"Jesus as King"

Hi there this is on Solomon and I like to welcome you to our program today.

You know it's a tremendous honor that God is given us to be on stations all around the nation bringing the truth of God's word as it is uncompromising and straightforward and I'm so glad you tuned in to listen and be part of that. Thanks again for your support and your generosity that keeps us on the radio and now let's get to the word of God want to talk about the kingship of Jesus Christ over your life in my life as his followers. What that really means in terms of our everyday behavior ever going to use an incident right out of the life of the apostle Paul to spring us into that discussion.

So if you brought a Bible like you to open it to ask chapter 17 while you're turning. Let me remind you, where we are. Paul is on his second missionary journey along with his teammates Paul, of course, Silas, Timothy and the Dr. Luke they cross from Northwestern Turkey modern-day Turkey across the Aegean Sea to the northern Greek town of Philippi from here. Paul and Silas have walked 100 miles south down the egg nation waved to the town of Thessalonica and hearing Thessalonica. Paul as gone for three weeks into the synagogues and he has been sharing about Jesus as the Messiah. The result is lots and lots of Jewish people and Gentiles have given their lives to Christ.

Now that's where we stop. So let's pick up the story in verse five verse five says that day the Jews were jealous you say jealous of what what they were jealous of how many people were believing Paul's message and were giving their lives to Christ as the Messiah and so they Jewish people rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rush to Jason's house. Jason was a Jewish believer who would put the apostle Paul and Silas up in his home and they rush there in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crown, but Wednesday. The mob did not find Paul and Silas there. They dragged Jason and some of the other believers before the city officials that here's a picture of the marketplace the of Borat in Thessalonica.

Here's the raised platform. The beam worthy city officials would've been an here's the area right in front of it where they would've dragged Jason and would've presented him and the other believers to the city officials here in Thessalonica. Now these city officials.

The actual name in Greek. For them is Paula talks and this word Pollock target lies at the heart of a long-standing criticism against the accuracy of the Bible that I want to tell you about. You see the word poly chart never appears in any piece of Greek literature anywhere. As a matter of fact even to this day there is not a single reference in all of Greek literature that we have two this term Pollock talk so critics of the Bible for centuries said you see there obviously Paul and his team were never in Greece. The book of acts, obviously, is a total fabrication. The Bible is historically unreliable and if the Bible is historically unreliable, then ipso facto, it is spiritually unreliable. Well, not so for Sherlock because in the last 50 years, we have actually unearthed 64 inscriptions that contain the word Pollock talk is it one minute you just said that even to this day. It doesn't appear know what I said is to this day we still don't have the occurrence anywhere in Greek writings.

These were inscriptions dug out of the ground by archaeological work as a matter of fact, more than half of them come right from the archaeological work in Thessalonica itself, and what we find out is that indeed, at the time of the apostle Paul, the city of Thessalonica was ruled by five city magistrates at any given time, and they were referred to in the local term the unique term Pollock target that was only used in this section of the Roman Empire and so rather than the Bible having been wrong all these centuries. The interesting thing is that all these centuries, the Bible's been right at all. These scholars depending on Greek literature have been wrong, friends. Only a person who was actually in Thessalonica in the first century A.D., like the Bible says Paul was only that person would've known that the local rulers in this town went by the title Pollock talk you could never have figured it out any other way from all of Greek literature and once again the Bible has outlived its critics to know what we love to say the more they dig out of the ground the more the Bible proves to be right.

Well, let's move on. Verse six goes on and the mob shouted these men who have cause trouble all over the world literally who have turned the world upside down these men. The Bible says have come here now know what an incredible complement. They did mean as a complement. But what a complement to be referred to as the people of turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ. Would be great. You know that's our goal in this city is the rock Washington would be great in this city if we became known as the people who turn this city upside down for Jesus Christ. If you were sitting at work and people ask you what church you go to you so I go to McLean Bible church and they all go there during a city upside now would that be a great thing or one bathroom were looking for your friends. I can think of some better pot.Amar you put that on my tombstone. This man helped turn the city upside down and there is no higher complement. You could pay me. They go on to say and not only have these guys done that Jason has welcome them into his house and they Paul and Silas are defying Caesar's decrees. How by saying that there is another king besides the Emperor a person named Jesus.

