Psalm 2

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A Summer in the Psalms  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  49:58
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1. Rebellion against the King (vs. 1-3) 2. Response from the King (vs. 4-6) 3. Revelation of the King (vs. 7-9) 4. Refuge in the King (vs. 10-12)

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Thank you, Bibles.

Turn them to song to if you would.

Nothing like me, you probably understand.

Maybe not I should make assumptions. I suppose that there's times in life when things hit differently right? Maybe you sing a song a thousand times and you sing it one time and it it you just think differently just seen that. You Ponder things that maybe you hadn't time to before and So that song that Chris and Jess and Ethan just let us in. Praise Your Name. We introduced a few months ago here at the church and in the in the bridge of that song. Fear and depression, shame and confusion, you have to bow and all lesser things that demand my attention. You have to bow in. I want to be careful when I say this because

And I'm going to touch on this in just a minute, but speak of the situation of the current events in Afghanistan. I want to make sure people understand. Is in no way to detract from what's happening in other places around the world, right? But is as we stood here this morning. I was singing that song come to that bridge.

Most of us have no concept of what it means to actually fear for our lives. Most of us don't maybe we've been instances in our lives in a sporadic moment or in an event, maybe we've been involved in something that we look back on and think me and God was gracious and he spared me, I could have lost my life for, you know what I'm saying. I trust you understand this morning that not only in Afghanistan but yes that's in the news right now, but in Parts all around the world Morgan talked about in just a minute people literally wake up every single day. Knowing that it could be their last day simply for one reason. Their identification with Jesus Christ.

And I've seen perhaps, you have testimonies this week. You know what, technology, they're still stuff. Coming out of Afghanistan that were seeing him. We're hearing of the Believers there and I just imagined as we were singing this morning the song, you sang. A number of times that I've never really singing in and thought of having to be fearful or battling depression, for example, they reference in the song. But I just think of the people right now who are hunkered down in underground facilities or perhaps just trying to survive in the mountains of Afghanistan. And many of them, they could actually order the phrase of the bridge that we just sang fear. You have to bow to talk about this in a few minutes. You know, I think there's times in our lives when things come along and we took our girls to Holiday World yesterday, and we were sitting there and they run around a plane and it was it was a lot of people there yesterday.

My wife leaned over and she looked at me and she said, I almost feel wrong being here. Don't misinterpret what she was saying to me. None of you are wrong, for whatever you did or did not do yesterday, right? That's not the point. But for my wife for a few moments, she sat there and we just watched all these people who are running around free doing whatever they want to do spending money. Eating food playing games, riding rides.

At the exact same time, people are hiding Underground. Simply because they identify with Jesus. What are my attention is Psalm 2 and I'm going to bring some of this together. Is we go hopefully. Sometimes probably my favorite song. I think I told you this before and I'm not sure if I can tell you exactly why song to is my favorite song song. But I probably have something to do with the satisfaction that comes from Reading song to and knowing that Jesus Christ is currently on the throne and nothing will change. The fact that he is up on the throne apart from his Divine decision to get up off the throne and act.

Perhaps, that's why it's my favorite. When is David loaded too, sometimes? We look around and it just feels hopeless, don't it? Like if you if you if you if you took the spiritual element out of things, right, but not that. I'm laughing saying we detach it from realize. I'm not saying that I'm just making an illustration.

Look around and sometimes it seems hopeless.

It seems that Justice is not winning. It seems that righteousness is not prevailing. And maybe I'm alone in this, maybe not. Maybe sometimes we look around and we're even tempted to question whether or not God is in fact winning.

You ever look at a situation and just wonder if it's even for just the slightest of seconds has God lost control.

Are things outside of his bones. Are these situations, too desperate and too hopeless to recover from? I mean, as I've alluded to look at the situation in Afghanistan.

I figured by now. Most of us have at least seen pictures. Of the hundreds and thousands of people who are trying to clean to the exterior of an airplane's. Exiting the cabal airport in Afghanistan knowing full and well, what is going to happen when that plane takes off and reaches any type of high-altitude at all.

