Psalm 68 “Jesus the Conqueror” this Psalm is a Victories (King)Messiah over the power of His enemies.
What we will learn is Jesus conquers &…
Some fear and some praise Vrs 1-6
-Enemies fear because they are against Him and His power is greater then theirs.
-Those who trust the Lord find comfort and therefore praise Him for things like…
-Fathers the fatherless
-Protector of the widow
A good king takes care of the downtrodden and those in need
-Leads prisoners out (delivers)
Traditionally when a King would conquer his enemy he would go and retrieve and release the prisoners
Q1. Which side are you on… “fearing” or “praising”? GOSPEL
It reminds us of what He is capable of. Verses 7-18
This would be a reference of how God delivered the Israelites into the promised land. David would be singing this to remind himself and others that God is far more then capable to deliver His people through any difficult time.
It is a staunch reminder that we can have faith in the Lord because He has kept His promises.
We as Christians need to spend time reflecting on what the Lord has done in our lives to be reminded that He is capable of bringing us through whatever we are going through.
Often times we get to where we are in life and forget to praise the Lord for what He did. We feel like we delivered ourselves.
Q2 What has God done in your life that it is evident now that it was only possible because of Him?
____
I want to point out Vrs 18 is where are Messianic value of this psalm hinges.
Vrs 18 “Leading a host of captives in your train”
We were prisoners to sin and now we are delivered and not turn back to prison but to use our gifts in service of the King.
You see we are no able to be effective without Jesus empowering us.
Ephesians 4:8 gives us the reason why God led us out of the slavery of sin…
The chapter talks about how Christians need to be unified and work together and serve one another and the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
To give you a clearer picture it is like we were captured by the enemy and then Jesus came and conquered set us free and then enlisted us into His service and gave us gifts to serve and be His people and His church in the world until He comes back.
Then Ephesians 4 talks about our new life with Jesus, no longer are we slaves to sin but we are children and servants of King Jesus to do His work. This means that we should not fall back into what we used to be…a prisoner.
When we see the work of God’s people the church on this earth it makes us realize that He is capable of using us…sinful people, who were once incapable prisoners… to do His work.
It saves His people Vrs 19-31
-Our personal sin v 19-20 GOSPEL
-Deliverance of His people. Vrs 21-33
For the people of Israel it meant that only their King (the Lord) can save His people.
For us that means that God takes care of His church (gates of hell shall not prevail)
The church in general has suffered many attacks but Jesus still uses His church. But we need to continue to pray for the church globally and locally because we are the representative of Jesus on the earth.
Q3 What would you like to see us as church do better?
Please start praying about how the Lord may use you as an agent of change.
We should respond in praise Vrs 32-35
When I read this it makes me realize a Christian without joy is contradiction in terms.
Our praise should be to the Lord and for others to see how great He is. This is the reason why when a battle is won we have parties and parades, because for so long we were in misery but deliverance has come so we have a good time and praise.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms" The Glory of King Jesus
Psalm 45 The Glory of Jesus Glory = greatness and majesty
Relationship with God and His people like a wedding.
-The response to His Glory V1 Psalmist praising the Lord (King)
When we see something amazing we are normally inclined to respond.
J.S. Bach said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul's refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub."
-Description of His Glory Verses 2-8 (the Groom)
Vrs 2a handsome and gracious speech. The appearance of the Lord in eternity.
V2b Reign is forever
V3 Protector
V4-5 Conqueror
Verese 6-7 Character is excellent Go to Hebrews 1:1-9 (Messianic value)
Righteousness and joy
Verses 8 Possessions are Excellent
Ivory palace
This psalm we see is about an Ordinary man but not ordinary man.
-Impact of His Glory (on His bride…the church) Verses 9-15 Heb 2:10 “many sons to glory” He brings us with Him
The union of Christ with His people We are the bride Our glory is Jesus
Emphasis is her relationship with the king.
***Men we have to remember if we have a bitter wife and unruly children we have to look at ourselves because they will reflect us to some degree. Maybe we are treating them the wrong way and they are responding to that. That does not excuse their actions but it does bring a reminder of the mans responsibility.
V9 at His right hand (We should always be looking at what the Lord wants us to do)
V10 she looks forward to her commitment in marriage (leave and cleave, the Lord is more important then family))
V11 He delights in her (The Lord delights in us)
V11 honors Him as her Lord. Honor the King as your Lord, know “whose” you are.
V 12 Others begin to notice her place of importance (your testimony will dictate how the world outside treats you)
V 13 She is blessed (we are blessed)
F.E. Marsh has pointed out some of God's blessings:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
V14 led to Him (the more we pursue purity from sin the closer we get to Jeus James 4:8 Draw near)
V15 Enters His palace. We are able to enter into the Lord’s presence through prayer and when we leave this earth we will go to the house of the Lord.
We are impacted by the Glory of Jesus Its not about us its about Jesus… His Glory shines through us and is passed down.
-His Glory continues. Verses 16-17
Vrs 16 children loyal children are the fruit of this marriage. Christians make more Christians
The bride is the means by which the King brings birth to royal children. A call to evangelism.
It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction. Christian Theology in Plain Language
What do you do when your child just does not want to be involved? Explain our purpose.
Vrs 17 How you handle your family situations can cause others to recognize who the Lord is.
Closing Rev 19:6-8
Relationship with God and His people like a wedding.
-The response to His Glory V1 Psalmist praising the Lord (King)
When we see something amazing we are normally inclined to respond.
J.S. Bach said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul's refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub."
-Description of His Glory Verses 2-8 (the Groom)
Vrs 2a handsome and gracious speech. The appearance of the Lord in eternity.
V2b Reign is forever
V3 Protector
V4-5 Conqueror
Verese 6-7 Character is excellent Go to Hebrews 1:1-9 (Messianic value)
Righteousness and joy
Verses 8 Possessions are Excellent
Ivory palace
This psalm we see is about an Ordinary man but not ordinary man.
