The following is a sermon transcript from our Sunday Service at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Each week, we gather to worship, learn from God’s Word, and grow together. This transcript is provided as a free resource to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ. While you’re welcome to read and share this content for personal use, we kindly ask that it not be redistributed or published elsewhere without prior written consent from The Rock Church.
Introduction
Have you ever held a mustard seed in your hand? Can you see it? Here it is. No, there isn’t one there. But you’ll notice one thing very early on. Man, that thing is so tiny, so insignificant. Yet Jesus says that when it grows, it overshadows all the other plants. It becomes so big that the other birds come to nest in it. It even produces seeds for more to grow.
But in the beginning of the growth process, man, there’s a lot of waiting. You’ve got to have proper soil, water, sunlight. It doesn’t look like anything is happening. And then suddenly, that shoot begins to grow, and just in a matter of weeks, many inches tall. Before you know it, that thing is towering over all the other plants in the garden.
Do you know the kingdom of God is like the mustard seed? You may think that nothing is happening in my spiritual life. You feel something insignificant. And yet, the Lord is transforming you. The Lord is changing you from one degree of glory to another.
You see, kingdom progress is slow, and it’s hard. And it feels like there’s a lot of waiting. But God sees the end from the beginning. He knows exactly what he’s doing. While we want instant results and rapid transformation, it’s just not how it works.
His story of redemption is exactly what we’re seeing right here in verses 22 to 31. We’re going to see the personal transformation first, and then it spills out into the church. It moves from the church to the nations, and then to many generations to come. What seemed very small and insignificant has become this vast and beyond-measure kingdom that has no end.
It all started with the resurrected one, the perfect Christ, the perfect prophet, priest, and king. Brothers and sisters, don’t despise the day of small things. Don’t get caught up in the American version of bigger and better. Because that philosophy has come into the church. And instead of building the church according to the ordinary means of grace, we want something like the Tower of Babel. We want to build a name for ourselves. Look what I have done. Look how many followers. Look at my influence and power.
But the Lord says, I am building my church today, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. I will put to shame the wisdom of the world. I will use the foolishness of man to shame the wise. God’s kingdom begins with small things, but never stops growing. It keeps expanding. It is spreading throughout the whole world.
Be encouraged this morning. You’re part of God’s kingdom work. It began when he delivered you from sin. It began when your life was transformed so that you could be a witness to the transformation of others right here in the church. But you see, the local church, it never stays local. It reaches out into all the countries of the world so that every tribe and nation and tongue would know the name of Christ, so they would know that Christ is Lord to the glory of God.
God’s kingdom is unstoppable, and it does not depend upon your own giftedness or ability. We know the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not according to our charisma. So these verses show us how God’s kingdom grows. We’re going to see, with the vindication of Christ, the resurrection of Christ declaring to the church, to the brothers, he’s been risen. It spreads through the church, it reaches to the nations, and then it continues until the next generation.
In short, God’s deliverance compels his people to tell of his salvation to the whole world. And with that main idea in mind, we’re encouraged to do four things here from the text. The first, we’re going to proclaim the Lord who delivers the afflicted. We’re going to celebrate the Lord who satisfies the humble. Worship the Lord who rules over the nations and whose kingdom is forever. And then we’ll declare the Lord’s salvation to the next generation.
Proclaim the Lord Who Delivers the Afflicted
Psalm 22:22–24
So let’s proclaim the Lord who delivers the afflicted, according to verses 22 to 24. We’ll read again together.
“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him. All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him. And stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel. Why? For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. He’s not hidden his face from him. But he has heard when he cried to him.”
Do you hear the change in the tone? We moved away from the wild dogs and the bulls and the wild oxen. What’s happened? Well, we go back to verse 21, and we see that key transition. Psalm 22 begins with deep suffering. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But by the time we reach verse 22, everything has changed. The servant is now the triumphant king. The cry of abandonment has become a song of praise. The cross has given way to the resurrection. You have rescued me, Lord.
