her fiancé, but God spoke to Joseph in dreams and he obeyed God. Both of them understood that the baby was Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus was the answer to a series of prophecies given through the patriarchs, through Moses, through the Psalmists and the Prophets, ever since the very first couple disobeyed God (Genesis 3:15). 4. JESUS IS GOD, AND LIVED ON EARTH AS A MAN Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great. He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). The Apostle Paul does not present this subject as a controversy, but as an undeniable truth. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John1:14). If Jesus is God, then it is worth the effort to know Him and to make Him known. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death (Proverbs 8:35-36). Jesus brought confusion among His adversaries when He said that before Abraham, He already was. The teachers of the law asked how this could be, as He was not yet even 50 years old. How could He know Abraham who had lived 2000 years before? Jesus is God. He took the form of a man to teach all people about the coming glory. The author of the book of Hebrews declared, Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering you not desire, but a body you prepared for me (Hebrews 10:5.) 3
Know Him as a Person In order to redeem mankind, God needed someone human, but untouched by original sin. After searching both heaven and earth without finding anyone, He assigned this mission to His Son Jesus, known as the Word of God that became flesh (John 1:14). He was a human being just as any other person, but without the stain of sin.! He sat down to rest (John 4:6).! He looked for a place to sleep on the boat (Mark 4:38).! He cried out l am thirsty (John 19:28).! He was tempted by the enemy when He was hungry (Matthew 4:2).! He was tempted in everything but did not sin (Hebrews 4:14-15). Jesus our Deliverer So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8b).! Being God, He became man (Philippians 2:5-8).! Being rich, He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9).! Being holy, He became a curse (Galatians 3:13).! Being righteous, He became sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21).! Being healed, He took our sickness and our pain (Isaiah 53:4-5).! Being blameless, He died with the wicked (Isaiah 53:9).! Being perfect, He was broken for us (Isaiah 53:10). God created man with a mind able to think and reason, making him intellectually superior to every other creature. Not only did God give man intelligence, but He also made him a living soul and spirit. The spirit of a human being is capable of communicating directly with God; nevertheless, sin brought a spiritual death upon us. In His mercy Jesus came to give us eternal life. Receive the abundant life He offers The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; l have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). Humanity was deceived by the adversary and was destined for eternal condemnation. The Son of God, moved by the Father's love, offered His life. By so doing, He rescued us and, at the same time, gave us abundant life which we can only find in Him. When the apostles wanted to know the way, Jesus explicitly told them, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Responding to Nicodemus questions, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again (John 3:5-7). 4
When speaking to the woman at the well Jesus said, Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4: 13-14). While teaching the Jews, He told them, You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (John 5:39-40). When speaking with the Jews, Jesus declared, For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Sir, they said, from now on give us this bread. Then Jesus declare, l am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:33-35). At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus raised His voice and said, Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not been glorified (John 7:38-39). Be Inspired by Him Jesus never wrote a book, but he inspired many writers. He never sang a song, but He has inspired great singers and musicians. He never studied medicine, but He has healed millions of people through the ages. He never founded a university, but he has given more lessons than any other man. No one has ever written about Jesus as much as the Christians have, because He is God (Anonymous). CONCLUSION As Christians we possess an extraordinary treasure: We know that Jesus is the Word of God; the Word who was from the very beginning, and became man. We know and believe that in him is life, that he is the light of the world and that whoever follows him will not walk in darkness. He is the Bread of Life. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in him, even though he is dead, Christ will resurrect him to life! 5
Destiny Training Name: Module 1 Lesson 1 Pastor: Jesus is my Shepherd Date: Please hand in at your next training session ACTIVITY QUESTIONNAIRE: 1. According to 1 Samuel 16:18, write down 3 of David s qualities 1. 2. 3. 2. By whom and for whom were all things created? (John 1:2-3) 3. According to Isaiah 9:6, write down three attributes of Jesus: 1. 2. 3. 4. Write at least one of Jesus attributes found in the following verses: 1 Timothy 3:16 John 1:14 Colossians 1:15 5. According to Hebrews 4:14-15, how is Jesus different from any other person? 6. According to Galatians 3:13, what did Jesus accomplish for us? 7. According to John 10:10, why did Jesus come into the world? 8. According to John 14:6, Jesus is: a. b. c. 9. According to John 7:38, how should we believe in Jesus? 6