-Impact of His Glory (on His bride…the church) Verses 9-15 Heb 2:10 “many sons to glory” He brings us with Him
The union of Christ with His people We are the bride Our glory is Jesus
Emphasis is her relationship with the king.
***Men we have to remember if we have a bitter wife and unruly children we have to look at ourselves because they will reflect us to some degree. Maybe we are treating them the wrong way and they are responding to that. That does not excuse their actions but it does bring a reminder of the mans responsibility.
V9 at His right hand (We should always be looking at what the Lord wants us to do)
V10 she looks forward to her commitment in marriage (leave and cleave, the Lord is more important then family))
V11 He delights in her (The Lord delights in us)
V11 honors Him as her Lord. Honor the King as your Lord, know “whose” you are.
V 12 Others begin to notice her place of importance (your testimony will dictate how the world outside treats you)
V 13 She is blessed (we are blessed)
F.E. Marsh has pointed out some of God's blessings:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
V14 led to Him (the more we pursue purity from sin the closer we get to Jeus James 4:8 Draw near)
V15 Enters His palace. We are able to enter into the Lord’s presence through prayer and when we leave this earth we will go to the house of the Lord.
We are impacted by the Glory of Jesus Its not about us its about Jesus… His Glory shines through us and is passed down.
-His Glory continues. Verses 16-17
Vrs 16 children loyal children are the fruit of this marriage. Christians make more Christians
The bride is the means by which the King brings birth to royal children. A call to evangelism.
It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction. Christian Theology in Plain Language
What do you do when your child just does not want to be involved? Explain our purpose.
Vrs 17 How you handle your family situations can cause others to recognize who the Lord is.
Closing Rev 19:6-8
Sunday, June 12, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms" Jesus and Karma
Psalm 41
Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever did something good and reaped a reward?
2. Have you ever did something good and something bad happened to you?
3. Have you ever paid the consequence for a personal sin?
4. Have you ever did something bad and it seems like you got away with it?
5. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is willing to pay your sin debt?
6. How have you been acting like Jesus to those around you?
Read verse 1. As I read this first I stopped and had this thought…”this sounds like Karma” Many of you have herd of the concept of Karma, you may have herd about it in two different ways…religious as in Buddhism or Hinduism which pretty much states. “The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.” It is about balance bad needs to be paid for and good is rewarded. And pop culture Karma which pretty much states “what goes around comes around”
Now the problem with the first is that the Bible does not teach reincarnation and the problem with the second is that it does not always work. (Example a person doing good gets injured, a hard working honest person loses their job and good wife or husband fall victim to a cheating spouse and the list goes on). But then it reminds of a Biblical concept of “Reaping what we have sown”. Which then leads us to the question… Do we really reap what we sow? The answer is yes and no. Why? Because we have to look at the temporal life (here and now) and eternal life (eternity)
I read a book this week called “The Karma of Jesus” Do we really reap what we sow? By Mark Herringshaw
In the book he dealt with these issues by sharing a dialogue he had with a skeptical Karma trusting student that raised some questions in one of his lectures.
Tonight we are looking at Psalm 41 and I believe it teaches us at least three things in regards to the concept of “Reaping and sowing”
Verses 1-3 The Lord Rewards good deeds.
Vrs 1 Do good and the Lord rewards
Vrs 2 Matthew Henry says to this passage “The goodwill of God that loves us is sufficient to secure us against the ill will of those who hate us”
We will endure hardships from the doings of others but God will bring us through those suffering and troubled times. As we have seen in our last two Psalms that we studied.
Vrs 3 Sustaining power of the Lord to heal those who are spiritually sick
This passage leads us to a question… Does Jesus reward or give good health to people that “consider the poor”? Is this a hard and fast rule? Galatians 6:6-10 sheds some light on that.
Temporally we can say this does not always work but Galatians 6 tells us that in “due season” when we do good we will reap a eternal reward.
Verses 4-9 Sin has to be paid for.
Verses 4 Prayer of confession and healing for his sinful condition.
Verses 5-8 enemies take advantage of his vulnerable condition and are kicking him when he is down. Could possibly be referring to his personal sin that affected others made enemies for him.
In life we realize that when we sin against others it can get very ugly, relationships are broken. Maybe you have spoken hurtful words to another person. Maybe you let someone down, maybe your lack of concern discouraged someone. The list goes on, but the bottom line is our personal sin can radically affect others.
Verse 9 True of David 2 Sam 16:20-17:3, 23 Ahithophel betrayed David and hung himself.
True of Jesus John 13:18 betrayal by Judas. (Messianic value)
Maybe you have felt betrayed by someone…Maybe you felt betrayed by God because you did good but it seems like only bad is coming in return. Realize this Jesus was betrayed on your behalf.
To be sure in eternity there is reward for good and there is payment for sin and that is exactly the reason why we need Jesus to step in. Grace breaks in and changes the way of things.
Verses 10-13 Grace breaks in
Verse 10 “Be gracious” don’t give me what I deserve and…
Verse 11 show me
Bono “At the heart of every world religion is the idea of Karma, yet along comes this idea of Grace comes in”
“I would be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge…It does not excuse my mistakes, but I am holding out for Grace. I am holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and our sinful nature does not reap obvious death”
Jesus reaped what we have sown.
Herringshaw said in his book. When we start to realize there has to be a payment people respond in different ways.
1. Deny the crisis
2. Attempt a bit of magic (figure out a cover-up)
3. Look for a loophole (a way out)
4. Concede and throw ourselves on the mercy of the judge and ask for grace
On the Cross Jesus said a few phrases one we looked at last week “My God, My God”
2 others were saying…
-Jesus asked the Father to forgive (I am willing to forgive)
-Said to the prisoner today you will be with me in paradise (I have forgiven because you believe I can)
E. Stanly Jones says “Buddhism says that life is suffering: What is wrong. Hinduism says that life is Karma: What is right.
