Messiah
Jeffery Anselmi / General
Core 52 / God's Power / Psalm 110:1
Psalm 110:1 shows us how great Jesus is!
INTRODUCTION
• We want to welcome you to FCC today!
• Today is a special day because we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
• Jesus would have been another case of false hope and promise without the resurrection.
• Today, we are in week twelve of our Core 52 study.
• We are examining 52 of the most significant passages in the Bible to show how everything ties together.
• Once we complete this series, if you put 15 minutes a day, five days per week into the study, you will have a good grasp of about 80% of the Bible.
• You will see how it all fits together, and this will help you understand more of the Bible.
• Throughout history, many people have claimed to be the Messiah or to have a path to God.
• As a result, many religions have developed since the dawn of time.
• Anyone can make claims about anything, and people are free to make up as many religions as they want, but when push comes to shove, what gives their claims and their religion any teeth, any power?
• Today, we will examine what sets Jesus apart from the rest and why His claims to be Messiah are the only valid claims.
• To get there today, I would like to take you on a journey through a passage in the Old Testament book of Psalms.
• The Psalm we will focus on this morning is called a Royal Psalm, denoting the content of the Psalm is about a King.
• The passage has been long recognized as a Messianic Psalm, a Psalm that is written about the Messiah.
• Psalm 110 is quoted more in the New Testament than any other passage.
• The first time is by Jesus himself, in Matthew 22:44.
• It came after a full day of debates when Jesus's opponents sent experts to trap Jesus with questions.
• He answered each one and then asked a question of his own: "What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he?"
• The big idea for the message today for you to consider is that without the resurrection, Jesus was just another good guy who died.
• A dead Messiah is no Messiah.
• A dead Messiah cannot be the one the Psalmist sings about.
• A dead Messiah has no promise or power.
• A dead Messiah is no Messiah.
• Let's turn to Psalm 110:1 together this morning as we dive into our message, Messiah.
Psalm 110:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Here is the LORD’s proclamation to my lord: “Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”
SERMON
I. The Lord's position of authority.
• Let's unwrap the passage a bit before diving into the authority issue.
• In Matthew 22, the religious leaders were peppering Jesus with a variety of questions.
• Jesus was making these leaders look bad.
• Jesus asked them a question that shut them down because they could not answer it.
Matthew 22:41–46 (NET 2nd ed.)
41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question:
42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.”
43 He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,
44 ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
45 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
46 No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.
• Jesus quoted a well-known Messianic prophecy.
• Jesus asks what they think about the Christ (another term for Messiah), whose son is He?
• They responded that the Christ was the son of David, which was technically accurate.
• In Hebrew culture, I would be considered the son of not only my father but also my grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and so forth.
• Now, Jesus stumps them.
• First of all, Jesus says that David wrote Psalm 110:1 by the inspiration of the Spirit.
• Then Jesus asks how David can call his son Lord.
• The first part of Psalm 110:1 read in the Hebrew Jehovah said to Adonai or the Father said to the Messiah…
• The rabbis of the day accepted Psalm 110:1 as a Messianic Psalm; however, they missed the most crucial part of what it said.
• In Hebrew culture, the father was always considered greater than the son.
• If David calls his son LORD, who can he be David's son?
• In other words, David speaks of Christ, someone greater than he, that Christ is Jesus!
• David's son was also David's Lord!
• Acts 2:22-36 goes deeper into this subject.
• Our passage says that the Messiah will sit at the Father's right hand.
• God's right hand is a position of divine power (Mark 16:19; Matthew 26:64; Acts 7:55).
• If Jesus is not divine, He could not be placed at God's right hand, where He always is after the Ascension: "The Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19; see also Luke 22:69; Acts 5:31; 7:55; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 1:3).
• Sitting at the right hand indicated a position of authority.
• Sitting at the right hand implies the Messiah, Jesus will rule with the Father!
• Without the resurrection, Jesus could not be seated at the Father's right hand!
• No one else is seated at the Father's right hand; there are not multiple seats at His right hand, ONLY ONE, and JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE IN THAT SEAT!
Ephesians 1:20–23 (NET 2nd ed.)
20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms
21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.
23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
• This position of authority is not an abstract concept but has profound implications for creation.
• It signifies that the Messiah has been granted authority over heaven and earth, wielding power over creation, providence, and redemption.
• This authority encompasses all realms: physical and spiritual, temporal and eternal.
• It means that all powers, dominions, principalities, and authorities are subject to Him.
• In the context of Psalm 110, which is both a coronation psalm and a prophetic declaration; the Lord's position of authority also anticipates the culmination of God's redemptive history.
• The passage points forward to a time when all things will be brought under the Messiah's God's rule, fulfilling the promises of God's kingdom.
• This authority is not temporary or limited but is an eternal mandate, signifying a reign that will have no end.
• Let's read our passage again.
Psalm 110:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Here is the LORD’s proclamation to my lord: “Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”
II. The Lord's power.
• Along with authority comes power.
• The latter part of Psalm 110:1, "until I make thine enemies thy footstool," not only speaks to the Lord's ultimate victory but also to the nature and extent of His power.
