Good evening, brethren. Please take your Bibles and turn to Luke 24. Turn to Luke 24 and we're
going to be looking at verse number 44. Luke 24, verse 44. Tonight's preaching is going to be more
of a Bible study. We are, this is something that I've been wanting to preach for a long time,
actually. I just needed the right time to do it and I really, I really appreciate the book of
Psalms, you know. I don't know if you're the same as me. I look at the book of Psalms and I think
about how wonderful the songs are. I think about how wonderful the words are. Many times, you know,
in my life where I've struggled to pray, where I've had some concerns, some grief, I've turned
to the book of Psalms and I've been able to just meditate on those words and pray unto the Lord and
sing unto the Lord and many times just seeing the heart of, you know, David, David, one of the
psalmist and many of the other psalmist, just seeing their heart and seeing, hey, these are
just normal men. These are men that have fears. These are men that have weaknesses. These are men
that desire to know God. You know, these are men that desire to find comfort and shelter and
strengthen the Lord and, you know, all of us can relate to that. All of us have gone through
difficulties, have gone through fears, have gone through just all kinds of difficulties in life
and we can all look at the Psalms and say, Lord, you know, I need you. I need to know more of you
and so the Psalms is wonderful in that sense. You know, it's even, you know,
it's the songbook of the Bible, you know. I mean there are other songs. Solomon is another songbook
but it is of course the main songbook in the Bible but look at Luke 24 and verse 44.
Luke 24 and verse number 44 and of course this is after Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead
and he went to the disciples and it says in verse number 44 and he said unto them,
these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled
which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me.
Okay, so the title for the sermon tonight is Jesus in the Psalms. Jesus in the Psalms. What
does Jesus say there once again? He says that these things were written in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me, concerning Jesus. Look at verse number 45.
Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. That they might
understand the scriptures. So my goal for this sermon tonight is that I would hope open your
understanding of the scriptures. Hope open your understanding of the book of Psalms. So when next
time you go reading through the book of Psalms you can sort of pick out you know the places that
you've seen Christ and look I'm not going to cover everything. I'm going to cover the main portions
of the Psalms that I know speak of Christ but there will be other places in the book of Psalms
as you do your reading as the Holy Ghost works in you you know enlightens your understanding
of the Bible he'll be able to show you some great pictures of Christ in the book of Psalms.
So now please do go to Psalms. Psalms chapter 8 please go to Psalms chapter 8
and we're going to see where it speaks of Christ. Okay Psalms chapter 8 and you know you can turn
to other passages if you want. I really just want you to stay in the book of Psalms. I mean if you
can stay there and you can turn fast enough to these other references that would be great.
Otherwise just stay in the book of Psalms and you're able to get a lot of the message tonight
but Psalms chapter 8 and verse number 4 reads what is man that thou art mindful of him and the
son of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and has
crowned him with glory and honor. So some great words there and this speaks of the birth of Christ.
