Reigning In Life As A King (3 page)

In order to reign in life, we need KNOWLEDGE.

I have been in services where I have been worked into a frenzy by a good sermon. I wanted to run and shout. However, when I wiped off the perspiration, I could not remember much of what I had heard or why I was so happy!

It is good to be inspired, but we cannot live on inspiration. We have tried for years, but the time has come for us to be informed of what God says in His Word.

It is better to know one verse of scripture, meditate on it, make it our own, and act on it, than to have all the inspiration in the world.

One time I put twenty dollars in the secret compartment of my wallet. My wife, Dodie, did not know I had it. I thought I would use it for an emergency. There were several occasions when I needed cash, but I had forgotten about the twenty dollar bill. I had what I needed, but I lacked a KNOWLEDGE of it.

We need to KNOW what God has done for us. We need to KNOW what God has made available to us.

One day the local newspaper carried an article about a man's death. He was a beggar who had walked up and down the streets eating trash out of garbage cans. He died in a little hovel. When they examined his body, they found a money belt around him that contained twenty-eight thousand dollars. He had been eating out of garbage cans!

It is not enough to have knowledge. We must be willing to put that knowledge to use.

There are many Christians walking around with millions of dollars worth of truth in their hearts, but they have never opened their mouths. They have never taken their stand on the Word of God. They have never done one thing about their condition. They continue to eat out of garbage cans even though they have knowledge. Oh, if they would only act on the knowledge they have!

Some Christians say, "The devil is after me. Help me, help me!" They have a wealth of truth at their disposal, but they are eating out of a garbage can.

Others say, "I'm afraid!" They are eating out of the garbage can of fear. They could use the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and resist that fear.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils...

Mark 16:17a

We need to stand up and chase the devil away!

There have been untold legions of demonic spirits unleashed upon this world. The whole world lies in darkness. The very atmosphere is filled with demonic powers and unclean spirits. There are organized rulerships in the atmosphere about us. There is an assigned, demonic prince over each of the nations of the world.

The work of demons is not just to vex us, or to harrass us. The devil wants to destroy us and drag us into hell, but he cannot do that! We will not let him!

The Bible says we are to reign as KINGS in this life. God did not intend for us to subject ourselves to these demonic powers and circumstances. He did not intend for us to barely get along in life.

WE MUST KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.

WE ARE TO HOLD UP OUR HEADS. WE ARE
TO REIGN AS KINGS IN THIS LIFE.

We are to take charge in adverse circumstances and drive the devil away from us! When evil surrounds us, the very atmosphere around us can be charged with the power of the Name of Jesus.

You may find yourself in a situation where you are surrounded by depression. Your house may be filled with depression. You can change that atmosphere!

YOU ARE A KING IN THIS LIFE.

You can stop depression in your home. Say, "Wait a minute! We are not going to say anything unless we can say something good. We are going to fill this house with the glory of God and with the praises of the Lord Jesus Christ because we reign in life!"

On the Day of Pentecost the scripture says that those who heard Peter's sermon were pricked in their hearts, and they posed the question, "What shall we do?" Peter answered with three things for them to do:

1) Repent.

2) Be baptized for the remission of sins.

3) Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

According to the Book of Acts, when the church began on the Day of Pentecost, three thousand people acted on these three truths at one time. They simply obeyed Peter's words.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14

In the Book of Ephesians, Paul was writing to believers. These were Christians who had been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Paul told the Ephesians that five things had already been accomplished in them:

1) They heard the Gospel.

2) They believed the Gospel.

3) They trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.

4) They were sealed with the Holy Spirit.

5) They had become God's purchased possession.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

Ephesians 1:15-22

Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesian believers a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Evidently, receiving Jesus and being baptized in the Holy Spirit does not automatically give us this revelation. If it did, Paul would not have been making this request of God.

Believing is not the ultimate purpose that God has for our lives.

GOD WANTS US TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE.

Believing leads to KNOWING. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would come to KNOW three things.

First, Paul prayed that the believers would know the hope of their calling.

Hope is an assurance, a confident expectation of the future. God wants us to have a confident expectation of what lies ahead of us both in time and in eternity.

The final hope of the Christian in this life is the blessed appearing of our Lord Jesus and spending eternity with Him.

Second, Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in the saints.

Our Father paid a terrific price for each of us. The minute we accept Jesus, we become God's property! We become His own. We have been purchased back by our Creator. We are His inheritance.

