Saturday, 8 April 2017

East Ridge Pres

1 Kings 1:1 Now King David was old and advanced in years… 24 And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ Adonijah had made himself king and challenged the true king. We have made ourselves king and obeyed our own laws and followed our own authority. We have lived as open rebels against the Christ. We have celebrated openly our own authority and own glory. And we have rejected our King, our Christ. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” Christ has been anointed king by God the Father, given all authority in heaven and earth. Like Solomon he rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and was declared by all the people to be the Son of David and Messiah. The king of Israel. 49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” If you believe the gospel that Jesus is Lord and Christ. Then tremble at your rebellion and your sin, and flee to the altar today. Jesus has not come to destroy you, but to offer himself up on that altar, to spill the blood that covers your offense. Cling to the horns of the altar. Only the one who sees his rebellion, and knows the coming wrath of the rightful King, will beg for mercy. Where are you rebelling against Jesus today? Solomon was merciful, and Jesus will be merciful to you. Quit your rebellion and pay homage to Jesus.