Carried By the Shepherd

What a morning reset it reset it every morning rocker family gynecologist can give an introduction, but for those in don't know me, and it was Matt. It's been my privilege to serve here this campus for six years.

I love what you do and and honestly the reason why I love to get to do is because of you, the people of Park Creek like you guys are so incredibly dear and near to my heart and I'm so excited to be able to open up the, the word of God for us this morning and so I want to start how many was always starting to get up to preach with prayer book. What I want you to do that like this isn't your Q to check out to Zona like when I pray when you pray along with me when to pray specifically couple things one would you pray that the Lord would give you just eyes to see what he would have for you to see this morning, ears to hear what he would half you to hear this morning and also would you pray for other the spirit will give you faith and the courage to follow through in obedience to whatever he might call you to do. Would you just pray for me self you pray for me that the Lord it would use them to speak clearly and accurately and passionately. Would you join me in praying father, thank you so much for this amazing moment. We have to open up our Bibles and to see what you have for us. Father, you are could matter in hardships the matter in suffering or life is good that you are good with thank you reprint your spirit would be here that your spirit will lead us and guide us in his truth, but we love you. Thank you. We trust you asked these things in her name meant meant well.

Several years back when I was a newlywed, about 9 1/2 years ago, wife killing, I we went and took a vacation back when we look at west to Urey Colorado anybody or Vincent Urey Colorado right in the heart of Canada the of the Rocky Mountains when it is is beautiful ox which need to know about it is its picturesque not to get there you go from Silverton, Colorado to Urey Colorado and it's it's it's a stretch of highway. That's called the million dollar half of the picture I or are you sick okay we do know is that the route itself is incredibly scenic like it is breathtakingly gorgeous like it's it's amazing like that's why thousands of people go there every year which you also need to know is you gonna judge us by looking at that its pretty dangerous right about the wind. He rose and what what don't you see, there guardrails now send me all that is that is in incredibly unnerving so I am a recently married and I have my my my lovely wife and I'm thinking why in the world are we going to this place. We have to drive this death row to Michael Lord please get me through this like I'm on a pretty cautious driver never got a ticket right I'll brag about that tendency all the time. Eyes are on the road but all when I was in that car with my wife and my little puppy on thinking, dear Jesus, please, please, please, please get us to our destination. Please get us there are probably like 10 miles an hour were on our way. Y'all, the unexpected happened. Blown tire flat tire could not have happened at a more worse moment. So there you are. Picture with me on that curvy highway million-dollar Holly didn't seem like was Billy, but right then we were hugging the side of a rockface.

All right. And on the left just chasm of this and so I need to admit something like this is like a safe space can be a little vulnerable again. This was nine years ago I did know how to change a tire.

I did II just didn't. I didn't have to. I never had an opportunity to learn was like hey I'm the organelle or I just didn't have to do it itself ever sit there. My wife chose a what you do only what would you like Lord. This is the we were married like what we do and so as I get now and in her car know this is like a thing nowadays the spare tire is underneath. Who does that. So not only do I not know how to change a tire.

I don't even know how to access the stinking thing so I get out there fumbling with the spirit. I can't get it down and like God. I don't know what to do your and I have to do something amazing and it just the right moment help came help came in the form of emergency tow truck driver. He randomly right. God's providence, but randomly came drove up parts saw that we are in distress. As a young man. You did some problem like sure get going, hey I want to show me how you would do it.

You know, how would you write did know how to do and he so graciously change our tire and got us on our way you see it just the right moment adjusts the right time, the Lord brought what we needed rocker family this morning were to continue in our series of this verse changed my life and I want to open up a text of Scripture that the Lord brought to me at just the right moment at just the right time. It was quite literally the darkest and most difficult moment in my life and my wife's life, but more on that later.

To be in Psalm 28, some 28.

