Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days (audio)

Who were the Wise Men (Magi), and why did they expect the birth of the King of the Jews at that time, and why were they looking for His Star? What was the Star of Bethlehem - a comet, supernova, conjunction of planets, or a manifestation of God’s Glory? If it was the Glory of God, what was its connection with the other manifestation of Glory at that time? How did the Magi know it was the Messiah's Star; what was so special about it? How did it fulfil Balaam’s Prophecy in perfect detail in Numbers 24:17? Derek looks first at the manifestation of God’s Glory to the Bethlehem Shepherds, when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8-18). They were special levitical Shepherds with a special role of looking after the Passover Lambs, destined to be sacrificed in the Temple, just 5 miles away. Likewise, Jesus was born to die for us as the sinless sacrificial Lamb of God, the ultimate Passover Lamb. By doing this, He become the Saviour of the world, for all who receive Him. So, it was appropriate for God to choose these Shepherds to witness the birth of His Passover Lamb, the One born to save us by His sacrificial death (1Cor 5:7). Then we look at Matthew 2: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, WISE MEN (Magi) from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: “Where is HE, who has been BORN King of the Jews? For we have seen HIS STAR in the East (literally: ‘in its RISING’) and have come to worship Him” (v1-2). The Magi were kingmakers, who confirmed, anointed and endorsed any new king. So, when God's King was born, it was only right these believing Magi from the nations were chosen to honour this new-born King. Whereas the Jewish Shepherds proclaimed the coming of the SAVIOUR of the world, the Gentile Magi proclaimed He was also the true KING of the nations. So, Jesus is both Saviour and King. How did the Magi know to look for Messiah’s Star to appear over Israel? When Daniel was exiled to Babylon, he was exalted to be chief over all the Magi of Babylon (Dan 2:48). He taught them the messianic prophecies including Numbers 24:17: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”, and his prophecy of the 70 Weeks (Dan 9:24- 27), gives a 490-year Countdown to the Coming of the Jewish Messiah. A core of believing Magi, faithful disciples of Daniel, knew these prophecies, and so knew the timing for His Birth was drawing near, and so were on high alert, watching for the Sign of His Birth in the Heavens, a new STAR, corresponding to the description in Num 24:17. They saw His STAR arise on the same night as His Birth, heralding His arrival (Matt 2:7), and then it disappeared, until it reappeared 2-3 months later: “When they heard the king, they departed; and BEHOLD, the STAR which they had seen in its RISING (on the night of His Birth) WENT BEFORE THEM, until it came and STOOD OVER where the young CHILD was. When they saw the STAR, they rejoiced” (Matt 2:9-10). The Star of Bethlehem has no other explanation, but that it was a supernatural manifestation of God’s Glory. So, there were 2 manifestations of God’s GLORY at Christ's Birth: (1) The Jewish Shepherds saw His Glory and multitudes of angels, proclaiming His Birth as the Lamb of God, the SAVIOUR of the world, and (2) the Gentile Magi saw the rising of a new Star from Israel, proclaiming His Birth as the KING of the world. The manifestation of God’s Glory and the angelic host to the Shepherds was the very same manifestation of His Glory that the Magi saw in Babylon (the Star of Bethlehem), signifying that the same Jesus is Lord over both Jew and Gentile, and that the dual offices of Saviour and King are held by the same Person, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Both events must have happened at the same time, on the night of Christ's birth, as they both heralded His Birth. When God’s Glory appeared to the Shepherds, near Jerusalem: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9), this would have appeared to the Magi, watching from Babylon, like a bright Sceptre arising out from Israel, in the dark western skies, as Num 24:17 predicted. Then after delivering their message, the multitude of angels, surrounded by glory, did not just disappear, but visibly ascended higher & higher into the sky (Luke 2:15). To the watching Magi, this would have appeared like a bright new Star arising up out of Israel, just as Balaam had predicted for Messiah’s Star (Num 24:17). While all other stars move westwards in the sky, they saw His Star rising from Israel and going in the opposite direction, before disappearing. They realised this unique Star that they saw in its Rising had to be the prophesied Star announcing the Birth of the King of the Jews (Matt 2:2). Thus the 2 manifestations of God's Glory at Christ’s Birth were actually the same manifestation of His Glory, seen from 2 different viewpoints.

