Chapter 7
See You as Kings
I have been meeting with many pastors and believers. I have given counseling and have prayed with
them for God’s leading of their lives and ministries. It was very rare to encounter someone
(pastors and believers) who had clearly known their identity as kings of the
kingdom of heaven, and had visions and dreams to build their own kingdom of
heaven.
Although some had such visions and dreams, almost of all
of their methods were those of the world.
Their beginnings had excellent motivations and intentions, but it is so
easy to forget the Lord in the midst of operations (Mat 4:9).
Matthew 4:9
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall
down and worship me.
We should not forsake the kingship predestined for us from
ever before the creation till the last moment of our lives.
Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
1. A King
Does Not Live For His Family Alone
Kings life will perish when his kingdom is demolished,
even if his family - sons, son’s wives, own wife, brothers – prospers. When a kingdom perishes, the king does not
have anyone who could save his life including his family and relatives. They all have to perish together with the
king.
One of the biggest problems of today’s believers (pastors
and saints) is that their prime concern is focused on their own interests –
welfare of their children, issues of husband and wife, etc. They are devoting themselves to those personal
matters, as if their lives are totally dependent on them. They pray for them, give offering for them,
serve for their sakes, and contribute to their church for those matters.
As you may have already conjectured, these are mere
problems of life. When one problem is
solved, then another problem comes. Our
life is filled with those problems, even to its end. We could easily be buried
by a series of such events. If one tries
to write up all his problems on his gravestone, there may not be enough space
to write them all. That is why our Lord
is telling us to focus our attention primarily on the kingdom of heaven which
is given by the Lord.
Matthew 10:34-38 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (37) He that loveth
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
King Saul had a faithful son Jonathan. He and his faithful son had to die with his
kingdom when he was defeated by his enemy (1 Sam 31:1-2).
2. A King
Does Not Live Only For Riches or Possessions
Most problems of believers (pastors and saints) are
material problems. If a pastor prays for
his material problems, he may not receive any solutions to those problems. This was the first test the devil gave to our
Lord Jesus (Mat 4:4).
And even if we amassed an amount of material wealth, it
eventually will go to the hands of other people and it will all disappear. A king’s riches and possessions will disappear
if a king can not keep his kingdom.
When the
When a king is interested in own riches and possessions
and not paying attention to keeping his kingdom, he and his kingdom, including
all of his riches and possessions, will disappear.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the
3. King
Does Not Live As A Hireling.
Any king does not live to master any particular skills or
talents. A king can devise and make all
kinds of inventions, he can play all kinds of musical instruments and perform
great works of art, but the king’s position is never maintained by his skills
or talents. A king’s power is to utilize
as many skilled and talented people as needed.
As people live with their own jobs or skills, it is so
easy for believers to consider their jobs more important than serving God. They live their whole life as servants of
their employer (Gal 1:10).
Although believers work at their job places, they have to
keep their kingdom of heaven as kings.
They have to seek first the kingdom of heaven.
4. A
Kingdom Cannot Stand If A King Ignores and Deprives His Own People
There are some believers (pastors and saints) who have
competitive character. They always try
their best to win over others. When
someone is opposing their idea or trying talk against them, they retaliate
mercilessly. These kings are dictating
kings of imperial kingdoms. They cannot
last for long, as proven by human history.
The glory and honor of a king is to satisfy the need of his people, to
be just, and to be righteous to realize truth.
God has chosen us as instruments of righteousness. Our kingdom will stand forever only by God’s
word and righteousness.
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
We have to ask God for the kingdom of heaven to come into
our lives, and should not be drawn by temptations of the prince of the world,
the devil.
5. A
Kingdom Cannot Be Defended By Destroying Other Kingdoms
In imperialistic kingdoms, the kingdom expands its own
territory by overturning neighboring kingdoms.
This type of kingdom may enjoy its riches looted from other overturned
kingdoms and may become boastful of their strength, however, eventually the
kingdom will corrode.
The king has to continue to conquer other kingdoms, in
turn encouraging extravagant life styles from the people, leading to further
degradation of the kingdom and eventually weakening their military power. The kingdom slowly spreads itself too thin
among the conquered and discontent. Many
kingdoms throughout history have perished by this principle.
It is, therefore, far wiser to make peace treaties with
one’s neighbors and to help each other.
The same is true for believer’s life.
We have to supply the needs of enemies in love, instead of destroying
them. Let the righteousness and justice
of God judge our enemies. Then our
kingdoms will stand by God.
Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide
things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord. (20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if
he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head. (21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good.
6. A King
Cannot Keep His Kingdom Only By Observing Commands and Statutes
In every kingdom, there are those who revolt against
authority and destroy order. If a
kingdom arrests and punishes them, their number may gradually increase, and as
the kingdom reaches its limit, it can no longer control its security. This is why they use education and pardons to
embrace and to correct them.
When we are ministering to others in church, job places,
or at home, we can not successfully lead them to goodness when we use doctrines
or regulations only. We have to redeem
with sacrifices or forgive them so that they may have hope. Thus
7. All Are
Kings: Kings of Heaven or Kings of Earth
The modern age can be called as ‘age of resistance’. No one wants to submit to any other
person. It is because we all were born
with a mission to be kings. We should
not pretend to serve others or humble ourselves before others. Rather, we have to be honest to ourselves
that we are kings and accept others as kings.
All problems in our lives arise from that we all cannot
be kings as we are supposed to be.
Therefore, we must first make our neighbors kings with the gifts and
love God has given to us. Husbands let
our wives be kings, wives serve our husbands as kings, and let children and
parents all be kings.
Ephesians 5:22-6:9 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) For the
husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and
he is the savior of the body. (24) Therefore
as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be to their own husbands in
every thing. (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26)
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, (27) That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish. (28) So ought
men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. (29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh,
and of his bones. (31) For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his
wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a
great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (33) Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (6:1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for
this is right. (2) Honor thy father and mother; which is the
first commandment with promise; (3) That it
may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (5) Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear
and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (7) With good will doing service, as to the Lord,
and not to men: (8) Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man
doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond
or free. (9) And, ye masters, do the same things unto
them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven;
neither is there respect of persons with him.
This
is the only way I can have my life peaceful as a king. Although it may look complicated to go
through the process to be a king, we all will walk on the golden pavement on
that day with authority, power and glory of king.
Revelation 21:24-22:5 And the nations of them which are saved shall
walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and
honor into it. (25) And the gates of it shall not be shut at all
by day: for there shall be no night there.
(26)
And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. (27) And there shall in no wise enter into it any
thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:
but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (22:1) And he showed me a pure river of water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb. (2) In the midst of the street of it, and on
either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of
fruits, and yielded her fruit every
month: and the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations. (3) And there
shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;
and his servants shall serve him: (4) And they
shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (5) And there shall be no night there; and they
need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:
and they shall reign forever and ever.
8. A King
Has To Invest All He Can For His Kingdom
Our
Lord Who came to earth and restored the throne of King David called us
‘friends’ (Joh 15:15). We have to learn
from the successful King. We have to
follow Him. We have to be ‘disciples’.
We
all are disciples who are learning ‘the way of King’. We therefore forsake all unnecessary things
(Luk 14:26).
Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.