King of the Hill

February 18, 2007 am King of the Hill Luke 9:28-36

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

How do you see Him? Is Jesus King of the Hill in your life? Have you ever played King of the Hill? As long as you are on top you are king. You can remain king until something happens to knock you off of the top. King of the Hill is the one that everyone listens to. He or she is the one that rules. One day in the first grade I was playing King of the Hill with some of my friends. When we came into the classroom after recess we all found out who was really King of the Hill. The teacher introduced us to the board of education. Who really is King of the Hill? There is always someone around who can knock you off of the Hill. No matter how tough we think we are there will always be someone that can show you who is the King. I am going to show you this morning… Are you ready? See Him as He really is? Is Jesus King of the Hill in your life?

Scripture Text: Luke 9:28 (NIV) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem . 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

1. Who is King of the Hill? Jesus Is Peter? No. Is Elijah and Moses? No. Are you? Are you really in control? Can anyone knock you off of your hill? Is Jesus? Yes, ultimately He will be the King of kings.

2. Why Was He King of the Hill?” He is God in flesh. He is the Word (Logos).

a. Because of Who He was as described by His name. King of Kings – Lord of Lords.

b. Because he is the Son of Man and He is our substitute.

c. Because of the Hill called Mount Calvary or the place of a Skull or Golgotha . Jesus was transformed to reveal himself to us.

d. Because God the Father proclaimed as: “This is my beloved Son

3. Who can see the glory of the King of the Hill?

Only those who will draw near to the King. Are you in the inner circle of friends? These are the friends of God. Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John were among those on the inner circle.

a. Acquaintances of God. How you do? How is the weather? Those in the crowd that surrounded the hill.

b. Friends of God. The rest of the disciples that were left at the foot of the hill. Deeper level of friendship, but yet some distance to go. May spend some time yet still preoccupied with other things in life. Spectators

c. Companions or Brothers with God. Willing to go all of the way with the Lord. Want to spend their life with the Lord. Participators and Imitators.

Those who will listen to Him and allow Him to rule in their life

4. Will you see Him as King of the Hill? See the Glory of the King?

“Master, it is good for us to be here:” What is His glory:

The Glory of His existence among us. He is here.
The Glory of the Servant of servants. He serves us before He serves himself.
The Glory of the Sacrifice for our sins. He laid down His life so that we may live.
The Glory of His love for us who did not love Him.

No one can make him the King because He is the King. We can see him and recognize His rule in our lives now or later. We can only resist God the King because He allows us to choose to obey Him now. But in the future every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.

Romans 14:11 (KJS) For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

“Though the following story comes from the distant past, it speaks forcefully to the present: King Henry IV of France once asked the Duke of Alva if he had observed the great eclipse of the sun that had recently occurred. "No," said the duke, "I have so much to do on the earth that I have no leisure to look up into heaven." Commenting on this, Thomas Brooks said, "It is sad to think how heart and time are so taken up with earthly things that we have no leisure to look to Christ and the things that belong to everlasting peace." Yes, how foolish is the person who caters entirely to this temporal world! It gives only momentary pleasure, and cannot bring the eternal rewards of Heaven. Jesus told us, "...seek ye first the kingdom of God , and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." (Mt. 6:33).” From the Bible Illustrator.

5. Will you listen to the King of the Hill? How can you become a companion of the King of the Hill? “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Will you believe Him? Will you receive Him? Will you obey Him? Will you listen to Him? Will you draw near to Him? Will you come down from the hill to do his work?

Recognize Him as the King of your life today!