The Reign of Christ

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah:9:6-7

Many of our more liturgically conscious brethren observe what is called the “the Reign of Christ” or also and sometimes known as “Sunday of Christ the king”. This Observance, on the  Sunday before Thanksgiving (in the United States) culminates and  inaugurates the “liturgical calendar season” for the end of the year and the start of the new year which then leads into the Advent Season  which culminates with “Epiphany of the Lord”   in early January.

 Sunday of the Reign of Christ takes us beyond these days that we are now living beyond the troubles and strife of age to a time when the rule of God has been extended openly over all things.  This is a time of anticipated great peace and rest or all the Earth, for all peoples.

 The time of this observance of Christ’s Reign upon the Earth, it is there to speak to us about the certainty that there are betters times waiting beyond the problems of today, beyond the misrule of humanity, beyond the hardship that we all from time to time face. This observance   is to reinforce and encourage us that good ultimately will, and has, triumphs in Jesus.

Misrule

Look at the world around us, we see the result of humanities misrule, a world that is in some disarray. There are disastrous things taking place, there is deception, rising in the land, which gives birth to war and strife- that leads to famine and economic problems-inflation- which leads Social Strife - that brings sickness and death.

All these things occur when humanity looks to something other than Jesus Christ for the solutions to challenges of life whether they are personal or national. . Nothing that humanity can implement will bring listings results.  The world we live in is rifled with injustice, the destruction of the family, disasters natural and “man made”.

The Fruit of the Tree

It is said “If you want to know what kind of tree is look at the fruit it produces” what are the fruit of humanities “tree of rule”?  The tree of human misrule in an abundant harvest, that is evident from even  a quick glance of the news. What we see is that the fruit of the flesh that the Apostle Paul wrote of  in his epistle to the Galatians Church.

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the fruit of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians: 5:17-21

The world in which we live is simply the sum total of humanity, it is the collective fruit of all humanity, when there is strife in the lives of individuals there will be strife among all. 

The fruit of the flesh even at its’ best, and regardless of how well meaning the attempts are,  they will in the end fall short.

Humanities Attempts

Every effort of humanity to bring about what only God can do fails, every promise falls short, from tower of Babble  to what we see taking place in the world today,  all efforts fall short. We see attempts at Globalization, calls for one language, one currency, and in some cases there are calls for one government. Yet as all efforts of humanity will in the end fall short, even if they are well meaning, these efforts will draw people away from God and will focus humanities trust on something other than upon the only rightful king Jesus Christ. Humanity wants to believe that the answer is found within humanity, but real answers to the problems confronting humanity can only be found in Jesus.

God created the “nation state” so humanity would seek and learn to trust Him and look to Him alone, when this is disregarded, it is arising out of humanities own heart and will take humanity away from God and rely on themselves and resources .  This will only intensify the problems that have been created by looking to something other than Jesus Christ.  Acts: 17:26-29

Humanity cannot rule the world properly because Jesus does not rule their hearts. Humanity is filled with endless plots and agendas that are always there for their own glory, not His glory,  this is why there is strife, someone or things reigns in their hearts . If our Lord does not reign in their hearts the world produced by humanity will reflect this as well.

These attempts will only further draw humanity ever away from our Lord Jesus to the point of open hostility toward His Holy name and continued social disorder.

”This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Timothy: 3:1-7

The reason humanities efforts always fall short, is, that Christ does not Reign in their hearts.

 

He Comes to Reign

Whatever humanities efforts and plans produce, no matter what the scale or impact they have on the world or the “global community”,  these pose no problem to Jesus when He descends from the Heavens  at the end of human civilization,   even if human civilization is moved to resist the retuning Jesus as He comes to reign.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm: 2:1-12

Revelation: 19, speaks of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to set humanity free from the disastrous condition that will have developed upon the Earth in the years to come. Jesus  as King of Kings and Lord of Lord will then extend the Reign of our God over all things, bringing  peace to this planet and to its’ peoples.

Peace

In the Prophetic writing of the Holy Bible the Isaiah Prophet foresaw the Reign of the long awaited Messiah. He is moved by the Holy Spirit to give us a glimpse of the peace found only in Jesus. Isaiah describes humanities relationship with God would be brought back to its proper practical place. The God who created all things will be honored and worshiped, there will be truth and peace abounding in their lives, Christ will reign.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”Isaiah: 2:1-4

It will be time when every need that humanity tried to meet will be met by and in Jesus only our Lord can do this. Micah picture this contentment and peace coupled with security as sitting under the vine and fig tree, sitting under the vine end fig

“But they will sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none will make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it” Micah: 4:4

He Rules Now

Of our Lord Jesus,  we see in the Writings of Daniel,the Prophet  sees a vision of the Heavenly investing of Power and authority anointed upon Jesus Christ at His accession to the Heavens , and already now has been given the right to reign, .

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel: 7:13-14

Yet the Reign of Jesus is not just for the years to come, it is for us here and now, for Christians His reign is a present realty. No where should the Reign of Jesus more evident than in the lives of Christian’s.

That in spite of the takes place around us we are should experience the Hope and Peace of His rightful Reign even now in our lives. All the prophetic words regarding the Reign of Christ, for us , should be true even here and now each day.

Jesus speaking to the Disciples, but also to believers down through the ages speaks of the peace of His reign in our lives. This peace is the peace that defies circumstances or conditions it is the peace of a heart ruled by our Lord Jesus.

“ My Peace I will give to you, but  not as the world gives” John:14:27

This peace that we should be experiencing now under His Reign will one day be for all humanity and over the entire world but we can have it even today. It is Peace that comes only from the great God.

Sunday of the Reign of our Lord Jesus Christ directs each and all of us to see beyond the world in which we now live and encourages us all to know that our Lords’ Reign will come openly to this earth even as it has for Christians here and now and  not just for some day…

Benediction:May we each and all experience the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ , not just in the years to come, but , today, tomorrow and for evermore.Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com