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Sermon #38 — Isaiah Series

Title: Christ the King

Text: Isaiah 9:7

Subject: Christ the King

Date: Sunday Evening — December 3, 2017

Readings: Mark Henson and Merle Hart

Introduction:

Have you about had your fill of news about politics, politicians, and government? Most of us, I suspect, consider them necessary evils, filling us with frustration and giving us little hope for future generations. When I read the newspapers and watch the news, I’m always frustrated, if not angered. Our politicians and the government they exercise are as utterly contemptible as they are nauseating. I can’t think of any law they have imposed upon society in my lifetime that improved anything. — Not even one! They don’t fix anything.

But what man cannot do, God has done. This Book tells us about another Government and the One upon whose shoulders the government of all things sits. The Lord God has given his own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to be King of the Universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords!

The title of my message is — Christ the King. You will find my text in 9^th chapter of the Gospel of Isaiah.

Isaiah 9:6 may be the most familiar prophecy of the Old Testament about the birth of Christ. Handel included its words in one of the great choruses of his Messiah oratorio. Chances are you either sing it or hear it several times every Christmas season.

Unfortunately, we seem to pull this passage out of the box only during the holidays. It’s like one of the ornaments we use to decorate our houses. What a shame! Isaiah 9:6 tells us who Christ the King is and what he is like.

(Isaiah 9:6) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah wrote that prophecy at least a hundred years before Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity — nearly 600 years before the birth of the Savior! Looking at a litany of failed monarchs, and sitting in the rubble of Israel’s monarchy, Isaiah looked across the centuries to a time when God would send his Son into the world.

· His Son by whom he would establish his kingdom in the hearts of men.

· His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he would sit upon his throne as King over all things.

· His Son, Christ the King (Matthew 2:2; Luke 2:11).

The King

In verse 7, the prophet of God describes his rule and his kingdom. This is my text — Isaiah 9:7.

(Isaiah 9:7) “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

“Unto us a child is born.” — That speaks of our Savior’s humanity.

· He could not redeem us, were not a man.

· He could not sit as David’s son upon David’s throne, were he not a man.

· He could not a priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities, were he not a man.

“Unto us a Son is given.” — That speaks of our Savior’s eternal deity (Philippians 2:6-7). God sent God to save sinners! The Son of God came here in human flesh to put away sin and establish his kingdom in righteousness, justice, and truth.

His Kingdom

“And the government shall be upon his shoulders.” — That speaks of our Savior’s absolute, universal, sovereign dominion. His is a kingdom that encompasses all the kingdoms and governments of the world (Daniel 2:44; Zechariah 14:9).

(Daniel 2:44) “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

(Zechariah 14:9) “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

The kingdom of God is not an earthly, material, physical kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom. It encompasses all things. When God saves sinners, he both puts us in his kingdom and puts his kingdom in us (Luke 17:20-21; John 3:1-8).

(Luke 17:20-21) “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

What kind of kingdom is it? What distinguishes the kingdom of heaven from the other kingdoms of this world?

· This kingdom has only one ruler. — Christ the King.

· This kingdom is established in righteousness, justice, and truth.

· This kingdom is holy, pure, peaceful, and joyful (Isaiah 35:8-10). — Not in Meats, but in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost!

(Isaiah 35:8-10) “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (9) No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: (10) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Proposition: Now, let’s look at Isaiah 9:7. Here the prophet of God tells us that, because of his accomplished redemption of his people, Christ the King shall reign King forever upon the throne of David.

His Government

1^st — Isaiah tells us something about our Savior’s ever-increasing government. — “Of the increase of his government.” — Christ the King, the Prince of peace, who carries the government of all things upon his broad shoulders of infinite omnipotence, is a king whose government is an ever-increasing government.

· His government of creation is not increasing.

· His government of providence is not increasing.

· His government of grace is not increasing.

So, what does Isaiah mean when he speaks here “of the increase of his government?” Christ’s government is established in the hearts of his redeemed when they are born again by the omnipotent power and grace of his Spirit. In the new birth, the King of Grace enters the City of Mansoul, binds the strong man, casts him out, takes the prey from the mighty, and sets up his throne in you (Isaiah 49:24; Matthew 12:27-29; Luke 11:21-23; Luke 14:25-33). Every time God saves a sinner, the Lord Jesus increases his government. As the church and kingdom of God increases in this world, Christ’s government increases.

What small beginnings it had! Yet, it shall at last be greater and more glorious than all kingdoms.

· This is the stone Daniel spoke of, cut out of the mountain without hands, that smote the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream and became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (Daniel 2:34).

· The Lord Jesus himself compared his church and kingdom to the mustard seed, the least of all seeds. Yet, when grown, it becomes a great tree in which the birds of the air build their nests (Mathew 13:31).

Christ’s kingdom and government, may be said to be increased, when his gospel is spread far and near.

· It is called the Gospel of the Kingdom.

· Its doctrines are the Mysteries of the Kingdom.

· Sinners conquered by grace through the preaching of the gospel, become subjects of his kingdom, enlarging it.

