Today we have one message. Jesus is King. 

We want to ask you, our honorable civil magistrates, if you all would honor the King by making an amendment to our city charter.

I plead with you, it is of the upmost importance to surrender our city to Jesus Christ, recognizing his authority in our city. Let us together, as a city, acknowledge the crown rights of King Jesus. 

We can do this by having a religious test for Civil magistrates.

An test that looks something like this in nature…

“That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Jesus Christ in the sacred scriptures, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the city, shall be capable of holding any office, or place of trust, in the civil department within this city of Smyrna.”

Some of our founding fathers, not all, but some, knew the importance of acknowledging the crown rights of King Jesus in public documents. 9 of the 13 original colonies had a religious test for anyone who would hold a public office. They believed it was impossible for someone to hold an office of honor and deal honorably without being a disciple of the one from whom honor comes.

North Carolina, the colony from which we came, had a religious test. We are afraid TN, and the town of Smyrna has backslid.

We have all heard of the NRA, the gun association, well, there is also another NRA. The National Reform Association. It was founded in 1864. It is still around today. Back in the day, the NRA met with President Abraham Lincoln to try to advance their goals with his support. One day, the committee was waiting for an official endorsement from President Lincoln. He responded and said that in as far as he had opportunity to understand the purpose of the Association, he heartily favored it. He knew who they were because before this meeting, because he met with them once before. There was another time that Christian members of the NRA meet with him, and they asked him to do two things. First, the abolition of American slavery, and second, the adoption of the recognition of the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Constitution of the United States. That was the first encounter he had with them. Now in this second meeting with them, Lincoln says, ‘Gentlemen, in your former visit you requested of me two things. During the first term of my administration I was able to secure your first request. It is my hope that during my second term I will be able to secure your second request.’”

This is a lost concept. We have been taught “separation of church and state”. That is a half truth. There is a separation, but only in sphere. Not in morality. There are not two laws, because there is not two God. The Lord our God is one. Do we believe that God establishes governments and wants nothing to do with them? No way.

What Jesus Christ accomplished on this earth 2000 years ago earned him a name above all names. Because of his perfect life, death, and resurrection the Father submitted all things under his feet. By his work, he earned the name King of Kings.

It would do us good, to take heed to Psalm 2. This psalm is one written about governments and kingdoms. It is not primarily addressing people of god on an individual basis, but on a national basis.

Psalm 2

7 I will tell of the decree:
   The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession….

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

We plead with you for God’s glory and our good. We will perish if we do not kiss the Son. All your work as civil magistrates will be in vain, if we do not kiss the Son.

Please consider taking this step to claim the city of Smyrna for Christ. We must have him as our King and Lord, because the reality is, he is all we have. We know that some of you know this, if not all of you. We know some of you are members of the church.

As the town of Smyrna, may we kiss the Son, lest we perish. To our council members, may the Lord bless you all. May he keep you. May his face shine down upon you. May he lift up his countenance on you and give you peace.

Amen