Jesus is King - Looking for a City

[0:00] Hebrews 11, if you've got your Bibles, Hebrews 11 and verse 10. Just by way of introduction, I'm looking to move.

[0:13] ! Hebrews 11, verse 10, speaking of Abraham, Father Abraham says that he's looking for a city.

[0:41] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, is builder and maker, is God. The Bible says we who believe are children of Abraham by faith, aren't we?

[0:56] We're children of God, but Abraham is like the father of faith. He's seen as one who demonstrated faith.

[1:08] And like Abraham, we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. Of course, it's talking about the heavenly city yet to come.

[1:19] And not only so is this builder and maker of this city God, he's also the king. Of that city. And my theme really tonight is talking about the Lord Jesus as king.

[1:34] We're looking for a city. We're looking for a king. As the Bible says in Hebrews 13, 14, that here we have no continuing city. But we seek one to come.

[1:46] We seek one to come. A new kingdom really, isn't it? The new city. The heavenly city. And we know of Abraham. It tells us about Abraham and Lot that they came to a location where they had to divide because there was too numerous of people and the flocks and their travelling company.

[2:14] It was too large for them to occupy one place. And so there was a dividing there between Abraham and Lot. And Lot got the first choice. And he got distracted by another city, if you like.

[2:28] Vanity Fair. He chose Sodom and Gomorrah. The world. He saw the well-watered valley. And Lot, we know, chose Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah.

[2:39] Likewise, today, it's important we know what city are we headed to. What city will we settle in? Will we aim to go to?

[2:51] And it especially matters who is the king of that city. We've seen, I put to you, of this day and age that we live in, we see the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.

[3:03] I wasn't witness to it, but I understand it was last night on the streets of Sydney. The modern Sodom and Gomorrah, isn't it? And who is the king of all that?

[3:15] You know, really, it's Satan, isn't it? The devil. And I was thinking, really, thankfully, it's Clean Up Australia Day today. It's very fitting that it follows on from the filth of last night.

[3:27] And it is a sad state of affairs, is it not? That our nation does need a clean up, our world. And Ezekiel 16.49 talks about Sodom and it describes the sin of Sodom in particular as pride.

[3:44] And this was really Satan's problem, wasn't it? An authority problem. Because he said, I will, I will, I will ascend, I will be like the Most High. And it was pride. And that was really, as Ezekiel 16.49 says, the sin of Sodom, amongst other things, was pride.

[4:03] That's Sodom. Gomorrah is the sister city of Sodom, you could say. And Gomorrah, it's interesting, not that I dwell on Greek words or such over much, but apparently the Greek name for the terms Gomorrah could mean a heap of manure.

[4:24] That's very fitting too, isn't it? That is the sick, filthy nature of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's filthy, it's vile, and it's a stench.

[4:38] It's interesting, the names of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 14.2, some have said that the names of the two kings mentioned, the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, it means evil and wickedness.

[4:51] Evil and wickedness, they're both names. So, I'm just prefacing this by talking about a city and saying really, we should be looking for a city like Abraham was, because not here is our continuing city, but we seek one that is to come, a heavenly city.

[5:10] The city that we're looking for as God's people, as pilgrims and strangers, as travelling through on this planet, is the one yet to come, the heavenly city.

[5:22] I'm not only looking for a city, I'm seeking for a kingdom. And that's true for you that believe that you, not only are you like Abraham, looking for a city, a heavenly city, you're looking for a kingdom, a heavenly king.

[5:36] The king of that city, if you like. The king of kings and the lord of lords. And it says, as we know that familiar scripture, Matthew 6.33, but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

[5:53] So, not only are we looking for a city, we're looking for a king. For the kingdom, the kingdom of God. That is the ultimate and everlasting kingdom. Ultimately, really, when you think about it, Abraham was looking for a city, but he was also searching for the city of the great king.

[6:10] Matthew 5.35 defines that city as Jerusalem. Who is the king of Jerusalem? It's ultimately our Lord Jesus, isn't it? And the king of the heavenly Jerusalem, the heavenly city yet to come, is that same king, our Lord Jesus, the king of kings.

[6:27] It's interesting that king came to the earthly city of Jerusalem, and they shouted hosannas to him, and they cast palm branches before him as he entered, as he was seated on a donkey.

[6:42] And they gave him glad hosannas. And yet, hours later, they crucified him, just outside that same city, the city of Jerusalem. So let's talk some time now about this king, because this king of whom we speak is our king.

[7:02] And Jesus is king is a slogan that's popularised of late. There's some professing Christians, some professing man who's professed to become a Christian, and he's made Jesus is king quite a slogan.

[7:16] It's quite popularised today. It's top of the pops, as it were. And I'm not here to praise that man, but just that that slogan is, it's present day.

[7:29] It's something that the world is seeing this slogan, Jesus is king. And so it's important that we understand this truth. It's an important truth.

[7:40] It's a vital truth. Is Jesus your king? That is an important question, a very important question. How do we know if Jesus is our king? Let's turn to 1 Timothy 6 verse 11 through 16.

[7:55] Just some words that Paul gave to Timothy that refer to the king. And Paul was exhorting young Timothy about, amongst other things, this king.

[8:11] Is Jesus our king? 1 Timothy 6 from verse 11. Paul's talking to Timothy as a young, professing Christian man of God.

[8:23] And he says this in 1 Timothy 6 verse 11. He says, But thou, O man of God, flee these things. Talking about covetousness, about the temptations and snares.

[8:37] He says, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

[8:49] Fight the good fight of faith. They hold on eternal life. Whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things from before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.

[9:09] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only potentate.

[9:21] Notice this, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honour and power everlasting.

[9:36] Amen. How do we know if Jesus is our King? Now Paul addresses Timothy here, and he talks about the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

[9:51] The question here tonight is, is Jesus our King?

[10:03] And really that's a question about authority. Who's an authority over our life? Now remember this was Satan's problem as we talked about, the sin of Sodom, I will, I will, the sin of Sodom, the sin of Satan, pride, rebellion, was an authority problem.

[10:18] It's a question about authority, who is the King? And this King who we look for is the King of kings, the greatest King. Essentially it matters this truth, whose authority do we come under?

[10:33] If we acknowledge that Jesus is King, it speaks of his authority over us. Paul says, who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

[10:48] Now this word potentate is a very strong word, and notice it says the only potentate. So he's the only one in this class. You know, we might get different layers of structures, of powers, of authorities, of hierarchies, and ultimately this one, who is the one and only, this is Christ.

[11:10] The one and only potentate. In other words, he is the Lord of all. He's the supreme commander and governor. He has the right to rule and command. And he's the only one in this class.

[11:21] There's no one above him. He is the blessed and only potentate. And yet of this potentate, of this King, people still reject him. People still rebel.

[11:33] They have Satan's problem, this authority problem, that they will not come under his authority. And they say, as our Lord referred in a proverb, as these ones he referred to in a proverb, we will not have this man reign over us.

[11:49] And people are in that same mindset today, aren't they? We will not have him reign over us. Anybody but Jesus ruling over us. They don't want to come under his control. But the reality is, for all of us, that the fact is that we're all under the control of one king or another.

[12:08] We're all under a ruler. And sadly, the bulk of humanity, the Bible says that they are enslaved. And they don't even realise it. They are slaves to this mind-blinding dictator that has authority over them.

[12:23] Now, I suppose in some countries, I'm thinking maybe North Korea or some places like that, there's this ultimate dictator who's got them under control. And I know in North Korea, they virtually worship him, don't they?

[12:36] He's virtually worshipped as a god in North Korea. And yet, for some people who live in that nation, maybe they don't know that there is another way.

[12:50] That's the only way they know. And I'll put to you, that's like the world that we live in, that the god of this world, small g, the one who has this temporary reign over planet Earth, has the multitudes under his domain and under his control.

[13:07] And they don't even realise it. They don't even know that they're under his dominion, under his governance. Satan has so blinded the minds of them. So, authority is an important principle, isn't it?

[13:20] We think, of course, there's authority, and I was talking to my dad earlier about there's authority in the home, isn't there? There's a necessary order and authority in the home, in the church setting, in the secular government.

[13:35] There's authorities that have been established of God. The Bible says, honour the king. Even, and that was addressed to those in the time of Caesar. Now, you can't kind of fathom that entirely, but there is that sense that government is due honour.

[13:51] In that, that there's order and goodly structure that God has ordained, that essential structure of authority. And the Bible speaks about authority that is evil and wicked.

[14:05] It tells about spiritual wickedness in high places. And it makes you wonder when you hear such a thing, where do we see that today? Spiritual wickedness in high places.

[14:16] Of course, it makes you wonder about some of the spheres of government that might govern nations and lands where there could be authorities that are actually spiritual wickedness.

[14:28] There's spiritual wickedness going on. I was talking with someone of late and they were saying that there's lots of, apparently lots of witch's covens all around us. That there's, you know, he was talking, I think he said, hundreds, like, around us.