In part 1, we saw that David wrote this Psalm in his prayer time after he woke up (v5) on the morning of the battle against his son Absalom's large army (2Samuel 18). The previous evening he had prayed through to an assurance of victory. This prayer is recorded in Psalm 4. As a result he could sleep sweetly knowing that God would keep him safe (4:8, 3:5). Whatever battles we face in life, the main battle is in prayer, to get into God's presence, and let him fill our hearts with His peace, faith, strength, light and wisdom, which casts out all fear and darkness. As a result, he was able to declare in the morning, as he looked at Absalom's great army: "I will NOT be AFRAID of ten thousands of people who have SET themselves against ME all around" (v6). Notice what is unusual about this battle, which fits 2Samuel 18, is that all these enemy forces were not interested in fighting David's army, for they were only interested in killing one man, David, so that Absalom could establish himself on the throne. David was not exaggerating the size of Absalom's army, for 20,000 of them died in the battle (2Samuel 18:7), so that the army was about 100,000 strong. With so many focused on destroying David, he had grounds for fear, but strengthened in God, he refused to fear. Then David utters the battle cry as they go forth into battle: "Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!" (v7). This is an appeal to God to arise and go ahead of them to lead them in battle, protecting them and giving them the victory. This recalls the words of Moses in Numbers 10:35: "So it was, whenever the Ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.” The next phrase in v7 is probably best seen as a prayer, as in the NIV: "Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked." See also Psalm 58:6: "Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!" This speaks of the total domination, defeat and humiliation of the enemy, so that this rebellion would be broken once and for all, rather than simmering on indefinitely. This is what was done to wild beasts, so that they would no longer be a danger. Their jaw and teeth represents their ability to devour and destroy, so to break them is to destroy the power of the enemy, who in their rebellion against the Lord's anointed, David, were acting like wild beasts. David was not praying for their death (he even did not want their leader Absalom to die), but for a decisive victory that would end this rebellion and reestablish David on his throne. David knew that only God could do this, for it was against all odds. If it was a declaration (as in the NKJV) rather than a prayer, then David was saying: "Lord, You've done it before, and I believe You will do it again! David then gives God all the glory for the victory: "Salvation (deliverance) belongs to the Lord" (v8a, Jonah 2:9), for the battle belongs to the Lord, and he concludes by declaring: "Your blessing is upon Your people (Israel)" (v8b). This shows that David was not just concerned for himself, but for Israel. This battle was not just over David's future, but the future of Israel. He knew that God's blessing (presence) is connected to His will, and that God had anointed David as king and made an everlasting covenant with him, that God would preserve his House and that his sons would reign after him, until finally his ultimate son, the Messiah, would reign forever on the Throne of David (2Samuel 7, 1Chronicles 17). David knew that for God's will and blessing to prevail for Israel, this rebellion must be defeated, and David reinstated as God's rightful king of Israel, and so victory in this battle was necessary for God's people to live in His blessing. (If Israel came under the wicked and godless Absalom, the nation would come under a curse). Thus, when David closed the Psalm by saying: "Your blessing is upon Your people", he was making a confident prophetic declaration that God's mercy, grace and blessing was upon Israel and would continue, which meant that God's will would prevail, through God giving David the victory, and establishing him as His chosen anointed king over Israel. This came to pass, because after the victory and Absalom's death, the survivors of the battle and the rest of the nation saw that God was with David, and so repented of their rebellion, and acknowledged David as their rightful king. Thus Israel came back under Divine order and blessing under David, their king.

