Monday, June 25, 2012

June 26, 2012

"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains  and throw off their shackles.”  The One enthroned in heaven laughs;  the Lord scoffs at them.  He rebukes them in his anger  and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king  on Zion, my holy mountain.  I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son;  today have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,  the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear  and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."  Psalm 2

Reading this ancient Psalm sounds similar to a modern newspaper headline.It seems more things change the more they stay the same. Perhaps history repeats itself because human nature remains the same - AND - so does God's!

That is really the theme of the 2nd Psalm which will be the text for my 4th of July message this Sunday. I want you to notice three things that haven't changed over the centuries since this was written.

Man has a rebellious nature that rages against God.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23

That was true then and it is true now! It is true of you and it is true of me. This is exactly why we need to be saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.

God reigns over the affairs of men

The Bible is full of examples where arrogant and rebellious men have risen against God and all of them have been destroyed.

Even when kings and rulers and kingdoms and countries have ruled ruthlessly on the earth, none of them have threatened God in the least.

God sets them in place like chess pieces and each time they move themselves into checkmate.

Let me just give you two familiar examples to illustrate my point:

1) The Tower of Babel

The tribes of the earth came together to build a tower in defiance of God. While we are not exactly sure of the nature of the tower but the purpose was to challenge God.

We know how that turned out! God confused their languages and the tower never was finished.

2) The Flood

Even after God foiled the plan for the tower, men still became increasingly more evil. The evil became so rampant and repulsive to God He could no longer bear it. As much as God loves man He also hates sin so He finally decided He had to destroy the whole human race by way of a flood.

Because of His righteousness, Noah was the only one who would be allowed to survive and save his family.

With the rapid rise of world-wide unrest, the demise of the rule of law, and the economies about to collapse you can't help but sense that judgment is on its way again.

This world is becoming dangerous and it is easy to despair, but be reminded - GOD REIGNS!

You can choose - rebellion against God or relationship with Him.

The Psalmist pleads, "kiss the Son". What does that mean?

It means to surrender to Him and submit to His authority. It means repent of your rebellion and accept His salvation. It means come out of your rebellion and into relationship.

Those who find relationship with God find freedom. The very thing you thought you would find by rebelling against Him you receive when you become His friend!

Is there an area of rebellion in your spirit?

Are you under the illusion you can defy God and get away with it?

Why rebel against Him when you can be in relationship with Him?