[14:44] Even in this region. That there's many covens. ones. You know, the spiritual wickedness and the spiritual wickedness and the Bible says that the spiritual wickedness is in high places.

[14:57] It's hard to kind of understand what that means and we may not always discern that but the Bible says that that is the case. Spiritual wickedness in high places.

[15:08] Could it be in the media that is propagating messages all the time? All that messaging that is around us. Could it be the spiritual wickedness that's in such jurisdictions?

[15:21] So these are questions we can kind of consider. How do we know who is in authority? I know that the Bible study of late this came up and it caused me to think this question that was posed at the Bible study.

[15:34] How do we know who is in authority? It's the one who we obey. The one who we obey. And we are servant to the one we obey. I know this was referred to in Romans 6 verse 16 through 18 for example.

[15:50] We see this sense of authority. How do we know who is in authority? It's the one who we obey. In Romans 6.16 it says Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.

[16:09] But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness.

[16:22] Again it's that question of who's in charge? Who's in authority? And it seems apparent that it will show by who it is that we give our allegiance to.

[16:37] What authority are we going to come under? And our obeying is reflective of who we're serving. It's of who we count.

[16:48] Who's got mastery over us? So Jesus is king. Whose banner do we fly? Is it sin that rules?

[17:01] Or is it grace? Is it righteousness? In Romans 5.21 it says as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

[17:16] Romans 5.21 it contrasts sin and grace as things that can rule over us. Sin reigns unto death grace reigns through righteousness. As believers we want to honour the king to honour the great king.

[17:33] And it's about his authority over our lives. His kingly rule is not a burden. He's not like the North Korean dictator. Our king this blessed and only potentate his kingly rule is not a burden it's a blessing.

[17:50] Because he is the one who knows what we have need of. When we come under his authority it's a place of grace of order of rightness of righteousness. God's authority is a blessed covering it's a blessing for us to know to be under his authority.

[18:07] Just like in a godly home the authority in that home is a goodly and godly thing. It's a rightful righteous thing. And so too if we come under the authority of Jesus as king there's a blessed governance he makes over our lives and it's uplifting and blessed.

[18:26] So let's be sure of whose authority we come under. And if Jesus is king it follows on that we are his ambassadors. If Jesus is king and we are his subjects in other words obeying him we're subject to him we're his subjects if Jesus is king we are his ambassadors.

[18:48] In Romans 2 Corinthians 5 verse 20 it says now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead we reconcile to God.

[19:00] Consider if Jesus is king you are his citizen you are his subject you are also his ambassadors. We represent heaven where we go and we are messengers of this king he sent us into this world into this world that is contrary to him into this world that is not his kingdom to take the message of his kingdom so that others might be likewise citizens of this new kingdom of this new city.

[19:31] When you think about the world today you think about the church today and what our Lord wants of us today as if the salt has lost its savor that this kingdom that we represent that we ought to be sharply and tastefully presenting to our world we're not as a church doing that good a job of that you know the church by and large that we're not a very good representation of Christ's message to the world because the church by and large we see often it's largely overtaken by the world our Lord says that if the salt has lost its savor then it's good for nothing and friends as the church of God we should be salt that is flavoursome and attractive and different for the salt to work it has to be different and we're meant to be positively impacting our world and its culture yet we see the church in many places and parts has lost that savour it's lost that saltiness the message has got garbled and lost and it's like in some quarters the church has taken on the pop culture of today it's taken on what is false and worldly whereas we're meant to be counter cultural for us to be effective ambassadors we need to stand out and to be different stand up for God

[21:06] Paul told Timothy in that scripture verse 11 flee these things follow after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness follow after that which is of God and as ambassadors what are we we're heralds of the king it's as if you know like years ago they would go ringing a bell or with some loud amplification like something to amplify their voice and they would say hear you hear you we have a message from the king and they would go out the what they call the street callers I think there's one in Salisbury that goes and makes declarations on behalf of the city a town crier they go out and we like to be like that as it were hear you hear you hear you the word of the Lord we're meant to be I'll put to you I'll get that kind of that word picture that we're meant to be like that we're meant to be as his ambassadors we're meant to be his voice because we have been commissioned under his authority we've been authorised we've been delegated under his authority now think of that when you are a witness for Christ that you're an authorised representative of heaven and that's something special isn't it