The title of my messages. This carried by the Shepherd. Some 28 if you have that give me a thumbs up. Former kids passionately coming out so I can't suppress� Thank you Kevin Priester that the word of the Lord says this to you oh Lord I call my rock be not deaf to me, lest if you be silent I become like those who go down to the pit hear the voice of my please for mercy when I cry to you for help when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary do not drag me off with the wicked with the workers of evil who speak peace with their neighbors. What evil is in their hearts gift to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds gift to them. According to the work of their hands render them there to reward because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands. He will tear them down and build them up no more for six blessed be the Lord for he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord, the Lord is my strength and my shield in him. My heart trusts and I'm helped with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people. He is the saving refuge of his anointed oh save your people, and the less your heritage be their shepherd and carry them forever by proclaiming my hope for us this morning is this want you to see that through confidence in the Lord that we could be strengthened to prayerfully and joyfully endure hardships in life knowing that our shepherd will carry us through. Now I'm not that old, but I'm old enough to know that there are three groups of people here this morning, those who have just gotten out of a hardship those who are currently in a hardship or those who are about to be a hardship so hate to burst your bubble.

Don't be the bearer of bad news. That's the reality of living life in a broken and fallen world due to sin like you might be in a situation right now right this very moment where it is producing any use such fear and anxiety and loneliness and depression and so what are we doing were in situations like this how we navigate this what we do well like you're asking because I think Psalm 28 uses three things for us three things this morning. Number one is this we must cry out to the Lord will see this in verse one through five.

We must cry out to the Lord. Now I gotta start here and I I love Psalm see what else is love is something I really like that they get me. They speak to me like their emotional or the real and their transparent the raw to see a lot of these themes throughout this Psalm, and I love that about David.

Also David you can see that he is in a situation he's in some sort of hardship he's suffering somewhat to babies going through an illness. But the probably more likely than that is verse three forget it's kind of a clue he's suffering at the hands of evil doers, workers of evil of those with evil in their hearts to veto the life of Debbie. You know that David walk through a lot of suffering in his life.

So then he takes a pen and start to write out this Psalm, so know that that's the context that's what David said notice where as you start starts with the Lord.

He acknowledges the Lord to you oh Lord I call I love that this this idea for call, has behind it. It's it's it's prayer accompanied by a great cry.

So David thought just got a nonchalantly, like, just praying silently know he is with all of his might. With all of his guts. He's crying out to the Lord's crying out to the Lord. But then he names him. I love this powerful name. What is he petitioned the Lord as look with me, my rock. I love that there is a tape you're not some weakling God, not some unknown job that I don't know. You are my rock which that was a common metaphor for protection. You are in movable you are steadfast you are sure answer you, Lord.

I'm crying. I'm petitioning you as my rock. What happens will see David goes on to say, don't be silent.

Don't be death because if you are silent if you don't respond what's gonna happen to be like those who go down to the pit which David saying he's been praying for quite some time, but we know that because thank God you're silent right now I can't hear you. Where are you got if you don't answer right this moment I'm done unfinished. Ever been there where your pleading and crying out to the Lord feels like it's falling on deaf ears happen there to take comfort David been there to bulimia ass brother and sister. What are you two when cod seems silent you stop, just don't cry now yeah good good.

Don't is God thing. I think we can learn from David what is David you look with me here in verse two. Here, the voice of my please for mercy. Guys perceive silence from God does not stop David from petitioning him again and again for more mercy. Why because David knows he's he's helpless hose that is lost with help cod to intercede, so he tries his desperate rush to you, desperate for the Lord, are you crying for the Lord cry out to him verse three through five. I think really get kind of a model for how we can shape our prayers as David does now.

What I'm not necessary say the site you need to go and learn your best imprecatory prayer and can pray over all your enemies, not saying that but what I think they would save men he's given this kind of free reign to pray. Yes, hope filled prayers, but also honest prayers.

I don't think you have to sugarcoat our prayers like for me. If I'm in a situation of dullness.

Time and time again and I don't know what to do.

I feel desperate I feel lost. I can feel like I have to clean up my prayers a little bit to say the right thing in the right way and then maybe then God will hear me you to. I've been there. That's bad theology.

We see from David how he models approach the Lord with boldness, but approaching honestly for he knows your heart, brother and sister.

He knows what you need to cry out to the Lord would begin to tell you the story. What I alluded to earlier, what was the most difficult season of my life and my wife's life as well afford 1/2 years ago.

