Made to rule and reign on the earth – Part 11

For the past 10 weeks, we have focused on our identity in Christ. We have emphasised that our redemption in Christ bestows on us a unique identity we must be conscious of. Unless we live in the consciousness of our redemptive rights, we would not develop the mentality and attitude of sonship and we would not reign the way Jesus did.

Purpose Of Identity
The purpose of our identity is to know our rights and to live as sons of God here on the earth. According to Revelations 1:6 and 5:10, Christ has redeemed us unto Himself, so that we may reign on the earth. “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Our redemption is to first rule and reign as Priests and secondly, to rule and reign as Kings on the earth. We have been made Priests and Kings now, not later. The making of Priests and Kings is an on-going and continuous process; it’s not a one-off thing. What does this mean and what are the implications for our daily living?

Though Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, could be interpreted differently depending on what school of thought one belongs to, whether Evangelicals or Pentecostal, or Missiologists, or Dispensationalist; none would doubt who we are in Christ, that we are redeemed by Christ to be both Priests and Kings on earth and not in heaven. How do we reign? Our priestly position and function must not be isolated from our kingly position and role. They compliment each other. The priestly function connects us to God through worship, prayer and service while our kingly function connects us to God to reign in authority and power in kingdom service and in life situations. Paul makes it plain in Romans 5:17 that we are called to reign in life. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (NIV).

Christ, Our Pattern
Christ combines both the Priestly and Kingly roles. We are created to be like Him, we are created in his image to reign as Priests and Kings. As he reigned on earth, so are we called to reign. As Christ did great works here on the earth, so are we commanded to do greater works than he did (John 14:12). The ability for greater works does not depend on us but on Christ who dwells in us by His Spirit. We may not be exercising our fullest potentials now as Priests and Kings but we still possess the potential to reign.

As a Priest, Christ ministered to his Father in prayer and worship daily. He also ministered to men as a Priest by reconciling them to the Father. As King, he reigned over sickness, powers of darkness and over the elemental forces of life.

We are all called to do greater works in Christ according to our gifts and talents and sphere of callings in the body. Some are called to do greater works in the music ministry, some in the teaching ministry, some in the writing ministry, some in the compassion ministry, some in evangelism and missions, others in healing, signs and wonders. Some are called into politics, business, the media and entertainment. God has endowed each one of us with gifts and talents to reflect his diverse wisdom and manifestations. (Contact:pastoracukachi@gmail.com)