2024.01.07. SERMON. PSALM 24 FOR 2024
William Akehurst, HSWC
Big Idea: On the first Sunday of the New Year. Psalm 23 for year 2023, and Psalm 24 for 2024.
Who can stand in the Holy Place of GOD? Those who seek HIM, having been transformed by the Great Shepherd.
Vs. 6 is being fulfilled as we witness what is happening in Israel. Could 2024 be the year of HIS RETURN?
Note: The biblical number 24 refers to the Priesthood.
SCRIPTURES: 1 Peter 2:9-10, Psalms 23:1-6, Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalms 15:1-5, Matthew 5:8, Luke 21:28, John 16:33, 2 Chronicles 20:15, Revelation 19:11-16, Hebrews 13:20-21, Psalms 65:11
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Psalms 23 The LORD the Shepherd of His People. A Psalm of David.
WHEN THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.
HE LEADS, GUIDES, RESTORES, DISCIPLINES, GUARDS, PREPARES, COMFORTS, AND ANOINTS YOU.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; [HERE AND NOW]
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. [FOR ALL ETERNITY]
THE ANOINTING.
A SHEPHERD ANOINTS THE HEAD OF THE SHEEP TO KEEP THE BUGS OFF.
WHEN A KING IS PUT IN PLACE, HE IS ANOINTED WITH OIL.
THE ANOINTING IS A REFERENCE TO THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GOD PLACED THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS, THIS IS OUR ANOINTING.
HIS ANOINTING UPON US. 1 Peter 2:9-10 FOR THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
WE MUST BE NAMED AMONG PSALM 23 TO OBTAIN PSALM 24
PSALM 24
1ST LOOK – MESSIANIC PSALM
2ND LOOK – ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
Psalms 24 (NKJV) The King of Glory and His Kingdom. A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
WE BELONG TO THE LORD, PEOPLE AND THE WHOLE EARTH
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
WHO CAN GO? WHO CAN APPROACH? WHO CAN STAND?
WHO? See Hebrews 4:14-16, see Psalms 15
Psalms 15:1-5
1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
1ST CHRIST,
2ND ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, CHOSEN GENERATION
IN CHRIST, WE HAVE AN INHERITANCE. A PATH TO FOLLOW.
WE AS BELIEVERS CAN COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE OBTAINING MERCY AND GRACE.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
THE CONDITION OF THE HEART: CLEAN ACTIONS, PURE HEART, NOT GIVEN TO ANY OTHER gods, NOT LIARS.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
RECEIVE HIS BLESSING. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SALVATION
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
ABOVE ALL ELSE, SEEK HIM
THIS IS JACOB. THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD.
JACOB – JEWS SEEKING GOD, SEEKING MESSIAH. GOD SHOWING WHO HE IS THROUGH THE JEWS
THIS GENERATION – THOSE SEEKING GOD, SEEKING, FOLLOWING AFTER JESUS AS MESSIAH
NOTE: THIS SCRIPTURE ABOUT JACOB Vs 6, AND LIFTING UP THEIR HEADS Vs 7 & 9, INVITING THE MESSIAH TO COME IS A PROPHETIC SIGN TO THE LORD’S COMING.
PROPHECY NOTE. WHEN THE PEOPLE OF GOD CALL OUT TO THE LORD, HE WILL COME.
RECENTLY, THE INTERNET HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH VIDEOS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS GATHERING BEFORE THE BATTLE IN GAZA, PRAISING GOD AND CRYING OUT, COME SAVE US MESSIAH, HOSANNA! SAVE US NOW! COULD THIS BE FULFILLMENT OF THESE VERY WORDS AND SIGNS OF CHRIST’S SOON RETURN?
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
LET US LIFT UP OUR HEADS AND INVITE HIS PRESENCE
Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
GATES, DOORS = CHRIST, BUT ALSO BELIEVERS AND JEWS WHO SHOW THE WAY TO GOD AND CHRIST
WE ARE A GATEWAY, DOOR TO MESSIAH
OPEN YOUR HEART, THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART, AND LET THE KING OF GLORY IN!
HE SHALL COME IN.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.
Selah
WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
THE OVERCOMER, THE VICTORIOUS ONE
2 Chronicles 20:15 …Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed…, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
THE ONE WHO BATTLES FOR YOU
Revelation 19:11-16
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
BENEDICTION:
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
VERSE FOR THE YEAR:
Psalms 65:11 You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.
HE CROWNS THE YEAR WITH HIS GOODNESS, AND HIS PATHS DRIP WITH ABUNDANCE!
Think about that!
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
