Topic: Power and The Servant King. Categories: Power> Love of God>
Bible Scriptures: Psalm 103: 1-8, Philippians 2:10-11.
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The creator of heaven and earth and all things good is not a master controller up there in heaven manipulating people and situations for His own gain. That is the way of humanity.
power of love
God, the Eternal One is good. He is love. Not a human love but a perfect unconditional love. God does everything out of love because that is who He is. As a result of His great love He gives everyone a free choice. A choice to receive His love and His right to rule and reign or reject His love and His right to rule and reign.
Let us go back to a time in human history where the world and even God’s people were in rebellion against God. Both had put their trust in themselves or in gods of their own making. As a result enemies surrounded the people of God. So God sent a prophet to His people. The prophet said, ‘If you return to the Eternal One and put away these foreign gods made by human hands and prepare your hearts to give your total allegiance to the Eternal One, He will deliver you from your enemies.’
The people of God did just that. God miraculously, without any violence, supernaturally delivered God’s people from their enemies.
power to choose
God’s people said, ‘We want to be like other nations. No longer do we want to be different from them. We do not want the Eternal One to be our ruler, our deliverer, our King. We want a person to rule over us, just like every other nation.’
God Himself was their King who had delivered and protected them from their enemies, yet they had rejected God once again. They wanted to go their own way and live life without the love of God. They wanted a human King, so they could be like the world. God’s rebellious people wanted to adopt the corrupt world system of abusive power and manipulative control.
God warned His people that if they chose a King to rule over them, that this King would take a tenth of their grain and sheep, their choice land, and their sons, their daughters, their servants, and make them his servants. God said that you would be in battle against your enemies because you are choosing to live by the sword.
Knowing all this, the people responded. ‘We will have a King over us, so we will be like all the nations. The King of our choosing will judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’
They knowingly chose the corrupt and violent systems of this world, instead of God’s way.
Yet even in the darkness God is still working, continually pursuing in love, both the good and the bad.
So God continues to reach down to humanities’ point of need, even to the level of unbelief and rebellion, to reveal His great love and their need for a saviour. Through His prophet, God anointed a King and subsequent Kings, both the good and the bad.
This is a story of two kings.
purpose of power
Each king was empowered by God for a specific purpose, in this situation the first king was empowered to protect God’s rebellious people, in the violent way that they chose. God gives blessings, gifts and anointing to the individual not because they deserve it or are good. He gives because He so loves. The gifts from God are for the benefit of others and are activated according to their need. In this case God anoints a King to protect God’s rebellious people from their violent enemies, in a way they desire, without God.
God continues to reach out in love to bring His people back to Himself, to set humanity free from evil and itself.
However each anointed King had a free will in how they used the power that God had given. They did not realise that the outward power given by God, exposes the person’s hidden inner character.
power for self
The first King said in his heart, the people have chosen me as King. I do not need God. In fact I reject God and his right to rule over me. I will do things my way, for my benefit and build myself a kingdom. The throne is mine, to have, to take, to protect and to keep. I will destroy my enemies and anyone who opposes me. I will destroy the enemies of the people so they will honour me. For I am the King!
In rejecting God, the first King chose to become one with evil. He became obsessed with the adulation of the people and consumed by power for self-gain. He used the people he was supposed to be serving to build his own empire in such a destructive way that he tried to kill even those who were loyal to him.
God was not wanted so His presence left the first King. As a result His life became rooted in self-glorification, which gave evil the power over his heart and mind. He knowingly chose to become one with evil and as a result evil became the controlling force in his life.
God will not force His love upon anyone, as that would be an abuse of power. God never manipulates to get what He wants as that also is an abuse of power. However God so loves that He will wait for those who are willing to cry out to Him and return to Him.
Sadly for the first King died on the battle field consumed by hate, sorrow, torment, impatience, cruelty, evil, unfaithful, viciousness and void of self control.
power to serve
So God in His great love anointed a second King. Like the first King the second King was empowered by God for a specific purpose, to protect God’s people and subdue their enemies in the way people wanted.
The second King said in his heart, God has chosen me as King. I need God in every part of my life. In fact God is the true King and I will live in his right to rule over me. He is my shepherd and I will not lack. He will lead me and guide me in ways of justice and rightness to serve His people and build His kingdom. The throne is not mine, not to have, not to take, not to protect and not to keep. The throne is the Lord God Almighty’s.
I will make Him known and acknowledge His ways, as He will destroy our enemies. I will give all glory to Him as the one who has honoured me. His goodness and mercy shall follow me for He is good and rich in mercy. I will praise His name all the days of my life and the people will honour Him. For He is the King of all kings!
In choosing God, the second king chose to become one with God’s goodness. He chose to have his identity in God. He allowed the seed of God’s heart, to be planted in his heart. Yet until the seed was fully grown, each day given the light and living waters of God, inner conflict and temptations would challenge God’s transformation process in him.
power to testify
God was wanted, so His presence never left the second King. Even tho he walked in valley of the shadow of death and fell into temptation, God went with him into his darkness that he chose to bring him back into God’s glorious light. Therefore the second king’s life became rooted in the praise and worship of the Eternal One, who took away the power of evil over his heart and mind. The second King knowingly chose to become one with God and as a result he was set free from evil and self.
The second King through his life journey with God received a great revelation of who He is.
Psalm 103:1-8 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
Verse 9-12 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
relationship brings revelation
Verse 13-16 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
Verse 17-22 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
power for eternity
The second King, the shepherd boy who God made King, with all his ‘stuff’ had a heart of praise for the Eternal One knowing He is the One who forgives (pardons), heals (mends, repairs, cures thoroughly, makes whole), redeems (becomes kinsman to buy back, to avenge, deliver, purchase back, pays the ransom), crowns (honours, surrounds), satisfies (fills, makes whole), renews (repairs, rebuilds), makes (rightness, justice, equality), made Himself known, removes all offences, loves deeply, establishes His kingdom and is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, just and faithful.
The second King represents doing life with God, letting God rule and reign, building His Kingdom in the hearts and minds of all who are willing. As s result set free from the bondage of self in letting go of the desire for power and control.
The second King died consumed by God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Yet the tale of two kings does not end with their death. They live on in everything they represent.
power in surrender
The first King represents humanity’s constant striving for power and control, choosing to do life without God, on a never-ending quest for self-glorification and satisfaction. As a result trapped in the reality of mortality and failure. Manipulated by the need for popularity and acceptance. Where each one is unequal, separated from God and comes under judgement.
The second King represents humanity’s deliverance in surrender to God. Choosing to do life with God, on a never-ending journey of love and transformation, giving glory to God. Set free from fear, death and failure. Accepted in the beloved (most loved) by the Lord God Almighty, forever honoured by Him. Living in a kingdom where each one is equal, one with God and free from judgement. With each one having a part in His wonders.
God said of the second King, that he served his generation well and he was a man after His own heart. Many knew the second King. His name was David.
king of all kings
Through this King, through his tribe, the King of all kings came. God Himself who made Himself of no reputation became flesh and blood, walked the earth as a perfect man, became the ultimate sacrifice who died, rose and ascended on high. Jesus conquered death so we can be made alive in Him. Conquered evil and the selfish corrupted seed of humanity, so we could live an abundant life in Him for all eternity.
Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Which King do you choose to be?
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Sermon categories: son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom>
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