# He Leads in Paths of Righteousness

Key Passage: Psalm 23:3
Date: June 7, 2024

Amen. She did a great job, and I thought she’s very pretty why I was doing it also. I appreciate it. She’s been busy with nursing school. Hasn’t got to sing much this year. I enjoyed that. Appreciate it very, very much. Turn your Bibles to Psalms, chapter number 23, if you would please. By the way, she had visitors from her nursing school class this morning. And they drove about an hour to be here this morning. And pray for that. I’m very proud of her. She’s being a good testimony there.

Psalm 23 may be the most—I’m sure it’d be the most popular psalm there is. Very often if you go to a funeral and you get a little pamphlet they give you, on the back of it, you’ll find Psalms 23. It’s by far the most familiar Psalm. There is the Shepherd’s Psalm.

I learned so much more about this psalm when I read a book by an actual shepherd. And we’ve had a sheep. Most of you know we had a sheep when Sarah was a little girl; she bought a little lamb, and it grew up. We had the sheep Snowball for about a year or so. Way back when we first moved in, there was shag carpet here.

We were about to change carpet. Before we got the new carpet, I brought Snowball in. Some of you were here for that. But we made sure we did it before we got the new carpet and used you as the illustration. It’s amazing what all you can learn just from being around sheep. And the Bible talks about His people are sheep. And we want to look at this Psalm, just a little phrase out of it tonight. Psalm 23. Would you please stand out of respect for the Word of God? Psalm 23.

And verse number one, we’ll read through verse number three. Verse number three is really the verse we’re going to focus on. If you don’t have a Bible, there’s one of those chairs in front; there will be a Bible there. We want everybody to just tune in and listen to the message tonight. Let God speak to your heart. In Psalms 23, we’re going to start verse number one, and we’ll read it.

I’ll tell you what, let’s read verse number three together, if you would. I’ll start verse number one: “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.” Together, if you would, please: “He restores my soul. He leadeth in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Would you pray with me that the Lord work in our hearts tonight? Lord, we do come.

It is a blessing. You’ve been good to us today already. Thank you for it. My Lord, we come to this evening service. Lord, I just believe every service. I know it’s important, Lord. And Lord, I pray that we just don’t kind of get through it to get to the fellowship, but, Lord, You speak to every individual here tonight. Lord, it just seems like a diverse need tonight. And I can’t meet all the needs, but I know You can. I pray You would. And Lord, would You speak to every person, Lord? Lord, I’m burdened, Father. I would hate it if one left and they’re not going to heaven. And Lord, so I pray that none here tonight will go to hell but end up saying they are going to heaven, everyone here, Lord. And Your people, would You do work in their hearts? Oh, would You meet all the needs, Father, please? And we’ll thank You for what You do, Lord. And Father, I’m asking in faith because of Jesus. It’s in His name we pray, Jesus. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

Don’t you just notice that phrase at the beginning of verse number three: “He restores my soul.” Most shepherds—people that have actually had sheep and they’re kind of sheep farmers—they tend to think that the Lord there is talking about when a sheep gets what they’re called cast. That’s when a sheep, for different reasons, will roll over on its back, and when it does, it can’t get up. Look up, everybody, look up, listen up. Maybe because the wool on the sheep has never been sheared, and it gets real big. And boy, that wool gets thick, maybe gets wet and it gets heavy, maybe it gets dirty and just very heavy. So when that sheep is laying down or something, it’ll roll over; it’s on its back, and with all that weight, it can’t get up. And that sheep will actually, if it can’t get up on its own, the wolf will still come get it, or it’ll just lay there till it dies. That sheep can just kick its legs, but it’s going to die.

Maybe that sheep is laying close to a rut, maybe behind us, laying down, you know, and it kind of rolls over, and its back—its backbone, if you will—is in that rut, and it’ll try to get up, and it can’t get up, and actually that sheep will die unless the shepherd… A good shepherd always comes out, and He’s always got His eyes looking out for the sheep. By the way, praise the Lord, we’ve got a good shepherd if you’re saved. But the shepherd will actually have to go over there where that sheep is. And they say often that shepherd will straddle that sheep, and they’ll just have to reach down there. That sheep can’t get up, and the shepherd will have to pick that sheep up and put it on its legs.

