The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake...1
This word for want speaks of not lacking, of need, decrease. Jesus said, "Look at the birds, they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.* If God takes care of the birds how much more will he take care of His children, these say "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Now, the birds do not sow and reap and he cares for them, they do not store up into a storehouse, and he cares for them. He provides for our needs, a need is that which is essential and very important. To be great in God is to be established in that which is essential and very important.
For God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.*
Rooted and built up in him, established by faith, just as you were taught, abounding in gratitude. See that none takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to tradition of men, according to elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ.*
Everlasting God
He makes me lie down in green pastures...
A principle of the kingdom of God, is that we put our trust in God and enter His rest. Rest comes in the things unseen, of faith, things that are very important. Confidence, assurance, trust, hope, this is what the Good Shepherd produces in his sheep. Contrast this with leadership of the world, it "lords" over its sheep, it uses fear of punishment, and other types of manipulation to control the sheep. A leader of Christ is a servant of all, he doesn't lord over or domineer over the sheep. A servant leader knows Christ, and this truth "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness" thus a servant leader facilitates others into truth. In this we see the concept of righteousness being sown in peace, the fruit of such leads His sheep into sanctification, which outcome is Life.
He leads me beside still waters...
One should be very fearful to work out their salvation, that they do not fail to enter into his rest. Oh, you say, I raised my hand, I went down to the altar, I was baptized, dunked in water... but I say do not put trust in these things, this is to be in a fearful place, one should not rest there. The greatest testimony one should have is of Spirit, who testifies we are God's children. The Spirit is Life through righteousness, and righteousness is a gift of the gospel, and as the gospel is sown in peace, so is the fruit of righteousness (which are elements of faith, quietness, rest, confidence..) In rest we are transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can discern the Spirit of truth (of power, love, and a sound mind) from the spirit of error (of fear, anxiousness, dread, condemnation, guilt, and shame).
He restores my soul;
It is a truth I have learned, to boldly approach Him, because in His presence my soul is restored. False religion would say you do not have the authority to approach him, or that you have to clean up first. John writes, when we abide in the words of Christ, we have fellowship with the Son and the Father, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. This is rest, this is the greatest glory, of fellowship with the Father. Before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed, "Abba Father! all things are possible for you, take away this cup from me..."* Abba Father is close in meaning to Daddy Father and speaks of an intimate relationship. So Jesus said Daddy Father take this cup from me. It was agape love and relationship that allowed Jesus to also say, nevertheless your will be done. To me fellowship is the main purpose of prayer, and fellowship as his children is that we know him intimately. If what we discern is of fear, it is a good sign that it is most likely not of the Spirit of God.
For you have not received a Spirit of slavery again to fear, but received a Spirit of adoption, in Him we cry out Abba Father!*
The Spirit is Life through righteousness, playing an important role in our growth. The Spirit draws all men to Christ, and for those who believe in Christ these are given the power to become children of God. The Spirit we receive is of power, love, and a sound mind, its goal is producing newness of Life, in which we find wholeness, and the fruit of gentleness, long-suffering, love, rest, peace, joy... The Spirit is of truth, as the Spirit guides us into all truth. The truth is Jesus, the Word, and all authority in the kingdom of God has been given to Jesus, so we see a purpose of the Spirit is to guide us into Jesus.* The Spirit doesn't contradict the purpose of God, as the sheep learn trust and rest in the presence of the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep, the Spirit is our helper in this purpose.
Sheep under another spirit would be fearful, not resting, not trusting. This is how the world manipulates through absolute authority, fear of punishment, guilt, shame... This type of leadership creates timidity and fear, and hides the truth. Instead of lifting up others it tears down, it bullies, it exalts or lords over others, it laughs when others fall... We are seeing the product of such an environment in this country, children shooting other children. The Spirit is of love and discipline, not of fear and condemnation, it doesn't create anxious sheep, who are always toiling, always fearful. This word for discipline speaks of discipline that demonstrates prudence and wisdom and though we read in the old testament fear was the beginning of wisdom, in the new it begins in Christ. This word discipline is derived from two words, "sound, safe" and "inner outlook." Truths we see in the discipline of God is rest and that it comes through inner change and restoration which comes in abiding in Jesus, the vine.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake...
The gospel is prepared or is sown in peace, and the fruit of the gospel is righteousness. Faith produces trust and rest. And we have the fruit of the Spirit, by which things there are no laws against, as it is not based on what we do or do not do, but on a faith active in love and on being a new creation. We can discern the true Church, which is under the Good Shepherd, from that of error by this very truth, a true church is at rest. It has as its strength the strength of God. A principle of the kingdom of God, is that we are diligent to enter His rest. For the body to be in a state without assurance and confidence of salvation, would be a terrible place. But this is the fate of many because many false teachings create fearfulness, anxious sheep, always toiling, never at rest. A shepherd is not fit to care for other sheep if he doesn't care for his own sheep. So we see again a contrasting difference between leadership of God and that of the world which toils for fame and fortune. Leadership that produces the opposite of trust and rest (fear, anxiety, strife, and toil) is not of God but of the world. Its purpose is self gain (fame, and fortune) though it may be hidden under teachings of sacrifice, duty, and serving, it is not of God.
Rooted and built up in him, established by faith, just as you were taught, abounding in gratitude. See that none takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to tradition of men, according to elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ.*
In my own life I have seen this truth, as essential, being established, rooted and built up in Christ. In the kingdom of God the things very important are not of this world, so often our heavenly Father takes away what we think is essential and important so that we are established in what is very important. If tithing, giving, serving, and sacrifice are made very important things, sacrificing the growth of the sheep, then the purpose is known to be of men, not for the glory of God. The glory of God exists in that we become like His Son, Jesus, thus we are Christians, like Christ, being transformed into the mature image of Christ, from glory to glory. This establishment is in a faith that is energized in love, one that reflects Christ in agape love that serves one another, lifting others up for the purpose of their growth, not causing little children to stumble. A firm foundation is established in Christ, our Rock, thus we abide in his words. The Church builds up in faith, being root and grounded in love. To be blessed is to be established in what is important, in the spiritual blessings; of adoption, redemption, and the forgiveness of sin. The fruit or the outcome of experiencing these blessings, is to be grateful, full of thanksgiving. To be established in these is to be Great in the kingdom of God.