The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Will Fear No Coronavirus — Aaron Hurst

A lot of privilege and opportunity to sing with hearts full of assurance because Jesus lives. Amen. Well, we're doing something new here this morning. And doing a live stream with just a very few people in attendance here.

And I've never done this before. I've done a lot of different things. I've had opportunity to preach with interpreters. I've had opportunity to preach in prisons and on the street corners. But I don't believe I ever shared a message with an empty building almost.

So thank you for those that are here, just a few. And welcome to all those on the live stream and on the phone line. Good morning to you. Good morning. All right. Let's pray. Father, we come in Jesus' name.

And we thank you for the blessed assurance that we have in Christ. Thank you, Lord God, that you are seated upon your throne. And you are sovereign master of the universe. And we can trust you in these uncertain days.

Because Jesus lives and is seated at your right hand interceding for us. What a precious truth. Father, today we just invite you to speak into our hearts your words of life. And bring a blessing to each one who is listening in.

Oh, Father, we need you. We love you. And we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. All right. I have a title on the board here. I don't know if you can see it or not. It's the Lord is my shepherd. I will fear no coronavirus.

Psalm 23 and the Lord as Shepherd

Meaning, I will fear no evil is what Psalm 23 tells us. But I thought with the whole matter of what we're facing as a nation and as a world. We will take a look at Psalm 23 this morning to encourage our hearts in the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd. I will fear no evil coronavirus. Now that doesn't mean that we take it lightly. Or we just think like we're on this vacation. Or this time to just seek my own pleasure. Do my own thing.

But rather, it's a time for the children and the people of God to seek the Lord. So we'll walk through Psalm 23. Turn there with me if you would. Very familiar scripture. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord is my shepherd. Who is the Lord in Psalm 24 and verse 7? Lift up your heads, O ye gates. And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors. And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors. And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts. He is the King of glory. This is a description of the Lord who is my shepherd. He is the Lord of hosts. He is the strong and mighty one. He is mighty in battle. He is the King of glory.

This Lord is my shepherd. Know ye that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. What a consolation. We didn't make ourselves.

We didn't bring ourselves into this world. We are not our own gods. We are the Lord's people. We are His people. And we are the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100, verse 3. My shepherd. Yes. This Lord, King of glory is my shepherd.

Isaiah 40, 11. He will tend His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in His arms. He will carry them in His bosom. He will gently lead those that are with young. The Lord, He is my shepherd.

He tends His flock like a shepherd. And He gathers the lambs in His arms. He carries them in His bosom close to His heart. There in His arms protected from the evil and the disconcerting things around us.

Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd

Carried in His bosom. And He gently leads those that are with young. This is my shepherd. The Lord, the King of glory. In John chapter 10, the Lord Jesus says, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Jesus is our shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. John 10, verse 11. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep. Oh, the love of God for His people. That Jesus Christ came from the glories of heaven to lay down His life for us.

That we might be the sheep of His pasture. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Matthew 6, verse 31. Therefore do not be anxious saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear?

For the Gentiles seek after all these things. And your heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added to you.

I shall not want. I shall not lack any good thing. God will not withhold any good thing from His people. Philippians 4, verse 19. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, we have the promise from the Lord Almighty God, our Shepherd, that we shall not want any good thing. Because He is with us and He will supply all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Rest, Provision, and the Shepherd's Care

He makes me to lie down in green pastures and He leadeth me beside the still waters. Oh, what a beautiful picture of rest and tranquility, quietness and peace in the midst of the storms, in the midst of uncertainty.

The Lord, my Shepherd, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He causes me to lie down in rest. Oh, you who are weary, you who are heavy laden, you who are anxious or worried, come to Jesus the Good Shepherd and cast all your care on Him for He careth for you.

And receive His invitation to come unto Him for He's meek and lowly. And He will cause you to lie down in green pastures. Ezekiel 34 speaks of the prophecy of Messiah that when He comes, Ezekiel 34, verse 14, I will feed them with good pasture and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land.

There they shall lie down in good grazing land and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. And then He says these amazing words, I Myself will be the Shepherd of My sheep and I Myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.

