“The King and His Kingdom”
January 15, 2012
Matthew 6:9-13:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Later translators added: “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Jesus had a lot to say about prayer. He said a lot about how NOT to pray and give us very precise instructions on how to PREPARE ourselves for prayer – and even on WHAT to pray. Maybe we ought to do a study on that one of these days – but this morning I want to talk to you about a ‘kingdom’. Jesus taught us to pray for its coming every single day – “Thy Kingdom come. Every day we ought to be concerned about the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven and where we fit in it all.
Maybe we better first define what a Kingdom in. Simply put, the word "kingdom" in the original language means "rule" or "reign". If I am a part of a particular kingdom - that means I am under the ruler of that kingdom’s reign. In other words, to be a subject in a kingdom means pretty much the same as having a citizenship in a country. Back in the old days, there were a lot of kingdoms and kings. Just look at the Old Testament. Every little town had a king – not a mayor – but a king. A king held rule and reign as long as he could control the subjects and defend his kingdom. But the bottom line is a kingdom is place where a particular king ruled.
Have you ever realized that you are, or at least have been, a king of a kingdom? Actually, we are subjects in a number of kingdoms – kind of like I live in the town of Weed that has a City Council that rules, and I live in Siskiyou County that has a board of Supervisors. I also live in California that has a governor and a legislature and then I am a citizen of the United States of America as well.
That’s quite a few kingdoms I belong to. Quite a few kings I have to answer to. Quite a few kingdoms I have to support with my taxes. Quite a few kings with laws I am requited to obey. Quite a few kings that want a piece of me!
Our kingdoms are kind of like pedals on a flower. They all over lap a little bit – but at the very center is the core or disc floret. That would be us. The very center of all our kingdoms is us. And ultimately, we are in control. The final word lies with us. No one can make us do anything. We are the ‘king’ of our personal kingdom. Those other kingdoms and kings have reign over us only so long as we are willing to submit to them. We can choose to not submit; not pay their taxes; not obey their laws. But you better understand - there is a consequence to our choices. Because each of these kingdoms has authority and each of these kingdoms has power to enforce their will on us. But if we are willing to pay the price for our choices – no one can force us to be subject in their kingdoms. It has to be a willing choice on our part – or at least by unconscious submission. Maybe most people are like mindless cattle in a herd, never thinking about where they are headed; never questioning their choices; never realizing they are headed to the slaughterhouse or being stampeded over a cliff.
But the fact of the matter is that they have been made kings of their own little kingdoms and their destiny is their own choice – whether they realize it or not. Whether they visualize it or not – they are sitting on the throne of their kingdom and calling the shots.
And at some point in life – the King of kings comes and invites us to relinquish the rule of our kingdom to Him. Running our kingdom is hard work! We have to think and make decisions and make hard choices. And sometimes the consequences are very painful. So Jesus, kind, gentle, loving Jesus - comes to us and says, “Can I help?” Would you like me to take over?”
Many of us gratefully say, “YES! Please take over. You take responsibility for my life and my eternal destiny. I’m not qualified! I’m not smart enough! I’m not strong enough! Yes, Jesus! Please take me into your kingdom. I give you my kingdom. I give you my kingship. I believe you will do a much better job for me that the job I am doing.
But most people don’t want to do that. They would rather be a king in hell than a peasant in heaven. But the irony is that no one is going to be a king in hell or a peasant in heaven. In heaven – you are going to rule and reign with Christ.
The Bible says, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.” 2 Timothy 2:11-23
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelations 22:3-5
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
There is not going to be any peasants in heaven. You are going to be a child of the King. You are an heir of the King of kings. You are going to rule and reign and receive glory and honor. That’s sounds like a pretty good exchange for releasing our kingdom to Him, doesn’t it?
And there is not going to be any kings, any ruling in hell either. You are going to be absolutely and totally alone in isolation for eternity. Hell is going to be without any fun, friendship, or future.
Several years ago a book was published, entitled Beyond Death's Door by Dr. Maurice Rawlings. Dr. Rawlings, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease, resuscitated many people who had been clinically dead. Dr. Rawlings, a devout atheist, "considered all religion "hocus-pocus" and death nothing more than a painless extinction". But something happened in 1977 that brought a dramatic change in the life of Dr. Rawlings! He was resuscitating a man, terrified and screaming that he was descending down into the flames of hell. He said,
"Each time he regained heartbeat and respiration, the patient screamed, "I am in hell!" He was terrified and pleaded with me to help him. I was scared to death. . . Then I noticed a genuinely alarmed look on his face. He had a terrified look worse than the expression seen in death! This patient had a grotesque grimace expressing sheer horror! His pupils were dilated, and he was perspiring and trembling — he looked as if his hair was "on end."
