Blessings of Refuge
Notes
Transcript
Call to Worship
Call to Worship
Psalm 150:1-2
Prayer
Prayer
Adoration: Incomprehensible, glorious, almighty, infinite in beauty, worthy of devotion
Confession: we have sinned against you in thought, word, deed; failed to draw near in humiliation and confess our sins/failed to trust your steadfast, forgiving love; we’ve stayed away when we ought to have drawn near. Father, forgive us…
Thanksgiving: We remember your rich mercy to forgive sinners; we remember that we stand in the grace of the cross
Supplication: Crush our hearts over our sins; give us power to run quickly to you to confess; grow us in holiness, humility, and depth of thankfulness; may Your love in Christ overflow our hearts so that we are passionate to take the news of it to those who don’t know you yet//Hope Fellowship—that they would seek Your Kingdom first, worship him in all things, embody the gospel, live in obedience and holiness, that you would provide them with a godly music pastor + wisdom for use of their land; believers in Afghanistan: defend, give courage + truth, grow; local judges; Word Preached change our hearts!
Family Matters: Wednesday fellowship meal, breakfast in honor of the men June 11th
Benediction
Benediction
May you know the Lord’s blessing as you serve him with fear and rejoice with trembling; may you be blessed as you take refuge in his Messiah. Amen (from Psalm 2:11-12; alt. Isa. 60:1-3)
Sermon
Sermon
Main Idea: Blessing comes from a cross-shaped refuge in the conquering Son
Intro
Intro
How are believers to live, when the nations rage?
Polycarp, early Christian pastor in Smyrna (I’ve mentioned before)//arrested, brought to the arena—here’s what is recorded in an early church letter about what happened:
The Apostolic Fathers Chapter 9
3 As the Proconsul urged him and said: ‘Take the oath and I release you; revile Christ,’ Polycarp said: ‘Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?’
The Apostolic Fathers Chapter 10
1 As he further insisted and said: ‘Swear by the genius of Caesar,’ Polycarp replied: ‘If you vainly imagine that I will swear by the genius [fortune] of Caesar, as you say, and pretend not to know who I am, let me tell you plainly: I am a Christian.
The Apostolic Fathers Chapter 11
1 The Proconsul said: ‘I have wild animals; to them will I throw you, unless you change your mind.’ But he said: ‘Call them, for change of mind from better to worse is a change not allowed us; but it is good to change from wickedness to justice.’ 2 Again he said to him: ‘If you scorn the wild beasts, I will have you burned by fire, unless you repent.’ But Polycarp said: ‘You threaten the fire that burns for an hour and in a little while is quenched; for you do not know the fire of the future judgment and of eternal punishment, the fire reserved for the wicked. But why do you delay? Come, do as you wish.’
And it goes on to record Polycarp’s death—he died with courage + joy, thankful to participate in the sufferings of Christ, his refuge in suffering
We are Confronted with a crossroads—
US is becoming more + more hostile to Christianity in every sector//In ps. 2 language, the level of our rage against Lord + Anointed is going up steeply
Crossroads = how will we face this? What attitude? What stance toward outsiders? What will we emphasize in our work? Choice:
Theology of Glory VS
Theology of the Cross
The Problem: The Rage of the Nations
The Problem: The Rage of the Nations
Bible speaks very well to what our nation is doing:
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
So: it is actually the nature of nations and people groups to Rage!
= to join together in a mob conspiring against God
Plot:
remember: ps 1 and 2 together form the intro to the psalms
word “plot” is the same as “meditate” in ps 1
So: there is a rival meditation: Jesus and his followers meditate on the Word of God; the kings/nations meditate on their own words of rebellion
The rulers set themselves: hard-faced rebellion against the Sovereign of the universe + his appointed King = Jesus
What words of rage do they meditate on together? What do they plot?
“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
= let us cast off God’s rule and the rule of his Anointed = Messiah = Christ == Jesus!
Acts 4 => Jersalem church prayed this psalm—
after Peter and John gravely threatened “Don’t teach about Jesus”
Congregation prayed, saying that “the raging nations” of ps. 2 = both Jews and Gentiles, Herod + Pontius Pilate = everyone involved in the crucifixion of Lord’s Anointed/Jesus
And said, “these same peoples/rulers are now threatening/telling us to stop preaching the gospel”
And here’s what they prayed in response to the rage: “Grant us to continue to speak your Word w/ all boldness” = God granted their prayer
Application to us: Acts 4 kind of preaches my sermon already… how do we respond to the rage of the nations? By asking, “God, grant us boldness to preach the gospel, whatever suffering might come!”
But this tells us something: to live well in this day, as American Christians, we need to ask the question:
Where does America fit into Psalm 2? Our government? Our fellow citizens (unbelievers)?