Now, as we know in the apostle Paul's time, the Roman Emperor was worshiped as a god. If you valued your head being on your shoulders. You better acknowledge him as a god and you better worship him as a God. So what Paul and Silas were saying here was treasonous and for the Pollock talks in town to do nothing about Paul and Silas, saying it was also treasonous and so here's what they did. Verse eight when they heard this, they were thrown into turmoil.

So they made the Pollock talks to Jason and the other believers post a bond of and then they release them now, bond as this will Jason and these other guys had to put up their homes and their personal bank accounts and guarantee these local rulers something. What they guaranteed them is number one. Paul would stop preaching and causing trouble in town and number two that Paul and Silas would leave town right away you say I cannot believe that the apostle Paul would agree to get run out of town like that will friends. Let me remind you he didn't agree he won. Jason agreed for him and put his house up with these other guys put their houses up so when Paul found out about it. I'm sure he wasn't thrilled what could he do if he stayed in town all these well-meaning believers lost their homes, lost their fortunes so reluctantly. The apostle Paul was outflanked a little bit.

He said well you know, not much I can do now and so verse 10 says as soon as it was night, the brother sent Paul and Silas away to the little nearby town of Berea Marina come back in the weeks to come and were going to talk about what happened there Berea but this is as far as we want to go in the passage it's time instead to ask our profound question and you know our profound questions everybody ready 123 right salon. So what say love always want to know about Pollock talks. I really appreciate you answering that for me but what difference is made to my wife on Monday morning. Let's see if we can answer that, you know, and I'm sure you're aware of this in our world there are always some people who just don't get it. I'm reminded of the story of the Jewish mother who was at the country club and she was comparing sons with some of the other ladies there at the country club is a one lady said all she said. I got the most wonderful son you could ever imagine. She should utilize on the my son every week sends me flowers and with the flowers, comes a note telling me what a wonderful mother I am and how much he loves me. The second mother said she said my son better than that.

My son you know what he does. He calls me faithfully every week every Sunday. No matter where he is in the world. He calls me to tell me how much he loves me what a great mom. I am Jewish mother said said you think you got a son. You should see my son she's at my side and you know what my son dies. She said my son three times a week every week.

He goes to see his therapist at all he ever talks about some people just don't get it now.

Now that is coming to dinner, but but let me tell you the reason I bring that up is because these people in Thessalonica. They got it. You say they got what they got exactly what Paul was talking about. They were crystal clear about what Paul was preaching in town. Verse seven says he's preaching that there is another king besides Caesar, a fellow named Jesus well they got it and you know we spent so much time talking about Jesus as our Messiah and Jesus is our Savior that I think sometimes were guilty of glossing over the fact that the Bible also says Jesus is our King Nathaniel one of Jesus's disciples put it well. He said in John chapter 1 Rabbi you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel.

When Pilate asked Jesus.

Are you the king of the Jews, Jesus said yes it is as you say, and you might save a lot of wonderful but I'm a Gentile.

So what difference does that make to me all wait a minute would just start in here to talk about what Jesus is the king over because he himself said in Matthew 28 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus said if you live in heaven or you live here on earth. And oh by the way that pretty well covers all the only options are if you live in any one of those two places I have all authority over every single person that lives in either one of those two locations on the king of everybody's life, which is why the Bible calls in Revelation 19 the king of kings and Lord of lords. Now the fact that Jesus Christ is king over every life in the universe. What that means is that we therefore can divide every human being in the one of three categories. And if you're here today.

I promise you you're in one of these three categories we go through them. I want you to figure out which one you're in and if you're not in the right when we want to try to help you get there now category number one are people who have made no surrender whatsoever to the Lordship the kingship of Jesus Christ over their life. These are people who say hey want to live the way we want to live for him to do the things that we want to do and there's no king anywhere that's going to tell us how we're going to live in the choices that were going to make now folks, if you're in this category. Let me say this is a most dangerous position to be. Here's why. Psalm two. Why are the nations in an uproar in want of the peoples devise a foolish plan. The Bible asked and what is this foolish plan.

The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord and against his Messiah, and here's what they say let us break their reign over us. We don't want them ruling over us.