[22:23] I know when we go door knocking and people say things like I know there's something out there someone out there well he sent me to tell you about him we are his messengers aren't we that's what we're meant to be and that's a big call isn't it to think that we represent heaven and it makes me tremble to think you know we want to do our very best when we stand for God and we are his messengers it's our identity it's our job we extend his kingdom here on earth that's a special precious work for every believer all of us have this part to play and we care enough about the will of God that we want to see it enacted upon earth thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven we want our king's will we want our king's kingdom to reach far and wide and we're the ones who take the message for the king we're the king's messengers and we are sent out by the king that's special isn't it think of that everyone that you touch with your life you are his messenger to them and we don't always realise that great task that he's put into all of our hands so if Jesus is our king then he's in authority if Jesus is our king we're his ambassadors and thirdly if Jesus is our king it follows on too that we are his army we are his army if Jesus is king it means one day he will dominate and he will take rightful claim of earth's throne from the imposter who takes that role at the moment aren't you looking forward to that day

[24:11] I know when we go witnessing again there was one that we talked to yesterday and he was kind of saying well look at what a mess God has made of this world and I said well actually there's a temporary G God at the moment the God of this world there is a temporary small G God and he will be deposed and the rightful king will take his rightful place on the right he's the one who's rightfully to be enthroned as king but in the meantime we're under a temporary domain aren't we that the Lord has allowed Satan that temporary jurisdiction that's why the world is in the state it is in that is why we see all the misery that we do see on planet earth because the temporary king this dictator who's blinded the minds of those who believe not has got that temporary control that limited but temporary control but for us who believe if

[25:25] Jesus is king we are in a battle a cosmic battle a spiritual battle as his soldiers and we've got a mission to fulfill every one of us and we're pitted against this committed hostile enemy and we've a fight to fight as Paul told Timothy here in 1 Timothy 6 verse 12 he says fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life where unto them are also called and has professed a good profession before many witnesses if Jesus is king then we're his soldiers we're in his army we are the army of God and we're meant to be an invading force that we are truly a force to be reckoned with as soldiers of the one and only potentate he is the one who's got the rightful claim to take the throne as soldiers of that one and only potentate we represent heaven we fly the flag of heaven so we must wage a good warfare the Bible says sadly it seems many

[26:30] Christians have lost their fight many Christians are walking around like they're defeated they don't have victory and overcome by these temporary setbacks and struggles struggles of life and it's something we're all prone to but our Lord has assured us of victory amen Jesus is king and you're his army then I know one of our brothers likes to say as there's an old time song that goes I read the back of the book amen and I know who wins amen I read the back of the book because when we are in his army we know that we are on the victory side and whilst there's still battles to come he will win the war and yet for some it seems like they're in this state of defeat of being downcast I want to assure you tonight that whatever battles you're going through

[27:35] Jesus is king that's what matters despite the battles that still may lie ahead of us so what matters is whose authority we are under what matters is that our king is with us and the bible says if god is for us then who can be against us if jesus is king our king is fighting for us fighting our battles and ultimately he will reign revelation 11 15 it says the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our lord and of his christ and he shall reign forever and ever and how does it go he shall reign forever and ever amen he shall reign forever and ever that's what it says and that's a promise we can hang on to isn't it that's that's a blessed promise of god he shall reign forever and ever just for the meantime he's not quite taken the throne but it is his throne and he will take it so given this ultimate fact it's kind of ironic what the devil did in

[29:01] Matthew 4 verses 8 through 9 it's kind of cheeky of the devil when it says the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them and saith unto him the lord jesus at the temptation he says unto him all these things will i give thee if thou will fall down and worship me the lord jesus it says of him that the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our lord and of his christ one day all the kingdoms all authority all kingly rule will be his and he'll depose satan he'll depose those who oppose god and satan can't give us anything you know you think and it seems like today some are falling prey to the devil who think well if we follow the world and the ways of the world and we chase after the attractions of the world that we'll have some kind of blessings from satan and i suppose you hear of as as it's been truly acknowledged that some hollywood stars actually sell their soul to satan the some who think that they'll have some claim to stardom they'll get some worldly acclaim and fame and fortune by signing their lives over to satan satan still promises the world but he's got nothing to offer it's all empty promises and still many yet fall into his trap and yet it seems like even for christians that this popular culture can be such an attraction for us and lure us and we can seek after that which is worldly acceptable and culturally relevant such that we get afraid to declare the truth such that we might cause offence to sensitive ears but friends brothers and sisters if jesus is king and you are his ambassador then you are simply to declare what he says simply to be a faithful herald simply to be a soldier in his army fighting these spiritual forces and not holding back this world would want to pander to man pleasing to compromise to the values of a corrupt society when you see as we talked about what happened last night in sydney you see the sickness that prevails in our nation and on this planet and the sickness is such that it's weaving its way into churches such that preachers tell lies and prophesied deceits and smooth words and such that mega churches will have these multitudes flocking to false prophets and the bible says that such will be the case at the end of the age where the church is becoming just like the world and we've lost our saltiness we've lost our impact friends it's important that we acknowledge