Ultimately, these words are fulfilled by Christ himself, who after the resurrection declares the name to the Father, to his redeemed people. It’s victory for the vindicated. In fact, the New Testament tells us exactly where this promise is fulfilled. It’s Hebrews 2 and 12. Take note. The writer applies this verse to Jesus himself. After his resurrection, Jesus stands among the redeemed people and declares the name of the Father to them.
So what do I mean? What is this vindication? Consider this for a moment. The accused is brought into the courtroom for charges made for the most heinous crime. And after a long period of deliberation, the jury delivers the verdict. Not guilty on all accounts. And what is the response of the accused? Well, of course, it’s overwhelming joy. It’s even the flow of tears. I can’t believe it. I’m free. No sentence of life in prison or even death.
You see, we’ve all been charged the death sentence because of sin. But Jesus stood in that courtroom. He told the judge of the universe, no, I’ll take it. I’ll take the penalty. We’ve been vindicated. We’ve been set free through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We’ve been declared not guilty. And it’s now that the eternal Son of God has been raised victorious. Victory over sin and death. He declares, you have rescued me from the dust of death.
Having been nailed to that cursed tree, Jesus not only raised from the dead, but he’s ascended to the right hand of the Father. He’s been given the name which is above every other name. You see, death no longer has a sting. It’s been swallowed up in victory. This vindication has been applied to your account, dearly beloved. We’ve been declared righteous. We’ve been sealed with the promise and the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, who says to us, you have a certainty for eternal life.
This is the most glorious act of all of human history. Death no longer reigns. Sin no longer rules. We’ve been crucified with Christ, and we don’t live anymore. The life that we used to live, that life is dead. Now we live with Christ in us, through us. The power of the gospel for anyone who believes in the Son. God is rescued from that hopeless situation. From the throes of death.
That personal transformation in the heart that most of you have experienced is no amount of religious effort to get you to that place. It’s all of God, all of the work of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. And what does that heart change result in? What happens to you when you know that this has happened in your heart? That the Lord has taken you out of darkness and into his light? Well, we can’t help it but then to proclaim. Proclaim Christ. Tell everybody about Jesus. Because he’s delivered me from my affliction. He’s given us this gladness. We can’t help but to tell everybody.
Brother, sister, David encourages us here to praise him. Why? Because our fear of judgment, our fear of eternal separation and destruction has been removed. And now we have been placed into this wonderful adoption into the family of God, where we can cry out to our Father out of reverential awe, reverential fear. It’s a deep respect. It’s appreciation for our God who loves us so much that he sent his only son to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.
That very tiny mustard seed has begun to grow, and our hearts can’t but help but to tell of the name of the Lord to the brethren. Maybe that swelling heart of worship for you has grown a bit dim. How does that happen? Well, it’s common to all of us when the pressures of life continue mounting and closing in on us. And instead of looking to the Lord and offering our sacrifice of praise, so focused on the cares of this world.
But you have come today in the assembly of the saints. You are here with your dear brothers and sisters. This is the reason why we gather, so that we can turn our affections back to the living God. I need it every day. But I desperately need this gathering every week so that we can rejoice in what? In God’s gracious dealings with us.
Do you see that? Do you understand that? He’s here. God is in our midst. He’s here with us. He’s transforming us from one degree of glory to another. Brothers and sisters, shout for joy. Clap your hands. Raise your voice. Your Redeemer has come. He’s turned your mourning into praise. He’s brought about a personal transformation in your heart. Have you forgotten that? I know I can often.
He’s turned my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. He’s given this very promise to the house of Israel back in Jeremiah. The promise is this, that he puts his law upon them, written on their hearts, that God would be their God, and they would be his people. David speaks of the people of Israel here. He’s in awe for them to stand in awe of the vast and powerful and beautiful God that they serve. Words fail to describe this massive, this beautiful sight. You simply stand in awe of the greatness of our God.
