Worship
Scripture
As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”
Psalm 87:7, NIV
Quote
Everything is about Jesus; everything was created by HIM and for HIM.
~Ya’akov
When I asks a question from the pulpit, everyone knows the answer is JESUS. My preaching is like that of the man who taught 5-6 grade boys in Sunday School. A little fellow who attended this class was asked by his mom at Sunday lunch, “What did your teacher talk about in Sunday School this morning?” The boys response: “The same thing he always talks about, Jesus and germs and I’ve never seen either one of them.” On one particular occasion, this same teacher asks a question in introducing his lesson: “Guys, what is brown, has a long fuzzy tail, lives in trees and eats nuts?” One kid said, “It sounds a whole lot like a squirrel but I know the answer is Jesus.” On the surface Psalm 87 seems to be a glorious praise song to Jerusalem but I declare that it is a praise song to Jesus, the true spring of peace. Two famous songs have been written from this Psalm, at least to my knowledge–there are probably many more. One was written by John Newton, GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN and the second one we sing a lot in our worship celebration, ALL MY FOUNTAINS ARE IN YOU, by Chris Tomlin.
Jerusalem may well be the most important city in the world and will no doubt be the focal city on earth in whatever history remains but Jerusalem is a place and we do not worship a place. Our salvation is not in a place; it is in a person, Jesus Christ. The danger of Zionism is in making an idol of a place. The Jews made this mistake more than once in the Old Testament. We must see Jerusalem [the fountain of peace] for what it is which is a symbol of JESUS the, the foundation, fountain and prince of peace. The city itself cannot give peace; only Jesus can. The greatest injustice in history took place in Jerusalem. The city was so wicked in the days of Isaiah that he called it Sodom. So why does the bible refer to it as a “Holy City?” Because it was set aside as a place to worship but alas, it is a place. Our JOY, PEACE, and SALVATION spring from the reality behind the symbol and that is JESUS.
Will Jerusalem be a place of a joyous and global celebration one day? I think yes but only because Jesus will bring Jews and Gentile together and believers from every tribe and nation will be represented. Everything is contingent on Jesus. If you do not repent of your sins and trust HIM, you will not be a part of the celebration. Jesus and Jesus alone can make joy, peace and salvation a reality for you. Don’t put your faith in a religion or a place: put it in Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus is the everlasting stream, the river of life that carries us home.
This is a youth group singing John Newton’s GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN...Just remember, we are talking about JESUS, not Jerusalem.
My favorite about the New Jerusalem: Doug is not on YOU Tube. He should be but this one will cheer you up…
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