Who Really is the King

I invite your attention to the New Testament Book of Matthew Chapters one and two. If a man suddenly appears and claims to be a king, the public immediately asks for proof. What is his background? Who pays homage to him? What credentials can he present? Anticipating these important questions, Matthew opened his book with a careful account of the birth of Jesus Christ and the events that accompanied it. Mary and Joseph were in the one year waiting period when Mary was found to be with child. Matthew presented four facts about the King. Fact number one, the heredity of the King proves He came from royal lineage (1:1-12). Since royalty depends on heredity, it was important for Jesus to establish His right to David’s throne. The opening verse connected Christ to two great covenants, the Davidic, found in II Samuel 7, and the Abrahamic found in Genesis 12:15. Note Jesus human heredity (1:1-17). Genealogies were very important to the Jews, without them they could not prove their tribal memberships or rights to inheritances. Anyone claiming to be “the Son of David” had to prove it. Matthew gave Christ’s family tree through Joseph, Luke gave Mary’s linage. The list of names show that Christ is part of history. His divine heredity is spelled out (1:18-25). Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father (v. 18). The Messiah would be born of a woman, of the seed of Abraham, through the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David. Jesus is the only Jew alive who can prove His claims to the throne of David. All other records were destroyed in 70 A.D. His birth fulfilled Isaiah 7:14 “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The King, then, was a Jewish male who was also the divine Son of God. But, did anybody acknowledge His Kingship? Yes, the Magi from the East came and worshipped him. We find in v.16 the “of whom” is a feminine relative pronoun, clearly indicating that Jesus was the physical child of Mary but not of Joseph. Fact number two, the homage give to the King (2:1-12). The wise men were specialists in astronomy. There were enough of them to trouble all of Jerusalem (2:3). The wise men were Gentiles. Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. They were scholars. No scholarly person who follows the light that God gives can miss worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Many feel the Magi reflected a knowledge of Balaam’s prophecy concerning the “star” that would come out of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17). The Magi were seeking the king; Herod was opposing the king, and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King. Herod the great was a ruthless murderer. He killed his wife and her two brothers. He wanted to kill Jesus because he bore the title King of the Jews. Also, Herod was a descendant of Esau. He knew if someone was a rightful king, it could cost him his throne. Herod understood that the King was Christ (see Matthew 2:4). Matthew cites a second fulfilled prophecy (2:5). How, He was born of a virgin, and where He was born, Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” This is where the “Bread of Life” came to earth. Bethlehem in the Old Testament was associated with David who was a type of Christ in his suffering and glory. Fact number three, the hostility against the King (2:13-18). Of interest is, stars typically travel east to west, this one went north to south. A person is identified by his friends, and by his enemies. Herod pretended that he wanted to worship the King (2:8). God warned Joseph to flee to Egypt. This fulfilled another prophecy (see Hosea 11:1), “I called My Son out of Egypt.” The gift of the Magi paid their expenses. Herod’s anger was evidence of his pride (2:16). Herod killed the body babies two years of age and under. Bethlehem is very small, about 20 babies died. Satan is a liar and a murderer. Herod lied to the Magi and murdered the babies. This fulfilled Jeremiah 31:15 “Rachel weeping for her children because they were not.” The first mention of Bethlehem was the death of Rachel. She named her son Benoni “Son of my sorrow.” Jacob renamed him Benjamin “Son of my right hand.” Both titles relate to Jesus. Rachel’s grave is near Bethlehem. Jeremiah’s prophecy was given about 600 years before Christ. Very few think of Bethlehem as a burial place, we think of it as a birth place of Jesus Christ. Fact number four, the humility of the King (2:19-23). After a period of time in Egypt God spoke to Joseph in a dream, and he took his wife and her Son to Nazareth (2:19-20). Even this act fulfilled prophecy (v. 23). The term Nazarene was one of reproach. “Can there by any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Many Old Testament prophecies speak of the Messiah’s lowly life of rejection. Our Lord grew up in Nazareth. Who ever heard of a King being born in a humble village and growing up in a despised city? The humility of the King is certainly something to admire and imitate. Nazareth housed the Roman garrison for Northern regions of Galilee. Most Jews would not associate with that city. This is one reason Jesus was despised. Don’t be surprised that as you follow the King, you will also be despised. However “great is our reward in heaven.” Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Kingdom Living

