Our Mission Statement and Psalm 16:11<\/b><\/p>\n
This advent season, we as a church have sought to actively remember and anticipate Jesus. That is, we have been remembering Jesus\u2019 first advent, the incarnation, when Jesus inaugurated God\u2019s kingdom here on earth through his life, death, and resurrection. And, we have been anticipating his second advent, his bodily return. At that time, Jesus will bring the fullness of God\u2019s kingdom in the new heavens and new earth, and God will dwell with his people forever. Such remembering and anticipating actually go hand-in-hand with our professed mission as a local church. Our mission statement here at Desiring God Community Church reads:<\/p>\n
\nWe exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I want to highlight one particular phrase: for the joy<\/i>. The pursuit of joy is at the heart of the Christian life. Why? Because as Christians we desire God<\/i>. And, as our mission statement makes clear, our supreme God is the source of joy. Psalm 16:11 affirms this:<\/p>\n
\nPsalm 16:11 \u2014 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Now, our mission statement implies that we already have a passion for God\u2019s supremacy, since we hope and seek to spread it. Therefore, we already experience this joy that we want others to know. So how did we get to this place of divine joy ourselves? And what does any of this have to do with Christmas? Well, it all comes down to how we \u201cexist\u201d to go about our mission of spreading this passion for God\u2019s supremacy. That is, to understand what our mission statement and Psalm 16:11 have to do with Christmas, we must first answer the following question:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did we gain access to the divine joy of Psalm 16:11, the very divine joy we believe comes gift wrapped with a passion for God\u2019s supremacy?\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Apostle Peter, the answer has everything to do with Christmas.<\/p>\n
Peter\u2019s Sermon at Pentecost<\/b><\/p>\n
In his sermon at Pentecost, Acts 2:14\u201341, Peter quotes Psalm 16:8\u201311 and applies it to Jesus. There he proclaims:<\/p>\n
\nActs 2:25\u201328\u201425<\/sup><\/span> For David says concerning him (Jesus), \u201c \u2018I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26<\/sup><\/span> therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27<\/sup><\/span> For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28<\/sup><\/span> You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Peter then unpacks what he means in Acts 2:29\u201332. There, Peter doubles down on his assertion that David penned Psalm 16:8\u201311 about Jesus, not himself. Indeed, it is impossible for it to be about David because, as Peter notes, David is dead and this Psalm speaks of resurrection. Peter first points out the obvious, \u201cI may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day\u201d (Acts 2:29). In light of this, Peter notes that David, being a prophet (Acts 2:30), actually prophesied about Jesus\u2019 future resurrection \u2014 \u201che foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption\u201d (Acts 2:31).<\/p>\n
What inspired David to prophesy so boldly? We only need to look at Acts 2:30\u201331 \u2014 \u201cknowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,\u201d (Acts 2:30\u201331). David prophesied by the power of the Holy Spirit because God had promised that one of David\u2019s son\u2019s would sit on his throne. What does this sitting on the throne have to do with the resurrection? Well, the original context of this oath to David (2 Sam 7:12\u201316; 1 Chr 17:11\u201314) arrays the promise with eternal implications and divine glory.<\/p>\n
Jesus Fulfills God\u2019s Promise to David<\/i><\/p>\n
\n2 Samuel 7:12\u201313\u201412\u00a0<\/sup><\/b><\/span>When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13\u00a0<\/sup><\/b><\/span>He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.<\/p>\n
1 Chronicles 17:11\u201312\u201411\u00a0<\/sup><\/b><\/span>When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12\u00a0<\/sup><\/b><\/span>He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In his covenant to David, God assured David that he (God) would establish the throne and kingdom of one of his sons forever<\/i> (2 Sam 7:13; 1 Chr 17:12). Moreover, his son\u2019s kingdom will be God\u2019s kingdom. God said to David, \u201cbut I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom <\/i>forever and his throne shall be established forever\u201d (1 Chr 17:14). Sure of this promise of an eternal eternal king on an eternal throne, David, under inspiration of Holy Spirit, prophetically penned Psalm 16 about the resurrection of one of his future sons, the promised eternal king. And Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, unveils the mystery by proclaiming that Jesus\u2019 resurrection and ascension to the eternal throne at God\u2019s right hand, fulfilled David\u2019s prophecy.<\/p>\n
