THE THRONE OF GOD

Scripture Text

Psalm 93

INTRO; We see, hear and experience many things in this life that are not good. Every day some evil and wrong is before our eyes. We don’t understand how a people can drift so far from the truth of God’s word and way. How are we to live today with all that is going on around us on a daily basis? There is not much we can count on in this world, but there is one thing for sure that we can count on, our God reigns from His throne on high. Let’s look at the world from a viewpoint of God’s throne instead of man. As we view things from God's point of view, it will help us keep the right perspective.

 I. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY. Psalm 93:1 (NKJV) The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.

A. We can take consolation in the truth that Jehovah is supreme over all and reigns gloriously from His throne in Heaven. His royal power and dominance prevail everywhere over all His creation. There is no earthly power greater than God.

1. He clothes Himself with Majesty- [Glory, honor, beauty, splendor, excellence in form and appearance]. He is Very grand, dignified, and lofty- above all others. None like Him.

2. He clothes Himself with strength. He has the power to resist any attack. He has power to act upon and change things. He can cause things to happen. He has a plan for this world and will carry it out.

  3. He made the world and holds it in place. Jeremiah 10: 12 He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. All things are created by Him and under His authority.

II. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD’S STABILITY. Psalm 93:2 (NKJV) Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. His throne is firm in the heavens. His throne has no beginning or end. It’s from everlasting to everlasting. Established before creation of the world. All false gods are man made. All other thrones have a beginning and an end. His throne has always been and always will be.

  III.  WE CAN COUNT ON GOD’S STRENGTH. Psalm 93:3-4 (NKJV) ³  The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. ⁴  The LORD on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea.

1. People, terrors and tumults rise against Jehovah. There are those who want to do away with God and His Son Jesus. People have always resisted God and His way from the beginning of time. God's word declares that His enemies will rise up against Him and His throne. They don’t want God reigning over them. Even today! Psalms 2:2-3 ² The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ³ "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." B. The Lord is amused and angered at those who rise up against Him. Psalms 2:4-6 ⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. ⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: C. Jehovah reigns triumphantly and Jesus will eventually rule over all the kings and people's of the earth because God has decreed it. Psalms 2:6 -9 ⁶ "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." ⁷ "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. ⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "                                                                                          D. God’s unlimited sovereignty and irresistible power is a comfort to His people. God rules over Satan and all is evil angels. He limits Satan’s power and influence. We can be assured of that fact from the book of Job. One day God will cast Satan into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. Revelation 20:10 (NKJV) The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

IV. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD’S WORD [V:5] A. God reigns in truth and holiness. The word from God’s throne is very sure because His promises stand true forever. Psalms 119:89-91 ⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. ⁹¹ They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. Because of all these things God is deserving of our deep respect, awe, reverence and adoration. In heaven praise is continual : Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" God's holiness adds beauty, splendor and distinction to our worship. Since He has supreme authority, let us be ready to do His will as He reveals it. With God in control from His throne we have nothing to worry about and much to be thankful for.

INVITATION: God's word says that if you don’t know His Son you cannot make it to heaven, but instead you are condemned and headed to a place called hell. God has given His Son Jesus Christ to save you from your sins. If you haven't been saved and you would like to be, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins against God. Invite Jesus into your life to take charge of you. Then you will not be condemned by God and He will allow you into heaven when this life is over.

The Importance of Fathers!

Intro: I want to thank God for all our fathers. Fathers are important to their families. Families today are hurting without the presence of a father. For a family to be complete as God ordained it must have a father to help steer the children in the right direction. A father helps children develop emotionally, psychologically, physically and spiritually.

I. Fathers are responsible for their family decisions. Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:15-17 (NKJV) ¹⁵  Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
a. God appointed Adam as spiritual leader of his family and expected Adam to obey Him. In neglecting the tree of life, of which he was allowed to eat, and eating of the tree of knowledge, which was forbidden, Adam plainly showed a contempt of what God had bestowed on him, and he desired what God did not see fit to give him. He would have what he pleased, and do what he pleased. His sin was, in one word, disobedience to a plain, easy, and express command. His decision would have consequences. So do your decisions dad!

II. Disobedience to God by fathers bring suffering to their families. a. [Gen. 3:8] Because Adam did not obey God's command, he and his wife lost that sweet fellowship with God. In Gen3:15 there would always be a battle between good and evil which has been the cause of mankind's misery. Even Jesus would suffer horrible because of Adam's disobedience. In Gen: 17-19 the ground was cursed because of Adam's disobedience. Later Adam, his wife and his children suffered because of his disobedience and rebellion against God. READ [Gen. 4:1-8] Their first child Cain murdered his brother Abel. Cain indulged malignant anger against Abel. He harbored an evil spirit of discontent and rebellion against God. He wanted his own way. He committed the same sin of disobedience that his father Adam.
Disobedience to God's commands always brings suffering and heartaches. King David was a man after God's own heart but he also disobeyed God's commands and he and his family suffered greatly because of it. How many families are suffering today because of a fathers wrong choices and decisions?

So a father must be sure he is obedient to God's leading. His children are watching.