This speaks of the Inca nation and in verse number four it says what is man that thou art
mindful of him. You see when Christ was born in Bethlehem when God sent his son to be born of
the virgin he did it because he had man in mind. He did it because he had you and I in his mind
and of course he knows of our sinful state and he knows about our need for a savior and so he
sent his son to come to the earth and look at verse number five there it says for thou hast
made him a little lower than the angels that's speaking of man and has crowned him with glory
and honor and this passage is found once again in the New Testament and I'll just read the passage
to you in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse number 6 but one in a certain place testified saying
what is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visitest him. Thou madest
him a little lower than the angels thou crowned us him with glory and honor and did set him over
the works of thy hands. So not only did Christ come not only did he come to visit us I mean to
think about the God of the universe visiting man. Now we speak about visitors that come to our house
we like to be hospitable to our visitors we'd often feed them we communicate with them enjoy
their company and yet Christ was coming not to be received but actually he knew that he would be
rejected he knew that he would be rejected of man and he was made a little lower than the angels
that speaking of mankind but then it said in Hebrews 2 7 and did set him over the works of thy
hands. So Jesus Christ came to work Jesus Christ did not come to be served he came to serve he
came to work and of course he came preaching the gospel he came preaching great truths of the
bible he came preaching how we ought to live our lives and he came preaching the great commission
he came preaching about he being that sacrifice for our sins and so you know in the Psalms we see
the purpose of Christ and the fact that he would come to be born that he you know he'd he'd go for
that incarnation that he would come in the flesh and of course if you can now go to Psalms 78 and
I spoke about this little a little bit you know he came doing the works that the father had said
him to do but in Psalms 78 verse 1 we get an idea of the kind of teaching that Christ would teach
in Psalms 78 verse 1 the bible reads give ear oh my people to my law incline your ears to the words
of my mouth I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark sayings of old okay so what does
the Psalms speak of here that when Christ comes teaching he's going to come teaching in parables
what else is it it says I will utter dark sayings of old okay so what Jesus Christ came teaching
wasn't brand new things he came teaching old things he came teaching things that you'll find
in the prophets in the book of Moses the writings of the prophets again the writings of the Psalms
okay but they were dark sayings okay so they were hidden to some and of course we get that teaching
of of Christ that he had opened up the ears of understanding of certain people they may be able
to understand the parables understand the secret messages of parables and for others others that
God did not want to convert others that God wanted to hide certain truths from he would speak in dark
sayings in parables so they would not be able to understand and this is then confirmed for us in
the book of Matthew Matthew 13 verse 34 which says all these things spake Jesus unto the multitude
in parables and without a parable spake he not unto them that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet saying I will open my mouth in parables I will utter things which have been
kept secret from the foundation of the world and so these dark sayings they're of old they go back
to the foundation of the world I mean the things that Jesus Christ spoke of and taught of were
things that were being taught once again throughout all the generations leading up to Christ and he
came here he came clarifying those dark sayings he came clarifying those parables to those that
would have ears that would listen unto Christ and you know I love I love the fact that you know
the bible is so exact not only that he would be born but the way he would come teaching was
teaching in in parables you know this is why it's important that you know you understand that
parables are dark sayings you understand that parables are taught in that way for certain
truths to be hid and this is why you'll often find pastors and even myself included would say
don't build your doctrine from a parable you know make sure the parables assist with a
doctrine make sure they help illustrate a doctrine but you don't build a doctrine from a parable on
its own because the purpose behind that parable was it for it to be dark for it to be hidden to
some heroes and so you can fall into the trap of creating things that aren't actually true or
things that Jesus Christ did not actually specifically point to in that parable okay
so not only do we know that Jesus Christ came teaching in parables but we know that toward the
end of the ministry of Christ that he would come into Jerusalem remember he would be riding on that
donkey triumphantly into into Jerusalem and many would come laying palms before him on on that
donkey and if you can go to Psalm 118 go to Psalm 118 and it tells us what these people
that were you know these people of Jerusalem and from Galilee that would that would come with
Christ what they would be saying on that very day that Christ would be coming into into Jerusalem
Psalm 118 and verse 26
the Bible reads blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord we have blessed you out of the
house of the Lord I love that blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord I mean this was
being taught to us in the Psalms okay and of course when Christ would come on that donkey
into Jerusalem we read about this in in Matthew 21 verse 8 it says in a very great multitude
spread their garments in the way others cut down branches from the trees and straw them in the way
and the multitudes that went before and that followed cried saying hosanna to the son of David
blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest okay so they're just
there praising God praising Christ as he comes into Jerusalem but the Bible says that he's coming
in the name of the Lord hey when Christ came he came in power he came in authority he came doing
the will of God he came doing the works of God he came in the power of God in the authority of God
and that's what people were doing with our worship in him and you know the saddest thing about not
having church at this point in time with this lockdown is the fact that you know we can't be
like these people at this point in time where we're gathered together worshiping Christ blessing
God with our worship you know and that's what it is to bless God you know we are we are called to
bless God have you ever wondered what can we do to bless God we know that God can bless us but what
can we bring to the table well it's our worship it's our songs of praises it's our voices lifting
up God for who he is lifting up Christ for the works that he did for his sacrifice praising God
is blessing God you know and I can't wait to be back in church I can't wait to be back again with
my brethren both here on the sunny coast and down in Sydney we can have church services and sing
with glad glad hearts with joyful hearts singing praises unto the Lord singing Hosanna to the Son
of David worshiping Christ once again and of course as Christ would come into Jerusalem he
came teaching in the temple you know those that were believers those you know many would flock to
Christ you know some had obviously heard what John the Baptist taught you know how John the
Baptist pointed to the Lamb of God which take away the sins of the world but then you had your
religious leaders you know you had those of authority and they would be rejecters of Christ
and if you can look at some you're in some 118 but look at verse number 22 now
some 118 look at verse number 22 it says here the stone which the builders refused
is become the head stone of the corner this is the Lord's doing it is marvelous in our eyes okay
and of course Jesus Christ would be that stone that the builders refused or the builders rejected
as it said in the New Testament and I'll just read that to you in Matthew 21 verse 42
Jesus saith unto them did you never read the scriptures the stone which the builders rejected
is become the head of the corner this is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes
therefore say I unto you the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation
bringing forth the fruits thereof okay so when you read this in Psalm 118 verse number 22
it's saying that that Christ is the stone which the builders refused Christ became that stone
or that messiah of course that will be rejected by by the nation of Israel that will be rejected
by the authorities by reject will be rejected by the religious leaders and then Christ comes
explaining that well this means that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
okay and be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof and of course that is a holy
nation it's that spiritual nation it's a nation that's made up of Jews and Gentiles that believe
on Christ the kingdom of God has been given to the spiritual nation of Israel the Israel of God
not some physical carnal nation okay of Christ's rejectors and Jesus Christ came teaching this
in light of the stone that would be rejected and again it said this is the Lord's doing
and it is marvelous in our eyes you know what's marvelous the fact that Christ came to die for
all nations that Christ came offering the gospel to all peoples that's what's marvelous the fact
that he would bring all into one fold all into one spiritual nation and again you know it it's
so frustrating to hear you know other preachers speak about how how the Jews are their own special
nation of God you know God has his own physical nation that he loves and cares about that you
know they're the apple of God's eye no what's marvelous is that God will take the believers
of that nation and believers of all nations and make them one people and that God will reject
those that reject Christ you see you cannot have God without Christ you cannot have the father
without the son you if the only way you can have the father is by having the son the only way to
the father is through the son is through Jesus Christ and the Jews you know or sorry I should
say that many preachers say well the Jews they worship the father and we worship the son no they
don't worship the father they worship a false god they do not know the God of the Bible because they
don't know Jesus Christ if they knew the God of the Bible if they believe the writings of Moses
they would have believed on Christ as well okay so the book of Psalms also speaks about the reject
the rejection of Christ how the nation of Israel you know many of them the majority would reject
Christ but of course there are those that will also believe on Christ and thank God for those
okay because they started the New Testament churches they went out as the disciples of Christ
you know you know completing the great commission in their generation so then the the gospel message