Then still another strange thing happened. He said,"Don't you understand? I am in hell. . . Don't let me go back to hell!" . . .the man was serious, and it finally occurred to me that he was indeed in trouble. He was in a panic like I had never seen before."
(Maurice Rawlings, Beyond Death's Door,(Thomas Nelson Inc., 1979) p. 3).
Dr. Rawlings said, no one who could have heard his screams and saw the look of terror on his face could doubt for a single minute that he was actually in a place called hell!
There is a place called hell – and it is the finial destination for those who refuse to relinquish their kingdoms to Jesus. Like cattle running to the slaughterhouse or stampeding over a cliff – most people blindly cling to the controls to their life. And it is sweeping them over the falls to their death on the rocks below. But they have control! They still have their kingdoms! They are still singing, “I did it MY way!”
I was talking to someone the other day who asked me why so many put their trust in false gods and false religions. Why is it that people are willing to put their faith in Buddha or Mohammed or Allah? Why is it that people will believe in the Lamerians and leprechauns and aliens and space ships and Bigfoot – but not Jesus?
The answer is easy. They do not have to give up their kingdoms. Only Jesus asks for it all – body, soul and spirit. All the other religions of the world may demand sacrifice – great sacrifice – but they don’t ask that you get off the throne. That appeals to many people. As long as they think they are kings of their kingdoms – they will do and believe and put their faith in just about anything.
But Jesus DOES ask that we surrender out kingdoms to Him. He asks that we surrender our wills to Him. And when our wills (kingdoms) are surrendered it will change us. There will be a peace and a confidence we never had before – but there are three areas I want to quickly mention that will be affected. 1. Our Walk, 2. Our Work, 3. Our Witness.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish…” John 10:27-28
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” John 8:31
When we release the keys of our kingdom to Jesus, our 1. walk is changed. We are going in another direction. Instead of going against God – we are walking toward Him. Instead of doing our own thing and going our own way – we are walking in “the Way” – God’s way. We are walking with Jesus. We hear His voice and we follow Him.
One way to tell if you are on that straight and narrow way that Jesus talked about is to see if you are with Him – or against Him. Is He the King – or are you. Is Jesus the Lord of your life – or are you still in control? Who is on the throne?
How about your work? Has Jesus changed it. If we have surrender our kingdom to Jesus – it will 2. affect our work. Jesus said,
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34
“…I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42
When we have surrendered our kingdom to Jesus – we must do His will; we must do HIS work. When our will comes in conflict with the Father’s – we surrender to Him. We lay our will aside, as Jesus did, and allow God to be on the throne. We allow Him to rule and reign – and it affects our work.
We need to also notice that we have been given gifts and abilities to do this work.
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
Ephesians 4:7
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”
Ephesians 4:11-12
If Jesus is Lord of our lives; if Jesus is the King of our Kingdom – then we will be doing His work. Somehow, someway, we will have a part in building His Kingdom up. Are you doing your part? Are you equipping the saints? Are you doing something to edify or build up the body? If Jesus is Lord - you are. If you aren’t – you need to be.
Lastly, if Jesus is King – it will 3. change our witness.
Jesus said, “You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:48
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
By Jesus’ own words, we are to be witnesses. We are to proclaim what has happened to us. We are to testify as to what is going on in this Kingdom. How are you doing at it? If Jesus is truly the King of the Kingdom in our hearts and lives, it will show by our 1. Walk, 2. Our Work, and 3. Our Witness.
Let me conclude by telling you it will be worth it. Jesus said,
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
I want you to remember that it will be worth it. There is a crown of glory waiting for us. There is a Kingdom that is kept in store for us.
Do you remember who Jim Elliot is? Jim Elliot was a missionary who went to minister to the Acua Indians in Equator. He and four others gave their lives for the Gospel. The very ones he went to minister to – kill them all. One of the most famous things he said is -
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
Many people will tell you it is foolish to give up your kingdom for anyone or anybody. But it is not. It is foolish to be the kings of defeated kingdoms. It is foolish to give up what you are going to lose anyway.
This morning I want to conclude by offering you a chance to make Jesus King of your kingdom. Are you willing to surrender control of your world to Jesus? Are you willing to make Him King? If so – pray this prayer with me.
Jesus,
I have been trying to be in control. I have been running things in my life – and I haven’t done a very good job. Please forgive me. Would you take control – right now? I give you my heart and soul. From this point on – I am your servant. Reveal your will to me – and with Your help – I will do it.