Perhaps you've seen the picture of the. Below the plane in the air as it ascends to its Heights. If you haven't, that's a person falling off the outside of the plane as it accelerates and lips off. Pastor Aaron share with me this week. It reports actually say that. That was a child.

I don't say that to guilt anybody. It's not my desire. This morning. I want to play on anybody's emotions. The facts are the facts. But Afghanistan isn't all the transpiring in our world. Look at the Chinese government's treatment of the uyghur people. What about Boko Haram, senseless, killing of thousands along, the Horn of Africa? Day in and day out. We don't hear about it. Like we are without dentist and because they don't have the resources and all of these places for it to be as publicized as it is in Afghanistan. And typically when they burn a village, they might only kill 8 or 10 12 people before they moved to the next one. But in the last decade or so, the totals are thousands of people who have been killed by Boko Haram in the Horn of Africa.

North Korea.

What about the United States?

Since 1973 as of January of this year. We've murdered 62502904 babies.

I want to be careful.

Because when whenever we touch on that subject, I believe scripture speaks to it. I believe we stand for truth, but we do so compassionately. Because many people are battling with decisions that have been made previously in their lives and experiences that they've had. And I don't want to pile on anybody this morning. I'm not trying to guilt anybody this morning. But again, a factors affect weekend. Regardless of the circumstances change. The fact that in the United States alone, we've killed 63 million babies.

And the list goes on.

We could name many instances of Injustice and tragedy in the world that we live in.

Perhaps, that's exactly why I love some too. It seems hopeless and yet there's a promise. I promise that the King has been appointed that the king as is ruling. And one day, the king will make everything, right?

Psalm 2 as a Psalm of David, he writes this for us. Why do the nation's rage and the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers. Take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed saying. Let us burst their bonds apart and Cast Away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens. Laughs? The Lord holds them in derision, then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fiery. Saying as for me I have set my king on, Zion my Holy Hill. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son today. I have begotten, you ask of me and I will make the nation's your heritage and the ends of the Earth your possession. You should break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potter's vessel. Now, therefore Old Kings. Be wise, be warned, all rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling kiss. The son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way for his wrath is quickly. Kindled blessed are all who take refuge in him. Let's pray together as we begin.

father is Your appointed ruler is not Seated on the throne. We have no hope.

If death is not been defeated, if the grave has not been conquered. We have no hope.

but father, this morning, I rejoice and I praise you for the fact. That the one you appointed is sitting on the throne, the one in whom you've appointed has conquered death and has defeated the grave and got in the midst of times and circumstances that seem hopeless. This seemed as though there's nothing we can do to, to alter them or to change the outcome or to make any difference at all. Got those are the times when I pray that your people would be moved by the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the message where we find Hope in the fact that Jesus has defeated Death In His Seated, on the throne. The gospel is the message where we find the truth. That one day. He's going to get up from that Throne. Not relinquishing it, but acting, and he's going to intervene in the Affairs of this world. And when he does so God, the world will know that he is. God. Until this morning. I pray God that you would help us to know that the one whom you've appointed. He is God. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ motivate us to be faithful.

Faithful to proclaim the truth of your word. You know, when it's not popular, even when it costs us. Embolden us God to preach the truth of your word for your glory and the good of the world that we live in, in Jesus name. Amen.

Let me give you four things this morning, and I know that's a lot and I'm going to try to move quickly. We're literally just going to start in verse 1 and walk all the way through Song 2.

We see if you look at the the passage it actually breaks up really into four groups of three versus and that's exactly how we're going to break it up this morning. We see beginning in verse 1, this reality of rebellion. Can, can you just click on the screen for me? And then if it gets clicked off and I can ever go. Thank you.

First reality in Psalm 2, is the reality of rebellion against the king.