will be passed down unto us that we can believe and enter into that kingdom as well all right
look at Psalm 41 for me now Psalm 41 and verse number nine Psalm 41 verse number nine because
after he went into Jerusalem and after he would be rejected by the nation
well not only was he rejected by the nation but he was rejected by one of his disciples one of
his very close apostles of course that is Judas Iscariot and this is also spoken about in the book
of Psalms Psalms 41 and verse number nine reads yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted
which did eat at my of my bread have lifted up his hill against me Jesus Christ as a prophecy here of
Christ that he would be rejected by a close friend that this close friend would eat the same bread as
Christ and of course we know when it comes to the the last supper that Judas Iscariot was there
participating on that last supper eating of that bread but that same one would be the one that
would reject Christ that would not just reject Christ but betray Christ and this is confirmed as
a pointing to Christ in Matthew 26 verse 24 which reads the son of man goeth as it is written of him
but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had
never been born then Judas which betrayed him answered and said master is that I he said unto
him thou hast said okay master is that I said Judas Iscariot Jesus said thou hast said you are
the betrayer you are the one that should have never been it would have been better if you just
were never born why would why would it be better that he'd never be born is because Judas not only
betrayed Christ he did not even believe on Christ okay he became reprobate but by rejecting Christ
and his end would be in hell of course after he committed suicide so even the betrayal of Judas
Iscariot is captured for us in the book of Psalms now please go to Psalm 35 Psalm 35
and of course once Christ would be betrayed by his close apostle he'd be arrested and
you know the religious leaders of that day they wanted to kill Christ but they couldn't find
anything against him so they had to try to make up false accusations right they try to find people
that would falsely accuse Christ and this is prophesied for us in the book of Psalms Psalm 35
verse 11 reads false witnesses did rise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not okay they
laid to my charge things that I knew not they came lying about me says Jesus I didn't even know
what they're talking about I never did anything of the things they they said that I that I had done
hey these were false accusers or false witnesses and again when Christ was was arrested he'd be
brought forth to the chief priest the scribes and in some sorry in in Matthew 26 verse 59
the bible reads now the chief priests and elders and all the council sought false witness against
Jesus to put him to death but found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they
none at the last came two false witnesses okay so you know these religious leaders tried to
find people that would just falsely accuse Christ and these false witnesses you know were prophesied
in the book of Psalms as well all right so after they tried to falsely accuse him they couldn't find
something to accuse him of ultimately you know he was Jesus Christ was brought before Pilate
and Pilate decided to crucify Christ he even washes his hands and says look I'm innocent he
finds no fault in Christ but he gives into the the demand of the masses he gives into the demand
of the population and if you can go to Psalm 22 please go to Psalm 22 verse 16
it speaks of the type of of death the type of torture that Christ would suffer okay and if you
ask somebody you know how did you know how did Jesus Christ die you know nine out of ten people
know they'll say well he was crucified you know he was placed in that cross and of course this
was spoken about in the book of Psalms and remember in the time that these things were
written in the book of Psalms crucifixion wasn't even a method of death it wasn't even a method of
torture okay but in Psalm 22 verse 16 the Bible reads for dogs have come past me the assembly of
the wicked have enclosed me they pierced my hands and my feet they pierced my hands and my feet and
of course that piercing would be the nails that would go through the hands of Christ the nails
that would go through the feet of Christ and he would be then nailed to that cross the cross of
Calvary and in Luke 23 verse 33 it says and when they came to the place sorry and when they will
come to the place which is called Calvary there they crucified him in the matter of fact there's
one on the right hand and the other on the left so they crucified Christ okay they pierced his
hands they pierced his feet spoken of many centuries before in the book of Psalms it's
amazing it's amazing these prophecies how these prophecies came true in the life of Christ I mean
we get a great appreciation for the word of God Christ of course being the word of God manifest
in the flesh you know and um you know the reason I wanted to go through this in a in a sermon or
in a Bible study was just simply so we can appreciate the Bible you know appreciate the
Psalms you know it's not just another book you know this book has been written by God himself
you know a God that knows the future a God that had the plan of redemption in place
knowing full well that his son will die by crucifixion and allowing King David
to write about this in in the book of Psalms look at look at Psalm 22 same same as Psalm
look at verse number 18 Psalm 22 verse 18
and they part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture I mean