God wants to produce in us A MASTERPIECE OF FAITH, a holy character. He wants to make us like Himself!

We must realize that we are valuable to God.

Third, Paul prayed that they would know the power that is available to those who believe.

There is only one basic requirement for having God's power available in our lives. That requirement is BELIEVING. God's power is available as we believe.

Consider for a moment that this power, which is in us, is the SAME POWER that raised the dead body of Jesus from the tomb and took it into the presence of God.

That same power is available to every one of us who believes. This power will no longer be hidden from us when we receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-7

Pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, I come to Your great throne of mercy, boldly confessing Your Word.

I know that You are my Father.

I know that Jesus is my Lord, my Savior, my Great Redeemer!

I know that the Holy Spirit dwells within my body.

All my sins are forgiven, through the blood of Jesus.

I thank You, Father, that I have obeyed

Your Word, and I have forgiven every one who has ever wronged me. I have forgiven myself.

Father, You have forgiven my sins. You have forgotten them. My sins are under the blood of Jesus. Now, I will forget them.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that through the Name of Jesus, You have given me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Father, because of the knowledge You have given me, I know how great is the hope to which You have called me. Your Word says that You are rich because of me. How tremendous is the power available to us who believe.

I praise You, Father, that while I was dead in sin, You made me alive. You raised me up.

I thank You, Father, that You have seated me beside You in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers. Through the ages to come, use me to demonstrate the immeasurable riches of Your free grace.

Through your exalted position in Christ, YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN! You are FAR ABOVE all principalities and powers. All things are under your feet. You are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

You will reign in this life as a king because you have this KNOWLEDGE.

Confess boldly:

I know my sins are forgiven.

I know they are remembered against me no more.

I know I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

I know I am seated with Christ.

I REIGN IN LIFE AS A KING!

Now when demonic powers come against you, do not be afraid.

You may have a struggle with drinking.

You may be tempted to take drugs.

You may be involved in witchcraft.

You may have an uncontrollable temper.

You may have a sickness or disease.

You do not have to be afraid of any of these things!

First say, "I am going to look down." Then you will realize your position in Christ. You are seated in heavenly places and you have power over the devil.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19

The devil and all his demon forces are under your feet.

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

Even though the Word of God teaches us to give no place to the devil, many people have given him a place equal to themselves in spiritual power. Many people think the devil has great power.

Satan's power is limited to how much place we give him in our lives. God does not want us to be overcome by wicked spirits that have already been defeated by Jesus. He does not want us held in bondage to them.

WE ARE EXALTED IN CHRIST!

We have an exalted position in Christ. We are seated together with Him in heavenly places. We can reign in this life through Jesus Christ!

Read what Jesus says about you.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:14

God will not have to search for us because we are shining as lights. We are reigning in the kingdom of light! The world is in darkness, but we are not of the world. We are the light that is in the world.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

We are like Jesus in this world.

Jesus is exalted.

Jesus is above all powers.

Jesus is victorious.

Jesus is a King.

God intended for us to be like Jesus in this world!

God does not always deliver us immediately from trouble. We must use the weapons that He has provided for us and defeat the devil ourselves. God wants us to develop and mature as Christians, and learn to stay on the field of battle until we win.

Yes, we may get knocked down. Yes, we may feel we are losing ground. We may even suffer some defeats, but one day we will shake ourselves and say, "Wait a minute! I do not have to put up with this anymore."

I HAVE AN EXALTED POSITION IN CHRIST!
I REIGN IN LIFE BY ONE, JESUS CHRIST!

When you have had enough of the devil and all of his schemes, you will take the Word of God and drive the enemy away from you and your family.

Once you have taken this exalted position, you will never be the same! You may be surrounded by adverse circumstances, but you can change that atmosphere. Take charge. Do not be afraid! You will pass the test. Stand up tall and say:

Satan, you are looking at a king!

I bear the Name of Jesus!

I am covered with the blood of Jesus!

My attendants are the mighty angels of God!

I am filled with the Spirit of God!

Get out of my way!

I REIGN IN LIFE BY ONE, JESUS CHRIST!

In Acts, Chapter Twenty-seven, Paul was on board a ship as a prisoner, but it was not long until he was in charge. He knew who he was. He had KNOWLEDGE. In the midst of the terrible storm, Paul told the men to be of good cheer because every person would be spared.