Learning To Reign

Romans 5:17 For if one person's sin caused death to reign; how much more will those who are continually receiving the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, reign as kings and queens in [zoe] life through one person, Jesus Christ. [GBMV]

I want to speak tonight about reigning in Him. We don’t fully grasp the concept of reiging these days because kings and queens have become obsolete.

God Does Not Use a Democracy

Today we are ruled by the people via majority vote, also known as democracy. But God always operated by a delgated leader known as the king (a theocracy)

Today we no longer obey a leader, but go with the flow of the majority. Our leaders are just figure heads. This brings chaos.

Judges 17:6 In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. [GBMV]

When a leader becomes too strong we vote them out. But everything always works better when there is someone in authority. Some see the grace of God as a call to liberty where we can do whatever we like. But Paul tells us that an abundance of grace causes us to rise up as kings and queens - to reign.

Called To Reign

You were not called to be a slave, but a ruler in Him. Romans 6:16 Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves in obedience as servants, becomes your master; whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

To reign implies to be in control. So if we are to reign in life, who or what are we reigning over? Are you reigning over your sinful desires and passions? Are you reigning over your body and soul and spirit?

Here is what Solomon says about what we should be in control of.

Proverbs 25:28 He that [has] no control over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls. [GBMV]

It does not take fleshly energy or natural ability to do this. But it takes an input from God - the power of His grace. Paul says that we are continually being given grace in abundance.

How To Receive Grace

This is not just a once off event. It should be a continual experience. And that grace which is given to us freely will enable us to reign over every area of our life. But how do we get this grace? Where does it come from and how do we receive it?

Well we know that it comes from God, and it must be received. I like the word that is often translated as receive in the New Testament. It means to take hold of with your hands.

Communication Using Words

Not sure about the Hebrew in this passage, but I will check into the Greek translation of the Old Testament to see. But how is it communicated to us? It is always transmitted using words.

We know there are two kinds of words - those recorded or written down like the Scriptures - logos. And those He speaks directly into our hearts by His Spirit - rhema.

This is why I encouraged you last week to spend more time speaking in tongues. There is great power in words and when we fill our mouths with words that come from HIM they bring power with them. But it is not only speaking in tongues that brings power. Speaking the logos also produces great power.

And here is where Joshua comes in. When Joshua stepped in as leader of the Israelite Nation after Moses, God gave him some clear instructions. First he told him to be strong and courageous. In other words, the Lord told him to get some “guts.”

Different words are used in place of guts but I will not mention them here - it can also mean to get some manhood. Then be courageous, which means stepping out in the very face of danger. These are some of the essentials of being a good leader.

But. then God gave him a strange instruction.

Joshua 1:7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you: do not turn from it [to] the right hand or [to] the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Speaking The Logos

At that time, the only written Word of God was what Moses had written down - the Pentateuch - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. God told Joshua that these words of Moses should continually fill his language and speech.

God told him to Meditate on these words during the day and at night. Why was this so important? Because this is how faith is generated. AS you continue to speak the words, they begin to sink down into your spirit.

Meditation God’s Way

We have lost the true meaning of meditation today. It has become a process of staring at a wall and muttering Ommmmmm. But actually, the original word means to mutter to yourself - this is how you can speak it all day. You can do it under your breath wherever you are

But which passages do we meditate or mutter - surely not the whole Word, surely not something like this:

Matthew 1:2 Abraham fathered Isaac; and Isaac fathered Jacob; and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers;

We can certainly read it, but we need to only mediate passages that speak to us. So the only way this can be accomplished is to read through the Bible each day.

You will not remember all you read, although you will begin to know where certain sections can be found if you want to find them later. And you will be amazed at how much actually sticks in your mind.

Later, when you are putting together a short teaching or message, Scriptures will pop into your mind and you can look them up. We have a free online Bible that gives you all the tools you need to do this. We even give you a list of passages to read each day.

You can check it out here:

https://gbmbible.gbmi.co.za/gbm-bible/

If you follow that, you will work your way through the whole bible by reading different sections each day. You will sometimes find a verse jumping out at you as you read. When that happens, God is turning that verse into a rhema for you. Please make a note of what you see in it.