We see verse one that the nation's rage, the people's, they, they plowed in vain. I told you recently, and I have to give credit to Paul Jordan. I said he'd want it but the New Living Translation is really growing on me and he's laughing because he has clung to the NLT and and there's nothing wrong with it. I just have never really interactive with a lot. But in his encouragement, I've done so and I find myself enjoying the more that I read it. In the NLT uses. These two phrases to describe this verse that says, the people waste their time. Informing futile plans. The plots of the rebels, those who are in Rebellion against the king, they are pointless in the long run. Perhaps, they made Garner some sort of strength advancement or perceived victory in the moment. But in the long run. They hold no value.

Rage. They rise up against the authority. That is God. They plotting thing. They make these plans. They literally set themselves against God. I want understand. I want you to understand that it's these individuals set themselves against God. We talked about this, this plotting while the people's plot by they form these plans. That demonstrates for us. These Rebels are not just dreaming of a day when they wouldn't be underneath God's Authority. Know what this tells us. This idea of plotting is saying that they are moved to action to advance their plans and purposes. Hence what we're saying in the new cycle? All around the world.

Unacceptance elves against God and and is typically the case, right? Like scripture, even tells us that there is safety in a multitude writes. Most of us, rightly understand that, typically, two people can accomplish more than one person. And so, even even unsafe, Wicked people recognize this and scriptures, tell us that there are banding together. Play band together simply to burst the bonds apart Cast Away the cords and in what was that saying? That's that's first of all, understand a recognition. Did these Rebels who have set themselves against the king understands that they are under his authority? Perhaps this is the great irony of the whole Passage.

They want to burst apart the bottoms in the chords of God of their Authority.

Again, I want to reference the not because it speaks of Breaking Chains. And this is a direct reference to the rebelling against Authority. When you when you think of changed, there's kind of a couple of pictures, right? The first one would be that of an ox and a box would be yoked to the person who would be working behind it and perhaps to another ox. And it would have this big Woodstock that would fit over the ox. And then it would fit over the another one. If there were two axes and there would be changed. It would hold this mechanism together. We're by the, the the farmer could steer and control the Arts. Any idea of this bursting, their cords are breaking their bonds apart. It's similar to that of the ox trying to break free from the Yoke that holds him to to continue its path to fulfill the job of the farmer. In that scenario in that situation, the farmer is the authority. And the goal of the oxen is to break away from that Authority is to rebelled against.

So this is a pretty clear picture of what the desires of these people who are banding together plotting against in formulating plans, what they want. It's very clear what they want to do. They want to break apart the authority that God has over them in their lives.

Emo's Austin. When we think of rebels, we read a passage like some two are mine goes to things like that are in a new cycle. Right? I we go straight to thinking about the major in justices that are taking place in the world. And again, that's right. Armine should go to Injustice. Armine should go to people groups in an organization's that have set themselves against God.

And while we would all agree with no doubt whatsoever. All of these people are working in Rebellion against God. I want to, I want to say something. I'm just going to send you all can have to do with it what you want.

As surely as we look at the clear Rebels and recognized. What's transpiring wasn't pointing at anybody. I was just kind of surveying Escape, as surely as we recognize that. We recognize the clear Rebels. Again. Let's just reference our news cycle. We look at them and we would agree that those are Rebels. We must also understand. Did any person who is not trusted Christ for salvation? Is a rebel?

It might seem crazy. It might seem unfair, it might seem unjust, but any person who has not trusted Christ for salvation, sufferer is, is is pending suffering the same wrath as the people who are carrying out clear perceived evil and wickedness.

We typically, don't think that way.

We typically it and I'm just asking, let's be honest this morning. We typically think that we're pretty good. And usually the standard whereby, we determine where pretty good is the really radical people who are really bad and we said, we're pretty good, right? Because we're not like, we're not doing that. I've not killed anybody. I'm not kidnapped anyone. I've not done any of these things that were seen there. Horrify us again. Rightfully, so,

So I'm not as bad as them. But the word of God is very clear that there are two positions. An individual, every individual holds one of them in Christ or not in Christ.

And anyone who is not in Christ is a rebel. Actively rebelling against the authority of the king.

And I believe we need to be challenged by this truth. This morning.

