Turn with me to the book of Psalms,
chapter 24. Psalm 24. To a believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ, there is indescribable comfort knowing That Almighty
God is in control. That the Lord is in control of
what appears to be, to the natural eye, an absolute mess. I know this, that there is one
who reigns. I know that He is absolutely
ordering everything that's going on right now. I know that. His
Word declares it. I know that He absolutely rules
in righteousness, holiness. I know that there's one And only
one that can be trusted. I know that. Psalm 24, verse
1 says, The earth is the Lord's. The earth is the Lord's. The word earth means the form. That dirt. Right there. That dirt belongs to God. The form of it. The actual material
of it. The mountain, the sky, the form and the maintenance
of it. The earth is the Lord's. Ah, you know, I mean, we've got
a piece of paper that says we bought a piece of land. It belongs to us. Just using it for a few minutes
is all you're doing. That's all I'm doing. The earth
is the Lord's. It's His because He made it. All things were made by Him and
without Him were not anything made that was made in the beginning.
God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Who has always been. He was made
flesh in time. But He was always before the
Father. He's always been. There has never
been a change only in His manifestation. The earth is the Lord's. He owns it because Jehovah has
placed all of it into His hands. The Father loved the Son and
had given all things into His hands. Why? I'll read it to you. I won't
quote it. John 17.2, here, listen to this. As thou hast given him
power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as
many as thou hast given him. The earth is the Lord's. The
maintenance of it is the Lord's. Everything about it is the Lord's. And it's His that He, being in complete control,
orders every bit of it for the salvation of His people. He moves
it, He raises up, He puts this one down, He moves this one.
The earth is the Lord's. And the fullness thereof, the
furnishings, Not only the dirt, but everything
that's in it is His. Everything that is associated
with this earth, with this dirt, with this dust, is the Lord's. And there is a divine purpose
for everything associated with this earth. There is a reason
for it. There is a divine reason for
everything. Everything seen and unseen. Every
atom, every event, every trial, every moment. There is a reason
for it. The earth is the Lord's. And the fullness thereof. The
world. They that dwell therein." Now
that word, world, means the habitable regions. The habitable regions. The dirt is the Lord's, and every
place that He allows something to live is His. There are certain places that
can be inhabited. by man, by animals. And then
there's places that just can't. I heard the other day that the
temperature in Antarctica reached 133 degrees below zero. Man, that's cold! And you know what? There is no
permanent human habitation there. There's no permanent. I mean,
they might have had an Admiral Byrd or somebody may have gone
down there and did a little exploration or something like that, but there
is no permanent habitation there. But I'll tell you this, there's
a purpose for it. There's a reason for it. The
earth is the Lord's. and the fullness thereof, the
world, the habitable places, and they that dwell therein."
But I do know this, in this earth, in this world, in the habitable
places, there's a people that the Lord has always looked upon
in mercy. Vessels of honor. Vessels worth
the cost. A people that He's going to have
with Him. A people that He's going to allow
to share in His presence eternally, beholding His glory. And they're
scattered all over the place in this earth, globe in this
place of dirt. And there's habitable places
within this place. And in that place of habitation,
they didn't just end up there indiscriminately. I want you
to hold your finger right here in Psalm 24 and turn with me
to Deuteronomy 32. Deuteronomy 32. Deuteronomy 32, verse 7 and 8. Remember the days of old. Consider
the years of many generations. Ask thy father, and he will show
thee thy elders, and they will tell thee when the Most High,
divided to the nations, Their inheritance? When He separated
the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according
to the number of the children of Israel. You know what that means? It
means according to God's elect, where He put His people, He put
everybody else in that spot where they were for one reason. for their maintenance, for their
good. He set the bounds of the nations
according to the children of Israel. That's why I've said, I'll tell
you what, while I'm talking, turn to Acts 17.26. Acts 17.26. That's why I said, you want to
know why Fairmont is here? You want to know why Mannington
and Ida Mae, you want to know why those places are here? You
want to know why there are people living in those places? Because
God had an elect in this area and raised up the inhabitants
of this habitable place according to the children of promise for
their good, for their maintenance, Raised up some industry in this
place. Gave you a job. You know why,
Mitch? I'm not going to leave you. I'm
not going to forsake you. He's going to keep you. Sent
some industry to this place. Amazing. Amazing. How this little
town right here, how God Almighty blessed Fairmont. Right after I moved here, I went
over to the historical place and I went in there. I wanted
to find out a little bit about this place. Found out that Fairmont,
West Virginia in 1900 was the richest per capita of
this size city. The richest per capita city in
the United States. More millionaires lived in Fairmont
in 1900. for that size city than any other
city in the U.S. It's a rich place. You know why? Because God had a people. And
He's going to take care of them. He's going to raise up a church
here. Look at Acts 17, 26. "...and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell
on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Why were
you born where you were? Because that's where God Almighty
determined that you were going to be. He put you here. It always amazes me when I think
about the Lord raises up a church, and then in that community, There's
a group of people there that He may go. He may go for miles
and miles and miles, and there is no place to hear the gospel.
