C. S. Lewis once wrote: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” His point is well taken. Anyone who claims to be God, Creator of the universe and One who can forgive sin is either a LIAR for making such false claims, a LUNATIC for actually believing them or the LORD of the Universe. If He indeed is Lord, as the Bible claims Him to be, then it is up to us to make Him king of our lives now and forever.
DAVID WAS ALSO A KING, God’s choice for the people, and an example of King Jesus, Who will one day sit on David’s throne. Just as the people prospered when they willingly made David their king, so we prosper when we make Jesus king of our hearts. There are some very insightful lessons about making Jesus our king from the Jews making David theirs.
Saul and his sons have been killed by the Philistines, most of Israel is occupied by the Philistines who are oppressing the Jews. When David hears of this he doesn’t rush off doing his own will, he asks God if he should return and offer himself as king I2 Samuel 2:1; Psalm 127:1). God tells David to return to Hebron, so David obeys. All the years of trials and persecution, of suffering and affliction have deepened David and made him more godly. Those 14 years were God’s preparation to make him a godly king. He will be better, too, because he knows what the people he rules go through. Jesus, our king, knows what we go through for He went through it Himself (Heb 4:15-16).
When David returned, SOME WERE QUICK TO MAKE HIM KING (2 Samuel 2:4), just as some today are quick to make Jesus king of their lives. David didn’t force himself; he offered himself as available and let it up to God. Jesus, too, doesn’t force Himself on anyone. If Jesus will rule and reign in one’s heart is a voluntary, free will choice of that person.
Not everyone, however, made him king. Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, supported Ish-Bosheth (a weak son of Saul who was still alive) and put him on Saul’s throne. All the tribes but Judah followed Abner. Jesus, too, has COMPETITION FOR THE THRONE in our lives. Satan offers other, more popular alternatives: money, things, power, popularity, prestige, family, relationships, lusts, fear, pride, sin, etc.
Unfortunately, the result of having two kings was civil war — fighting within the nation. That happens inside us when Jesus is not king over 100% of everything. For 7 1/2 years there was INNER CONFLICT in Israel (2 Samuel 2:12-32). Then Abner deserted Ish-Boseth due to a fight over a concubine. He went to David and said he’d give him the throne of the northern tribes. Instead of trusting God’s timing, David agreed on the condition he’d get Michal back as his wife. Abner was only thinking of himself and his power, but soon was killed and ended up with nothing. That is what happens when we try to run our own lives!
We often say that Jesus is first in our lives, but it is more of a figure-head position than really controlling every area of life. A man once stood up in an assembly of Christians in England and told of the great blessings that he had received at a certain conference he had attended the week before. when asked to speak more specifically about what he had experienced, he said, “Well, I can say this: I was a Christian before I went. Christ was my king, but I am afraid He was a constitutional sovereign and I was a Prime Minister. In this country the queen gets the praise, but the Prime Minister runs the country. As a result of the conference, He now runs the country.” Honestly ask yourself, who runs your country?
Ish-Bosheth was soon killed and the kingdom naturally passed to King David (2 Samuel 5:1-5). Finally, when David was the one and only king, was there PEACE. So, too, peace only rules in our hearts when Jesus is king over everything.
David’s first act as king was the same as Jesus’ when we make Him 100% king. Enemies are attacked and driven out (2 Samuel 5:6-7). Enemies in their midst for hundreds of years, which they couldn’t dislodge in their own strength, are one by one defeated. If Jesus is the Lord of your life you should be seeing a STEADY PROGRESSION OF VICTORIES over the world, the flesh and Satan.
New ground was gained, the borders expanded, and the nation grew. That is what happens when we follow Jesus, too. However, it wasn’t without opposition. When Jesus is on the throne, THE ENEMY ATTACKS to dislodge Him. The Philistines sent wave after wave of soldiers against David but God prevailed and there was victory over them (2 Samuel 5:18-25).
What lessons can we learn from when David was made King over Israel? First of all, like David, Jesus won’t force Himself on you. It is your choice to allow Him to rule and reign in your heart. There will be other things trying to have first place, but until he is your 100% king there will be no peace. You will have inner toil and conflict. When He had total rule of your life then He will start to defeat your enemies. There will be opposition, but He will bring progressive and lasting victory in your life. However, it all starts with making Him King of your life. Remember, He died to be your Savior but He lives to be your Lord. As the earth revolves around the sun, so should our lives also revolve around the Son.
When Queen Victoria had just ascended her throne she went, as is the custom of Royalty, to hear The Messiah rendered. She had been instructed as to her conduct by those who knew, and was told that she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” she sat with great difficulty. It seemed as if she would rise in spite of the custom of kings and queens, but finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of kings suddenly the young queen rose and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet. Indeed, Jesus is Lord!
Revelation 19:16: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.
Revelation 17:14: “They will make war on the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be the called, chosen and faithful”.
1 Timothy 6:15: This verse refers to Jesus as “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords”.
How can you tell if someo9ne has made Jesus their Lord and King?
Can others look at you and know you have made Jesus your Lord and King?
Think about what it will be like when Jesus does return to be Lord and King of the world.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
ChristianTrainingOnline.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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