May 18, 2020, Psalms 68, John 1 19-34, Good Morning!

Psalms 68
For the director of music. Of David. 
A Psalm. A Song. 

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him. 
May you blow them away like smoke--
as wax melts before the fire, 
may the wicked perish before God. 
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful. 
Sing to God, sing in your psalms of his name, 
extol him who rides on the clouds, 
rejoice before him-his name is the Lord. 
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, 
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families, 
he leads out the prisoners with singing; 
but the rebellious live in a sun scorched land. 
When you, God, went out before our people, 
when you marched through the wilderness, 
the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, 
before God, the one of Sinai, 
before God, the God of Israel. 
You gave abundant showers. 
O God; you refresh your weary inheritance. 
Your people settled in it. 
and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor. 
The Lord announces the word, 
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
Kings and armies flee in haste; 
the women at home divide the plunder. 
Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, 
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, 
its feathers with shining gold. 
When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, 
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon, 
Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountains, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, 
at the mountain where God chooses to reign, 
where the the Lord himself will dwell forever?
The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. 
When you ascended on high, 
you took many captives; you received gifts from people, 
even from the rebellious--that you, Lord God might dwell there. 
Praise to the Lord, to God our Savior, 
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
From the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. 
Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, 
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. 
The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea, 
that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes. 
while the tongues of your dogs have their share. 
Your procession, God, has come into view, 
 the procession of my God and king into the sanctuary. 
In front are the singers, after them the musicians; 
with them are the young women playing the timbrels. 
Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the 
assembly of Israel, 
There the great throng of Judah's princes, 
and there the princes of Zebulun and Naphtali. 
Summon your power, God; show us your strength, 
our God, as you have done before. 
Because of your temple at Jerusalem Kings will bring you gifts. 
Rebuke the beast among the reeds, 
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. 
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. 
Scatter the nations who delight in war. 
Envoys will come from Egypt; 
Cush will submit herself to God. 
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, 
sing praise to the Lord, 
to him who rides across the highest heavens, 
the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. 
Proclaim the power of God, 
whose majesty is over Israel, 
whose power is in the heavens. 
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary, 
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise to God!




John 1 19-34
John The Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish Leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah." They asked him, "then who are you?" Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." Finally they said, "Who are you?" Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself." John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, Make straight the way for the Lord. Now the Pharisees who have been sent questioned him, 'Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" I baptize with water, John replied, but among you stands one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 



 John answers the questions with a true statement and he tells them exactly who he is "A voice crying in the wilderness." He quotes the word of God to them. The passage means so much more in a theological aspect but just to be simple it is wise to open the bible learn about the holy scriptures because the leaders questioning also shows their lack of understanding.  God has a pattern about himself. He speaks and then it comes to pass. They had so many questions for John but John was just there to point out the son of God. Also it seems like they liked John and they wanted John to be the one but he was not the one.

John Testifies About Jesus 
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him." And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One. 

"Jesus is God's Chosen One"
He was in the beginning
He was before Moses..
Before Elijah
Before John the Baptist
Before David
Even David paid him homage to him in the Psalms. They bowed to Jesus. 
He was Before the Temple
Before Man had a right to have a relationship with God
Lastly he was God. 

Jesus was God's chosen one, this statement negates mans thoughts or ideas of who he is, what he will look like, or what he will do, this takes all that we think and feel and blows it away; and bring all thoughts back to God. One consistent issue in all the gospels is what man wants and thinks, versus what God says will be.They could put God out the temple but you cannot remove God.  God showed up in person. The intent was to force him out but God is always in heaven still above man. Sadly when darkness does not like something it seeks to kill it but man cannot get rid of God.

Once again Jesus is God's chosen one.What we think does not matter we are just creatures, even though it does not spark fireworks, I think Jesus is wonderful. I am sure it is a spirit of darkness in a man that makes him dislike the Lord. I read about Jesus and I think wow he is amazing. He is forgiving. I mean he forgave a lot of things from the religious leaders. Surely he loves us all. I see beauty in his character and teachings;he is a God that loves people. 

Things to note:

• God desires for all of men to live 
• He is life
• He wants to help
• he does not destroy
• He could have held sins against people; but he forgave us
• He could have caused angels to do away with the people giving him a hard time; but he teaches them instead. 
• they disrespect him but he extends the offer of salvation.
• He is life and light. . 

I know lots of people who say, why didn't God just Kill the devil; Why give him the chance to attack Man?

• But Jesus told the disciples,  I watch him fall from heaven.
• He was once a high angel
• Running for God. He was probably the fastest. Maybe he could outshine; and out do all the other angels. He probably had the respect of the other angels too. They were basic and he was supreme. 
• He felt like he was better than others. To be like God or to think you are is to think pretty high of yourself and God had to cast him down to show him that he was nothing but a creature. 
• At one time he was an angel of light. But he said in his heart his heart he said I will ascend on high. I will be like God. 
• Today his ultimate goal is to convince people to get rid of God through deceit.

God does not desire that any should perish. He also does not kill.

• God can just get rid of his enemies but its obvious he does not kill. The scriptures is consistent. God casts him down and he tries to get to God through working on man. Pride makes a fool of us. 
• Another consistent theme is God love for his sheep. We belong to him. He is forgiving and he wants us to live again.
• In Noah's time when God destroyed the earth it did not make mankind better, because the problem is darkness in man. It does not matter that it was the religious leaders that plotted against God because we all have fallen short. They made poor choices but we get the opportunity to learn from others mistakes.