JUST WHAT YOU NEED

Table of Contents

1. THE GOOD NEWS: WE ARE SAINTS, BLAMELESS AND HOLY
2. THE GOSPEL OF GRACE IS GOOD NEWS WITHOUT GUILT, SHAME, OR CONDEMNATION
3. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION
4. BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST IS WHAT MATTERS
5. MOVING AWAY FROM LEGALISM AND THE GOSPEL OF MIXTURE
6. ROMANS CHAPTER 10 AND THE FOCUS ON FAITH IN JESUS
7. THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS THEM BACK TO PSALM 23
8. THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD, GUIDE, RULER, TEACHER, PROTECTOR, AND PROVIDER
9. LIVING UNDER GRACE AND LEARNING FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
10. THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENJOY PSALM 23

THE GOOD NEWS: WE ARE SAINTS, BLAMELESS AND HOLY

Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori begin their message with a simple purpose: encouragement. They explain that what God has called them to do is bless His people with good news—the good news of the gospel of grace and the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Lori gives the first piece of good news: believers are saints. She explains that this means they are blameless and holy. Pastor Lenny emphasizes that this is how God sees His people—as blameless, holy, and unblameable.

They then focus on the incredible love of God. His love is described as endless and far beyond what people could dare to ask, think, or imagine. The important point is that believers did not have to do something first to obtain this love or somehow become worthy enough to deserve it. Jesus did everything.

The pastors present this as a foundational truth of the gospel of grace: God’s love and acceptance are not rewards earned through human performance. Jesus accomplished what needed to be accomplished. They explain that because of this, their calling is to encourage people and bring good news. The gospel of Jesus is not supposed to be a message that leaves people crushed, hopeless, ashamed, or condemned. It is good news.

The message therefore begins with a simple reminder: God sees His people differently from the way guilt, shame, condemnation, or legalistic thinking may cause them to see themselves. Through Christ, believers can understand themselves according to what Jesus has accomplished. The pastors then move toward explaining exactly what this good news provides.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE IS GOOD NEWS WITHOUT GUILT, SHAME, OR CONDEMNATION

The pastors explain that the gospel of grace is centered on good news. They describe the gospel as God’s power for everything people need, including salvation.

They stress that salvation is not something given only to people who work hard enough for it, toil enough for it, or somehow perform enough religious duties to receive it. Instead, salvation is presented as a gift to those who believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori explain that they try to do their best to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and remain faithful to God’s Word and the true gospel of grace. One of their stated goals is to help God’s people remove guilt, shame, and condemnation from their lives.

They make a very strong statement concerning these feelings. If someone is continually experiencing guilt, shame, or condemnation because of the message they have been hearing, they say that the message is not the true gospel of grace. The gospel of Christ, the love of Jesus, and the love of the Father do not come with guilt, shame, and condemnation. Jesus took those things upon Himself. The pastors therefore encourage their listeners to recognize the difference between the true gospel of grace and messages that place people back under condemnation.

The emphasis is not that people should ignore God’s Word or live without direction. Rather, the emphasis is that the foundation of the Christian life is what Jesus has already done—not the constant fear that believers must perform enough to make God love, accept, forgive, heal, or provide for them. Jesus did it all. That is why the gospel is good news.

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION

Pastor Lenny then points to Paul’s powerful statement about not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The pastors emphasize that the gospel of Christ is not merely a religious message. It is the power of God for salvation. They explain that the gospel involves Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. That message is described as the power of God for salvation and for everything believers need.

They expand their understanding of salvation beyond simply going to heaven or having sins forgiven. Salvation, they explain, means more. They describe it as the whole package. They mention provision, forgiveness, redemption, rescue, healing, wholeness, wellness, and protection. All of these are included in the broad understanding they present of salvation. This is why they say believers need to renew their minds to this truth.

The pastors then ask an important question: If the gospel is the power of God for salvation for those who believe, what exactly are believers supposed to believe?

They mention healing, forgiveness, redemption, rescue, and protection. But then they clarify the central point: believers are not being called to place their faith in a long list of things they must accomplish. They are called to believe in Jesus. The focus returns repeatedly to Jesus Christ.

The pastors emphasize that the power of God is available to those who believe in Jesus. The message is therefore not about creating a complicated system of requirements. The focus is Jesus Christ Himself. The gospel points people toward Christ—His life, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. That is the center of the good news.

BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST IS WHAT MATTERS

The pastors continue by emphasizing the importance of believing.

They talk about believing in healing, forgiveness, redemption, rescue, and protection, but then they make an important clarification: the ultimate object of faith is Jesus.

They repeat the central thought: believe in Jesus.

Pastor Lenny explains that he had previously taught that the thing a person believes is preventing healing can itself become the focus of concern. A person may think, “I am not standing enough,” “I am not believing God’s Word enough,” “I am not working at it enough,” or “I am not meeting my responsibilities.” A person may believe there is always something more that must be done before God can act.

The pastors explain that this way of thinking is not the result of the gospel of grace. They identify it instead with what they call the gospel of mixture or the gospel of legalism.

