Jesus: King of Kings & Lord of Lords -- 6/14/09

Sunday, June 14, 2009 (Slide Campground)

JESUS: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
Phil. 2:5-11

God’s truth is often two-sided. Many times we look for an either/or, when it is both/and. For example, we read in John 1:17 that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Randy Alcorn has written a little book about grace and truth, emphasizing that we must see both of them, not just one. Truth without grace can be very destructive; grace without truth can be very deceptive. And what about the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man? We don’t choose between the two. Rather, we must embrace both truths because both are taught in the Word of God. Those who forget the sovereignty of God fall off on the side of saying that ultimately whether a man is saved or not depends upon that man’s own decision. Those who forget the responsibility of man give the impression that it doesn’t matter what a man does, since God has already decided. Both views are wrong. God’s sovereignty does not relieve anyone of responsibility.

Now consider the idea of friendship with Jesus Christ. Just yesterday we heard the truth that Jesus is the friend of sinners. No one can deny that; it is the clear teaching of God’s Word. However, we are living in a day when religion is plagued with the notion that the whole truth can be stated in the concept that Jesus is our friend. While that is true for the Christian, it is only part of that truth. Jesus is our friend, but He is much, much more than that.

Surely we would have to say that of all people on earth, Jesus’ apostles were the ones who could truly call Him friend. They walked with Him day in and day out for three years. They were not perfect men, but neither were they proud men. They had some understanding of their need for a Savior. Yes, Jesus was their friend. But let me remind you of a little incident that was recorded in Luke 5. Let’s read Luke 5:1-9…
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

Jesus would even lay down His life for those friends (and for us). Nevertheless, those apostles were well aware that Jesus was more than friend. This concept of Jesus our friend cannot be adequately explained by comparing it to human friendship, even as the fatherhood of God goes far beyond the example of a human father. Jesus is friend in that He stoops to help us, even to lay down His life for us. Though he is friend, we must not reduce that friendship to the idea that we are buddy-buddy. While there is the tenderest relationship of friendship, Jesus is still God, the One through whom the universe was created. He is still worthy of our worship. Though He is friend, we bow down to Him and adore Him as King and Lord.

This morning let’s take up where Justin left off last night. Jesus is a Mighty Savior! Praise God! [May want Justin to give a two-minute review of his message.]
Jesus died, and He also rose from the grave…
Low in the grave He lay – Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day – Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed – Jesus my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead – Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep his prey – Jesus my Savior!
He tore the bars away – Jesus my Lord!


Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Now let’s read from Phil. 2:5-8…
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

What a powerful summary of what the Lord Jesus did in coming into this world, living as a servant, and dying on the cross, but this is not the end of the story. Now let’s read Phil. 2:9-11…
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Why this exalted name? Because Jesus faithfully finished the work which the Father gave Him to do. Jesus was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Praise God for the cross. As Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal. 6:14). This morning let’s look beyond the cross.

I. He Rose

Did Jesus really rise from the grave? Oh yes, we can sing the song, but is it based upon the truth. Thomas was certainly asking that question. It was a look at the resurrected Christ that answered that question for Thomas. And when the Holy Spirit brings the Word to life, a person today can see the risen Christ. If Jesus didn’t rise from the grave, then we have no hope. If God didn’t raise Him up from the dead, our faith is in vain.
Let’s read Rom. 1:1-4…
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Jesus did not become the Son of God at His resurrection, but it was through the resurrection that He was declared to be the Son of God with power. It was the resurrection that turned common sense on its ear. The common sense of the world said that Jesus was smitten of God. The world regarded Him as a criminal who deserved to die. The Jewish leaders regarded Him as a blasphemer against God. But make no mistake about it, God had the final Word when He raised Jesus from the grave, victorious over death and sin and hell.

If Jesus didn’t rise from the grave, our faith is vain, and we are yet in our sins, as Paul says in I Cor. 15:17. But what if Jesus did rise from the dead? I Cor. 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” As Jesus put it earlier, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). God has predestined His children to be conformed to the image of Christ, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). And if we are His children, we have the results of Jesus resurrection in Col. 3:1-4…

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

For those of us who have been raised with Christ, we can seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. That’s right! We are not bound to this world that is seen with our eyes. Rather, we can actually set our mind (affection, KJV) on things above. Why is that? Because we died and our life is hid with Christ in God. That is because we have not only been made alive with the risen Christ, but God has raised us up with Christ and seated us in the heavenly places with Him (Eph. 2:6). Our citizenship is now in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Christ’s resurrection is glorious, not just for Him, but also for us who are in Christ.

I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer.
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives; He lives; Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives; He lives; salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart.

II. He Reigns

Earlier we sang “Our God Reigns.” Yes, He does. Then we sang “He’s alive… and that’s why our God reigns.” So let me ask you a question. Of course, we know that God reigns. He always has and always will. But what about Jesus. Does He reign now? Or, is it more accurate to say that he will reign?

