The Coming of the King

Masters open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 2 Matthew chapter 2 went to read the first two verses with you part of the so-called Christmas story familiar words.

Matthew is writing his gospel. He says here Matthew to verse one, though after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews, for we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Here is a wonderful question asked by don't the wise men from the East to Haddad and notice what they say in verse two where is he who has been born king of the Jews of all of the descriptions they could have used is significant that these wise men refer to Jesus as the birth of this baby as the king of the Jews. I notice also that they did not say where is he who has been Barton to be king of the Jews, but rather as my tutor cards. Where is he who has been born king of the Jews. That is, the wise men knew that the person who was born was in fact a king King of the Jews in Jesus is the king of the Jews in this Sunday before Christmas. I want us to consider this great truth that Jesus is the King something I think we sometimes ignore the Jesus when these columns is barn King of the Jews were going to look at some of the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies regarding Jesus as King.

I think it think of what that meant and during his first coming. What it means for us today and what it will mean for the future.

Now I realize we live in the Republic many years ago you got rid of the king. King George III is approaching any so we Scott's agree with you getting rid of them and is not surprising that the colonists rebelled against him. But this king were talking about is a perfect king, perfectly righteous, holy, wise, loving, and all powerful. And then the Old Testament Scriptures over and over again we read our prophecies about coming king and overcoming kingdom. So turn with me.

First of all, I hope you brought your Bibles to second Samuel chapter 7, second Samuel, that's in the Old Testament we have Judges Ruth first Samuel second Samuel Jude on the Bible with we you can buy one in the word storage you leave.

If you can't afford to just take the one in the pew. But we want you to read your Bible and to come with your Bible so that you begin to understand it more and more. Going to the next few verses of what is called the Davidic covenant. One of the main confidence in Scripture in a very very important covenant here. The Lord gives to David this amazing profit say about coming king and the coming kingdom second Samuel chapter 7 verse 12 when your days are fulfilled in your line done with your father's. That is when you die, I will raise up your offspring after you shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Forever thing a wonderful this is where 16 and your house on your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.

Your throne shall be established forever. Isn't it amazing that God in his grace takes this unknown shepherd boy not only make some king of Israel, but through David is through the lineage of David that is going to be a greater king David's greater son and that is going to back kingdom which will last forever and we call this the Davidic covenant and so were really not too surprised when we open our Bibles and begin to read the New Testament and the first book is a book of Matthew and Matthew writes in Matthew one verse one the very first thing he says is the book of the genealogy of Jesus Savior Christ, the Messiah, the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David amazing description the reminder that this one who's going to be barn is Matthew sets out his genealogy and sets out his family tree. He reminds us that this one Jesus the Christ comes from the family of David. He is the son of David, that is, he is the right to rule as King David realize that is against this amazing prophecy which must must of, and imputed all of the second Samuel seven you see that the David is amazed that God would take him a shepherd boy make him the king and although he is not going to build the temple of God is going to be given to his son Solomon that David's kingdom and David's reign and David's house is going to continue forever, and his kingdom will last forever, and David himself is a right some of the Psalms. We call them the messianic Psalm speaks not only of the coming Messiah but speaks of the coming kingdom, and of a kingdom which will never and turned to Daniel. Daniel chapter 2 is another Old Testament prophet.

Looking ahead receiving visions from the Lord and is going to write about the same kingdom. Daniel. Towards the end of the Old Testament Daniel chapter 2.

Story of Nebuchadnezzar 1 think of the context but here it is an Daniel chapter 2 verse 44 again wonderful prophecy and then the days of the those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom notice who sets it up. Some believers talk as if we're going to set up the kingdom of God absolutely nods no military might know political strategy will ever set up the kingdom of God or not.

It is God himself who is going to set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people it shall break in pieces.

All these kingdoms and bring them to an end and it shall stand forever. That is this kingdom. The kingdom of God is going to shattered all of the kingdoms of their and this mighty kingdom will stands forever. How is it going to come about over to chapter 7 of Daniel. Daniel chapter 7 and Daniel has these night visions of the Lord Jesus is going to court this in the New Testament.

Daniel seven verse 13 I saw in the night visions in the hold of the clouds of heaven came one like the Son of Man, and he came to the ancient of days and was presented before him who is the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ was the ancient of days, the father, and to him. Verse 14 was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations and languages shall serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom, one that shall not be destroyed.

These magnificent prophecies of the kingdom are going to be very different from all of the kingdoms of the world. Nebuchadnezzar's time. That was Babylon. And there's the Greek empire.

There's a Roman Empire in man's kingdoms have risen and fallen but here is a reminder that every single kingdom of mine.