They then return to the gospel of Christ.

When people hear about Christ, they hear about how He gave His life, how He was crucified, how He was buried, and how He was raised from the dead to newness of life in righteousness. They also emphasize that believers were raised with Him.

The central issue remains faith in Jesus Christ.

The pastors explain that believing in Jesus means believing in Christ, believing that God raised Him from the dead, believing that the tomb was empty on the third day, and believing that believers were united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.

The message is not ultimately “believe harder” or “work harder.” The message is to believe in Jesus Christ. This becomes the “new twist” Pastor Lenny says he recognized for himself: believing in Jesus Christ is itself the focus of God’s power for the believer’s life and salvation.

The pastors even say that they could end the message at that point because the truth is so powerful and complete.

Romans 10:9-10  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The emphasis of this passage, as presented in the teaching, is faith directed toward Jesus Christ and what God has accomplished through Him.

MOVING AWAY FROM LEGALISM AND THE GOSPEL OF MIXTURE

A major contrast throughout the teaching is between the gospel of grace and what the pastors call the gospel of mixture or legalism.

The pastors describe legalistic thinking as the belief that something more must continually be done in order to receive what God has already provided through Christ.

A person might think that healing depends on performing well enough, believing strongly enough, meeting every responsibility perfectly, or doing something additional to qualify for God’s blessing.

The pastors say that this kind of thinking places the focus on the believer’s performance rather than on Jesus.

The gospel of grace shifts the focus back to Christ.

Instead of asking whether the believer has done enough, the believer is encouraged to look at what Jesus has done.

Instead of focusing on personal worthiness, the believer is encouraged to focus on Christ.

Instead of living under guilt and condemnation, the believer is encouraged to understand the freedom and grace found in the gospel.

The pastors therefore present grace as something that changes the foundation of how believers approach God. The question is not whether the believer has managed to become good enough to earn God’s provision. The message is that Jesus has already accomplished the work.

This is why they repeatedly return to the statement that the gospel of Christ is the power of God for salvation to those who believe. The believer’s attention is directed away from self and toward Jesus.

ROMANS CHAPTER 10 AND THE FOCUS ON FAITH IN JESUS

Pastor Lenny explains that he had begun developing a message from Romans chapter 10. He had planned to go through Romans chapter 10 verse by verse and share the power found in the passage.

He describes the process of preparing the message as something led by the Holy Spirit.  He had another message that he had intended to share, but he was not sensing it in the same way. He decided that the Holy Spirit could still make it work, but then he found himself increasingly drawn into Romans chapter 10.

The passage became powerful to him, and he began considering sharing Romans chapter 10 instead. However, while he was preparing, the Lord directed him back to Psalm 23.

This transition becomes important because the message moves from the emphasis on believing in Jesus Christ to the picture of the Lord as Shepherd. The pastors describe this as another example of the Holy Spirit leading them in what to share. The emphasis remains on grace.

Although Romans chapter 10 had become the focus of Pastor Lenny’s preparation, he sensed that he was supposed to share Psalm 23 again.

He explains that it had been a long time since he had shared it, and the timing surrounding the Psalm seemed especially meaningful to him.

Romans 10:9-10  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The pastors’ emphasis is that the heart of the gospel is faith in Jesus Christ and that the Holy Spirit directs believers toward the truth of Christ and grace.

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS THEM BACK TO PSALM 23

Pastor Lenny explains that during the early morning hours, he repeatedly found himself waking up and meditating on and quoting Psalm 23.

Pastor Lori had independently selected a song based on Psalm 23 for their Sunday worship.

Pastor Lenny explains that Pastor Lori normally selects the worship songs and presents them to him so that he can load them into their program. One of the songs she selected was Psalm 23.

When Pastor Lenny realized that Psalm 23 had been repeatedly on his mind during the early morning hours and that Pastor Lori had selected a Psalm 23 song for Sunday, he was amazed at the timing.

The pastors describe this as the work of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Lori explains that she had been reading Psalm 91 and Psalm 92, but her attention had somehow shifted toward Psalm 23. She had been singing it and therefore placed it on the worship list.

Pastor Lenny then explains that he had been waking sometime between midnight and approximately 5:00 in the morning and finding himself meditating on and quoting Psalm 23. This continued to reinforce the sense that Psalm 23 was the message he was supposed to share. He describes the timing as especially meaningful because the Lord was directing him back to the Psalm during the same period that he was preparing his message. He says the Holy Spirit told him, “I want you to share Psalm 23.” The reason given is simple: Psalm 23 is about grace. Psalm 23 “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 paths 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 for ever.” The pastors explain that the timing surrounding Psalm 23 seemed to go beyond one person’s planning. Both Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori were being drawn toward the same Psalm.

Pastor Lenny also shares that when he was preparing something for the Kingdom Kids, he independently prepared Psalm 23 before he knew about the other connections.

The repeated appearance of Psalm 23 reinforced their belief that the Holy Spirit was directing the message. They then encourage listeners who have not heard the previous Sunday’s message to go back and listen to it, because Pastor Lenny says he personally needed the message and hoped it would bless others as well.

THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD, GUIDE, RULER, TEACHER, PROTECTOR, AND PROVIDER

Pastor Lenny asks Pastor Lori to read verse 1 from Psalm 23 because of how powerful the verse is and because of how strongly it speaks about God’s love and grace.

The KJV says:

Psalm 23:1 — “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Pastor Lenny explains that he had rewritten the verse in his own notes after being led by the Holy Spirit. His expanded wording describes the Lord as Shepherd, Guide, Ruler, Teacher, Protector, and Provider. He explains the meaning he sees in the verse as the assurance that because the Lord is the Shepherd, the believer will never fail, never become less, and never have a need.

The pastors explain that Pastor Lenny had searched out the Hebrew meanings while preparing his expanded version. He says that the words he selected were intended to exemplify meanings present in the Hebrew. He also explains that this is why different translations of Scripture can have differences in wording. According to his explanation, one translation does not necessarily express every possible meaning contained in the original wording. He wanted to understand the various meanings that the Holy Spirit was showing him.

The Lord is first described as the Shepherd and Guide.

Pastor Lenny uses the example of traveling to a foreign country or going on vacation. A traveler may not know where to go, what places are worth seeing, or which places should be avoided. A good guide knows the area. A guide knows the beautiful places, the magnificent places, the stunning places, and the areas worth visiting. At the same time, a guide knows where not to go.

The guide therefore does more than simply point out destinations. The guide also keeps the traveler away from places that are unsafe or undesirable.

Pastor Lenny uses this as a picture of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They guide believers into what is good, wholesome, beautiful, and majestic. Psalm 23 “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 paths 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 for ever.”

The Lord is therefore presented not as someone who merely gives instructions from a distance, but as the Shepherd who leads His people. The pastors explain that the Lord is also their Ruler.

They emphasize righteousness and holiness as the proper rule over the believer’s life, rather than the enemy or sin. This leads directly into their discussion of Romans 6:14.

Romans 6:14  “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

The pastors use this verse to emphasize that sin no longer has dominion over believers because they are not under the law but under grace. The message then moves to the Lord as Teacher.

LIVING UNDER GRACE AND LEARNING FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT

The pastors explain that the Holy Spirit is also the Teacher.

They refer to Jesus’ words in John chapter 14 concerning the coming of another Comforter and Jesus’ promise concerning His return.

John 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

The pastors explain that the Holy Spirit teaches believers about Christ. He teaches them about grace and about who they truly are. He teaches believers what God has really created them to be.

The teaching therefore connects the Holy Spirit’s role as Teacher with the earlier emphasis on the gospel of grace. The Holy Spirit leads people toward the truth of Christ rather than toward guilt, shame, condemnation, or legalism. The pastors then return to the descriptions connected with Psalm 23.

The Lord is the Protector. They encourage listeners to believe in Jesus and trust that He protects them. The Lord is also the Provider.

The pastors describe His provision as splendid and emphasize again that because He is their Shepherd, they will never fail and will never be in want.

Pastor Lenny specifically emphasizes the thought that because the Lord is who He is, the believer can never fail. The confidence is not ultimately based on the believer’s own strength or ability. It is based on the Lord. Psalm 23 “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 paths 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 for ever.” The picture presented throughout this portion of the teaching is of a Shepherd who knows the way, teaches His people, protects them, provides for them, and leads them into what is good.

The pastors encourage their listeners to recognize how completely Psalm 23 communicates God’s grace and care.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENJOY PSALM 23

As the teaching comes to a close, Pastor Lenny encourages listeners to go back and listen to the entire sermon on Psalm 23. He also offers to provide the notes from the Psalm to those who would like them, saying that he could email or text them.

Pastor Lori and Pastor Lenny then give their closing thoughts. They remind their listeners that they are blessed because the message is the Word of God. They describe the message as truth and as the “too good to be true” good news—the gospel of Jesus.

The pastors express their gratitude to those who have supported and loved them, describing the listeners as God’s hand extended to them. They close by expressing their love and saying that they will see their listeners again in a couple of days. The final encouragement is simple:

Psalm 23 “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 paths 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 for ever.” The final message of the teaching is therefore a return to the central theme with which it began: good news.

The pastors want their listeners to hear the gospel of Jesus as good news rather than condemnation, to place their faith in Jesus Christ rather than in their own performance, and to rest in the picture of the Lord as Shepherd, Guide, Ruler, Teacher, Protector, and Provider.

The message points believers back to the grace of God and to the finished work of Jesus Christ. It reminds them that they do not have to live as though they are abandoned, without direction, without provision, or without hope. They are encouraged to look to Jesus, trust in Him, and enjoy the assurance expressed in Psalm 23.

We hope this teaching blessed you and encouraged you in your walk with the Lord. May the message of God’s grace, the finished work of Jesus Christ, and the beautiful assurance of Psalm 23 remind you that you are deeply loved, guided, protected, and provided for by your Shepherd. Share this teaching with someone who may need to hear this good news today.