Now, Psalm 93. Psalm 93. I'm
entitling the message from the words found in the first
verse. The Lord reigneth. The Lord reigns. God is God in all the earth. God is God. Beside Him there
is no other. Not only Is this the theme of
this psalm? But can't we truly and rightly
say that that is the theme of all scripture? One radiant theme,
themes through all the pages of scripture, where it says,
in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now who can do that but God Almighty,
who reigns supreme over all things? Not only does this psalm ring
true with the sovereignty of God, but all of Scripture does
as well. Not only is that so, but the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the gospel of the Sovereign
Lord, the Almighty Lord. And I rejoice, as we read just
a moment ago, Well, they said, hallelujah,
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. And they were glad they did restore
it. I'm thankful that God Almighty
is the sovereign over all things. You know, when you think about
it, that's a pleasant thought. That is a pleasant thought. The God we
worship reigns supreme. That tells me that everything
that transpires in my life comes to pass in my life and yours
is ordered and ordained of God. The steps of a righteous man
are what? Ordered of the Lord. God is God in all things, and
it's a pleasant thought. Our Lord is sovereign over all
things, and we often mention three things, but it goes so
much further than those three things. God is sovereign in creation. He created all things by the
Word of His power. All things are held together
by the Word of His power. All things consist together,
held together by the Word of His power. He's sovereign in
creation and sovereign in providence. Those things that transpire in
time do so because God in eternity has created all things to be. Known unto God are all His works
from the beginning. So we often say, and it is true,
God is sovereign in creation. God is sovereign in providence
of Him and through Him and to Him are not some things, all
things to whom be glory both now and forever. Sovereign in providence. Sovereign
in creation. And my friend, the Lord our God
is sovereign in salvation. He will have mercy on whom he
will have mercy. Let us, my friend, let us rejoice. Let us rejoice. Look over at
Psalm 97, verse 1. We're going to see this in several
psalms as we study through these next few psalms. The Lord reigneth. It keeps repeatedly saying this. Notice Psalm 97, verse 1. The Lord reigneth. Let the earth
rejoice. Let the multitudes, the isles
thereof be, let them be glad thereof. Psalm 99, turn over
there. Psalm 99. Look at verse 1 there. The Lord reigneth. Let the people
tremble. He sitteth between the cherubim.
Let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion. He
is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and
terrible name, for it is holy. Look at verse 9 in that Psalm
99. Exalt the Lord our God. Worship
at His holy hill. For the Lord our God, He is holy. He is holy. Now, I want us to
consider this short Psalm. in the light of the gospel of
Christ. For it celebrates His person,
His glory, His kingdom, and His majesty. And certainly included
in this psalm is the victory the Lord Jesus Christ wins over
all opposition. Now, He has some opposition.
He has some vowed enemies. But the Lord Jesus Christ is
victorious over all opposition. He went forth conquering and
to conquer. He's never lost a fight. Never lost a battle the Lord
our God is not a defeated Frustrated Savior. He is a victorious conquering
King. I'm he that liveth and was dead
Behold, I'm alive I like the verse The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Lord Jesus Christ as our
God. when he writes to Titus, especially
in that little epistle to Titus, he calls the Lord Jesus Christ,
God, our Savior. I like that, don't you? God,
our Savior. He is the just God and Savior
of sinners. The Lord Jesus Christ, as our
God and Savior, has reigned, he does reign, and he will reign
forever and ever. He has no beginning of His reign,
His sovereign dominion that is absolute and eternal, has no
beginning and has no end. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
mediator of the covenant of grace. The Lord Jesus Christ over the
kingdom of His grace. Grace does reign through righteousness
unto eternal life. I don't believe there's an end
to grace, do you? Grace reigns supreme eternally. He does reign supreme and absolute
over all things, over all things, especially, especially in salvation. Turn over here to Ephesians. He hid these things from the
wise and prudent. and revealed them unto babes,
even so, father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Did you ever
notice closely the words in Ephesians chapter one, verse 11, in whom
also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according
to the purpose of God of him. You see, God doesn't need our
permission to act, does he? What a foolish statement to think
God needs our permission to act. God doesn't answer to us. He answers to none. He works
all things after the counsel of His own will. His will will
be done. That we should be to the praise
of the glory of His grace. He said in that covenant language,
I will be and you shall. I will be your God and you shall. I will and you shall. I will. be your God, and you shall be
my people. I will not depart from you, and
you shall not depart from me. They shall be my people, and
I will be their God. I'll give them one heart and
one way, and they may fear me forever. I will make an everlasting
covenant with them. I will not turn away from them
to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, and
they shall not depart from me. I will be their God, and they
shall You know, this message, God's
absolute total sovereignty to have mercy upon his covenant
people for which he obtained eternal redemption for them,
this is the good news of the gospel. This is the good news
of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ reigns
supreme, satisfying God's law. The Lord Jesus Christ reigns
supreme in honoring that law, not only in precept, but in penalty. The Lord Jesus Christ reigns
supreme in putting away our sin by the sacrifice of himself.