I’m glad there have been many times in my life—maybe you’re just so… maybe you’ve backslid so far, maybe you’re hurt and wounded so much—you just feel like, “I can’t heal myself. I can’t get up out of this thing. It’s just greater than me.” And praise the Lord, the Lord restores His sheep’s soul. “He restores my soul.” That’s what it’s talking about. And there’s going to be times if you live for the Lord over the long haul that you just feel like it’s just greater than I have the ability to handle. But I’m so glad your shepherd, He restores my soul.

And by the way, if you let Him be your shepherd, He’s always out there looking. I mean, He’s the good and the great and the Chief Shepherd, and He’s always looking out. He’s looking just: How is His sheep doing? If you’re one of His sheep, He’s always got His eye on you, and He’s always looking. And when you just get wounded to the point you can’t get up, hey, praise the Lord, He’ll be there. He’s always there. It may take some process of time, and He comes along and He straddles His sheep, and He lifts you up and He puts you back on your feet. I’m so glad that our shepherd restores. He restores my soul.

Now, it’s interesting that after He does that—I like that—after He restores my soul, here’s the phrase I really believe the Lord wants us to focus on. The next part of that: He restores my soul. In verse number three, if you just look at that verse number three, then He says, “He leadeth me in paths of righteousness.”

Now, I like it. He restores us first. Can I say this about that? There are going to be times. I spoke with someone this morning, great people. They’ve been going through a difficult time. I know a little bit about it. I said, “How are you doing?” And they said, “Well, we’re making it.” And there are going to be times it’s just like all you can do is wait for the shepherd to pick you up. And it’s pretty much all you can do is put one foot in front of the other. But can I encourage you: just keep stepping. Just don’t throw in the towel. Don’t give it up. Don’t say, “Well, I can’t do this Christian thing.” Just keep stepping. And He restores the sheep, and then He leads him. And in this time, He comes along and begins to lead. Now, I love it that He leadeth me.

Sometimes we as Christians, sometimes out of good motives, make a mistake: we spend so much energy trying to lead ourselves. Trying to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it, how we’re going to be used by God, and how we’re going to change this person, and all these things. And here’s the truth: He leads. He leads. I don’t have to spend all my energy, and we can get so worrisome about trying to figure out what to do. Hey, friend, He’ll lead. He leads in paths of righteousness. And sometimes you hang on, and you just wait; in His time, He’ll lead.

Sometimes we’re right in the middle of it. We can’t figure it all out. We’re just trying to reach and grab for everything in the world, trying to figure it all out. And God said, “Hey, I’ll lead when I’m ready. I’ll lead you, though. Just be patient. It’s okay.” He leadeth. I’m so glad our shepherd, He leads.

I was thinking about a time I was about to make a pretty big decision in our church. I was about to call someone to ask them for something and to do something, whatnot. About the time I made that decision, I went to reach for the phone. The phone rang. And that phone call just added so much light into the situation. I was about to make a bad mistake. He leads. When it comes time, He always leads. He leadeth.

I thought about—while studying for this message—I thought about years ago, we were looking for land and we almost bought some land in La Verne. We were going to build over there, and it was in a floodplain issue. That day the city had said, “Hey, I don’t think—we’re not going to guarantee,” is what they said, “that you can build there.” Maybe you can; maybe we can’t. Well, we don’t want to buy land like that. And so it was a no. That afternoon, I was just kind of perplexed. That afternoon, I went back to the office over there in one of the old buildings. That afternoon, Brother Dillon called. He said, “Hey, how about y’all maybe one day come over here and join up, whatnot?” And the Lord led just what we needed, and He used Brother Dillon to do that. But He leads. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name. He always leads.

There’s an interesting thing about sheep. They say sheep need to be on the move. If a sheep stays in the same pasture very long, they just tear the land up. They will eat the grass down to the root. And then sometimes—I read his book—he said sometimes sheep get so desperate with their hoofs that they even dig the root of the grass up, where the land is just ruined for years. If the sheep stay in the same pasture for a long time, they’re just creatures of habit; they’ll run ruts all in there, and they’ll just be torn apart. And then, you know, sheep produce fertilizer you don’t want to talk about, but that fertilizer can do damage to the land if there’s a lot of it, and parasites and disease come on that land. And so shepherds who are actually shepherds—he said his biggest success was that he always tried to watch when they needed to be moved, and they need to be moved quite often around that pasture. He said that he had bought a farm, a sheep farm, and the fellow before him, actually the owner, had ruined it. He said he just left the sheep, kind of left them on the lawn, and man, they just ruined the field. You’ve got to continually move them to new pastures.

