Pursuing The King
Matthew 2:1-12
Christ is king, yet many treat Him as a kid. vv.3-8
Herod is like many, they’re unwilling to surrender full control of their lives to follow Jesus. Some will pursue Jesus for the wrong reasons!
2 Timothy 3:5
-having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Titus 1:15-16
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Matthew 7:21-23 21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
The Test if Christ is King
: Are we devoting more time to the things of Christ; His word, witnessing, serving, prayer, missions, etc., or to the things of this world?
We see His kingship in Colossians 1:15-20
Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross
Experience the joy of knowing Christ as King. vv.9-10
Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Worry dethrones Christ from His kingship!
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy
he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
When Christ is King, serving Him is our priority! vv.11-12
Mark 1:17
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Priorities: Church in 3D
Devote
– If all authority is given to Christ, we will be devoted to following Him and loving our fellow man! Matthew 22:37-39 “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Disciple
– We are to make, mark, mobilize, and mature followers of Jesus Christ!
Deploy
– Go, mobilizing all believers to be on mission for the greatest message, the good news of Jesus Christ!