Message for Akron Alliance Fellowship Church, Akron OH, Sunday, May 16, 2025.
For the “Live in Church” audio of this message, select here.
Do you have a desire to learn more about God?
Most people would say, “yes, of course,” but I want you to really consider what you are asking for. Is your desire to learn about God such that you want to grow personally in your relationship with Him? Because if we think about it, we could be counted among the group of those who say they know God, but in reality, know very little about Him, or perhaps they know just enough where they can say something spiritual about Him.
When I was much younger, I distinctly remember sitting on my living room couch looking outside the front picture window up into the blue sky above the vivid green leaves of the trees. The sun was shining that day, and it made me think about God’s beautiful creation. From one creative to another, the Creator was making an impression on me that I finally acknowledged as significant. He made me think more about who I was, where I had come from, and where all the sun and the stars and all of this magnificent beauty had come from.
The Lord has a way of presenting Himself in simplistic pictures that indeed permeate through our minds and capture our hearts. I sincerely hope that those among us are not in the group that would dismiss God and His presence. And yet, that is where some of us need to do a heart check.
Romans 1:19-22 NLT
19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
It’s passages like this one that bring to mind how patient God really is. He truly does want people to know how much He loves them, but He will always stand on His Word. For this message, we will focus on the attributes of God and share that God wants us to know more about Him, but He’s not going to drag you along in the process. You need to come willingly—with eyes to see and ears to hear.
A great place to look for God in the Bible and reflect upon His goodness is in His poetry—the Psalms. There are many truths in the Scriptures that are revealed through God’s Word as we gain greater understanding, but in Psalm 23, our focus for today, God reveals who He is with great simplicity. In the same manner that we look up into the sky and see God’s glorious creation—its beauty in the sky and the heavens, His majesty in the billowing clouds and the winds that come and go, we will see Him with clarity. We tell time by how the earth rotates and moves through the solar system, but our God operates in the eternal present. He created us to live in this time for His purpose.
Psalm 23:1-6 NLT
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
It would be appropriate to spend some time in this passage and see how straight-forward God’s communication is about His nature and character. He wants you to see how much He loves you and cherishes closeness with you! (I am encouraging you to spend more time in this study on your own.) This is not a God who provides comfort from an unfathomable distance! He is right in your midst, and as we gather together here, He is in this room.
Let’s examine this passage and look for some key words and phrases about the character of God, and consequently, the character of Jesus Christ.
- Lord (v. 1)
- Shepherd (v. 1)
- Find Rest in Him and Be Renewed (v. 2, 3)
- Guides you in the Right Direction (v. 3)
- There’s No Need to Fear (v. 4)
- Security (protection) (v. 4)
- Provider (v. 5)
- Blesses You (v. 5)
- Eternal Love (v. 6)
- There’s a Place for You (v. 6)
Only 6 verses in Psalm 23, and yet I pulled 10 key words and phrases! (And you could definitely pull out more in this study.) Make notes as we look at this and think about what these passages say to you about the love of God and why He desires to live within you and help you day after day.
1. Lord (v. 1).
The Lord is our uncreated Creator. He is Adonai, which in Hebrew translates to “Lord” or “Master.” The use of Lord refers to His power, authority and sovereignty.1 Sovereignty adds the word “supreme” to power and authority.2 We must add that “Lord” is the term that God uses to speak of who He is—”I am the Lord Your God…” He also refers to Himself as Yahweh by proper name, but we need to see how the use of Lord establishes that He is speaking to us from a position of supreme authority.
Isaiah 45:5-6 NLT
5 I am the Lord;
there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
though you don’t even know me,
6 so all the world from east to west
will know there is no other God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
The premise for recognizing the sovereign nature of God is entirely based upon faith. Believing that the Lord is who He says He is will impact how we see the upcoming subjects in this study. It’s important to add the following passages as to the importance of faith:
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Romans 10:17 NLT
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
2. Shepherd (v. 1).
In the culture of the time, sheep herders were responsible for protecting and keeping the sheep safe and secure from predators such as wolves or jackals. Jesus, in John Chapter 10, refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. He is sharing with us that He was fulfilling His purpose by being both the protector and the eternal sacrifice for all who have a relationship with Him.
John 10:14-18 NIV
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
He is the Good Shepherd. Do you know Him?
3. Rest and Renew (v. 2, 3).
Luke 5:16 NET
Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.
This is a great thing to know! Jesus, in his humanity, took himself out of the busyness of his schedule and went to a quiet place to spend time in prayer. He is showing this as an example for each one of us to emulate.
Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
What a peaceful, love-filled passage! He also strengthens you for the long haul and gets you through those challenging life moments.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
4. He Guides You in the Right Direction (v. 3).
Psalm 119:105 ESV
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 30:21 ESV
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
5. There’s No Need to Fear (v. 4).
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Don’t live in fear. Be strong and have courage because God will never leave you alone.
Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
6. Security (Protection) (v. 4).
Psalm 91:1-4 NLT
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
There is peace in God’s covering of protection. Remain prayerful that He will give you travel mercies and keep you safe as you navigate a world where the enemy thrives.
7. Provider (v. 5).
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Philippians 4:12-13, 19 NLT
12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
The Lord’s love for you and me is expressed in His presence and provision for our needs, both great and small, and He affirms our love and obedience to His Word with blessings.
8. Blessing (v. 5).
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
James 1:17 NIV
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Luke 6:38 NIV
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
9. Eternal Love (v. 6).
1 John 4:7-10 NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God’s love is reflected in His care and concern for our very souls. He knew about us in the very beginning, and He wants to be with us now and when we join Him in eternity.
10. There’s a Place for You (v. 6).
John 14:1-4 NIV
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Revelation 21:1-4 NIV
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Jesus is the One that we attribute to His plan for every believer in Him to dwell with Him in the House of the Lord forever. These are great words of love that conclude the 23rd Psalm. It is a reassurance of God’s attributes of His character.
If you are determined in your heart to take your relationship with the Lord to the next level, then let your thoughts center on the focus of everything we have and everything that we can be—in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With the helpful presence of the Holy Spirit, He will give you what you need. Follow Paul’s words in this manner:
Philippians 4:9 NIV
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Copyright © 2025 Melvin Gaines.
1 Adonai-lord-the name of god. Precept Austin. (n.d.). https://www.preceptaustin.org/adonai-lord-the_name_of_god
2 Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, May 7). Sovereignty. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty
Melvin Gaines 