Devotion #9 in Cultured for Reigning

HOW ARE WE BEING CULTURED?

It is one thing to say we are being cultured to reign; it is quite another to perceive the truth of it. There is no indication that any rational person can or will enjoy eternity with the Lord who are not prepared in this world to do so! Our preparation involves the development of an appetite for the things of God. It also involves reigning in this world.

What we are going to say here will contradict much of the religious emphases of our time. It is in sharp conflict with the "clergy" system, and with many of the accepted views of discipleship. Any view of life in Christ that makes you dependent upon someone other than Christ is to be, at the very least, carefully examined. The clear declaration of Scripture is that "now" "all things" belong to us. These "all things" include even Apostles like Paul and Peter, and mighty exhorters like Apollos (1 Cor. 3:20-21). Let the refreshing Word of God sink down into your heart. "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

When the individual is translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13), he comes into a a remarkable area of spiritual resources. Nothing will be spared that is required to enable the believer to fight a good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim 6:12,19). If it is needed, is it available through the person's faith. The great Apostles, Paul and Peter, belong to the believer! That means their books can be comprehended, and we will become stronger by taking their expressions into our hearts. Mighty exhorters like Apollos are for the saint. They believe to the believing one, being given by God. Even the world, with all of its complexity, belongs to the saint. It is not his in order to accumulate goods, but in order to aid him in his quest for glory. Even life, with its difficulties, and death with its apparent impossibilities, belong to the believer! The circumstances that are present, or the ones that are to come belong to you, saint of the Lord. That simply means they are not able to throw you off course, or deprive you of eternal life if you will be strong in faith!

These remarkable possessions are readying us for a reign with Jesus throughout all eternity. Through them, we are being cultured for glory!

SENSES EXERCISED

As we mature in Christ, spiritual discernment becomes more keen. We become less dependent upon rules and regulations because our understanding is brought to maturity. That is the meaning of Hebrews 5:14: "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." A person incapable of telling right from wrong in this world, will not be equipped for eternity! Now is the time to learn to judge, evaluate, and discern with a spiritual mind.

CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS

The weapons of our warfare are "mighty through God" (2 Cor. 10:4). Yet, they are wielded by us. The weapons are in our hands, but they obtain effectiveness through the Lord God.

In the first century, false and corrupting views were introduced into the mainstream of kingdom thought. God did not simply build a spiritual dam, making it impossible for falseness to stream in. Instead, He provided appropriate weaponry for His people, charging them to expose falseness. The reason for this procedure goes far beyond the simple revelation of lies. The exercise itself is preparing them for reigning with Jesus. The judgement of the world will involve the disclosure of secret motives, and how they conflicted with the purpose of God. It will also clearly vindicate God, showing Him to be true in all things.

It would be refreshing if there were more of this kind of endeavor in the professed church. I understand that some are averse to this type of activity, but they are simply wrong. Jesus and the Apostles exposed the false doctrines of their day, and we must do the same. It is not to be done, however, in an effort to build an institution, or simply oppose those unlike ourselves. This is an appointed means of protecting the soul, and readying us for more demanding assignments in the world to come.

-- TOMORROW: USING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT --