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Refusing to Bow to the King

Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines

There was a mighty king in a faraway land. He was an uncommonly good king. He was good to his people. One might even say that he sacrificed for their well-being. The citizens of that land bowed to the king and felt themselves fortunate to have such a good man to rule over them. It had long been a custom of the land that the citizens should bow and had at some point in the past become law. It was a test of loyalty to the king. It was even the case that if one failed to bow the penalty could be death.

One day, as the king’s entourage passed through a certain village, the king’s Prime Minister noticed a certain man failing to bow in the presence of the king. The Prime Minister was charged with enforcing the laws of the land. The man was brought before the Prime Minister and charged with disloyalty to the king. The man denied being disloyal but simply did not wish to bow before the king. He was adamant and would not comply. He was a good man in many ways. He was good to his wife and children, was in all other ways a good citizen, had been known to help the poor and was an advocate for good moral values. These facts did not matter to the Prime Minister. The man was held for trial and there was little hope for acquittal except that he would consent to bow before the king.

Knowing this, the man’s friends and family met with him day after day begging him to bow before the king. The matter made no sense to them. They pointed out the many benefits the man had received from the king. They reasoned “Doesn’t the king bear the scar of protecting us from enemy armies?” “Yes, he does,” the man said. “Hasn’t he improved the roads and bridges?” “That’s right, he has,” the man agreed. “Didn’t he open his own granaries to feed the people during the last drought?” “That’s true,” the man said. On and on they went naming the benefits the man had received from the king. They further asked him, “Isn’t our king a worthy king?” The man had no answer, and he simply wouldn’t budge. He would not bow to the king.

The time of the trial grew near. Seeing his death was imminent, the man’s friends and family would not give up just yet. They decided that he might relent if he looked at the other effects of his decision. They pleaded, “Think of your nation. What if everyone decided to dishonor the king? There would be no national pride. Decay would begin and soon we would be the slaves of surrounding nations.” They continued, “think of the citizens of your village. Think of the lives wasted if they follow your example. Think of the executions. Think of the grieving families.” They went on, “Think of your wife. She will be left grieving for you in dishonor. What will your memory be to her when she is left a widow with no support all because you would not bow to a good and worthy king?” None of this moved the man so stubborn was he in his ways. His loved ones decided to try once more. It was their last hope. If this didn’t convince him nothing would. Their last reason was, “Think of your son. We noticed that, when you were arrested by the Prime Minister, YOUR SON WASN’T BOWING EITHER!!! If you do not repent your son will soon follow you to the executioner.” The man would not repent. His trial was short, the execution swift, and the grieving protracted.

What can we say about this man but “What an idiot!!!?” The sad thing is that every Lord’s day I can find people just like that man in the pews during the assembly. They listen to the preaching week after week knowing their duty. They know that their King is worthy. They know all the benefits they receive at His hand. They have been told what the whole world would be like if everyone were as stubborn as they. They have been told that they are influencing their neighbor for ill. They even sit by as they watch their sons and daughters get lost in a sea of worldliness. Yet, they still won’t bow to King Jesus.

[This morning I would like to review the reasons why we should bow to King Jesus. When I say, “bow to King Jesus” I don’t mean a literal bow. I mean, obey Him.]

DISCUSSION:

I.   THE KING IS WORTHY.

1. Not a usurper. Son of God. Matthew 17:1ff

2. Has all authority. Matthew 28:18

3. Provider of ALL spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1:3

4. Source of all physical blessings. John 1:1-3

5. No above-it-all, too-good-for-them attitude. Philippians 2:5-10

6. Bears the scars. He’s your champion. John 20:26-28

II.  THE CONSEQUENCES #1. PERSONAL.

1. None of your prayers are heard. Isaiah 59:1, 2

2. Denial before the Father. Matthew 10:32

3. You will be made to bow. Romans 14:11

4. Sentencing and execution of sentence. Rev. 20:11-15.

III. THE CONSEQUENCES #2. INFLUENCE.

1. Efforts in influencing society lacking.

1) Won’t be involved in making more Christians. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

[Driving through a strange city your car breaks down. You look around and notice the run-down character of the neighborhood. It’s dark; the streetlights are broken. You are afraid, very afraid. You start walking to find a phone. You notice that there is now a group of men walking behind you. You start walking faster. So do they. You duck between the buildings to try to lose them but find yourself in a dead end alley. In the dim light you see their shadows approaching. They’re all holding something in their hands. Then, you nearly faint with relief when you see that they are carrying… Bibles? They just left a Bible study and saw your stranded car and just wanted to help. Such is the power and influence of the Bible.]

2) Won’t study and teach God’s guide for society. 2 Timothy 2:15

2. Efforts in influencing family lacking.

1) Compare your efforts with Abraham’s. Genesis 18:19

2) Train up a child… Proverbs 22:6.

3) We can go outside this building and it wouldn’t take long to review the wreckage of families who were not influenced by godly people.

a. You’ve seen them.

b. You know them.

c. You’ve seen the pain, the wounds, the drugs, the alcohol, the abuse, the orphans, the gangs, the drive-bys, the trials, and the sentences.

4) WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TO PREVENT IT?

5) There has been too many a godly wife who mourned her husband long before his death. She knew he wouldn’t be with her to see the King.

6) There have been too many sons and daughters that have followed their fathers or mothers in their error. Don’t say, “but I took them to Sunday school. Why did they go bad?” Your influence is stronger than Sunday school.

[DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT ANY OR ALL THESE THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU WON’T BOW TO THE KING?]

CONCLUSION:

1. You can contribute to society’s safety far more effectively than any Police Department if you bow to the King.

2. Bow to the King for your family’s sake.

3. Bow to the King for your soul’s sake.

4. We are about to have a song of invitation.

1) We invite those who wish to place membership here to sit on one of these front pews when we start singing.

2) We invite Christians who have been stubborn in sin to repent. If it is a public matter come and remove that evil influence and replace it with a good one. Come and sit when we start singing. Bow to the King.

3) We invite those who have never bowed, who have never obeyed the king to come and sit when we start singing.

4) Don’t wait.

a. The consequences are too great.

b. Surely you don’t hesitate because of fear. Our King is a benevolent king.

Come, while we stand and sing.