This is a prophecy of Messiah coming. This is a prophecy of when Jesus comes. And Jesus very clearly spoke that He is the Good Shepherd. I am the Good Shepherd and I know My sheep and I am knowing of Mine.

John 10, verse 14. Not only does Jesus know us, but we know Him if we are born again by the Spirit of God and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus knows us. He calls His sheep by name. He goes before His sheep.

And He not only is our Shepherd, but He says, I have such a shepherd-sheep relationship that I am knowing of Mine. So we know the Good Shepherd. We don't follow a stranger because we don't know His voice, but we know the voice of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Restoration and Guidance Through God's Presence

He makes me to lie down in green pastures and He leads me beside still waters. The Hebrew there has the meaning of beside waters of rest. Still waters. They're not rushing wildly and madly down a ravine, but they're still waters where you have quietness and confidence and where we can drink deeply of our Lord Jesus by those still waters.

He restoreth my soul and He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake. He restores my soul. He refreshes me when I'm weary. He renews my strength when I'm tired. He restores me. He renews my vision when it becomes a bit clouded and anxious or fearful.

He restores me. He brings me into restoration with Him. He restores my soul. And He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake. Beautiful picture of our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus. He leadeth me.

Oh, blessed thought. He leadeth me. Psalm 139, verses 7 to 10. Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold me. What a consolation. What a comfort to the people of God that no matter where we are, even there, God's hand leads me and His right hand holds me.

And no man is able to pluck us out of the Father's hand. Psalm 31 .3. For You are my rock and my fortress and for Your name's sake You lead me and guide me. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.

Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. No matter what we're facing in life, no matter how deep the valley or how dark the night, in the shadow of the valley of death, in the darkest valley, the most difficult trial of your life.

You know, we do not know. We do not know how serious this coronavirus might get here among us. We just don't know. But we know our shepherd. We know our God who holds the future. No matter what lies before us, the Lord is my shepherd.

Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I need not fear because Thou art with me. God is with me. Jesus is with me. The Holy Spirit is within me. I will fear no evil. I fear no danger.

I am not afraid because God is with me. My shepherd is with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Psalm 27 verse 1,. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life.

Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, come upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion.

In the secret of His tapernacle, shall He hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock. The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life. Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?

I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thou art with me. The Lord, my Shepherd, is with me. Isaiah 43 verse 2,. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Nothing can separate us from our Savior. Tribulation, persecution, pestilences, wars, persecutions.

Jesus said, Not a hair of your head shall perish. That doesn't mean, that I won't suffer. That doesn't mean, that a deceased might someday take this life of mine. Doesn't mean that. But it means, that Jesus, my Shepherd, and the love of my Heavenly Father, is with me.

And when I go through the fire, He didn't say you're not going to go through the fire, but He said when you go through the fire, and through the floods, I will be with you. Jesus said, Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body.

But afterward, they have no more that they can do. You know? Because we are secure in the love of our Lord Jesus and the Good Shepherd. Thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thy rod is my protection.

Your staff, you guide me. There I am secure. The Lord is my Shepherd. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Thou preparest a table before me.

All that we need that pertains to life and godliness, God has provided for us through Jesus Christ. Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and work for those who take refuge in you.

In the cover of your presence, you hide them from the plots of men. You hide them in your shelter. Thou anointest my head with oil. Beautiful picture of the care of our Shepherd. The anointing oil upon my head.

Psalm 92 .10, but my horn shall thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn. I shall be anointed with fresh oil. I am anointed with fresh oil for your service. Every day let us seek the Lord. Every day a fresh anointing from God.

And my cup runneth over. My cup runneth over. It's overflowing. It's super abundant. Not lacking. Not wanting. Not a stingy supply, but an abundant supply. And my cup runneth over. The Lord is my chosen, the portion and my cup.

Psalm 16, verse 5. The Lord is my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places indeed. I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel in the night. Also my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices and my flesh dwells secure. The Lord is my Shepherd.

Redeeming Uncertain Times for God's Kingdom

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now I'd like to maybe speak of a few practical encouragements to my dear brothers and sisters.