The same way we come to the presence of the Lord. We come in awe of his holiness, of his power, of his mercy. And our response is not some casual familiarity. Hey God, how you doing? No, no. Reverential awe. The God of the universe has come to meet with us today. We are in his presence.
David says glorify him. Now, in simplest terms, it means to honor the Lord, highly esteem Him. It’s to take our affections off of ourselves and our own glory. Anybody struggle with self-glory? And then place it upon the vast greatness of our God, who has no beginning and no end.
I want you to think about it like this. The moon shines brightly at night. It’s beautiful. But the moon has no brightness of its own. It’s reflecting the light of the sun. This is the picture of what it means to glorify God. Our lives are not meant to generate our own glory. We are to reflect God’s glory. Just as the moon points to the sun, our lives point to the greatness of our God.
David does a great job in answering this question. Because the question is, why shall we respond in such a way? Why shall we praise him and fear him and glorify him and stand in awe of him? Verse 24. Do you see it? Because he has not held us in contempt.
This is the wonder of the gospel. Why would God, the holy one, the just one, the all-powerful one, be so gracious to the sinful one, the miserable one, the wretched one? You see, sin runs deep. It affects the whole person. There is no part of you that sin has not corrupted. Your mind and your heart and your entire soul. This is the very bad news. You were not born a good person. You were born in sin and misery and darkness and corruption. There is not one part of you that has not been corrupted. I’m not saying that you’re as bad as you could be, but you’re pretty bad.
You see, the natural man is bent on denying this reality that he is basically good and becoming better. He wants to repress any idea for a creator in his mind, admitting, oh no, that God exists, that His holiness is a real thing, that I have to confess my sin and bear before a holy God. No thanks. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
But the good news is, that the Lord sees us in our weaknesses, in our affliction, and he has not hidden his face from us. You see, sometimes we feel like God is distant. It feels like he’s hidden his face from us. His presence, though, is not vanished. Our experience has simply changed. God remains the same, and sometimes sin clouds our judgment. Sin is the cloud that keeps us from God.
But the good news is that God has not hidden His face from us. He has not removed His favor from us because we have been set free through Christ. The veil has been lifted. It’s a sunny day, and the glory of God is now evident to us. It’s wonderful to us. It’s incredible. His splendor, His majesty, His goodness, His grace. We are beholding His glory as we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. That’s good news.
He saw us in our wretched condition. He meets with us in that condition, and he remains with us to the very end. He will never let us go to grant us vindication so that we might rejoice and celebrate. Let’s proclaim the Lord who has delivered us from our afflictions. He’s rescued us from the sorrow of separation and the dust of death.
And the question is, are we worshiping in isolation? Or are we letting his work in our lives spill out into the lives of those around us? Notice how the personal transformation is never meant to stay private. When our hearts are renewed, our worship radiates outward. This is why the psalm moves from individual experience to the great congregation, the church.
Let’s see how God satisfies the humble corporately in verses 25 to 26.
Celebrate the Lord Who Satisfies the Humble
Psalm 22:25–26
We read together.
“From you comes my praise in the great congregation. My vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied. Those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever.”
It’s very common in America to hear Christians say they don’t need the church. My faith is personal and it’s private. I do just fine watching online or taking virtual Bible studies. But if you’re married, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to tell your wife, you know, I don’t think that we really need to spend any time together or talk or communicate or celebrate. Hey, can we just be roommates? What do you say? No thanks. You’d never do that. But with the church, many forget about the wonderful thing that happens when we gather together.
You see, we’re not only being personally transformed, but it’s also happening corporately. What do you mean, pastor? Well, consider what David is saying here. Look at verse 22. He refers to the congregation. But here in verse 25, it’s the great congregation. You guys are great.
What’s so great about the gathered church? You see, individually, we reflect Christ in part. But together, we reflect Christ more fully. Do you agree? And what should the world see in the church that they can’t see in an individual, private believer? Forgiveness? Unity, fellowship, love, serving one another, sacrificing to one another. How can you do that privately? It’s not possible.