Now: Let me speak personally for a moment: It is dangerous for a pastor to bring up politics from the pulpit—especially a question this complex. But, sometimes it is necessary. Personally, I think our nation has been much better than the average//much common grace has come to our nation as a result of heavy Christian influence. And beyond this, however good or bad your nation is, the Bible commands us: “Honor the King” and “give respect to government authorities”—and it is right to love one’s own people/country, as long as that love is subject to biblical boundaries.
BUT, the Bible speaks two ways about every human government/nation: “Honor the King” and “The nations rage”
Brothers and sisters, we are not dishonoring our country to recognize it as a raging nation; we are merely realizing the the Bible’s teaching and applying it to our own situation
BTW: we don’t have to agree on how much rage//how good or bad our country has been at various points of its history… that’s not the point
A nation may rage less due to Christian influence, or more when it casts off the restraining influence of Christianity… but “Rage against the Lord” is still a basic category of what it means to be a nation, according to Scripture… simply because nations are made of fallen people
Why bring this up? Because without applying this Psalm to our own country, we will miss key biblical truths for how to live in our day + the comfort and confidence that this Psalm has for us!
So: the nations array themselves (metaphor) in battle formation, with all their vast might, against God
But: in Ps. 2, the point is not that the nations are frightening… but ridiculous!
Ps. 1 flows right into Ps. 2:
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Are you kidding me? What fools!
Do they not know that by the sovereign power of God, the way of the wicked will perish?
But do we see it that way?
I don’t mean to make light of the problem//to say that you shouldn’t mourn the evil of our nation’s direction… or for people dear to you that you’ve lost to the madness…
But there is a certain gloom/fear which acts as though the death of our nation is the death of God’s kingdom… would never say it, but I’ve seen it… it’s there. It’s where our hearts can go.
God’s Response to the Nations: A Terrifying Word
God’s Response to the Nations: A Terrifying Word
In contrast to our gloom/sense of defeat, God’s response to the words of the nations:
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
He scoffs at them!
If this how God reacts to the evils of our nation—and it is!—then how can we stay in gloom and pessimistic defeat?
Then God opens his mouth:
Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
They are terrified by God’s Word:
“I have a King, and I have enthroned him!”
But why that terrifying? Why is it a word of wrath? Explained in next few verses…
The Coronation and Reign of the Son!
The Coronation and Reign of the Son!
Here: God’s king himself speaks--
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
What does this mean? Begotten = a metaphor for coronation/becoming king
But then, when did Jesus become king?
Jesus’ birth (Wise men looking: him born King of the Jews [Matt. 2:2])
Jesus’ baptism ( “This is my Son” = Father’s public presentation of Jesus/identification as King [anointed by HS also Matt. 3:16-17])
Jesus’ death—most surprising and beautiful!—(crown of thorns, purple robe; sign = King of the Jews; centurion saying, “truly this man was the Son of God” [Matt. 27:27-66])
Jesus’ resurrection/ascension to heavenly throne [Dan 7:13-14]
Jesus’ return…
So—fulfilled in at least five steps: most unexpected = cross, most ultimate = 2nd coming… and those two are most critical for understanding how this psalm applies to us today, as we will see
And what does a king do once he’s been coronated? He reigns over his kingdom:
Described: (God speaking to the King)
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
When fulfilled?
Most obviously: End of the age—final judgement!
Most obvious and direct fulfillment = catastrophic end of the raging nations
This is our hope + source of courage in a discouraging day: the rage of the wicked has a divine expiration date! The Father has spoken!
Their rage—so frightening and discouraging to us—makes God laugh at them in derision—why Polycarp could say in the face of death:
“You threaten the fire that burns for an hour and in a little while is quenched; for you do not know the fire of the future judgment and of eternal punishment, the fire reserved for the wicked.”
But we must back up…
doesn’t God also speak tenderly to his enemies? To those who rage against him? What about, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Brothers and sisters: in an unexpected way, this terrifying reign of God’s Anointed Son was also fulfilled at the cross!
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
So in his death, Jesus shattered the battlements of the kingdom of darkness like a clay pot with a sledge hammer//triumphed over the raging demonic powers through Jesus!
SO THAT HE MIGHT FREE MANY from the slavery of raging against him!
Brothers and sisters: he exercised his terrifying power and reign over darkness and death by dying!!!
So… where does that leave us now, today?
Jesus reigns currently, since he is enthroned in heaven. Over what? The redemptive kingdom of God. How?
Through us—his Spirit-empowered people
talking about Jesus’ enthronement far above all possible rivals...
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
WE are the fulness of the reigning King, the means by which he spreads his reign over all the earth
But what kind of reign is it? And how do we spread it?
