Princes Among Us: Who Is Your King?
By Dr. Tommy Trammel | April 7, 2024, 6 PM
Turn to I Timothy 2:1-7, where Paul urges: “Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority… for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (vv. 1-5). On April 7, 2024, Dr. Tommy Trammel posed a piercing question: “Who is your king?” This sermon, “Princes Among Us,” explores authority, the need for godly leadership, and Jesus as our ultimate King. Three key truths emerge: we all serve someone, authority matters, and our King is coming.
We All Serve Someone
“Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Dr. Trammel, a humble Kentucky preacher, asserts everyone serves a king—be it a boss, parent, president, or even vices like drunkenness or immorality. In Judges, Israel lacked a king, leading to chaos as each followed their own way. Kings can be terrors—think Hitler or Hussein—or blessings, but God designed us to live under authority. Reflecting on his strict father’s discipline, Trammel asks: Who rules your life? Is it material things, Satan, or the Lord Jesus Christ?
Authority Matters
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” (Proverbs 29:2). Without leadership, chaos reigns—whether in nations like Iraq or churches. Dr. Trammel shares a personal story: retiring from Westchester Baptist due to ulcerative colitis, he warned against a “people-run church.” Those resisting a pastor’s authority saw the church falter, proving his point. A pastor, under God’s authority, not man’s, is vital. He praises the current pastor as “one of the best,” urging: don’t forsake godly leadership, for it brings rejoicing, not mourning.
Our King Is Coming
“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Jesus, rejected as King in Pilate’s court (“We have no king but Caesar,” John 19:15), is the true King. Dr. Trammel envisions His return, comforting us with the resurrection hope—his wife, now in heaven, awaits him. He challenges: Is Jesus your King, or does someone else reign in your heart? Calling for an altar response, he pleads: make Jesus your King, confess Him, and live for the One who’s coming soon.