This is where you grow. Look around and see the brothers and sisters that the Lord has placed in your life to cause you to grow. It’s always in the context of the local church. Why? Because you will be placed in circumstances that will require you to exercise faith. Whatever do I mean? Well, we call it the love workshop. Oh boy, Lord, I’m really having trouble loving that brother or sister. Could you please help me? They’re really sticking to me the wrong way. Yeah, that’s exactly right. He meets you exactly where you are.
You see, it’s beautiful to hear the sound of a violin on its own, if you play one or if you’ve heard one. But you know what’s even more beautiful? That’s right, it’s an orchestra. And what we are as believers gathered together is an orchestra of praise to our great God. The gathered church is the full symphony of the gospel. Why would you want to hear one instrument? When you can experience the full orchestra, each of us instrument in God’s symphony. Can you give a clap to the Lord? Can you give a shout to the Lord?
So what ordinary means does God use for extraordinary spiritual transformation? Well, I think, you know, the word goes forth. Through the preaching, the prayers corporately gathered, the singing one to another as songs and hymns and spiritual songs, the communion at the Lord’s table, partaking of the elements, the baptisms. When we witness the gospel in drama form, Christ is being formed in us through these means. This is the way to spiritual transformation.
Now what’s interesting here is how David refers to the vows he will perform in the great congregation. What’s he talking about? Well, we might think in our minds, is he getting married? What is this? Is this a wedding vow? That’s the only kind of vow that I know. It’s that commitment that we make to our spouse before many witnesses in sickness and in health. and health until death do us part.
But the vows go back to Leviticus. There we see what the Bible describes as these free will offerings. These are different than the other kinds, the burnt, the wave, the whatever else. It was something that was not required of the people to offer to God. But it was an expression of gratitude by the Lord’s people for all that the Lord has done.
And you see, now that Christ has fulfilled all of these offerings, we now have a sacrifice of praise that we offer. We now have our bodies as living sacrifices that we offer, which is our spiritual worship. What an incredible thing. thing about our standing as believers as a royal priesthood turn around look around say look at all these priests in this room where’s your collars i don’t understand
In fact, the israelites would offer these freewill offerings grain livestock wine money and that same you see how that same principle applies today in terms of our giving to the lord. We give our vow offering. It’s our free will offering. It’s out of a cheerful and thankful heart that we give our money, that we give our time, we give our talents and our energy because the Lord has saved us. He’s delivered us.
Nobody’s telling you that you have to do anything or you have to give this amount or you have to serve this way. That will be awful. That will be a terrible burden upon you. May the Lord draw you up. May he lift up your soul and you would say, man, I just want to give. The Lord has caused a new song in my heart. I just want to give out of the joy and gratitude for all that he has done.
The focus is heart motivation, not obligation. You see, the Lord truly satisfies the humble heart. That’s what wonderfully happens through the corporate transformation in the life of the church. The gospel is powerfully working in the hearts of the people. Your hearts are being changed. You don’t realize it. You don’t just show up one Sunday and everything changes, unless, of course, you got saved. Yes, that could happen. But over the life, over your life, that transformation is so slow that you don’t even realize it’s happening until you look back and see, look what the Lord has done. Look how much rest is in my soul.
What great praise, what thankful hearts, what great satisfaction for all who seek the Lord. Psalm 34, 5. Those who look to him are radiant. Their faces will never be ashamed. What a wonderful promise to the humble heart. He’s going to make you glad. He’ll satisfy you greater than food or water or even a cell phone that’s been charged after running at 1% for the last hour.
David goes on to speak about a heart that lives forever. I’m reminded of Habakkuk 2, 4, which says that the just shall live by faith. This is our hearts, living by faith, transformed by the grace of God, fueled by faith, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. For it is God alone who declares us just, not guilty, through faith. That is victory for the vindicated. That is a heart that will treasure God. That is a heart that will live forever. It’s the fullness of life in divine favor that celebrates what the Lord has done.