just just a detail there right so when Christ would be on the cross we know the story of what
took place there and how his garments were divided by the soldiers and I'll just read the story to you
in Matthew 27 verse 35 it says and they crucified him and parted his garments casting lots that he
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet they parted my garments among them and upon my
vesture they did cast lots and again I've told you this before how how you know clothing was
expensive back in those days you know they didn't have all the machinery that we have in China
you know you know manufacturing clothing at a significantly cheap price you know clothing
was expensive and and you know good clothing today is expensive and so instead of you know
that clothing going to waste the soldiers took it upon themselves they decided let's divide it
amongst ourselves and the way they divide it was just by casting lots you know by rolling some dice
whatever whatever way they cast lots back then even that level of detail is recorded for us in
the book of Psalms and also I'll just read one more time it said there casting lots that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet and so all these Psalms that we have you know all the
psalmist that wrote the Psalms the Bible says these are prophets you know we think about how
the Bible is divided and I like how the Bible is divided you know we talk about the minor prophets
and we talk about the the major prophets but the book of Psalms was written by prophets as well
in fact the entire Bible was written by prophets you know all scripture both Old Testament and
New Testament are written by people that prophesy the word of God that God moved with the Holy Ghost
in them to write to pen these words of God and so you know don't disregard the book of Psalms
understand it is written by prophets speaking very much so of Jesus Christ and of course once
Christ's garments were were divided if you can go to Psalm 69 Psalm 69 and verse number 21
we know that Christ became thirsty and they didn't offer him water the Bible says here in Psalm 69
verse 21 they gave me also gold for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink okay
and of course that took place on the cross Christ was was a thirst and the Bible says in Matthew 27
verse 33 and when they were come unto a place called Golgotha that is to say a place of a skull
they gave him they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gold and when he had tasted thereof
he would not drink okay so even the very drink that Christ would drink on the cross
is spoken about here in Psalms if you go back to Psalm 22 go back to Psalm 22
and so we have his type of death we have what the soldiers are doing which we have even the
kind of drink that would be offered unto Christ but the Bible even records the words that Christ
would speak while he was crucified on the cross Psalm 22 verse 1 my God my God why hast thou
forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring okay so Christ
spoke these heartbreaking words to his father and again these are recorded for us in the New
Testament once again in Matthew 27 verse 46 which reads and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice saying that is to say my God my God why hast thou forsaken me you see when Christ
was on the cross suffering his body they've been offered that sacrifice unto us he took on the
sins of the world he took on the pains the griefs the sorrows he took it all the infirmities upon
his physical body he became sin for us and the father could not look upon sin you know the father
cannot be cannot fellowship with sin and so you know the ultimate sacrifice of Christ was having
the father turn his face against him was having God the father reject Christ because he had become
sin you know he'd become that sacrifice unto us you know the suffering of Christ was was great
and you know Jesus Christ did not die from crucifixion in fact neither did the the the
the thief on the right and nearly the thief on the left you know they didn't die from normally
people would die of crucifixion but the issue here was that they were crucified just before Passover
and the Jews did not want these dead bodies you know it would defile their holiday would defile
the Passover by having these dead human beings or these dying men you know to celebrate something
that was supposed to be a holiday for them and uh you know when when Christ died the Bible says
he gave up the ghost he made the decision that this is the point you know it is finished he
commended his spirit unto the father and he decided to to give up the ghost and so Jesus
Christ allowed himself to die you know and uh in Psalm 34 if you know Psalm 34 Psalm 34 and verse
number 20 Psalm 34 verse 20 the Bible reads he keepeth all his bones not one of them is broken
he keepeth all his bones not one of them is broken you see when Christ was crucified when he was
beaten when he was mocked he never had a broken bone yes his body was destroyed it was whipped
his body bled but his bones were not broken okay and of course when when these three were on the
cross the Jews wanted these bodies taken down he wanted they wanted them to die quickly and so
we read in John 19 verse 31 John 19 verse 31 it says the Jews therefore because it was the
preparation that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day for the Sabbath day
was a high day be sought pilot that their legs might be broken that they might not that sorry
that they might be taken away and so the Jews went to pile and say look can you break their legs we
don't want them hanging there during the Passover can you break them and by breaking legs then they
