Kiss The Son Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Conspiracy – The Voice of Nations (vs 1-3):

(2). Mockery – The Voice of the Father (vs 4-6)

(3). Victory - The Voice of the Son (7-9):

(4). Opportunity - The Voice of the Spirit (10-12);

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• In its first 300 hundred years the Christian church endured repeated waves of persecution

• But perhaps the worst came while Diocletian was emperor of Rome (A.D.284-305).

• Convinced that the Christians were conspiring against him,

• Diocletian sought to annihilate them throughout his empire,

• History records that he ordered entire towns to be massacred.

• But, as Psalm 2 verse 4 recognizes,

• The one who rules in heaven is sovereign over the wicked,

• And he will have the last laugh.

• Back home in Diocletian’s palace;

• His own wife and daughter were turning to Christ.

• And after his death a new emperor by the name of Constantine took the throne.

• Constantine became a Christian,

• And Christianity eventually became the favoured religion of the entire Roman Empire.

• All Diocletian’s plotting was in ;

• Long term he was unsuccessful and ineffective!

We are starting a new series on Messianic Psalms (‘Psalms that speak of Jesus’):

• We know for certain which Psalms specifically speak of Jesus:

• Because the New Testament clearly tells us.

• This Psalm is quoted seven times in the New Testament;

• And each quote refers to Jesus - the references are:

• Acts chapter 4 verses 24-27.

• Acts chapter 13 verses 33.

• Hebrews chapter 1 verse 5.

• Hebrews chapter 5 verse 5,

• Revelation chapter 2 verse 27;

• Revelation chapter 12 verse 5,

• Revelation chapter 19 verse 15.

Now as we look at the Psalm:

• Notice that Psalm 2 contains twelve verses:

• They naturally divide into four sections of three verses each,

• And in each section we can hear a different voice speaking.

(1). Conspiracy - THE VOICE OF THE NATIONS

(vs 1-3):

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

3 Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters.

• Verse 1 tells us that it is the Gentiles (non-Jews) that the psalmist has in view;

• King James Bible uses the word "Heathen" N.I.V. "Nations".

• In Old Testament times;

• Anyone who wasn’t Jewish, would be called a heathen by Jews (i.e. Psalmist).

• So the psalmist is talking about Gentiles in these verses;

• Gentiles who are rebelling and plotting against God.

This rebellion causes the psalmist to ask a question:

• The question he asks is ‘Why?’

• But I don’t think he is expecting a reply,

• He asks the question because he is astonished at how people treat God;

• The God who gives us life and sustains us day by day,

• The God who would through his ‘anointed one’;

• Would make possible forgiveness of sins and the certainty of eternal life;

• So the psalmist asks the question:

• Why then would human beings engage in anything as useless and time wasting,

• As trying to throw off the rule of God in their lives?

Ill:

• The idea here is of a stubborn and raging animal;

• Trying to buck off the saddle and break the straps that bind the saddle to its body.

• All its attempts are futile, they are in vain.

• Because real freedom comes not from resisting God in our lives;

• Real freedom comes submitting to God and doing his will.

Like many people today they have a wrong understanding of what it means to be free;

• Freedom is not total independence;

• Quote: Thomas Huxley:

• “A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.”

• Quote: Phillips Brooks”

• “No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.”

True freedom is not found outside of God but with God.

Ill:

• A kite is only free to soar into the sky & loop the loop etc;

• Because it is attached to the string.

• Without the string it would soar away and crash;

• As long as the kite is attached by the string;

• The controller can help that kite achieve incredible things.

But these people mentioned in verses 1-3 have one thing in mind – rebellion:

• Let us break their chains, "they say, and throw off their fetters."

• These people are making a declaration of independence:

• They have no desire or time for the things of God,