That is the message of the gospel. That is the message of the gospel.
The message of the gospel is not, is not God loves everybody
and Christ died for everybody. That's not the message of the
gospel. I think I've given this to you
before, but you know, and you can check me out on it. I don't
mind you checking me out, but all through the preaching recorded
in the book of Acts, Peter, Paul, all those messages are recorded
in the book of Acts where the apostles went forth preaching
the gospel. You know how many times they mentioned the love
of God? Not one time. And they certainly never did
say that God loved everybody without exception. That's just
not so. You know what our message is
this? Their message was the same. This same Jesus whom you crucified
is what? Lord! And Christ. That was the message. God's reign
now bows and bows to the sovereign crown rights of the Lord. It's not God loved everybody.
That's not good news. That's not good news. If God
loves everybody, what's some of those folk doing over in hell?
If God loves everybody, and some went to hell, his love ain't
got nothing to do with salvation. Isn't that right? That's right. You see the message of the gospel.
Turn over here to Isaiah 52. The Lord reigneth. Reigneth. He's Lord. Every knee's
gonna bow, every tongue gonna confess. Look at that. Isaiah
52. Every knee's gonna bow, every tongue's gonna confess that he's
what? Sweet Jesus, crying to you, you
won't let him. Oh no, oh no. He's Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. The Lord reigneth. Isaiah 52,
you got verse seven marked. If you don't, you need to mark
it. How beautiful, this is quoted in Romans 10, remember? How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet of him that publish, that bringeth
good tiding, that publish peace. Peace with the blood, peace through
the blood of Christ. He made peace for us with his
own blood. You remember Colossians chapter
one? That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation,
that saith unto Zion, what's those three words? God wants
to and can't. He's trying to and you won't
let him. That's not good news. That's
not good news. You see, I'm a dead sinner. If
God Almighty is not almighty to raise me from the dead, this
sinner has no hope. The Lord God reigneth. Reigns. He reigns. You see, this
is not just a message that we are to select and preach to a
few. This is a message that we are
to tell everybody God reigns. Let me show you that. Turn back
to the Psalms. Look at Psalm 96 verse 10. You see, this is not just family
talk. Although it is, we're instructed
to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Is that what it says? Preach
the gospel now. What is the gospel? The Lord
reigns. He's victorious in putting away
our sin, in accomplishing salvation. We're to say and declare this
message to everybody. Psalm 96, verse 10. Say among
the heathen, smiles, I love you. That's not what it says. Say among the heathen, the Lord
reigneth. Who do we to tell and preach
about the sovereignty of God to? Every preacher. My friend,
it's included in the gospel. The world also shall be established,
it shall not be moved. He shall judge the people righteously. What's the standard of judgment?
Well, do the best you can, you know, everything will be okay.
You'll pay your bills, don't beat your wife, work hard, go
to church, give your time, you know, everything will be okay.
Oh, no. No, no. He judges. He judges righteously. Remember that verse over in Acts
17 where Paul preached to those philosophers on Mars here? He said, God hath appointed a
day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that
man, Christ Jesus. The Father judgeth no man but
hath committed all judgment to Christ. All judgment is relative
to the Lord who reigns. Rob Barnard, when he came to
Ashland in 1950, April 1950, a young preacher sat down there
on the bench. He was a young preacher who didn't
know God. He didn't know the gospel. His name was Henry Mahan. He's still in his twenties. And
that old man got up and preached the sovereignty of God. He preached
the lordship of Christ. And he made this statement. They
sang a song during that song service, and they sang something
along the line, Jesus saved, Jesus saved. And you know what
the old man did? He got up and he said, there's
not a word of truth in that. Those folks about fell out of
their pews. What have we done here? We've
invited a man that's a monster. And he said, it's the Lord, Jesus
Christ, that saves. Did you ever meet him? that don't
tell me who your savior is, tell me who your lord is. He came
preaching the lordship of Christ. God is sovereign in salvation.