Perhaps it is best that we start with the simple question: Where is Jesus now? After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His apostles and others for 40 days. He wasn’t with them during that whole period; He appeared to them from time to time. After those 40 days, He was taken up out of their sight into heaven. As Jesus disappeared into the cloud, two angels appeared and said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). So Jesus was taken up into heaven.

In the next chapter of Acts we have further information. Listen to the words Peter spoke to the crowd gathered at Pentecost. Acts 2:32-33, "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." Quite a number of translations render it “to the right hand of God” or “at the right hand of God.” The Greek can be translated either way, but “to” seems more likely. But if there is any question, plenty of other passages confirm that Jesus has indeed been exalted to the right hand of God, the place of honor and authority. Come over to chapter 7, where we read of Stephen before his executioners. Acts 7:55-56, "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." By the way, this is the only time we see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The other references speak of him seated at the right hand of God, as in that great passage of Heb. 1:1-4…
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Or we could read Eph. 1:19-20, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." And we have already read Col.3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” And Heb. 8:1, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." And Heb. 10:12, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." Heb, 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Surely you get the idea that Jesus is now at the Father’s right hand. But what is He doing there? What is His activity at the present time? [Give time for answers]. Yes, Jesus is making intercession for us. This truth is revealed in both Rom. 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" and Heb. 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." You will note that Rom. 8:34 specifically tells us that Christ is at the right hand of God and that He is making intercession for us. Praise God for that truth.

But that is not the end of the story. I count at least 20 verses in the New Testament that make reference to Jesus being at the right hand of God. If we take out the parallel accounts in the gospels, we still have 16 or so. Yet only one of these (Rom. 8:34) speaks of Jesus making intercession for us. So what is the force of all the other references? They make no reference to Jesus’ intercession, but they do speak of Him being at the Father’s right hand. Is He doing something more than interceding?

This idea of Jesus sitting on the right hand of God is rooted in Psalm 110:1, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." You will note the difference in the two words “Lord,” as the first is in all caps. The idea is this: “Yahweh (Jehovah) said to my Lord, ‘Sit here at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’” David somehow heard God the Father saying these words to Christ the Son. You will notice that the focus here is not upon intercession, but rather upon power. The rest of the Psalm bears this out.

Now when we come to the first New Testament reference to Jesus being at the right hand of God, we find that it is Jesus Himself quoting from Ps. 110:1. Let’s read it in Mat 22:44, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?" The next reference also focuses on this power. Matt. 26:63-64, "But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Of course, they would not see Jesus sitting on the right hand of power in this lifetime.

Now let’s read some other New Testament references to Jesus at the right hand of God. Eph. 1:19-23…
[Paul prayed that the eyes of their understanding might be openend, that they might know] “What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Did you hear that? In seating Christ at His own right hand, God has set Him above all rule and authority and power and dominion (NASV, NIV). Yes, He is above every name that is named both in this world and the world to come. God has put (past tense) all things under his feet and has given Him to the church to be head over all things. In short, God the Father has given Jesus a place of great power at His own right hand.

We find this same theme in Hebrews. In Hebrews we have five references to Jesus being at the right hand of God…
Heb 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Heb 1:13 "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"
Heb 8:1 "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"
Heb 10:12-13 "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."
Heb 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I believe this idea of power and rulership is found in every one of these references. Two of them make reference to Ps. 110, which unquestionable speak of the power of our Lord at the right hand of the Father. Two more tell us that Jesus has sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (in the heavens). This word “Majesty” is built upon a root word that means “great.” It speaks of power and majesty associated with rulership. We find this same word used in Jude 25, "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen." Notice the words with which “majesty” is associated – glory, dominion, and power. Here the word “majesty” is used to describe the Father in all His glory and power. In Hebrews it is used to describe the Son. The other right-hand reference in Hebrews is in 12:2, where we are told that Jesus is at the right hand of the throne of God. Again, the throne speaks of power. Remember that one of the underlying themes of Hebrews (especially chapter 1) is Jesus’ superiority over the angels.

And finally come to 1 Pet 3:22, "Who [Jesus Christ] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." Just as we saw in Ephesians 1, Peter emphasizes the truth that Jesus’ place at the right hand of the Father is a place which places Him over all other powers. Isn’t this exactly what we would expect of the one who was declared to be the Son of God with power at the resurrection? Let me remind you of what Jesus said after He rose and before He ascended back to heaven. Matt. 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Literally, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” That is quite a sweeping statement. Having conquered death and now anticipating His place at the Father’s right hand, Jesus asserts that He now has all authority in both heaven and earth. Numerous times in the Old Testament it is stated that God made heaven and earth. For example, Ps. 121:2, "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." And Is. 37:16, "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth." We also read that the Lord is the possessor of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19,22). The Lord God Himself said, “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jer. 23:24). All of these are ways of emphasizing the greatness, power, authority, and majesty of Almighty God. But now Jesus that same phrase “heaven and earth” to speak of His own authority.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus is reigning now. He is ruling from the right hand of the Father. Yes, He is making intercession for His own, but He is also ruling over all power and authority that exist in heaven and earth. You say, “But how can that be? We can’t see Him ruling. The kings and authorities of this world don’t seem to know it. Satan himself is alive and well and is the god of this world. How can we say that Jesus is ruling?” We can say it because the Word says it, and because Jesus Himself says it. Don’t confuse the reality with what we can see with these physical eyes. Remember, we live by faith, not by sight. How can we believe Him, when we can’t see Him? How can we love someone we have never seen with these eyes? 1 Pet. 1:8, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