Speaking to a persecuted congregation in the early church, Jesus said:
The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
—Jesus is making direct reference to Ps. 2 here…
— Saying, ‘conquer in this life and you will join Jesus in his rule over the nations in the next life’ = ‘conquer in this life, reign in the next’ = really, one kind of reign in this life, another in the next’
— But what kind of reign is Jesus talking about for this life? In context: love, faith, service, patient endurance in trials, and holding fast to the truth.
— Does that seem counter-intuitive?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
— We conquer in these things—not in spite of them!!!
— For some reason, this is surprising to us!
— It shouldn’t be—conquering by suffering is exactly how our own King defeated Satan!
Now: think again about Polycarp’s words to the Procounsel:
— Why was he so calm?
B/c he knew that to participate in Christ’s sufferings is to reign with him!
He took joyful refuge in the crucified King in the face of his own sufferings—believed God’s Word: “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”
That is a theology of the cross!
— There are a lot of us American believers who technically agree with that, but our hearts are tuned in a different direction
Ultimately, the crossroads we face is this: a theology of the cross vs. a theology of glory… what means?
A theology of glory: “the ideal Christianity in this age is a Christianity which gains political control and cultural dominance” => current face of this is a viewpoint known as “Christian Nationalism”
— Not talking about the “Christian Nationalism” of news reports… a convenient way to label and dismiss Christians seeking to do good in the political arena
— Talking about our brothers and sisters in Christ who explicitly call themselves “Christian Nationalists”—most prominent name: Doug Wilson
— In fairness, much to commend about so many in the Christian Nationalism movement: serious about Jesus’ Lordship/Word of God/speaking out against evil/careful thinking/more…
— But ultimately, there is an idea that Christians conquering must mean cultural/political dominance… among more extreme voices, such as Rushdoony and Gary North, the idea of reigning through suffering is even mocked
Christian Nationalism is quickly gaining popularity as a movement: b/c they are such strong voices against the insanity of our culture, young believers are flocking to them///brothers and sisters, this theology of glory appears strong—but it is not the strength of the one who crushed death by dying!
— I am warning you as a pastor—though I love a lot of the gospel-work done by folks who happen to be “CNs”—yet I am warning you, don’t go there
Now: easy to pick on some group out there—how about us? Where is your heart in this? Do you react like this: “if we’re suffering//if we’re in ‘political retreat’ = we’re loosing/kingdom of God is losing”?
You need to take refuge in the crucified Son—if you are reviled as a Christian, you are reigning with him! And that is blessing.
You need a Theology of the Cross = in this age, we conquer through suffering while spreading the gospel; in our suffering, we take refuge in the Son, and so are blessed; and then, in the next age, we inherit unimaginable glory
Response Demanded: Blessing or Destruction!
Response Demanded: Blessing or Destruction!
With the peace that comes from this, we are then ready to speak the gospel to the raging nations, and urge them to take refuge in the Son...
Gospel in ps. 2 comes in three steps:
(vs. 10) We Warn:
Like Polycarp, we speak God’s word to rulers + government officials => by implication, the whole nation
“God has set his King on Zion, his holy hill.”
“In view of the coming judgement, be wise; be warned—when he comes, he will dash his enemies to pieces”
(vs. 11) We Summon to true worship:
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Just like the true worship we saw in ps 147 (fear and hope)
God will take his enemies and make them his worshipers: Jesus came to seek worshipers to worship in spirit and truth. How?
Take Refuge in the Son:
The Father said, “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill”
As God’s enemy by nature, this is a word of terror! The Son will shatter his enemies!
BUT: He as already shattered darkness by his own blood//paying for your rebellion//making a way to God… surrender to him, for blessed are all who take refuge in him!
Brothers and sisters, as those who take refuge in the Son and so conquer by suffering, let us speak this gospel to our neighbors for their salvation. Ours is Blessing in the Son now and forever; let us live with courage and joy amid the raging nations.
Lord’s Table
Lord’s Table
Ask those selected to come forward and prepare to serve the congregation
Isaiah wrote:
Isaiah 25:6
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
That feast is the Son himself. And it is for all who take refuge in him.
Of course, these elements is symbolic. What do they mean? That Christ’s body was broken like bread to give us life. That Christ’s blood was shed like wine for us, to cover our sins. And so, from mount of crucifixion, the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ shone into the hearts those who take refuge in him, and brought us to life and union with him.
“Thus, the Lord’s Table is an act of fellowship with God through Christ—a place for weary sinners to find joy and rest. But because it is a symbol and an act of true worship and fellowship, it is only appropriate for believers. And so, if you are a believer who has already symbolized the beginning of your Union with Christ through baptism, and are in good standing with your local congregation, we welcome you with joy to participate in this meal with us. But if you are not a believer yet, we welcome you to observe only, as we partake of the bread and the cup. And we urge you contemplate their meaning: that Jesus gave himself up to death, so that if you come to him, you also will find forgiveness and life.”
Prayer
Passing out the bread + Cup
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 “…the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””
1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””
1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”