The Seasons of Zion
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Surveying the cyclical seasons of the church as spiritual Zion.
Text: Psa. 48:12-14
Date: 05/20/2018, the Traditional service.
Occasion: Missions Conference
Description:
In this Mission Conference message, we will consider the state of Zion as it is revealed in Scripture and as it has appeared throughout history. After briefly defining the literal and symbolic scope of "Zion" we will notice that it appears in a variety of phases: as a city in the hands of enemies, as a city at its glorious zenith of power and security, as a city under siege, as a city in ruin, and as a city reborn from its own ashes. We will apply these various images to the church and rejoice when we realize that even though the church passes through the same seasons, we are assured it will ultimately triumph in the eschatological Zion of John's Revelation. We will find great hope in these various seasons of Zion, knowning that when God protects a city-- even the gates of Hell will not prevail against it!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Psa. 48:12-14.
A. Context, Ex. 6:24, 1Chr. 6:31-32.
B. Surveying the seasons of Zion.
1. Meditating on the glory of Zion, vs. 12-13.
a. Surveying the Zion of Solomon's day.
b. The true strength of Zion, Eph. 6:12, Psa. 48:1,3.
c. The church universal, Psa. 2:1-2.
2. Considering Zion in bondage.
a. Zion in the hands of enemies.
i. Zion in the hands of the Jebusites, 2Sam. 5:6,7.
ii. The enemies in Christ's day, John 2:19, Matt. 16:18,3:10, John 15:1-2, 1Pet. 2:5.
iii. The church "in the hands of enemies", Matt. 11:12.
b. Zion under siege.
i. Jerusalem under siege, Luke 19:43,44.
ii. The church under siege.
c. The missionary calling of the church.
3. Surveying Zion in ruins.
a. Jerusalem in ruins.
b. The church in ruins.
4. Finding hope in the rubble, vs. 14, Matt. 16:18.
a. Nehemiah's glorious circumambulation, Neh. 12:31.
b. The tenacious Gospel!
i. Sparks in the Muslim world, Dan. 2:21.
ii. Flames in the ashes of Europe.
¥ Hope in France.
¥ Hope in England.
III. Conclusion: Toward eschatological Zion, Rev. 21:9-15.
