Our King and His Kingdom
Life In His Name
September 7, 2025
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
Jesus is the humble, hidden King whose kingdom often looks nothing like worldly expectations, so we must trust his unseen power, pray, receive the Lord's Supper as a means of grace, and raise and shepherd children to love Christ and his church.
Summary
Although God is the sovereign King over all, people repeatedly rebel because they doubt that his rule is good; the Palm Sunday crowds misunderstood Jesus' kingship—seeking restoration and earthly deliverance—while John points us to the prophecy of a humble king (Zechariah 9) whose glory is hidden and whose power is often unseen. Remembering that hidden power shapes how we pray and how we celebrate the Lord's Supper: the meal is a real means of grace and proof the Spirit is at work if we can spiritually partake. The sermon closes with pastoral prayers for families raising children in the faith, an exhortation to examine our desires for the body of Christ, and an invitation to pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Key Points
- Pray for specific families and children to grow in love for Christ and the church.
- God is King over all, yet humanity rebels because we distrust his rule.
- Palm Sunday crowds revealed common false expectations: seeking political or national restoration instead of Christ's true kingdom.
- John quotes Zechariah to show the Messiah's humility—riding a donkey—and the character of his hidden glory.
- The kingdom's power is often hidden; Jesus restrained his full display of power while on earth.
- Remembering hidden power is crucial for prayer: we ask Jesus to act even when we don't see the kingdom.
- The Lord's Supper is a means of grace and evidence of the Spirit's work when we spiritually partake.
- Examine your heart: do you long for Christ and belong to his body? Pray and join in the Lord's Prayer.
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