Never Voted In, Never Voted Out: Understanding Your King

Sermon outline

Jesus came preaching a kingdom, not a religion, and if you understand what a king is (born to rule, absolute in authority, owner of everything, unchanging in His decrees, and the One who chose you), you will understand how big your King is and how big you are.

1. Jesus preached a kingdom, not a religion

   The kingdom concept is the only concept Jesus presented, preached, promoted, taught and established throughout His ministry; He never made faith, prosperity, deliverance or even His death and resurrection His priority subject. He reads a string of kingdom verses from Matthew to show Jesus' preoccupation with it. The kingdom has secrets that are given to God's children, and when you learn them you learn how to operate in the kingdom.

   Illustration: The world celebrates uprisings against the remaining monarchies in the name of democracy, without understanding kingship as a concept that came from God.

   “Christianity is not a religion.”

   • Matthew 4:17
   • Matthew 4:23
   • Matthew 5:3-4
   • Matthew 5:20
   • Matthew 6:33
   • Matthew 9:35
   • Matthew 10:7
   • Matthew 12:28
   • Matthew 13:11
   • Matthew 13:19
   • Matthew 16:19
   • Matthew 21:31

2. A kingdom is the government of a king

   Jesus came to set up God's government, and He called Himself a king, not a president or prime minister. Before Pilate He said His kingdom is not of this world and that for this reason He was born; Pilate asked 'What is truth?' without knowing he was talking to the Truth. Many came out of religion or other religions and had to unlearn religious ways, like begging Jesus to heal someone instead of laying on hands and saying 'Be healed in Jesus' name'.

   Illustration: As a young Christian he used to lay hands on the sick and plead, 'Dear Jesus, please heal this one, Lord have mercy', until he understood that Jesus had commissioned him to heal them.

   “If you can understand how big your king is, you'll understand how big you are.”

   • John 18:33-38
   • Matthew 7:28-29

3. Numbers one and two: a king is born into power, not voted in

   Democratic leaders are elected and dictators seize power, but a king is born into power. Jesus existed before time; His birth was His entry into this sphere from an invisible world. His kingship is not conferred by men: we do not make Him king, we can only acknowledge that He is King.

   “We do not make him king. All we can do is acknowledge that he is king.”

4. A king cannot be voted out

   A president leaves through elections or term limits and a dictator through a coup, but kingship is a lifelong office. The King of heaven reigns by sovereign right of creation and can never be voted out or dethroned; Lucifer tried and failed.

   “He can't fail. He's fail-proof.”

   • Revelation 11:15

5. Number four: a king's authority is absolute

   A prime minister can be pushed by parliament and the media into changing his mind, and dictators have power without legitimate authority, but a king speaks with absolute authority. When Jesus speaks, His word is a creative force, and that same power has been delegated to you, so be careful how you speak.

   “What you will say today, you will see tomorrow.”

   • Proverbs 18:21

6. Number five: the king's word is law

   Because a king's authority is absolute, his word is law, and the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul and making wise the simple.

   “Because a king's authority is absolute, his word is law.”

   • Psalm 19:7-11

7. Number six: a king personally owns everything in his domain

   Presidents do not own their countries, but a kingdom is the only government in which the ruler owns everything and everyone. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, every animal of the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills. If He owns everything, it is not a struggle for you to get it; you need to know the secrets of how to access what He owns.

   “If he owns everything, it's not a struggle for you to get it.”

   • Psalm 24:1
   • Psalm 50:10

8. Number seven: a king's decree is unchanging

   Democratic laws can be amended or revoked, but a king's decree cannot. When you accepted Jesus, He accepted you and will not change His mind: your name is written in the book of life and your future is great because God said so, so you don't need a medium or soothsayer. You may temporarily alter your destiny, but He will get you back on track.

   Illustration: King Darius could not sleep the night Daniel was thrown to the lions, but even he could not change his own decree.

   “Once He has set His love on you, it never changes.”

   • Daniel 6:14-20
   • Isaiah 40:8
   • Matthew 24:35

9. Number eight: a king chooses his citizens

   In a democracy the citizens choose the leader, but in a kingdom the king chooses his citizens: Jesus personally voted you into the kingdom before the foundation of the world. Because He brought you in, He will take care of you, so stop worrying. He hand-picked you and opened your eyes to the secrets of His kingdom.

   Illustration: Out of a huge family on both his mother's and father's side, while he was busy serving a foreign god, Yahweh looked at him and said, 'That one I want.'

   “He voted you into the kingdom.”

   • Ephesians 1:4-5
   • Matthew 6:25
   • John 15:16-19

10. Number nine: the king embodies the government

    Wherever a king is present, his whole government is present; when he speaks, the whole government speaks. So when two agree in Jesus' name, not only the King but the whole government of heaven is with them.

    Illustration: Jesus knew He could pray and the Father would send legions of angels; He knew what power He could command, and you have the same.

    “The whole government of heaven is with you.”

    • Matthew 18:19-20
    • Matthew 26:53
    • Matthew 28:18-20

11. Number ten: the king's presence is the presence of his authority

    Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and Jesus said He will do whatever you ask in His name. He did not give us a confusing category of things He will and won't give.

    “He says, whatever you ask in my name.”

    • Matthew 18:18
    • John 14:13-14

12. Number eleven: a king's wealth is measured by his property

    The larger and richer the kingdom, the wealthier the king, and our King of kings is the creator of all wealth. You are the King's kid, so stop selling yourself short and wanting the cheapest and smallest of things: think bigger and more creatively.

    “You're the king's kid.”

13. Number twelve: a king's prosperity is measured by the status of his citizens

    If all the citizens are desperately poor, the king is a poor king. We represent our King and show off His goodness, so we should be well taken care of and walk, not strutting or arrogant, but like we own everything.

    “We must walk like we own everything.”

14. His name, and citizens who show his glory

    A king's name is the essence of his authority, and his citizens represent his glory: the Lord upholds the righteous, who are never forsaken nor their children begging bread.

    “A king's citizenship represents his glory.”

    • Psalm 37:17
    • Psalm 37:25

15. The principles of the kingdom

    The kingdom is the sovereign rule and governing influence of a king over his territory. In the fullness of time Jesus came and re-established it, which reveals that He is King; His kingdom is not of this world, but it is in this world. Inside each of us is a latent kingdom consciousness striving for expression, which is why some feel frustrated: it is potential crying to get out.

    Illustration: Years ago he was asked to a home troubled by a tokoloshe, where other prayers had not helped. He went upstairs with the church's worship leader, and as he simply lifted his hands, before he had even prayed, something rushed out like a gust of wind, the curtains flew towards the window, and the presence of God came. The demons recognised the kingdom and authority of God.

    “Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world. He never said it was not in this world.”

    • Galatians 4:4