Christmas is a 16 we flew out there is a nice farm from and for Christmas that year. My parents were to take us to dizzy writers want to go to the happiest place in the world what you need and I was at the time we had a son Eli who was about 2 1/2. Emma wife Kelly was 26 weeks pregnant and so we make her way to the happiest place in the world and out first. We dislike downtown Disney can do some shopping and restaurants back to the hotel and that night, wife Kelly begin to have pretty severe contractions which if you're pregnant that far along. That's the bad news. And so we knew it was evident that some somethings not right and I just remember being so panicked. But running a storm and impounding of my parents hotel door same tell you gotta come help keep Kelly's Kelly is in trouble.

What we do think within minutes were loaded up into his car and we are racing down the freeway make her way to Anaheim Regional Medical Center and about an hour later after running a battery of tests, lovely wife, it's evident the doctors, say hey this this baby has to come now, like your wife has to have an emergency C-section pause right there guys. I was terrified this wasn't how was to happen. I'm on vacation in the happiest place in the world. Babies are supposed to be born at 26 weeks and I just remember as they wheeled my wife off to prep her for surgery and am left in this room alone and had put on like a gallon scrubs over my close and waiting and waiting to go see my wife to hold her hand to her and her surgery. I just remember that moment is feeling completely helpless, like God, what are you doing why this why now and just print got a picture will please save my son.

Please protect my wife will on December 26 at 10:15 AM Pacific center time. My son Caleb William Baker was born is a picture of a little fella in all his glory and what warrior what a fighter gel that was a scary scary moment. We couldn't hold them for the first couple of days. He's was to write of the NICU.

He's he's hit you basically sleep for the next three months and it will isolate by himself completely connected to all these machines that are tracking his every bodily function. Keep them alive and one day the doctor say one of y'all get to hold your son while I lost that fight mama.

This is all you mama you could do something crazy I did. It's your turn. That's remember the doctors carefully getting my son and hanging him wife remember Kelly Santos one thing over and over again to my voice to Caleb so price so price in church history member feeling that moment. I'm not. I don't feel very brave right now.

God don't think I can do this talk, take a good two thirds cried out to him he heard us. So wherever you are at brother and sister cry out to the Lord. Second thing is this. We see from some 28 second truth is this, we must have confidence in the Lord will pick this up in verse six we must have confidence in the Lord Blessed be the Lord for he is heard the voice of my please for mercy, not if you notice it, but there's been a drastic change in tone verse one through five. He's pleading for mercy, lamenting God you feel this that you feel silent. Where are you now, Davies is blessing he's praising.

Why, what gives with anything that David did. Why, for the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my please for mercy brother and sister. This should be the most comforting, most refreshing news in the world that when we pray when we cry out. The Lord hears is not fallen on deaf ears. He hears you. That should fill you up with such confidence and boldness to approach his throne room and ask him to plead because he hears he hears get back into our our caliphs or not. The first midweek was just a blur. I don't know if it wasn't for the grace about how we would've made it through about a week in kill and I kind of got some some daily rhythms. Kelly would go in the morning and spent all morning. I was Caleb and and in the NICU and we still had Eli was to have such a happy dad, right-click on it is pause out for three months and so what we ended up doing a mean you we would like make the the world tour of all the parks like the greater Orange County area, which is how to do it right and so then Kelly will come back. We would switch and I would go in the afternoon so deftly mama got the easy job because she gets a K-1 when you lie snapping. That's when you to be the mom. What's a good nap with her son. That's great. So I was all going afternoon is spent hours with my son Robert is looking at as I select just I can't do anything to help them.

Not a doctor know what to do.

Doing so hopeless in the Lord's grace brought me to this song to verse seven and my prayer is that for maybe one person in this room that verse seven would do for you what it has done for me is doing for me right now the Lord is my strength. He's my shielding him. My heart trusts and I'm helped guide. I remember sitting there looking at my sons isolate repeating this over and over and over again literally must've repeated it hundreds of times hundreds of times almost saying it before even believing like I was really myself to believe that I did it not first. I'm so weak I'm so defenseless. Am I going to do church slowly but surely the spirit of God begin to embed this truth deep into my heart begin to see that where I'm week. Jesus is my strength, where I'm defenseless where I'm vulnerable. Jesus is my shield. He did that for me church I can do that for you.

Look with me here. I love this class right here in him. My heart trusts. What is that mean that trusting knowing comes from knowing the Lord having confidence in who use what is his nature. What is his character.

How do we know what the nature and character of the Lord is not a trick question right here comes from the Bible. I love how her sister Jim Wilkin says that she says the heart can't love with the mine doesn't know. I wonder. I wonder if there are some of us today are walking through your own trial your own hardship your own suffering completely unequipped because you don't know the truth of the promises that are here because you don't know the Bible you have to saturate your mind with this truth that you take with me that your application point this morning, get serious about your intake of the Bible as somebody hey would you keep me accountable. We read Scripture with me. I can promise you it will change you. It will transform you blessing here will point out is this which the results of our trusting in the Lord was a say look at me here in him. I'm helped if we have confidence in the Lord get this product we think we have confidence in the Lord. He will help you now.

It might not be how you wanted my not be how you expected or anticipated or hoped for.

He will help you and not only that brothers and sisters.

Not only will he help you.

He will make your heart exult your transition might say my heart leaps for joy with joy and thanksgiving. Put it this way, in any circumstance. The believer in Christ may be equipped to walk with joy if our hearts are confident in the Lord what you trusting in the Lord right now, that marriage issue that parenting issue that on expected job loss is your heart comforted company and who the Lord is to be seen but cry out to the Lord must be bold in our prayers that have confidence in the Lord. Lastly, we see this number three.

We must call others to do the same. Verse 89 was call others to the same liquid. David says there's another shift in tone here.

The Lord is the strength of his people. We see that his people save your people, bless your heritage be their shepherd carry them. You see, what started as an individual plea for mercy from David now shifts into a corporate exhortation, corporate encouragement, corporate prayer, it's as if David is saying hey local God is done for me.

My people look what he's done. I was walking through the valley, hopeless, desperate, he seems silent but then my strength showed up, he's my shield trust in him look to him rest in him.

David turns his attention from his own doubts his own fears and now he's blessing and reminding his people, but you who is the Lord calling you to help in their time of need like look look around in this room there are hurting people as if a global pandemic wasn't enough there hurting people and they're going to need your faith like I'm going to need your faith. Faith is contagious and when I'm in need. When I heard I'm going to need you to fill me up to point me to the Lord, but he also says this I love this would get another name of the Lord in verse nine. Lord be their shepherd dealership. I love that you see some 28 is book and in verse one and #with these amazing powerful names of God. Verse 20 is the rock in verse nine, he's our shepherd. I think the point of that is this is that every name every attribute every characters we've seen so far in this Psalm basically is encapsulated perfectly in his idea of the Lord being our shepherd think with me. We think about what shepherd is what shepherd does comes a month.

Is it not someone was strong. Someone who is mighty someone who is at as firm a foundation as a rock. That's a protector a provider. That's what the Lord is and he is your shepherd future shepherd in your shepherd will carry. I don't know what you're walking through right now Rock Creek family. I know for some, it's probably a lot I know, I know you but no matter what it is your shepherd will carry Jesus right now in this moment is calling you use a condom.

The I will carry you. You can't do this on your own.

You can't come to me abide in me, I will carry you through. It might seem dark, it might seem hopeless. But Jesus your shepherd will carry you in my experience with that is often look like the Jesus that the shepherd carry me often looks and feels like the body of Christ carry me as I look back to our time and in in Anaheim and we were there three months, three months, my son fighting for his life is okay.

He's a miracle want to show you a current picture of of Kayla Baker. We got that there is all smiles as the fuse back. You got to hear right here you wanted your daddy share his story yacht. When I look back at the faithfulness of God. I think back of these moments were I was being carried carried by the shepherd. Think back of even the summit leadership.