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place" (Psalm 51:6). In this Psalm David came under powerful conviction of sin. As a result he poured out his soul to God in prayer pleading for mercy and grace. David's sin of adultery and murder had been weighing heavily on his soul. True repentance of sin leads one to healing and restored fellowship with the Lord. He realized that only God could restore him. God heard his cry for pardon and granted him forgiveness and reconciliation. David realized his sin was committed against God. This realization brought great sorrow and shame. To sin willfully is to deny the Lord, for one must push Him out of their mind in order to do evil. Every sinner who returns to the Lord desires God's truth in their inner man. God gives wisdom and discernment to the repentant. Only the Lord can give grace to overcome the power of our old corrupt nature. Then we can "Walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." In 1923 the following individuals were the most powerful men in the world. They ruled the world of finance and money. Please take special note of the end of their lives. Charles Schwab, president of the largest steel company in America. Samuel Insull, president of the largest utility company. Howard Hopson, president of the largest gas company. Arthur Cutten, the great wheat speculator. Richard Whitney, president of the New York Stock Exchange. Albert Fall, Secretary of Interior in President Harding's cabinet. Jesse Livermore, the great "bear" on Wall Street. Ivan Krueger, head of the world's greatest monopoly. Leon Fraser, president of the Bank of International Settlements. These men were "movers and shakers," of their day, the kind many people envy and wish to emulate. Yet something went terribly wrong with these men's lives. Twenty-five years later: Charles Schwab, went bankrupt. Samuel Insull, died in foreign land penniless and a fugitive from justice. Howard Hopson was insane. Arthur Cutten, was insolvent and died abroad. Richard Whitney had just been released from Sing-Sing prison. Albert Fall had just been pardoned from prison and died at home, broke. Jesse Livermore committed suicide. Ivan Krueger committed suicide. Leon Fraser committed suicide. Each of these individuals had a melt down in their inner lives. It began in their minds and hearts. "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." The inner man is where life's battles are won or lost. "Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life." Ask the Lord daily to give you the strength to live a life of integrity and honesty. He is the source of strength for Kingdom living. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Is Our God the Only God

“I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God” (Isaiah 43:11-12). I remember as a freshman in Bible College reading a critical, critique of the Christian faith by an ungodly individual. He said the Christ faith is "nothing more than a psychological crutch." My response was how dare he attack my God and my faith. Then it dawned on me, he had not experienced the power and grace of God that comes through the new birth. The above verse does bring to mind the question, Is belief in God something for the weak, a childish gullibility, a way of side stepping reality? From [Freud’s] perspective, God is merely a creation of the human mind, a projection emanating from human need and desire rather than a distinct reality or being that exists independently of the human mind. Freud’s notion of God acting as an idealized father figure for humans, providing a cushion from the harshness of the real world and a comforting friend in the midst of life’s troubles, reduces God to a human construct. Indeed, for Freud, God is made in humanity’s own image and is the “ultimate wish-fulfillment”; God does not actually exist but is merely the creation of humanity’s imagination and desire for a loving father figure. Can we as believers respond to this? Is God really able to be explained away so