How to Rule and Reign Here and Now

Do you know that in Christ you are royal?

Most Christians do not know they are kings. They think that are going to be kings – one day, maybe, after Jesus returns – but they do not know that Jesus has empowered them to rule and reign here and now.

“One day I will be crowned but for now I am merely a humble servant in the courts of the Lord.”

Why are you standing out in the courts when you could be seated in the throne room?

This sort of servant talk appeals to our religious pride but it is an abdication of our true calling. We are meant to be priest-kings who rule in the Name of the Great King.

“But I don’t know what a priest-king looks like. I have never heard of one before.”

To the scriptures, Batman!

Did you know the first priest mentioned in the Bible was also a king? It was Melchizedek, “king of Salem and priest of God Most High” (Heb. 7:1).

And what kind of king is Jesus? He is a priest-king, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6). In other words, Jesus wears two hats. He is a priest who serves and a king who rules.

You wear two hats

A servant’s heart is appropriate for a priest, but a priest who is not also a king will be powerless to deal with giant-sized problems. A crownless priest will present an emasculated image of Christ. His gospel will be weak and his kingdom will be nothing but talk.

Jesus is the servant-hearted king who served by subduing the enemy. His disciples did the same and as we allow him to express his kingly life through us so will we.

Perhaps you are a bit awed by all this talk of slaying giants and healing the sick. Perhaps you are worried that you may fail the king test and leave the sword in the stone.

Don’t panic.

If you run instead of rule God won’t reject you. Even David ran.

In truth, there will be times when ruling seems a most unreasonable thing to do. It’s not an easy thing to believe for healing when three doctors and two specialists have given you a negative report. And the sight of wheelchairs at the altar call may tempt even experienced ministers to turn away and look for softer targets.

We celebrate David’s heroics but no one would have thought ill of him if he had fled from the lion, the bear, and the giant. Indeed, he would have been applauded for doing the smart thing.

“Why fight a lion over a few dumb sheep? David, you could have died!”

Run from your lion or bear and no one will think the less of you. You will appear to be a sensible, lion-avoiding person, and God will still love you.

But here’s the thing. Why would you want to?

If your child is sick or your spouse is being attacked by depression, why would you choose to do nothing?

Why walk when you can fly?

The point is not that you have to be a king but that you get to be a king.

The same Spirit that enabled David to slay lions and giants empowers you to rule and reign. You have options the unbeliever lacks. You have the Holy Spirit. Given this phenomenal advantage, why would you choose to act like a mere man or woman?

It makes as much sense as Superman riding the bus.

And now for a story.

Once upon a time there were two men whose families were attacked by bandits. The first man tore his clothes, sat down in the ash heap, and threw himself a pity party. But the other man encouraged himself in the Lord, then hunted down and subdued his enemies.

Guess which of these two men went on to become Israel’s greatest king?

Job was a superstitious, sacrifice-bringing navel gazer, but David was a priest-king and a man after God’s own heart.

In Christ, you are too.

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