At first the Gospel of the Kingdom was only preached in Judea. Then, it was carried into the Gentile world, gathering chosen redeemed sinners from the four corners of the earth. Wherever it is preached, the gospel of the grace of God, which is the power of God…

· Topples Pagan Idolatry.

· Breaks the Superstitions of Papal Idolatry.

· Crushes the Power of Antichrist’s Will-worship Idolatry.

What is that gospel by which God saves sinners and builds his kingdom?

· The Gospel of the Grace of God (2 Timothy 1:9-11).

· The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2) — Blood Atonement — Free Forgiveness — Complete Justification

· The Gospel of God’s Salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14; Jonah 2:9) — Ruin by the Fall — Redemption by the Blood — Regeneration by the Holy Ghost

Before our God is done, Christ our King will gather sinners redeemed by his blood into his kingdom out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, and the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. — Countless multitudes shall be converted by his grace! That is what is meant by the increase of his government. — The children of the desolate have been made many more than the children of the married wife (Isaiah 54:1-5; 61:9).

(Isaiah 54:1-5) “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. (2) Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; (3) For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. (4) Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. (5) For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”

(Isaiah 61:9) “And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.”

His Peace

2^nd — Next, the prophet of God reminds us, again, of the great peace Christ our King heaps upon his chosen, assuring us that it is an ever-increasing peace with no end. It is peace that only increases with experience and shall never end! — “And of the increase of his peace there shall be no end.” — How about that!

The peace of God’s elect in this Gospel Age, is the peace of God that “passeth all understanding” (Isaiah 40:27-31; Psalm 72:1-20).

· The Peace of Faith

· The Peace of a Pure Conscience

· The Peace of Blood Atonement

· The Peace of Perfect Righteousness

· The Peace of Our Sovereign King

(Isaiah 40:27-31) “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? (28) Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (29) He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Psalm 72:1-20) “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. (2) He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. (3) The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. (4) He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. (5) They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. (6) He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. (7) In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. (8) He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (9) They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. (10) The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (11) Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (12) For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. (13) He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. (14) He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. (15) And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. (16) There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. (17) His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. (18) Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. (19) And blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. (20) The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”

His Throne

3^rd — Back here in Isaiah 9:7, the prophet of God next calls our attention to our great King’s great throne, calling it “The Throne of David.” — Because our Savior is Christ the King, his dominion gives us peace, because he who is our King is God’s King and God the King, sitting in human flesh “upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom.” — The Prince of peace is David’s son, sitting on David’s Throne (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:22-36).

(Luke 1:32) “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.”

(Acts 2:22-36) “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

· He who sits upon the Throne of Heaven is God in our Flesh Ruling the Universe (Revelation 10:1-3). — There he “sits” in all the ease of absolute sovereignty!

· He who sits upon the Throne of Grace is God in our Nature (Hebrews 4:16).

The Throne of David is the Throne of God’s Israel, his church. Christ the King of the universe is Christ the King of Zion. Now, look at what the King does as the King of Zion, as the King of his church.

He orders it (puts it in order and keeps in order) by his Word, by the preaching of the gospel and by writing his law upon the hearts of his people, graciously causing saved sinners to walk in his way. Giving his church pastors according to his own heart (Jeremiah 3:15), governors, guides, and rulers, of his choosing and his appointment, our great King teaches his people to observe all things commanded by him.

· By the ministries of faithful men, he gathers in his elect.

· By the faithful ministry of the Word, he repairs the walls of his house and makes them strong.

Christ the King establishes his Kingdom, the church, with justice and judgment, by righteousness and justice.

· Upon the Grounds of Righteousness Brought In and Justice Satisfied.

· By the Spirit’s Conviction of Righteousness Accomplished and Judgment Finished.

· By making all who come into his Kingdom New Creatures, partakers of the divine nature, created new in righteousness and true holiness.

Look at Isaiah’s next words. This Kingdom like the King himself, is established “from henceforth, even forever.”

· Christ’s throne is forever and ever.

· His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

· He has no successor. No rival shall ever dispossess him of his throne and his kingdom. All other kingdoms will cease, but his will remain forever.

His Zeal

4^th — How can we be sure of this? Read the last sentence of our text. — “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this!” — Those words “the zeal of the Lord,” are used only three times in the entire Bible (2 Kings 19:31; Isaiah 9:7, and Isaiah 37:32). In all three places, they are spoken in connection with God saving his people.

“The zeal of the Lord of hosts” is his flaming, burning, fervent love. This zeal, Jehovah’s flaming, burning, fervent love, will effectually accomplish all that is here promised.

· Christ’s Incarnation!

· The Redemption of God’s Elect by Him!

· The Exaltation of Christ as King!

· The Building and Safety of God’s Church!

· The Everlasting Salvation of Every Sinner Who Trusts this Great King!

(Psalm 89:15-37) “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (16) In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. (17) For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. (18) For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. (19) Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (21) With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. (22) The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. (23) And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. (24) But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. (25) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (26) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28) My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29) His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.”

Amen!

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s