The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 NKJV
On one of my visits to Africa, I had the privilege to preach in a 3 day outdoor crusade. During that time I was escorted to the police station in which I had to give up my passport. I entered their country under a tourist visa, but my public preaching needed a different type of visa. Although I was not getting paid, my preaching before the crowds looked like I was conducting business. After a couple of hundred dollars, they restamped my passport and all was good. I was being treated with respect, because they valued my American citizenship and my the change of my passport status.
The two major road signs leading to the coming of the Messiah were that He would come from the lineage of Abram and that He would establish an eternal throne from the line of King David. Earlier we looked at the significance in which Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to Abram, that through his seed He would be a blessing to all nations.
After King David had brought the Ark of Covenant to Jerusalem, he wanted to build a temple for the Ark and worship of God. Nathan the prophet came and spoke with David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” 2 Samuel 7:16.
Starting at the fall of mankind to trace the lineage of Messiah, Eve was promised that her seed would shall bruise the serpent’s head. The promise was narrowed to the descendants of Abraham. Then a royal lineage would flow forth from Judah as prophesied by Jacob, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Genesis 49:10
Now the promise was narrowed again, this time it would come as a Son of King David. During Matthew’s lifetime, because Roman occupied nations including Israel, the Jewish people were hungry for the promise of a great ruler and the establishment of His kingdom to be realized. Matthew’s Jewish readers were immediately hooked in this first line, that David’s rule and reign was being established.
Upon Jesus’ resurrection, God gave Him the name above every other name, that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Jesus’ first words in preaching were “repent for the kingdom of God was at hand.” He spent the rest of His ministry on earth trying to explain and demonstrate what God’s kingdom on earth would look like. We are living underneath the rule of that kingdom today.
Benefits you experience under the forever rule and reign of Jesus, son of David.
- Continual abiding presence of Jesus and his kingdom benefits. “The kingdom of God is among you.”
- The rule and reign of His kingdom will be good news and light, not fearful and overbearing.
- The kingdom of heaven’s values, characteristics, and power can be experienced here on earth – NOW. “Let your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.”
- The kingdom of God is more than the mechanics of life such as eating and drinking, rather the values of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit impact daily living.
Citizens of the kingdom established by Jesus enjoy those benefits now. When you became a follower of Jesus, your citizen passport changed from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. This world is not your home, for you are a citizen of heaven with Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Jesus. He sends us as His ambassadors underneath Him with delegated authority. We are to go throughout all of the world, everywhere our feet take us, and proclaim the teachings of Jesus that He is King over all.
This Christmas Season, remember your heavenly citizenship. Conduct all of your affairs as befitting an Ambassador of this heavily kingdom. Draw from the refreshing which His love and forgiveness brings. Stand up tall and speak boldly. King Jesus has secured your peace and forgiveness. We are living in the benefits of the promise that God made to King David. What a wonderful concept to remember and celebrate during this Advent season.2Your passport is elevated to Ambassador status, let’s be diligent to represent King Jesus. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21.
Blessings Love y’all