Jesus: Prophet, priest, KING
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
11-16-2025
The King
Growing up in Memphis, I knew royalty.
There was Jerry “The King” Lawler a wrestler who had an on-going fake feud with comedian Andy Kaufman.
There was Prince Mongo, Robert Hodges, is 333 years old and is from the ruling family of the planet Zambodia. He ran for mayor my entire childhood, owned a great pizza place, drove his neighbors crazy with his yard art (junk), and actually lived in a Castle.
When I was about ten years old, he wrapped himself in saran wrap and climbed into a hot air balloon. He bid all of us a sweet farewell and headed back to his home planet. Thankfully, at the last minute he received a message from Zambodia that told him to stay in Memphis so he landed a few miles away.
There was B.B. King, the king of the blues guitar, who would play at his club on Beale Street.
* I cruised the Mississippi several times on the Memphis Queen Steamboat.
* And then there was The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
Elvis didn’t like being called “The King.” When people would stop him on the street and address him as the king, Elvis would often reply, “No ma’am. Jesus in the King. I’m just a singer.”
Review
In the Old Testament, after the fall, God instituted three offices or patterns.
Prophets - revealed God’s will to the people
Priests - mediated between a sinful people and a holy God
Kings - led the people as a representative of God
Dr. Albert Mohler writes:
“As we read the Scriptures, we discover Jesus clearly operating as a Prophet. For when we He talks, the words of God are spoken. We also see Jesus operating as Priest. For He gave himself up as the perfect sacrifice for His people.
However, while on earth, we never see Jesus operating as King the way we humans would expect a king to operate. Yet He was our king then, is ruling as our King now, and will hold this position throughout eternity.”
Let me begin with a very important question - who is king of your life? Whose kingdom are you living for?
Prayer
God is King
Any study of kingship starts at the beginning - God is King. The Psalms highlight the kingship of God:
"The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.” (Psalm 10:16)
And…
“For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.” (Psalm 47:2-7)
And…
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:1-3)
Adam Failed as King
This King created mankind in His image and gave Adam the directive to establish dominion, rule, and authority over all creation. This was a function of kingship.
Adam was a king under the authority of God and God would express His kingship in and through Adam.
Adam failed miserably. Instead of asserting his authority over the snake in the garden, he willingly gave up his crown to become like God, knowing good and evil.
But, we know that from the curse that God places upon the serpent, all is not lost:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
As we’ve learned, the word offspring is “seed” and it is singular. This Seed would come from Adam and Eve and will crush the head of satan once and for all.
The Seed would come and restore the proper role of kingship. Because after the fall, dominion easily becomes domination, exploitation, and oppression.
Abraham was a King
As time went by, Abraham was called by God out of his home country. Abraham acts as a king. He rescues his nephew Lot from a coalition of kings.
God establishes His covenant with Abram and changes his name:
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” (Genesis 17:4-6)
So we now know that the Promised King will come from Abraham.
The Lion of Judah
Four generations later, as Jacob/Israel was on his deathbed, he blessed his twelve sons. His blessing of Judah is important:
“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:8-10)
This is a play on words because the name Judah means “praise.” Judah’s tribe will come to the leaders of the other tribes.
Many Biblical writers will pick up this lion motif - in Numbers, Micah, and Ezekiel and John in Revelation. But…we’ll come back to that!
Balaam, who was paid to curse the Israelites, but ended up blessing them five times, picks up on the scepter motif:
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Deut 24:17)
Okay, now we know the Promised King would be a descendant of Abraham and from the tribe of Judah who will rule the nations with a iron scepter (Psalm 2:9)
What kind of King?
When Moses knew he was not going with the Israelites to the Promised Land, he gave a series of sermons that make up the book of Deuteronomy.
In the second sermon, Moses anticipates a time when the people will reject God as their king and ask for an earthly king like the rest of the nations:
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.” (Deut 17:14-17)
God made it clear that having a king wasn’t a bad thing but they had to do it His way:
the one God choses
A fellow Israelite
He must not acquire many horses. This would limit the size of his army.
He must not return to Egypt. He must avoid foreign alliances.
He must not acquire many wives which often lead to foreign entanglements.
He must not accumulate large amounts of riches.
