WHEN WE SURRENDER TO THE KING, HIS KINGDOM WILL SAVE AND SECURE US
A Sunday Message
FULL OF KNOWLEDGE BUT REMAINING IGNORANT
It is possible to understand Bible truths, possess intellectual knowledge of Christ and still remain ignorant of WHO JESUS IS. The Gospel of John demonstrates this reality. Men and women may recognize the validity of the words and works of Christ but still reject Him as their Sovereign Lord. It is possible to believe in God without faith in Him (James 2:19), to call Him Lord without knowing and obeying Him (Matt.7:21-23; Luke 6:46).
In the Bible, “signs” are usually supernatural wonders and miracles that authenticate the PRESENCE, PERSON, and POWER of God. (John 3:2; John 2:11, John 14:11; Acts 2:22; John 3:2). These divine acts compel us TO ADMIT OUR OWN HELPLESSNESS as we marvel at the power of SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.
The Jews saw the Lord miraculously healed the sick and multiply bread to feed thousands before their eyes. Being familiar with the Scriptures (Deut. 18:15), they concluded that Jesus is the foretold PROPHET.
JOHN 6:14
“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the PROPHET who is to come into the world!”
LOOKING FOR A KING WHO WILL SERVE THEM
Seeing the manifestation of His power, they recognize WHAT HE CAN DO FOR THEM. This impelled the crowd to unite and forced Him TO BE THEIR KING. Strangely enough, the Lord Jesus withdrew and left them.
JOHN 6:15
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
What was wrong? Miracles testify that Jesus is the Son of God sent by the Father in Heaven, but because all they want is a king who will solve their problems, they failed to recognize who He really is. They want a king who will always provide bread, heal their sickness, and freed them from Roman oppression, nothing more. A king who will serve them.
A SELF-ORIENTED LIFE
When the Bible gives a preview of the spirit of self-absorption in the last days, it speaks of a prevailing false godliness as well.
2 TIMOTHY 3:2-5,7
“For PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF SELF, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, SWOLLEN WITH CONCEIT, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING ITS POWER.… ALWAYS LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO ARRIVE AT A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.”
Self-centeredness will always blind the heart from seeing the glory of God. These people may have considerable knowledge of God, but they are ignorant of Him. They fall into a strong delusion (2 Thess. 2:9-12).
When you relate with Him from the standpoint of self-interest alone, God will be perceived as a heavenly servant, a divine tool, and a sovereign errand boy. Someone we can manipulate to follow our whims. This is not the Sovereign Lord of the universe. It is a false Christ.
WHY WOULD THE KING REJECT TO BE THEIR KING?
The Lord Jesus Christ will be KING ACCORDING TO FATHER’S PLAN AND DESIGN. He will give the Son the everlasting heavenly Kingdom.
DANIEL 7:14
And TO HIM WAS GIVEN DOMINION AND GLORY AND A KINGDOM, THAT ALL PEOPLES, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGES SHOULD SERVE HIM; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
It is not the kingdom the Jews want to give Him. He will not be this kind of king. MAN WANTS TO MAKE HIM KING WITHOUT THE CROSS.
This is the kind of throne the devil tried to offer Jesus when he tempted the Lord to command the stone to become bread and prove that He is the Son of God. Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will worship him. (Matthew 4:1-8).
LUKE 4:8
“Jesus answered him, “IT IS WRITTEN, “‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE.’ ”
THE CROSS IS THE PATH TO GLORY
For Jesus, crucifixion is the only path to glorification.
Without the atoning sacrifice through His death on the cross, man can never be redeemed to belong to His Kingdom where He rules and reigns.
The moment the heart is spiritually enlightened to understand and believe the Holy Scriptures (“It is WRITTEN”), it comes to recognize that Jesus Christ is the Sovereign Master and Gracious Redeemer. He comes to the cross in repentance. He walks the path of self-surrender (Matt. 16:24). He recognizes that his sins are abomination to the Holy One sitting on the throne. He surrenders his life to God’s superior rule and pledge his eternal allegiance and obedience to the authority of the Heavenly King. In effect, he abdicates the throne of his life and enthrones the true Sovereign.
EPHESIANS 1:20-21
“(The Father)… seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY AND POWER AND DOMINION, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
HE IS BOTH LORD AND SAVIOR
Only when Jesus Christ is Sovereign Master over our lives can He become a Gracious Redeemer. He is both LORD and SAVIOR.
ROMANS 10:9
“If you confess with your mouth that JESUS IS LORD and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED.”
If we seek the KINGDOM OF GOD first before our needs, the King promises that He will be a faithful Shepherd and Provider.
MATTHEW 6:33
But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and his righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.
PSALM 23:1
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want.
May the sovereign rule of the one and only King provides peace, security, and comfort to our lives as we walk a life of faithful obedience and faith.
Your Pastor (Jay-R Remorosa)