But Jesus says life is exchange: What is, can be made right.”
We reap what we sow…but not entirely because Jesus stepped in and reaped death because we have sown sin.
Vrsw 12 The reward “His presence” in our lives now and forever.
In conclusion… As Christians…If we are rewarded for the good we do and escape payment for the sin…how do we respond?
Someone once said it like this…In Jesus’ ugly death He becomes us, in life we need to become Jesus.
Vrs 13 Doxology closing of book 1
Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever did something good and reaped a reward?
2. Have you ever did something good and something bad happened to you?
3. Have you ever paid the consequence for a personal sin?
4. Have you ever did something bad and it seems like you got away with it?
5. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is willing to pay your sin debt?
6. How have you been acting like Jesus to those around you?
Read verse 1. As I read this first I stopped and had this thought…”this sounds like Karma” Many of you have herd of the concept of Karma, you may have herd about it in two different ways…religious as in Buddhism or Hinduism which pretty much states. “The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.” It is about balance bad needs to be paid for and good is rewarded. And pop culture Karma which pretty much states “what goes around comes around”
Now the problem with the first is that the Bible does not teach reincarnation and the problem with the second is that it does not always work. (Example a person doing good gets injured, a hard working honest person loses their job and good wife or husband fall victim to a cheating spouse and the list goes on). But then it reminds of a Biblical concept of “Reaping what we have sown”. Which then leads us to the question… Do we really reap what we sow? The answer is yes and no. Why? Because we have to look at the temporal life (here and now) and eternal life (eternity)
I read a book this week called “The Karma of Jesus” Do we really reap what we sow? By Mark Herringshaw
In the book he dealt with these issues by sharing a dialogue he had with a skeptical Karma trusting student that raised some questions in one of his lectures.
Tonight we are looking at Psalm 41 and I believe it teaches us at least three things in regards to the concept of “Reaping and sowing”
Verses 1-3 The Lord Rewards good deeds.
Vrs 1 Do good and the Lord rewards
Vrs 2 Matthew Henry says to this passage “The goodwill of God that loves us is sufficient to secure us against the ill will of those who hate us”
We will endure hardships from the doings of others but God will bring us through those suffering and troubled times. As we have seen in our last two Psalms that we studied.
Vrs 3 Sustaining power of the Lord to heal those who are spiritually sick
This passage leads us to a question… Does Jesus reward or give good health to people that “consider the poor”? Is this a hard and fast rule? Galatians 6:6-10 sheds some light on that.
Temporally we can say this does not always work but Galatians 6 tells us that in “due season” when we do good we will reap a eternal reward.
Verses 4-9 Sin has to be paid for.
Verses 4 Prayer of confession and healing for his sinful condition.
Verses 5-8 enemies take advantage of his vulnerable condition and are kicking him when he is down. Could possibly be referring to his personal sin that affected others made enemies for him.
In life we realize that when we sin against others it can get very ugly, relationships are broken. Maybe you have spoken hurtful words to another person. Maybe you let someone down, maybe your lack of concern discouraged someone. The list goes on, but the bottom line is our personal sin can radically affect others.
Verse 9 True of David 2 Sam 16:20-17:3, 23 Ahithophel betrayed David and hung himself.
True of Jesus John 13:18 betrayal by Judas. (Messianic value)
Maybe you have felt betrayed by someone…Maybe you felt betrayed by God because you did good but it seems like only bad is coming in return. Realize this Jesus was betrayed on your behalf.
To be sure in eternity there is reward for good and there is payment for sin and that is exactly the reason why we need Jesus to step in. Grace breaks in and changes the way of things.
Verses 10-13 Grace breaks in
Verse 10 “Be gracious” don’t give me what I deserve and…
Verse 11 show me
Bono “At the heart of every world religion is the idea of Karma, yet along comes this idea of Grace comes in”
“I would be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge…It does not excuse my mistakes, but I am holding out for Grace. I am holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and our sinful nature does not reap obvious death”
Jesus reaped what we have sown.
Herringshaw said in his book. When we start to realize there has to be a payment people respond in different ways.
1. Deny the crisis
2. Attempt a bit of magic (figure out a cover-up)
3. Look for a loophole (a way out)
4. Concede and throw ourselves on the mercy of the judge and ask for grace
On the Cross Jesus said a few phrases one we looked at last week “My God, My God”
2 others were saying…
-Jesus asked the Father to forgive (I am willing to forgive)
-Said to the prisoner today you will be with me in paradise (I have forgiven because you believe I can)
E. Stanly Jones says “Buddhism says that life is suffering: What is wrong. Hinduism says that life is Karma: What is right.
But Jesus says life is exchange: What is, can be made right.”
We reap what we sow…but not entirely because Jesus stepped in and reaped death because we have sown sin.
Vrsw 12 The reward “His presence” in our lives now and forever.
In conclusion… As Christians…If we are rewarded for the good we do and escape payment for the sin…how do we respond?
Someone once said it like this…In Jesus’ ugly death He becomes us, in life we need to become Jesus.
Vrs 13 Doxology closing of book 1
Monday, June 6, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms": Jesus Delivers in Suffering"
Psalm 22 “Jesus Delivers in Suffering”
Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever been caught in the rut of just “crying out” during suffering?
