Rock And Roll

Sermon for 12/12/2004

Rock and Roll

Psalm 18:4-19

Introduction:

You got me rockin’ and a rollin’

Rockin’ and a reelin’

Barbara Ann

(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)

Alan Freed, a disc jockey, invented the term Rock and Roll, and it identified the new teenage music in the 50’s. It originated from Rhythm and Blues but it has a heavier beat. It makes people want to get up and dance.

God has had rock and roll in his mind for a while now. No, I am not talking about the music; I am talking about what he is going to do with this world.

(Psa 18:7 NRSV) Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

WBTU:

The time of Advent

The differences between miracles and Providence

Psalm 18:4-6 could have happened at a few points in David’s life. However, the Lord’s response in vs. 7-19 is found no where in the life of David.

It sounds like the time when God lead the Israelites out of Egypt through Moses. Providence through the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness (eclipse).

The plague on the firstborn was a miracle.

The parting of the Red Sea was a miracle.

We see Jesus in this Psalm. Yes, the Lord was making a people for himself so that …(Gal 4:4 NIV) when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,

We see more than that here. WE cannot help but see his first and second comings.

Thesis: This morning we are going to talk about Jesus’ first and second comings from the viewpoint of Psalm 18.

For instances:

First coming

A. From Psalm 18 we do not have the wonderful miracle, the incarnation. Baby born to a virgin. We can tamper with the reproductive organs today and have babies without sexual intercourse, but it is a miracle to have a baby without knowing a man, without tampering with the egg and the sperm. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary. No male component.

B. Easter should be a bigger holiday than Christmas. Yes, it is great that the Word became flesh. However, Jesus was born to die. Right after Triumphal Entry (John 12:27 NRSV) "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say--’ Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.(John 12:28 NRSV) Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."(John 12:29 NRSV) The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."(John 12:30 NRSV) Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.(John 12:31 NRSV) Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.(John 12:32 NRSV) And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."(John 12:33 NRSV) He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

C. (John 1:28 NRSV) This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.(John 1:29 NRSV) The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

D. It seems like we go from birth to death. (Acts 2:22 NRSV) "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—

E. In the Apostles Creed it says: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

F. The two greatest miracles were his birth and his death.

G. Psalm 18:4-6 is spoken by Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane.

H. We see the Lord answering at that terrible event. (Mat 27:45 NRSV) From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Vs. 9 and 11

I. (Mat 27:51 NRSV) At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.(Mat 27:54 NRSV) Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God’s Son!" Psalm 18:7

J. God took out his wrath upon the earth and upon His Son. Psalm 18:8. He took the penalty for our sins. (Isa 53:5 NRSV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.(Isa 53:6 NRSV) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.