Getting Ready for Jesus

TEXT: Psalm 2

TOPIC: GETTING READY FOR JESUS, part 2

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, December 6, 2020

(This sermon was adapted several years ago from Dr. James Merritt, as best as I recall. Dr. Merritt is a prince of an expositor and has been a great resource for me over the years.)

Last Sunday I began what is turning out to be a short series of Christmas messages around the topic, “Getting Ready for Jesus.” Among all the other activities that fill our calendars at Christmas, one of the most important events we must plan on is to get ready for Jesus.

Our biblical text is found in Psalm 2, a Messianic Psalm declaring the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a further reminder and as the setting of this second psalm, recall that Psalm 2 shows us a hate of the world for God, and the hope for the world from God.

We looked at the REBELLION of the world against God.

First, there is planned rebellion. Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" (v.1)

It is also a political rebellion. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed. (v.2)

It is also a popular rebellion. It is not just the kings and the rulers, but we are told it is also the "nations and the peoples."

Last, it is a pointed rebellion. Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." (vv 2b-3)

You see, throughout history, the world has rejected three things: Israel as the people of God, the Bible as the Word of God, and Jesus as the Son of God.

Then we saw the Triune Response of God in heaven. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit weigh in on the matter with basically one message: "Get ready for Jesus!”

I. THE CONFRONTING VOICE OF GOD THE SOVEREIGN

And how does God the Sovereign respond to these threats?

A. Derision, v. 4

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision, v.4

B. Displeasure v.5

Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.

C. Determination v.6

Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.

T/S—Now in the time remaining I want us to look at the second part of this message, “Getting Ready for Jesus.”

Last Sunday we looked at the First Person of the Triune nature of God, God the Father, God the Sovereign. This morning we will see and hear the confident voice of God the Son, the Person of the Trinity.

II. THE CONFIDENT VOICE OF GOD THE SON

God the Son says that man's devices cannot change God's decrees. God the Son, knowing that God the Father has decreed and declared the end from the beginning, speaks with confidence about three things:

A. His Exalted Position, v. 7

I will declare the decree; the Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You.

Now when did God the Father say this to God the Son? Well, I know you are probably thinking it was at His birth, but it was not. In fact, the New Testament sheds light on this statement, and it tells us when and how God the Father said this to God the Son, and what it reveals about the Lord Jesus is literally breathtaking. This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament.

In Acts 13:33, this statement refers to His physical resurrection: God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’

In Hebrews 5:5, this statement refers to His priestly rule: So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: 'You are my Son, Today I have begotten You.'

In Hebrews 1:5, this statement refers to His powerful reign: For to which of the angels did He ever say: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'? And again: 'I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son'?

Now in the first reference we see Jesus as prophet, because He prophesied His resurrection. In the second reference we see Jesus as Priest, and in the third reference we see Jesus as King.

In other words, we see in these references, His past, His present, and His future. In the past He came as a prophet; in the present He continues as a Priest; in the future He's coming as a King. Now buckle your pew belts and hang on to this thought:

In the Old Testament there were prophets who were also priests, like Jeremiah. There were kings who were also prophets, like David. There was, in one instance, a priest who was also a king. His name was Melchizedek. But in all of the Bible there is only one who was Prophet, Priest, and King, and his name is Jesus. That is his exalted position.

B. His Expected Possession, v. 8

Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.

Every now and then I hear someone say, "What is this world coming to?" I can tell you, it's coming to Jesus. When He comes, he's not coming to take sides, He's coming to take over. He's not coming this time as just another tenant, He's coming as the rightful landlord that He is. He's not coming this time as just a laborer in the vineyard, He's coming as the owner of the plantation!

C. His Exhibited Power

You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. v.9 This world, in one final battle, is going to array all of its military might, manpower, and missiles against the Lord Jesus Christ. But those kingdoms are going to crumble like a clay pot struck by an iron rod.

Conclusion 2:

When Jesus came the first time in Bethlehem of Judea, He came as a tiny, helpless newborn baby born in a manger. But when He comes again, He will come in all His radiant glory as the Son of God and He will take His rightful place there on the throne of His father David to reign as the King of the universe.

When He came the first time He came as the Lamb of God. But when He comes the second time He's coming as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and every eye shall see Him and nothing, or no one, not principalities, not powers, not even the devil himself, can keep this from happening.

III. THE CONFIRMING VOICE OF GOD THE SPIRIT

I believe you hear in verse 10, the voice of God's dear Holy Spirit: Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. You see, the Holy Spirit is called in Isaiah 11:2, "the Spirit of wisdom." In this verse, he gives one of his favorite messages.

In effect, what the Holy Spirit says is this: "Wise up, Jesus is the King of King; the King is coming, therefore you had better get ready for Jesus."

The Holy Spirit graciously, compassionately, lovingly, reveals to us those things that are necessary to be right with God, and to be ready for His dear Son.

A. Fear Of The Lord

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. v.11 The spirit of wisdom tells us that the beginning of wisdom is fear. Psalm 111:10 says, The fear of the Lord is

the beginning of wisdom." I have a message today for the pleasure- hungry people in Hollywood; the prosperity-hungry people on Wall Street; and the power-hungry people in

Washington. You had better wise up and fear the Lord.

B. Fellowship With The Lord

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. v.12 That is one of the sweetest invitations in all the Bible, "Kiss the Son." In days of antiquity, there was a practice of paying homage to the king by kissing his hand, and even kissing his feet. When you did that, you were simply telling the king of your love, your submission, your obedience, and your total commitment to him. I would invite you this very moment, all over again, to kiss the feet of the dear Lord Jesus in surrender and submission.

C. Faith In The Lord

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. v.12b

The only way you can be ready for Jesus is to put your trust in Him. This world may scorn Jesus, scoff at Jesus, refuse, rebuff, and reject Jesus. But one thing you can count on, this world has not seen the last of Jesus.

If you have ever been to a symphony to hear an orchestra, it's quite an event. If you go to a symphony early, the musicians will begin to drift out from the stage sides. They'll be in shirt sleeves for the most part. Each man or woman will go up to his instrument and begin to tune it. Quite frankly, it sounds pretty pitiful

The folk with the fiddles too big to put under their chins, will saw back and forth, and it sounds horrible. Then those with the little violins, they'll put them under their chins and squeak the thing up and down, and it sounds like nails scratching a blackboard. Then you've got those that I call the ones with a lot of brass; the ones with the horns. They'll come out and blow on those things and nothing will be in harmony. It's just a bunch of confusion.

But then they will disappear out through the wings, and all of a sudden the lights come on, the platform lights ignite, the musicians walk out. This time they have on their coats, their ties, their dresses. Each one comes out and sits at his particular instrument. There's a hush in the auditorium, a spotlight is focused on the wings, and the conductor steps out.

When he does, there is thunderous applause. Usually he bows, then he comes to the podium, picks up a thin little stick. He turns around again to the audience and bows, turns his back to the audience; he lifts that little stick and he brings that little stick down, and when he does, you will feel the goose pimples begin to march like an army up your arms. Because you have never heard such music, such harmony, such melody, in all of your life.

We are living in a world today where every man is tooting his own horn. Every group wants to be heard. Everybody wants to tell you what he thinks. Everybody is playing his own little fiddle, and it is a medley of discord. Everything is out of tune.

But one of these days the spotlight is going to come on. The mighty conductor, the Lord Jesus, is going to come. He's going to lift his scepter and everything that is out of tune with Him is going to be removed; and when He comes down with that scepter, oh the harmony that is going to be in this universe. I am so grateful that my life is in tune with Him, that He is my Savior and Lord. I'm ready for Jesus. I hope you are too.