Moses continues:
“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” (Deut 17:18-20)
He must be an example of one who reveres God’s Word and reads it all the days of his life.
He is not like the kings around them who considered themselves gods and ruled as dictators. He is a normal person, no better or worse than his friends. But he is called to rule under the authority of God, the ultimate King.
The People ask for a King
After Moses and Joshua died, the people entered a downward spiral. The writer of Judges said,
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Or what was right in their own eyes). (Judges 21:25)
The people would run after foreign gods, God would allow an enemy nation to subdue them, they would cry out for help, and God would raise up a military leader to help them get free.
The judges were not kings but that didn’t stop the people from trying to make them a king:
“The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” (Judges 8:22-23)
The last of the judges was Samuel and his sons were a train wreck spiritually.
The people, just as Moses had predicted, demand a king:
“So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” (I Samuel 8:4-5)
This request saddened Samuel:
But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” (I Samuel 8:6-9)
I seem to say this every week, but it’s true. This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. They were not rejecting Samuel but rejecting God as their king.
He goes on to say that He will give them what they asked for but they would regret it.
This king would be like the kings of other nations. He would recruit their sons for the military and their daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
He will take the best fields, vineyards and olive groves, a tenth of their grain and their flocks. He will take their male and female servants and make the people his slaves.
Samuel makes it clear that they will rue this day:
“When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (I Sam 8:18)
The people were set in their demands:
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (I Samuel 8:19-20)
The people thought that they needed a king with a palace and with the pomp and circumstances of royalty in order to be a “real nation.”
God would give them what they wanted.
The First Israelite King - Saul. He looked like a king, he walked like a king, he talked like a king but he was a complete disaster.
After Saul, there was a long line of kings that were terrible leaders and didn’t follow the Lord. You can count on one hand the good kings. The most important of these good kings was David.
David the Ideal King
The high point of the kingship is found in David and his son Solomon.
In establishing His covenant with David, God says:
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)
This was a prophecy that was fulfilled by Solomon partly but this also looks out into the future for a king that would be like David, a man after God’s own heart, but without the human failing and sin and without death.
So, this promised King would be from Abraham, from the tribe of Judah and would be a descendant of David.
As each king failed the people, they started yearning for a king greater than David. In fact, God made us in such a way that we look for such a king to lead us.
The prophets would give the people glimpses of this King:
We know this king would be from the line of David and would establish an everlasting dynasty. (Isaiah 9:7). (Handel’s Messiah
Micah 5:2 tells us He would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David.
He would be a king of justice and peace, bringing salvation (Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 9:6-7). We study these verses every Christmas:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
A king would come riding humbly on a donkey's colt (Zechariah 9:9).
He would be both a Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and a conquering King (Daniel 7:13-14).
Isaiah gives this picture of the coming King:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:1-3)?
The Old Testament ends and there are four hundred years of silence.
The King Has Come
Then, like a comet streaking across the sky that lights up the night, the New Testament opens with a young girl shaking with fear before an angel. The angel’s message? The King is coming!
“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:29-32)
A couple of years later, Matthew records that wise men from the east show up to worship the King:
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
Herod, was the “king” at the time, asked the teachers of the law where the Messiah/King would be born:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:2,4)
Herod was powerful, deeply insecure, and a psychopath. He had his son and at least one of his wives murdered. One thing he knew was that he was not from the line of David and had not right to that throne.
He tried to kill this king by having all the baby boys two years and younger murdered but God protected Jesus.
About thirty years later, a wild man showed up in the desert proclaiming “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.” (Matthew 2:2)
In Matthew 4, after the desert temptations we hear Jesus make the same claim:
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)
The word near is literal - the king was standing right in front of them!
In his hometown, Jesus attended synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaims freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Luke records what happened next:
“Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20-21)
In other words, the promised prophet, priest, king you have been waiting for has finally come!
The long awaited King had arrived on the scene. The Kingdom of God was at hand.
Jesus’ miracles validated His claim as King.
When He gave sight to the blind, the kingdom was coming near. When He healed the deaf, the kingdom was coming near.
When He healed the lame, the kingdom was coming near.
When He hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners, the kingdom was coming near.
When even the wind and waves obeyed Him, the kingdom was coming near.
When He picked a Zealot and a tax collector to be on the same team, the kingdom was coming near.