can't lift themselves up to breathe right that that would be the situation on the cross they
would have to with their legs being being uh being uh nailed to the cross they would use the strength
of their legs to lift themselves up to take a breath lift themselves up to take a breath and
by breaking their legs they couldn't lift they couldn't take a breath and so they would die from
suffocation okay yes they would have the pain of their broken legs but then they couldn't lift
themselves up to take a breath they would die from a lack of oxygen and then it says in verse
number 32 then came the soldiers and break the legs of the first and of the other which were
crucified with him so they broke the legs of the one on the right the one on the left so they would
die from lack of oxygen but then in verse 33 it says but when they came to Jesus and saw that he
was dead already they break not his legs okay so they didn't break the legs of Christ because he
was really dead he already gave up the ghosts you know he really commended his spirit to the father
and so they didn't have to break his legs I mean it's amazing that this detail is put in in here
for us in the word of God now go to psalm 16 go to psalm 16 psalm 16 and of course after Christ
died we celebrate the fact that he didn't stay dead you know we celebrate the fact that he was
resurrected and in psalm 16 verse 10 the bob reads for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell
neither will thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption and so we have two elements here
of Christ his soul and when it says thine holy one to see corruption that's referring to the
body of Christ that's referring to the flesh of Christ we know that because that speaks
that's what it's that's what it points to in the New Testament but his soul would not be left in
hell so it would be delivered from hell and his body would not remain in the grave he would be
resurrected of course on the third day and you know this is repeated for us in the book of acts
acts chapter 2 verse 30 which reads therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn
an oath to him and that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh he would raise up Christ
to sit on his throne he seen this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was
not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption so you can see there it says neither
his flesh did see corruption and in psalm 16 10 it said neither that would suffer thine holy one
to see corruption so the holy one refers to there to the body to the flesh of Christ that would be
resurrected from from the grave so not only do we have the death of Christ prophesied in the book of
psalms we have the resurrection of Christ being spoken about there in the book of psalms it's
amazing amazing now please go to psalm chapter 2 psalm chapter 2 verse 7 psalm chapter 2 verse 7
and when Christ was resurrected from the dead God the father makes an announcement about his son
okay psalm chapter 2 verse 7 some people have misunderstood this passage and they think this
is about his birth in Bethlehem's manger but actually this is about his resurrection and I'll
show that to you in a moment psalm chapter 2 verse 7 which says I will declare the decree
the Lord have said unto me thou art my son this day have I begotten thee okay now of course when
it comes to to king David you know we speak about you know I suppose for for any human being the day
where we're born is the day we're begotten you know but when it comes to Christ yes he was born
in Bethlehem's manger of course but it's this passage of the being the begotten son of God
is actually a reference to his resurrection how do we know that we know that because of what the
new testament teaches and I'll just read it to you in Acts 13 verse 33 Acts 13 verse 33 speaking
about the resurrection of Christ I'll just show you that it says God have fulfilled the same unto
us their children in that he have raised up Jesus again so when he was he raised up again
at you know the resurrection raised up as it is also written in the second psalm so we look at
psalm 2 the second psalm thou art my son this day have I begotten thee okay so what day was Christ
begotten of the father the day that he was born in Bethlehem's manger no no the day that he was
resurrected from the dead this is why the bible refers to Christ as the first begotten
from the dead okay so the begotten son of God refers to the fact that he would be resurrected
from the dead that he was resurrected on the day that is the day that he was became the begotten
son of God okay so now of course once he was resurrected once this announcement of of he being
the son of God then Christ also at his resurrection what received the the position
of the high priest you know not not a priesthood after the priesthood of the Levites but the
priesthood after Melchizedek and if you can go to psalm 110 psalm 110 of course Melchizedek
was a priest that Abraham encountered in psalm 110 verse number four the bible says the Lord
hath sworn and will not repent thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek okay so
Jesus Christ when he takes on that priesthood he would have that priesthood forever God would not
repent God will not change his mind Jesus Christ would be that high priest of Melchizedek forever
okay you say well when did that happen well it happened at his resurrection okay and in Hebrews
5 5 we read about this Hebrews 5 5 it says so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an
high priest but he that said unto him thou art my son to they have I begotten thee so again what is
that a reference of again the resurrection of Christ as he saith also in another place
thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek and so we see on the day that Christ
was resurrected from the dead he took on that office he took on the office of a high priest
after the order of Melchizedek okay so we don't need priests today we don't need priests in the
New Testament like priests were required in the Old Testament we have the high priest which is
Christ and ourselves have been made kings and priests unto the Lord okay so we have direct
access to God we don't need to go through a separate priesthood system you know we're priests
and Christ is our high priest okay so after Christ was resurrected from the dead many witnesses
saw him he came proclaiming the great commission we know that he was then ascended up into heaven
you know in that in that cloud and wouldn't you know it Psalms speaks about the ascension as well
so if you go to Psalm 110 Psalm 110 I will there already won't we Psalm 110 and look at verse number
one it says the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies
thy footstool okay sit thou at my right hand until I make my thine enemies thy footstool
so this would of course be Christ at a point where he would not be at the right hand of the Father
and then the Father says well come and sit at my right hand okay well when did that take place
well we know in the book of Acts chapter 2 verse 32
Acts chapter 2 verse 32 the Bible reads this Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses
therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of
the Holy Ghost he have shed forth this which you now see and hear for David is not ascended into
the heavens but he himself but he saved himself the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right
hand until I make thy foes thy footstool and saying okay so David King David has not ascended
into heaven say well what do you mean well hold on is aren't all the saints in heaven yes all
the saints that have died are in heaven but no one has ascended to heaven in their physical bodies
because the resurrection has not taken place yet the rapture has not yet taken place
but the one that did receive the resurrected body was Christ and Christ would be ascended
up into heaven and of course speaking of that is the fact that the Father would say to the Son
sit thou at my right hand it wasn't about David that was actually about Jesus Christ
again prophesied to us in the book of Psalms now please go to Psalm 68 Psalm 68
and verse number 18 so when Christ ascended up to heaven listen he did not leave us powerless
in fact he left us with great power he left us with the comforter he left us with the Holy Ghost
but as a believer he also left us with spiritual gifts and those spiritual gifts are given out by
the Holy Spirit okay he's given us spiritual gifts now look at Psalm 68 verse 18 it says
thou hast ascended on high that's speaking of Christ he is ascension into heaven
thou hast led captivity captive now if you remember what that is that's someone that's
been taken captive and then you know the situation gets turned on its head
and the captive becomes the one that takes uh the one that had captured them into captivity
okay and of course this speaks of us who have been taken in uh you know kept captive by the
power of sin the fact that we have that sinful nature and then when Christ has come and we
believe on him he's given us that new man he's given us power over sin he's given us power to
overcome sin and then we've been able to overcome sin we've been taken from a captive to a captor
okay and so this of course plays into the ascension of Christ there but then it reads
thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the lord god might dwell
among them okay so this is speaking about the lord dwelling among us what's that about well
notice that it spoke about receiving gifts for men okay now when you read that that might sound
like men are given gifts to the lord but actually when you read about it in the book of um
Ephesians this gets repeated Ephesians chapter 4 verse 7 and this is speaking about the local
church speaking about the new testament church it says but unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ you see salvation grace salvation by grace through
faith is a gift of god okay and here we see the measure of gift of Christ yes salvation is a gift
but not just salvation it keeps reading wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led he
led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men so he gave gifts unto men so that passage that
we read about was actually Christ giving gifts to us verse number nine now that now that he ascended
what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth
he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens
that he might fill all things and he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists
and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry
for the edifying of the body of Christ and of course the body of Christ is your local new
testament church the bible says that Christ has given us gifts gifts of ministry gifts of preaching
you know gifts of of teaching you know the the man that stands behind the pulpit and teachers
and preachers yes myself as a pastor but other people that do such things have been given a gift
by god and again what was the reference that we saw there in in psalm 68 verse 18 it says at the
end of it that the lord god might dwell among them you see when we when we come into church the lord
god dwells among us he's here his presence is in church when we gather together and again the sad
thing the sad reality that we can't gather right now in that sense you know gather in the body of