We don't want them being king over us. Now he who sits in heaven laughs a he scoffs at their foolishness, and here's what God in heaven says he says I have installed my king in Israel. I have given him the nations as his possession. Therefore, all kings be wise and be warned, you people of the earth worship the Lord with reverence and kiss the son, the Lord Jesus, lest he be angry with you, and you perish in the way that you're doing things in your way.

You heard the old saying you're either on the trainer on the tracks. Remember that old saying will friends if you made no surrender to the Lordship of Christ. You're on the tracks is just that simple. And the trains common and is a dangerous place to be. And if you're here and you've never trusted Christ in a real and personal way. I beg you, I implore you, friends, get off the tracks and get on the train before the train hit you because it is common and you don't want to be standing on the tracks when he gets there.

While category number two is the next category and these are people who have made a partial surrender to the kingship of Jesus over there like you still have somebody do that's real simple.

These are people who embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior. But that's as far as it goes. In other words, they want Jesus to be king over their eternal destiny but they don't want Jesus to be king over there everyday life over the choices they make the lifestyle that they live. These are people you may have heard it put this way, these are people in whose lives. Jesus is a resident but he is not the president Johnson.

What I'm saying now what about people in this situation. Well, here's what Jesus says to them. Revelation 3 verse 15 he says I have this against you, Jesus said that you are neither hot nor cold here in the middle you're in never never land.

And I wish you were one of the other, but you are lukewarm, and because you are lukewarm I am ready to spit you out of my mouth. So be earnest, and repent, be earnest, and change your mind be earnest and make a U-turn on these are very strong words that the Lord Jesus speaks here (it shows us about some of the intensity that he feels about people being in this category. And if you're here today and you're in category number two. Our goal every single week here at McLean Bible church is to help you understand the importance and make the step of getting out in never never land. Getting out of lukewarm land and getting into the real important place to be and that's category number three and these are people who have made a total surrender to Lordship the kingship of Jesus Christ in our lives, not these are the people that Jesus is looking for friends. These are the people that God always has and that God always will bless honoring use. Think about the people been in this category down through the years, Abraham, Moses, David, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Deborah of the apostle Paul. This is a category where the honor of God rests is still a lot of I wanted to be in this category. What is it really mean to put some handles on it practically love to Paul said.

Romans 12 one.

I urge you, brothers, to present your bodies to God as living sacrifices for this is pleasing to God and here Paul explains what's what's involved in being in category number three there are three quick things I want to point out to you. Number one he says that God is asking us to present something to him. The word literally means to yield something surrender something to turn over control or relinquish control of something. Second of all, what is it that God is asking us to relinquish control of it says right here, the issue is our bodies not been a pastor for 22 years and I people that come in my office all the time and they've messed up they disobeyed God that got themselves in a peck of trouble. And yet, I'll tell you the most common sentence I hear in my office the 22 years. Wonder what it is. Here it is lawn. I know I messed up, but my heart was in the right place. It was God knows my heart and my heart was in the right place will that's wonderful that your heart was in the right place, but the problem with that is people out in our world can't see what's in your heart or my heart. All they can see is what we do with our bodies and friends. It's with our bodies that we are either going to honor Jesus Christ in the eyes of an onlooking world or its with our bodies that were going to disgrace Jesus Christ in the eyes of an onlooking world. God is happy as can be to have your heart but you know what God is not satisfied to get your body, which is why above first Corinthians 620 says honor God. Therefore, with your body. It's why.

First Thessalonians 4 says each of us should learn to control our body in a way that is holy and honorable before God.

The issue is not just our heart. It's our body, our feet. Our hands are tongs. Our eyes are brave and what is God want from our bodies. How much of our body does God want.

That's the third thing Paul says in Romans 12 he wants enough of it than we become living sacrifices. The imagery here grows out of the Old Testament where a person would bring an animal to the temple. The priest would take that animal killed an animal and utterly burn it on the altar. Hey, how much of this Old Testament animal to God asked for friends, he asked for all of it and how much of you and me is necessary for us to become living sacrifices God want you to slit your throat become a debt sacrifice you want to live but he want US sacrifice to him is that animal was and how much of us does it take to be a sacrifices that animal print. It takes 100% hundred percent God is not interested in a limited partnership with you. God is interested in a complete takeover. But remember, God doesn't do hostile takeovers you got to be willing to present yourself to him.