When He raised people from the dead, the kingdom was coming near.
All the disciples had been raised with an expectation of Christ. The only problem is they completely misunderstood who Christ would be.
They were looking for a great military leader like George Washington, a great political leader like Abraham Lincoln, and a great reformer like Martin Luther King Jr. all rolled up into one person. Instead, the Messiah/King came and many people missed Him completely.
He was a Carpenter (Mt 13:55) instead of a Conqueror. One of the sources I read said that when the Messiah came the “hills would run red with blood.” But Jesus did not mass an army or initiate a military campaign. In fact, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be a normal guy who wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. (Isaiah 53:2)
He was a Healer (Mt 14:14) instead of a political hero. Instead of being a political hero that would overthrow Rome, he was a homeless healer who made blind people see, deaf people hear, lame people walk, and dead people, well, not dead!
But this should not have surprised anyone who knew that Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would do these very things. (Isaiah 35:5)
He was an “Illegitimate” child of peasants instead of a child of imperial birth. Don’t think for a second that people did not know the rumors that swirled around the young couple from Nazareth.
Jesus grew up having to deal with whispers and cruel looks from those who thought he was a product of a sinful situation.
Everyone knew that Mary couldn’t be a virgin. How could such a kid be Israel’s King? Unless the prophecies of Isaiah that said the Messiah would be born of a virgin were true. (Isaiah 7:14)
He was a Suffering Servant instead of a Sovereign King who would overthrow Rome. Most Jews could not handle the thought of the Messiah being massacred.
But as students of the Scriptures, they should have known the prophetic words of Isaiah about the suffering Messiah. (Isaiah 53:3-5)
He was a Teacher who loved sinners instead of a rabbi who loved traditions. Jesus was so different from the other religious figures of His time.
The religious leaders cared more for God’s rules than God’s heart. They were heartless rule-keepers who thought their actions secured their right standing with God. Those who did not adhere to all their rules were deemed “sinners” and worthy of their judgment.
Jesus constantly broke the rules by cavorting with sinners. He ate with tax collectors. He hung out with the riffraff. He prayed with prostitutes. He was the strangest rabbi people had ever met. And the “sinners” loved Him. They flocked to Him. Jesus understood that lost people matter to God.
The Pharisees could not believe that the Messiah/King would sit in the company of sinners, especially Gentiles. But didn’t they remember that Isaiah wrote that the Messiah would minister to all the nations? (Isaiah 42:1) They missed the point and many of them missed their chance.
They couldn’t understand that the promised King would be born in a manger and die on a cross.
Anthony Carter writes:
“As King, Jesus rules in such a way as not to allow sin to reign over us any longer. In the Old Testament, the monarchy was established for the peace, prosperity, and welfare of the nation. The prototype king was David. No king was ever as beloved as he was.
He was God's viceregent among the people. With David on the throne, the nation of Israel could say, "All is well." Few things comfort a nation more than having a ruler of righteousness and strength sitting on the throne of power.
It was said of David that he "reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people" (2 Sam. 8:15).
However, we have a King greater than David. Christ came in the line of David as David's son and yet also as David's Lord (Matt. 22:42–45). He is "the ruler of kings on earth" (Rev. 1:5) and "King of kings and Lord of lords" (19:16), including David. He rules with perfect justice and equity. As our King, He has fought our battles and now rules in such a way that sin never can reign over us (Rom. 6:7–14).
Anthony Carter writes:
“As King, Jesus rules in such a way as not to allow sin to reign over us any longer. In the Old Testament, the monarchy was established for the peace, prosperity, and welfare of the nation. The prototype king was David. No king was ever as beloved as he was.
He was God's viceregent among the people. With David on the throne, the nation of Israel could say, "All is well." Few things comfort a nation more than having a ruler of righteousness and strength sitting on the throne of power.
It was said of David that he "reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people" (2 Sam. 8:15).
However, we have a King greater than David. Christ came in the line of David as David's son and yet also as David's Lord (Matt. 22:42–45). He is "the ruler of kings on earth" (Rev. 1:5) and "King of kings and Lord of lords" (19:16), including David. He rules with perfect justice and equity. As our King, He has fought our battles and now rules in such a way that sin never can reign over us (Rom. 6:7–14).