2. Have you had an experience in life in which suffering led to a blessing?
3. Have you ever had someone ridicule you because of your faith?
4. Have you ever had a situation in which you felt that the hand of God drastically changed things?
5. Do you take the time and praise Him for what He has done in your life?
Sermon
As a pastor many times I feel very inadequate when people are experiencing suffering because I really have come to the conclusion that I can be there but there is nothing that I can say or do that will stop the suffering the individual is going through. Through the study of this Psalm it has become clear to me that when we observe the suffering of Jesus and the anguish that He went through not only does He know how suffering feels to the fullest extent but this Psalm teaches us that at the end of the day…during suffering all that you really have is the Lord…it really is about your relationship with Him and even at the lowest time when it seems that He has abandoned you…He is ultimately there to provide deliverance but the deliverance may not look the way you think it should.
Written over 1000 years before Christ “Typico-prophetic Messianic Psalm” = Psalmist uses language to describe his personal experience, but the language goes beyond his experience , and becomes historically true only in the Lord. (Dr. Allen Ross)
In many senses this Psalm coupled with Christ’s sufferings on the cross typifies every Christians sufferings.
-We cry out. The common response to suffering
Vrs 1-2 “Why does Jesus say this” because that in a nutshell is what suffering feels like and Jesus felt it because of our sin.
Suffering feels like we have been abandoned, feels like there is no way our, feels like we want to go back in time, feels like we want someone to say it is going to be alright, etc.
Is there a way out of this?
Jesus is appropriating the entire Psalm to Himself. This means He will never abandon us because He abandoned Christ in our place.
-We see how God worked in the past. 3-5 I see what you are capable of. It is an act of trust to say to the Father I believe you have what is best in mind for me. It is important for us as Christians to look at the faith of those before us.
It is a great comfort and help to learn and be encouraged by those that God delivered from certain suffering.
Whether it was suffering due to personal sin like Chuck Colson who was incarcerated in 1974 for covering up the Watergate burglary, then went on to become a Christian and start a worldwide ministry in 113 different nations called Prison Fellowship to help rehabilitate prisoners and lead them to Jesus. Not only that but author over a dozen books and a radio teacher. God used his high profile sinful decision to bring Him to Himself and then go to use Him for His glory.
Or random suffering because we live in sin wrought world and suffering happens like Charlotte Elliot who was confined to bed for 50 years with a debilitating disease the doctors could not figure out. Wrote “Just as I am”
-We are ridiculed for trusting Him. How some will react to us when we trust the Lord in suffering
Verses 6-8 What people say to those who suffer that trust the Lord. As a Christian when you suffer it sometimes becomes and opportunity for the unbelieving to mock your faith. We see that in Job when his wife tells him to curse God. We see that in Jesus’ crucifixion
When we are mocked it makes us angry at those who mock but there is a temptation to be angry with God because He has not delivered.
-We realize He is with us. God is there in the suffering. Verses 9-11 Jesus is the example of that. I know Jesus is with me when I suffer because of this next passage
-We look at Jesus’ suffering. Verses 12-18 Suffering can get ugly. Jesus suffering for sins (ultimately sin separates)
We go it alone with the Lord when we suffer. If your relationship with the Lord is not solid it will not go well. Others can not have faith for you. When sin is present there will always be suffering and that was what Jesus was suffering for.
As ugly as it can get God can use it in your life.
Somerset Maugham, the English writer, once wrote a story about a janitor at St Peter's Church in London. One day a young priest discovered that the janitor was illiterate and fired him. Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny tobacco shop, where he prospered, bought another, expanded, and ended up with a chain of tobacco stores worth several hundred thousand dollars. One day the man's banker said, "You've done well for an illiterate, but where would you be if you could read and write?" "Well," replied the man, "I'd be janitor of St. Peter's Church in Neville Square."
Helen Keller said "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. How?
-We pray through it. Petition Verses 19-21 (keeping focus) Remember it is all about your relationship with the Lord that will see you through.
-We praise Jesus for deliverance. Allow the situation to result in praise.
The overlying theme of this praise is to make it known to others what the Lord has done. David shared with the congregation what the Lord did for him. Verses 22-31 (Read and comment)
Maybe you have not been delivered from suffering yet and you don’t feel like praising Him. You still have a deliverance to praise Him for and tell others about…salvation the GOSPEL
Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever been caught in the rut of just “crying out” during suffering?
2. Have you had an experience in life in which suffering led to a blessing?
3. Have you ever had someone ridicule you because of your faith?
4. Have you ever had a situation in which you felt that the hand of God drastically changed things?
5. Do you take the time and praise Him for what He has done in your life?
Sermon
As a pastor many times I feel very inadequate when people are experiencing suffering because I really have come to the conclusion that I can be there but there is nothing that I can say or do that will stop the suffering the individual is going through. Through the study of this Psalm it has become clear to me that when we observe the suffering of Jesus and the anguish that He went through not only does He know how suffering feels to the fullest extent but this Psalm teaches us that at the end of the day…during suffering all that you really have is the Lord…it really is about your relationship with Him and even at the lowest time when it seems that He has abandoned you…He is ultimately there to provide deliverance but the deliverance may not look the way you think it should.
Written over 1000 years before Christ “Typico-prophetic Messianic Psalm” = Psalmist uses language to describe his personal experience, but the language goes beyond his experience , and becomes historically true only in the Lord. (Dr. Allen Ross)
In many senses this Psalm coupled with Christ’s sufferings on the cross typifies every Christians sufferings.
-We cry out. The common response to suffering
Vrs 1-2 “Why does Jesus say this” because that in a nutshell is what suffering feels like and Jesus felt it because of our sin.
Suffering feels like we have been abandoned, feels like there is no way our, feels like we want to go back in time, feels like we want someone to say it is going to be alright, etc.
Is there a way out of this?
Jesus is appropriating the entire Psalm to Himself. This means He will never abandon us because He abandoned Christ in our place.
-We see how God worked in the past. 3-5 I see what you are capable of. It is an act of trust to say to the Father I believe you have what is best in mind for me. It is important for us as Christians to look at the faith of those before us.
It is a great comfort and help to learn and be encouraged by those that God delivered from certain suffering.