Let’s continually celebrate the Lord in the midst of the great congregation. Let’s be encouraged together to seek the Lord. Brother, sister, seek the Lord. You’ve lost your mourning, you’re sorrowful, you’re ill. Look to Christ. Be lifted up. Lift up your praise, your sacrifice of praise when you don’t feel like praising. Pay your vow with thanksgiving and adoration to our great God and Savior.
So we began with the personal transformation, which leads to the corporate transformation. Well, what happens next? That’s the third point. To the nations we go.
Worship the Lord Who Reigns Over the Nations
Psalm 22:27–28
Verses 27 to 28.
“All the ends of the earth shall remember. Well, this is heavy. And turn to the Lord. And all the families of the nation shall worship before you. For kingship, other translations say kingdom, belongs to the Lord. He rules over the nations.”
Did you see that what just happened? This is the great speeding ahead of the gospel. David is prophesying about the advancement of the church of the living God. It’s what we have been witnessing since Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out.
This is incredible when you think about this for a moment. When Jesus ascended into heaven. After that point, after he ascended and the Spirit came, only about 120 believers were gathered. Today, there are billions who profess the name of Christ across the world. And that was a gradual growth. That was, well, certainly multiplying growth, but you could see over the centuries, over the past two millennia, how the Lord has been faithfully building his church.
And we look around and go, man, it looks like the end. This looks so terribly discouraged. Yeah, there’s wars and other things. God is building his kingdom. Don’t get distracted by all that stuff. This is a picture of all the ends of the earth hearing the gospel and their lives being transformed. It starts, it’s not just individual transformation or even local congregations. It’s the global church across the whole world. And we have the distinct privilege to be part of this kingdom movement that the Holy Spirit is advancing.
And so we are tasked with an invitation to the nations. I just love that the Lord is bringing people here in this church from all over the world. From Asia to South America to Central America, Europe. We got the nations here. It’s beautiful. It’s wonderful. It should cause our hearts to worship the Lord who reigns over the nations and whose kingdom knows no end.
I know that I can lose sight of that pretty quick. But we have a mission that is set before us. This little church. It’s not a mission that we’re, oh, figure it out. Come up with a business plan. Get a strategy. Do it in your own power. We have the Holy Spirit and the command of Christ to make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Right here this morning, we are part of a worship service all over the world. Yes, the days seem dark. Yes, there are ongoing wars and conflicts, challenges within the home and the community. But don’t lose sight of this greater mission. Don’t forget the mighty power of the gospel. God’s work does not stop at the local church. It ripples and spreads across a pond. The transformation of God’s people reaching to the nations.
Verse 27 reminds us that the Lord reigns over the nations. Did you hear me? The Lord reigns over the nations. His kingdom has no end. Lift up your eyes to the global picture that is unstoppable. Be encouraged. Jesus has overcome the world. And greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Think about families that are being transformed. It’s happening right here in our church. It starts with one member of the family starts coming to church. Then the husband. Then the child. Then they get baptized. Then they become members. And man, that thing keeps going. How glorious. But if you don’t stop to look around, you can forget that the Lord is slowly, wonderfully transforming families one at a time.
Be encouraged. Keep looking to the Lord. Don’t stop seeking the Lord. Find your satisfaction in Him. Pray. Don’t stop to pray for that lost family member. Never stop. There’s nothing more powerful than hearing the testimonies during baptisms. We’re part of a kingdom that is not of this world.
And how should our hearts respond to all the Lord is doing? Well, of course, it’s worship. It’s bowing down. It’s reverential awe. It’s praise and glory for the victory that is ours in Christ. This is God’s righteous government beyond time and people. Citizens, rich, poor, helpless, every part of society who gather together to celebrate God’s deliverance in power.
Habakkuk 2.14, take note. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Do you ever look at the waters covering the sea? Can you find the end when you look out from the beach? You see what’s happening? Well, I already described it. It started in one little room as the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit to come. And when the Spirit came, it was the great reversal of the Tower of Babel. It was all different languages and all people hearing this gospel. And it didn’t stop there. And the persecution became more severe. The church grew even more.