The heading of this Psalm is 'A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom, his son.' We study the background to this Psalm in 2Samuel 11 - 18, starting with David's sin with Bathsheba, resulting in the killing of Uriah (2Sam 11), Nathan's rebuke of David and announcement of how David would reap what he had sowed in his own family and kingdom, even though God forgave David and spared his life, when he repented (2Sam 12). David's sin, caused him to lose his moral authority, which opened the door to his sons behaving badly, with David failing to deal with them properly because of his own weakness. First, his eldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and then refused to marry her. Then his son Absalom, Tamar's brother, murdered Amnon in revenge. The Absalom fled to Geshur for 3 years (2Sam 13). Eventually David lets Absalom return to Jerusalem, and after another 2 years David receives him back fully (1Sam 14). Then Absalom began conspiring to take over the Kingdom from David, stealing people's hearts by his promises, no doubt insinuating that Davis was no longer God's anointed, because of his terrible sin. His following grew until it manifested as outright rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem and go to Mahanaim across the Jordan. Meanwhile, Absalom gathered a large army from all the tribes and went after him (2Sam 15-17). Finally, the day of the great battle arrives, and despite being greatly outnumbered, David's army is victorious and Absalom is killed (2Sam 18). Psalm 3 is set in the morning (v5) just before this decisive battle commences (see v1,2,6). It is impressive that David spent time in prayer before the battle, and so received this Psalm by inspiration. We see in both 2Samuel and Psalm 3 David's faith and humility in trusting God to deliver and exalt him. On the one hand, he knows he has a covenant promise from God concerning his kingship (2Sam 7, 1Chron 17). He also knows that God has forgiven him and has not taken His anointing from him. On the other hand, he knows that he has brought these troubles and rebellion on himself, by his sin, which has also opened the door to many people saying: "there is no help for him in God" (v2) - God has finished with him (eg Shimei in 2Sam 16:5-13). Therefore, he knew that he must humble himself before God trusting in Him to vindicate and exalt him in His time, and restore the kingdom to David, rather than taking matters into his own hands. In the Psalm, David describes his many enemies out to destroy him (v1,2,6), who start by attacking him spiritually with their words, as well as physically with their weapons. Likewise, the accuser of the brethren attacks first of all with his words, to discourage you, saying: "you have sinned, so there is no help for you in God." Then when your faith is paralysed, you are easily defeated by the physical attacks in your life. But David responds to these evil words, by confessing His faith, saying: "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head" (v3). See also 7:10, 18:2.30, 28:7, 33:20, 59:11, 84:11, 115:9-11, 119:114, 144:2). We must answer the words of the enemy by speaking God's words. As battle is about to begin David is trusting God to protect him and lift up his head - restore him to the throne (Gen 40:13,20, 2Ki 25:27). He also declares God is his glory (the One who bestows the anointing upon him, and the One in whom David glories). The key to David being strong in faith on the morning of battle (v3) is that he spent time with God the previous evening: "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard (answered) me from His holy hill (in Heaven)." (v4). David was able to cast all His care on God, and prayed out loud for God to give him the victory, and he received the assurance that God heard him. Having committed himself and his cause to God, he was able to sleep soundly, despite the great dangers around him: "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me"(v5). Sustained by God's presence, rather than spending a sleepless night in fear and anxiety, he slept in peace and awoke in time to pray again before the battle (see Psalm 4:8, 31:5, 127:2 for other promises of sleep). Psalm 3 came forth in these morning devotions, where he expresses his confidence in God for the victory, despite the overwhelming opposition gathered against him.

God has already provided healing for us in the Atonement of Christ, so now it is not a matter of trying to get God to heal us, but of learning how to RECEIVE our HEALING. We need to RECEIVE our HEALING by FAITH in the Word of God. Mark 11:24: “Whatsoever THINGS you desire (such as HEALING), when you pray, BELIEVE that (1) you RECEIVE them (your HEALING), and (2) you will HAVE them (in manifestation).” In order to have the confidence to believe we receive our healing from God when we pray, we need to embrace some BELIEFS about HEALING from the Word of God. There are 4 key STEPS we need to take in order to get into position, so that we can believe that we receive our healing when we pray. These 4 STEPS are 4 BELIEFS from the Word of God that we need to embrace. *STEP 1: We first need to know that it is God's WILL to HEAL us, otherwise it is impossible for us to believe we receive our healing when we pray (Mark 11:24). The Bible reveals it is God’s WILL to HEAL us. Healing was purchased for us by the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. *STEP 2: We must BELIEVE that God is a rich and liberal Giver of Healing. He gives us healing when we pray. He is the God of the immediate response. We must BELIEVE that He is our HEALER today: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, TODAY and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He WANTS to HEAL us now. LOOK to the LORD for your HEALING, rather than being preoccupied with the problem. If we are overly preoccupied with the problem, we will fail to receive the solution (healing). Hebrews 11:6: “Without FAITH it is impossible to please Him, for he who COMES to God MUST BELIEVE that (1) HE IS (our Healer), and that (2) He is a REWARDER (a generous giver of healing) of those who diligently SEEK Him (in prayer).” These 2 BELIEFS are the first 2 STEPS of FAITH. *STEP 3: God gives us HEALING POWER when we pray and ask Him to heal us, which then works mightily in us to drive out all sickness and to restore our health. *STEP 4: God ordained the Method of the Laying on of Hands to impart Healing Power. Romans 10:10: “(1) With the HEART one BELIEVES unto righteousness (right standing in the promise), and with the MOUTH, CONFESSION is made unto SALVATION (the manifestation of the promise).” So believe you receive your healing and keep SPEAKING God's WORD: “By His STRIPES I am HEALED. Jesus Himself BORE my SICKNESSES and CARRIED away my PAINS” (Isaiah 53:4-5, literal translation, Matthew 8:17, 1Peter 2:24). Hilary completes her study by a look at the healing of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46--52).

Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One (v2) for 3 offices: Prophet, Priest & King, to preach, pray & reign (in Christ, we share all 3 anointings). (1) First, He was anointed a PROPHET (to declare God's Word to men) at His Baptism, authorised by the Father speaking from Heaven (Matt 3:17). Then (2) His initial ministry of HIGH PRIEST, to offer Himself as a Sacrifice on the Cross, endorsed by Father from Heaven (John 12:27-33), followed by His appointment & anointing as our everlasting High Priest in the order of Melchizedek at God's right hand (Ps 110:1,4). Also (3) His Ascension was His coronation, enthronement and anointing as KING of kings, over the earth (Ps 110:1), endorsed by Father from Heaven at the Transfiguration, a prophetic preview of His Kingdom (Matt 17:5), which He'll establish at His 2nd Coming. Psalms 2 & 110 are twins, fitting together, revealing His Ascension (2:6, 110:1) and the continuation of His anointed ministry on earth thru the Church (in Christ). Ps 110:2 says He will extend the rod of His power (His authority & power) from Heaven, ruling in the midst of His enemies on earth. v3 says He'll do this thru His people on earth, an army of priests, who've received a new birth and present themselves to Him as free-will offerings to do His will (as the dawn gives birth to the dew, so the Lord gives birth to this holy army). They are king-priests, the royal priesthood family, under the High Priest King Jesus. Thus Christ, the Head, shares His anointing with His body (Ps 133:2). This confirms the Anointed One in Psalm 2 includes those in Christ, and the Divine Decree made to Christ, raising Him from death and enthroning Him as God's Son, was also spoken into us (v6,7). Thus we're anointed by the Spirit to function as prophets, priests & kings. (1) Just as His 1st ministry was as a PROPHET to speak God's Word to men, so when He rose, He 1st gave us the Great Commission to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19-20). Thus He anointed us to prophesy (Acts 2:17) - speak His Word under the Spirit's inspiration. He gives us His Spirit to empower us to witness (Acts 1:8), for "the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). The Church's main mission is to preach the Gospel, thus Ps 2 closes with the anointed ones in Christ preaching to the kings, judges & peoples of earth (v10-12). Their Gospel Message starts: "Now therefore" (v10), pointing to His completed work - His life, death, resurrection, ascension and coronation as Lord & King over all (v6-7). Thus it begins with a proclamation of who He is and what He's accomplished, establishing He is God's appointed & anointed Saviour and Lord of all. On this basis, it then appeals to us, saying: "therefore serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little (in a moment). Blessed are all who put their trust (take refuge) in Him" (v8-10). Thus it calls men to urgently respond in faith and trust Christ for salvation, for the Son is angry at man's sin (rebellion) and His fiery anger could suddenly break out against him at any time (Heb 12:29) - He delays His judgment to give man a chance to repent. Only in the Son is safety from God's wrath. God has provided Him as our Refuge, so if we trust in Him, we come under His covering (Atonement), for He took our place & bore God's judgment on Himself. The trembling denotes our utter weakness & dependance on Him to save us, for we can't save ourselves by our own strength or stand before God in our own righteousness. But when we trust in Christ alone for our salvation, He saves us, so we end up rejoicing. Saving faith also includes submission to God's authority (fear) - repentance from our rebellion against God. Thus submission to God naturally results in serving the Lord. The Gospel calls us to "kiss the Son" (v12) - an invitation to respond to His message (offering us forgiveness, peace & intimacy with God) by drawing near by faith, and giving Him our homage, affection, love, heart & worship (1Ki 19:18, Hos 13:2, Luke 7:38-45). When we do this, He kisses us, imparting His Spirit & eternal life into us (John 20:22), and we enter into loving union with Him. The timing of this Proclamation is between His Ascension (v6) & the Day of His wrath (v12) - the Church Age. To accomplish our mission, He also (2) anoints us as His PRIESTS to pray & offer up sacrifices of praise, sharing in His ministry of intercession (2:8), praying for God's Spirit to work in the hearts of the lost, and for us to be filled with the Spirit to boldly share God's Word with them (Acts 4:29-31, v23-28). Also (3) He anoints us as His KINGS, to exercise authority in His Name (Mark 16:17), using His rod to break the enemies' power (2:9), especially over the lost. thus in Christ, we share in His 3-fold anointing as (1) PRIESTS to pray (v8), (2) KINGS to rule (v9), and PROPHETS to preach the Gospel (v10-12).