Whether it was suffering due to personal sin like Chuck Colson who was incarcerated in 1974 for covering up the Watergate burglary, then went on to become a Christian and start a worldwide ministry in 113 different nations called Prison Fellowship to help rehabilitate prisoners and lead them to Jesus. Not only that but author over a dozen books and a radio teacher. God used his high profile sinful decision to bring Him to Himself and then go to use Him for His glory.
Or random suffering because we live in sin wrought world and suffering happens like Charlotte Elliot who was confined to bed for 50 years with a debilitating disease the doctors could not figure out. Wrote “Just as I am”
-We are ridiculed for trusting Him. How some will react to us when we trust the Lord in suffering
Verses 6-8 What people say to those who suffer that trust the Lord. As a Christian when you suffer it sometimes becomes and opportunity for the unbelieving to mock your faith. We see that in Job when his wife tells him to curse God. We see that in Jesus’ crucifixion
When we are mocked it makes us angry at those who mock but there is a temptation to be angry with God because He has not delivered.
-We realize He is with us. God is there in the suffering. Verses 9-11 Jesus is the example of that. I know Jesus is with me when I suffer because of this next passage
-We look at Jesus’ suffering. Verses 12-18 Suffering can get ugly. Jesus suffering for sins (ultimately sin separates)
We go it alone with the Lord when we suffer. If your relationship with the Lord is not solid it will not go well. Others can not have faith for you. When sin is present there will always be suffering and that was what Jesus was suffering for.
As ugly as it can get God can use it in your life.
Somerset Maugham, the English writer, once wrote a story about a janitor at St Peter's Church in London. One day a young priest discovered that the janitor was illiterate and fired him. Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny tobacco shop, where he prospered, bought another, expanded, and ended up with a chain of tobacco stores worth several hundred thousand dollars. One day the man's banker said, "You've done well for an illiterate, but where would you be if you could read and write?" "Well," replied the man, "I'd be janitor of St. Peter's Church in Neville Square."
Helen Keller said "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. How?
-We pray through it. Petition Verses 19-21 (keeping focus) Remember it is all about your relationship with the Lord that will see you through.
-We praise Jesus for deliverance. Allow the situation to result in praise.
The overlying theme of this praise is to make it known to others what the Lord has done. David shared with the congregation what the Lord did for him. Verses 22-31 (Read and comment)
Maybe you have not been delivered from suffering yet and you don’t feel like praising Him. You still have a deliverance to praise Him for and tell others about…salvation the GOSPEL
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms" Preserved by Jesus
Psalm 16 “Preserved by Jesus”
Intro about self preservation and wanting to insulate ourselves from the problems of this world.
We all have to come to the point in life in which we realize that we cannot preserve our own lives or insulate ourselves from trouble and rely on the Lord to preserve us from and through troubles.
Psalm 16 is entitled Michtam-golden Psalm. The contents are a treasure that should be valued more then Gold. Why? Because what the Lord promises is sure and it is does things that Gold can never do. Provides a refuge for us in life.
Vrs 1 Asking the Lord for preservation. Job 7:20 “The Preserver of men”
How??
• We can only do that when we realize…
Vrs 2 -Life without the Lord is not good (how your life was before and after) What has the Lord pulled you through?
Vrs 3 -It is good to be with other believers. Why people do not want to be with other believers…
1. Conviction of personal sin
2. Christians that are off focus tend to be self righteous. How do you know if you are self righteous? If things always have to be the way you think they should be.
How have God’s people helped you through difficult times?
Vrs 4 -true hope cannot be found apart from Jesus. It is a travesty to pursue something other then the Lord and will increase the pain of life. We should be like David steer clear of being involved in that.
As a Christian what are trusting in that is actually infecting your trust of the Lord?
• When David realized those things his response was…
Vrs 5-6 -Rest in Jesus’
Control – We need to be satisfied that the situations of our life under the care of the God of the universe.
Blessings - David is comparing the Lord with the best inheritance a person can receive. The Lord has given him a wonderfully full life.
What has the Lord blessed you with?
If you doubt His blessings…
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will He not also graciously give us all things. Romans 8:32
Remember the GOSPEL
Vrs 7-8 –Go to Jesus’ council. I go to Him and listen to Him and He builds my foundation. David was modeling a life that consisted of devotion or quiet time with the Lord. This should consist of reading His Word and spending time in prayer. Know this is the simplest most difficult thing that you can do.
What is your devotion life like? Ideas DB, DW, M&E,
Vrs 9-10 -Overwhelming joy. It impacts Him physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Vrs 10 Messianic value Acts 2:25-28 (Peter) & Acts 13:35-37 (Paul) Our refuge is proven in the resurrection of Jesus, it shows that God is capable of preserving us. Even if this life is rough…Our future promise of resurrection.
Vrs 11 His promise is eternal and here is the path.
Intro about self preservation and wanting to insulate ourselves from the problems of this world.
We all have to come to the point in life in which we realize that we cannot preserve our own lives or insulate ourselves from trouble and rely on the Lord to preserve us from and through troubles.
Psalm 16 is entitled Michtam-golden Psalm. The contents are a treasure that should be valued more then Gold. Why? Because what the Lord promises is sure and it is does things that Gold can never do. Provides a refuge for us in life.
Vrs 1 Asking the Lord for preservation. Job 7:20 “The Preserver of men”
How??
• We can only do that when we realize…
Vrs 2 -Life without the Lord is not good (how your life was before and after) What has the Lord pulled you through?
Vrs 3 -It is good to be with other believers. Why people do not want to be with other believers…
1. Conviction of personal sin
2. Christians that are off focus tend to be self righteous. How do you know if you are self righteous? If things always have to be the way you think they should be.
How have God’s people helped you through difficult times?
Vrs 4 -true hope cannot be found apart from Jesus. It is a travesty to pursue something other then the Lord and will increase the pain of life. We should be like David steer clear of being involved in that.