Cuz we don't think in these terms. We don't think in the terms that the word of God uses. There's a lot of instances where we might say. Yeah, we believe the word of God. We think that there are we eating. We believe that this is true. Not say we believe that this is true, but when it comes to the part where we say, God has said that there is one way to be in the father's, good graces.

It's exclusive and that it's the only way but it's inclusive in there. Anybody can enter buy it.

Reader in Christ, overnight.

If you're not. And we are living in Rebellion against the king. That's how we see this Rebellion. Scary. We see this Rebellion being lived out.

We also see the response from the King. And this might be why part of the reason I love song to so much. Tells us. He who sits in the heavens. Laughs? You can literally do, you know like a picture of the same back when I was a kid cartoons were sweet that not sweet. Like are they were good and there's just two characters that you guys might a new about. Maybe some of you remember miss your kid in here. You don't remember I feel bad for you. But there was these two characters one's name was Wiley Coyote and the other one's name was roadrunner and in any probably know right where I'm going with us, the whole premise of every episode of this cartoon was the exact same Wylie. Coyote did everything that he could do to catch the Roadrunner. He had Dynamite, you know, you never got your message, but somehow it was Bloom self up. He had Dynamite. He had trapped, he had gimmicks. He had games, all for the purpose of catching the Roadrunner, but what's interesting is, you can look at this picture. You can see the response of God to the nation to rage against him. The Road. Runner has had that smile on his face. Didn't he was just running around on me and soon he was gone, you know, in the best trick that he would do, if he goes to meet me to take off and then why the coward he would run into the mountains, every episode.

This is kind of like the picture that we see here, the people of the Earth, the nation, to rage and plot. They're merely Wile. E coyote.

Naughty Greek god with a cartoon bird but you understand what I'm saying? In the same thing that the Roadrunner laughed and mocked Wylie, Coyote who could do nothing to apprehend him. The word of God tells us that he who sits in the heavens. Laughs.

It's interesting, both someone and some to refer to this act of sitting and someone it's in reference to the sitting with scoffers. What is Samus David says that blessed is the man who sits not with the scoffers. So you don't sit down and fellowship with the fools. You don't sit down and fellowship with those who scoff and mock God, and the things they've got a minute in the second instance here, and saw him to its were very, it's referring to sitting in the position as a king or a ruler. When we talked about Jesus being seated. At the right hand of God's, it's not an it. It's not a a feeble thing. It's not a I've done all I can do right now. I'm going to do so. I'm going to sit here and rest. It's a position of authority. It's a position from which the Lord works and Raines. The one with the authority laughs at the attempts of those to overthrow his Reign and his Rule. Summer says he holds them in the region. That's to say that the one who sits in the heavens, hold them in contempt. He holds them under the, the hand of his judgment.

And what we're going to see the rest of Psalm 2 is that the one who's in, derision the one who's in contempt? The one who is underneath the weight of the Judgment of God as that what they will experience as the Judgment of God is the wrath of God.

His response says, then he will speak to them in his Wrath. It's lost in English translation. Cuz verse for says, he who sits in the heavens last verse 5 says he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them and his fiery. What the psalmist is conveying is the god goes from Sid. The god, The Authority goes from sitting on his throne in the Heavens to acting. He's now engaged in being proactive in the matter. That is at hand.

He says he will speak to them in his Wrath. And what terrifies in in his Fury?

Something interesting happens. There in verse 5. We have the rebels who plotted against God. They've got these plans and got these ideas. The rising against God.

And then they're terrified.

They see and experience the wrath of God and his judgment. And perhaps like me this morning, your mind goes to the Apostle. Paul. Acts chapter 9 beginning of our Swami read this, but saw, that's Paul still breathing threats and murder against the Disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogue Damascus. So that if he found any belonging to the way, men or women, he might bring them down to Jerusalem. So if you don't know, the ins-and-outs of these details of my give it to us, he saw, who would later be known as the Apostle. Paul salts was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was he was very religious. He was super jealous and he was making it in his aim to overthrow the cause of Christ, that's in reference to the way. And so he gets permission from the religious leaders to go to this place called Damascus. And in Damascus, he's going to visit all of the synagogue where the people are gathering to worship. And anybody who's there not worshipping through the means of Judaism, but anybody who belongs to the way. So I was going to arrest him and take them back to Dru. Time to put them in prison and in some cases, he's going to kill them. We know that he's willing to do this because he's already given the command to Chapters earlier, and beginning of chapter 6, and then into verse or chapter 7, Saul gives the command to Stone Stephen. Siamese business.

