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Why are the majority of believers actually ruled by life rather than ruling in life?

A national survey done in 2009 reveals that 98 percent of the believers in America are unaware of God’s grace being His empowerment. I believe that this statistic, unfortunately, represents the church in general throughout the entire Western world. Due to their ignorance of God’s provision of supernatural power through grace, the vast majority of believers are unable to live as God intends.

Let's examine Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader who came secretly to inquire of the Master. Jesus’ first words to him were, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” ( John 3:3).

Jesus speaks of seeing the kingdom. But His next statement to Nicodemus reveals something significantly different: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” ( John 3:5). Why does Jesus shift his emphasis from seeing the kingdom (verse 3) to entering the kingdom (verse 5)? When we apply only our knowledge of the English language to biblical interpretation, it is often easy to miss the true meaning and significance of the text. Hearkening back to the original languages helps us get a better handle on what God wants us to understand.

When Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God, He is actually referring to the “rule of God.” The Greek words most frequently used for kingdom of God in the Gospels are basileia tou Theos. Theos refers to God, while basileia is defined as “royalty, rule, reign.” Basileia is derived from the Greek word for “base” or “foundation.” Some scholars believe the best translation of basileia touTheos is “God’s imperial rule” or “God’s domain.” I love the word imperial. One of its definitions is “supremely powerful.”

For example, in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus instructs us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Luke 11:2). He is literally saying, “Our Father in heaven, You are God Almighty. Your supreme, powerful rule come. Your will be done on earth just as it is in heaven.”

But a problem arises because most people hearing these words think futuristically, when in fact God’s kingdom has already come! It has not yet come physically, as Isaiah prophesied, for that is when Jesus will rule forever and ever and Satan’s influence will be gone for good. Rather, the kingdom of God has already come spiritually. It is within us, God’s covenant people, for Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to  See or e nter 67 be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21, tev ).

Due to Jesus’ work at Calvary, the kingdom is now within every Christ follower. We are to spread its domain, its rule, where we are and wherever we go. We are to rule in life by the powerful free gift of God’s grace bestowed on us through Jesus Christ.

Let’s examine other scriptures where Jesus uses the phrase “kingdom of God” and substitute in its place “God’s supreme powerful rule.” It’s amazing how with this change these statements have a more significant meaning for today’s believer.

For example, Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 12:28 would read, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely God’s supreme, powerful rule has come upon you.” The Spirit of God Jesus refers to is the Holy Spirit, the member of the godhead who enforces the grace (power) of God that we possess. He is called the “Spirit of grace” in the New Testament (see Hebrews 10:29).

Again the words of Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into God’s supreme, powerful rule ” (Matt. 19:24).

A rich man is one who says, “I have the full adequacy and capability within myself to succeed.” Because of his intellect, finances, physical strength, wit, connections, and resources, he believes he’s totally self-sufficient. But Jesus sees through the smokescreen. “Blessed are you poor,” He says, “for yours is God’s supreme, powerful rule ” (Luke 6:20).

He is not identifying the financially poor; He is blessing those who depend on God’s grace. Jesus declared that the Spirit of God was upon Him to preach the gospel to the poor, yet many times He would intentionally meet with and minister to some of the financially richest men or women in the communities He visited. When He spoke about a camel going through the eye of a needle, it was right after His encounter with the rich young ruler, who chose to trust in his riches instead of in God.

Consider another statement by Jesus about the kingdom of God: “To you it has been given to know the mystery of God’s supreme, powerful rule; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables” (Mark 4:11). The authority and power available to us through God’s grace is indeed a mystery—a hidden truth that only the Holy Spirit can reveal. “‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit ” (1 Cor. 2:9–10).

The fact that you and I can rule in life through the grace of God was hidden until the Holy Spirit revealed it to us through the apostles who wrote the New Testament. All we have to do now is believe.

Here’s another assertion from Jesus concerning the kingdom of God: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see God’s supreme, powerful rule present with power” (Mark 9:1). This statement from the Messiah himself should secure our belief that the coming of God’s kingdom is in the here and now as well as in the future. The supreme, powerful rule of God would be within those who followed Jesus once the Spirit of grace came on the Day of Pentecost. In this same light, Jesus said to a scribe who answered Him wisely, “You are not far from God’s supreme, powerful rule ” (Mark 12:34).

But we must remember a very important aspect of God’s supreme, powerful rule. He has delegated His rule to us! “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Ps. 115:16). Jesus, as the Son of Man, took back what Adam had forfeited. Jesus then declared, “All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt. 28:18, AMP).

But Christ our Lord and King is no longer here on the earth, so you and I—the body of Christ—are to carry out God’s supreme, powerful rule. If we don’t exercise rule, then it stays within the realm of the forces of this world and life rules us. That’s not God’s plan! We are empowered by His grace to rule in life through Christ!

Source: Relentless: The Power You Need to Never Give Up by John Bevere.
Excerpt permission granted by Messenger International

Author Biography

John Bevere
Web site: John Bevere
 
John is an international minister and best selling author known for his bold and uncompromising approach to God's Word. His resources have been translated into over 110 languages, and over 40 million copies have been given away worldwide. When he's home in Nashville, you can find John playing competitive card games with his four sons or trying to convince Lisa to take up golf.
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