As a Christian what are trusting in that is actually infecting your trust of the Lord?
• When David realized those things his response was…
Vrs 5-6 -Rest in Jesus’
Control – We need to be satisfied that the situations of our life under the care of the God of the universe.
Blessings - David is comparing the Lord with the best inheritance a person can receive. The Lord has given him a wonderfully full life.
What has the Lord blessed you with?
If you doubt His blessings…
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will He not also graciously give us all things. Romans 8:32
Remember the GOSPEL
Vrs 7-8 –Go to Jesus’ council. I go to Him and listen to Him and He builds my foundation. David was modeling a life that consisted of devotion or quiet time with the Lord. This should consist of reading His Word and spending time in prayer. Know this is the simplest most difficult thing that you can do.
What is your devotion life like? Ideas DB, DW, M&E,
Vrs 9-10 -Overwhelming joy. It impacts Him physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Vrs 10 Messianic value Acts 2:25-28 (Peter) & Acts 13:35-37 (Paul) Our refuge is proven in the resurrection of Jesus, it shows that God is capable of preserving us. Even if this life is rough…Our future promise of resurrection.
Vrs 11 His promise is eternal and here is the path.
Monday, May 23, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms": The Majestic Name of Jesus
Psalm 8 Read verse 1 Majestic-stately grand
Psalm 8 begins and ends with the same verse which gives us the hint that this Psalm is going to answer the question…why God’s Name is Majestic. It tells us three reasons His Name is Majestic…
I. Because He deals with His enemies Vrs 2 - 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 This brings people to the realization that there is no way around God.
(Zane beating me in Chess humiliating) God takes care of business, He does not shrink back. Maybe you do not deal with those who oppose you?
II. Because of His creation Vrs 1b & 3 Vrs 1 “set” God is more glorious then the heavens (when we look out and see creation and are in aw God is more then that) Romans 1 tells us that people without excuse as far as the knowledge of God (General Revelation) also Psalm 19
III. Because He gave us a great responsibility. Vrs 4-8
Missiology-is tracking the culture around you and being influential within that culture. The temptation for churches and communities of faith is to get stuck into doing things the way we have always did them, not wanting to change and making the culture seem evil by only looking at the good old days.
This becomes difficult because culture moves fast due to media and also there are so many sub cultures today that have to do with music, art sports education and age groups. So how do we as individual Christians answer that call and become missionaries to our own people group?
What is man? God gave man dominion Gen 1:26 from the beginning. Man is God’s representation on the earth.
What is our responsibility to the world around us?
Christians should care about…
1. Where we live. Twofold… firs ist Creation in general. Christians should be concerned with the environment and living things that God has made. It is a stewardship issue and in our culture it is a testimony issue.
The ways of nature teach us more about the Lord Vrs 8 “paths of the sea” Us Naval Officer Matthew Fontaine Maury in the 1800’s was very sick and bed ridden, he asked his daughter to read to him from the Bible and she chose Psalm 8 and his response to verse 8 was “Paths of the sea, paths of sea, if God says paths of the sea, then they are there, and if I ever get out of this bed I will find them”
As a sailor, Maury noted that there were numerous lessons that had been learned by ship-masters about the effects of adverse winds and drift currents on the path of a ship. The captains recorded these lessons faithfully in their logbooks, but they were then forgotten. At the Observatory, Maury uncovered an enormous collection of thousands of old ships' logs and charts in storage in trunks dating back to the start of the United States Navy. Maury pored over these documents to collect information on winds, calms, and currents for all seas in all seasons.
Much of the sea charts were developed due to his work because of being inspired by the Word talking about creation.
From nature we learn there is a God (Romans 1) but we also learn that He is purposeful creative and cares about the details of His creation. We should pay attention to that.
The second is the community we live. This is where we need to ask some questions.
-Am I a good neighbor?
-Do I have concern for beauty and health of the community?
-How do I contribute to the community I live in?
2. Who lives around us. The call of the Christian is to love our neighbor. This does not only mean be good to others but it also means we should step in when bad is happening. (there are evil people that plan and promote evil) Christians can’t ignore injustice and oppression of others. That means we do not ignore mistreatment of other people. When we ignore the mistreatment of others it can lead to great consequences Vrba and Wetzel report
Rudolf Kastner By the beginning of May 1944, Kastner and many other Jewish leaders had received the Vrba-Wetzler report and other evidence that Hungary's Jews would be sent to their deaths. The report was released to the leaders of Jewish organizations in the hope that Hungarian Jews would be warned that they were being deported to a death camp and were not being resettled, as they had been led to believe. However, the report was not made public by the Jewish Council in Hungary or by Kastner.[23]
But by then 437,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported to Auschwitz, where the overwhelming majority were murdered on arrival.
It is not always easy to care about where we live and who lives by us, many times we fail because we are selfish.
We see how man has failed and as the writer of Hebrews points out man has failed when he sinned and Jesus comes and makes that right and restores man to his rightful place with Him in which we will reign as well.
This is what makes this a Messianic Psalm
3. Sharing the Gospel- Jesus is the ideal human because He is also divine Hebrews 2:6-10 quotes this Psalm and puts it all together.
God’s Name is not only majestic because He deals with His enemies, because of His creation or because He gives us responsibility. He is because He lays everything down for us.
Psalm 8 begins and ends with the same verse which gives us the hint that this Psalm is going to answer the question…why God’s Name is Majestic. It tells us three reasons His Name is Majestic…
I. Because He deals with His enemies Vrs 2 - 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 This brings people to the realization that there is no way around God.
(Zane beating me in Chess humiliating) God takes care of business, He does not shrink back. Maybe you do not deal with those who oppose you?
