Portals of Prophecy: Lessons from the Psalms

Devotional

Day 1: The Prophetic Nature of the Psalms

The Psalms are not merely historical songs but are imbued with prophetic significance, pointing to future events, particularly the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Psalm 22 and Psalm 41 serve as portals, revealing the divine inspiration behind the Scriptures and their timeless relevance. These Psalms allow us to see how God's plan for salvation was foretold long before it unfolded in history. By understanding the prophetic nature of these writings, we can deepen our appreciation for the unity and coherence of the Bible, recognizing that it is a divinely inspired text that speaks across the ages. [01:14:33]

Psalm 22:16-18 (ESV): "For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

Reflection: How does recognizing the prophetic nature of the Psalms change your understanding of the Bible? Can you identify a specific Psalm that has spoken to you in a new way, knowing it points to Jesus?

Day 2: The Danger of Incremental Sin

Judas's betrayal of Jesus began with small compromises and thoughts about money, which eventually led to his catastrophic decision to betray Jesus. This serves as a warning to us about the incremental nature of sin and the importance of addressing it at the thought level before it manifests into actions. Sin often starts subtly, with seemingly insignificant decisions that gradually lead us away from God. By being vigilant and addressing sin early, we can prevent it from taking root and growing into something destructive. [01:25:04]

James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Reflection: What small compromises have you made recently that could lead to larger sins? How can you address these thoughts and actions now to prevent them from growing?

Day 3: The Deceitfulness of Satan

Satan often shows us the bait but hides the hook, enticing us with temporary pleasures while concealing the long-term consequences of guilt, remorse, and broken relationships. Judas's story exemplifies this deceit, reminding us to be vigilant against Satan's schemes. Satan's tactics are subtle and deceptive, making it crucial for us to stay grounded in God's truth and be aware of the enemy's strategies. By recognizing the deceitfulness of Satan, we can better guard our hearts and minds against his lies. [01:33:06]

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV): "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."

Reflection: Can you identify a situation where you were deceived by something that seemed good but led to negative consequences? How can you be more vigilant in recognizing Satan's deceit in the future?

Day 4: True Discipleship Requires Genuine Commitment

Merely participating in church activities or knowing the right answers is not enough. True discipleship requires a heartfelt submission to Jesus as Lord and Savior. We must examine our lives to ensure we are not merely pretending to be Christians but are genuinely following Christ. This involves a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, marked by obedience, love, and a commitment to His teachings. True discipleship is about more than outward appearances; it is about an inward transformation that reflects Christ's character. [01:23:37]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you merely going through the motions of Christianity? What steps can you take to deepen your genuine commitment to following Jesus?

Day 5: The Choice Between Two Masters

We have a clear choice between serving a master who seeks to destroy us (Satan) and following the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us (Jesus). This choice requires ongoing commitment and vigilance, continually deciding to follow Jesus and remembering His love and care for us. The decision to follow Jesus is not a one-time event but a daily choice to submit to His lordship and trust in His guidance. By choosing Jesus, we align ourselves with the One who truly cares for our well-being and leads us to eternal life. [01:39:41]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on the daily choices you make. Are they leading you closer to Jesus or away from Him? How can you make a conscious effort to choose to follow the Good Shepherd each day?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound significance of the Psalms and their prophetic nature, particularly focusing on how they serve as portals to deeper spiritual truths. We began by discussing the importance of distributing New Testaments to Year Seven students, emphasizing how the Psalms and Proverbs can guide them through life's questions and challenges. We then delved into the concept of "portal stories," using C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as an analogy to explain how certain Psalms, like Psalm 22, serve as portals to future events, specifically the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 41 was our primary focus, where we examined how David's experiences and writings were not just historical but also prophetic, pointing to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. This Psalm serves as a portal, taking us from David's time to the Last Supper, where Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9, revealing its fulfillment in His betrayal. This connection underscores the divine inspiration and timeless relevance of the Scriptures.

We also discussed the tragic story of Judas, highlighting the dangers of sin and the deceitfulness of Satan. Judas's betrayal began with seemingly small compromises, which eventually led to his downfall. This serves as a stark warning to us about the incremental nature of sin and the importance of nipping it in the bud before it grows into something destructive.

The sermon concluded with a call to self-examination and genuine commitment to Christ. We were reminded that merely appearing to be a Christian or participating in church activities is not enough. True discipleship requires a heartfelt submission to Jesus as Lord and Savior. The choice before us is clear: to serve a master who seeks to destroy us or to follow the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us.

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Key Takeaways

1. term consequences of guilt, remorse, and broken relationships. Judas's story exemplifies this deceit, reminding us to be vigilant against Satan's schemes. [01:33:06]
4. True Discipleship Requires Genuine Commitment: Merely participating in church activities or knowing the right answers is not enough. True discipleship requires a heartfelt submission to Jesus as Lord and Savior. We must examine our lives to ensure we are not merely pretending to be Christians but are genuinely following Christ.

5. The Choice Between Two Masters: We have a clear choice between serving a master who seeks to destroy us (Satan) and following the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us (Jesus). This choice requires ongoing commitment and vigilance, continually deciding to follow Jesus and remembering His love and care for us.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[59:28] - Distributing New Testaments
[61:07] - Personal Testimony
[69:25] - Introduction and Questions
[70:53] - Authors of the Psalms
[72:58] - Portal Stories Explained
[74:33] - Psalm 22: A Prophetic Portal
[76:07] - Introduction to Psalm 41
[77:31] - Considering the Poor
[78:55] - Psalm 41:9 as a Portal Verse
[80:33] - Jesus Fulfills Psalm 41:9
[81:59] - The Betrayal of Judas
[83:37] - True Discipleship
[85:04] - The Danger of Incremental Sin
[86:42] - The Deceitfulness of Satan
[88:10] - Judas and the Majority
[89:44] - The Quality of Relationships
[91:22] - The Hook of Sin
[93:06] - Satan's Deception
[94:54] - Illustration: Just a Little Bit
[96:40] - The Consequences of Sin
[98:10] - Satan's Lack of Care
[99:41] - The Good Shepherd
[101:15] - Invitation to Worship and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Psalm 41:1-2 promise to those who consider the poor?
How does Jesus use Psalm 41:9 in John 13:18 to describe His betrayal? [01:18:55]
What action did Judas take in Matthew 26:14-16, and what was the result of that action?