So worship the Lord who reigns over the nations, whose kingdom endures forever. Sure, there will be seasons in life, seasons in the church, when it feels like there’s little growth. What’s happening? Got to be bigger. Got to be better. There’s other seasons when there’s immense growth. In any season, it doesn’t stop us from being faithful and serving and worshiping the Lord. We’re answering the call to proclaim the gospel to the whole world. The call is missions, and we’re part of the Great Commission.
And the church will keep on growing until all are brought in, until that very last one comes into the fold. And then the end will come, and then we’ll celebrate the new heavens and the new earth in the physical, consummated kingdom of our Lord and Christ what is now a spiritual kingdom which is advancing one heart at a time will be revealed in something beautiful and glorious in the physical keep your heart focused on that reality world without end amen amen there will be no more sorrow no more pain no more suffering just worship just Jesus
Sadly, there are many things that distract from that. Don’t let them come into this place. Keep your heart focused on the Lord. Be faithful. Work hard. Love your family. But rest your head on the pillow at night knowing that God is sovereign over all. God is the one who never slumbers or sleeps. He never goes tired or weary. Christ sits on the throne. He’s serving the church. He’s interceding for the church, making possible what would seem like could never be.
I want you to recall the faithfulness of the Lord in your own life. And let that compel you to tell of His salvation to the whole world. I want you to recall, recall that. From the local church to the nations, God’s plan always has next generation in view. The gospel spreads not just across countries, but across time.
Verses 29 to 31, check it out. David reminds us to do what? Declare the Lord’s salvation to the next generation. Ensuring that his victory continues for centuries to come, Lord willing. That’s the next point.
Declare the Lord’s Salvation to the Next Generation
Psalm 22:29–31
Declare the Lord’s salvation, last and final, verses 29 to 31.
“Posterity shall serve him. It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn that he has done it.”
The future of the church belongs to the next generation. And this is the question. What are you going to do about it? How are we training and equipping our young people to step up and lead the church? That’s the great challenge of our day.
The average age of the pastor in America has increased. In the 90s, he was in his 40s. Today, he’s a little past the double nickel, if you know what I’m saying. 55 or greater. This trend is telling us fewer and fewer pastors are going into the ministry. Why is that? Well, certainly a number of reasons. Surveys tell us that millennials and those in Gen Z, they got a lot of concerns about the church. They got a little problem with you people. Financial, high demands of stress, even skepticism for the institution of the church.
Let’s be honest, many people in the church have been hurt by the church. So they’re very cautious about entering into one and putting themselves at risk for being hurt again. Let me just say, if that is you, I hear you and I understand. The question remains, how do we turn the tide and ensure the next generation gets this?
Well, here’s something to be encouraged about. A recent survey, State of the Church, Gen Z adults, 18 to 28, are coming to church more than Gen X and the baby boomers. This is good. Why is this happening? Well, Gen Z is looking for what? Community, meaning, spiritual depth. They’re kind of tired of the big mega church, all kinds of fun and music and light messages. They want something with some substance. They’ve been through a lot. They’re faced with economic difficulties that prior generations have not. And for the first time, this generation is worse off than the prior.
But beyond all the stats, beyond all those concerns, God is faithful to save the next generation. That doesn’t mean that we don’t make it our purpose to step out to serve the next generation. But this is a promise given to us right here in Scripture. Even though there are seasons of decline and seasons of growth, the Lord is faithfully building His church. If you look at the curve of church growth, it never ultimately went down. Always growing. The next generation will serve the church, serve the Lord.
So let’s be intentional about declaring the Lord’s salvation to them. Why must we do it? The Lord Jesus commands us to do it. And for that reason alone, we should take heed. Yes, the Lord is going to save whom he has planned to save before the foundations of the world, but he’s decided to use us in the process to reach that end. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that an incredible privilege and honor to be part of kingdom advancing to the next generation?
