Today I would like to deliver the message about Jesus the Good Shepherd to you on the 25th of November in 2018. 1. A life of scarcity We all have scarcity and always say, "Something lacks in my life." We live a life of scarcity of time and material; no matter how hard and diligently we work and fill it, there is always lack in life. Every life has scarcity. Even though every person has different wants and needs, no one lives by not having scarcity. All people are living their lives by carrying laborious and heavy burdens in life. However, the world that God created did not lack anything. God is light. As He said, "Let there be light!" there was a light and there was light. God saw that the light was good. He created heavens and the earth and sea and He saw that they were good. He also created plants and vegetation and trees and sun and moon and stars and all creatures according to their various kinds and then finally humans. Everything that God created looked so good. As everything was so good to God, we understand that there was no scarcity. 2. The devil who steals and destroys The devil who steals and destroys always sneaks around us. It is because the devil tempted Adam and Eve and made them commit sins. The world was in good order when they were serving God who has absolute sovereignty. When people committed sins and left God, the world got filled with greed. Strong ones oppressed weak ones, and the world became disorderly where there was and is no end in hatred and fighting. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”(John 10:10) One newly wed couple received a letter and there were two very expensive tickets to a concert and a pretty card. There was no name of a sender, but a sentence that read, "Guess who sent this!" The couple did not have any idea of who sent it, but they went to the concert with gratitude and came home and found that their house was robbed and all precious things were stolen. There was a memo at the front door that read, "Now you can realize who I am!" As a thief steals everything that has value, so the devil always robs us of every good thing God has given us. If we live under the control of the devil that steals and kills and destroys, we have to live in the midst of sins and filthiness, suffer various diseases and pain, live a life filled with poverty and curses and then end up with eternal destruction. 3. Jesus who gives us life Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus likened us to sheep. Sheep cannot live without a shepherd. Nowadays many people abandon their pet animals on the road. If pets are deserted by their owners, they can't be fed properly but have to wander in the street and then get sick and die. Sheep can't survive without a shepherd. As sheep have no strength and power, they have to be killed by ferocious wolves or fall off the cliff due to their near-sightedness. Because those who have not met Jesus are like sheep without a shepherd, they have no true righteousness, peace, happiness and joy in life. However, we have Jesus our good Shepherd. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”(John 10:11) Jesus saved us by having His flesh torn apart and shedding blood on the cross. Jesus also said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."(John 10:9) In the same way shepherds feed grass to sheep, Jesus gives us a life where we may enjoy good health and that all may go well with us, even as our souls are getting along well. Once there was an old woman who dreamed of traveling around the world. With her life saving she finally bought a ticket to a luxury liner to travel around the world. After she bought a ticket, her money was almost gone so when other passengers enjoyed the buffet restaurant in the ship she couldn't have good meals but only snacks like bread. When she finished the trip and the liner arrived at the port, the captain came to her and said, "Did you enjoy your trip?" She answered, "Yes, but I didn't have much money so I had to survive with bread alone." Then the captain was so startled, "Didn't you know that all meals were already included in your ticket?" There are so many Christians who don't know that God not only saves us but also feeds us abundantly. David, once a shepherd, was fully aware that God took care of him. He confessed it in Psalm 23:1-2, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." Once one of my congregation had to receive an operation. Before the operation, he received prayer from me and kept saying, "I am not afraid at all. I don't fear," but trembled with fear. So I said to him, "Then you can't help but fear more and more. Rather memorize Psalm 23. Think of today's operation also as the Lord makes you lie down in green pastures and leads you beside quiet waters. He restores your soul and gives you His grace there." When you face difficulties, if you think more of your problems, you will feel more anxiety and fear. However, if you think more of the Lord our good Shepherd, you can sleep peacefully and any anxiety and fear can't penetrate you. When you go to bed, memorize Scriptural verses. When you read and memorize God's Word, fear will soon disappear. In my childhood, we had an orchid and raised many chickens. I still remember it. As a hen led a brood of chicks and ate worms on the ground, if she saw a cat approaching, she cackled in alarm. Then all the chicks dived in beneath the hen's feathers. This hen bravely confronted the cat, who could not pounce on her but just went away. Whenever thunder struck and heavy rain began to pour out, the chicks hid underneath the hen's feathers. They thought that it would be always safe underneath the hen's feathers. When we meet hardships, we should always seek God first. No matter how despaired and frustrated we may be or no matter whatever difficulty and pain we may face, if we hide under the cross, we can receive life and have it to the full through Jesus. Because Jesus is our shepherd, we must always have positive faith. If our hearts are filled with negative thoughts. God can't help us. If we look to the cross of the Lord, have positive thoughts and dreams and make declarations with faith, the Lord will give us His abundant grace. Jesus said, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."(John 6:37) Even though we are sinful, unrighteous, filthy, deserve abandonment, if we come to the cross, the forgiveness overflowing from the cross will cleanse all our sins and make us righteous. And also when we come to the cross, by the Holy Spirit, the power of holiness will get rid of all our filth. When we come to the cross the river of healing overflows to heal all our bodies and hearts and also heals all sick homes and lives. When we come to the cross, we are liberated from curses and receive the blessing of Abraham and resurrection and eternal life instead. Therefore, we Christians must confess like this all the time. "I may enjoy good health and that all may go well with me, even as my soul is getting along well. I receive forgiveness and righteousness and holiness. I am healed. I am freed from curses and receive blessings and resurrection and eternal life and heaven." All of you will live a prosperous life through confession of this creative faith in your daily lives in the Lord. Hallelujah! We will live hand in hand and destroy the world of the devil and move forward in the bosom of Jesus Christ. Our enemy devil wants us to get sick and faint and to suffer in our hearts, but we must cast out the devil today in the name of Jesus! Hallelujah!