Introduction: As Americans, our forefathers decided hundreds of years ago to reject a king. George Washington could have been our king, but he refused the offer. It is hard for us to really understand what a King is, but as Christians we recognize that Jesus is our King, and we are His subjects. There is no congress that may add or take away from His laws. There is no Supreme Court that can render any of His laws null and void. All three branches of government are embodied in Christ the King: He makes the Laws. He enforces the Laws. He judges us by His Laws. We need to learn to bow the knee to our King, and to obey all His decrees. Sometimes a King is called a "Sovereign." Theologians use the term "sovereignty of God" when speaking of the Lordship of Christ. Psalm 47 emphasizes four aspects of the Kingship of Christ over the earth.

I. Christ's Kingship is a cause for celebration (Ps. 47:1, 5).

Psa 47:1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Psa 47:5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

Joy is at the center of our Faith. If there is little joy in your life, then you need to draw closer to God.

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace."

Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Imagine the chaos if Christ were NOT the Sovereign of the Universe! Image our grounds for sorrow and grief if Zeus or Allah, or one of the other Pagan gods were in charge! Thank God that Jehovah reigns, and rejoice in the glories of each new day!

II. Christ's Kingship is an impetus to worship (Ps. 47:2).

Psa 47:2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!

The Amplified version reads "The Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth."

The New American Standard Bible reads "The LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth."

American Christians of our own generation often don't understand the deeper aspects of worship, because we don't grasp the concept of "king" or respect for authority. We resist anyone being in authority over us.

We understand something of worship. We understand gladness and happy singing. We understand warm feelings of love. These things are important in worship. But the root of worship is neither gladness nor loving feelings. The root of worship is great respect and reverential awe.

We very rarely kneel in worship, in Protestant churches. But the Bible often describes worship as bowing, kneeling, or falling out flat with your face to the ground.

Do you remember the story of Joshua meeting the Angel of the Lord? "And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?" Joshua 5:14

The Psalmist wrote: "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." Psalm 95:6

Or the three wise men: "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matt. 2:11

John the Apostle wrote in the book of Revelation: "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne..." Revelation 4:10

And many other similar verses we could read if we had the time. The author of Hebrews expressed this thought about worship as well as anyone ever has: Heb 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

III. Christ's Kingship is the source of our victories (Ps. 47:3-4).

Psa 47:3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. Psa 47:4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

In Old Testament days, God took the land of Canaan away from the Canaanites, and gave it to Abraham and his descendents.

Gen 15:13 Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
Gen 15:14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
Gen 15:15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.
Gen 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
Gen 15:17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
Gen 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates--
Gen 15:19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
Gen 15:20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
Gen 15:21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."

Why were the Israelites under Joshua, and later under David and Solomon able to gain control of the Holy Land, from the Nile river in the South, to the Euphrates river in Iraq? Was it due to their superior intelligence? Their superior technology? Any of that sort of thing? No, it was God who gave them the victory. It is God who is Sovereign over the nations. All the land and sea of the earth belong to Jesus Christ, and He gives power to whomsoever He pleases. King Nebuchadnezzar found out the hard way....

Dan 4:28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 4:29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
Dan 4:30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
Dan 4:31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
Dan 4:32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
Dan 4:33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
Dan 4:34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
Dan 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"

Whatever victories we have are all due to the gracious power of God. Victories in our personal lives. Victories as a church or denomination. Victories as a nation. We must always acknowledge the power and plan of God.

IV. Christ's Kingship is the promise of a better future (Ps. 47:8-9).

Psa 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
Psa 47:9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

At this present time, the nobles of the nations DO NOT assemble as the people of the God of Abraham. They are Communists, Atheists, Brahma worshippers, Allah worshippers, Buddha worshippers, spiritists, New Agers and who knows what.

They echo the rebellious kings of Psalm 2:

Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
Psa 2:3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

But the Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ cannot be mocked and opposed. God will have the last word and the final victory. There is coming a day when every single person in existence will worship Christ.

Isa 45:23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
Isa 45:24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.

Phil 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Phil 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Phil 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Whether you believe in Post-millennialism, Pre-millennialism, A-millennialism or are just "Pro-Millennial," all Christians recognize that the day of Christ's final and complete victory is coming.

The Book of Revelation comes to an end with these words....

Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life....
Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Conclusion: As we close our worship service this morning, let's all pray for the soon coming of Christ and His kingdom in the words of the Lord's prayer:

"Our Father, which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."