Parables
In Matthew 13, Jesus gives multiple parables to try to help his disciples understand the kingdom.
Jesus likens the kingdom to a man sowing seeds, to wheat and weeds, to a mustard seed that grows from a tiny seed to a huge tree, to yeast that is mixed into a batch of dough, to a hidden treasure and to a pearl of great price.
The Kingdom will be enormous in size, covering the whole universe.
The kingdom is of exceeding value, it’s worth everything to get it.
The last parable is about something that His disciples would have been very familiar with – a net.
And the kingdom will bring about judgement.
History is moving toward an ending of unimaginable joy for some and unending torment for others.
In the end, every knee will bow before this king:
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
Already/ Not Yet
Jesus is King! Right now, right here. That is the truth. At the Incarnation, Jesus inaugurated the kingdom. When He comes back, He will consummate the kingdom. But we live in between these two events.
Mark 1:15 states,
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”
There are two Greek words for time – “kronos” which is “tick-tick” time measured by clocks and calendars. This is not the word in this verse. The word Mark used is “karios” which means “a time that cannot be measured, a unique moment in time determined by God for the fulfillment of his divine purposes.”
There is a sense of what theologians call the “already/not yet.” Jesus is reigning now but as Augustine wrote,
“Just as light is absent to those who refuse to open their eyes, so it is possible to refuse God’s rule.”
Now, Jesus’ reign is only partially seen, it is veiled or hidden. But we long for a day when His kingdom will come in all its fullness. In fact, Jesus told us to pray for that every day:
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
So What Does this Mean?
So when we pray, “Your Kingdom come,” what are we really asking?
It is a radical request for revolution!
We are asking God to bring it on! Reverse the effects of sin, restore broken humanity, and reign without rival in our lives.
Extend Your royal power over every part of our lives. God, so fully rule in us that we want to obey You with all our hearts and with great joy.
Martin Luther described an outward and future dimension of this kingdom.
Now His reign is partially seen but the fullness will be unimaginable. There will be no more suffering, injustice, poverty, or death.
But we are also to yearn for the future life of justice and peace – “may your future kingdom be the end and consummation of the kingdom that you have begun in us!”
We are asking God to haste the day of restoration. We are boldly asking heaven to invade earth.
Sinclair Ferguson writes,
“We pray that the kingdom that has already been established will expand its presence more and more throughout the earth, until the day comes when “the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and Christ, and we will reign forever and ever. (Rev 11:15)
June 6, 1944, is known as D-Day. Over 150,000 troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. Although the war continued, the decisive blow had been dealt. There were more battles and more deaths, but from that day on, the Axis were fighting a losing battle.
What is D-Day for the Christian? Good Friday! The decisive blow was dealt to the powers of evil on the cross as Jesus cried out, “It is finished!”
Paul told the Colossians,
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:15)
But the ultimate victory celebration must await the final triumph of Christ as He gathers in the His Church and establishes the new heaven and new earth.
Until then, we cry out, “Come Lord Jesus, bring your Kingdom!”
Well, some do. I’m not sure that is a prayer that we pray very passionately in the West. But you know who does?
The persecuted church in Nigeria yearns for the kingdom of heaven. The poor, the sick, the hungry pray with tears, “Your Kingdom Come!”
Those suffering under tyrannical rulers beg God to establish His kingdom of justice and peace.
In America, more Christians are crying out, “Come Spring Training, Come” than “Your Kingdom Come!”
In America, we rarely think this way. We’ve been trained to protect our little kingdom.
I recently read of a pastor who met with one of his church members. The church was growing and a lot of really amazing things were happening. She said to this pastor, “You have got to stop encouraging us to invite people. All these new people are ruining my church.”
Did you hear it? My church? My Kingdom. In order to say, “Your kingdom come” you must first say, “My kingdom go!”
David wrote,
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)
In me
In just a minute, we will be focusing on praying about God’s Kingdom coming. But let’s look at how this plays out. First we pray for the kingdom to come in me.
Max Lucado wrote these challenging words,
“When you say, ‘Your kingdom Come’ you are inviting the Messiah Himself to walk into your world – you can’t have the kingdom without the King. We are saying ‘Come my King!’ Take Your throne in our lives. Be present in my heart. Be present in my marriage, in my family, my fears, my doubts.”