Now here’s the good thing: our shepherd, He’s always looking when we need to be moved. I’m not necessarily talking about physical location, spiritually. My prayer time, my children and young—child rearing, soul winning, witnessing to people—maybe the way or where I’m ministering at. God leads us. We get where we don’t like change. Sometimes, friend, we need change. I’m not talking about as far as the church going contemporary, world, all that. No, no, we’re not going to do that. I’m talking about sometimes we just get stuck in ruts. Maybe your marriage needs that time, time, a little change. But He leads. He leads in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Be careful when you get stuck in ruts and you just don’t want to move. “Lord, I’m just not going to do that.” You’re probably going to ruin your pasture there. He leads in paths of righteousness.

Can I say this? Hold on to the things that God gives you with an open hand. God gives you something to do, or He gives you even possessions. Hold those things with an open hand. “Lord, any time You want, that’s Yours.”

I’m talking about everything. You teach a Sunday school class? Lord, thank You for giving the privilege to do that. But that’s your class. Do you have a car, or like us old boys, well, you got a truck? Even your truck, hold it with an open hand. Your job? Hold it with an open hand. Can I say this: even the most precious thing, our children? The best thing you can do is give those children to the Lord. The things that God gives you, say, “Lord, thank You. I realize they’re from You, and I’m going to hold them with an open hand. And if You want to lead me, I’m all right with that.”

I thought about Brother Marley and Ms. Stacy back there in the back. They’re supposed to be doing the PA system. I think they’re watching football back there. I’m not sure, you know. But praise the Lord, Brother Marley and Ms. Stacey, they’ve told them more than once that this place is special, man. I mean, you know, we got saved here. And we like—we’re happy, right, wherever we’re at, Brother of the County of Baptist. We like this church. This is where God changed our life and all that. I’m thrilled about all that. They’ve said more than once, they said, “But we realize God’s leading us. We’re all right with that. We love this place right here, but we’re excited about going over there and building over there.” He leads me in paths of righteousness. As much as I hate to see Brother Jim Mistara leaving the Shanks and Cooper—Cooper’s my buddy with the cowboy boots, man—I hate to see him go, but He leads.

And it’s good, it’s healthy for sheep to be moved. I’m not talking about moving churches and all this stuff. I mean, God leads to the ministry, but I’m just talking about God leads, and He leads. By the way, it’s not just talking about it one time deal. It says, “He leads me in paths”—that’s plural. He leads me in paths. Never a sinful path. He leads me in paths of righteousness. Paths, plural. You might be at the gas station, pumping the gas, and the Lord will lead you down that path of righteousness and go over and give that person a tract, a gospel tract. He’s always leading, though. He might be leading you to your neighbors in the hospital; go visit them in the hospital, minister to them a little bit. He leads in so many different ways, but if you’re a sheep, He’ll always be leading you in paths, plural, paths of righteousness. He leads.

Now here’s the good thing, friend. I like this as a comfort here. I like this part here: All I have to do is follow. Sometimes, well, I need to be this great leader. I’m far from that, but I’m learning. I don’t have to be all that; all that has to be is a great follower. And I like to be the husband and the dad and the man that ought to be. Hey, it’s not about all you leading. If you become a great follower of Jesus Christ, He’ll take care of that. He leads. Boy, I like to be a great mom to my children, and I like to influence them—for all these are great desires. Hey, what do you do? Work real hard at being a great follower of Jesus. He’ll lead.

Friends, sometimes we put so much on ourselves that God’s not putting on us. And we’re not bearing His yoke, or bearing our yoke. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He’ll lead, and all I have to do is follow. You say, “I want God to bless my ministry, and I want to learn to follow real closely to Jesus.” He’ll take care of all that. He’s the one that brings the increase. He leads. My job is just to follow, just to hang on, be very, very close. Can I just say it this way? Put all your energy into following Him. He leads.