Practical encouragements for a time as this. Can God make all things work together for good for His children in times like these? You know, God is up to something. There is a purpose. There is a plan.

And I want to encourage us to respond in faith and to redeem this time, to seize this moment for the advancement of the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. Have you ever said or thought, I wish I had more time.

I wish I had more time to spend with God. I wish I could take a season alone with God. Just draw a side. Well, maybe God is giving us some of that time. Governor Wolf has shut down all non-essential businesses that do not pertain to production of food and grocery stores and such like.

And so where I work, no work next week. And at this point it looks like two weeks. What will happen at the end of two weeks, we don't know. But all non-essential businesses are shut down. So I don't know how many of you are going to be off of work next week.

But I want to encourage us in a few practical things. Number one, seek ye the Lord. Seek you the Lord. You seek the Lord. Redeem this time. Don't let it slip away. Seize the moment. Don't get alone with God.

Quiet your heart. And listen. Listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to the churches. What is the Spirit of God saying to the churches in America? Will the churches in America hear the voice of God and repent?

Or will they say, I am fat and full and in need of nothing? Brother, sister, we need to hear what the Lord is saying to the church. What is the Lord saying to the church at Charity Christian Fellowship?

What good things does God want to do in our lives, in my life, here at Charity Christian Fellowship? I want to encourage us to get alone with God and quiet our hearts and listen. I wish I had more time.

Hear what God has to say. Redeem this time. Buy it up. Don't let it slip away. And when you hear His voice, don't harden your heart. Don't lie against the truth of what God is speaking. Repent where you need to repent.

Embrace the goodness of God because it's the goodness of God that leadeth us to repentance. Repent. Turn around. Change your mind. Change course. And do it in faith, believing God. And obey what the Lord has shown you.

Reading Scripture and Drawing Near to God

If I only had more time to read the Scriptures, I want to encourage you, get into the Word of God. And let the Word of God get into you and renew your mind. Faith comes by hearing of the Word of God. Let your faith be strengthened.

The Bible, for it is God's Word. Read the Bible. You know, it only takes 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the entire Bible. 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the Bible in a comfortable pace. You don't have to be auctioneering to get it done.

You just read in a normal pace. 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the entire Bible. 18 hours and 20 minutes to read the entire New Testament. You know, it's just some practical encouragement to us. Read the Bible.

Get into the Word of God. And saturate yourself with the Word of God. And get a clear vision of your purpose in life. Your calling in life. Number one, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And cleanse your hands and purify your hearts.

Loving and Leading the Family

Number two, love and care for people. Invest in the people that you love. Number one, your spouse, husband. Love your wife. Wife, love your husband. Invest in the people nearest you. Daddies and mommas, love your children.

You know, daddy, maybe you're home from work this week. Maybe your work continues. But for some, I know, you're home from work this week. I want to encourage you as the head of your home, examine the state of your flock.

You know, you're not there many times. You don't see exactly what's happening in the daily operations when you're not there. But I want to encourage you, daddy, invest in your family. And examine the state of your flock.

What is the health of your children? Ask God to expose needs, wrong attitudes, selfishness, pride, arrogancy, disobedience, rebellion. Ask God to reveal the true nature and state of your flock, your children.

And lead your family in repentance by first of all, yourself, myself, be an example of me repenting before God. Lead your family in repentance. Lead them in restoration and forgiveness and healing of relationships that your family may come out strong.

Using Technology to Encourage Others

Redeem this time. Do not let it slip. Number three. Use tech. Number three. Use tech. Wisely to connect, to exhort, to encourage. How can we connect? Quite a few of us have tech where we can connect. We can make a phone call.

We can pray for one another and send a text message or a WhatsApp or a social media post or whatever and say, Brother, I want you to know I'm praying for you. I am encouraging you and your family. Let me know how I can pray for you.

Use tech to connect with the people of God, to exhort the people of God. Well, what's the world going to do with the coronavirus and being home? It's time to watch all those movies that I never got to watch.