There are many reasons to be hopeful. I consider even the 20-somethings in our own church. I’m doing premarital counseling right now with a couple. I finished with a couple before them, and I’m doing another couple in April. All of these young people who want to get married are in their early 20s. This is awesome. Be encouraged. God is doing something. with the next generation who are tired of the materialism and the worldliness and the lack of meaning and depth and relationship and substance. This is good.
There is an enduring legacy. God is bringing in our 20-somethings. The Lord is in it. They’re here. Encourage them. Introduce yourself to them. Ask them how you can pray for them. I will just say that I’m greatly encouraged by their zeal for the Lord, how they’re seeking to honor the Lord in all of their relationships. It’s quite obvious.
This rise of secularism in America, they’ve had enough. We will see a rising persecution, but those in Gen Z, man, they’re going to grow even stronger in their faith. They’re going to reach those that have not yet been born. It’s in fact what David refers to here. How incredible that in thousands of years ago, David would prophesy by the very people who would be saved. All the nations that will live, worship, and go before the Lord. That cycle is going to repeat until the very end of the age.
And notice here what David says at the end of verse 31. Listen, look closely. You see it? He has done it. God has done it. God will keep doing it. So the question for all of us, do you want to be part of what God is doing? Of course you do. So will you commit to investing in the next generation, even in small ways? I think we could do this.
But how do we find out what God is doing? It starts with prayer. It starts with being still before the Lord. It starts with asking the Lord to give you a heart for the nations, for the next generation. It starts with an individual transformation. It spills out into the church. Then it goes into the nations, and then it reaches to the next generation. This kingdom has no end. Its ruler is righteous and true. King Jesus on the throne. Head of the body of the church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
It’s not programs and marketing strategies, although those are fine in and of themselves, but the primary focus is the power of the gospel. It is reaching out to your neighbors, your friends, coworkers. We are in this together. Are you ready to join in? Well, you’re here today. It tells me you’ve already signed up when you walked in the door. You desire to serve and honor the Lord with your entire life. Yeah, there’s problems. Yeah, there’s challenges. But Jesus rules over the nations.
Beloved, what began at the cross, an empty tomb, will never stop growing. The risen Christ is building his church. The nations are being gathered, and future generations will still declare God has done it. So proclaim the Lord who delivers, celebrate the Lord who satisfies, worship the Lord who reigns, and declare his salvation to the next generation. Because the victory for the vindicated is the victory of Christ. And through him, it is our victory as well.
Closing Application and Prayer
Consider this one question in application. Will you commit to investing in the next generation? Even in small ways.
And as you consider that important question, we’re going to go to the Lord now. We’re going to ask him. Nations, next generation, family. But here, I want to focus on the next generation. So would you pray with me? We’ll take a moment of silence, as we always do, where you can talk to the Lord and you can ask him this question. And then I’m going to pray. We’re going to pray for the gospel to go to the nations. and the next generation.
Great God of mercy who has seen us in our affliction and delivered us through Christ. We were lost and hopeless and you set us free. You granted us eternal life. And we consider this great privilege now to take this glorious gospel to the nations, to the next generation. And it’s our prayer together that you would do a mighty work in equipping us toward that end.
We want to raise up the next generation in the church, equip them, serve them, encourage them. So that they’ll be ready to do what they’ve been called to do in sending and spreading this glorious gospel. So we give you thanks that you are the God of salvation. That you are going to save your church. But Lord, use us toward that end. Use us to have the privilege of sharing your gospel. And we give you thanks for it. And praise and honor and glory and reverential awe. The name of Christ who rules the nations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Ready to Take Your Next Steps at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel?
The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey exists to help people know God, follow Jesus, and make disciples who multiply. Whether you’re new or already part of our church family, we’re here to help you stay connected! Plan your visit to experience a Sunday with us, or download the Church Center App to stay updated, join a group, register for events, and more.