Whatever it is, one day is going to be shattered and the kingdom of God is going to be set up in this kingdom will stands forever by the New Testament also prophesies about coming king and kingdom turn to Luke chapter 1 here is I think something which is often forgotten in the so-called Christmas story here is Gabriel appearing too young to marry a teenager. What does Gabriel say Luke chapter 1 verse 13 one was begin at verse 30 and the angel Gabriel said to her do, don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

You find grace with God and the hold, you will conceive in your womb is a virgin, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the son of the most time the government amazed. Mary must've been to hear this pronouncement from Gabriel.

I notice this verse 32 is less intriguing and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. David, the greatest of Israel's kings, David, to whom is given this wonderful promise that we just read in second Samuel seven. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no and prophecies than of a coming kingdom. Now how does this happen all the kingdom of God, then comes into Jim and his straight, with the coming of Jesus the King.

If you look chapter 1 go back to Mark chapter 1 is that you're having us using our Bibles. That's right your people tell me that our churches hear what you don't need your Bible. I was with the church like that right get updated on what CNN or Fox News or Newsweek are saying we need to hear the word of God. Mark one.

Here is how Mark begins his gospel. Here is the first thing that Mark records Jesus saying as he begins his public ministry. Mark one verse 14 now after John was arrested that John the Baptist Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God will be learning about the gospel. The book of Romans is proclaiming the gospel, the good news of God and saying, but is carefully the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is our hands, repents, and believe in the gospel that wonderful Jesus is saying is that the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospel that is with Jesus, the kingdom of God has come the long-awaited promises and prophecies of the Old Testament prophets are now being fulfilled in Jesus as he himself says the time is fulfilled, and was in the fullness of time in God's perfect timing when Jesus is born the King has come to our he's common to human history. Jesus inaugurates the kingdom of God and sought Christmas we celebrate not just a baby born in a stable. But the amazing truth that when Jesus comes to our God is invading history. The age to come, the eternal age is invading the present age. God is God incarnate the word become flesh is coming into our world and he's coming to save us.

And Jesus is saying. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. The Old Testament era is coming to an end in Jesus the kingdom of God is a hands Matthew records Jesus the end of his life standing on trial before Pilate. Matthew 27 verse 11 then Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked them out here, the king of the Jews, Jesus said you have said so the kingdom of God that we tend to think of a kingdom as a physical territory, such as the United Kingdom by the kingdom of God doesn't confess so much the physical territory. The kingdom of God is when Jesus sovereign rate rules when his will is submissively abate where the king rooms where the king is abate, there is the kingdom of God is God's rule. God's dominion God's sovereignty God's authority with Jesus. The kingdom of God has come. Matthew 12 verse 28 but if it is by the Spirit of God says she's is that I cast out demons than the kingdom of God has come upon you, Jesus comes to our earth and the forces of darkness of hell itself against the Savior, and he demonstrates that the kingdom of God has come with him as he casts out the demons as he establishes his authority over the kingdom of darkness in Jesus the King has come the wise men got it right.

The one born is becoming with as we read Matthew Mark Luke and John.

We find that the kingship of Jesus is largely rejected by Israel and so the time of the Passover, when Jesus enters Jerusalem writing on the donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah chapter 9 verse nine written 500 years before the event. Listen to what Zechariah says we call of the triumphal entry. Zechariah 9 verse time nine rejoice greatly, or daughter of Zion show July little daughter of Jerusalem will hold your King is coming to you righteous and having salvation is the humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of the donkey and try Jesus comes as a king is offering salvation to the nation of Israel.

He is presenting himself as the king and here they showed design, save us because he is looking for national salvation. They say, Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest, Mark 11 verse 10. The problem is Israel. The crowd have a basic misunderstanding of the identity and of the mission of Jesus. They are looking for a political conqueror, then looking for someone to overthrow the Romans. Remember the time of our Lord Israel is under the heel of the Romans the Romans of the superpower Israel is under their heel and then looking for a champion looking for that concrete out there looking for a mighty warrior king who will overthrow the Romans and set up the kingdom there and then thereafter the triumphal entry. You know the Gospels, you know what happens. Jesus goes into the temple, magnificent temple built by the looks around, and he sees nothing of God. There is no welcome for him. The cane there is no spiritual fruits.

Remember, he cleanses the Temple and the Messiah, the Savior, the King Steins in their midst and they reject him. In fact, as he cleanses the Temple Mark says Mark 11 verse 18 that the chief priest of the scribes are seeking to destroy he comes as a king. He's presented himself to Israel as a king by the religious establishment reject him and the crowd who shouted hosanna soon are going to be nailing him to the cross, they would have been totally puzzled by his statement to Pilate. John records it in John 18 verse 36 were Jesus as the pilot, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been finding that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from this world is upside the kingdom of God is not set up on here on out by you and me is not going to be set up by military might is not that we are going to Christianize America get our laws all changed on somehow rather get our act together spiritually and then we will in situ the kingdom of God on there is absolutely no price forthcoming. He did not establish his earthly messianic kingdom, Israel rejects him as king reject them as a Messiah is is Isaiah says he's a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief crucified king has come to the he's rejected and for marshaling perspective, it seems of the mission of Jesus is a total failure led them up. Let me remind you that the kingdom of Jesus is going to come with power and glory determine what the angel said to Mary in Luke one the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no and that Scripture prophesies of this kingdom coming with power and glory. When we think of the subject of the kingdom of God than the subject of the kingdom of God embraces all of Scripture and of course centers on the Lord Jesus when we think of the kingdom of God. We must understand the residual aspect both centering a Jesus and Jesus, the kingdom has come. That is true, the kingdom of God is at hand. But that kingdom and his kingship unveiled spiritually.

The crowds don't see it time and time again. Jesus says to his followers. He who has ears to hear by their ears are closed or that their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened in their midst as the king and they don't even understand it, but there is a present aspect of the kingdom which is largely hidden, but the full power and authority and majesty and glory of the kingship of Jesus, while not immediately evident during his lifetime he dies on the cross is kingdom of that is one. Someone might say, is at an end. The world today does not accept the Jesus is King the world today largely lives the way it wants to live a man told me just a few days ago no one when I face it was Scripture. No one is going to tell me what to do. I'm going to live as I like, but you say Jesus is the King people ignore that we want ourselves to be king. We want to be on the throne of her life. We don't want to submit to any caning or any power on anyone we believe in our personal autonomy. No one's going to tell me what to do just that he has the kingdom of God.

Really, then yes it's come in one aspect, remember this but Jesus is returning number part of the prayer he taught us to pray by will be done. Your kingdom come, God's will is done in heaven. Yes, his will will be done on our Junior kingdom come.

That is, there is a future aspect of the kingdom of God. The next event in God's prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church when the church is caught up to be forever with the Lord and then on they are through the time of tribulation time of Jacob's trouble. Jacobs distresses on the skull and then the end of the tribulation understand this is not science fiction.

This is actually going to happen. The time of the tribulation on our Lord Jesus Christ is going to determine this time he calms with power and glory which will be evident to everyone, he will defeat the armies of the gather to battle against them at the end of the tribulation. And he will with a rod of iron set up his messianic kingdom and his rule will be evident to all. Look with me to Matthew chapter 24 will reseal Lord talking about.

This is return don't think because it's not visible. The Jesus is king that is given up Matthew chapter 24 verse 29 immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light on the stars will fall from heaven, and the power's of the heavens will be shaken. As verse 30 then will appear in heaven, the scion of the son of mine about the Son of Man before is Daniel seven isn't it we will then will appear in heaven. The sign of the Son of Man and then all of the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with Walt with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one and of heaven, to the other.

Jesus coming back and this returning to article Jesus is King will be the most dramatic, most visible and most glorious event in all of human history turned to the last book of the Bible.

I will read of this in Revelation 19 when I say prophesies of the coming kingdom fulfilled in Jesus as he calms With Jesus. The kingdom of God is, rejected by Israel but a future day he's coming back. Revelation 19 verse 11 then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, the one sitting on it is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Notice how different it is when he comes back. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and only said her many diagrams and he's a name written that no one knows but himself. He's clothed in a robe dipped in blood in the name by which is called is the word of God and the armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen, white and pure were following him on white horses from his mind comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nation's and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of lords very different from his first coming to bathrooms and very different.

This future event to the terms not on the donkey returns with power and might, as a writer on the white horse and then all Israel will be saved will think of that, Lord willing. Next Sunday at the end of Revelation at the end of Romans 11 and King Jesus will reign supreme as King of Kings and Lord of lords over the whole earth. He will have absolute and visible authority on that day on that future day there will be no doubt as to who is Kate Paul's eyes in the Philippines to on that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the father is every need Barlow to Jesus today does everyone confess that Jesus is Lord, absolutely not.

But on that day when the kingdom of God comes with power and with glory and with splendor, headed by the king himself portrayed as a rider on the white horse ruling with a rod of iron. All of these enemas will be banished.

No one will stand against this pain and everyone will acknowledge that he is. Praise God you listen to the words of the woman ensemble is I-9 when the reminder over foreign to us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders often has forgotten the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, the everlasting father, the Prince of peace open. There is I goes on to say of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore the zoo of the Lord of hosts will do this, then that is a complete fulfillment of that ancient prophecy yes we celebrate that they child is born in the son is given, we celebrate the wonder of the incarnation at Christmas time.

But as we think of Jesus as the King. We look to the future and realize that the full and final fulfillment of these prophecies given in the Old Testament given to Mary given by Uzziah here will be fulfilled when he comes. So what's a response is a response received Jesus as Savior and King. Again Jesus says in Mark chapter 1 as he begins his public ministry. According to Marx the current weather Jesus say the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand you say so what went up my mind to do repentance and belief in the gospel of the kingdom of God is at hand. What does Jesus require of us are to enter the kingdom of God to be part of this kingdom which will never end requires the new birth is what Jesus says to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 academics you must be born again. You can see, you can enter the kingdom of God unless you are born again.

Jesus puts it this way, you must repentance and believe in the gospel. Repent and exercise faith in Christ faith and repentance of the two sides of the same client attending from Satan a change of mind.

No longer am I living for myself. I am repenting of my sin. I'm confessing that I have messed up that I need a Savior that I need someone to cleanse me. I need someone to get rid of all of the dirt on the sin and the failure of the parts I repent of that and then I embrace Christ. I think of the beauty of Christ who comes as the Savior and his name is Jesus fully saves his people from their sins and we need a Savior we need redemption. We need cleansing and this faith, this belief is not just an intellectual understanding, although there is contents to be understood and affirmed.

Yes, but saving faith is personal trust in Jesus, you have you repented you placed your personal faith in Jesus, not microspheres thing, as I believe is probably gonna believe he probably died. No personal trust in God you repenting of your sins, not just saying everyone is send that is true but you doubly concerned about others. You implement back over your life.

The mess that you've made you think you can deal with it. Of course you can't. I can forgive your sins the church to forgive your sins.

Only God in Christ calms and this is what Jesus is saying, the kingdom of God is commonly the king and therefore to the parents inure to believe in the gospel. Many of you say well I have trusted Christ. I believe Jesus is my Savior. It's wonderful. Let me ask you as he came of your life. King has to be obey. King means that he reigns supreme to make any difference you just saying I know Jesus is my Savior but there's no difference in your life. I have to question the reality of whether you've truly repented and truly play saving faith in Jesus. Paul and Silas are preaching the gospel in Thessalonica when they preach. There is opposition and very curious of doing something which was true saying of them. You turn the world upside down with the wonderful people said that, church, these people at Calvary church attending the world upside time for going against the norms are countercultural, not just drifting along like everyone else determining the world upside down and they are all acting according from acts 17 verse seven there, acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another game was the supreme ruler of the Roman Empire. The Caesar, the Emperor having a part of life and death had to be implicitly obeyed that their segments and there's another gang and were concerned about this caring and we are preaching the sky not Caesar know Ashley kingdom because Caesar's kingdom is going to end, as indeed it has. This came and this kingdom is alive forever more. So I have to ask you about your need to Jesus the King was it obvious by the way that you live that you are following Jesus. Do you know this King entrance into the kingdom of God is by repentance and faith in Jesus.

Unless you are born again unless there's been a supernatural work of Jesus.

Not just mindlessly saying some little acute prayer, but you cannot remember like your mother told you about. I'm talking about having dealings with God. We have been on your face before God, you repented of your sin and you've called on Christ to come and save you at Christmas we celebrate in the celebrating. Not only that, he came as a Savior.

Praise God for that. He comes not to condemn us are judges, but he comes to save us but is also the King, not just King of the Jews were there as we saw King of Kings and Lord of lords.

On one day in the future. Every knee will be forced about every turn will be compelled to a claim that he is paying but now in the grace of God. The gospel is preached, and what this Christ wants you once you voluntarily, not with a rod of iron over your head, not with a sword to your throats, but humbly and submissively to do with these wise men as they worship Jesus knew what the shepherds there than to come to him and get back on their knees into a claim that he is King of King because one day in the future if you don't do it now shall be forced to a claim that he is doing now in time, he voluntarily calls on us to submit to his room would you do that were going to break bread with some wonderful time if you don't know Christ cried to him for salvation. What wonderful time. For those of us who do know the Savior to ask the spirit of God to reveal in our hearts are there areas where I'm not submitted to him my attitudes.

Some part of my mind for a relationship of a business practice and that it should something, something in my life that I own for myself when I sense I was a no I don't want you King here.

I want you to be my Savior but that I still want to do my own way. I so want to live my own life. We repent and bow before Jesus the King surrender all to King Jesus, remembering the tremendous future.

We have as followers of Jesus, I can say the grace of God all of God's grace.

I look forward to being part of that kingdom which will never end which will go for the countless ages of eternity. Yes, the King is coming. Do you know that's why Jesus that is why Paul says as he gives us this wonderful face the Lord's supper.

He says you you do this until he comes. The Lord is coming receive a measure Savior bowed to his kingship. Help us to do the father even as your followers were sometimes willful were sometimes rebellious. We sometimes choose sin rather than righteousness. Forgive us we pray, thank you for opening your eyes, thank you for years that can hear your word may we not be critics but no humbly, bow at the feet of Jesus, our Savior and their king and his name