Interpretation Questions

How does Psalm 41:9 serve as a prophetic portal to the events of Jesus' betrayal? [01:18:55]
What does the story of Judas teach us about the incremental nature of sin and its consequences? [01:25:04]
How does the deceitfulness of Satan manifest in the story of Judas, and what can we learn from it? [01:33:06]

Application Questions

Reflect on the promise in Psalm 41:1-2. How can you personally consider the poor in your daily life, and what steps can you take to help those in need?
Jesus quoted Psalm 41:9 to highlight His betrayal. How can you use Scripture to find strength and guidance in your own times of betrayal or hardship? [01:18:55]
Judas's betrayal began with small compromises. Are there small compromises in your life that you need to address before they lead to larger sins? What practical steps can you take to nip these in the bud? [01:25:04]
Satan often shows us the bait but hides the hook. Can you identify any "bait" in your life that might be hiding a destructive "hook"? How can you avoid falling into these traps? [01:33:06]
True discipleship requires genuine commitment. Are there areas in your life where you are merely going through the motions of being a Christian without a heartfelt submission to Jesus? How can you deepen your commitment to Christ? [01:23:37]
The choice between two masters is clear: one seeks to destroy, and the other laid down His life for us. How can you continually remind yourself of Jesus' love and care to stay committed to following Him? [01:39:41]
Reflect on the story of Judas and the consequences of his actions. How can you ensure that your relationships and decisions are aligned with God's will and not influenced by deceitful temptations? [01:29:44]

Sermon Clips

1. "And I'd like to suggest to you today, there are some psalms and some individual verses within psalms. Which are a little bit like portal stories. A little bit like portal stories. For example, Psalm 22. Psalm 22 was written by David. And so, it's about his life. But also, it's a portal into 1,000 years ahead, into things which came true about Jesus. For example, he said things like, they can count all my burdens. They can count all my burdens. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them. For my clothing, they cast lots." [01:12:58] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Why do I believe that this book is not just another religious textbook that's on the same level with other certain religious textbooks? One of the reasons is that as we read this, we see things written in the Old Testament, sometimes in great detail, telling us about things that would happen way, way, way in the future. And that could never, ever happen. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That could never, ever happen. And so, that detail, it's an incredible detail in Psalm 22, was inspired by the Holy Spirit. And then a thousand years later, it was fulfilled exactly. An incredible detail in the life of Jesus. And that's why, one of the reasons why you and me can be sure that this is the word of God. It's inspired by the Holy Spirit." [01:14:33] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I want you to notice that when Jesus said, one of you will betray me, the other 11 disciples didn't all point the finger at Judas, did they? It wasn't all eyes on Judas. No, they looked at themselves. They looked at themselves. And that shows me something else. That shows me that... That the behavior of Judas and the actions of Judas fitted in, fitted in with the other disciples. He just appeared to be the same as them. You know, he said the right things, he did the right things. And that's a warning to us, isn't it? That's a warning. Appearances are not always what they seem to be." [01:23:37] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So if you're in a place where you're in with a crowd of Christians and you're pretending to be a Christian, think about Judas. Think about the pretense of his life. Can you see how he lived a double life for a period of time and yet he fitted in? Well, I ask you today to stop any pretense. Stop any pretense. Admit that you're not yet a Christian and cry out to God to come into your life and to change you from the inside out." [01:23:37] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So this sin about thinking too much about money, we know money is not a bad thing. Money is useful. We all need money. But Judas had started to think about it too much. He'd started, it was on his mind so much all the time thinking about it and then thinking how he could get more of it. And then all of those thoughts, I want you to notice that the thoughts in his mind led him to an action, which was to go to the chief priests. If he'd been able to stop the thoughts in his mind and kind of kill them off, he would have been okay. But he let the thoughts in his mind go on and grow and grow. And then he took an action and the action was to go to the chief priests and to start the conversation with them." [01:25:04] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "And I want to say to you this morning, there are people who will be glad to assist you in sin. There will be people who will be glad to assist you in sin. Why is that? Well, usually they can make some kind of profit out of you. Maybe people who produce magazines, people who produce videos. If you fall into their trap, they can make some sort of money out of you. Or another reason might be that it just brings you down to their level. And they are kind of pleased that you've come down to their level. So there are some people who are willing to assist you in sin." [01:26:42] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So I want you all to know that there is not a drop of care. There is not the smallest amount of care in the heart of Satan for you. So when you give a little bit of your life to something that you know is wrong, you give a little bit of your life to something that you know is wrong. want you to realize you're giving it to your worst enemy. You're giving that to your worst enemy." [01:38:10] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "I believe the choice before you today is clear. You can serve one of two masters. You can serve a master who doesn't care in the slightest about you. You can serve a master who doesn't care in the slightest about you. Or you could yield your life, give your life to the good shepherd, the one who loves you, the one who laid down his life for you, the one who cares about you, the one who is willing to give his own life for you. And so I really want you to understand your choice today." [01:41:15] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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