J.I. Packer said,
“The Kingdom of God exists whenever men enthrone Jesus as Master of their lives.”
God’s kingdom comes in us when we relinquish our kingdoms, give up trying to control our lives, and allow God to have full reign over us.
Over the last few years, I’ve been deeply grieved as spiritual heroes of mine have been either fired or had to resign because unethical or immoral behavior. I read their books, visited their churches, went to conferences where they spoke, and were encouraged by their “success.” Somewhere along the way, it started being about building their kingdom not the kingdom of God.
I don’t need to be famous. I want to make Jesus famous. My job is to remain faithful.
We pray that God would establish His sovereignty over us on earth and eventually upon the earth itself.
Do you why Jesus hasn’t come back yet?
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:14)
He’s giving you more time. He’s waiting on you!
Through me
We are also asking God to bring His Kingdom through us.
David Jeremiah paraphrases these words this way,
“God you are King. You live in my heart. And I want your kingdom principles and purposes to be lived out in me, as you reign within me. I know that the manifest, visible kingdom isn’t here on earth yet, but I can be a little touch of heaven as I walk with You and talk with You and live for You each and every day.”
The Kingdom is always expanding outwards.
When we listen to those and pray with those who are struggling with grief, sadness, or sickness, we are bringing the kingdom near.
Operation Christmas Child helps brig the hope of Jesus to people we might never meet. Or maybe….
In 2000, 7-year-old Tyrel Wolfe from Idaho participated in Operation Christmas Child, a charity program where children pack shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and personal items for kids in need overseas.
His box ended up in the hands of a young girl named Joana Marchan in the Philippines. Joana cherished the gift and the photograph of Tyrel included inside but had no way to contact him at the time.
Fourteen years later, in 2014, Joana searched Facebook for his name and sent him a friend request. Tyrel initially didn’t recognize her, but after she explained, they began exchanging messages and eventually video chatting.
Their friendship turned into romance, and Tyrel traveled to the Philippines to meet her in person. After a long-distance relationship, Joana moved to the U.S., and they married in October 2014.
The kingdom of God is being brought near all over this community and beyond. We have agents behind enemy lines bringing a little touch of the kingdom to earth all over this community.
Through the Church
We are to pray that the kingdom comes in me, through me, and then through the called out assembly known as God’s plan A for the world – the church.
Let me end with a story that I told the first or second time I preached here. I know a lot of you weren’t there so forgive me if you’ve heard this.
Nicky Green is the head cheerleader at a large church in Bloomington. Women trapped in the sex trades have broken her heart. She put together and team and brainstormed how they could reach out to these women.
They put together a Mother’s Day basket and took them to one of the strip clubs. They asked the manager if they could give the baskets to the dancers. He shrugged and said he didn’t care.
They went back stage and explained to them what they were doing. In the basket were all kind of goodies but the most important thing to Nicky was the sermon CDs and her card. She told the girls that if they ever needed anything, please call.
A couple of weeks later she got a call from one of the dancers. She wanted to know if she could have more sermon CDs. She not only listen to the two in her basket, she went around and asked if she could have any others. Nicky took a deep breath and said, “Forget that, please come and hear it with me live. You can sit with me.”
This woman got quiet on the phone and finally said, “People like me aren’t welcome in church.” Nicky laughed and said, “Well you don’t know our church!”
Long story short, she did attend and then attended again and again. She committed her life to Christ and was baptized. What a lot of people didn’t know was that there were a whole of visitors that morning.
A row of fellow strippers that had come to see her get baptized. And the manager. Who was this women’s boyfriend. And he committed his life to Christ! They got married.
The reason I know this story is because Maxine and I were present when the church commissioned this couple into their new ministry that will reach back into the strip clubs and help rescue others.
That’s the church being serious about bringing kingdom light into the darkness of this world.
That’s what we are called to do here and we will do anything short of sin to help people far from God find their way home.
Billy Graham said,
“I have been preaching repentance for seventy years; there are thousands of ministers of the Gospel all over this planet preaching repentance this very hour . . . and most of the time the world has laughed in the face of the King of kings.”
Let me ask you - is He your King? Have you bowed your knee to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Is He the ruler and leader of your life?
Ending Video: This is My King (YT)
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Tim 1:17)