• This imagery of making enemies a footstool conveys a total and undeniable defeat of all opposition.
• It's not merely a victory but a demonstration of dominion, where enemies are not just beaten but placed in a position of complete subjugation under the feet of the Lord.
• This vivid picture underscores the absolute and unrivaled power of the Messiah.
• In the ancient world, when a king was defeated, he was brought before the victorious king.
• He was laid out on the floor, and the victorious king would use the defeated king as a footstool and put his feet on the defeated king's neck.
• This act was done to show the defeated king was in total submission to the victorious king.
• The Lord's power, as depicted here, is multifaceted.
• It is creative, sustaining, and redemptive.
• Creatively, the power of the Lord called the universe into existence, speaking life where there was none.
• Sustainably, this power holds all creation together, governing the laws of nature and the course of history.
• From a Redemptive standpoint, it is the power that conquers sin and death, offering salvation to humanity through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The Lord's power is also manifested in personal transformation.
• It is the power that calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light, changes our hearts, and empowers us to live lives that reflect His righteousness and love.
• Believers experience this power through the Holy Spirit, enabling them to overcome sin, endure trials, and witness the Gospel's truth.
• My life is an example of the transformative power of Jesus!
• Moreover, the Lord's power is a source of comfort and assurance for Christians.
• Knowing that the Lord reigns supreme and that His power is unmatched provides peace amid turmoil and confidence in the face of adversity.
• It assures us that no enemy, whether spiritual or physical, can ultimately prevail against us, for we are under the protection of the Almighty.
• The anticipation of the day when all enemies will be made a footstool under the feet of the Lord fills believers with hope.
• It reminds us that the present age, with all its challenges and opposition, is temporary and that a glorious future awaits those in Christ.
• This hope motivates us to remain faithful, to persevere in our Christian walk, and to engage in the mission of God's kingdom, knowing that our labors are not in vain in the Lord.
Philippians 2:9–11 (NET 2nd ed.)
9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name, that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
• Satan thought he won; then God raised Jesus from the dead!
• The world thinks it can mock God, but one day, EVERY KNEE WIL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord!
• Let's take a final run at our passage today.
Psalm 110:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Here is the LORD’s proclamation to my lord: “Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”
III. The Lord's position in your life.
• This point is vital for us to consider: what is the Lord's position in your life today?
• The fact that Jesus defeated death, that He is seated at the Father's right hand, and that He is God are pleasant thoughts, but how do those facts impact our lives?
• Understanding the Lord's position of authority and His encompassing power naturally leads us to introspect about His position in our personal lives.
• It's a reflection that goes beyond acknowledging His sovereignty to embracing His Lordship on a deeply personal level.
• When Psalm 110:1 speaks of the Messiah's exalted position and His definitive victory over enemies, it also invites us to consider how these truths impact our daily living, our decisions, and our relationship with God.
• Firstly, recognizing the Lord's position in your life means acknowledging His right to rule and reign in every area.
• It's an admission that His ways are higher than ours, His wisdom surpasses our understanding, and His plans are always for our good.
• This acknowledgment should lead to surrender—a willing, joyful submission to His will, trusting that He is in control, even when circumstances might suggest otherwise.
• Who is on the throne of your life?
• We can be fiercely independent people.
• We do not like to be told what to do.
• We think God's job is to steal our fun, but God provides guardrails for our lives to protect us and help us maximize our potential in Him!
• You can live your life however you choose; however, those choices come with a price.
• I see a lot of folks whose lives are miserable.
• Maybe the misery comes from trying to do and be what you were not meant to be.
• If you are trying to be your own Messiah and if you are trying to save yourself, your life will end in misery because you are not the Messiah, and you cannot save yourself by being a good person.
• Secondly, the Lord's position in our lives implies a relationship marked by intimacy and devotion.
• Just as the Lord invites us into a personal relationship through Christ, He desires that we place Him at the center of our lives.
• This central position affects how we prioritize our time, manage our resources, and engage with others.
• It means seeking His presence in prayer, meditating on His Word, and living in a manner that reflects His love and grace to the world.
Colossians 3:1–3 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,
3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
• I have lived on both sides of the fence, and believe me, giving my life to Jesus offers me the best life I can have in this world and for eternity!
• When we truly understand and embrace the Lord's position in our lives, it transforms how we view challenges and adversities.
• Knowing that the Lord is sovereign and all-powerful gives us confidence and peace amid trials.
• We are reminded that our battles are not fought in isolation but with the Lord, who has already secured victory over all forms of opposition.
• This perspective doesn't just change how we face difficulties; it changes us from the inside out, cultivating resilience, patience, and faith.
CONCLUSION
• Easter makes Jesus stand above any and all who claim to be the way to God.
• Every other person who has claimed to be God is either dead or will die; Jesus was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God!
• Jesus died so you can have your sins forgiven and receive eternal life!
• God loves you so much that He allowed His Son to die for you!
• As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15, if Jesus were not raised from the dead, our faith would be in vain, and we would make God out to be a liar, along with the fact that we would be most pitied because we believed something that was not true!
• I hope today is the day that you will be born again through baptism into Jesus!