But we read this in verse 3 of Acts 9 now is he went on his way? He approached Damascus? Suddenly a light from Heaven Shone around him and falling to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him. Saul Saul. Why are you persecuting me? No, we don't read these words, but it's implied. That Paul was terrified. His response to the voice thing. He heard was Lord. If you're not familiar with what would transpire in the life of Saul following his encountering of Jesus on the road to Damascus that and courage you today, too? Read the book of Acts this afternoon. But there's this transition from Steam set against the one who is on the throne in heaven. It is his whole goal and his whole ain't to overthrow him to get rid of the authority that Jesus has brought and instituted.

And then he encounters Jesus and everything changes.

The Lord verse 6. He reminds his opponents. And not just his opponent's, but anybody who's reading searching for encouragement, for example? The ultimate Authority has already been appointed and it's already been established. I have set my king on. Zion my Holy Hill.

The Lord has determined the Lord has decreed and that can't and won't change.

He's in control is reminding his opponents of his playing. There is no group of people. There's no collection of opponents who can stop the Lord's plans and the Lord's anointed. I would go from the response of the King 2 verse 7, seeing the revelation of the king. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you're my son. Today. I have begotten, you. I'll make the nation's your heritage, the ends of the Earth, your possession. You'll break them with a rod of iron Dash them to pieces like a Potter's vessel. So we learn a few things about the kings in this. Messianic psalm. The king is the son of the father, right? Today's of the Lord said to me, you are my son today. I have begotten, you. Does anybody remember what happened at the baptism of Jesus? John the Baptist baptized him in the Dove came down from heaven. This is my son in whom I am. Well pleased, the scriptures tell us the voice from Heaven, says, Does Jesus came and he live. That's just an example of all throughout his life. He was demonstrating that he was the one who was appointed to see to sit on the throne. He is the one who was the rightful owner of the Nations. And he would be the one who would utterly destroy anyone and anything that opposed the rule of the king.

There's great significance. In severity 2 verse 9. The sun will break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like that Potter's vessel. Sometimes, when you break something. I tease my mother-in-law. She is the queen of super glue, and you guys know, like every time she's at our house. I have to buy a new tube of super glue. Not because she uses it all because you guys know when to use that, you put the lid back on it. You can never open it again. It's the dumbest thing in the world. They need to just admit single-use. What's a glue called? I don't just forgot. Super good last night, right? She's always super glue and stuff. Write something gets broken into a thousand pieces of my mother's. I will be probably Super Glue. It sometimes, you can there's been a number of times in my house or I would have thrown something in the trash and my mother-in-law has saved it. She's super glued it, and it worked. But sometimes you can't glue the head back on the figurine that you dropped. And that's the picture.

Verse 9 of Psalm to not. This time says the game. There will be no regluing of the head on to the Statue or the figurines. You dash them in pieces like a Potter's vests. If you drop a pot display, when it hits the ground, you might be able to pick up a few big chunk pieces, but one of the things that's interesting about a clay pot is specifically that when it breaks it turns into almost like a dust. There's a lot of granules that come from it. In the point that the psalmist is making here is if you can't pick that dust up and put it back where it goes to reformulate that clay pot. and when the sun comes, his acting will be like that of smashing a clay pot with a rod of iron. There's something satisfying about busting stuff. That's why. And I think it's China, might be Japan. One of those, two countries. There's a restaurant where you can go and you can pay, and they will put you in a booth and you can put goggles on and you just get the smash plates, you smash plates. There's something oddly, satisfying, that's why the women of Dale Bible Church want to go throw axes.

