Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world.
so that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church. Located in Kernersville, North Carolina. And I want you to remember something today. The king is...
Coming. We talked about how Saul fell, how he had every opportunity. And David, we talked about how the fact of how God makes a king with David, and we saw how God breaks a king. with Saul. We come to Psalm 24.
David, this is a messianic psalm and David is a kind of, I guess, what you would call just really beginning in his reign as king. There's a little bit of You know, debate over exactly what age David was when he wrote Psalm 24, but there's debate just about everything David wrote in the book of Psalms how old he was. Here's the point: we don't know. But what we do know is that this was during his reign as king. And I do want you to know in these short verses of Psalm 24, you and I are transcended.
to glory. If there's ever been a Sunday morning, I want to ask you to really. Just Get your Bible open. Look at this passage. You'll be so glad that you did.
Psalm 24 was written. During a special occasion, it was when the Ark of the Covenant was being brought back. to Jerusalem. The ark had been in the Bible calls it the house of Obed Edom for about seven months. And there are a lot of controversy surrounding how David tried to bring the ark back and different things, but the ark.
of the covenant. always symbolize the presence So David wanted to bring back God's presence. to the kingdom. And by the way, you and I should never want to meet here in service. without God's presence.
It's an absolute waste. of my time. and your time. Without the presence of God.
Now, I know that He's here, He's here in me, He's here in you. I know that He's always present when we meet, but I'm talking about I want God's presence to have the priority. in our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church.
So, as the ark was carried back to its rightful home, it symbolized that the king. was coming back. And it was a time that excited worship.
Now, worship, I want you to know from the Bible, is not designed to get people to show up. Worship is designed for God to show up. Be careful about a church that all their worship is designed to get people to come. Dear friend, I want our worship to be designed. For God to show up.
Jewish historians believe that Various psalms were sung as part of liturgy during the week for the children of Israel. On Monday they would literally chant and sing Psalm 48. On Tuesday, they would recite Psalm 82. On Wednesday, they would recite Psalm 94. On Thursday, they would wake up at dawn and Begin to recite Psalm 81.
On Friday, it was Psalm 93. On Saturday, which was the Sabbath, it was Psalm 122. But on Sunday, It was Psalm 25. Four. You see, you and I know Psalm 23 very well, and maybe you're familiar with Psalm 22, but this group of three messianic Psalms is very.
special. Psalm 22 is a psalm of the cross. Psalm 23 is a psalm of the caretaker. But Psalm 24 is a Psalm of the Crown. Psalm 22 is Christ as the sufferer.
Psalm 23 is Christ as the shepherd. But Psalm 24 is Christ as the sovereign. Psalm 23, the shepherd is crucified for his sheep. In Psalm 23, that's Psalm 22. In Psalm 23, the shepherd is caring for his sheep.
But in Psalm 24, The shepherd is coming for his sheep. You see, Psalm 22 is the past. Psalm 23 is The present. Yea, though I walk. In Psalm 24.
is the future. Psalm 22 is about the Savior. Psalm 23 is about the shepherd. Psalm 24 is about the sovereign, the king of kings and lord of lords. And in this passage, we are asked.
Who is this king? David pins these Brief verses. And it lays out very simply, and I want us to look at Psalm 24. I appreciate Brother Frank reading it, and it fits so well with our choir song today. Who is.
This king. It lays out in three different ways, and you could outline Psalm 24 in a lot of different ways, but our series, obviously, that we're doing right now is The King is Coming. What we find first in this passage, we see the claim. of the king. Second in this passage, we see the companions of the king.
And then third, we see the coming. of the king. So let's start there. The claim. of the king.
Verse 1. I want you to notice first that the Bible here says that God is the owner. of creation. Look at verse 1. Is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.
Verse 2 says that He is the originator of creation, for He hath founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. He is the owner and the originator of creation. The earth is the Lord's. Look, if you would, at verse 2, he founded it upon the seas, he established it upon the floods. Look at verse 1.
I just said fuds. It's like Elmer. I was like, Elmer Fudd. I made a problem.
Okay. In verse 1, it says, That the earth is the Lord's, the fullness thereof. The world and they that dwell therein. You know what that means? That means the earth is the Lord's, everything on it, everyone in it, and everything around it.
It all belongs To the Lord.
Now I want you to know today the earth does not belong to the Democrats or the Republicans. It does not belong to the presidents, our president, or any president. It doesn't belong to chancellors. It doesn't belong to any other kings. It doesn't belong to royalty.
There are so many people today that want to run the earth. But it doesn't belong to them. God founded it upon the seas. God established it. Out of The waters.
You see, on the third day of creation in Genesis chapter 1, God Said this, let me read it to you. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered. together unto one place. and let the dry land appear. And it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth. He created it. He owns it. And the gathering together of the waters called he seas. And God saw.
It was good. I don't know if you've ever thought about this, but when God gathered the waters together, submerged land appeared out of the water. Yeah. Out of death. Even in God's creation, we see a picture.
of the resurrection. Life. out of death. The earth. is the Lord's.
God's claim. You and I live in the Milky Way. The Milky Way is. One out of one hundred million galaxies. Our galaxy is just one out of 100 million.
In the Milky Way are 100 billion stars. Not 1 billion, 100 billion stars spinning around in the form of a disk. Any of you that have ever taken science would understand some of this. In that disk, 100,000 light years, 100,000 light years from rim to rim, there are 600 million billion miles of stars. They're all his.
He owns them all. 30,000 light years from the center of that disk of stars is one very moderate star called the Sun. That sun carries with it a small little grouping of insignificant planets. That star, the sun, with its little planets, of which, by the way, we are one of those. will take 200 million years To orbit around the center of just the Milky Way.
Galaxy. By the way, I don't believe we're going to be around when that's completed. One of these little planets that the sun carries with it is the earth. Out of 100 million galaxies, God chose this galaxy and out of the 100 billion stars in the middle of this galaxy. There are some insignificant planets along with these stars.
God set his gaze out of all the vast areas of space He placed his eyes on one little planet that had no light of its own. Called the earth. The Earth is seemingly very unimportant in the galaxy. But to God, the earth is of utmost importance. And here's why.
because of what will happen here. You see, Satan did not realize. When he showed up in the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve and Adam, and dragged sin into humanity. He did not realize that God had already decided that this little planet Earth, that he says is his, that this would become the final battlefield of the ages. The earth.
is the Lord's. You see, Satan had been ambushed and he didn't even realize it. Yeah. would become the place. of two invasions.
First, Satan would be allowed to invade this earth. He would be allowed to come and create sin. But then God's only Son, Jesus. will invade this earth. Lucifer had rebelled against God, left heaven, took a third of the heavenly host with him.
To go to war with the creator of the universe. But here on earth, the great battle between Satan and God will come to a head. It'll be settled forever. On this planet. that belongs to the Lord.
David, when he writes Psalm twenty-four, the first invasion. had already happened. Satan showed up in the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted, sin came. It got so bad that God even regretted that he had made man because sin had become so prevalent in our nature.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of God. And we come all the way to Psalm 24, and here's David. He is a king over a kingdom. The first invasion has happened, but Don't fret. Help.
is on the way. And God, in His infinite glory, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives David a glimpse. of the future. Jesus would come. the sacrificial lamb.
the king of kings, the earth. is the Lord's The claim of the king. Number two, I want you to see the companions of the king. Look at verse 3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who shall stand? In his holy place. Out of all the galaxies, all the stars, all the planets. This one called earth, there is one spot on this earth that God has laid special claim to. It's called Israel.
And there is one constant battle between the Arabs and the Jews, and they want. Power and control over this land, and they're all prepared to do battle over their claim to this land, but none of them own it. This verse says it belongs to God. God deeded it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He deeded it to Isaac, not Ishmael.
He deeded it to the Jew, not the Arab. And no superpower will ever change that. God said, I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee. Dear friend, it doesn't matter what you agree with and what your perception is. God's word says you better understand that Israel is special to God.
Yeah, that's right. That God has chosen. There's one little spot He's singled out. of this land of Israel. It's called the city of Jerusalem.
The United Nations declares Jerusalem an international city, but God says it's his. It is the city of the great King. And in this A piece of land, Israel, and this one little spot, Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, there are two special places in Jerusalem. The hill And the holy place.