When I found out the phone calls. The texts this it hey Matt, do not worry about a thing you you stay there you where you need to be with your wife be with your boys forever indebted to that many of you sent care packages countless scores and scores of get cordial when it's we get course like years following that, like it was just it was above and beyond, so, so, thank you even even picking and choosing the right hospital that the shepherd was carrots. We went to the only one in our vicinity there that night that had a NICU.

That's not random that's Providence.

That's the shepherd carrying me that the doctors who literally save my porous life. Dr. mature a doctor to you, Dr. Shaw, Dr. Tan, the nurses than Hearst's. They became my family nurse Judy nurse Suzanne nurse Marie nurse Amy man.

They encouraged us.

They love Donna state they pray for us. They wept with us and if your nurse thank you for what you do what you two matters.

It matters.

It really taught us. Remember, this was pre-covered pre-before someone aligned again, popping off in Sweden have a church home and so we knew for three much and we got a get plugged into a church, so we got connected with the church at Greenhills in La Habra, California and Pastor Jared and his wife Tiffany. We were strangers to them, but they came around this. They will love Donna same bought us into their home again were strangers to them brothers in Christ with strangers. They cooked his meals. They knew that there was no waking moment that either Kelly or myself were not with you to talk about having a pair in the most stressful season of our lives as it hey I know you don't really know us but hey don't want a date night.

We just take take our son taken for a night or so they they allowed us to go have dinner and we did what we do when we just rivers being so overwhelmed at the kindness after mercy after love. We were being carried by the shepherd. Some family who is the Lord right now calling you to help carry through their time of need someone in your small group is a someone in your serving team jettison like if you if you don't know people you have to get to know people. Christianity is in an individual sport is a team sport like we need like I need you, your church family needs you. God's grace Caleb. He's healthy, he's strong. He's the most amazing little kid ever resettling to the kids that all of them to Caleb is a miracle he really is bebop Sinnott Matt. That's great for you my story doesn't end that way I will have a happy ending. That's you, I just want to love to say I hear that and I see that the more importantly the Lord hears the Lord cease. I think some 20 has two lasting things to last things for us by means of how do we apply this number one is us.

Verse seven. Again, thank him.

Thank you, are you thankful for what the Lord is given you, saying, hey, thank him and blessed him because of her circumstance of St. thank you for blessing despite your circumstances. Cultivate cultivate this muscle of his giving thanks and giving praise to the Lord. Thank him. Secondly, is trust in him. My heart trusts re-trusting in the Lord to get you through. Or you trusting in your own strength. Use me as it is a litmus test that doesn't end well and badly.

If you're not relying on your shepherd to carry you, trusting him. Please trust in him, pleading with you carry glassy arts one encourages with the gospel of the money.

Some of us from that not not yet a believer will thank you for for listening to this message. I hope it stirs up with any questions. I love how Sally Lord Jones beautifully puts it, every story in the Bible whispers the name Jesus. I love them but with all due respect, Sally Psalm 28 does not whisper the name of Jesus.

It shouts the name of Jesus look at me here. Psalm 20 this is the gospel in Psalm 28 verse one on the night Jesus was betrayed Jesus called out to his father in the garden. Father, I need to need to go down to the pit on our behalf. Verse three Jesus was dragged away by the wicked.

He was hung on the cross between two thieves verse four. Instead of asking father what they deserve. His father forgive them for they know not what they do. Verse seven Jesus is our strength against sin. Romans five said that this was while we were week Christ saved saved Jesus as a strength against sin, believing that he's our shield that protects you from the curse of sin. Jesus healed his very body and on the cross body absorb blow after blow the sins of the world and the wrath of God poured help is the gospel is our saving refuge against the enemy of Santa gets the power the penalty of sin. Verse nine Jesus is the good Shepherd is the good Shepherd that willingly lays down his life for the sheep that are in risk is a good Shepherd that always hears what is she cry out to the good Shepherd.

The type for you church family believe in.

This could Shepherd believe that he loves believe that no matter what you're going through, carry, cry, how to have confidence and call others spread father thank thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your grace be with my brothers and sisters help them in their time of the Wetherington leader out of me. Would you be please be with him strength of them either.

She'll be there rock either provide or be the protector right now for the Nazis in the name of Jesus