Christ you know we can gather amongst other brethren other believers you know friends and
we can praise god together praise god for that but when it comes to the local body the body of Christ
you know right now we're lacking that opportunity to express the gifts that Christ has given us and
he's given us these gifts so we can edify the body okay and i can't wait once again for us to
be gathered once again in church please go to psalm chapter 2 psalm chapter 2 and verse number 9
psalm 2 verse number 9 so we have Christ he ascended up into heaven and we know Christ is
coming back okay we know Christ is coming back and how is he coming is it coming meek and mild
is he coming as that lamb no he comes as a lion he comes as one of great power
one of great authority and in psalm 2 verse 9 it says thou shall break them with a rod of iron
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel it says here when Christ comes to rule
when he comes to take power from from the antichrist from from the kings of the earth
he comes as one coming in authority comes as one with a rod of iron so much so that the
illustration given us here is taking a potter's vessel you know taking a piece of pottery and just
smashing it you know just just it falling apart you know Christ comes with great power destroying
the armies destroying the kingdoms of the earth and bringing all the kings and kingdoms unto
himself ruling with that rod of iron and the picture that we have in revelation 19 verse 15
if you may recall revelation 19 is when Christ comes on the white horse and it says in verse
number 15 and out of his mouth go for sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations
and he should rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of almighty god Christ is coming to rule with a rod of iron he comes he destroys those
armies with with a sharp sword that proceeds out of his mouth and he rules with a rod of iron this
was prophesied to us once again in Psalms you know Psalm 2 Psalm 2 is amazing because it spoke
there of the resurrection of Christ the fact that he will die but it also speaks that he's going to
rule with authority with great power and of course this is speaking about the millennium
kingdom now please go to Psalm 22 we're going to end on this one Psalm 22 Psalm 22 verse 27
the bible reads and all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord
and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee
i shall read verse 28 as well for the kingdom is the Lord's and he is the governor among the
nations wow and to think about it as a coming a time i mean we can't say this already happened
there's never been a time when all the all the people of the earth all the kindreds of the
nations will come and worship God we've never seen that happen you know the most we've seen
is of course the nation of Israel you know when they were right with God they would worship God
we've seen that we've never seen all the nations worship God and when Christ comes to rule in his
kingdom you know every people all nations all kindreds of all the world will come and worship
Christ because he's going to be the governor he's going to be the one ruling from Jerusalem
and you know it says in revelation 11 verse 15 remember it said in Psalm 22 verse 28
for the kingdom is the Lord's when revelation 11 verse 15 it says it like this and the seventh
angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the kingdoms of this world
are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever amen
and so we see you know the book of Psalms speaks so much of Christ again the title for the sermon
tonight was Jesus in the Psalms and i hope you know i've been able to open up your understanding
i hope i've been able to help you understand the scriptures a little bit more as you read
through the Psalms or at least appreciate the Psalms a lot more it's not just the Psalms i
mean Jesus Christ is found throughout all this you know every book of the bible speaks of Christ in
some capacity some capacity what did Jesus Christ say once again he says all things must be
fulfilled that which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms
concerning me Christ says the entire old testament was pointing to Christ you know it blows my mind
when i hear preacher saying that the old testament saints knew nothing of Christ's death knew nothing
about the you know that he would bring about the church age you know they how they use that term
we saw that Christ came delivering gifts spiritual gifts for the local church okay so these are these
are things that were taught and written about in the Psalms don't forget that in the old testament
days you know in so let's say the new testament we have preachers we have pastors we have teachers
in the body of Christ well in the old testament days they had prophets you know they had the
scriptures people would read the scriptures and they had prophets teaching people the word of God
hey even the priests you know even the Levitical priests were commanded to teach people what was
holy and unholy to teach people about the bible to teach people the scriptures and when the priests
did not teach when the prophets did not teach there was a famine for the word of God you know
and i hope once again brethren you know i hope that bible study was beneficial to you
and you know really appreciate the Psalms it's it's such an amazing book you know it serves
many purposes it serves the purpose of study it serves for the purpose of singing songs
it just serves for the purpose of being close to the Lord for having your heart set right
you know to desire to fellowship with God all right God bless