Can I say this? If I’m going to follow where He leads, there’s going to have to be some self-denial. I’m going to have to say sometimes it’s my will versus His will, and I’m going to have to deny myself and follow Him. Look, if you will, it’s Matthew 16, Matthew 16. We won’t be long tonight. But Matthew 16, look in verse number 24; you’ll know the verse. Matthew 16:24. “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” That’s my job: to follow Him. I don’t have to be all this leader; I’ve got to be a great follower. If we become great followers, God takes care of the rest.

He leads; that’s His job. My job is to follow. You find someone that’s just hot after the trail of the Lord and they want to follow every step and every move and every implication He gives. You find someone like that, and God will be used, and God will be working in and through their life. Just following is the key. Following the Lord. I don’t have to deny myself and take up my cross. I’ll have a cross today. Something else about following: He leads. All I have to do is follow, but if I’m following as I ought to, I’ll be a fisher of men.

You know the verse, Matthew 4:19: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Now, let’s be honest, I’m not a real good fisherman. Come on now, no. Every time I go fishing, I don’t catch fish, friends. In fact, if I go on my own, very rarely do I catch fish. And praise the Lord, Brother Fontaineau takes me fishing every once in a while. And he’ll have everything set. I think he must put fish down there, you know, that he’s all right. “Y’all wait until Pastor Paul comes and you bite the hook,” you know. I’ll catch then, you know. He’s got everything set up. But I’m not a great fisherman.

And my wife—now, I’m the kind of guy: If I’m going out fishing, all right, if we’re catching, let’s stay. It’s a good deal. If we’re not catching, let’s go home. Too much to do down there, you know. I can go home and relax better at home; it’s air-conditioned and heated, you know. She’ll stay all day long. But if I’m going to be a fisher of men, I might not catch all the time—it doesn’t say that—but I’ll be fishing. I’ll be casting out there, whether it’s a net or a reeling rod or live bait or a vibrating lure or whatever it is, but I’ll be fishing.

He leads. If I’m following as I ought to, I’ll be fishing some way. I’ll be after souls. None of us catch as much as we want. He brings the increase, but I’ll be fishing. You’ll go through times. You feel like, man, nothing’s biting today. Anybody ever been there? What in the world? Where did all the fish go? “I think all the fish are gone out of this lake.” You know, you’ve been there before. “There ain’t no fish in this lake here,” you know. And then that guy down there is catching them left and right. You say, “Dirty Bigger, back, or slider, what’s going on? This ain’t right,” you know. You don’t go shoot the fellow. But you’ll be fishing. If I’m following, I’ll be fishing some way. I’ll be casting. It may be gospel tracts. It may be my coworker. It may be at Thanksgiving to a relative God’s burdened me about. Maybe my next-door neighbor. It may be out on Saturday door hanging. It may be Saturday when we go door to door, so on. But somewhere, some way, somewhere along the line, I’ll be fishing. I’ll be casting if I’m following Him. He’ll make you fishers of men. He leads. It’s such a blessing to me. I don’t have to lead and all that; I got to follow. Nobody’s really said this, but if somebody thinks, “Well, you’re a good leader. Lead the people in the church built over there and buy that land and all that”—I’m not doing anything. I’m just following. That’s what God called us to do. He’ll lead. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Now here’s a wonderful thing about it. Look at that next verse over there in Psalm 23. Back over there. Look at that next verse: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou wert with me.” Here’s the thing: those that follow, you get to be close to Him. Nothing quite like being close to Him. He leads in paths of righteousness. Yes, there are going to be some difficult times, the valley of the shadow of death. You don’t have to fear because you get to be close to Him when you follow Him.

I mean, it’s wonderful that when I follow—by the talking about soul, and He—that’s when He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” That’s for those that are going. An old preacher used to preach—he used to say, “No go, no low.” Lo, I am with you. But when I follow, there’s—I get to be close to Him. Brother John has said this before, and I won’t be wise about it, but he said things along this line. He said, “You know, I just like it anytime I get to be on the pulpit, leading singing, whatever. You know, I like to sometimes be on the pulpit with Dad. I like to be close to it.” And I’m thankful for that. I’m not a great dad or all that; I’m just thankful for that. But that’s a little bit like that with God. You just follow, and you can be close to Him. Being close to God is like nothing else in all the world.

