Long Live the King

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This is a sermon given on Jan. 8, 2017 to start a new series of messages on the Kingdom of God. It introduces the series by providing some Old Testament background for the kingdom of God, Jesus’ emphasis on the message and some basic qualities of the kingdom of God.

Written Excerpts:

Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Introduction:   Several weeks ago I was reading in the gospels and was reminded of the many times that Jesus said to his listeners, “The kingdom of God is like…” At that time I felt impressed that sometime I should do a short series of messages on the kingdom of God as portrayed in the Bible. Well, today’s the day!

I.    Some background material for: Kingdom of God.

Some writers believe that the concept and idea for God as king goes all the way back to the OT prior to the days of the Israelite kings. Remember what God’s response was to Samuel when the Israelites were demanding a king like the other nations around them?

God said, “They have not rejected you, they have rejected Me that I should not reign over them.” (1 Sam. 8:7)

So the people rejected the idea of having God reign as king, and thus began the Israelite Monarchy with Saul as the first king, then David, Solomon and etc. These first three kings had their failures, but they did lead the nation according to God’s plan and purposes for the most part. However, after Solomon, the kings quickly strayed far away from the laws of God.

Eventually God began to show to His prophets various glimpses of a future time when He would once again become the supreme monarch over His people by sending His “Anointed One,” the Messiah into the world. The prophet Daniel was one of the ones who spoke specifically of a Divine King coming in the future.

Daniel 2:44-45 (NKJV) [Daniel is interpreting a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had of a large image]And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."

Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV) "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

II.  The Kingdom of God (heaven) was the primary message for John the Baptist & Jesus.

Both of them preached repentance to enter the kingdom of God (heaven).

Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Mark 1:12-15 (NKJV)Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Jesus’ message brought hope, but it didn’t meet all the expectations of the people. Their hopes were based in a political, military kingdom; Jesus preached a spiritual kingdom. They expected immediate change to the social order, Jesus emphasized change to the spiritual and moral arena.

They sought the complete fulfillment of the Kingdom in the present, Jesus taught that the Kingdom has come in the present to some degree, but the complete fulfillment of Kingdom realities will be in the future.

In the Scripture that was read earlier from Matthew 12:28, Jesus said that when He casts out demons by the power of God, that was proof that the Kingdom of God was among them.

III. Summary of Kingdom Principles

In any kingdom there is a Sovereign King who exercises ultimate authority.

A kingdom includes the king's dominion or realm. God's kingdom is national; personal; universal.

The kingdom of God is both here now (Spiritual) and coming in the future.

Conclusion:

Jesus will be the final King.

I want to read a few passages:

1 Timothy 6:13-16 (NKJV) I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Revelation 17:14 (NKJV) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 11:15 (NKJV)Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

Let’s close the service by singing the hymn:   A Child of the King