The Lord, obviously, according to His wisdom, didn't put any
of His people there. But where He's going to call
out a people, He's going to send a preacher and He's going to
call them out. It amazes me that there's this
many people sitting here this morning. God has a people. Now back in Psalm 24. I know this. All these nations,
according to God's good pleasure, raised up. Why? Because the earth
is the Lord's. The fullness thereof. And whenever
we consider the reason that He's laid it out just exactly the
way He has, is that He might have the preeminence in all things.
That He might be honored in all things. He created this universe
and He set boundaries on it. And He governs it for the glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ and for the good of His people. The
earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that
dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the
seas and established it upon the floods. He settled His creation
by power. Brought the land out of the sea
and told the sea, that sea that He spoke to one day when the
waves were all up. His disciples said, Lord, do
You care? Do You care that we are perishing? And he stood up and he spoke
to that sea and he said, Be still! And the Scripture says it was
calm. You know, not like a rebellious
child, you know, when you tell them something. And they just
keep going. You know, Jesus said, How much
farther can they push it? When he said, Be still, the Scripture
says it was like glass. still. That sea hurt him. Why? Because the earth is the
Lord and the fullness thereof. He raised this earth, this dirt
out of the ocean. Turn to Job 38. He raised up the dirt, the land,
out of the sea and then spoke to the sea and said, this is
how far you can go. You can't go any farther. Job
38.8. Who shut up the sea with doors?
when it break forth, as if it had issued out of the womb. When
I made the cloud the garment thereof, and the thick darkness
a swaddling band for it, and break up for it my decreed place,
and set bars and doors, and said to the sea, Hitherto shalt thou
come, but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. This is how far you can go. No
further. The sea, of which He destroyed this earth,
the world, the inhabitants of this world one time, decreed
the workings within the land, brought it out of the sea and
spoke to the sea and said, this is how far you can go. You can't
do anything else. But I'll tell you this, within
that creation, There's a much greater. He had founded it, verse
2, back in Psalm 24. He founded it upon the seas and
established it upon the floods. It's a picture. There's a picture
in verse 2 of His church and His almighty power to keep. When He said, I'll never leave
you and I'll never forsake you, I'll tell you this, that earth
that's brought out, is a picture of His bride. The sea, a picture
of the adversity. And Almighty God said to adversity,
you can go only as far as I say. You can go no further. No matter
how high the waters of adversity might appear to be against us,
the Lord keeps His people securely. He's going to save His own. He's
going to have His people. They're going to see Him and
be with Him because that's His will. Father, I will that they
also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they
may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovest
Me before the foundation of the world. I was just thinking when
we were singing that song by Fanny Crosby. At last verse,
there are depths of joy that I cannot see till I cross the
narrow sea. And that one right there that
I just read, I read that, Father, that they may behold my glory
which Thou hast given me, for Thou lovest me before the foundation
of the world. One of these days I'm going to
understand that perfectly by the grace of God. I will that
they be with me, those you've given me, that they might behold
me, see me as I am. God's people are going to see
you. But I know this, for a sinner,
for one born in Adam, One that Almighty God has everlastingly
loved, everlastingly kept, everlastingly looked upon, securely kept according
to His everlasting covenant of grace. How are they going to get there? Can one who is of pure eyes than
to behold evil?" And I know what I am by nature. I know something
of it. I don't know the depth of it.
I'll be honest with you. How can one who can't not look
on iniquity show favor to me? How? This earth is the Lord's, the
fullness thereof, the world, they that dwell therein. He does
as He will. He's going to show mercy to whom
He's going to show mercy. He founded it upon the seas,
established it on the floods. So to be found in His presence,
to be found according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, I will. How? How? I know this. According to these
Scriptures, I need one to answer for me. I need one to represent
me. I need one that is accepted by
Almighty God. I need a priest. I need a true priest. I need
one that is raised up by God, accepted by God to be the priest. There's not but one. There's
not but one. There ain't no priest in this
world. There's one priest accepted by God. Everybody else is a liar. There ain't no reverends either.
There's one reverend. Holy and reverend is his name. Somebody refers to themselves
as reverend. That is the name of God. That's
the name of God. Call no man father. You've got
one Father, one Father, one Priest, one Reverend. How? How am I going to be accepted? Well, there's a question that's
asked in verse 3. Who shall ascend into the hill
of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy
place. I can tell you this, based on
that question right there, I know that the ransom has been found.
That very question reveals the glory of Him who is able, who
has the right, who is worthy to ascend into the hill of the
Lord. Into the exalting of the Lord.
into the uppermost of the Lord. Who is He? Well, I'll tell you
this. Verse 4 says, He that hath clean hands and a pure heart,
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. One whose hands, whose work,
whose effort, whose doings is guiltless. blameless. He that hath a pure heart, examined, chosen, beloved. That's when you look up pure.
That's it. Examined, chosen, beloved. Pure. He who hath not lifted up or
advanced or extolled his soul unto vanity, unto uselessness,
unto idolatry, only of the Lord Jesus Christ can it be said that
he never desecrated or lifted up himself. seeking his own will
apart from the Father's. Buddy, you'll never say that
about me. You'll never say that about you either. What man, what
woman could it ever be said had clean hands in His sight, pure
heart in His sight, who never lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor ever swore deceitfully That is, who never spoke, thought
anything other than that which honors God. Never thought anything
except that which honored God. I can't even think when I'm trying
to pray. Who shall ascend into the hill
of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? No one but
He who came down from heaven. I'll tell you this, even the
Son of Man which is in heaven. Verse 5, He shall receive the
blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God
of His salvation. He alone shall receive the declaration
of blessing. This is my beloved Son. I'm well pleased with Him. He
shall receive the blessing totally because of His obedience, His
faithfulness. But I'll tell you this, by the
grace of God, all that's in Him receive the blessing of the Lord.
Accepted in the Beloved. Accepted in Him. Truly in Christ. Now you know this. Was there
no sin? Neither was guile. That is, trick
or a decoy. I think about duck hunting. And you put a bunch of decoys
out there in that water, and you're in the blind. Those decoys out there, that's
guile. That's a lie. You're lying to
those ducks. You're telling those ducks that
it's okay to land there. That's what it means. Guile. Guile. A decoy. A trick. Neither was guile found in his
mouth. But let me ask you this. Wasn't
it said of Nathanael when the Lord walked up, Behold an Israelite
indeed in whom is no guile. How could that be? Only as he
was viewed in Christ. In himself, there is a decoy,
there is a trick, there is guile, there is a lie. Blessed is the
man unto whom the Lord imputed not iniquity, in whose spirit
there is no guile, no deceit. He shall receive the blessing
from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
The believer is the recipient of God's blessing in Christ and
for Christ's sake alone. Declared, blessed, being robed
in His righteousness. I don't have any righteousness
that's going to stand before God. All of my righteousness
are His filthy rags. I know that. I know that. Just
filthy rags. You know what filthy rags are.
Filthy. This, verse 6, is the generation
of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O Jacob, Selah. Or if you look at the margin
there, where it says, O God of Jacob. This is the generation
of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob. I'm so thankful that the Lord
would record these blessed truths that gives me some hope for myself. He talks about Jacob. Jacob have
I loved? Man, when you read what Jacob... Jacob, he was a liar. He came
up there, his mama told him to put those skins on, you know,
make him feel like he was a hairy guy like his brother Esau, so
he'd smell like Esau. His mama cooked up that bowl
of soup And his daddy liked. She said, you go in there and
bring this in. He'll give you the blessing. Came in there and stood
before his daddy. What is daddy asking? Are you
Esau? What did he say? He said, yeah. And it was Jacob. He was a liar. He was a liar. He was deceitful. But God loved him. And for Christ's
sake, there was Jacob years later wrestling with the Lord, called
the man. The man said, let me go. Jacob
said, not until you bless me. Not unless you bless me. And
he said, here's my blessing. You're not going to be called
Jacob anymore. You're going to be called Israel. A prince with
God. A prince with God. God shows
mercy to Jacobs. Deceivers, supplanters, tricksters. This is the generation of them
that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob. Muse upon that. Hold to that. Think upon that. Pray over that. And then in the
last four verses, the glorious declaration of the Lord Jesus
Christ set forth as he triumphantly enters into the portals of heaven
with his own. The question was asked back in
verse 3. Who shall ascend into the hill
of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place? I tell you
who. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not
lifted up his soul into vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall
receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the
God of His salvation. This is the generation of them
that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob. It's Jacob's. Saved by the grace of God, they're
the ones that seek His face. They long after Him. And here
He comes. Here's the words of our blessed
Savior. And the answer giving back as
He talks. Listen to this. 7 to 10. Lift
up thy heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting
doors, and the King of glory shall come in. And then this
question comes back from heaven itself. Who is this King of Glory?
And then he answers, The Lord strong, mighty, the Lord mighty
in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory
shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The
Lord of Hosts. He is the King of Glory. Selah. He ascends into the throne. Those two questions that were
asked from the portals of heaven were not even told who asked
them. It just came. He came up, ascended, and asked,
and demanded, demanded. Lift up your heads, you gates.
Open up. To who? To the Lord of glory. Those questions were asked not
for information, not whether or not he has the right to do
it. They were asked to draw complete
attention to him. Who is this? I'll tell you who
he is. This is God. This is God. This is God made flesh. This is God. who humbled
himself and made himself of no reputation for the salvation
of his elect, and saved them, and honored God's law, and obeyed
God as their representative, as their substitute. And here
he enters in, I am the children that you gave me. Who is he? Who is His person? Who is His
rank? He is the mighty God, the victor over sin and death and
hell. He is the deliverer of His people
from the power of Satan and sin. Open ye gates and receive Him
who is worthy. Muse upon that for Christ's sake. Amen.