You can do this in a separate notebook, or you can buy a wide-margin Bible that has space for you to make comments in the margin. I have built this facility into our online Bible for me to make comments at any time. And you can go read my. comments if you wish.

I have also made topics to which I add verses as I go. You can also look those up at any time.

Comparing Moses and Joshua

Now if you compare Moses and Joshua, you will see that Moses was very prophetic and often received messages from the Lord for the people. And he performed miracles using his rod under the Lord’s instructions.

But Joshua moved to a whole new level. Because of continually being in the Word and filling himself with it, his level of faith grew. Until he could stand and talk to the sun and tell it to not go down yet.

Joshua is known as the Apostle of Revival and also one of the best models of leadership. All because he filled himself with the Word.

How much more can we do who now have the Holy Spirit permanently living inside of us. But we wait until things start to go wrong. Then we suddenly seek the Lord and try to use His power.

And our faith level is so low that instead of being like a laser beam, it is just a flashlight with flat batteries.

Reigning With Faith

So, the abundance of God’s grace, which we can receive more of daily by hearing His words, enables us to reign in life. The power of faith it produces allows you to reign over anything that attacks your body. You can reign over sickness, disease, and pain.

You can also reign over financial needs, and you can reign over obscurity and being all alone. You do this by doing what a king or queen does - you make decrees or commands.

Faith Brings Authority

But you cannot do this without faith because faith brings authority. So, build your faith using the Word. Then listen to the words He speaks from deep inside you.

And when the faith arises, you will have more boldness and confidence. Your prayers will no longer be your pleading with the Lord for help. You will instead begin speaking His words into the earth.

Using The Name of Jesus

We often try to hide behind using the name of Jesus. But that is a key phrase we use in the hope that He will more likely help us. Joshua did not stand up and say, “In the Name of Jesus or God, I command that the sun stop.”

He already had that authority because he was filled with the word, so he just gave a command. Did you even hear Jesus say, “In the name of My Father, be healed?”

I am not saying it is wrong. Peter used it to heal the man who was crippled, and he claimed afterwards that the Name healed him. But it would be best if you came to the place where you are reigning. Sure, you are under the King of Kings who has given you authority, but if you do not assert your own authority, nothing will happen.

This principle applies to all leaders, and it is what made Joshua such a good leader. He did not try to keep the people happy or say, “I think God wants us to go this way.” He simply sent a command down the chain of leaders: “Get ready, because tomorrow we are crossing the Jordan.”

He knew who he was and his authority, and he had learned to get some guts by obeying God’s instructions.

But what if nothing happens when I pray or command? See, that is where being strong and courageous comes in. He had nothing to fear.

With Moses, the people always complained, and he tried to keep them happy. Not with Joshua. When Joshua was done, the people stood up and raised him as their leader.

They even wanted to kill those who had opposed Joshua’s leadership. So it is time now for God’s people to realize who they are in Him and to act accordingly.

You can only lead once you become a leader. That does not mean you have been appointed. It is easy to take charge when someone else has appointed you. But people want to follow you when you know who you are and stand up tall in confidence.

I enjoyed a little statement made by John Maxwell on leadership. He said that if you think you are a leader and look back and notice no one is following

Then, you are not leading; you are just taking a walk.

To get there, you must know the Word inside out and be able to quote it freely. The Holy Spirit will bring back to your mind the Scriptures you read along the way.

So why not give it a try this week using the GBM Bible. Try the daily readings. I am still busy translating so the text may still be like the old King James in places, but we are getting there.

If more people start using it, I will be pressured to take more time for translation. Then, I can finally take my place as Joshua and command some miracles to occur in this ministry.

Be ready for an exciting ride because the Lord has promised big things ahead for GBM.

So now you have three things to do each day

1. Speak a lot in tongues

2. Read Scriptures daily

3. Find some good passages to mutter to yourself during the day

Start reigning now over everything in your life and ministry. Then we can go forward like an army and take the land for the Lord.

I hope you were blessed by our study tonight. Go out this week and put some of it into practice, and come back next week with some good testimonies.

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