There's something oddly satisfying, when you went, when you kind of think of this reality. Listen, I'm going to tell you. I'm probably sick and twisted in my head. Because to me, it is oddly, satisfying, it's not even odd. It's satisfying that one day's all of the shenanigans all of the nonsense, all of the actions of the nation's setting themselves, against. Seeking to overrule him and overthrow his authority. One day. He will Dash them to pieces like a clay pot and I'm okay with that. Because justice has been perverted righteousness has been thrown to the side, but one day and will return.

And that's the only I got a I got a detour. That's the only hope we have.

I hope it's not in a social program. I hope it's not in a platforms. Our hope is not snot. I want it. I'm going to say this very carefully.

Because I believe that we should do whatever we can to protect as many lives physically as we can. Okay, around the world. But that is not the Essence of Hope.

If we could go to Afghanistan today, and I've heard as many as 40,000, if we could go to Afghanistan today and get all 40,000 people whose lives are in Jeopardy, and we could ban them up and we could get them out of Afghanistan and they could live a healthy happy life for another 50, 60 years and then died and stand under the wrath of Gods. We've accomplished enough.

And I say that very carefully, not saying that physical protection doesn't matter because it does, but the only hope that we have is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not the physical protection of Our Lives.

The psalmist is clear. Those who rebel against rebel against the king will be utterly destroyed. There is no mending. There is no healing, only total Destruction. Many things in this world that I appreciate, but at the top of that list is the justice of God. Because without the justice of God, you can't have the grace of God and you can't have the mercy of God.

Knowing that he will not allow the guilty to go unpunished is what produces hope when hope seems lost.

Not only is the king promised to punish the guilty.

But the song finishes, with the promise of Refuge, for those who trust in the king.

Now, therefore o King's bwise be worn. Do rulers of Earth. Serve the Lord with fear Rejoice with trembling kiss, the son, lest he be angry. He perish in away for his wrath is quickly. Kindled blessed are all who take refuge in him. The exultation and verse 10 is to be wise and to be warned. This is not limited to those who rule the Nations or hold positions of authority, May read that way. But it's a blanket statement. It's a warning telling all who would hear it. That judgment is coming from the righteous King. In wisdom is trusting in his sacrifice and provision of eternal life through face. Wisdom is not well be good. Try hard. Do your best. It'll all work out. All roads lead to Rome. Eventually. We all get to heaven. That's not wisdom. That's foolishness. And if there's one thing that we must know this morning, it's that this song and the events of our world remind us that the thoughts and intents of man's, heart are only evil continually and the only remedy for evil Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the gospel that teaches us of the wickedness in our hearts. It's the gospel. That offers us cleansing. It's the gospel that offers New Life. Wisdom is recognizing that the Bible calls every single member of humanity, sinful and against God. And wisdom says that sin must be punished. And chances are pretty good you and I agree with this notion.

Because there's a polluted to not a single person here. This morning has watched the news over the last week and didn't think that it would be a special day when the wrath of God is poured out against such evil.

But I want to ask you this morning. What about your sin? What about the evil intentions of your heart?

Should God pour out his wrath against those in the same manner?

AC wisdom recognizes that God has poured out his Wrath. He poured out his wrath once on the cross at Calvary, where Christ was crucified. Paul the same guy who made it, is a shame to kill Christians. In Romans chapter 10, says that anybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Anybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved in this matters because the song ends with the blessing. For those who repent live for the king. That's where versus verse 11, serve the Lord with fear for George trembling kiss. The son. Lest. He be angry person away for his wrath is quickly. Kindled blessed are all who take refuge in him. Refuges for any who recognize Christ as the rightful King that he is.

And that's how this song ends. This is a fitting song for the times that we're living in because it begins by acknowledging that our world is defined by evil and wickedness and it ends by saying that Christ is going to rain in any, who believe in trust in him will receive Refuge. The Refuge only comes when the gospel is believed upon for salvation. Refuge is not necessarily physical safety, but Eternal safety. It's a comfort and a promise that no matter what happens. No matter what happens. Has spoken and he has promised Refuge or rest for those who trust him. I saw a video this past week than, perhaps by. Now. You've seen to And in that video, there's a man very blurred Out video. Can't really see if you can't see his face at all. Just tell he's wearing like a tan cloak videos blurred out. His voice is mumbled in for about four and a half minutes. This is from earlier in the week. He updates everyone to what is transpiring in Afghanistan. Again, by now, most of us have seen pictures or videos, maybe read an article or two. And this man in the video who is connected with a, a Christian Alliance in the Middle East shares, his thoughts and his concerns. In this said, video.