\nActs 2:32\u201336 \u2014 32<\/sup><\/span> This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34<\/sup><\/span> For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, \u201c \u2018The Lord said to my Lord, \u201cSit at my right hand, 35<\/sup><\/span> until I make your enemies your footstool.\u201d \u2019 36 <\/sup><\/span>Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Psalm 16:11 in Light of Acts 2:14\u201341<\/b><\/p>\n
In light of Peter\u2019s sermon at Pentecost, when we read Psalm 16:11\u201cYou make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore\u201d we are reading the prophesied words of Christ, the Son of God, who is risen and reigns on high, joyfully basking in the Father\u2019s glorious presence. And Peter concludes with the promise that those who are united to Jesus Christ by faith \u201creceive the gift of the Holy Spirit\u201d as ones \u201cthe Lord our God calls to himself.\u201d When we are united to Christ by faith, we receive the Holy Spirit, which means that God has called us to himself.<\/i> By virtue of our union with Christ, we experience now through the Holy Spirit, and will experience in full at Christ\u2019s return, the same fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore that Jesus experiences now in God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n
DGCC\u2019s Mission Statement, Psalm 16:11, and Christmas<\/b><\/p>\n
So \u2014 to recall our first question \u2014 \u201cHow did we gain access to the divine joy of Psalm 16:11, the very divine joy we believe comes gift wrapped with a passion for God\u2019s supremacy?\u201d We have access to the divine joy of Psalm 16:11 through Jesus. <\/i>And, we \u201cexist to spread a passion for God\u2019s supremacy for the joy of all peoples\u201d through Jesus.<\/i> And \u2014 to recall our second question \u2014 \u201cWhat does Psalm 16:11 have to do with Christmas, specifically Jesus\u2019 first and second advent?\u201d Well, consider some New Testament passages.<\/p>\n
\nMatt 1:1 \u2014 1<\/sup><\/span>The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David,<\/i> the son of Abraham.<\/p>\n
Luke 2:10\u201311 \u2014 10<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0And the angel said to them, \u201cFear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0For unto you is born this day in the city of David<\/i> a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.<\/p>\n
Rev 22:16, 20 \u2014 16<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0\u201cI, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David<\/i>, the bright morning star\u201d\u202620<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0He who testifies to these things says, \u201cSurely I am coming soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Jesus is the promised son of David (Matt 1:1; Luke 2:11) who is risen and who reigns on God\u2019s throne forever (2 Sam 7:13; 1 Chr 17:12; Acts 2:25\u201336). His first coming meant \u201cgreat joy\u201d for God\u2019s people, because he is the \u201cSavior, who is Christ the Lord\u201d (Luke 2:10\u201311). And, those united to him by faith receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). As a result, they \u2014 \u201ceveryone whom the Lord our God calls to himself\u201d (Acts 2:39) \u2014 are reconciled to and commune with God. Thus, because of Jesus’ first advent those united to Christ spiritually enter into the joy of God described in Psalm 16:11. And by Jesus\u2019 own testimony, he, \u201cthe descendant of David\u201d is \u201ccoming soon\u201d to bring us fully into God\u2019s presence (Rev 22:16, 20). So through Jesus’ second advent, we will enter fully into the joy of Psalm 16:11. Therefore, Psalm 16:11 ties directly to Christmas, because through the advents of Jesus God grants us access into his glorious presence where there is \u201cfullness of joy\u201d and \u201cpleasures forevermore\u201d (Psalm 16:11). So in light of the reality that Jesus is coming soon, we echo Rev 22:20, \u201cAmen. Come, Lord Jesus!\u201d And until that day, we exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God for the joy of all peoples through Jesus<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas from Psalm 16:11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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