SUNNY THOUGHTS FROM SUNSET by Rev. Vance Drum 2-2

Today we conclude our series, “Jesus Our Shepherd King: Finding Peace in an Age of Anxiety,” with a message, “I Have Installed My King.”  The text was from Psalm 2:4-6:  “The One enthroned in heaven laughs… saying, ‘I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.’”

Jesus sees all, knows all, and will take care of everything—the good and the bad—that happens on the face of the earth.

Sometimes we may wonder, as we see and hear about all that happens around us:  where is God, and what is He doing about it?

It reminds me of the condition of the world in the days of Noah, when the people of the earth were corrupt and violent, with only evil thoughts.  God is patient and loving, wishing that all would come to repentance, but the Bible says that there is a limit to God’s patience.  He will not forever put up with destructive, evil ways.

The pastor made three points:  (1) Nations Raging; (2) God Laughing; and (3) Jesus Blessing.

(1) Nations Raging.  V1:  “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.  ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters.’”

Sometimes we might hear it said that one nation or people is just as good as another, and that there are no exceptional nations or peoples in the world.  But that is not the case.

Sometimes nations rage against the Lord.  They, through their rulers, take their stand against God and his anointed one Jesus.  They view God’s good law in the Ten Commandments—against lying, stealing, murder and adultery—as chains which restrict their activity, and they say, “Let us break their chains” and be free to do what we want to do.

But when people want to be free to hurt others, they dig a grave only for themselves.

(2) God Laughing.  V4:  “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”  God says, “You unrepentant wicked!”  You have no idea what you’re coming up against.  When we choose to fight against God, we fight a losing battle.

Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7:  “Do not be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

God loves all people, but his patience will run out at some point when people or nations persist in destruction.  He will put an end to it.

Verse 5:  “Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my King….”  King Jesus is on his throne, and the kings of the earth are no match for him.

King Jesus is Lord over all, and he cannot be dethroned by the rebellious of this world.  He said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

(3) Jesus Blessing.  Now we often don’t like the pace of God’s judgment of the wicked.  We wish he would put an end to their wickedness yesterday.

But some of the wicked do not stay that way.  God gives us plenty of opportunity to change, and many do. After all, we all at one time were in the enemy camp, doing the wrong thing, not living for God.

The apostle Paul described himself as the chief of sinners.  But when he saw the bright light on the road to Damascus, and had a little talk with Jesus, he came to faith in the Lord, and his life direction changed, never more to be the same.

Verse 12, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”  Jesus blesses all who hope in him.  We’ve changed allegiances, and God is on your side.  Choose life and be blessed!

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.”

May your joy be expressive, for He is worthy—our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.

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