Christ The King 2019

Humpty Dumpty

There's a famous nursery rhyme that simply goes, Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall and Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Concerning this rhyme, A famous minister wrote that “Mister Dumpty's world had become shattered and he needed it fixed, but he didn't go to his friends or his family or even his church. He went to the white house. Now we know he went to the white house because the King got involved. The King was sympathetic to Mister Dumpty's dilemma, so he called a meeting of Congress. We know Congress got involved because all the King's men got involved. The tragedy of the nursery rhyme is when it was all said and done, all the Kings horses and all the King's men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again. It is unfortunate today that far too many believers are expecting the solutions to our problems to land on air force one I'm taking you to to Joshua chapter five Joshua is doing reconnaissance around the walls of Jericho. He looks over and he sees the captain of another large army dress in battle array. Now, Joshua's mama didn't raise a dummy. He wanted to know who's side are you on. Cause if you're on our side, then we got help against Jericho. But if you're on their side, we got double trouble. So before I go out here and make a fool of myself, whose side are you on? That's when the captain says to him, I think you're all confused. I'm neither on your side, nor am I on their side. I'm captain of the Lords army, I did not come to take sides. I come to take over. What you and I have to understand is that God doesn't ride the backs of donkeys or elephants.”

You and I belong to another King in another Kingdom. We have a responsibility to represent that King and that Kingdom. We must, with a heart felt cry say with Jesus, “I come not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

Everyone wants to be a king.

Some of us want to be the king of our workplace, or the king of our house. Some of us treat the highway as our own little kingdom, demanding that those around us ask our permission before they change lanes or slow down.

Kings stand above everyone else, receiving praise and reverence from everyone around them. Nothing is withheld from kings. They never come in second place, and they never have to consent to another’s needs. It’s good to be king.

Adam was God’s appointed ruler of his kingdom. “Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.” [Genesis 1:26]

Unlike most kingdoms we see today, he had all the power a king had. With Eve at his side as a help meet he exercised ordained dominance over their territory. They named animals, ate their fill, and had almost no one to answer to. Almost.

There was still a King on His throne. With all their privileges, they still had a restriction — the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The King knew what would happen if they ate of it. He was a good King, one who wasn’t domineering, but loving. But they didn’t care. They ate of its fruit, and they lost all they had been given. Adams lowercase-t throne was ripped out from under him.

From then on, human kings didn’t stand a chance. Sin had infiltrated the kingdom. The Earth, their delegated territory, was compromised.

The King the People Wanted

In 1 Samuel 8, Israel wants to install a king to make them like other nations. Despite God’s warnings, they were adamant give us a king! So God gave them their hearts’ desire in King Saul. And his line of kings didn't paint a pretty picture. It was hit-or-miss on whether or not Israel’s king would be anywhere close to David — a man after God’s own heart — but even David failed.

Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Hezekiah, and a few others had decent reigns overall. But Ahaz, Manasseh, Amon, and Johoiakim? Not so much. The people wanted a king instead of the King, and they often paid for it.

Because of sin, Lord Acton was correct: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” History bears this out. Personal experience bears this out. Even in a democracy like the United States with its “checks and balances,” it’s inescapable. We’re still trading peace with the King for rotting apples.

One day our King stepped into human history in the person of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t sitting on his hands. The Incarnation is proof that he didn’t forget his suffering people, even though they were receiving the punishment they deserved.

The kingdom of God was brought back to the decaying kingdom of the world. The curse was being reversed.

The King the People Need

We’re always either wanting to be king, or we’re looking to imperfect people to lead us perfectly. Our kings never fulfill us. And like Israel, we never look to the King we already have.

The King of the universe is perfect. He’s just, loving, merciful, and full of grace. He doesn’t barter with lesser kings, he can’t be bribed, and he’s not corruptible. He doesn’t just do good — he is good.

Though we live in constant revolt, lobbing grenades at his doorstep, he loves and leads. He doesn’t smite us. He doesn’t send us into exile. He still welcomes us to his table. We still can approach his throne of grace “with confidence, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

Let us go to him, saying with the wise men, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him.” (Matthew 2:2). He was born to die, and raised to reign. He is a King who didn’t send orders from his throne, but rather walked into battle for his people. His death was the death of death; his victory was our victory; his kingdom is our kingdom.

He’s the King we need because he’s the king we can never be, never find, and never elect. Our search was over before it began. He’s the answer to every question. He’s the King we’re longing for, and the King we already have.

In the Gospel readings for today we read:

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.

Are you hearing the Kings voice? Do you know him?

A famous black preacher from the past said these words:

"The Bible says that King Jesus is a seven-way king..

He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king..
He's the King of Israel; that's a national King..
He's the King of Righteousness.
He's the King of the Ages..
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of Glory.
He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords.

David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.” King Jesus is a sovereign King.

He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son.
He's a sinner's Savior..
He's the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands in the solitude of Himself.
He's awesome.
He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He's the loftiest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He's the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion.
He's the miracle of the age.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior

I wonder if you know my King today?

He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent.
And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know my King?

He's the key to knowledge.
He's the wellspring to wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness .
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory

Do you know King Jesus?

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
And His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you, but

He's indescribable.
He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.

You can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hand.
You can't out live Him,
And you can't live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him,
And the grave couldn't hold Him.

Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven....For the kingdom and the powers are yours now and forever! Amen and amen.