Jesus Is King Of Kings

 

 

 

“Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”

I Timothy 6:15

Introduction:

  1. The election of a new president for our nation approaches, but the Lord Jesus Christ governs all such events.
  2. It is too bad that we have never seen a real king and the glory, power, and riches that such rulers possessed.
  3. Kings have altered human history more than any other office by far and have been great blessings or curses.
    1. They could elevate men like Joseph, Manasseh, Mordecai, Esther, or Daniel without hearings or approval.
    2. They could kill a man for nothing without a trial, or purge a nation or race like Pharaoh or Ahasuerus.
  4. How do you worship the Lord Jesus Christ? There is a strong warning given to teach reverence (Mal 1:14).
  5. I will be baptizing some children soon, and I see baptism as the swearing of allegiance to Jesus our King.
  6. So many leave Jesus on a crucifix, in a manger, or at a door that they forget He is King (Heb 12:28-29).
    1. Mel Gibson’s recent movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” gave only a few seconds to a weak resurrection.
    2. The devil has a vested interest in keeping Jesus as weak and helpless as possible, for he is doomed!
  7. We were called to magnify and exalt the Lord last Sunday, so let us do it regarding His kingship (Ps 34:1-3).
  8. Paul considered Him a King and used His office to solemnly charge Timothy to his duties (I Tim 1:17; 6:15).
  9. The disciples, called Christians, had a religious conviction that they were under another king (Acts 17:7).
  10. By our position in the church of Christ, we are citizens of the city of the great king (Ps 48:2; Heb 12:22).
  11. We can come boldly to the throne of our King to obtain grace and mercy for help in need (Heb 4:16; 8:1).
    1. It is a throne of grace, because our King is also our great high priest and Saviour (Hebrews 4:14-15).
    2. We can come boldly, not in terror or slavish fear, because grace and mercy have been secured for us.
  12. We should teach the wonderful works of God to our children to the fourth generation (Ps 78:1-8; Joel 1:3).

Jesus was born King

  1. From the beginning, God had foretold the coming of a son that would defeat Satan (Genesis 3:15).
  2. When Jacob blessed his sons, he also prophesied of this great ruler from Judah (Genesis 49:8-12).
  3. Wise men came from the East to worship Him that was born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-3).
  4. Daniel had prophesied much earlier of this stupendous event in world history (Dan 2:44; Mark 1:15).
  5. Isaiah and Jeremiah also prophesied of this great Son of David and event (Is 9:6-7; 32:1; Jer 23:5).

Jesus was made King

  1. Jesus ascended into heaven and was rewarded for His death with David’s throne (Phil 2:5-11).
  2. The disciples saw Him leave earth, and John saw Him arrive in heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Rev 5:1-10).
  3. Consider Paul’s record of this event to the Christian saints among the Jews (Heb 1:3,8-9; 2:6-10).
  4. He took His seat at the right hand of God on an eternal throne (Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 2:25,33-34; 7:55-56; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; I Pet 3:22).
  5. He had all authority and enemies put under his feet (I Cor 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; I Peter 3:22).
  6. God ordained Jesus to be a King and Priest like Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-10; 6:20; 7:1-28).

Jesus is the highest King

  1. He is the Prince of the kings of the earth, which means He reigns over all of them (Revelation 1:5,9).
  2. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Daniel 2:47; I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16).
  3. Jehovah is a great king over all the earth (Psalm 47:2; 48:2; 95:3; Malachi 1:14; Matthew 5:35).
  4. All other kings derive their power from him, and they bow before Him (Ps 72:11; 105:14; Dan 2:21).
  5. God raised up Pharaoh as the world’s greatest king to crush him (Exodus 9:13-16; Romans 9:17).

