WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.060 Heavenly Father, we have gathered for our first midweek service here and we pray for 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:16.179 your blessing on this time and on this prayer meeting. 00:00:17.080 --> 00:00:26.359 And we do pray that this will be something that becomes more and more just an integral 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:32.740 and a vibrant part of our church's life together and that more and more people would come 00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:41.019 not just out of a sense of a, merely out of a sense of duty or obligation, but because 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:47.760 they believe in the power of prayer, because they feel a desperate need for you, because 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:54.579 they love you and want your love for them and want to cry out to their Heavenly Father. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:01:04.039 We do pray that you would grant us that faith as we hear from your word and as we pray in 00:01:04.039 --> 00:01:04.980 response to you. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:09.400 So meet with us tonight in Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:10.000 Amen. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:14.299 So we're in Psalm 87. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:17.379 If you guys need a Bible, this could be so. 00:01:17.379 --> 00:01:23.959 It's a very short psalm. 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:28.780 A very short sermon. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:40.500 It's a psalm of the sons of Korah. 00:01:40.759 --> 00:01:41.539 A song. 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:43.399 I'll read it out loud. 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:48.340 On the holy mount stands the city he founded. 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:53.680 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:58.740 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. 00:01:59.100 --> 00:01:59.500 Selah. 00:02:01.380 --> 00:02:04.960 Among those who know me, I mention Rahab and Babylon. 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.759 Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Cush. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.139 This one was born there, they say. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:13.319 And of Zion it shall be said. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:16.439 This one and that one were born in her. 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:20.459 For the Most High himself will establish her. 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:25.019 The Lord records as he registered the peoples. 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:26.939 This one was born there. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:27.939 Selah. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:31.399 Singers and dancers alike say, 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.099 All my springs are in you. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:47.060 I don't know if you guys could relate to this somewhat. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.740 Maybe some of you can. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:54.700 But when my family immigrated to the U.S. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:55.600 Basically. 00:02:56.600 --> 00:03:02.740 I remember for like the first year feeling very keenly. 00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:04.659 Just sharply. 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:06.280 Like I don't belong. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.180 Everything looked so different. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:13.879 Everything was bigger. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:15.800 Trees were bigger. 00:03:15.939 --> 00:03:16.599 Cars were bigger. 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:17.659 People were bigger. 00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:18.939 Even apples were bigger. 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:23.020 I just felt like I don't belong here. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:25.900 And I can't speak to these people. 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:28.200 And right around my teenage years, 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.020 I wanted desperately to belong. 00:03:30.540 --> 00:03:33.060 I wanted to fit in with my peers. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:35.980 I wanted to be a part of this culture. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:43.120 And I still remember very vividly. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:45.859 It wasn't too long ago. 00:03:45.979 --> 00:03:46.899 I wish I remember the year. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:51.639 But a few years ago when I became a citizen of the U.S., 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:56.879 it was actually the largest gathering in U.S. history 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:00.120 of all the people that were becoming U.S. citizens. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:01.379 It was at Fenway Park. 00:04:01.699 --> 00:04:04.280 It was a huge U.S. flag. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:09.740 And I became a naturalized citizen. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:20.379 And obviously the way people treat you could just not change at all. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.079 But at least from the perspective of the government, 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:29.840 I'm officially accepted and enrolled as a member of this country. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:35.699 And that's kind of the main idea behind this psalm. 00:04:36.219 --> 00:04:42.560 And it's a really special psalm in that this idea is brought forth so powerfully. 00:04:42.739 --> 00:04:44.599 Because in the beginning in verse 1, it talks about, 00:04:44.719 --> 00:04:47.339 On the holy mount stands the city he founded. 00:04:48.179 --> 00:04:51.719 So the city he founded on the holy mount is this God. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.859 It's a city that God himself founded. 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:57.379 Not a city built by men, but a city built by God himself. 00:04:58.460 --> 00:05:00.340 And it's a reference to Jerusalem. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.319 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 00:05:04.520 --> 00:05:07.720 Of course, he loves all of Israel, but he loves Zion, 00:05:08.020 --> 00:05:11.720 which Jerusalem in particular, gates of Zion representing the whole city, 00:05:12.460 --> 00:05:16.420 in the sense that he chose it as a place to reveal himself. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:17.520 That's where the temple was. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.560 That's where he chose to meet with his people. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:24.959 And so glorious things are said about this city of God, Jerusalem. 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:29.079 And then verses 4 to 5, really interesting thing happens. 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:31.479 Among those who know me, now it's God speaking. 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:35.939 And verses 4 to 6 really is kind of the center and the core of the psalm. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:39.399 The main point of the psalm really. 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:40.739 And it says, 00:05:40.979 --> 00:05:44.579 Among those who know me, I mention Rahab and Babylon. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:50.159 So God is saying that I will count among those who know me, 00:05:50.239 --> 00:05:53.179 knowing, referring to that covenant relationship, right? 00:05:53.239 --> 00:05:56.539 Like in Amos 3.2, when God talks about among all the nations, 00:05:56.659 --> 00:05:58.979 I've only chosen to know you, Israel. 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:03.739 So knowing God and being part of his covenant relationship, 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:06.120 he says, I will mention Rahab and Babylon. 00:06:06.219 --> 00:06:09.139 Rahab is another way to refer to Egypt. 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:11.579 And Babylon, right? 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:13.279 The nations of Mesopotamia. 00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:18.679 The two major kind of empires that were surrounding Israel. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:19.679 And then next it says, 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:21.620 Behold, Philistia and Tyre. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.479 They're kind of the surrounding nations that were slightly weaker 00:06:24.479 --> 00:06:27.500 around Egypt and Babylon. 