easily by one aspect of psychology? The answer is a resounding no. As the song writer stated "He lives, He lives, I know my Savior lives, for He lives within my heart." Our verses for today reminds us we are here as witnesses to "Declare the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light" (I Peter 2). Unlike the blind unbeliever we are recipients of God's blessings. We are the people who anticipate His mighty deliverance yet to come. How dare we remain silent? There is no place for discouragement or retreat in our lives. To be discouraged is to lack courage. No believer has the luxury of discouragement, for we are in a battle for truth. Jesus Christ is our Commander and Chief, and He won the battle for us back at Calvary. Thus we fight from victory, rather than for victory. The same God who made the corpse of Jesus our living Lord is the same God Who is mighty to save. Being a witness of the living God, ought to humble us. Jacob was humbled when God touched his thigh, he was renamed Israel and walked with a limp the rest of his life. We ought to beware of any Christian leader who does not walk with a limp. Sometimes God orders circumstances into our lives to develop humility and create greater dependence upon Him. It is because God works greater through weakness than strength. The truth is we can get humility voluntarily or involuntarily. Its much easier if we get it voluntarily. "God gives more grace to the humble" one way or the other we'll get it. For God commissions humble, trusting, witnesses to do His Kingdom work. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Spiritual Warfare in God's Kingdom

Please read Luke 24:36-53. The kingdom of God is the most significant metaphor of spiritual conflict in the Bible. There are several facets of the kingdom as presented in the New Testament. Kingdom legitimacy: Satan's claims to lordship of the universe are illegitimate-he is the liar (John 8:44), the thief (John 10:10), and the deceiver (Rev. 20:3,8,10) whose domain is darkness (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13). His followers are like the wicked tenants (Matt. 21:33-44) whose actions show their true nature (Matt. 7:15-23). We have an assured victory: The prince of this world has been overcome (Luke 10:18; John 12:31),this is seen in the resurrection (I Cor. 15). We share in Christ's resurrection victory (Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 15:57) as over comers (Rev. 2:7). There is kingdom conflict on earth. That is because there are two kingdoms (Eph. 6:10-12), though the heavenly issue is settled (Rev. 12:7-9) with the final destruction of Satan and his hosts assured (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20; 9-15). Jesus is the stronger man who has bound Satan the strong man (Luke 11:14-22), and because of His victory, our standing against the enemy is possible. This is accomplished through prayerfully putting on spiritual armor (Eph. 6:13-19) and using divine weapons to tear down strongholds (II Cor. 10:3-5). We must learn how to fight the kingdom way, We are to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21) as Jesus did on the cross (Col. 2:15); we can return curses with blessings (I Pet. 3:9) because we are to consider those curses as blessings (Matt. 5:3-10). True freedom is not doing whatever we want, but being able to fully obey Christ (John 8:31-37). As believers we are to become kingdom people: We are new creatures having new natures (II Cor. 5:17) who are enjoined to put on new clothing (Eph. 4:22-32); Col. 3:12-17) and set our thoughts on new things (Col. 3:1-11). We have freedom in Christ (John 8:31-37) to be pure in our obedience to Him (Phil. 2:15) rather than live in slavery to sin (Rom. 6:1-14). We are also corporately a new people who are aliens in this world (I Pet. 2:9-12). We are a kingdom family: We are adopted (Rom. 8:14) children of God (John 1:12; I John 3:1, 5:19) who can call Him "Daddy" (Rom. 8:15) and who share in the inheritance of His Son (Heb. 1:2; Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:26-4:7). Let's examine the growth of the kingdom. Men can reject the kingdom of God. Satan can snatch kingdom truths away from unprepared hearts (the sower; Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23) God is the one who brings kingdom growth (secret growth; Mark 4:26-29)do not despise the day of small things (the mustard seed; Matt. 13:31-33); the kingdom will permeate all (yeast; Matt. 13:34; Luke 13:20-21). The value of the kingdom. The kingdom is worth all we are (the hidden treasure; Matt. 13:44; the pearl of great price; Matt. 13:45). Kingdom purity: The world is a mixture of kingdoms; the King plants openly for good, his opponent in secret for evil (tares and wheat; Matt. 13;24-30, 38-43); in the end the pure will be sorted from the impure (the fishing net; Matt. 13:47-50); the kingdom belongs to those who walk in the will of the King (the sheep and the goats; Matt. 25:31-46). Kingdom responsibilities: We are to share with others what treasures we have concerning the kingdom of God (new and old treasures; Matt. 13:52); the one who does God's will is justified, not the one who pays lip service; (the two sons; Matt. 21:28-32); the kingdom belongs to those who produce its fruit (the tenants; Matt. 21:33-46); the kingdom belongs to those who respond to the invitation of the King the wedding banquet; Matt. 22:1-14); the kingdom belongs to those who use the resources that God gives them (the talents; Matt. 25:14-30). The heart of the King: God actively and successfully seeks out people who belong to Him; He rejoices when they are found (the lost sheep; Luke 15:3-7; the lost coin; Luke 15:8-10); God anxiously (and with the light on) awaits our return to Him-He initiates reconciliation before we admit our wrong. His grace is offered to even the most wicked person (the prodigal son or the waiting father; Luke 15:11-32). Kingdom values; kingdom priorities are not arranged on an earthly scale (the workers in the vineyard; Matt. 20:1-16); kingdom people act wisely in light of kingdom values (the shrewd manager; Luke 16:31-46). The above facts are necessary for kingdom living. As you can see spiritual warfare is an intricate part of our walk with the Lord. Paul wrote "fight the good fight." In Christ it is a good fight indeed.

Spiritual Warfare and the Kingdom System

The kingdom system begins with kingdom power (to defeat Satan): Jesus not only taught about binding the strong man, He did it. Satan was not ultimately defeated through face to face combat, but by Jesus' total surrender to the will of God. The same is true in our lives. It does little good to seek deliverance if we are going to continue in sin. God's power is not limited just to supernatural displays-it is the power to live lives that are pleasing to God no matter what our circumstances. The next aspect of the kingdom system is kingdom authority exercised and delegated: Jesus exercised authority, and also delegated it to His disciples. Paul notes to the Ephesians that we are seated with Christ at the right hand of God, far above all authorities or powers or any name that can be named (Eph. 1:15-26). Thus, we too are privileged to exercise Christ's authority. Jesus has given us, as believers, authority over the demonic forces in Satan's kingdom. The third aspect of the kingdom system is kingdom ethics (fighting evil with good) as taught in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Epistles: One of the dangers in spiritual conflict is that of becoming like the enemy. We are constantly tempted to use Satan's weapons and tactics (lying, exaggerating, bitterness, angry attacks, violence, etc.) against him. Jesus calls us not only to the winning side, but to use tactics worthy of our calling as children of the King of Kings. God has a plan and Satan has an anti-plan: Satan is not as much creative as he is discreative. He takes the good things God has given and twists them towards his rebellious ends. God's plan. Enable people to show that they are made in the image of God by living according to His design for the creation. Satan's anti-plan. Cause people to live out of harmony of the image of God by perverting themselves through rebellion. God's plan. We acknowledge that we are owned by God and seek to live controlled by the Holy Spirit. Satan's anti-plan. We are demonized (controlled) by evil spirits (either in great fear or in ignorance). God's plan. Live in line with God's kingdom ethics: harmony, love, forgiveness, salt and light, etc. Satan's anti-plan. Live out of harmony with God's kingdom ethics, whether by bending them or outright denial of them, resulting in strife, enmity, and bitterness. God's plan. Trust God for all our needs and live above our circumstances. Satan's anti-plan. Trust anyone (or anything) but God to meet our needs and/or surrender to our circumstances. God's plan. Recognize that we are children of God and live in a way that shows the truth. Satan's anti-plan. Be ignorant of our heritage, consider ourselves spiritual orphans (or as Satan's children). God's plan. Freely choose to live so as to please God. Satan's anti-plan. Live in bondage to Satan and his hosts and think of it as "freedom." How has Satan sought to work his "anti-plan" in your thought process and life? What do you plan to do about it?