You see, the point I'm making here, the Lord reigneth. The
Lord reigneth. He reigns supreme in creation,
poverty, and salvation. He came as the reigning king,
didn't he? When the Lord our God was manifested
in the flesh, the wise men, they came. You remember what they
asked? Where is he that's, what? Born king. He's not gonna be
king someday. He king when he got here. He
came as king. He came as king. And you know
what? Not only was he born king, he
lived as king, accomplished our salvation as a reigning king,
he died as... Do you think it's any accident
that Put it over his cross. This is
Jesus of Nazareth the king Right that he is the king right
that he said he was and Pilate said you remember what I've written
I've written and he did so by the decree of the reigning King
himself you see he was born as king, lived as king, died as
king, arose from the grave, death couldn't hold him, arose from
the grave as king. Remember in Matthew 28, he said
to his disciples, all power is given to me, heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and preach the
gospel. Knowing what? I have all power. knowing that God is king, that
God reigns over all. He arose from the grave as king.
He ascended to glory as the what? Reigning king, seated on the
throne. You remember Psalm 110, God says,
sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. When he had by himself purged
our sin, he sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. Now,
I told you this is a short psalm, but it's got a big message, doesn't
it? It got a long message. And my friend, as the Lord Jesus
Christ is one day... You know what it says in the Revelation?
It said, behold, he cometh. You know in chapter one it says
that? Behold, he cometh. What does that mean? It means
he's on his way. And then Revelation 22, it says, behold, he come
quickly. Come quickly. He's coming back. He's coming back as what? King.
As king, reigning king. And he will judge all things
according to that exact standard of holiness. Now, you got the
first point, verse 1. Here's the second point in verse
1. He's clothed with majesty. He's
clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed with strength,
wherewith he had girded himself. Where'd he get such sovereignty?
Where'd he get such power and dominion? The world is established
that it cannot be moved. The Lord is clothed with majesty
and strength. And we think about the Lord Jesus
Christ manifest in the flesh, although he was clothed with
a body prepared by God, a body without sin, but still even in
his humanity, he never stopped being the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth. Did he? Remained what he was,
became what he was not? Remember they said when the ship
was going down and the disciples said, Master, don't you care
that we are perishing? The boat is sinking! Wake up! And he came forth and he rebuked
the wind and the sea. And there was a great calm. And
they said, behold, what manner of man is this that even the
wind and sea obey him? Others had this testimony that
no man spake like that man. He raised the dead. He spake
and the blind received their sight. He clothed and covered,
arrayed with majesty. with excellent things, his glory,
his deity, excellent things. He's clothed and covered with
power and strength, excellent things. Turn back over here to
Isaiah 12. Isaiah 12, he's clothed, he's
arrayed, he's manifested in glory, majesty, excellent things. Look at verse four. And in that day, shall you say
praise the Lord? Call upon his name, declare his
doings among the people. Make mention that his name is
exalted. Sing unto the Lord, for he hath
done excellent thing. This is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant
of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel, and he's in the
midst of thee. He's clothed with strength. You
see that word? He's clothed with power. power,
dominion. He has all power, all authority. He has girded Himself with glory
and majesty. And notice it says He had girded
Himself. His majesty and His glory and
the excellency of His deity come not from outside, from an outside
source, but from Himself. For the Lord Jesus Christ It
pleads God that in him should all fullness dwell. Therefore, his kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom. You see that? The world also
is established that it cannot be moved. And his kingdom, the
world of his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. We read in Psalm 145,
thy kingdom is just that. Everlasting isn't it? It's an
everlasting kingdom. You remember back over here in
Psalm 90? Turn over there. Psalm 90, His
throne. We're going to talk about that
in verse 2. Psalm 90, the Lord, verse 1,
The Lord thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations before
the mountains were bought forth, or ever thou hast formed the
earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God. He reigns supreme over all things,
and His kingdom of grace is an everlasting kingdom. Now, look
back at the text. Psalm 93, verse two, thy throne,
thy throne. Now, the king has to have a throne. The king has to have a throne.
It's the throne of justice and judgment to thank God in Christ
Jesus, it's the throne of grace. It's the throne of grace. Thy
throne is established of old. Now how long has he been on the
throne? As long as God has been God. Thy throne is established of
old. Thou art from everlasting. His throne is like His dominion. His throne is like His kingdom,
established from everlasting, prepared from eternity. It's
an ancient throne. It's an ancient throne. It's
no new throne. He's no new startup. He's no
rookie, is He? He's no amateur. He's the sovereign
upon the throne. His throne is as old. I like in the study of the revelation,
it's all about the lamb, but in those early chapters, it's
amazing how many times it talks about the lamb upon his throne,
the lamb upon his throne. Thy throne is established of
old. It's an everlasting throne. Now
think about this. When the Lord Jesus Christ came
here, and dwelt among us, where did he come from? He came from the throne, right? He came from the throne in the
fullness of time. God sent forth his son made of
a woman. He came from the throne and then
when he accomplished our salvation, where did he go? Back to where
he came from. When he by himself purged our
sin, he sat down on the right hand of the throne of the majesty
on high. Aren't you glad for the everlasting
throne that is established of old? Thou art from everlasting,
everlasting. Now, I want you to look at verse
three for a moment. Floods. The floods have lifted
up. Oh Lord, the floods have lifted
up. They've lifted up their voice.
