Shepherds and the Shepherd | Rev. Abiodun Adesanya

Main Text: Psalm 90:1–12
Supporting Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Joel 2:25, Jeremiah 1:5

1. INTRODUCTION — GOD HAS BEEN OUR DWELLING PLACE

The Psalmist begins in Psalm 90:1:

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.”

Before the mountains were brought forth, before the earth and the world were formed, God was already God.

From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.

This reminds us that while our lives have a beginning and an end, God has no beginning and no end.

Our lives are temporary, but God is eternal.

The Psalmist continues to remind us of the brevity of human life. He says that a thousand years in God’s sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.

We may think that we have lived for a long time, but when compared with eternity, our lives are but a moment.

2. THE BREVITY OF LIFE

Psalm 90:5–6

The Psalmist compares human life to grass:

“In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.”

This is a powerful picture of the temporary nature of life.

In the morning, the grass is fresh and flourishing.

By evening, it has withered.

This reminds us that life moves quickly.

There are seasons in our lives.

There are moments of strength, moments of weakness, moments of celebration, and moments of challenge.

But through every season, God remains faithful.

3. GOD HAS KEPT US

Psalm 90 also reminds us that our lives are ultimately in God’s hands.

The Psalmist acknowledges human weakness and the consequences of sin, but in the midst of this reflection, there is an important truth:

If God had not kept us, we would not be here today.

We are not here simply because we were strong.

We are not here because we were wise.

We are not here because we planned everything perfectly.

We are here because of the mercy and faithfulness of God.

Scripture tells us:

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
— Lamentations 3:22

Therefore, every birthday is more than a celebration of age.

It is a celebration of God’s faithfulness.

4. “WE SPEND OUR YEARS AS A TALE THAT IS TOLD”

Psalm 90:9

The Psalmist says:

“We spend our years as a tale that is told.”

What a powerful statement.

Our years become a story.

When we look back over the years, we can see chapters.

There were chapters of joy.

There were chapters of challenges.

There were chapters of answered prayers.

There were chapters when we didn’t understand what God was doing.

But through every chapter, God was writing the story.

And today, as we celebrate 60 years of the life of Felicia, we are not merely celebrating a number.

We are celebrating the story of God’s faithfulness.

5. SIXTY YEARS — A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Psalm 90:10

The Psalmist says:

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years…”

Sixty years is therefore a significant milestone.

It is an opportunity to stop and look back.

Where did God bring you from?

What has God brought you through?

How many times did God make a way?

How many times did He protect you?

How many times did His mercy speak for you?

There are some things we cannot explain except to say:

“God did it.”

Therefore, today we return all glory, honour and thanksgiving to Him.

6. THE KEY PRAYER — TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS

Psalm 90:12

This is the central verse:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Notice that the Psalmist did not say:

“Lord, teach us to count our days.”

He said:

“Teach us to number our days.”

There is a difference.

To count your days is simply to know how many days you have lived.

But to number your days is to understand their value.

It is to recognise that every day is a gift from God.

Every year is a gift.

Every season is a gift.

Every opportunity is a gift.

And because our days are limited, we must live them wisely.

7. APPLYING OUR HEARTS TO WISDOM

The purpose of numbering our days is:

“…that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

In other words:

“Lord, help me to live wisely because I understand that my time on earth is limited.”

A person who understands the brevity of life will begin to ask different questions:

• What am I living for?
• What legacy am I leaving?
• Am I honouring God with my life?
• Am I using my time wisely?
• Am I investing in the people God has placed around me?
• What purpose does God still have for me?
• What does God want me to accomplish in the next season?

The celebration of 60 years should therefore not only cause us to look backward.

It should cause us to look forward.

8. THANKSGIVING FOR THE PAST — EXPECTATION FOR THE FUTURE

Today, we thank God for the first 60 years.

But we are also trusting God for the years ahead.

The testimony is not:

“God has done everything He wants to do.”

Rather:

“God has brought me this far, and I trust Him to take me further.”

The same God who kept her for 60 years will keep her in the years ahead.

The same grace that sustained her will sustain her.

The same God who provided yesterday will provide tomorrow.

The same God who gave strength for the past season will give strength for the next season.

9. A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Father, we have come this afternoon to say thank You.

Daddy, we have come to appreciate You for all that You have done.

It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

We thank You for Your mercy.

We thank You for Your goodness.

We thank You for Your faithfulness.

We thank You for Your protection.

We thank You for Your provision.

We thank You for Your grace.

Your hand has provided, and great is Your faithfulness.

Unto You we return all the glory.

Unto You we return all the honour.

