The kingship of Christ

(J. C. Philpot, "Meditations on the Blessed Redeemer")

"King of kings and Lord of lords!" Revelation 19:16

The kingship of Christ is full of sweet consolation to 
the tried family of God. As Zion's enthroned King, He 
supplies His people out of His own inexhaustible fullness!

To Him, as our enthroned King, we give the allegiance 
of our hearts. Before His feet, as our rightful Sovereign, 
we humbly lie. And we beg of Him, as possessed of all 
power, to subdue our iniquities and rebellious lusts, and 
sway His peaceful scepter over every faculty of our soul.

The kingship of Christ is a blessed subject of meditation,
when we consider its bearing upon our helpless, defenseless 
condition. We stand surrounded by foes . . .
  internal,
  external, 
  infernal,
all armed against us with deadly enmity!

Every child of God is surrounded by a multitude of enemies 
without and within, who, unless they are overcome--will 
most certainly overcome him. And to be overcome is to be 
lost, forever lost, and to perish under the wrath of God!

What hope or help can we have, but in . . .
  that all-seeing eye, which sees our condition;
  that all-sympathizing heart, which feels for us;
  that all-powerful hand, which delivers the objects of 
His love from all the snares and traps--and defeats all 
the plans and projects of these mighty, implacable foes?

We daily and hourly feel the workings of our . . .
  mighty sins,
  raging lusts,
  powerful temptations,
  besetting evils, 
against the least and feeblest of which, we have no strength!

But as the eye of faith views our enthroned King, 
we are led by the power of His grace to . . .
  look unto Him,
  hang upon Him, and
  seek help from Him. 

Trials in providence, 
afflictions in the family, 
sickness and infirmities in the body, 
opposition and persecution from the world, 
a vile, unbelieving heart, which we can neither sanctify nor subdue, 
a rough and rugged path, increasing in difficulty as we journey onward, 
doubts, fears, and misgivings in our own bosom, 
inward slips and falls, 
wanderings, 
startings aside, 
hourly backslidings from the strait and narrow path, 
jealous enemies ever watching for our halting, 
with no eye to pity, nor arm to help--but the Lord's!

How all these foes and fears make us feel our need 
of an enthroned King, Head and Husband . . .
  whose tender heart is soft to pity,
  whose mighty arm is strong to relieve!

We should be ever looking up to our enthroned King, 
not only that He might sway His scepter over our hearts, 
controlling our rebellious wills, and subduing us to His 
gentle might; but as King over all our enemies--of which
our internal foes are much more numerous and mighty
than any external enemies!

When we feel the power of sin, the tyranny of our vile 
lusts and passions, and what our nature is capable of
if left to its own will and way--how sweet and suitable 
is the promise, "You will again have compassion on us; 
You will subdue our iniquities and hurl all our sins into
the depths of the sea!" Micah 7:19

"We are powerless against this mighty army that is 
 attacking us! We do not know what to do, but we 
 are looking to You for help." 2 Chronicles 20:12

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save!"
     Zephaniah 3:17