And He’ll lead. All I have to do is just follow. You know that song. It’s a great song: “Where He leads me, I will follow.” Can you sing that? Sincerely, do you mean that? “Where He leads me, I will follow.” That’s all you have to do. It’s not as hard sometimes as the devil makes us think it is. Just got to follow. He leads in paths of righteousness. Here’s the interesting thing: For His name’s sake. It’s all about Him. If I’m following, it won’t be all about me; it’ll be all about Him. Here’s the thing: When you see His name promoted in people’s lives, they’re turning to the Lord. Or you see this old world, His name is promoted out there. Man, that’s just something about it. That’s special. Man, the Lord’s name! People are turning to the Lord. Miss Tammy saying tonight, people need the Lord. You see the people just getting close to the Lord. That’s what it’s all about right there: for His name’s sake.

After this follow… Sheep are funny. We had Snowball for a while, and Snowball was our pet. She was our sheep, you know, and we didn’t have a farm; we just had one sheep. And it’s funny. The kids were little then, and they’d be out in the side yard playing kickball or something. And Snowball, if she was out there, she’d make in good moods. They like to butt, you know. And I still remember kids in the neighborhood would be over there, and they kicked the ball. They tried to run the first base. And Snowball, she was out, and she was a good butt. She would go over there, and she butted them. Now, she was trying to play with them, but she’d knock those kids down. And I remember the kids saying, “Man, can you put the sheep up so we can play kickball?” you know. Every time we get a good run, she’s knocking us down, you know. And they butt, and then literally—I’m too old and fat—but literally they jump up and they click their heels. They really do when they’re in a good mood. I remember saying Snowball when she was in a good mood. It’s just odd to see it. I mean, just boom! All of a sudden, she’d jump up and click her heels.

And the shepherd—I read his book, a great book—he said he remembers when some of his pastures had gates. And when he led them into a new pasture, he had opened the gate. And those sheep, he said, man, he said they would love it because they know they’re going to a new field. There’s going to be some green, luscious grass, good feeding. And he said, even the old ewes, the old moms, the older sheep—he said, “I’ve seen them, old moms, when they’re coming in that gate into the new field.” He said, “I’ve seen them, old sheep, just jump up and click their heels because they’re coming to new pastures.” Oh, you follow. He’ll lead you places you never dream you get to go. You see God work, and you see the fields that He gets you to go into and feed on, and God working, and His name is promoted. And I tell you what, it’ll make you click your heels up like nothing else. The good thing is He leads. All we have to do is follow.

Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please, tonight? You’re there and you say, “Preacher, I want to follow. I sincerely mean this: where He leads me, I will follow.” Maybe just a testimony between you and the Lord. “Preacher, where He leads, I will follow.” That’s you. That’s my heart. That’s me. Would you slip behind the preacher? Just put me in the Lord where He leads. “I will follow.” Lord, I’ll follow. Would you let Him know that? God bless you. Many, many hands. Many, many hands. That’s right. That’s right. Oh, it’s a wonderful way to live. Wonderful way to live. Thank you so very much. You may put your hands down.

Maybe you’re here tonight. You say, “Preacher, I’ve been spending too much energy trying to figure out where to go and how to go and leading.” And God just kind of spoke to my heart: I need to just work on following. And I know He’ll lead me in His time, and I’m just going to focus my energy on following. God spoke to my heart about that. I’ve been too focused on all the leading out and figuring it all out, and I’m just going to follow. I’m going to trust Him. I’m going to follow. God spoke to my heart about that tonight. If that’s you, you slip your hand up—slip your hand up—and say, “I’m going to just focus on following.” God bless you. I’m there so many times, so many times. Maybe preaching to myself more than anybody. God bless you. Thank you. Thank you so very much. You put your hands down.

Maybe here tonight you say, “Preacher, there’s an area that I’m not yielded. I’m not following on. I know He’s tried to lead me several times; I’m not following.” Maybe it’s a clear step of growth in your Christian life. Maybe it’s reading your Bible. I don’t know what it might be. I know God’s tried to lead me there, but I’ve not followed. Tonight I’m yielding. I’m letting Him know I’m going to follow in that specific area. God spoke to me about it. Anybody like that tonight? Is there a specific area? “I’m going to follow.” God bless you. God bless you. Anybody else? Is there a specific area? God bless you. There’s an area I know He’s tried to lead me; I’m going to yield tonight. God bless you. Would there be maybe one more? God is touching your heart. There’s an area I need to follow. Anybody else? God bless you. God bless you. That’s wonderful. Thank you so very much. You can put your hands down.

Let me talk to you for just a moment. If you’re not sure you’re going to heaven, if you’re not sure He’s your shepherd—friend, when you die, whenever that day comes, whenever the Lord takes us home or you die, you’re either going to heaven or to hell. No in between. He loves you. He’s died for you on the cross. He wants you to go to heaven. He’s offered it to you as a gift. But just because He’s offered it doesn’t mean it’s automatically yours. You’ll have to receive that.

If you’re there tonight, you say, “Preacher, I know it. I know I’m a sinner. I understand because of my sin there’s a literal fire of hell. I don’t want to go to that place. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me, and three days later He rose again. He’s offered that to me.” If that’s you tonight, you say, “I want to go to Jesus. I want to put all my faith in Jesus. I ask Him to pay for my sins.” Say right there where you are, right there in your heart, would you call on Him? Would you, if you mean it—if you mean it in your heart—would you tell Him, “Oh, Jesus, I’m asking You right now: Would You pay for my sins? Would You be my shepherd? Every one of my sins, would You take them away? Would You wash them? Would You save me? Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me.”

Thank you so very much. Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. You said, “Preacher, I just prayed that and I meant that. I truly in my heart was calling on Jesus to save me.” If that’s you, right there where you are, would you slip your hand up? Just slip it up. “Preacher, just ask Jesus to be my Savior.” Just asking to be my Savior. Just ask Him to pay for my sins. Anybody like that? You did that? Just slip it up. Just slip it up. Anybody like that? Well, He loves you, and He’s offering that to you. It’s yours. He’d like to give it to you if you’d receive it.

Would you please stand, all of us standing, if you would, please? We’re going to have a word of prayer. As I finish, soon as I say, “Amen,” we’ll sing. Would you come? Just let me—hey, “Lord, where You lead, I’ll follow.” Would you let Him know that? Maybe that’s an area: “I’m giving in. I’m yielding. I’m going to follow in that area.” Whatever it may be, would you let Him know that? If you’re not sure you’re saved, you want to settle that, maybe you pray. We’d love to help with that. Would you come?

Father, Lord, thank You so very, very much for being our shepherd. I don’t deserve it. Lord, there have been many a time I’ve been cast, and You just come over and You pick us up. Thank You. And then, Lord, You lead us. It’s our privilege to follow You. Lord, grow our people in that tonight. Lord, any not saved here, Lord, I pray they’ll be saved before they leave. Well, thank You, Lord, for what You do. In Jesus, we pray. Amen. Would you come? Would you come?

I can hear my saved… What page number is that? 140. 140, if you need the song. I want you to sing that from your heart. I want you to see the words. If you mean it, don’t sing if you don’t mean it, but you tell Him, sing it to the Lord, say, “Hey, where You lead me, I’ll follow.” You let Him know that. You let Him know, “Where You lead me, I’ll follow.” He’ll lead you in paths. It’s just wonderful. I’m so grateful I just get to be a part of Your work, get to be close to You, Lord. Nothing like it. Nothing like it. Would you tell Him that? Let’s sing it to the Lord that next verse. I’ll go with…

Amen, amen. I’ve asked Brother Jim, Ms. Terry, and Cooper to come forward tonight because I want us as a church family to pray over them. And praise the Lord, they’re going out to serve the Lord. And, you know, there are a lot of needy kids in that world, and not just monetary things. When I’m talking about it, they need some spiritual, loving leadership. And praise the Lord, Brother Jim, Ms. Terry, that’s what they’re going to do. And think about all those boys that need a dad and they need a mom, and they don’t know what it’s like to be in a loving home. They didn’t have the privilege of growing up in that, and they’re going to go to be that for them. And you know there’s going to be some struggles with that. You know that. Praise the Lord, Brother Jim’s a big fellow. He can take care of it, you know. He’ll need wisdom, though. And they need our prayers. And then for Cooper, pray for Cooper. Cooper’s a friendly fellow. He’d be friends to everybody. And he’s going to need God just guiding him and working in his heart in a special way. And he’ll be God’s little missionary there to them, and he’ll do a good job. He’s going to need our prayers.