Know, some of the things that I read this week of the current events in Afghanistan where things such as this. I read that in every house where there was a girl who was 12 years or old or older. They were required to put an X above the door. When the Taliban came to that house to inspect number one. If there was a girl there over 12 and it was no ex about the door. They just killed everybody in the house. In the homes that were marked with an X. They went in and they took set girl. However, old she was, you can imagine the horrors that she experienced in then if they decide not to kill her. They sell her to sex traffickers.

Also read this week that they were going door-to-door and everybody in a home that had a smart devices cell phone had to give it over to the Taliban and they would inspect these phones and if they remember what they were expecting, but they're also looking for links to other people in Afghanistan. And so, they're looking for links to track down other people. They're literally compiling lists of names of people they're looking for, but if when inspecting your phone, they found that you had said, connections. They killed you, if they found that you had some sort of Bible software program on your phone. They killed you.

I also read this week that any house that had a wife who is 25 or older. They instantly walked in killed her husband did what they wanted with the wife, the kids get away with him.

In a general sense. Many women and children are being kidnapped. Abused killed, sold into sex trafficking. Why do I tell you all this? because in the midst of all of this, in the video, the man says this and I quote. The whole world has abandoned us.

But we are not leaving the field. We will fight harder and we will continue in God's work.

Blessed are those who take refuge in God's appointed game?

A day is coming where refuge for those who are resting in Christ. Will mean that he will atone on this Earth for all the wrong that has been committed. A day is coming with a king, will Dash all his opponents like clay pots. And it is my prayer this morning that this not be forgotten. God is not losing. God has not lost. God, will not lose. Through The Madness of this world and the current events. God is saving people.

And maybe today is the day that he'll perform a miracle and Afghanistan or China or North Korea or Africa? Maybe today is the day. They'll perform a miracle right here. The song that says kiss, the son, lest he be angry and you perished Refuge is in Christ, but it only comes through faith in Christ. Wisdom is, we've been exhorted to is acknowledging, your sinful condition. Recognizing that Christ is the answer to that condition and then repenting again to repentance to change your mind, repenting of whatever you believed up until now. And trusting in Christ, here is where you find Refuge. Let's pray together.

Got the darkness. The world that we live in is almost unfathomable.

The evil and the wickedness that seems to be prevailing is hard to understand.

I got you are not losing.

You are working. and I pray God this morning that for those of us who are gathered together this morning and where not fearful of our doors being storm. We're not fearful of being apprehended. I pray that that would not drive us to a complacency. to forget those who are

What face? These individuals have as they stand in the midst of pure. Utter evil. And hold your name by.

It said we will not leave, we will press in, we will continue the work because God has not abandoned us.

God, what we can do, maybe limited but I pray that you would move your people that you would stir the hearts of your people to be faithful to do what we can.

Cause us God to pray for injustice cause us got to pray that evil and wickedness would be routed away. But God is we pray. And as we consider I pray that you would help us to never lose sight of the fact that you have appointed your king. He is on the throne raining. And he wins. He wins. And so far, we pray that you would work a miracle today. Pray for miracles around the world. We pray for miracles. Here. We pray for miracles in our backyard and got, I'm not talking about fanciful, emotions and feelings. I'm talking about a miracle of salvation. Faith through obedience to the scriptures.

I pray that you would work today and as we finished this morning and we seen, I pray that you help us to be mindful to be reminded even when we don't see it, you're working. Even in the darkness, you are light. I pray God that you can tell your people to be about advancing the light. The gospel that the world might be changed. One Miracle at a time. In Jesus name, we pray.

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