Born Again To Rule

For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God’s) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)” (Romans 5:17, AMP).

To rule simply means to reign, dominate and exercise control and authority. It is to have influence over something and have something(s) in subjection. Jesus, in His earthly journey, ruled over poverty, demonic spirits, sicknesses, death, grave and over weather elements. He came to show those who will receive His abundant grace and gift of righteousness a model to follow on how to operate and reign in this world. Below are valid truths to consider and imbibe:

Reign with Christ: King David, an Old Testament saint with uncanny insight into the New Testament, stated in Psalm 110:1:“The LORD said to my Lord, sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Jesus ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God, a position of great power and authority. Born again believers are positioned and seated with Him in the heavenly place of great authority from where we operate and reign over everything contrary (Ephesians 2:6). The hosts of heaven are always eagerly waiting on us to exercise our legally given authority in this realm.

United with Christ: Every born again child of God is one with Jesus Christ. We received abundant grace and the gift of righteousness through the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Grace and righteousness, which Jesus freely gives us, are needed for us to rule and reign in this world. Grace is for empowerment, while righteousness is our positioning and location. We are representatives of the divine order in this realm, having been made partakers of His divine nature. We are spirit beings and gods because of the Word of God personified in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christ is, so are we here in this world (1 John 4:17b).

Leaders are followers: Leaders are rulers. The lion is a leader in the animal kingdom because it rules in that domain (Proverbs 30:30). Great leaders are made, and not born. They are made by following other great or greater leaders. Elisha became a mighty prophet by following Elijah. Esther became a queen by following the instructions of Mordeccai and Hegai the king’s eunuch. Paul reigned by following Christ and in turn asked believers to follow him (1 Corinthians 11:1). Following Christ’s instructions, observing His modus operandi and imbibing and practicing same will make us rule and reign in this world.

Exit wrong association: With Brexit still fresh in our minds, the vote for it was a vote to leave a supposedly unlikely association. It’s often said that we are the average of the five closest people to us. If the five closest to you are winning, the likelihood is that you will eventually win if you aren’t winning presently. Associations are strong; they make or mar us. Because Jonah was in some people’s boat, they suffered loss; calm was restored when he exited from the boat. Jump into Jesus’ boat today, if you haven’t done so; and begin to reign.

CONCLUSION: The closest enemy and most difficult for us to rule over is our sinful human nature. The degree to which we conquer the Adamic nature in us is the degree to which we reign and rule. For one to exercise authority effectively, one must subject to the higher authority of God Almighty. Apostle Paul said he always had his flesh in subjection to the laws of God (1Corinthians 9:27). Receive fresh grace this month to begin to rule and reign in Jesus’ name.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Operating In God’s Economy

And do not seek what you should eat or drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31).

God has an economic system that is diametrically opposed to this world’s system. As born again believers in God’s Kingdom, it is imperative for us to know how His economic system operates so as to avail ourselves of the blessings therein.

God’s economy is free from anxiety: Our opening text says God knows we need material things. As a good Father, He provides sufficiently for His children. It is only weird children who will doubt their parents’ willingness to give them the things they need, particularly when they know their parents can afford it. It is an assumption for many children that their parents will provide for their needs. The Psalmist emphatically says he has never seen the righteous forsaken and his seed begging for bread. It is necessary for us to also see God as our Source and Provider, and not just our Savior and Healer. Anxieties about finances and supplies simply shows we have little faith (Luke 12:28).

God’s economy is free from greed: The wealth of the world is predicated on and motivated by greed. The craving to have more and more rules the world’s system. Jesus said a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions even when he has a lot (Luke 12:15). Though God wants us to have things, He doesn’t want things to have us. Things are not God. One of the reasons why God commands us to give generously and regularly is to avoid been consumed by greed. A man of God said: “the only proof you have conquered greed is your giving.”

God’s economy is not just monetary: The net worth of an individual is his Assets less Liabilities. Money can only answer to things, and not all life’s issues. For believers in Christ, our net worth is much more than riches or what it can offer; our real asset is our relationship with God (Jeremiah 9:23-24). God told Abraham (and by extension us) that He is His exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). True riches are more than things. True riches refer to the ability to get prayers answered, ability to hear from God, ability to have peace of mind in the midst of turmoil. It is also good health, divine favor, divine wisdom, etc.

God’s economy is a partnership: Jesus entered Peter’s boat on Lake Gennesaret by purpose. There were two boats, but He entered Peter’s and ended his financial struggles and toil (Luke 5:1-11). Tithing is neither an old nor new covenant issue; it is actually a timeless covenant issue. We are stewards of God’s possessions because He owns all things; we don’t own anything. He owns it all. This understanding should help us surrender our finances, business and careers to Him. When He becomes our senior partner indeed, our heavens open and lack disappears. God is looking for trust worthy partners like Peter.

God’s economy is a mindset: God’s economy rest solely on the law of seed time and harvest (Genesis 8:22). It is about sowing and anticipating the harvest from the seed intentionally planted. It is about having a mind that seeks to glorify God in all things and at all times. It is a mindset of possibilities in spite of odds. Isaac planted in famine and his crops yielded supernaturally (Genesis 26:1-3, 13-14). It is a mindset that doesn’t give up. Isaac kept on digging wells till he got to Rehoboth (the place of his enlargement). This mindset is totally opposed to that of this world. In the world you accumulate for leverage; in God’s economy you liquidate for leverage (Proverbs 11:24-26).

CONCLUSION: Are you a bona fide member of the Kingdom of God. If not, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today. If you are, are you operating fully in God’s economy? Receive faith, courage and a heart of obedience to begin to operate God’s economy.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Your Thoughts Are Entities

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8,‬ KJV).

An entity is synonymous to something real, living and separate. An entity is an object not necessarily material. Many times, we don’t think of our thoughts as objects that are real and living. A certain man of God said the most important things in life are your thoughts, and the most powerful things in life are the words that we speak. Our words emanate from our thoughts and thinking patterns (Matthew 12:34). Below are some things to consider:

Thoughts Are Real: Our values and beliefs are shaped by the way we think and all these determine who we are. Our destinies are also determined by our value and belief systems. Jesus said: “The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things”(‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭35,‬ AMP). What we produce in our lives are the results of our thinking patterns.

Thoughts Are Changeable: The Bible enjoins us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Humans are “programmable” creatures. Our brains register events of pain and pleasure, and have a tendency to replay and repeat them even when they are destructive. Habits are formed when we keep allowing the brain to replay events of pleasure. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the believer are powerful change agents. As we fix our minds on the Word of God, we gain quality and higher thoughts that eventually produce quality mindsets and people.

Thoughts Are Entities: We live life from within us. We draw inspiration, and otherwise, from our minds and thinking patterns. Until God convinced Gideon he was a mighty man of valor and capable of defeating the Midianites, Gideon wasn’t ready to make any move against them. But once his thinking pattern changed about himself, he made the move against the Midianites (Judges 7:14-16). The battle of life is won or lost, first and foremost, in the minds of men. Thoughts are entities.

Thoughts Are Controllable: The clarion call is to always be conscious of your thoughts. Our main text above says we should focus our thinking on noble things. The Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 14:20 says: “Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men].” Adult people take charge, while infants don’t. We are to take charge of our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23). Psychologists tell us it takes approximately 21 days to change a particular thinking pattern.

Conclusion: Repentance is always as a result of deep, reflective thinking. The prodigal son, upon seeing how low his life had sunk, made up his mind to go back to his father’s house, where there is abundance. God has given us the responsibility to decide what manner of life we want. It’s not enough to desire a quality lifestyle; we must be willing to pay the price for it by changing our thinking, and as a result our ways. Have a blessed month.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

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