I tell you what. Can we get y’all standing up front here? It’s already 7:04. Brother Fontaine, I’ll get you to come down here. And let’s get Brother Fontaine. He’s been with us for a while. Well, Brother Marlin, let’s get Brother Marlin down. Let’s get… and then I’ll finish it. We’re just going to pray over these folks and ask for God to bless and use them and protect them, give them wisdom, give them love, give them patience. We’ll get Brother Fontaine to start us off, Brother Marlin, if you would, and then I’ll finish it out. But don’t listen to them pray; let’s all pray. God, just work and use them in a great way. And then I’ll pray over them. And let’s just pray God puts His hand on them. Then we’ll be dismissed. We’ll pray for the food, too. Everybody’s welcome to stay. Everybody. We want you to stay. There’s pizza back there and other goodies. And won’t you stay and spend some time, let Brother Jim and Ms. Terry know you love them and you’ll be praying for them? And Brother Fontaine, if you’d start us off, then we’ll get Brother Marlin, and then I’ll finish it out. Would you please, sir? Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father and God, Lord, we love You. We thank You, Lord, for our church. We thank You, Lord, for our church family. And we thank You, Lord, tonight, and we lift up Brother Jim and his family, Ms. Tara and Cooper, Lord, and we pray, dear God, for Your hand of protection and guidance on them as they undertake this new phase in their life, Lord. Please, dear God, lead and guide in paths of righteousness. And Lord, we want to pray for the boys. We pray, dear God, that their needs would be met. We pray, dear Lord, that they would learn to love these folks like we do. And we love You, Lord, and thank You, God, for them. We pray in Jesus’ name.

Lord Father, we continue to pray, Lord. Just, Lord, thank You so much for the Shanks, Lord. Thank You so much for placing them in my life, Lord, and just the positive influence that Brother Jim and Ms. Tara and little Cooper have had in my life, Lord—just great role models to look up to. And Lord, Father, I pray that You just place Your hands on them, Lord. Bless their work, Lord. Thank You for placing a burden on their hearts, Lord, to take care of these young men, Lord, that just need good structure, that need just a good family, Lord. And, Lord, You just couldn’t have picked a better family, Lord, just to place them in that situation, Lord, to help out that way. Lord, Father, I ask You just please guide them, Lord, just give them the strength and guidance they need, Lord, just to fulfill this role that You’ve placed them in, Lord. Lord, Father, just give little Cooper, Lord, just… I know he’s used to being by himself, Lord, and now he’s going to be sharing a home with all these brothers, Lord. And Lord, I pray that they welcome him in too, Lord, as one of their little brothers, Lord. And it’s just awesome to think of that. And Lord, again, I just pray, Lord, that You just continue, Lord, just blessing them, Lord, and guiding them in every step of their way, Lord. Lord, thank You so much for just their love that they’ve shown me and my family, Lord. And, Lord, I pray that You just place Your arms around them and protect them. And I pray these things in Jesus’ name.

Lord, thank You for great families like this, Lord. And… [They have] been very good to our church. It gives us great people like this. Thank You for them, Lord. And the Lord, I do pray that You would, first of all, give Brother Jim and Ms. Terry, Lord, give them just the wisdom to stay bonded to each other. Lord, I pray that You would open their eyes to see the wiles, the tricks of the devil. Lord, let them foresee the evil. And Father, give them the wisdom to keep Cooper close to them. Lord, I pray that Cooper would always be bonded to You and to them, Lord. Father, just lift the veil of Satan in his ploys and plays to divide Cooper from his parents. Keep them close, Lord. And then, Lord, I pray You to use them to minister to these boys, Lord, give them a bond with these boys. Lord, I pray that You would give Jim, Tara, and Cooper just special insight to maybe even issues that need to be dealt with and how it needs to be dealt with, Lord. Father, I pray these boys grow up living for You, and use the Shanks to that end, Lord. Thank You for them. Thank You. You lead. Lord, all we’ve got to do is follow. Help them to always just stay very, very close to You in the following. I love them, Lord. Please put Your hand on them. Thank You, Lord, that Your other shepherd and I—we’re grateful You always lead, and [help us] to always follow. Bless the fellowship tonight, make it sweet. And Lord, we do love You. In Jesus, I’m praying. Amen.

Original File: He Leads in Paths of Righteousness - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday PM 112220