II. Because of His creation Vrs 1b & 3 Vrs 1 “set” God is more glorious then the heavens (when we look out and see creation and are in aw God is more then that) Romans 1 tells us that people without excuse as far as the knowledge of God (General Revelation) also Psalm 19
III. Because He gave us a great responsibility. Vrs 4-8
Missiology-is tracking the culture around you and being influential within that culture. The temptation for churches and communities of faith is to get stuck into doing things the way we have always did them, not wanting to change and making the culture seem evil by only looking at the good old days.
This becomes difficult because culture moves fast due to media and also there are so many sub cultures today that have to do with music, art sports education and age groups. So how do we as individual Christians answer that call and become missionaries to our own people group?
What is man? God gave man dominion Gen 1:26 from the beginning. Man is God’s representation on the earth.
What is our responsibility to the world around us?
Christians should care about…
1. Where we live. Twofold… firs ist Creation in general. Christians should be concerned with the environment and living things that God has made. It is a stewardship issue and in our culture it is a testimony issue.
The ways of nature teach us more about the Lord Vrs 8 “paths of the sea” Us Naval Officer Matthew Fontaine Maury in the 1800’s was very sick and bed ridden, he asked his daughter to read to him from the Bible and she chose Psalm 8 and his response to verse 8 was “Paths of the sea, paths of sea, if God says paths of the sea, then they are there, and if I ever get out of this bed I will find them”
As a sailor, Maury noted that there were numerous lessons that had been learned by ship-masters about the effects of adverse winds and drift currents on the path of a ship. The captains recorded these lessons faithfully in their logbooks, but they were then forgotten. At the Observatory, Maury uncovered an enormous collection of thousands of old ships' logs and charts in storage in trunks dating back to the start of the United States Navy. Maury pored over these documents to collect information on winds, calms, and currents for all seas in all seasons.
Much of the sea charts were developed due to his work because of being inspired by the Word talking about creation.
From nature we learn there is a God (Romans 1) but we also learn that He is purposeful creative and cares about the details of His creation. We should pay attention to that.
The second is the community we live. This is where we need to ask some questions.
-Am I a good neighbor?
-Do I have concern for beauty and health of the community?
-How do I contribute to the community I live in?
2. Who lives around us. The call of the Christian is to love our neighbor. This does not only mean be good to others but it also means we should step in when bad is happening. (there are evil people that plan and promote evil) Christians can’t ignore injustice and oppression of others. That means we do not ignore mistreatment of other people. When we ignore the mistreatment of others it can lead to great consequences Vrba and Wetzel report
Rudolf Kastner By the beginning of May 1944, Kastner and many other Jewish leaders had received the Vrba-Wetzler report and other evidence that Hungary's Jews would be sent to their deaths. The report was released to the leaders of Jewish organizations in the hope that Hungarian Jews would be warned that they were being deported to a death camp and were not being resettled, as they had been led to believe. However, the report was not made public by the Jewish Council in Hungary or by Kastner.[23]
But by then 437,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported to Auschwitz, where the overwhelming majority were murdered on arrival.
It is not always easy to care about where we live and who lives by us, many times we fail because we are selfish.
We see how man has failed and as the writer of Hebrews points out man has failed when he sinned and Jesus comes and makes that right and restores man to his rightful place with Him in which we will reign as well.
This is what makes this a Messianic Psalm
3. Sharing the Gospel- Jesus is the ideal human because He is also divine Hebrews 2:6-10 quotes this Psalm and puts it all together.
God’s Name is not only majestic because He deals with His enemies, because of His creation or because He gives us responsibility. He is because He lays everything down for us.
Monday, May 16, 2011
"Seeing Jesus in the Psalms": Responding to King Jesus
Psalm 2
Intro to Psalms “Songs” or “praises” in poetic form
Psalm 2 is known as a Royal Psalm written by David during his reign 10th century BC (900-1000years Before Jesus). The Israelites would realize that the blessing from the Lord was tied to the house of David and the Kings that were anointed would come from David’s line. So in this Psalm we see the coronation or the crowning of an earthly King with the duel purpose of looking toward the future King of Kings Jesus Christ. So in this Psalm as pretty much in all the Messianic Psalms we will see something that is true for the day that it was written but we will also see things that are true to Jesus and His ministry.
In particular Psalm 2 deals with how people respond to King Jesus
I. Some respond in rebellion against the Lord. Verses 1-3
Acts 4:24-25 Quotes this Psalm
Vrs 1 Why do people go against the Lord?
Vrs 2 Because their leaders (those they look up to) do and they follow
Vrs 3 Because they do not want to answer to anyone
2 forms of rebellion, 1. unbelief 2. disobedience(Christian)
II. The Lord responds to the rebellious people. Verses 4-6
Verse 4 God laughs, “derision” ridicules them “anthropomorphic” the psalmist describes God’s response in human terms
What are you doing that God is laughing at? When we act as if we are God and we are in control, “no one will tell me what I can or can’t do” (pride)
Did you hear about the clever salesman who closed hundreds of sales with this line: "Let me show you something several of your neighbors said you couldn't afford."
Foolishness of the Lord is wiser then mans wisdom.
Verse 5-6 God Speaks: Here is God’s wrath setting His King in Zion which was Canaanite city that David had conquered (2 Sam 5:7)
He places His King where He chooses.
When God speaks He acts…He does not go back on His promises, sometimes He is mad. Active wrath….& Passive wrath (Romans 1 “Give over”)
What are you doing that makes God mad or upset?
-Maybe you have an inappropriate relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend? -Maybe you have a secret sin? Maybe you are not being fair or honest with your spouse?
III. The Lord responds to “the Son” Verses 7-9
Promises. I am putting this in 3 groups
Vrs 7 David as he was installed as king 2 Sam. 7:14 Sonship brings the right to discipline. 2 Sam 12:9-11 “Sword will not depart
Vrs 8 David’s inheritance is that his line will bring forth Jesus
Vrs 9 David’s reign will be accomplished in Jesus
Vrs 7 Us When a person trusts in Christ they become a child of God.