III. Obedience & service to God brings blessings to a father's family, church and nation. a. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua's choice to serve God not only affected his family but it also had positive affects on the nation of Israel. Joshua 24:31 (NKJV) ³¹  Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

So when A dad chooses to Serve God in sincerity and truth, it can only result in blessings for all of his family, his church and his nation. God gives us a choice as to which way we can go. God says in: Deuteronomy 30:15-16 ¹⁵  "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, ¹⁶  in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. Dad, the way of life and good is to love the Lord and walk in His ways and as spiritual leader of your family bring up your children to do the same.
Ephesians 6:4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Conclusion: When a man takes his spiritual leadership role and leads his family to worship, serve, and live for God and when he loves his wife and children and puts them first in his priorities, the entire family will have God's blessings on it.
Each father stands responsible to God for his decisions that he makes as spiritual leader of his family. How are you doing in your responsibilities dad? I pray that you are making wise decisions and choices for your family even if your children are grown. We dads must continue to be spiritual leaders and lift up our children in prayer.

Invitation: Every dad wants his children to be saved and go to Heaven. The way to be saved if you have not been is to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. Jesus said He would not turn away those who come to Him in faith. Let the Holy Spirit show you where you stand with God and make choices accordingly.

First Love!

               Scripture Text Revelation 2:2-5 (NKJV) ²  I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³  and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. ⁴  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

Intro: In the Song of Solomon we have metaphors of our relationship with Jesus. We need to take seriously our intimacy with our beloved Savior and Lord. We are admonished in the scripture text for today to make and keep Jesus our first love. That is what revival is. Being awakened to our constant need to put Jesus first in our lives.

I. Shulamite bride discovers her beloved is missing. [Song of Solomon 3:1]
¹ By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. Many are asleep in their relationship with Jesus and do not know He is missing in their lives. They are going through life alone and feeling distant in their relationship with Jesus? In a night season, a time of trouble and strife, some Christians seek for Jesus and they have a hard time finding Him. Divorce rate same as world. They never read the bible or look to Jesus in prayer until they have a need that no one else can meet and then Jesus seems so far away and hard to find. He seems to be missing! They began to seek Him in prayer but can not find Him. He seems to be so far away. They seek Jesus without Him being first in their lives and so they don't have a closeness to Him. They feel Jesus is not concerned about them and what they are going through.

II. She searches for her beloved. [Song of Solomon 3:2] "I will rise now," I said, "And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him, but I did not find him. When some have a need for Jesus in their lives then they rise up from their spiritual deadness. As Christians we should be on a search, a search for more of Jesus in our lives, it is not a momentary request for His help, but a hunger and thirst for more of Him and His power in our lives.
How long has it been since you really sought to put Jesus first in your life? How much time do you take each day in search for Him by reading His word and then seeking Him in private prayer? When you make decisions do they glorify Him? Does your life show Jesus is number one in your life? When Christians can't find Jesus in private prayer, and meditation, they seek him in the church and in fellowship with other believers. Because they are not close to Him, they seek out someone else to pray and seek God's face for them. They seek sympathy from others. They can not find Him alone – Jesus sometimes delays the blessings of his grace. Sometimes Jesus does not answer our prayers right away to test the sincerity of our faith and to encourage us to draw closer to Him. He wants us to seek after Him and His will for us. When you seek Jesus, is it always because of a need? Few seek Him in the context of love, but that is where the deep fellowship and the blessings of Jesus' heart is revealed.

III. She inquires of her beloveds whereabouts. [Song of Solomon 3:3]

³  The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, "Have you seen the one I love?" The ministers and elders are the watchmen of the church who go about helping those who have slipped away from Jesus and are in the darkness of sin and don't know where to turn. They help guide people in the direction of Jesus and His salvation whatever their situation. James 5:19-20¹⁹  Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰  let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. It is the priority of the watchmen of the church to always lift up Jesus so that all may may be drawn to Him. Jesus said in John 12:32  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
Jesus must always be first in the church above all other things. He is to always be the focus of the church, not people, events or even fellowship with other believers. The watchmen seem to have been helpful in directing the Shulamite to her Beloved because:

IV. She finds her beloved. [Song of Solomon 3:4] [ Eph. 3:19-20]

⁴  Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. When we truly find Jesus in a very deep, private relationship we will not let Him go. When we make Him first in our lives, We will never be the same again. But Jesus does not allow just anyone to tap into the desires of His heart. Those secrets are reserved for those who search for Him with the longing of love for Him, for those who crave His presence and fullness of His Spirit to work in their lives. When we spend private time with Jesus in reading and studying His word and in private communion with Him in prayer, we allow Him into the private places of our hearts and then we will experience true revival in our lives. This takes us into a deeper intimacy than others dare to expect. When the Shulamite found her beloved, she was rewarded with a tight embrace. Her heart clung to her beloved in unity. This is where heart to heart thoughts, feelings, and desires are shared freely. The Shulamite brought Him into her place where she lived. We should bring Jesus into the deepest recesses, the private places of our hearts. When you do you will be able > ¹⁹  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; and you will be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰  and God will be able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think, according to His Holy Spirit power that works in you. Ephesians 3:19-20

Conclusion: Allow the Holy Spirit to take a good look at the private places in your heart and life. Let Him show you the place Jesus truly has is in your life. Is He first or have you allowed other things to occupy your time and thoughts. You may be missing out. Jesus has much more for those who are searching for Him.

Invitation: Have you found the salvation Jesus died to give you? Have you confessed your sins to Him and asked Him to save you? Have you invited Him into your life? If you haven't, now is the right time to do that. The choice is yours to make!