Christ declares the Decree of the Lord in Psalm 2:7, starting by confessing His IDENTITY - His SONSHIP, as the Firstborn from the dead. Then in v8, He continued to declare what God said to Him at His Resurrection-Ascension: "Ask of Me, and I will give You (1) the nations for Your inheritance, and (2) the ends of the earth for Your possession." The spiritual warfare between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is over (1) the souls of men (the nations), and (2) the control of the earth itself. With His Blood, Jesus redeemed (purchased) both (1) the the souls of men, and (2) the earth (Revelation 5), which is why He alone has the right to open the Scroll with 7 seals (the Title Deed of the earth). Psalm 2:8 should be translated: "Ask of Me, and I will give You (1) the nations - Your inheritance, and (2) the ends of the earth - Your possession." Thus the nations are already Christ's inheritance and the earth is already His legal possession. But there is a difference between possessing something legally and experientially - for example God gave Israel the Promised Land legally through Abraham (Joshua 1:3), and then later experientially through Joshua (Joshua 1:2). So having just granted Him the inheritance that He had purchased with His Blood, and having ordained and anointed Christ as the great heavenly High Priest (Psalm 110:4), the Father told Him to ask of Him, and He would hand over to Him the souls that belong to Him (John 6:37). Since then Christ ever lives to make intercession for us at God's right-hand (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34), releasing the Holy Spirit to convict us, regenerate, save and sanctify us to Himself - we are His inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). If we are saved, it is only because Christ prayed for us, and asked the Father to give us to Him. In Christ, we are also anointed to be royal priests in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:3-4, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 1Peter 2:9), and so we are to share in His ministry of intercession by the power of the Spirit, especially in praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to reach the lost, and for Him to soften their hearts and open their eyes, so they might receive Christ. In other words, v8 also applies to us - we are to ask God to save people by His Holy Spirit and cause them to grow spiritually, so that they become our inheritance (the fruit of our ministry). Christ must have taught the apostles this truth from Psalm 2 during the 40 days, because in Acts 4:23-31 we see them using Psalm 2 as the basis for their prayers to be filled with the Spirit to preach the Gospel, for the salvation of the lost, resulting in a harvest of souls (Acts 4:33, 5:12-16). In addition, the Father told Christ to ask Him to give Him actual possession of the earth. This is when He moves into action as the anointed King - he is worthy to be the Lion-King, because He was the sacrificial Lamb of God (Revelation 5). This will be start to be fulfilled in the Day of the Lord (Tribulation), when Christ no longer sits, but stands and starts to make His enemies His footstool, by moving in judgment (Psalm 110:1, Revelation 5:6). At the 2nd Coming, Christ will complete His judgments against His enemies, and take full possession of the earth and establish His Kingdom here, ruling the world with a rod of iron, in fulfilment of Psalm 2:9: "You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” At the 2nd Coming, He will be manifested as God's ordained and anointed King of kings, ruling over His Kingdom with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15-16, 12:5), and in Christ we will also be anointed kings, who share in His rulership (Revelation 2:26-27). Thus v8-9 also applies to us, which means that in our present spiritual warfare, in fulfilling our mission on earth, we are to use His rod of iron (the Name of Jesus) to break the power of the enemy, when it comes against us, and in setting the captives free.

