Angelic Conflict part 328: Current work of Christ – Psa 23, 24; 1Pe 2:20-25; Joh 5:24-29; Rev 19:6-14.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 328: Current work of Christ - Psa 23, 24; 1PE 2:20-25; JOH 5:24-29; REV 19:6-14.

 

 

12. Shepherd of the flock. The Shepherd dies for the sheep, cares for them, and returns in glory to reward them.

 

In His death on the cross, Christ fulfilled the anticipation of Psalm 22 that He would die as the good Shep­herd for His sheep.

 

Psa 22; 23, and 24 form a trilogy on Christ the Shepherd.

 

In Psa 22, the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep.

 

JOH 10:14-15

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

 

In Psa 23, the Great Shepherd lives for the sheep and cares for them.

 

In His present ministry, however, Christ ful­filled what is anticipated in Psa 23 as the great Shepherd who cares for His sheep.

 

PSA 23:1 A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

 

PSA 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

 

PSA 23:3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

 

PSA 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

 

PSA 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

 

PSA 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

In Psa 24, the Chief Shepherd returns in glory to reward His sheep for their service.

 

Psa 24 presents a threefold privilege God has given His people: blessing, righteous character, and victory in the Lord of Glory.

 

It appears to be an antiphonal psalm or a chanting psalm. The people (or a Levitical chorus) opened with verses 1-2, a leader asked the questions in verses 3, 8 a, and 10 a, and the chorus or the people answered with verses 4-6, 8 b and 10 b. It was sung in Herod's temple each Sunday, and some connect the psalm with our Lord's entrance into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. For years, the church has assigned this psalm to be read on Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter. Jesus Christ is "the Lord of Glory," first of all returning to heaven after His passion (EPH 4:8; COL 2:15), and then returning in glory to establish His kingdom (MAT 25:31). This explains the repetition of "Lift up your heads" in verses 7 and 9.

 

PSA 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

 

Paul quoted this verse to remind believers that all food was permitted.

 

1CO 10:25-26

Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake; for the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains.

 

At the end of human history no one will live to oppose Him. All things belong to Him and everything produced by His creatures belongs to Him. Christ reigns supreme over all and at the end, when all are judged, He will do so practically.

 

PSA 24:2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the rivers.

 

The stage was set.

 

PSA 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? [Zion] And who may stand in His holy place?

 

Now, this place is not in Jerusalem but at the right hand of God. All believers will stand there but not all will be rewarded. The rewarded have set their mind on the things of the Spirit and as such has used the instruments of their bodies [often depicted as hands] as instruments of righteousness.

 

PSA 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart [not just overt action but a mind set on righteousness], Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood [wrong priorities], And has not sworn deceitfully [false vows mean a deceitful heart].

 

PSA 24:5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation [likely this refers to a righteous character developed through a devotion to Jehovah].

 

In application to the Church we would look to Rev 2-3 and the seven instances where the Lord states, "He who overcomes I will grant him..."

 

PSA 24:6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Thy face —  even Jacob. Selah [musical interlude].

 

PSA 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!

 

PSA 24:8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.

 

PSA 24:9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!

 

PSA 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.

 

So the great Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep, presently takes care of the sheep, and will return to reward the sheep. The sheep follow the Shepherd and so He becomes our example.

 

1PE 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

 

1PE 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

 

1PE 2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

 

1PE 2:23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 

1PE 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

 

1PE 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

 

Satan would like you to believe that there is no one guiding you or protecting you so that he can offer his protection and guidance as a slave to him.

 

Review:

 

At least a dozen im­portant aspects of His present ministry were contingent upon the fact of His resurrection.

 

1. Sending the Holy Spirit, JOH 14:26; 15:26; 16:7.

 

The power, wisdom, and guidance given by God the Holy Spirit counteracts and overpowers the arrogance, ignorance, and deceitfulness of satan's kingdom.

 

2. Bestowing eternal life. If Christ did not literally rise from the dead then the promise of giving life for spiritual death is invalid.

 

Eternal life is given so that the power and fear of death, formally held by satan (HEB 2:14-15) may be broken.

 

3. Head of the church and the new creation. As the Head of the new creation, He is able to form the church as His body and give her eternal life.

 

As a new creation, members of the Church, and having a perfected Prophet, Priest, and King, our self-esteem is to be spiritual and not from satan's systems of so-called esteem.

 

4. The work of Christ as Advocate for all believers depends on Him propitiating the Father for our sins and being resurrected to Advocate on our behalf.

 

Knowing our resurrected Advocate should remove all self-condemnation and guilt and bring comfort even when darkness attempts to remove it.

 

5. The work of Christ in intercession. A dead man cannot pray. Christ continually prays on our behalf.

 

The resurrected High Priest's intercessory ministry means that we never go through anything alone. If no one is praying for us, if we neglect in prayer, He is praying!

 

6. The bestowal of gifts. Christ gifted men to the Church such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers.

 

Satan would like believer's to think they'll never understand the word of God and they don't have the time to penetrate its wisdom, but the res Christ gave communication gifts.

 

7. Impartation of spiritual power. The resurrection of Christ is a divine standard of power in the New Testament.

 

The power from the res Christ overcomes the attempts by the KOD to wear us down.

 

PHI 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

 

8. The raising of believers to a new position in Christ. The believer can now be triumphant in his new position.

 

Satan desires to call us into the sphere of doubt in our personal victory through Christ when we are defeated in any way.

 

9. Christ in His resurrection is the first fruits from among the dead and His Church are the first fruits of the Spirit.

 

Satan desires us to be addicted to ourselves and inordinate desire. He always promises us fulfillment with more stuff and wants us to zealously pursue those things.

 

10. Christ s now preparing a place. Every believer has a permanent dwelling place, custom made by the eternal Carpenter.

 

Satan desires to make us feel homeless. He attempts division, loneliness feelings, financial hardship, alienation, persecution, etc.

 

Christ should be at home in our hearts and so these divisions can create a stressful place in the soul rather than a soul at home.

 

11. His universal lordship over all creation, the earth, and the heavens.

 

Satan desires to instill lusts in any areas in our hearts so that we seek them with all our heart rather than our Lord, in whom is the highest promotion.

 

12. Shepherd of the flock. The Shepherd dies for the sheep, cares for them, and returns in glory to reward them.

 

Satan would like you to believe that there is no one guiding you or protecting you so that he can offer his protection and guidance as a slave to him.

 

1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;    

 

1 Peter 4:13but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.    

 

1 Peter 4:14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  

 

1 John 2:28Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.  

  

1 John 2:29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.