Empire of Grace

Scripture: Isaiah 9:7, ESV - “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Consider: Isaiah foretold of the Messiah coming as a King David’s descendant. This would mean that Christ comes from royalty and in the line of a rightful King! The birth of Jesus would fulfill God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Jesus as the Messiah would establish a Kingdom like as an empire of God’s grace. A Kingdom where God’s justice and mercy would rule and reign. An empire is…an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress:

Isaiah said the Messiah would do two things. First, the Messiah would establish it and secondly, he would uphold it.

Establishing this empire of grace would not depend on man but on God. Isaiah tells us… “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” In other words, the very angels and powers from heaven will move earth, people, leaders, nations and cities to accomplish this work in God’s world.

In upholding this empire, it’s something that only God could sustain. It not only maintains but only increases, in power and authority over time. I can imagine if we were to see the soul of those in heaven we would see a great sea of men, women and children from every tribe, tongue and nation worshiping in unison, as a united empire. We can also testify that as more and more churches grow it’s expanding this empire of grace, one home at a time!

God’s plan has always been to establish an empire of his grace working in and through his people. Not simply for jews but for everyone else too!

Apply: How does God want to use you this Christmas to expand his empire of Grace? In other words, how could you show and share the love of Christ to the people in the North Valley. This next week, I want encourage you to bake some christmas cookies and give them to your neighbor. Invite them to our Christmas Eve Service. This Sunday you can pick up a special invite card.

Pray: Dear Lord, I thank you for your grace. I pray that you would enable me to expand this empire of grace through showing the love of Christ to my neighbors. Lord help our church to become more and more of a local expression of a larger empire of your grace though out the North Valley! Use me Lord, use my family! In Jesus name Amen!