The floods lift up their waves. Now, what's being said here? The floods, the floods. Now,
I know a little bit about floods. I've been through a few floods
and they cause a lot of Destruction don't they some of you been been
with me in those floods a lot of mud a lot of work a lot of
toil a lot of heartache That's what floods bring that bring
heartache. They bring trial The waves and
I'll show you something here. Stay with me. This this will
help you help me the waves and floods of the enemies have lifted
up their voice against the Lord and There's a wave and there's
a flood of lies that Satan is still telling. Adam, you know,
you'll be like God. And that's the same lie that's
being promoted among religious people today. God can't act without
your permission. You'll be like God. You'll be
like God. The waves and floods of the enemies
against the gospel have lifted up their voice against the Lord,
their voice against the Lord in opposition to the gospel,
in opposition to His truth, but the gospel fire cannot be quenched. The flood of lies that Satan
unleashes cannot drown out or stop the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Many waters, it says in Song
of Solomon, Many waters cannot quench his love. The flood of
lies. Now here's the scripture I want
you to turn to. And here's what I see. Turn to Revelation 12.
Revelation 12. The dragon, Satan, in Revelation
12, wages war against a woman. persecuted the woman, Revelation
12 verse 13, and the dragon, and when the dragon saw that
he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought
forth the man-child. They're talking about the gospel
and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the gospel being
preached in verse 14, and to the woman were given two great
wings were given two wings of a great eagle that she might
fly into the wilderness into her place where she is nourished
for time and times and half times, and that's three and a half years,
the same as the 42 months, the same as the 1260 days. the whole time from the first
coming of the Lord to the second coming of the Lord, from the
face of the serpent. Now, here's what I want you to
see, verse 15. And the serpent cast out of his
mouth water at the flood after the woman. Now, what does he
speak? Look at Revelation 13, verse
6. And he opened his mouth and blasted me against God, to blast
him his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after
the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away with the
flood. The floods, what did we read back here? Floods have lifted
up their voice, oh Lord. The floods have lifted up their
voice. Now what's gonna happen? Look at verse 16. The earth helped
the woman. And the earth opened up her mouth,
and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of
God, that is, believe the gospel. And they have the testimony of
the Lord Jesus Christ. You see verse 16, the earth helped
the woman. The earth opened up her mouth. You know what that's talking
about there? I tell you what they're talking
about. The worldly ungodly people, they open up their mouth and
they swallow up the lie of Satan. The floods have lifted up their
voice, but he provides a great place of nourishment in Christ
Jesus. He is the city of refuge for
us. Now back to the text. The floods
have lifted up, oh Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice.
The floods lift up their waves. Now, look at verse four. The
Lord on high is mightier. You see, he caused the earth
to open up his mouth and swallow up those waters. The Lord on
high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the
mighty waves of the sea. He's mightier. God is bigger
than any lie that Satan could ever promote. God is bigger. He is bigger. He is better. And
the lie that Satan and his angels of light and his ministers of
righteousness, all the lies that he promotes and they spread,
the Lord is greater and mightier than all. The Lord shall have
them in derision. The Lord is mightier and greater
than all. You remember back at Psalm 2?
Turn over there to Psalm 2. Devils rage, don't they? Psalm 2, you remember? Devils
and men are full of rage, full of malice. But the Lord is able
to subdue them, isn't he? He's able to conquer them, able
to make them bow to his rule. Why do the heathen rage, see
verse one, and the people imagine the vain thing, the kings of
the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord and against his Christ, saying, let us break
their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. He
that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. the Lord shall have them
in derision. Then shall he speak unto them
in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure, yet I've
set my king. There's the kingship again. The Lord, I've set my king upon
my holy hill zone. I will declare the decree the
Lord has said unto me, thou art my son, this day have I begotten
thee. The Lord shall have them in derision.
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,
yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. God's truth will endure. The gospel will be preached in
all the world for witness, then cometh the end. That's what the
book says. The gospel, you cannot stump
and stamp out the gospel witness. The gospel will go forth. The
Lord is mightier than any lie that Satan can promote. The gospel
is the power of God and the salvation. He will send out the gospel. Now look at verse 5 in closing.
