About

Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

Services
  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

Sermons

BAC Sermons

The Ideal Ruler

1996-12-01 Psalm 110

1 A Psalm of David The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

Ideal rulership is established by God who has all power and sovereignty

The Lord is the one who fights His servants’ battles according to a perfect timetable

The right hand is the position of honor at the victory banquet, while awaiting the reward of rulership

Intimacy with God sustains those awaiting rulership

Mt 22:41 Pharisees were together, Jesus asked 42 What think you of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.43  He said unto them, How then did David in spirit call him Lord, saying,44  The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?45  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

2  The LORD shall send the scepter of your strength out of Zion: you  shall rule in the midst of thine enemies.

Ideal rulership has a spiritual base (rooted in Jerusalem), triumphing in the midst of enemies

All other attempts to establish the kingdom of God without the presence of the King are misguided, futile and vain

3  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of thy youth.

God will eventually exercise His power, with willing helpers/companions, who are clothed with holiness

People become willing when they recognize and believe/embrace the value of an action (give-get)

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.3:1 holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling 14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

4  The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Ideal rulership is based on the unalterable promises of God, and is superior to all else (including Levitical Judiasm)

Ideal rulership combines the offices of priest (serve/power with God) and king (serves/power with men)

Heb 5:6 Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7:2 To whom Abraham gave a tenth of all...first, King of righteousness...King of peace; 3 Without: father, mother, descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.

Zec 6:2  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

5  The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6  He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

Ideal rulership expresses wrath and exercises judgment

Temporal life is not the highest good; faithfulness leading to eternal life is

7  He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Ideal rulership includes refreshment and exaltation

God is concerned and has made provision for His servants’ sustenance and success

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. If God were ruling from Zion, how would things be different in the world? In your life?

2. How does intimacy with God sustain those awaiting rulership? What helps/hinders intimacy with God?

3. What are the enemies we face? How can God fight those battles or subdue them?

4. Do your values result in a willing service while clothed in holiness? How can you prove it?

5. How would your life be different if survival/maintenance were not your highest good?