In Psalm 2:6, God declares the victory that He has won through Christ, by saying: “Yet I have set My King (Jesus Christ) on My holy Hill of Zion (in Heaven).” This was accomplished by God's Decree, by which He raised Christ from the dead and caused Him to ascend to God's right hand (Psalm 110:1). Next in Psalm 2:7, Christ, the King, starts to declare this Decree: “I will declare the Decree: The Lord has said to Me: ‘You are My Son. Today I have begotten You.'" Acts 13:33 quotes Psalm 2:7 and asserts that God spoke this to Jesus, when He "raised Him up" at His resurrection. Hebrews 1:3-7 quotes Psalm 2:7, linking it with His Ascension. This confirms the Resurrection and initial Ascension to Heaven must have been on the same day. Hebrews 5:5-6 quotes Psalm 2:7, along with Psalm 110:4, saying that this was when God glorified Jesus and anointed Him to become the everlasting High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.According to Psalm 110:1, this took place at the Ascension - His Coronation as King of kings (Melchizedek was both a King and a Priest). When Christ speaks of being begotten on the day of His resurrection, He is not talking about His eternal Sonship as God, but the total regeneration and glorification of His humanity at His resurrection. He is called "the Firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), "the Firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29), and we are "the Church of the Firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23). He became a man to identify with us, so that we could be identified with Him. When we trust in Christ, we are put into Christ (He is the head and we are His body), and we share in His sonship and inheritance. Thus through our union with Christ, we also partake of the power released by this Divine Decree, which is how we were born again - God has "begotten us again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1Peter 1:3). Thus God has made us His sons through Christ's Resurrection, which is why the New Birth and indwelling Holy Spirit was not available before the New Covenant was established. So, when Psalm 2 describes the spiritual warfare, with God's enemies arrayed against the Lord and His Anointed (Christ), we are included in the Anointed One. Therefore, we are included in Psalm 2 and have a part to play in the spiritual warfare on earth, now that our Head, Jesus Christ, is seated in Heaven. Just as Jesus declared the Decree of the Lord concerning Himself, so we also must believe and confess God's Decree over us, saying: "I am born again, I am God's child, raised with Christ to new life and seated with Christ far above all principality and power. I am a new creation, more than a conqueror in Christ, the righteousness of God in Christ." In this way, we establish our new IDENTITY and POSITION in Christ, based on Psalm 2:6-7. We must be strong in who we are in Christ, if we are to fulfil God's will and play our part as God's representatives in the spiritual warfare, for satan's main attack is against our identity in Christ (Revelation 12:10-11).

Psalm 2:1-3 describes the present spiritual warfare with mankind in confusion and rebellion against the Lord and His Anointed (Christ). The Lord in Heaven laughs them to scorn (v4) and then speaks to them in His wrath (v5), declaring His answer to all their puny efforts to overthrow His authority: “Yet I have set My King (Jesus Christ) on My holy Hill of Zion” (v6). This was fulfilled by the Ascension of Christ to God's right hand (Psalm 110:1). Having completed His perfect life as a man, climaxed in His sacrificial death for us and His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven. We discuss why Jesus had to initially ascend to Heaven on the morning of His resurrection (John 20:16-17), to (1) fulfil the feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10-11, 1Corinthians 15:20,23, Matthew 27:52-53), which is why Mary was not allowed to cling to Him (John 20:17), unlike in Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:39, John 20:27, (2) to present His Blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies (the throne room), to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:12), (3) to receive all authority in Heaven and earth (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:19-22, Psalm 110:1, Philippians 2:8-10, Revelation 12:5), and (4) to receive the Holy Spirit on our behalf (Acts 2:32-33), enabling Him to impart the indwelling Holy Spirit to the disciples that same evening, causing them to be born again (John 20:22, Genesis 2:7). The Ascension of Christ, represents the completion of God's decisive move in the spiritual warfare. It means that God's Anointed One has been sent into the earth as a perfect Man and has accomplished His mission of purchasing our salvation and defeating all his enemies, and is now established in the highest place as Lord over all. By His completed work, He has already won the victory, and He did it for us. When we were put into Christ, we were raised with Him and made to sit with Him at God's right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power (Ephesians 2:4-6, 1:20-21).

Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm of importance, much quoted in the NT, a cosmic Drama describing the present spiritual warfare in the Church Age, especially as it comes to its climax. Along with Ps 1, it's part of the Entrance Hall into the Book of Psalms. Ps 1 reveals the contrast between the righteous & wicked on an individual level, Ps 2 reveals it on a global scale, showing the spiritual conflict between those in God's Kingdom and those in satan's kingdom. Thus they are foundational. In this video, we introduce Ps 2 and see how it fits with our times. It's a Psalm of David (Acts 4:25-26) pointing Messiah's victory & rule over the earth, fulfilling the Davidic Covenant (2Sam7, 1Chr 17). It's parallel to Ps 110, for both speak of Christ as having ascended, having accomplished the work of His 1st Coming & received all authority to rule earth, and both also look forward to His 2nd Coming, when He'll enforce His authority, judge His enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth. Thus they describe the present spiritual war on earth between His 2 Comings. They are prophetic of the spiritual war in the Church Age, with relevance to us, giving a theological perspective for interpreting world events. In Scene 1 the focus is on the unsaved masses of humanity living under darkness & deception, striving with God's Spirit, lovingly yearning for their souls. Speaking thru David, He asks from a heart of love: "Why do they restlessly war against each other, and imagine (meditate) a vain (worthless, empty) thing?” (v1). Why reject God who loves them so much? Why think they can save themselves without God? These souls are the battleground, over which both sides are fighting. In the end each must chose between God & satan. Scene 2 answers the question as we see the forces trying to control them - rebellious angelic & human rulers of earth: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His ANOINTED (Messiah-King)” (v2). This describes purposeful rebellion against God. This describes the battle-lines of the 2 opposing powers. On one side, the Lord & His Anointed One (Christ & all those in Christ), God's anointed weapon in this war (we are in Ps 2), and on the other side all those fighting for the enemy, both demonic & human. This war is over (1) the inheritance of precious souls, and (2) possession of the nations & their land (v1,8). The enemy's desire & message is revealed in v3. They want to throw off God’s laws & authority but can’t escape His rule & jurisdiction. In Scene 3, the focus moves up higher to God on His Throne and His Anointed One (2:4). What's His reaction to the enemy? He laughs at all their plots & striving. He's in Heaven, far above, seeing all. He has all authority, knows the final outcome and never worries. Heaven is always full of joy. As we live on the battleground, it's vital for us to keep this vision of God before us - that we are on the victory side and He will defeat all His enemies. We can laugh with God that the enemy is defeated and rejoice in His victory. The next step in this drama is that God gets serious. Righteous anger rises up in Him against His rebellious enemies (v5), and He announces He's already made His decisive move, guaranteeing His victory and the certainty of final judgment on His enemies: “Yet have I installed My King on my holy Hill of Zion” (v6) - fulfilled in His 1st Coming. God sent forth His anointed weapon, Jesus, who destroyed the power of the enemy in His life, death & resurrection. He rose victorious, ascended far above all powers and is seated at God's right hand, signifying His completed work (Ps 110:1). So, God's answer to satan is He has already set His King on His Throne in Heaven, in the holy Hill of Mt Zion. The battle is already won and satan defeated. Jesus paid the price to redeem every soul (His inheritance), and purchased the earth (His possession), so He now possess the earth's title-deed (Rev 5), and has the right to rule all nations. He is already God's appointed King, over both sinners & saints - ruling sinners by external power and His saints internally by His grace. At His 2nd Coming, He'll manifest His authority & victory, returning in power to take possession of all the earth and rule over all nations from His earthly throne of David on the holy hill of Zion. In our spiritual war, we must follow God's example in 2:6, and point to Christ's finished work, declaring He has accomplished our salvation, defeated all evil powers, and has risen victorious and ascended on High, far above all principalities, and is Lord over all. Thus we confess Jesus has defeated the evil one, and is enthroned on high, with all enemies underfoot, so now we also have the victory, for we're in Christ and have risen with Him and sit with Him far above (Eph 2:6), so now we operate from a position of victory (Rom 8:37). We're not trying to get the victory, for He is our victory, and we're enforcing His victory on the earth.