Thy testimony. are very sure, very sure. Holiness. His word is holiness. Holiness is how much God loves
us. Holy, holy, holy is the word
of God. Oh, Lord, forever. Now here's
a blessing to complete. God's testimony, the gospel concerning the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ, certain, sure, very sure, very sure. Ordered
in all things and certain and sure, the Lord Jesus Christ as
the reigning king, thou never fail, thou never be conquered. He is the surety of the everlasting
kingdom. The word of his promise is sure.
Now let's find 2nd Corinthians, excuse me, 2nd Corinthians chapter
1. I'm persuaded like Abraham of
old that all... 2nd Corinthians chapter 1, verse
18, but as God is true, our word, 2nd Corinthians 118, our word,
our preaching, our message to you was not yet Silas and Timothy was not yea
and nay but in him in the Lord Jesus Christ in him Is there salvation in Him? Well,
maybe or maybe not. Not yay and nay. Is there pardon
in Him? Well, maybe. Yay or nay? No. In Him is yes. You see that? In Him is yes. Yes, there is salvation in Him. Yes, there is pardon in Him.
Yes, there is righteousness imputed in Him. For all the promises
of God in Him are yes. And in Him, unto the glory of
God by us. Now he who established us with
you in Christ and has anointed us is God who has also sealed
us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts. The word of God is certain and
sure. You remember these words? He
said heaven and earth, heaven and earth's gonna pass It's forever settled in heaven.
We can never make a mistake receiving His Word, not as the Word of
men, but as it is the Word of truth, the Word of God, which
worketh in us. We can never make a mistake by
receiving and believing the Word of His promise. And His Word
of His promise is based upon what? It's impossible for God
to lie. Now, there's some things God
can't do. Now, wait a minute. The testimonies of His Word that
are very sure are based upon His holy character. Holiness becometh thy house,
O Lord. You see, His character doesn't
change, does it? I'm the Lord, I change not. Therefore,
His Word cannot change. What He has written is absolute
truth. All scripture is God-breathed,
God-given, God-inspired. Our faith is grounded upon His
truth. The foundation of faith is not
my feelings, not my emotions, not my experience. The foundation
of faith is what? Thus saith the Lord. Our faith is grounded only upon
His truth. Our faith, therefore, is only
as strong as His promise. His word, His testimony. Now I wanna show you some scripture,
I'll let you go. Turn to Psalm 119. Remember that word there,
thy testimonies? Thy testimonies are very sure. The record of God. is very sure. Psalm 119. In Psalm 119, with
the exception of one or two verses, every verse in Psalm 119 has
to do with His Word. There's 176 verses in Psalm 119. That's going to take us a while
to get through that psalm, isn't it? He talks about His testimonies,
His precepts, His Word, His statue, His judgments. Now, just considering
his testimonies are very sure. Psalm 119, first of all, look
at verse 14. I have rejoiced in the way of
thy testimonies as much as in all riches. I rejoiced in the
testimony of God that's ordered in all things and is sure. Look
at verse 24. Psalm 119 now. Thy testimonies
also are my delight and my counselor, God's testimony is my delight.
I'm not in the counseling business. He is the mighty counselor. His
name is Wonderful Counselor. Look at verse 31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies,
O Lord, put me not to shame. I've stuck to them. We'll never go wrong trusting
Him. Look at verse 46. I will speak of thy testimonies
also before kings, and I will not be ashamed of his testimony. I'm not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, the power of God, and the salvation. 119 verse 99, and there's others
I'm sure that we could find here, but verse 99, I have more understanding
than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation. I meditate upon his testimonies. Therefore I have understanding.
I understand more than the ancient because I've kept thy precepts.
Now, verse 111. I like those numbers I can't
switch up. I can't transpose this number. One, one, one. Thy testimonies have I taken
as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. Look at verse 119. Thou put us
away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love
thy testimonies. I love them. I love the testimonies
of God. Verse 138. 138. Thy testimonies that thou
hast commanded are righteous and very, very faithful. Lastly now, 168. I have kept thy precepts and
thy testimonies, for all my ways are before thee. Thy testimonies are very sure,
very sure. You know, just for a moment here,
look back over to the Revelation a minute. I've got jotted down
this verse here, and I think we read this earlier. But it
says that the remnant of the seed, that is believers, in verse
17 of Revelation 12, they keep the commandments of God, they
have the testimony, they have the testimony of Jesus Christ. What is the testimony of the
believer? It says in chapter Revelation 12, verse 11, they
overcame him by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their
testimony, and they love not their lives unto death." They
have the testimony that Jesus Christ is everything.