That's what the world is saying. They're saying, Hey, listen, if you're isolated in your home and you can't go to work, I mean, don't just become depressed. Come on. We're actually going to make movies available for free so you don't get bored and so you don't become depressed.

Come on. Binge watch. Just watch all the movies you want and turn up the music and be entertained. Oh, God has something better for us. Plug into God. Connect with your Heavenly Father. Connect with your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Connect with your family, with your children, with your spouse, and connect with your neighbor. Connect with that person who's afraid of the coronavirus and they're afraid they might die. This is an opportunity, brother, sister, to share the love of Christ Jesus.

This is an opportunity for the Gospel to make advance. Ah, I heard some testimonies of some people who met folks at the store and oh, they were sort of scared and anxious and worried. And you know, the Christian is just secure and at rest in Christ Jesus and smiling and joyful in the midst of trials and testings.

And you can share the Gospel. You can share the love of Christ. Why aren't you afraid? Oh, it's because I have a Shepherd. I have a Savior. I have an Almighty God Who holds the world in His hands. And He's way bigger than coronavirus.

Rejecting False Comfort and Fearing Sin More Than Disease

He's way bigger than anything I could ever face. And I am secure in Him. So I give us an admonition. Avoid the false comforters. Don't let that robber, that thief steal the moment. You know what it is for you.

What do you turn to when you need some encouragement or some stimulation? Getting bored? Look this up. Look that up. Watch that. Hear that. Do this. I urge us, don't waste. And I'm talking to myself as well.

What false comforters do you turn to? Where will you turn? With extra time on your hands, where will you turn? What will you do with that time? What will I do with that time? Where will I turn? To what will I turn?

A lot of people are glued to the tube with all the news of the coronavirus. How it's gaining here. Now there's new cases here. And I'm not saying we should be totally in the dark about those things. But I tell myself, Aaron, don't waste your time on the news.

Be very conscious about it. I started at this time to check out the news on the coronavirus or world events, what's happening in Israel, in Iran, in the Lesbos and wherever, the refugee crisis. News for a right purpose.

But don't waste your time. Set yourself a timer. Do it intentionally. We need to be intentional or it will just tend to or could slip away. One of the things that most of us shared or a lot of us shared, I don't know what the percentage was, but it was pretty high, in our men's retreat was an area of need is that I tend to waste time on my tech.

Maybe I'm not into porn or anything evil and wicked, but just a time waster. It's sort of, you know, the curiosity to see what's going on and look at this funny thing and look at that funny thing. And you know, right now, things are pretty calm here.

Things don't really look that serious. But you and I don't know. Will Charity Christian Fellowship have a funeral out of this coronavirus? I don't know. Could be my funeral. Could be me. It could be you.

Right now, the people are just sort of in a party mode. Vacation. That is wonderful. Got off of work, you know. Ha ha. Well, you might not be laughing. I don't know what's going on in a month from now or two weeks from now.

I don't know. I'm not here to try to scare anyone because my life is secure in the Lord. And if you're saved, you have nothing to fear. But if you're unsaved, I urge you, seek the Lord. Turn to God. The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want. The Lord is my shepherd. I will fear no evil coronavirus. Clothing thought, you know, the coronavirus is a major event across the global world and a lot of attention is being put on it.

But I do want to tell you this morning, there's something else we should fear more than the coronavirus and that is sin in my life. The coronavirus can kill people but sin can destroy you and take you to hell.

So dear brother, sister, be not afraid. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is my shepherd. Father, I pray for this congregation. I ask in the name of the Lord Jesus for your blessing and your anointing to be upon my dear brothers and sisters.

Closing Prayer and Benediction

I ask that you shelter us under your mighty hand and arm from every evil. Father, that we may be of those who have our robes washed in white in the precious blood of the Lamb that when you call us into your presence unto yourself, we are prepared.

We love you, Lord, I pray. Peace, comfort, and blessing upon each family, each home, each person in the precious, lovely name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you for listening. We hope this message has blessed you.

If you would like additional messages, please visit our website at ccfsermons .org. Call us at 855 -55-CHARITY or write to us at Charity Christian Fellowship 59 South Groffdale Road, Leola, PA 17540.

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