Unto You we return all the thanksgiving.

In adoration, we say, Blessed be Your name.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, we appreciate You on behalf of Your daughter.

We say, Hallelujah be Your name.

Be exalted.

Be glorified.

In Jesus’ name we have prayed.

Amen.

10. WORSHIP RESPONSE

At this point, the congregation responds through worship.

Suggested worship line:

“Your tender mercies I see, day after day…”

The purpose of this worship is to pause from the preaching and reflect on God’s faithfulness.

The congregation should be encouraged to think about:

“If not for the Lord, where would I be?”

HOLY COMMUNION

REMEMBERING CHRIST — ENTERING THE NEXT SEASON

Main Text:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

11. THE INSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNION

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He gathered His disciples together.

He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them.

He also took the cup.

And Jesus gave them a clear instruction:

“This do in remembrance of me.”

The Communion is therefore a powerful reminder of Christ, His sacrifice and everything He has accomplished for us.

We don’t take Communion casually.

We take it with understanding.

We take it in remembrance of Jesus.

12. COMMUNION AND THE NEXT SEASON

Today, as we celebrate this milestone of 60 years, we are thanking God for what He has done.

But we are also looking forward to what God will do next.

There is a prayer in the heart of every person who reaches a new season:

“Lord, help me in my next level.”

As we take this Communion in unity with Felicia and her family, we are trusting God for the next season.

We are asking God for:

• New strength
• New grace
• Divine health
• Wisdom
• Protection
• Provision
• Greater opportunities
• Fulfilment of purpose
• Grace to continue to honour God
• Strength to continue as a good mother
• Grace to continue as a faithful wife
• A fruitful and fulfilling future

May the Lord grant her all that she needs for the years ahead.

Amen.

13. THE BREAD — HIS BODY

1 Corinthians 11:24

Jesus took the bread and gave thanks.

He said:

“Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

As we eat this bread, we remember Christ.

We remember His sacrifice.

We remember His finished work.

And we declare that the God who brought us this far will not abandon us.

The strength of Jesus is never weakened.

His grace will continue to sustain us.

All that is needed for the next season, His grace will provide.

So we eat with thanksgiving.

Father, we say thank You.

We receive this Communion with gratitude.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

14. THE CUP — COVENANT AND COMPLETION

After supper, Jesus took the cup.

The cup reminds us of His blood and the covenant established through Him.

As we drink, we are reminded that God’s work concerning us is not accidental.

There is purpose attached to our lives.

God knows us.

God has a plan for us.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…”

God knew us before we were formed.

Therefore, as we enter another season, we trust that what God has written concerning us will be fulfilled.

15. RESTORATION OF LOST YEARS

Joel 2:25

Scripture speaks of God restoring the years that were lost to the locust, the cankerworm and the caterpillar.

As we take this Communion, we can pray for restoration.

If there are years that seem to have been lost…

If there are opportunities that passed…

If there are things that appeared delayed…

If there are areas where the enemy has brought destruction…

Let there be restoration.

May God restore what needs to be restored.

May He redeem the time.

May the remaining years be fruitful.

May they be filled with purpose, joy, health, strength and fulfilment.

16. DECLARATION FOR THE NEXT SEASON

We declare:

What God has written concerning you shall come to pass.

Your destiny will not be aborted.

Your purpose will be fulfilled.

Your strength will be renewed.

Your health will be preserved.

Your family will be strengthened.

Your home will be established.

Your remaining years will be fruitful.

You will fulfil the purpose of God for your life.

You will continue to honour God.

You will continue to testify of His goodness.

And the years ahead will give you even greater reasons to say:

“Great is Thy faithfulness.”

17. FINAL PRAYER

Father, as we take this Communion, we agree with heaven concerning Your daughter.

We declare that everything You have ordained for her shall come to pass.

We declare that her destiny will not be aborted.

We declare restoration over every area that requires restoration.

We declare strength for the journey ahead.

We declare grace for the next decade and beyond.

We declare divine health.

We declare peace.

We declare provision.

We declare wisdom.

We declare fulfilment of purpose.

And we declare that the remaining years of her life shall bring glory to Your name.

We drink in remembrance of Jesus Christ and in agreement with heaven concerning her life.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

🙏 CLOSING THOUGHT

“Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12

60 years is not merely a number.

It is 60 years of God’s mercy.
60 years of God’s faithfulness.
60 years of God’s preservation.
60 years of God’s grace.

And if God has brought her this far, He is not finished yet.

The God of yesterday is still God today, and He will remain God tomorrow.

Great is Thy faithfulness.