She had a way of telling stories, and she would always routinely end her stories by saying, "And the moral of the story is…"
Every Sunday she would tell a Bible story and say, “And the moral of the story is…”
As the young boy began to grow older, he was promoted to another class.
He went home after church and at the dinner table his dad said, “Son, how do you like your new teacher?”
The young boy replied, "She is great, but she doesn’t have any morals."
I want to make this sermon as clear as I can, so I won’t be accused of not having any morals.
I want us to look at a very important passage in the Bible, when the Lord Jesus made His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem as King, on the back of a donkey.
Look at Matt. 21:5 "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. "
I want us to look very carefully at the phrase “THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE,”
We often preach about Christ as a:
• Baby in a manager
• Great teacher
• Great miracle worker
• Great soul winner
It is good that we recognize these things about the life of Christ. But we do not think of Him as KING as much as we should.
When Christians truly recognize that He is King of Kings, it will revolutionize their lives. It is not something they just sing about, it becomes a reality.
WHAT WILL IT DO FOR US? It will allow the lost world to see CHRIST IS THE KING, and we are HIS SUBJECTS!
• The apostle Paul said to the Lord’s followers of his day, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
• The church today should be able to say the same thing, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Every believer should be under the divine Kingship of Jesus Christ, and as such, the church should show forth the person of Jesus Christ!
Let’s look at the question, “What would the church be like if it was truly in submission to King Jesus?”
I WANT TO SHOW YOU AT LEAST TWO THINGS -
I. HIS DISCIPLES WOULD BE OBEDIENT
As we read the New Testament, it is obvious that the New Testament Christians recognized His kingship.
Let me show you two example, such as:
(1) THE WEDDING FEAST IN CANA OF GALILEE
You remember the story, they ran out of wine, and Mary the mother of Jesus went to Him about this problem.
Look at John 2:1-5, “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
Notice, the words of Mary, she said, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
Even though she was the mother of Jesus Christ, she recognized the Kingship of Christ, and said, “OBEY HIM TO THE VERY DETAIL!” Why? Because a King is someone that you OBEY!
Another example we have of them recognizing his Kingship is-
(2) THE LORD COMMANDING HIS DISCIPLES TO GET THE DONKEY
Look at Matthew 21:1-3, “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.”
This was indeed a most unusual request. But notice, they recognized the kingship of Christ, and without hesitation or question, they obeyed Him. They also recognized that a King is someone you obey!
Illus: If the Lord were to ask today’s average church member to do such a thing:
• They would have a dozen excuses as to why they could not do such a thing
• They certainly would want to form a committee and discuss how this should be done
But these New Testament disciples recognized the Kingship of Christ, and when the King spoke - THEY OBEYED IMMEDIATELY!
WHY DOESN’T THE CHURCH ACCEPT HIS KINGSHIP? Because it is not always the easy route to take.
The easiest route is when we make ourselves king and we do as we please. The most difficult is when we MAKE HIM KING and we become HIS SUBJECTS!
For example, one of the greatest battles in our life has to do with relationships, such as:
• School relationships
• Authority relationships
• Friend relationships
• Spousal relationships
• Brother and Sister relationships
King Jesus commands us, as His subjects, to love them the way He loves them.
You see, I do not have any problems loving the Lord, because He has never done me any harm. But the last thing I want to do is love these people who have done me wrong.
Because that is such a big problem for us, King Jesus gives commands to his subjects:
• John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
• John 15:12, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
• John 15:17, “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”
• John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Now what we get from these verses of Scripture, is this; if you love God, you will love his children.
Obedience to the King is essential in recognizing the Kingship of Christ. If the church was submitted to King Jesus, HIS DISCIPLES WOULD BE OBEDIENT to all His commands!
“Behold, thy King cometh unto thee…” But do not say you recognize His Kingship, and then disobey Him … because you do not recognize it.
But also, if the church was submitted to the Kingship of Christ -
II. HIS DISCIPLES WOULD BE OVERCOMERS
There are many differences between a lost person and a saved person, but one of the most obvious is:
• THE SINNER LIVES A DEFEATED LIFE
• THE CHRISTIAN LIVES A VICTORIOUS LIFE
But we need to explore, WHY IS IT THAT THE LOST PERSON LIVES A DEFEATED LIFE?
Illus: The lost person rejects the Savior who would like to save him from His sins. HE HAS CHOSEN THIS LIFE OF DEFEAT, and every day the devil defeats him over and over again.
But we need to explore also, WHY IS IT THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIVES A VICTORIOUS LIFE?
Illus: The Christian has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior. And through the Holy Spirit that dwells in Him, He can live a victorious life.
When this happens, the Bibles says, in John 4:4-6, “Ye are of God, little children, and have OVERCOME THEM: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
Notice, God makes a clear distinction between LOST people and SAVED people. He does this by saying, “Ye are of God”, and in the next verse, immediately says, “They are of the world…”
The Word of God makes it clear that saved people are OVERCOMERS!
Why? Because the Bible teaches that GREATER IS HE THAT LIVES WITHIN US THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.
If King Jesus lives within me, that means that I can say with the apostle Paul, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE LORD WANTS US TO OVERCOME? He wants us to-
(1) OVERCOME ENVY
Envy is a big problem with many Christians, and they need to overcome it. They live their life each day, envious of others.
But when a Christian does this, they are living just the OPPOSITE of how the Bible teaches they should live. Look at Romans 12:15, we read, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
Even though the Bible teaches this is the way we should live our Christian life:
• Many weep when they should be rejoicing
• Many rejoice when they should be weeping
People that are living a life of envy are always miserable!
Why? Because there is always someone who has something they do not have, and they are always wishing they had what they do not have!
One of the reasons that the apostle Paul was able to live such a victorious life, was due to the fact:
• He could rejoice with those that rejoiced
• He could weep with those that wept
Paul said, in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
The writer of Hebrews also said in Hebrews 13:5, “…Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
• The happiest people on this earth are Christians who have overcome envy, and have learned to be content with what God has blessed them with
• But the most miserable people on this earth are Christians who are envious of others. They see people who have things they do not have, and they are angry at the people who have these things. Also, many of them are angry with God, who blessed them with these things.
They have never learned to let the Lord become King of their life, and to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
GOD WANTS US TO OVERCOME ENVY. But also, when Christ is KING in our life He wants us to -
(2) OVERCOME LAZINESS
We have many folks in the society in which we live that say that the reason they have not accomplished much in life, is because of bad breaks! But their failure in life is due to one thing … LAZINESS!
Listen, everyone has bad breaks in life, but when bad breaks come, some people do not fold up, they become more determined, and get to work and do something with their life.
Laziness is a terrible thing. It has probably done more harm to the work of God than any other thing. For example:
• Some choir members are too lazy to come to choir practice
• Some Sunday School teachers are too lazy to visit their class members
• Some Deacons are too lazy to visit the sick that they are suppose to be caring for
• Some Christians are too lazy to faithfully attend church
• Some bus routes never grow because bus workers are too lazy to work their routes
Only God knows the damage that has been done because of laziness.
When Christ becomes King in our life, He will show us how to OVERCOME LAZINESS!
When He is King in our life we overcome ENVY, LAZINESS and also we -
(3) OVERCOME ANGER
Let me say that there is an anger that God is pleased with.
In fact, in Ephesians 4:26, the Word of God commands, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
The kind of anger God commands us to have, is an anger that does not lead to sin. That is, there are some things in life that should get us aroused.
Some folks have the idea that no matter what happens in life, we Christians are suppose to smile from ear to ear, and say, “God will take care of it!”
Maybe He will and maybe He won’t! There are some things He expects us to deal with.
Illus: There are some folks who do not want to go to the trouble to vote. But listen, when I hear about some of the laws that our legislators pass, it gets me all aroused, and I can’t wait for the time to go to the polls and pull that lever to put these men and women out of office.
There are some things that should get us aroused! This is the right kind of anger.
But there are some folks who express anger in the wrong way. For example, for some, ANGER HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE! During their daily activities, they allow things to get them upset, and they become un-Christ-like.
Illus: Glen Vaughan tells of spending 3-1/2 hours enduring the long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He said that after he had spent 31/2 hours, he was very upset. On his way home, he stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for his son. He bought him a baseball bat. He carried it to the cashier, and she said, "Cash or charge?"
Still angry from the 31/2 hours he spent in that long line, he said "Cash!" Then he recognized that he was being rude to someone who had nothing to do with the situation. He apologized for his rudeness, with the explanation, "I've just spent 31/2 hours this afternoon at the Department of Motor Vehicles."
With a smile she said, "Shall I gift-wrap the bat or do you want to go back to the Department of Motor Vehicles and take some batting practice?" (Submitted by Glenn Vaughan.)
Listen, God has created us in His image, but the problem today is that many are trying to create God in their image.
If you are looking for something to make you angry each day, the devil will see to it that something will come across your path.
Illus: Carolyn Copeland said, ”Our neighbor, Mr. Simpkin, gets frustrated with people who persist in adding a final "s" to his name--Simpkins.”
One day as he watched a clerk fill out forms while he supplied the information, he saw her make the same exasperating error.
"Simpkins," he admonished kindly but firmly; "just one 's.' "
The flustered clerk made the correction--and our neighbor stared hopelessly at her revision: "Impkins!" (Carolyn Copeland, Phoenix, AZ. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare.")
We can not go around each day looking for something to make us angry, or the devil will see to it that we find it. If we do, ANGER will become a way of life.
HE WANTS US TO OVERCOME ANGER.
Conclusion:
I. HE WANTS US TO BE OBEDIENT
II. HE WANTS US TO BE OVERCOMERS
To overcome these things in our life requires that we be willing to make some changes. But listen, most people do not like changes.
Illus: The only person who likes changes is a wet baby.
If we are going to recognize the Kingship of Christ, it is going to require some changes. The way we are going, it appears that we WANT TO BE THE KING and we WANT HIM TO BE THE SERVANT!
Think what would happen here in this church, if every one of us truly recognized the Kingship of Christ.
Ask yourself - “Is Jesus King and Lord of my life?”
• Are you obedient
• Are you overcomers
• Or are you just paying lip service
Look at Matt. 21:5 "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE... "
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee," - Will you serve Him?