Jesus is King of Kings

  1. The power of any king is truly measured by his ability to conquer other kings (Ezekiel 26:7; Dan 2:37-38), so God manifests His power by ruling over the kings of the earth.
    1. Any athlete is honored according to his ability to defeat opponents – the better the opponent, the better the victory. Therefore, a victory over a great opponent results in great honor. For example, winning the 100 meters race at the Olympics, where all sprinters are invited, earns the title of World’s Fastest Human. Similarly, any boxing victory is rated according to the world ranking of the opponent.
    2. A king against whom there is no rising up is a comely thing worthy of admiration (Pr 30:29-31), so a King Who crushes all opposing kings is truly glorious (Dan 2:37-38).
    3. It is a pity that in our day the power of a king is not visible for our children and us to consider. This lack of visible power is a chief factor in the breakdown of rule and authority throughout our society. And it furthermore destroys our ability to visualize and consider the power of God. Kings, masters, fathers, husbands, and pastors are God’s representatives, but what picture of God is presented by their conduct and authority today?
    4. Due to these considerations of authority, God raised up Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar to destroy or depose the greatest monarchs in the world’s history (Ex 9:13-16; Rom 9:17; Dan 4:34-37).
    5. God is praised by describing His power over kings (Psalm 72:11; 76:12; 89:27; 105:14; 135:10; 136:16-17; Daniel 2:21; 2:47).
    6. God is not just a King, but He is the great King (Psalm 47:2; 48:2; 95:3; Mal 1:14; Matt 5:35).
  2. Since men are always subject to the will of kings and governors, it is comforting to be reminded of God’s sovereignty over the kings of the earth (I Tim 2:1-2).
    1. Regardless of how we may feel relative to a king or other ruler, God holds their hearts in His hands as the rivers of waters and turns them as He chooses (Pr 21:1).
    2. The abuse of power has hurt many people, but God is the ultimate King (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 5:8).
  3. A study of the kingdom of God, particularly as it pertains to the rule of Jesus Christ, should include a study of God’s rule over the kings of the earth (Psalm 2:6-12; Revelation 12:5; 19:11-16).
  4. Jesus Christ is to be known as the King of kings (I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5; 17:14; 19:16).
  5. The sovereignty of God is a distinctive aspect of our faith, and this title of God is one that well describes His power and dominion over the highest authority this world allows.