Come back to Matt. 26:64, "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Notice how the high priest and the others responded in Matt. 26:65-66, "Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death." How dare this man speak in such a way, claiming that He would some day sit on the right hand of power at the throne of God! They said He was guilty of blasphemy and deserved to die. But now come back again to Stephen, who was about to be stoned to death. Acts 7:55-56, "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Stephen rendered a verdict that contradicted the high priest and the Sanhedrin. He used the exact same term “Son of man” and said that he saw that Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Stephen, being filled with the Holy Spirit, confirmed what Jesus had said. Of course, the high priest and the Sanhedrin still didn’t see Him there, but they will.

Yes, our Lord Jesus is reigning from heaven, where He is at the right hand of God.

III. He Is Coming

If Jesus is reigning now, but some day the whole universe is going to recognize His reign, what is it that will make the difference? His coming. Jesus is coming again. He came 2,000 years ago as a babe in the manger, but soon He will come again as Ruler of all. We read of His coming in Rev. 1:7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Though He wasn’t recognized by many people at His first coming, rest assured that all will know Him at His second coming, for every eye will see Him.

Rev. 1:7 is a frightening verse, as it speaks of all kindreds of the earth wailing (weeping) because of His coming, but it will not be so for true believers. We have the great promise of Heb. 9:27-28, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." We are looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus. And why is that? Because He was offered once for all to bear our sins. Our sin and guilt has been paid by the Lord Jesus. We no longer dread His coming; we welcome His coming. As the old hymn puts it…
O that will be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me.
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

Let’s read again those familiar passages that are becoming dearer to us as His return comes nearer. Tit. 2:11-14…
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

And Phil. 3:20-21…
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Also John 14:1-3…
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Where He is, there we will be also. That is the glory of His coming. He is coming for His own. He will take us to Himself and we will ever be with the Lord. That is glory!

And what about those who died before His coming? I Thes. 4:13-17…
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We comfort one another with these words. Yes, we miss those Christians who have died, but we don’t sorrow as the world sorrows. We take comfort in the truth that they are with the Lord. Praise God!

IV. He Is Lord

Now let’s come back and read again those glorious words of Phil. 2:5-11…
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As Israel dragged the name of the Lord through the mud, as described in Ezekiel 36, so people of our world profane the name of Jesus. Some use His name as a curse word. Some declare their hatred for Him. All the world opposes Him. He is ignored by most of our society, even by many who speak His name. He is mocked, ridiculed, and hated. Why does the Almighty God allow it to be so? Brothers and sisters, don’t ever forget that God will have the last Word. And here we find the last Word. God has already highly exalted Jesus and given Him a name which is above every name. Remember that Jesus is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But that isn’t the end of the story. He has done so in order that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Don’t miss it – every knee and every tongue. That includes those who are in heaven and in earth and under the earth. No one will escape. Everyone will bow down to King Jesus. There will be no exceptions. Why? That God may be glorified. Yes, He will have the last word.

We read these words about our coming King in Rev. 19:11-16…
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Listen to the words of Ps. 86:8-10, "Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone." When God Almighty brings everyone to bow down to His Son, all will be in order. And how shall we respond? The next three verses tell us. Ps. 86:11-13, "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."

Some day every creature in the universe will bow down before the Lord Jesus and acknowledge that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, but we don’t have to wait until that day. We can praise Him as Lord here and now. 1 Pet. 2:9-10, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

Conclusion

Well, we could go on and on, but it’s time to wrap up this message (not time to wrap up our praise of King Jesus, but time to wrap up this message). We have read Phil. 2:5-11 more than once this morning. Let me ask you a question. Where did Paul get those words about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing? Yes, He received those words from the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit was His teacher, but what are the teaching materials of the Spirit? The Word of God. Paul got those words from the 45th chapter of Isaiah. Let’s read it in Is. 45:23, "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." That is the Lord God Himself speaking. He said He would do it, and He will. It is as good as done, as confirmed by what we have read in Philippians 2.

For some of you that may be a scary thought. It is very sobering to think of standing before Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When they came out to arrest Him, Jesus simply said “I AM,” and His enemies “went backward and fell to the ground” (John 18:5-6). So what will you do, when you actually have to stand there in the presence of this Most Holy One?

Please hear me. Never has context been any more beautiful than here in Isaiah 45. I want to show you the words that are sandwiched around this sobering statement about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing. Isaiah 45:21-25…
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. Yes, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, but it is God’s desire that you kneel and confess before Him with joy, as one justified, made right before Him. Look to the Lord and be saved. Every one here deserves to be destroyed, to melt before the One who is perfect righteousness. But it pleased the Lord to crush that holy one, in order that you might be saved. Look to Jesus and be saved.