July 27, 2025
God Protects and Corrects His Own
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Psalms 23:1-2 NIV
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
Isaiah 53:6 NIV
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
John 10:11 NIV
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – Jesus
Psalms 23:3 NIV
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Refresh = shub (Pronounced shewb). It means to turn something around.
Jeremiah 3:22a NIV
“Return (shub), faithless (shub) people;
I will cure you of backsliding (shub).”
When we turn away from God, life stops working in a way that brings life, and things get hard and painful. This is a form of God’s discipline over us.
1 Peter 2:25 NIV
When we turn (shub) back to God, and away from sin, we are refreshed (shub).
For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Acts 3:19 NIV
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
Is there anything in your life that is leaving you feeling like a slave and in need of freedom?
Romans 6:16 NIV
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
If it’s not immediately obvious what you need freed from, try looking for the Lord’s discipline and protection.
Psalms 23:4 NIV
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Hebrews 12:4-5a NIV
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?
Hebrews 12:5b-6 NIV
It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
God’s discipline is one of His many methods of protection and care.
Hebrews 12:7 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
We trust that God is “the only good” and He is for us. So much so, that even hardships are tools in the Masters hand to direct our lives to green pastures and still waters.
Psalms 23:3 NIV
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Romans 8:18NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:28NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I’m lonely, and I just want someone to be with me… I AM
I’m scared and I just want someone to take away my anxiety… I AM
I don’t know what is waiting for me in the future… I AM
I don’t know what the truth is… I AM
I don’t know what’s real… I AM
I want to be accepted by someone… I AM
I want to change, but I don’t know how… I AM
I carry so much weight and I’m tired. I just want someone to carry me… I AM
I need someone to help me… I AM
I want someone to love me… I AM