You gotta want this to happen. And if you do, God will take over but you gotta give it to you. Gotta give your body to him now. What this means practically the Lordship of Jesus Christ is that we make a deliberate decision to crown Jesus as King over every area of our life. It means that we endeavor to bring every single area of our life into conformity to what the Bible tells us well. I thought of me in those different areas.

This includes our sex lives. Our dating habits are attitudes in the language we use. This includes the way that we treat our spouse the way that we treat our children the way we talk about all the people the way we forgive other people the way that we use our money and the way we drive on the Beltway out yet does friends the Lordship of Jesus Christ means when God tells you there's a way he want to do some you know it that way and it doesn't mean we always get it right. None of us ever gets it always right and thank God for his forgiveness because we don't always get it right.

But people who were committed to the Lordship of Christ. Totally there never satisfied to rest on God's forgiveness. There always coming back and say about Laura want to get it right for your sake and everybody say in the sake of the kingdom of God. I want to get this right. I love the definition of the Lordship of Christ to Jimmy Draper, the great Southern Baptist preacher gave the best one I never heard he's of the Lordship of Christ means we turn to God, and we say God, the answer is yes. Now what was the question and Lord you fill in the question and it doesn't matter what the question is, I'm going to give you the same answer. I'm under the kingship of Jesus and answers yes Haida lady in my office recently telling me about her husband who was unfaithful to her and she said, but he's come back and he's asked to be forgiven and he wants to put the marriage back together. He says so I said what are you gonna do. She said well I know what God wants me to do. God wants me to forgive him and but the marriage back together. So she said you matter how bad he certainly I'm sticking in this marriage were to put it back together know what you just heard is a lady who's made a total commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our life. I was talking to a high school student.

The other day and he said you realize every single person a high school treats everybody cheats they all cheat on the test. They all cheat on their homework, and he said, but I know that's not right. And I know God want me to do that. He said I made up my mind pastor that I am not cheat and even if I get lower grades. I'm not cheating because I believe God will still get me where I need to be what you just heard as a teenager who's made a 100% commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is as practical as it gets friends Lordship of Jesus Christ is right down for you and I live every single day.

I know for some of us here. This is a really hard thing to do. Some of us here have had domineering fathers and abusive mothers and controlling husbands who've taken the submission we gave they've taken the release of control we gave up and they've abused us with that they dehumanize those they brutalize and hurt us and we have sworn we would never ever give up control of our life again that anybody to that degree. Hey, I understand that I came from that kind of home. I know exactly which talk about friends, just let me say to you, don't take what those people did to you and extrapolate that to God. God is not a human being who takes our surrender and turns it into an ego trip that is not God. God takes our surrender any turns it into green pastures and still waters and restoring our soul. I came as I sit out of a home like that for 31 years ago, I yielded full control of my life to Jesus and he is never abuse that in 31 years and he won't abuse it with you still use it to bless your life. So I understand completely if you're there for friends.

Be careful, don't extrapolate to God would Doug belong to God. You can trust and you can give them control. He will never hurt you with what its power had to close our eyes together, showing if you're here today in and you're not in category number three, but as a result of listening to what we've said here, you're ready to be. You're willing to be that I want to give you just a moment for you to tell God that before you walk out of here today, so if you need to do business with God you take a moment and you do for Jesus. Thanks for reminding us today that your kingship over our life is the most practical everyday concept. There could possibly be. It applies to golf balls and golf clubs and tests in school and marriages and dating relationships applies to everything Lord. My prayer is that you would motivate every single person here today to understand why it's so important to be in category three and then to get in that category or thanks for your forgiveness because we don't always get it right. Thanks for the Holy Spirit in his power helping us each and every day to get it right.

Below are the most important thing of all is that we are committed to the Lordship of Christ, and we have a seal for getting it right.

Each and every day. So God honor the people who prayed here today and move categories help them and all of us with your special spring to go out and honor you in a world that's watching very carefully and we pray these things in Jesus name Amen been listening to that, I went with Dr. Lon Solomon said, when is an outrage of Lon Solomon ministry to listen to today's message