I love what Dr. John Phillips, and I love his commentaries, and he gives a description of. This Hill and holy place that is described here in Psalm 24. He says that these are significant locations in the book of Psalms. You see, Mount Zion is sometimes called the city of David.
The holy place, the hill is Mount Zion, the holy place is Mount Moriah. And he says this: that Mount Zion was Israel's tower of London, the military stronghold of the city. He who holds Zion holds Jerusalem.
So it stands for the secular power. But Mount Moriah Is a place that was sacred in David's day. By the way, Mount Moriah is where Abraham took Isaac up to sacrifice him and basically enacted a picture of Calvary as Christ, the sacrificial lamb that was slain.
So, Mount Zion is the secular power. Mount Moriah stands. for the spiritual power. And a question is asked, who shall ascend? Who shall stand?
And I ask you this question today. We're speaking. prophetically About heaven. Who shall ascend? Who shall stand in the hill and the holy place.
Well, the question is answered. Notice, if you would, first, the question is answered by speaking about our life. He says, He that hath Clean hands. and a pure heart. Clean hands is The outside.
A pure heart. is the inside. And God said, if you want to ascend into my holy hill, you've got to be clean on the inside and the outside. Notice secondly, he talks not just about our life, but about our longings. He says, Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity?
You know, the book of Ecclesiastes is a whole book about an individual that lifted up his soul to vanity. It's about a search for happiness. Trying to fulfill everything in his flesh, and nothing fulfilled him. He lifted up his soul to vanity. God says, if you want to ascend to my holy hill, you must long for the right things.
Third, he talks about our language. He says, nor sworn Deceitfully. Do you want to stand in his holy place?
Well, then, your word should be dependable and honest. your promises and commitments. should be kept. We are to never swear deceitfully.
Now, I don't know about you today, but we have a problem. If the only ones who are going to ascend into the hill of the Lord. Are those who have clean hands? And a pure heart. I guess I won't be there.
That definitely leaves me out. Does that leave anyone else out here today? You see, there have been plenty of times when my hands weren't clean. And there's been many times that my heart was not pure. And I have lifted up my soul to vain things in my life at times.
There have been times where I did not keep my word. or my commitments. If that's the only ones that will be there, ones with clean hands, a clean heart. with clean longings and clean language. I guess I won't be there.
But are you looking at me today? But I will be there. Yes, sir. You say, well, why is that, preacher? But I will be there.
because Jesus Christ will present me before the throne of grace. Because when I get to heaven, I am not in Daniel Hawtry. I am in Jesus Christ. And in verse 5, it says, He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness, not from myself, but from the God of his salvation. Clean hands, clean heart, clean desires, credible language, only possible through the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Dear friend, I'm here to tell you: his claim is that the earth is the Lord's, and his companions must have a clean heart, clean hands, clean desires, clean language, and we are only Clean through the blood of Jesus Christ.
So now we come as we come to a close. We see the coming. of the king. Five times in these closing verses of this chapter, the Holy Spirit speaks of Christ as. The King of Glory.
This is how we move to a prophetic Messianic Psalm. What's interesting in these verses, twice the challenges go forth for the gates. of glory to be lifted up. You see in these last couple verses, there is a first challenge. And there is A final challenge.
A future. challenge. Look at verse 7 as we see this first challenge. It says, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Here we are at the gates of heaven.
A question is asked, a demand is made, open up the gates, but a question comes back. Who is? This king. of glory. And the answer comes back from outside the gates.
The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty. in battle. What the Holy Spirit allowed David to get a glimpse of is that Jesus was going to be born. In Bethlehem.
his family from Nazareth. Jesus would be on earth 33 and a half years. Jesus won every victory over the world, every victory over the flesh. He won every battle against Satan himself. Every form of temptation had been brought against Jesus, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life.
But Satan was defeated every time. Satan had him betrayed. Satan scourged him to the bone. Satan crowned him with thorns. Satan taunted him, crucified him, mocked him.
In fact, Satan sealed him in a tomb. to make the final end. of him. But it was all in vain. Right.
Jesus The Lord. Strong And mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. He had conquered every temptation for 33 and a half years. He had done battle with Satan and he succeeded triumphantly.
Jesus resurrects from the grave. He is the Lord strong and mighty. He was here 40 days, seen of 500 people. And all of a sudden, on that mount of transfiguration, Jesus raises his hands and he ascends into glory, and the disciples watch him go. But the disciples did not see what happened.
in glory. But all the way back in Psalm 24, the Holy Spirit allowed David to see what happened when Jesus arrived. after the crucifixion. after the resurrection. As he arrived at the gates.
of glory. Look if you would at verse 7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the king of glory shall come in. And as Jesus stands there.
The great heavenly gatekeeper looks down and says, Who is? This king of glory. And Jesus holds up. those nail scarred hands? That spear pierced side.
Those nail-riven feet. And he says, The Lord Strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. And the gates swing open, the angels sing, and Jesus takes his rightful place. At the right hand of the throne of God.
First challenge accepted, first challenge conquered. Sin and Satan were defeated. You see what happens between verse 8 and verse 9. We have something interesting. We have The future challenge.
You see, between verse 8 and verse 9, Might look like less than a centimeter, but what's going on here prophetically. are long centuries. of this present age. You and I are in between. Verse 8.
And verse 9: The Holy Spirit has been busy here on earth, drawing men to himself, drawing men to Christ, excuse me. The Holy Spirit's been busy. He's been gathering the church from every tribe, from every nation, from every color. The Holy Spirit is busy. It's what we call the church age, the age of grace.
And here we are today in 2025 preaching about what will happen in verse 9 and 10. The Bible says that the church will become a number, a multitude that no man can number. It's a glorious church. And we don't know when. But somewhere between verse 8 and 9.
Only God the Father knows the time. And God the Son is sitting at the right hand of the throne. And we don't know when, but all of a sudden, God the Father will look down to his Son and He'll say, go and get your bride. Jesus will leap off the throne. The trumpet will sound.
Jesus will swoop down to the splendor of the sky above us. He will say, as we know in chapter 2, verse 13. Of Song of Solomon. He will say, Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Instantly.
The graves. will be emptied. Of those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, they will raise with glorified bodies into the air. Then you and I, if we're still around, those who are alive and remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, and so shall we ever be. No one is left behind, no believer.
who has put their faith and trust in Christ. Not one has ever been lost. The body of Christ is there. The Old Testament saints are there. The angels are there.
The Lord is there. And then we will be led. by Jesus our Savior. Once again. to those gates of glory.
But this time Jesus is not by himself. This time, Jesus is surrounded. By the hosts. that have been saved. Through his blood.
Jesus will Appear at that gate, you and I will be there with him. And once again, he will. Make a demand in verse 9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the king of glory shall come in.
Once again. He will demand that these gates be opened. And once again, question will come. Who is? This king.
of glory. I want you to look, if you would, at verse 10. Jesus once again will raise those nail-pierced hands. That spear-pierced side, those nail-pierced feet, the only man-made things in heaven. are the wounds from when he purchased our redemption.
He will raise his hands as the Lord, strong and mighty in battle. But notice, if you would, at verse 10, it's different this time. I am, he says, the Lord of hosts. The greatest news that anyone can receive is the news of the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ. It is our desire for you to know him personally.
Would you take a moment to hear this today? Every man is born with the sin nature, Romans 3.23 says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No matter how hard we try, We're not good enough to obtain God's glory. or to get to heaven. Because of that, sin carries the penalty of death.
Romans 6.23 says, For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The wages of our sin, or the payment of our sin, only equals death and separation from God. But it's only through God's Gift. salvation through Jesus Christ that we can accept him as our Saviour.
Jesus Christ paid for your sin debt. The Bible says in Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. All you have to do is receive Christ. by faith as your Saviour. Romans ten nine says That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Verse 13 continues, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It's as simple as admitting that you're a sinner believing that Jesus is the only way. and calling upon his name. Bible says whosoever, that's any one. can call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.
Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior? There is no greater day than today to take care of this. Would you accept Christ as your Savior? If you have any questions, please give us a call at 336-993-5192 or visit our website at Curlin Baptist Church. Dot com.
or visits that person at one of our three service times. We hope you have a great rest of your day. God bless you. Mm-hmm.
