You are a King (so act like one)

Did you know that you are called to be a king? It’s true. God told Abraham he would be “the father of many nations and kings will come from you.” Abraham’s offspring—the children of the faith—are meant to be kings (see Gen. 17:6, 16).

This means you. Jesus the King has made you both a king and a priest (Rev. 1:6). Did you even know?

Kingship has to do with authority and power. Adam was given authority over the earth and lost it to Satan. We know this because of what the devil said when he showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world: “All their authority and splendor has been given to me” (see Luke 4:6).

But last Adam took back what the devil stole and before he ascended into heaven, he revealed his kingly glory: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18).

The war has been fought and won and the devil is defeated. As believers our role is to represent the Victor and his victory in those areas that remain under the influence of darkness.

We are to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory by ruling over sickness, demonic spirits, and all the works of the enemy. (Sidebar: For those new to this kingship business, here’s a reading list: Matt. 10:1, 8, 12:28, Mark 16:17–20, Luke 10:19, and John 14:12.)

In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 2:6, GNB)

This leads to some sobering questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do people get sick and die prematurely? Why do the innocent suffer? Theologians blame sin, Job followers blame God, but look at what the Bible says:

The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. (Psalms 115:16)

This planet is our responsibility. It was given to us and we were told to rule it.

If bad things happen it is easy to blame God and the government or the Russians cyberwhizzes behind Snapchat. But did you ever pause to consider the possibility that bad things happen because we—the kings called to rule in God’s name—allow them to happen. It was one of us who gave the planet to Satan, and it was Jesus acting as one of us who took it back.

We have far more say in what goes on than we give ourselves credit for.

The problem is not that we lack authority. The problem is we don’t walk in the authority God has given us. We don’t know how.

Perhaps we think we are too young or too old or we don’t have enough training or we need more anointing. Perhaps we are sitting idly by waiting for Jesus to return. Whatever our excuse, the outcome is the same: When we abdicate our kingly role people suffer.

Consider Adam. A treacherous enemy slithered into his realm, Adam did nothing, and humanity ended up on death row. Bad things happen because kings do nothing to stop them.

When industries collapse and companies fold, it’s easy to point the finger at corporate fat cats and sleeping watchdogs. But spoilers and slackers have always been with us and playing the blame game solves nothing.

A better question to ask is, where were we? Where were the kings who rule with wisdom and justice?

Unbelief thrives in a culture of victimhood but faith brings the victory that overcomes the world (see 1 John 5:4).

Passive unbelief stays on the sidelines and doesn’t lift a finger to help, but faith raises its hand—it volunteers, it speaks out, it defends and seeks to administer justice in the name of a righteous king.

Over the coming weeks we are going to learn how to walk and talk like the kings we are. You’re going to love it. Invite a friend.

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