Go! And Rejoice In The Reign Of The Lord Series

Go! And Rejoice in the Reign of the Lord - Zechariah 14:9

Zechariah 14:9 (NLT):"And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped."

Introduction:

We live in a world of fractured loyalties and divided kingdoms. But the day is coming when every heart, every tongue, every knee will acknowledge one King—Jesus Christ. Today, we explore a glorious promise from the prophet Zechariah that speaks directly into our lives, and eternally into God’s plan: The Lord will be king over all the earth. Let us journey through Scripture to understand the depth of this prophecy, and how it calls us to surrender, worship, and rejoice in Christ our King.

I. The Context of Zechariah 14:9: A Vision of the Lord’s Final Triumph

Historical and Theological Context:

Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet speaking to a discouraged remnant of Israelites who had returned from Babylonian captivity. The temple was being rebuilt, but hope was dim. Zechariah, filled with the Spirit, lifted their eyes to future glory—not just a restored temple, but a global kingdom ruled by the Lord Himself.

The Hebrew word for "king" is melek (??????), denoting not just a ruler, but one who governs, protects, and reigns with supreme authority. When Zechariah says "the Lord will be king", he declares God’s absolute sovereignty over creation.

In our chaos, our fears, and our personal kingdoms, we must ask: Is the Lord King of our lives today? Let Zechariah remind us: God doesn’t just want to be part of your life; He must be King of it.

Charles Stanley wrote, "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him." That’s the posture of someone who recognises Jesus as King. If we obey our earthly bosses with respect, how much more should we honour the reign of Christ?

II. The Singularity of the Lord: One Lord, One Name

Zechariah 14:9b (NLT):"On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped."

This speaks to a future where idolatry and pluralism are abolished. The phrase "one Lord" echoes the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4: "Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." God’s unity and supremacy are not shared or diminished.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT): "Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

In Greek, kurios (??????) means "Lord" or "Master." It carries legal, relational, and divine significance. Jesus isn’t just Saviour—He is Lord.

There can be no spiritual neutrality. Jesus is not one among many. He is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all. Does your life reflect the truth that His name alone is to be worshipped?

Tim Keller stated, "If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said; if He didn’t rise from the dead, why worry about anything He said?" The lordship of Christ hinges on His resurrection—which is not theory but historical reality!

A missionary in a remote village once shared the Gospel to people who worshipped hundreds of gods. When he introduced Jesus, a man replied, "Wonderful, one more god to add!" The missionary gently explained, "No, Jesus is not one more. He is the only One."

III. The Reign of the Lord: Already and Not Yet

Revelation 11:15 (NLT):"The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."

The reign of Christ has begun in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21), but the full manifestation of His Kingdom is yet to come. This is the "already and not yet" tension we live in.

If Jesus will rule the earth, He must rule our decisions, desires, and direction today. Let us not wait for the visible Kingdom to honour the invisible King.

John Piper said, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." The reign of Christ isn’t oppressive—it’s liberating. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Think of a lighthouse in a storm. The storm is real, the waves fierce, but the lighthouse stands unmoved. Christ’s reign is the lighthouse of our lives. No matter what storms rage, His Kingdom is unshakable.

IV. The Call to Worship and Repentance

Acts 17:30-31 (NLT): "God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed... and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead."