Our God reigns...and I've got news for you. He's reigning on the earth through the Body of Christ.
The only problem with that is that the Body of Christ isn't doing anything. Oh, yeah, we're sending missionaries to Africa and China, and wringing our hands when they're murdered or defeated.
We organize prayer rallies on the steps of Congress and bemoan the direction our country is going in; we wave protest signs at abortion clinics.
But we don't really reign anywhere because we don't believe that God is reigning through us, that reigning in life is our job, not just a great blessing if we can somehow manage to figure out how to do it!
We're so busy repenting and navel gazing and arguing that we're supposed to be poor, sick, etc for Jesus that we miss the whole point!
Victory? Never heard of it... Conquering? Reigning in life? Ruling upon the earth? Administering the kingdom? No--that's God's job. We're too humble, poor souls trudging through this mortal life, until that glorious day. God is in control, whatever will be will be...
Yikes!!!
God is in Control
Yes, God is in control, and what He decided to do is put that control in the hands of Jesus. Aha, you say...see? It's not in our control, it's in the hands of Jesus.
Yes, God is in control, and what He decided to do is put that control in the hands of Jesus. Aha, you say...see? It's not in our control, it's in the hands of Jesus.
And who exactly do you think you are? You are the Body of Christ in the earth, One Spirit with the LORD, filled with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The old you has been crucified, buried, risen with Christ and seated in Him in Heavenly Places.
It is God's will that we PROVE what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is...that we REIGN IN LIFE through the One, Christ Jesus! [Romans 12:2; Romans 5:17] Please note that this is not a verse about Heaven...we're to reign in life!
Blessed to Reign
Ephesians 1 says that we were blessed, chosen, predestined to adoption, redeemed and lavished with grace--that He made known to us the mystery of His will.
Ephesians 1 says that we were blessed, chosen, predestined to adoption, redeemed and lavished with grace--that He made known to us the mystery of His will.
Why? '...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.' [v.10]
In other words, we are chosen to administer His Kingdom on the earth--the Body of Christ. Revelations 5:10 says "You have make them a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
In fact, 1 Corinthians 15:25 says 'For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.' I've got more news for you...His enemies are not in Heaven! They're here, on the earth, and we're the feet!
Yes, we're blessed because of God's great love for us. But we're also blessed--equipped--to reign in life! To administer the Kingdom of God upon the earth.
Jesus said it best in what we call The Lord's Prayer..."Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10]
Ambassadors
Paul says that we are ambassadors for Christ [2 Corinthians 5:20] and that our citizenship is in Heaven. [Philippians 3:20] And we know that we're already seated with Him in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 2:6]
Paul says that we are ambassadors for Christ [2 Corinthians 5:20] and that our citizenship is in Heaven. [Philippians 3:20] And we know that we're already seated with Him in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 2:6]
Ambassadors are, in fact, not citizens of the country they're ambassadors to but of their home country. They represent their home country in all affairs of state--their home country provides for all of their needs. And the laws of the host country do not apply to them--they answer only to their own nation. They are sent by that nation to administer the affairs of that nation in a foreign land.
It is a perfect analogy for the Body of Christ in the earth! Not only called but empowered to reign here on the earth.
Reign in life!