There are many examples of Jesus as King of kings

  1. Nimrod was the first king of Babylon, but his tower ambitions were ruined (Gen 10:8-10; 11:1-10).
  2. Pharaoh was absolute king of Egypt, but his ambitions toward Sarah were stopped (Gen 12:10-20).
  3. Chedorlaomer and three kings with him were killed by Abraham and 318 servants (Gen 14:1-20).
  4. Abimelech was king of Gerar, but his ambitions toward Sarah were defeated (Genesis 20:1-18).
  5. Abimelech was king of Gerar, but he saw God’s great blessing on Isaac (Genesis 26:12-16,26-29).
  6. Pharaoh was absolute king of Egypt, but God moved him to (1) dream several dreams, (2) promote Joseph over all of Egypt, and (3) subsidize Jacob and his family and give him the best land of Egypt (Genesis 41:1-8,37-57; 47:1-6; Psalm 105:13-24; Acts 7:9-15).
  7. Pharaoh was absolute king of Egypt, but he lost around three million people against his better judgment, after God let him taste of His magnificent power.
    1. God helped the midwives who rejected the king’s commandment and spared the men children alive, and the people multiplied greatly (Exodus 1:15-22).
    2. Pharaoh was exalted to be the greatest king in the earth simply for God to have an opportunity to overthrow and humiliate the greatest of kings (Exodus 9:13-16; Romans 9:17).
    3. God showed him (a) rods turning into serpents, (b) water turning into blood, (c) frogs, (d) lice, (e) flies, (f) murrain, (g) boils, (h) hail, (i) locusts, (j) darkness, (k) death of the firstborn, and (l) the closing up of the Red Sea on Pharaoh and his army.
    4. The moments Pharaoh had between his chariot wheels coming off and being drowned would have been an awesome lesson in religion – for he learned about the living and true God!
    5. This multitude of afflictions God brought upon Egypt was to provide an object lesson for fathers to use with their sons (Exodus 10:1-2; Psalm 105:27; 106:22; Isaiah 43:3).
    6. The Psalmist would later praise God for frogs in Pharaoh’s chambers (Psalm 105:30).
  8. Arad was king of the Canaanites, but God destroyed him by Israel (Numbers 21:1-3).
  9. Sihon was king of the Amorites, but God destroyed him by Israel (Numbers 21:21-26).
    1. Consider the proverb that was spoken of Sihon and his taking of Moab (Numbers 21:27-30).
    2. God delivered Edom and Moab for relatives’ sakes (Deut 2:1-9), but not King Sihon.
    3. David later praised God for His power over these kings (Psalm 135:10-12; 135:17-20).
  10. Og was king of Bashan, but God destroyed him by Israel also (Numbers 21:33-35; Deut 3:11).
  11. Balak was king of Moab, but God defeated his intentions to have Balaam curse Israel.
    1. Balak was afraid of fighting Israel in battle, so he sought other means (Numbers 22:2-6).
    2. God made Balaam bless Israel (Num 23-24; Deut 23:5; Josh 24:9-10; Neh 13:1-2; Micah 6:5).
  12. Five kings of Midian and their kingdoms were destroyed by Israel (Numbers 31:1-18).
  13. The king of Jericho could not resist the Israelites and their God (Joshua 6:1-21).
  14. The king of Ai was tricked and taken by strategy by Israel and their God (Joshua 8:1-29).
  15. Adoni-Zedek and four kings were defeated by God’s intervention (Joshua 10:1-27).
  16. Various kings of Canaan were destroyed by Joshua and his God (Joshua 10:28-43).
  17. Jabin king of Hazor and many other kings were all crushed by Joshua (Joshua 11:1-20).
  18. Thirty-three kings are summarized by the Spirit as vanquished foes (Joshua 12:1-24).
  19. Two kings of the Amorites were driven out of Canaan by hornets (Joshua 24:12). Imagine it!
  20. Adoni-bezek was king of Bezek, but he met his match in the God of Israel (Judges 1:1-8).
  21. Oreb and Zeeb were princes of Midian but died ignominious deaths (Judges 7:19 – 8:3).
  22. Zebah and Zalmunna were kings of Midian and died at Gideon’s hand (Judges 8:4-21).
  23. Hanun was king of the Amorites but made an error in humiliating Israel (II Samuel 10:1-14).
  24. Hadarezer was king of Syria but found mercenary pay too inadequate (II Samuel 10:1-19).
  25. Solomon was king of Israel but God made him wiser and richer than all (I Kings 4:23).
  26. Ben-hadad was king of Syria but found Israel’s God too much (K Kings 20; II Kings 8:7-15).
  27. Mesha was king of Moab but made the grave mistake of confronting Israel (II Kings 3).
  28. Jehoram, Ahaziah, Jezebel, and Ahab’s sons lost to Jehu (II Kings 9-10).
  29. Sennacherib was king of Assyria but was too proud (II Kings 18-19; Isaiah 10:5-19; 36-37).
  30. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, but God (1) chose his princes in spite of his nationality and commandment, (2) reproved him for his foolish idolatry, and (3) abased him for his foolish pride (Daniel 1,3,4).
  31. Evil-merodach was king of Babylon, but God moved him to treat Jehoiachin his prisoner well (II Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34).
  32. Belshazzar was king of Babylon but God took away his secure kingdom in a single night, even as he celebrated the invincibility of his kingdom (Daniel 5).
  33. Cyrus was king of Persia, but God (1) gave him the Babylonians with hardly a fight and (2) charged him to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:24 – 45:4; II Chron 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-11; 6:1-5); and he did all this by name before Cyrus was even born! Glory!
  34. Ahasuerus (also known as Darius and Artaxerxes in the Bible) was king of Persia, but God (1) used him to defend and subsidize the Jews, (2) caused him to assist Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem, (3) chose his queen from among captive Jews, (4) caused him to find the deed of Mordecai on a sleepless night, (5) directed him to destroy the wicked Haman and promote Mordecai, and (6) moved him to decree a day of justice and revenge for the Jews (Ezra 6:1-14; Nehemiah 2:1-8; Esther 2:15-18; 6:1-2; 7:7 – 8:2; 9:1-5).
  35. Persian and Greek kings were raised up and put down, as a study of Daniel 7-12 will clearly show.
    1. Antiochus Epiphanes and the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kings were used by God (Dan 10-12).
    2. Who made Alexander great, but the Lord Who used him as a pawn (Daniel 7:6; 8:5-8; 11:3-4).
  36. The kings of the earth, represented by two Herods and Pilate, stood up against the Christ and were defeated in their purpose to overthrow God’s kingdom (Psalm 2:2; Acts 4:26).
    1. Herod the Great died shortly after ordering the death of children in Bethlehem (Matt 2:13-20).
    2. Herod and Pilate became friends over the crucifixion, but He turned their world upside down!
  37. Herod was king of Judea, but God (1) delivered Peter from his hands and (2) sent him to an ignominious death for not giving the great King His proper glory (Acts 12).
  38. Ten kings of Europe obeyed God by giving their kingdoms to Rome (Rev 17:12-18).
  39. Gentile kings served the true God by nursing the gospel of Christ (Isaiah 49:23 cp Acts 28:30-31).
    1. Consider that the current IRS code in the U.S. still supports “ministers of the gospel.”
    2. Consider that James the VI of Scotland became king of England and called for the KJV.

We benefit from Jesus as King

  1. We obtain comfort to help in our time of need by His great authority and power (Heb 4:12-16; 2:18).
  2. We obtain courage in danger by His great power to protect us (II Timothy 4:16-18; Hebrews 13:6).
  3. We obtain consolation in perplexity that He will gain the victory for us (Prov 21:1; I Cor 15:55-58).
  4. We obtain conviction to worship Him more fully by considering His greatness over the kings of the earth (Ezra 9:9; Neh 9:24; Job 12:18; 36:7; Dan 2:21,47; Psalm 72:11; 76:12; 89:27; 144:10; 148:11; Proverbs 21:1; Micah 1:14; Heb 12:28-29).

For Further Study:

  1. Sermon Outline: “He Ascended Up on High,” which details the ascension and coronation of Jesus Christ.
  2. Sermon Outline: “Jesus Is Jehovah,” which provides a brief outline of proofs that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.
  3. Sermon Outline: “Is God the Author of Confusion?” which proves that the great God loves to confound haughty men.