OUR EXPECTED ROYAL POSITION IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM
AND IN THE REIGN OF CHRIST
By Pastor Adeagbo
I. INTRODUCTION:
I want to give glory to God who has made this International Conference of World Soul Winning Evangelistic Ministry possible. And I also want to thank God and the organizers of this convention for the privilege and opportunity given to me to address this gathering. May I also say that the theme and the focus of lectures and discussions –The second coming of Jesus Christ- for this convention is a timely and worthwhile one. I pray that what God intends for our gathering shall be accomplished in the name of this dear son, Jesus Christ.
The subject matter, I have been assigned to address is Our Expected Royal Position in this New Millennium and in the Reign of Christ. This topic presupposes that there is an anticipated, an appropriate place for us to occupy in this new millennium (a thousand years) that began in 2001 also convicted as part of the church age, the age of grace and in the future millennial reign of Christ- the Messiah, the Anointed One. And that position is royal, meaning it is majestic and exalted. It is splendid also indicating that we are descended or related to a King who is sovereign- Jesus Christ. This position is Kingly because Jesus Christ is the King of Kings.
OUR ORIGINAL AND INTENDED ROYAL POSITION: Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15
In order to do justice to this subject matter, it is appropriate to go into the book of beginnings, the book of origin where all things began called the book of Genesis. Here in chapter 1:26-28, we see that God specially made and created man in His own image and gave him not only a royal position but a royal mandate, a mandate of dominion and mandate of rulership. Man was created to rule the earth as God’s representative possessing delegated power and authority, possessing delegated sovereignty.
He was to:
v Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestocks, all the earth and over all creatures that move along the ground. He is to have dominion and total control, total rule.
v Be productive (be fruitful)
v Increase in number
v Replenish (fill) the earth
v Subdue i.e. master the earth
v He is to manage the earth for God. Gen 2:15
THE LOST ROYAL POSITION THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE:
Genesis 3:1-19
Man lost his royal position and authority through disobedience and we call this the fall of man. In Genesis 2:17, God commanded the man not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when he eats of it he will surly die-be separated from this creator-God losing touch and fellowship. The devil deceived man, ate the fruit and thereby disobeyed God. This was a treasonable felony. It was a federal and representative sin. God pronounced judgment on Adam, his wife and the serpent who tempted them.
Gen 3:1-19. This was a sin against the kingdom they represented. The sin was universal in nature. All humanity sinned in Adam and Eve and fell under the curse.
THE RESTORATION
God whose love is infinite and whose wisdom is unsearchable and already planned for our redemption and made the mother promise in Genesis 3:15 and in verse 21, the Lord God made garment of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. This was a type, a fore shadow of Christ’s work of redemption.
Jesus Christ came from heaven, left his glory, became like us, suffered, was crucified, he died and was buried according to the scriptures for the remission and atonement for our sins. And the third day he rose from the dead according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
In Christ we have redemption through this blood and the forgiveness of sins. We have been bought back and have received restoration. If anyone will therefore come to Christ, repent, confess and forsake his sin and surrender his/her life to him and receive him as personal Lord and savior, he/she has an expected royal position in this new millennium.
OUR EXPECTED ROYAL POSITION IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM
We have seen God’s original and intended position for us and how we lost it through disobedience. We have also seen what God and His Christ did for our redemption and restoration. What then is our appropriate and anticipated majestic, exalted position in the millennium we are in now. We shall again look into the pages of the book of all books, the manual for living, the word of God for answer.
Jesus Christ the King of Kings is coming again to establish a millennial reign. This is futuristic. But right now, in this very new millennium, what are our expected royal position, responsibilities and accountability as traditional rulers- Kings, Queens, Regents, chiefs and others. The scripture describes our Royal Position as follows: We are
1. Sons and daughters of God, the Most High John 1:12, 1 john 3:1-2, Psalm 82:6, Romans 8:14-16, Ephesians 1:3-5. Galatians 3:26
2. Abraham’s seed. Galatians 3:29
3. Joint Heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
4. New creation. 2 Corinthian 5:17
5. Ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20
6. God’s righteousness. 2 Corinthian 5:21
7. Chosen people, Royal Priesthood, Holy people belonging to God. 1 Peter 2:9-10.
8. God’s workmanship. Eph 2:10
9. Members of God’s household. Eph 2: 11-19
10. We are raised and seated with Christ in the heavenly realms far above powers, authority, dominion, titles, thrones etc. Eph 1:18, Eph 2:1-6, Col 3:1
11. We are for signs and wonders. Mark 16:17, Isaiah 10:18
12. Part of the body of Christ. 1 cor 12:27
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
With the Royal position also comes the responsibilities. God has placed us in this royal position to function, to perform. The following constitute are major but not exhaustive roles as royal people in this new millennium.
