The Ultimate Travel Destination

Pastor Ed RiddickMay 11 – Mothers’ Day

The Lord as Shepherd

I. The Lord as CreatorZechariah 12:1 “An Oracle This is the word of the Lord concerning Israel. The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him”

A. God “stretches out the heavens”

Isaiah 40:22 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

A. God “stretches out the heavens”

Isaiah 42:5 “This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it”

The issue of creationPsalm 136:1–4 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.”

Jeremiah 27:5 “With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.”

Jeremiah 51:19 “He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including the tribe of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name.”

Isaiah 40:25–26 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing….therefore, why do you say...

B. “who lays the foundation of the earth”

Isaiah 51:13 “that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?

Creations Impact on Us

Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”

Creations Impact on UsPsalm 148:1-5 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.”

C. “who forms the spirit of man within him”

Isaiah 43:1–5 “This is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One..your Savior; …you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you”.

C. “who forms the spirit of man within him”

Genesis 35:18 “As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.”

1 Corinthians 2:11 “For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God”

C. “who forms the spirit of man within him”

Job 32:8 “But it is a spirit in people, the breath 22 of the Almighty, that makes them understand.”

Proverbs 18:14 “A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness – but who can bear a crushed spirit?”

C. “who forms the spirit of man within him”

Acts 17:16” While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset 60 because he saw 61 the city was full of idols.”

II. God watches over his people

Zechariah 12:4 “On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.”

A. Guardian Angels?

Hebrews 11:29 (NIV84) “ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”

Hebrews 13:1–2 “Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

B. Country bumpkins and City Slickers

Zechariah 12:7–8 “The LORD will save the dwellings (tents) of Judah first, so that the honor (beauty, splendor, radiance) of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them.”

III. Brokenness and Repentance

Zechariah 12:10-14

Psalm 143:1 “O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.”

Grace and repentance

Romans 2:4 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”