[32:18] Jesus is king Jesus is my king it's important if we claim to be under his authority as king that we will fight the good fight with all our might we won't hold back there won't be any reserve we are under authority another authority not the authority of this world now of course there's the bible command to honour the king this necessary honouring of worldly authority but the ultimate authority is that we must obey god rather than men amen and here's the ultimate here's the one and only the blessed potente the mighty ruler and for the meantime the bible says we're an army and it says in ephesians 6 12 for we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places friends it's time for combat right now and you might feel yeah I'm under that fight

[33:23] I'm in that fight right now we must press the fight ever harder and know god's empowerment because if jesus is king then we have victory because he is the victorious one and we can have that zeal that fervor that strength that forthrightness because if it's his message we can declare it faithfully even if we've been misunderstood and god's truth is never popular to a sin loving society no it can get us into trouble when we stand for christ and we might be forced to stand alone friends today like abraham we need to be looking searching for a city he looked for a city yet to come we are in that number that same number we who believe by faith we are in search of a city another city a better kingdom it says seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness if we put the kingdom of god first and foremost and as that foremost consideration for our lives seek ye first it says not second seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things to be added unto you and of this kingdom we're talking about today in hebrews 12 28 it says wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve god acceptably with reverence and godly fear it says this kingdom we're talking about it cannot be moved this kingdom the kingdom of god it's not like the kingdoms of this world where you get a government of blue or a government of red or a government of green or you get kings follow kings or dictators follow dictators this kingdom is one that cannot be moved this king cannot be shaken when he takes the rightful throne of this world the lord jesus christ the one who made is the builder and maker he is the king of this world of this planet of this city of this heavenly city that we seek and friends i urge you today do you know that jesus is your king that is the matter that most is most essential are you under his authority now the devil would plant the thought why should i obey god why should why should i come under his domain why should i trust him the devil wants to blind the minds of those who believe not such that they won't give it a consideration oh to become a christian is something too hard it's too difficult to come under his authority coming under the authority of this king is a blessedness it's a blessed domain to come under his jurisdiction to come under his rule his loving rule his gracious rule his compassionate rule he is a ruler a king who is gracious we see through the bible where israel hearkened for a king they hankered after a king and really it was not god's plan for them to have a human king but he relented and he gave them king saul and god's ultimate and best is that jesus is king that the lord jesus is your king that you step down from the throne as it were of your heart and you let jesus take the throne of your life that he will come and be in authority and when

[37:23] jesus is king when he is in authority that is the best and perfect place for anyone that's what his plan was right from the beginning and adam fell and threw that away but if jesus is king it's the very best to have his authority and then conscious of our calling when we are his subjects we're his ambassadors we're heralds of his kingdom we've got a message that this world needs to hear and hear loud and hear from our lips we're heralds of the king of his kingdom and not only that we're soldiers of his army we're sent into battle this is no holiday camp it's the front line and as a christian we face many challenges and tests family and friends may not appreciate our stand for the king but our king shall reign forever and ever and it says of his kingdom there shall be no end revelation 11 5 it says he shall reign forever and ever friends I urge you today to be like

[38:40] Abraham he was looking for a city he wasn't content with some city here below he certainly wasn't interested in Sodom and Gomorrah he was looking for a city and he was looking for the king of that city the city of the great king the heavenly city the heavenly kingdom and the heavenly king and that king wants to have authority and he's due that authority and he is the one to rightfully have authority he wants you to be his ambassador to be one who stands for him and his kingdom and he wants you to be part of his army fighting against hostile forces that would hate this message and hate this king stand fast for Christ let's pray lord we bless you that you are the king of kings and the lord of lords we know the bible says that you as the word of god you'll have a vesture dipped in blood and on your side it will say the king of kings and the lord of lords and lord we're looking forward to that day for you our coming king to take rightful reign over this planet lord we pray that you might have that reign in hearts tonight the bible tells us lord that the peace of god can rule in our hearts we know that when you rule over us that it's a peace and a grace and it's a blessing lord we want to come under your authority we pray if anyone here has yet to do so that they might cry out lord i want you to be my king we praise you lord for these things in jesus name amen a