1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the Sons of God” The Lord takes interest in disciplining His children for rebellion
What do you think He would say to you? Because of your sin
Maybe He has already made it clear to you to stop and is doing that through discipline. How are you responding to His discipline?
As a father my discipline on my children immediately becomes lighter when they respond the right way.
Verse 8 Romans 8:16 calls us “Heirs” Our inheritance as sons & daughters is citizenship in heaven Phil 3:20
Verse 9 We become more then conquerors Romans 8:37
Jesus is the ultimate Son, that is who we need to see in this Psalm
Quted in the NT Hebrews 1:5 & 5:5 Acts 13:33
Vrs7 GOSPEL the only begotten that took our sins
Vrs 8 Enemies become His footstool
Vrs 9 Jesus will come back and eventually clean house as the reigning King. Everyone will bow to Jesus, the King is the King whether you say He is or not.
So how should we respond? The King tells us.
IV. The King responds to the rebellious people. Verses 10-12
“Be warned Be wise” Vrs 10 Why does the King call out to the kings and rulers? 3 reasons…-people follow them -pride needs to broken down -Jesus was crucified by the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:25-26 Paul identified them)
Vrs 11 Obedience - Serve the Lord and rejoice. A call to the Christian…live for the Lord not for self. Why live in rebellion?
Vrs 12 Belief - Trust Jesus “Kiss the Son” Only in the Son is there refuge from God’s wrath…because the Son has taken the wrath. People do not like to hear or think that God has wrath but I have grown to love the fact that God has wrath…why? Because through the Son Jesus taking the wrath shows us just how much and how strong His love is for us by taking the wrath on Himself. “Blessed are those who take refuge in the Son”
Intro to Psalms “Songs” or “praises” in poetic form
Psalm 2 is known as a Royal Psalm written by David during his reign 10th century BC (900-1000years Before Jesus). The Israelites would realize that the blessing from the Lord was tied to the house of David and the Kings that were anointed would come from David’s line. So in this Psalm we see the coronation or the crowning of an earthly King with the duel purpose of looking toward the future King of Kings Jesus Christ. So in this Psalm as pretty much in all the Messianic Psalms we will see something that is true for the day that it was written but we will also see things that are true to Jesus and His ministry.
In particular Psalm 2 deals with how people respond to King Jesus
I. Some respond in rebellion against the Lord. Verses 1-3
Acts 4:24-25 Quotes this Psalm
Vrs 1 Why do people go against the Lord?
Vrs 2 Because their leaders (those they look up to) do and they follow
Vrs 3 Because they do not want to answer to anyone
2 forms of rebellion, 1. unbelief 2. disobedience(Christian)
II. The Lord responds to the rebellious people. Verses 4-6
Verse 4 God laughs, “derision” ridicules them “anthropomorphic” the psalmist describes God’s response in human terms
What are you doing that God is laughing at? When we act as if we are God and we are in control, “no one will tell me what I can or can’t do” (pride)
Did you hear about the clever salesman who closed hundreds of sales with this line: "Let me show you something several of your neighbors said you couldn't afford."
Foolishness of the Lord is wiser then mans wisdom.
Verse 5-6 God Speaks: Here is God’s wrath setting His King in Zion which was Canaanite city that David had conquered (2 Sam 5:7)
He places His King where He chooses.
When God speaks He acts…He does not go back on His promises, sometimes He is mad. Active wrath….& Passive wrath (Romans 1 “Give over”)
What are you doing that makes God mad or upset?
-Maybe you have an inappropriate relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend? -Maybe you have a secret sin? Maybe you are not being fair or honest with your spouse?
III. The Lord responds to “the Son” Verses 7-9
Promises. I am putting this in 3 groups
Vrs 7 David as he was installed as king 2 Sam. 7:14 Sonship brings the right to discipline. 2 Sam 12:9-11 “Sword will not depart
Vrs 8 David’s inheritance is that his line will bring forth Jesus
Vrs 9 David’s reign will be accomplished in Jesus
Vrs 7 Us When a person trusts in Christ they become a child of God.
1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the Sons of God” The Lord takes interest in disciplining His children for rebellion
What do you think He would say to you? Because of your sin
Maybe He has already made it clear to you to stop and is doing that through discipline. How are you responding to His discipline?
As a father my discipline on my children immediately becomes lighter when they respond the right way.
Verse 8 Romans 8:16 calls us “Heirs” Our inheritance as sons & daughters is citizenship in heaven Phil 3:20
Verse 9 We become more then conquerors Romans 8:37
Jesus is the ultimate Son, that is who we need to see in this Psalm
Quted in the NT Hebrews 1:5 & 5:5 Acts 13:33
Vrs7 GOSPEL the only begotten that took our sins
Vrs 8 Enemies become His footstool
Vrs 9 Jesus will come back and eventually clean house as the reigning King. Everyone will bow to Jesus, the King is the King whether you say He is or not.
So how should we respond? The King tells us.
IV. The King responds to the rebellious people. Verses 10-12
“Be warned Be wise” Vrs 10 Why does the King call out to the kings and rulers? 3 reasons…-people follow them -pride needs to broken down -Jesus was crucified by the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:25-26 Paul identified them)
Vrs 11 Obedience - Serve the Lord and rejoice. A call to the Christian…live for the Lord not for self. Why live in rebellion?
Vrs 12 Belief - Trust Jesus “Kiss the Son” Only in the Son is there refuge from God’s wrath…because the Son has taken the wrath. People do not like to hear or think that God has wrath but I have grown to love the fact that God has wrath…why? Because through the Son Jesus taking the wrath shows us just how much and how strong His love is for us by taking the wrath on Himself. “Blessed are those who take refuge in the Son”
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