00:06:28.239 --> 00:06:29.819 And then with Cush. 00:06:30.099 --> 00:06:33.519 Cush is more kind of a reference to kind of the far country, right? 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:37.500 So this is really a reference to all the surrounding nations 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:41.620 in the known world, really, in the world of the Israelites. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.259 So God is saying, among those who know me, 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:47.259 I mention Rahab and Babylon, Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Cush. 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:49.759 This one was born there, they say. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.160 That's remarkable, right? 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:54.120 Because of course, these nations were not born in Jerusalem. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:59.439 But God is decreeing that he's legitimizing them and saying, 00:07:00.019 --> 00:07:00.920 This one was born there. 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.519 I will count them and I will treat them as if they were part of my city. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:06.680 As if they were citizens of my city. 00:07:06.780 --> 00:07:08.139 As if they were part of my nation. 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:11.519 And then of Zion, it shall be said in verse 5, 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:14.360 This one and that one were born in her. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:18.000 Not just the Jews, not just Israel, but this one. 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:20.180 And that one, they were born in her, in Zion. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:22.980 For the Most High himself will establish her. 00:07:23.460 --> 00:07:26.639 And the Lord records as he registers the peoples, 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.400 This one was born there, Selah. 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:32.680 It's such a powerful sentiment as I think about it. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:35.500 Because we're all, I mean, none of us are Jewish, right? 00:07:35.900 --> 00:07:36.040 Yeah. 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:39.480 So in essence, we're all Gentiles, right? 00:07:39.520 --> 00:07:41.819 We're part of these excluded nations. 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:47.899 Yet, even from the beginning, even in the Old Testament days, 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:53.980 God's plan, ultimate plan, was to use Israel to bring forth the Messiah 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:57.100 through whom all nations will be grafted in. 00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:00.539 That was his salvation plan from the beginning. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:04.899 And this reveals a glimpse of that here in Psalm 87, 00:08:05.219 --> 00:08:08.539 that there will be a day when Jerusalem will be the mother city, 00:08:08.539 --> 00:08:11.360 not just of Israel, but of all the nations. 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:17.219 And God will say of us, say of people who didn't formerly belong, 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:18.379 Yes, he belongs. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.360 She belongs here. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:20.279 She was born here. 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:22.800 They were born in her, Jerusalem. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.079 And then singers and dancers are like to say, 00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.759 All my springs are in you. 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:29.360 Meaning the source of life. 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:32.240 All our source of life is here in this city, in this Jerusalem. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:37.139 And that, of course, points to a profound spiritual idea. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:39.700 If you could turn with me to Hebrews 12. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:47.340 It's not a quotation of this psalm, 00:08:47.420 --> 00:08:52.259 but I think this psalm is certainly behind it in substance. 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:59.800 In Hebrews 12, verses 22 to 24. 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:02.819 Hebrews 12, verses 22 to 24. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:06.099 He's speaking of a kingdom that God's establishing. 00:09:06.319 --> 00:09:09.639 It's salvation that's come upon those who believe in Jesus Christ. 00:09:09.979 --> 00:09:11.419 And he describes it this way. 00:09:11.479 --> 00:09:14.120 The author of Hebrews, verses 22 to 24, chapter 12. 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:38.180 And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. 00:09:38.180 --> 00:09:44.100 And to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:50.460 So here, it's speaking of Jerusalem as a heavenly city. 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:59.759 And that earthly city of Jerusalem, which God prophesied would be this center of worship among all the nations, 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:03.600 was really pointing to and is fulfilled by this heavenly city of Jerusalem. 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.000 And this heavenly city that God built himself, right? 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.980 Remember in Psalm 87, the beginning, it's a city he founded. 00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:11.180 It's not a man founded. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.560 It's a city founded by man. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.979 And it's the gathering of all those who love him. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.899 And it will be people from all nations. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:23.359 And it says those who are enrolled in heaven, those who belong to the assembly of the firstborn, 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:27.339 which is reference to Christ, who is the firstborn from the dead, right? 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:29.940 Firstborn of salvation. 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:31.600 He is the one. 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:41.340 And so those who belong to Jesus, who belong to the assembly, will be enrolled, registered, recorded as a citizen of this heavenly city. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:46.720 And so all of us, because of Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and who sprinkled blood, 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:51.500 because of his sprinkled blood that cleanses us from our sin, is now citizens of the city. 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:56.240 And think about that from the perspective of an alien, right? 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:59.800 An alien who doesn't have any rights, right? 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:04.219 And, I mean, we're waiting on her sister, right? 00:11:04.359 --> 00:11:05.759 Jenny's word. 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:06.719 Did she hear back yet? 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:07.039 No. 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:07.639 Okay. 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:10.259 So about whether or not she's going to get the citizenship or not, right? 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.159 The green card. 00:11:11.459 --> 00:11:12.399 I mean, the green card. 00:11:12.479 --> 00:11:12.579 Yeah. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.740 Before the citizenship, right? 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:16.940 And it's nerve-wracking, right? 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:18.779 Because it could mean that she gets deported. 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:23.100 It could mean that, you know, their entire life will change based on this. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:29.580 And then you could feel like, you know, and that was our fate, right? 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:35.860 We had no way of getting into this amazing city of worshiping God and becoming a citizen. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:44.340 And that Jesus made a way for us so that we who did not belong, who were excluded, could belong in the city. 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:49.600 And we called citizens because he was excluded for our sake on the cross and died for our sins. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:55.460 Let's sing a song in response to that.