A Good King Establishes God’s Kingdom
In the book of revelation in the bible, the apostle John says: “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His Own blood, and has made us kings (or a kingdom) and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (revelation 1:5 & 6).
God has made each one of us as believers in Christ; both male and female; kings (or a kingdom) and priests as part of his kingdom’s reign. When we become believers in Christ, we must choose to no longer serve our own agenda, but to choose to serve Him in every way! When the ‘god of self’ has been dethroned from our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ becomes King of our hearts in its place. With the coming of a new King comes a new reign and the advent of a new kingdom. Jesus Christ rules over every king on the earth, so when we begin to rule as part of Christ’s Kingdom, everything changes!
- We no longer build our kingdom, we build His!
- Jesus Christ begins to reign in every part of our lives.
Every earthly king begins his reign in his own right. When Solomon became king of Israel the bible says:
“Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of king David, submitted themselves to king Solomon. So the lord exalted Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel”.
(1 Chronicles 29:23 — 25)
The bible describes Solomon as sitting on the throne of the Lord. The Lord Himself establishes earthly kings, strengthening their kingdoms, so His eternal purposes will be established through their reign.
Speaking of Solomon’s kingdom the Bible says:
“Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly”.
(2 chronicles 1:1)
Choose Your Advisors Well
A good king chooses his advisors well, knowing there are consequences for the decisions that he makes. A wise king will choose to heed the voice of the Lord over the voices of men.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”.
(Proverbs 14: 12)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord”.
(Isaiah 55: 8)
When the people came to King Rehoboam, asking him to lighten their heavy yoke, he sought the advice of the elders who wisely advised him:
“If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever”.
(2 Chronicles 10:7)
But Rehoboam rejected the words of the elders and sought the advice of young men.
“And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ‘my father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!'”.
(2 Chronicles 10:14)
King Rehoboam followed the wrong advice and it cost him most of his kingdom. Most of his people deserted him, and another became king in his place.
“Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, O David!’ So all Israel departed to their tents”.
(2 Chronicles 10: 16)
- Don’t neglect the wisdom of those who have stood the test of time.
- Understand the consequences of the decisions that you make.
Meet the Needs of the People
A good king does not worry about his own provision or gaining material possessions or wealth. He focuses on the important aspects of God’s Kingdom and the things that will enable him to rule well. He understands the Word of the Lord:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘ What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ ‘For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.
(Matthew 6: 31 — 33)
- Focus on meeting the needs of the people and serving them well.
- Put God first, then everything else will follow.
A good king is loved by his people; his focus is not on himself; but how he can please the Lord. Then God meets the needs of his people, giving them strength and spiritual health.
“If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In”.
(Isaiah 58: 10 – 12)
Keep Your Heart With Diligence
A good king keeps (watches, guards and preserves) his heart with diligence (posts a watch on it, placing it in confinement), regarding the choices that he makes. What he allows into his heart will affect every decision he makes.
Your heart’s choice affects everything under your reign.
Knowing that Solomon would become king one day, King David said to his son:
“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil”.
(Proverbs 4: 20 — 27)
Every king on the earth is appointed by God, to fulfil the will of the Lord.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves”.
(Romans 13: 1 & 2)
God appoints kings to fulfil the purposes of His Kingdom; but when His purposes are no longer being fulfilled, He may remove them and appoint a new king in their place.
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons”.
(1 Samuel 16: 1)
God establishes kings on the earth and can also remove them as well.
Remember There is a Higher King
A good king remembers he answers to a higher King; the Lord Jesus Christ. He places him first, seeking to gain him above all else. The apostle Paul said:
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed i also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”.
(Philippians 3: 7 — 9)
A good king remembers that one day the Lord God will put an end to all the kingdoms of men.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power”.
(1 Corinthians 15:22 -24)
- Remember you have a job to do, so choose to do it well.
- Even earthly kings will have to give account to God for the way they’ve lived their lives.
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad”.
(2 Corinthians 5: 9 & 10)
Judge Nothing Before the Appointed Time
Every sanctified believer in Christ; both male and female; is anointed and has a set place of rulership given by God. But God does not want us to compare our lives or ministries with those of anyone else. When Peter asked Jesus about another disciple saying, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said:
“If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me”.
(John 21: 22)
Jesus wants us to follow Him, not to look at man!
A good king knows the authority he has in Christ and that his purposes have been ordained by God. But he remembers there are limits to his kingdom and that there are neighbouring kings appointed by God as well. Judging the hearts and motives of other kings and their kingdoms is like stepping foot on holy ground.
- Do not compare with another man’s kingdom — he also has been appointed by God.
- Do not sit in the seat of judgment and set foot on holy ground.
- Judge nothing before the appointed time.
- Let the fear of the Lord keep you safe.
The Apostle Paul said:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God”.
(1 Corinthians 4: 1 -5)
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father I acknowledge today that every earthly king has been established by You to fulfil Your will on the earth. Help me to serve You diligently in the place You have appointed me and to build Your Kingdom, not my own. Help me to honour all others who You have put in a place of rulership or appointment by Your sovereign hand. Keep my heart from judging others and from presuming to know Your purposes and plans. Keep my eyes focused on You, Lord Jesus, and not on any man. May You continue to fulfill all Your purposes through my life until My Lord returns. Amen”.