1. We are to occupy till Jesus comes going God’s business with the talents and abilities he has given to us. Luke 19:11-13.
2. We are to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:18-20
3. We are to be actively involved in the work (ministry) and the word (message) of reconciliation with God. This is what soul winning is all about. 2 cor 5:18-20.
We are to publish the good news. We are to preach and teach the word (the gospel) in season and out of seasons. i.e. when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. 2 Timothy 4:2.
Preach, Pray and Pay for the gospel
4. We are to proclaim this praise and do good work. 1 Peter 2:9, Eph 2:10, Mat 5:16
5. Exercise the power and authority delegated to us. We need to rule, reign and have dominion over the events, circumstances and the evil ones. Luke 10:19, Eph 5: 8-14.
6. Set our hearts and minds in things above where Christ is seated and not on earthy things. Col 1:1-3, 1 John 3:2-3.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The authority, the ruler ship, the power, the sovereign that we possess for the royal position in the performance of our roles/ responsibilities are delegated ones. God has not abdicated his ultimate ownership, possession of the earth. We only rule on his behalf. Therefore, we are accountable to Him for our actions and we must be mindful of this. As stewards, we are required to be found faithful and ready to face the Lord and the King when he comes. There is going to be a day of reckoning. A day of judgment to be rewarded. For some it shall be a day of joy and for some a day of shame. We should remember the case of King Nebuchadnezer of Babylon (Daniel 4:19-31) and his successor, King Belshazzar (Daniel 5:18-31). King Asa of Judah should also be remembered (2 Chronicles 14, 15 &16) when one rules in righteousness the people rejoice and he is like the light of morning .2 Samuel 23:2-4.
References for Accountability
1. 1 Cor 4:2 , 2 Cor 5:10, Romans 14: 10-12, Ezekiel 1:12-14, Heb 9:27
2. Luke 12: 42-48, Rev 22:12, Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25, 1-26
3. 1 corthians 3:13-15,
4. Advice: 2 John 8, 1 John 2:28, Rev 3:11( Philadelphia Church)
We have seen the past, the present but what holds for the future? What is our expected Royal Position in the reign of Christ. i.e. in this millennial reign?
OUR ROYAL POSITION IN THE REIGN OF CHRIST. Rev 20:1-6
Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior who has gone to heaven is coming back a second time. And we are expecting his coming. John 14: 1-3, Acts 1:9-11, 2 peter 3:9. We are expecting his imminent, literal, visible, personal, second coming. When he comes, one of the things he will do is to establish an earthly reign of one thousand years (millennium) Rev 20: 4 & 6. Daniel 7:13-14.
Following, among others, will be our royal position and responsibility during the reign of Jesus Christ.
1. We, together with the raised tribulation saints shall reign and rule with Jesus Christ in this millennium reign Rev 20. 4(b) and 6(b), 2 Timothy 2:12, Romans 5:17, we shall sit with him on his throne if, we overcome Rev 3:21, Matthew 19, 27-28.
2. We shall anything over the nations if we over and do him will Rev 2:26-27, Matt 25:21
3. The tribulation servants also shall be Kings and Priest to serve God. Rev 5:9-10.
4. Jesus will confer a Kingdom on those also stood with Jesus in His trials judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
5. We shall judge the angels. 1 cor 6:1-6
6. The millennium resign of Christ, shall be a reign of Peace, Holiness, Justice and Righteousness. The devil who causes troubles will be chained for the 1000 years. Rev 20: 1-3, Isaiah 2:1-4, Mic 4:1-7.
CONCLUSION
Although we host the original royal position God intended for us, His love through the life, suffering, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has redeemed us and restored us. We now have a royal position in this new millennium and in the reign of Christ if we continue to belong to him.
We must be aware that this Royal position must be employed towards the extension of Kingdom of God. It must be used to win soul, support soul winning totally and deliberately. We must engage in aggressive evangelism to usher in the second coming of Christ. W need to note that a deny of reckoning is also coming let is live as one expecting the soon return of our Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ.