Sermon: Royal
by Chris Cumming
I was born in the month of August in 1948. Later that year in
mid-November, Prince Charles of the British Royal Family was born.
About 20 years later in 1968, I began reading articles about him. Most
spoke to the preparation he was and is receiving to one day be King of
England. I was impressed with all the education, instruction and
experience he was receiving. What a privilege to attend several
different schools and receive degrees from Cambridge. He received
military training in both the navy and the air force. He was exposed to
various kinds of sports, philanthropy, the arts, architecture, music,
environmental sciences, medical disciplines, as well as religious and
philosophical interests.
Prince Charles is being given every discipline possible in preparation
to be a king. Wouldn’t it be exciting to have a life like that? Fact
is, you WERE called to a life like that. There is scripture in the Word
of God that speaks to us ruling in much higher positions that Prince
Charles will ever see. He is being trained to act like and be like a
king. So are you.
The purpose of this sermon is to expose you to royalty and your future
position as kings and princes in the Kingdom of God. It is time to
start acting like royalty.
Be a royal.
Let us go to one of those royalty scriptures I alluded to.
Isaiah 32:1
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in
judgment.
One commentary I found says this:
With Jesus Christ ruling as King over all the earth, we, as co-heirs
with Him (Romans 8:17), will be regarded as princes ruling under Him. He
will give His true followers positions of rulership in His Kingdom,
where, it is specifically stated, "we shall reign on the earth."
~Forerunner commentary
Quoted verse:
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
Question: What does it mean that “we may be also glorified
together”? Notice the commentary:
That they shall be "glorified together"; not with his essential glory,
nor with his mediatorial [mee-dee-uh-tawr-ee-uh l] glory [characteristic
of a mediator], but with that glory which his Father has given him
for them. There is a glorification of the saints in Christ, and a
glorification of them by Christ, and a glorification of them with
Christ, which will consist in likeness to him, and in the
everlasting vision and enjoyment of him. ~John Gill
Let us take a look at another key verse on the royal subject:
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
Let us take the first part of the verse and check connected/related verses:
Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 ...how to be a member of royalty
20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good
and right and truth before the LORD his God.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in
the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart,
and prospered.
Note: Hezekiah was royalty. Notice from the commentary how he went about
his duties as king:
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God - In
cleansing the temple, providing sacrifices, placing the priests and Levites
order, taking care of the maintenance of them:
And in the law and in the commandments - in the observation of all the laws, statutes, and judgments of God, moral, ceremonial, and judicial:
To seek his God - and serve and worship him, and therein his honour and glory:
He did it with all his heart - in the most cordial, sincere, and upright manner:
And prospered - he succeeded in all he undertook, God being with him, and
blessing him in his civil and religious concerns.
Note: Everything in the first four phrases speaks to the conclusion of
the commentary in the last phrase—“God being with him.” God is with us because
we put every work in His hands and we obey Him in all law, statutes and
principles.
Now more scriptures that speak to the phrase, “Well done, thou good and faithful
servant” in Matthew 25
Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that
is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Romans 2:29 … Hezekiah would love this verse
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 …an admonition to anyone about to become king
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will
bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the
counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
2 Corinthians 5:9
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2 Corinthians 10:18
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Now for another major phrase in Matthew 25:21
I will make thee ruler over many things.
Matthew 25:34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and
ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me.
Note: The many things God has us doing now is royalty training.
Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal.
Admonition: Kings are righteous. You are righteous. Ready to be king?
Matthew 10:40-42
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him
that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a
prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a
righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold
water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise
lose his reward.
Matthew 24:47
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Note: Clearly God wants us in the royal court.
Luke 12:44
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke 22:28-30
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Note: Absolute promise.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast
some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten
days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Question: What to be a king? Have faith.
Revelation 2:26-28
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give
power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Question: Who is to become kings and princes? Overcomers.
Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son.
Now for the last phrase:
Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Psalms 16:10-11
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy
One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my
servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Question: Want royal treatment from the Father? Follow the Son.
John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place [office/position] for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Philippians 1:23 …a sign and attitude of a royal
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:
2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny
us:
Note: I want to at this concept of denying Christ. Most of think of
Peter overtly denying Christ.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me - The same word in the original is
translated “confess” and “profess,” 1 Timothy 6:12-13; 2 John 1:7; Romans10:10.
It means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for
salvation, and our attachment to him, in every proper manner. This profession
may be made in conversation, and in conduct. The Scriptures mean, by a
profession of religion, an exhibition of it in every circumstance of the life
and before all people. It is not merely in one act that we must do it, but in
every act. We must be ashamed neither of the person, the character, the
doctrines, nor the requirements of Christ. If we are; if we deny him in these
things before people [or Christ]; if we are unwilling to express our
attachment to him in every way possible, then it is right that he should
“disown all connection with us,” or deny us before God, and he will do it.
~Barnes Notes with minor editing and emphasis by me
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 6:12-13 [Lesson-verse
12] [Lesson-verse
13]
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
Note: Part of denial would be neglecting your calling. It would be
forgetting or refusing to put up a good fight. Part of denial would be not
invoking the power of the Holy Spirit and doing good works.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Note: Part of denial is holding false doctrines and rejecting true doctrines.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
Note: Part of denial is neglect of belief and faith. Members of God's Royal Court exercise fervency, diligence and zeal. They constantly invoke the power of the Holy Spirit and look for opportunities to serve and do good works. They immediately reject false doctrines and fiercely embrace true doctrine.
1 Peter 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:
Quotes on royal leadership
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become
more, you are a leader." ~John Quincy Adams
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."
"The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves."
~Theodore Roosevelt
"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."
"Leadership - leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses."
Let us recap what we have learned about royalty and ruling with Christ:
I made a list of the things that will be part of your royalty:
Your Royalty
1] As a prince, you shall rule in judgment. Isaiah 32:1
2] You are a joint-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17
3] You will be glorified. Romans 8:17
4] You will be ruler over many things. Matthew 25:21, Matthew 24:47, Luke 12:44
5] You will enter into the joy of the Lord. Matthew 25:21
6] You will prosper. 2 Chronicles 3:21
7] You will know things currently in darkness. 1 Corinthians 4:5
8] You will be accepted by God. 2 Corinthians 5:9
9] God will commend us. 2 Corinthians 10:18
10] You will know praise and honor. 1 Peter 1:7
11] You will inherit the Kingdom of God. Matthew 25:34
12] You will have eternal life. Matthew 25:46
13] You will receive reward. Matthew 10:40-42
14] You are appointed the Kingdom. Luke 22:28-30
15] You will eat and drink at God's table in the Kingdom. Luke 22:30
16] You will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:30
17] You will receive a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
18] You will receive power over nations. Revelation 2:26-28
19] You will sit down with Christ. Revelation 3:21
20] You will be a son of God. Revelation 21:7
21] You will know pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:10-11
22] You will receive honor from the Father. John 12:26
23] You will receive a place prepared by Christ. John 14:3
24] You will be with Christ. Philippians 1:23
25] You will reign with Christ. 2 Timothy 2:12
26] Ye will rejoice with joy unspeakable. 1 Peter 1:8
Requirements to royalty:
1] Righteousness. Isaiah 32:1
2] Suffer with Christ. Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12
3] Faith. Matthew 25:21
4] Do what is good, right and truth. 2 Chronicles 3:20
5] Seek God. 2 Chronicles 3:21
6] Do it with all your heart. 2 Chronicles 3:21
7] Praise God. Romans 2:29
8] Labor. 2 Corinthians 5:9
9] Endure the trial of faith. 1 Peter 1:7
10] You do good works to the brethren. Matthew 25:35-40
11] Receive Christ and righteous men. Matthew 10:40-42
12] Suffer tribulation. Revelation 2:10
13] Overcome sin and keep the works of Christ to the end. Revelation 2:26-28, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 21:7
14] Walk the path of life. Psalm 16:10-11
15] Serve and follow Christ. John 12:26
16] Believe. 1 Peter 1:8
So go now and BE a Royal.