We can’t follow Jesus in our own strength. We must depend on His Spirit to live the life of a true disciple. The key to surrender is embracing the truth we are slaves ('doulos') of Christ, translated servant (Rom 1:1, Phil 1:1, Titus 1:1, Jas 1:1 2Pet 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev 1:1). A slave is owned by his master, owning nothing himself, but a servant still owns himself and things. We are owned by Christ, purchased with His Blood (1Cor 7:22-23), so every blessing and gift we receive does not belong to us, but God. We thank God for His blessing (acknowledge Him as our Source) and trust Him for His continual supply (for He is faithful), and surrender (release control of) it back to Him as Owner, in worship. This qualifies us to receive and possess more blessing. We belong to God, so our whole life needs to be surrendered to Him. Then we can abide in Him and continually access His grace, as we cling to Him. When we embrace the fact we belong to Christ, surrendering to His Spirit is natural, but if we hold on to our own life (self-ownership), it’s hard to surrender, so we only do it when necessary. The degree we embrace His right of ownership is the degree we can submit to His leadership, which then determines the degree we can possess His blessing. Only when we embrace His ownership can we surrender our beings fully to Him, for Him to possess us, and only then can we fully possess Him and all He wants to give us. Embracing His ownership and surrendering to His control frees us from covetousness (trying to own, control and hold on to things), which disconnects us from grace, and disqualifies us from possessing His blessing. He made us in His image with capacity to receive and express power, wisdom, dominion and glory, so we desire them, but if we covet them, it blocks His power in us. Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (self-ownership), and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save (hold onto) his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (independent soul-life) for My sake will find (discover) it (real life)” (Matt 16:24-25). The key to a higher life in God is to accept we are His slaves, owned by Him. Then surrender is easier. Our ownership by God relates to the Holy Spirit and sanctification, for when we accept Christ and His Blood, we belong to God, and He puts His Spirit inside us, as the seal and sign of God's ownership (Rom 8:9). The more of our soul, body and life we surrender to God, the more we allow His Spirit to possess, fill and control us, the greater His Presence in us (our holiness), setting us free from sin. “In Christ, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee (down payment) of our inheritance (the fullness of God - full payment), until the redemption of the purchased possession (when He gives Himself fully to us and takes full possession of us), so that we will be to the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:13-14, 2Cor 1:21-22). When He returns, His Spirit will take full possession of our soul and body, resurrecting, perfecting and glorifying us. The more we allow His Spirit to fill and take possession of us, the more we experience His grace. Only when we’re poor (owning nothing, owned by God), are we rich, possessing all things He has for us (Matt 5:3, Luke 6:20). Embracing belonging to God, yielding final control to Him, trusting His love to guide and provide for us, sets us free from carrying the burden and stress of managing our life, as if all depends on us. It lets the Spirit flow in us and lead us. He takes the burden and carries us, once we let go of trying to control it all. If we don’t trust in God, we become insecure and anxious, and so cling to things, which we value, to try and secure ourselves, but they are idols, as we value them more than God. He says: “Let go of them. They’re too important to you. Cling to Me and surrender all things, worries and burdens to Me, and My Spirit will carry you and give you all you need.” He controls and guides our life, if we surrender to Him. This is the key to walk in the Spirit, experiencing His fullness. He wants us to have all things to enjoy (1Tim 6:17), but we cut ourselves off from His life, when we act as our own owner, trying to own and control the blessing. Embrace the truth you belong to God, own nothing and will always depend on Him for His continual supply of grace. Then you’re qualified to possess the fullness of His blessing. This is in Psalm 23. In Psalm 22, He lays down His life for His sheep, purchasing them with His Blood (John 10:11). Then in Psalm 23, risen again, He leads His OWN sheep into fullness of life (10:2-4,10). Experiencing fullness (“I shall not want”) is predicated on “The Lord is my Shepherd.” So, to be blessed, we must submit to His leadership. Once a sheep knows he’s owned by (belongs to) the Shepherd, then following (obeying) Him is natural. He stays close and follows Him, so He can lead him into fullness.