RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH – CHRYSTAL F.

Worship and Prophecy Through the Psalms

Session 6 The Coming Judge – Psalm 2 (part 1)

1 Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed,
saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who
sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to
them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King on
My holy hill of Zion.” (Psa. 2:1-6)

I. WHY DO THE NATIONS RAGE?

A. David is given a supernatural glimpse into Revelation and what is to take place at the battle of
Armageddon. What he sees are a proud people who believe they are strong enough to
successfully scheme against the Lord. We cannot oversimplify God’s omniscience with our own
lack of understanding. Our plans against God’s purpose will always fail.

B. The disciples cited this psalm in their prayer in Acts 4 after Peter and John were released from
jail with threats from the religious leaders of the day to stop working miracles in the name of
Jesus. The “raging of nations” against the “Lord’s Anointed” began in the generation that
walked with Jesus when He was on the earth, and will continue in a steady progression until He
returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

C. The believers responded to the animosity of the people in their day by praying for an increase of
boldness in prophecy (the testimony of Jesus), healings, and miracles. God responded with (1)
physically shaking the room where they were meeting, (2) filling all of them with the Holy
Spirit, and (3) giving them boldness to speak the Word. This was after the initial filling of the
Holy Spirit at the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and
said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that
is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘ Why did the
nations rage, and the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took
their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and
against His Christ.’ . . . 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your
servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out
Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name
of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where
they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24-31)

Download at http://chrystalf.blogspot.com
Worship and Prophecy Through the Psalms – CHRYSTAL F.
Session 6 The Coming Judge – Psalm 2 (part 1) PAGE 2

D. As we see the relentless progression toward the final conflict described in Revelation, we have
the promise that the Lord will win. Our position as believers is not one of passive acceptance as
these events unfold. The response of the early believers outlines the position the modern-day
church needs to take toward the end times. We should be seeking boldness, healings, and
miracles that augment in relation to the wickedness that increases in the world.

E. The believers were unified in their prayer, and God responded to their unity. The first step in
seeking for end time boldness is for the Church to bond together in unity and wholeheartedness
searching after God. The Father responds to the united voice of His children. God’s desire for
us to love one another is second only to His call for us to love Him. He responds to the prayers
of a people united in love.

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! (Ps. 133:1)

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel,
the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all
your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is
this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12:29-31)

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
(Jn. 15:12)

1 Let brotherly love continue. (Heb. 13:1)

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in
truth. (1 Jn. 3:18)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is
born of God and knows God. (1 Jn. 4:7)

II. A GRATEFUL HEART

A. Paul warned in Romans 1 that a time was coming when the Father would release His anger
against unrighteousness in the world. As the nations continue to rage against the Lord, His anger
against sin increases (Jer. 25:15-38; Rev. 14:8; Rev. 16:19; Rev. 19:15).

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. (Rom. 1:21)

Download at http://chrystalf.blogspot.com
Worship and Prophecy Through the Psalms – CHRYSTAL F.
Session 6 The Coming Judge – Psalm 2 (part 1) PAGE 3

B. There is a direct correlation between ingratitude and losing prophetic revelation. We learned last
week that aligning ourselves with mockers undermines our spiritual authority and ability to
speak life into our surroundings. Paul admonishes us to pray with hearts that are thankful (Col.
3:15-17) and that the Word of the Lord would dwell in our hearts.

C. The Father said that His ways are not ours and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Is.
55:9). When God does not answer in a way we expect, we run the risk of missing His provision
if we do not maintain hearts open to receive whatever He has for us. We do not see answers to
our prayers to the Lord until we look through the lens of gratitude.

III. THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAINTS

A. Jesus gave His followers the authority of binding and loosing when we follow the divine order
He set. Jesus’ context here was in the case of how to respond to unrepentant sin in the church.
Church leadership has the responsibility of addressing sinful behavior to protect the purity of the
church as a whole. It was in this framework that Jesus gave the authority to bind and to loose,
indicating that when we follow His leadership, He promises to ratify what we say.

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 18:18)

B. In the days of Jesus’ return to the earth, people inspired by their own ungrateful sin natures and
demonic principalities will rage against the restraints of godliness and self-control appointed by
the Lord. They will think that they are strong enough to break the yoke of the Lord (which is
easy and light for those who will come to Him). David’s portrayal of the Lord laughing at their
efforts reiterates the power of our prophetic authority in His order.

C. Jesus gives authority in greater measure when we overcome. The act of overcoming develops
strength and character in our lives. This is the divine favor placed on us in Ephesians 2, that we
are raised up and seated with Christ in His inheritance (Matt. 5:5; Col. 1:12).

D. We rejoice in sufferings and maintain gratitude in the face of injustice and trials because they
develop perseverance in our lives and give us the opportunity to overcome, perfecting us to the
nature of Christ (Rom. 5:1-5; Jas. 1:2-4). We cannot overcome if we never face trials. The more
we endure with faithfulness and prove ourselves steady, the more the Father can trust us with
authority (as Jesus explained in the parable of the talents).

E. Jesus did not give authority lightly. When we speak forth a prophetic mandate under His
leading, He honors His word and His purpose. We are only responsible for prophetic utterances
until we deliver them. Once we’ve voiced the Word of the Lord, the “burden of proof” is on
Him.

Download at http://chrystalf.blogspot.com