Receive The King!
Isaac Watts was fifteen when he wrote:
"Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King""
We celebrate and sing triumphantly this song each holiday season. But looking back to the actual event, no one was really anticipating the advent or coming of our King.
It was a royal decree from Cesar Augustus the forced Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem for a census, which fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2.
It took a dream from God to force Joseph to accept the fact that his wife hadn't been unfaithful, but was with a child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-24
When Jospeh and Mary traveled to Bethlehem from Nazareth in Galilee, there was no one who expected a king to be born, much less was there room at the inn! Luke 2:1-7
In fact, Jesus was born in a messy cave like stable, with all the accoutrements of barn yard animals from both ends. It was possibly the most unprepared space on the planet. Shepherds, who were in the very fields of Jesus' ancestor, King David, were shocked in their mundane duties of watching over their flocks in the night when heaven could not contain the secret invasion of the Christ (anointed King or Messiah) to the earth. After a dazzling display of glory (in the highest), the shepherds went to the humble stable to find the child as promised by the angel, (Luke 2:12 (NKJV)) " And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
Here is an irony, the first ones to visit the King, who would be known as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, were shepherds. They were the very first human evangelists, making known the wonder of what had happened. It produced worship in their lives as "the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." (Luke 2:20)
So what do we see and learn from this?
Jesus is happy to inhabit unprepared spaces, like your life and mine. (For more, listen to this week's teaching below.)
Heaven will break out, early and often as the kingdom of God is advanced. You can be sure that God is moving and the incarnation of Jesus, His birth, was a radical military move on the kingdom of darkness.
Joy is always a result of the outbreak of heaven - (NKJV) "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." When Jesus breaks through, joy follows.
The key to all of this is receiving the King. What areas in your life have not been open to the King being birthed there? What have you buried under action and addiction, have you not allowed the King to have access? He is patiently and lovingly waiting for you to open the door. He can deliver you from the pain and the hurt, just ask Him.
This season, make it count more than ever. Let King Jesus come and heal your heart. Let earth receive her King!
A Reminder:
This Friday, December 24th from 4-5pm, is our annual Christmas Candlelight Service filled with Scripture, Carols and Cheer! Make plans now to join us!
