Transcript: Discover Your Royal Heritage in God's Kingdom

I am pleased to be able to speak to you today about a wonderful, rich, and royal inheritance that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful privilege as a Christian we have to be counted among the children of God. What a privilege it is to be the recipient of grace and favor of Almighty God, who is now called our Father. what our rich inheritance awaits us as the children of God. Inheritance, according to Webster's Dictionary, means to take hold of possession or rights by inheritance, to receive something that is or may be inherited as ownership, heritage. You see, this rich inheritance promise to God's own children is reserved for those who finish the race on this earth. And it's a purchased inheritance brought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. This rich inheritance is eternal life, and it is waiting for every true member and faithful believer of our Lord Jesus Christ. Individuals who shall possess it are those who are sanctified. Now, it is here many people shrink back and say, Ha! Now you're getting religious! Hello? This is God's process. Should our carnal thinking try to reduce God's standards and requirements to our puny human reasonings for our self-gratifications in order to live the way we want to live? Precious one, I don't think so. God of all creation never changes. His high and holy standards for his royal family will always remain the same. Sanctification, according to the Bible dictionary, is described like this. sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character brought about by the power of the truth it is the work of the holy spirit bringing the whole nature of a true believer in jesus christ more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection. Perfection means maturity, the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man. It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work. Faith is instrumental in ensuring sanctification in as much as it ensures union to Christ and brings the believer into a living reality in contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That was the biblical definition of sanctification. And you see, this work of sanctification or maturity in the things of God is a lifelong effort on our behalf where we co-labor with God's Holy Spirit in this process. and because it is a lifelong journey many people excuse themselves daily from making every effort in conforming to the will and the mind of God in Christ they put off day after day and by the lie well it's going to take me all of my life to change and well, God knows my heart sort of thing. And I say to you who are living this lie of deception right now, yes indeed, let me say, and we better believe with all of our hearts, soul and mind, God certainly knows our hearts. And the word tells us that our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who could know it. You'll find that in Jeremiah 17.9. And this is why we need to live the truth honestly and sincerely every day. Jesus said in Mark 7.14, in Mark 7.14, and he called the people to him again and said to them, listen to me, all of you, and understand what I say. Verse 15, there is not even one thing outside a man which is going into him can pollute and defile him. But the things which come out of a man are what defile him and make him unhallowed and unclean. And if any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing. Verse 17, and when he had left the crowd and gone into the house, his disciples began asking him about the parable. And he said to them, then are you also unintelligent and dull and without understanding? Do you not discern and see that whatever goes into a man from the outside cannot make him unhallowed or unclean? Verse 19, since it does not reach and enter his heart, but only his digestive tract, and so passes on into the place designed to receive waste, thus he was making and declaring all food ceremonially clean. That is abolishing the ceremonial distinctions of the Levitical law. Verse 20, and when he said, what comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders him unhollow. For from within him, that is, out of the hearts of men come base in wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, coveting, a greedy desire to have more wealth, dangerous and envy, slander, evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness, pride, the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man, foolishness, folly, lack of sense, recklessness, and thoughtlessness. All these evil purposes and desire come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed. Well, you see, this is why it is necessary we put to work daily the Word of God in our lives as we learn it and not take it lightly. We're talking about eternal life, precious ones. And we're also told here not only to be hearers of the Word of God, but we are called to be doers of the word. This royal inheritance is the free gift of God's grace, and it is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. This wonderful gift originates in his grace and his love, dear church. According to Apostle Paul, the Christian spiritual inheritance is based strictly on our relationship to Jesus Christ. Galatians 3, 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. You see, this spiritual birthright cannot be inherited by sinners. Now our beloved apostle Paul tells us this too in the first chapter of Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 6-9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, verse 10, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanders, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 11, and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Paul also declared that the Spirit's indwelling power is both the sign, the seal, and that we are heirs of this royal inheritance of promise in Ephesians 1.13. Ephesians 1.13 and you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth and the gospel of your salvation having believed you were marked in him with a seal the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory. Those who are redeemed become God's adopted sons and daughters with full inheritance rights. And this ought to deeply touch you and somehow provoke within you in a very deep, deep way some degree or measure of the undying love of your Savior and what he really did for you. Galatians 4.1 In Galatians 4.1, Paul says, What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. Verse 4. But when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts and the spirit who calls Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. This beautiful promise of inheritance comes by nothing we have done to earn it. We have done nothing to earn it or to take credit for anything that Christ has done. Our beloved Savior did all for all whomsoever would choose him as eternal life. our part is to lay hold of this royal and rich inheritance. And once we lay hold of it, then it is to be built up in knowledge, faith, love, and holiness. And again, as I said in the opening of this message, this rich inheritance is eternal life, and it is waiting for every true and faithful believer in Jesus Christ. In addition to eternal life with our beautiful Redeemer, we will have the privilege of co-reigning with him as kings and priests in his eternal kingdom. The individual who shall possess this wonderful privilege of inheritance are those who are sanctified. Oh yes, I said that word again. And this means those who are seriously pursuing after truth and holiness and are maturing in this process. This means you are daily seeking the Lord of your life and growing in his grace and knowledge. This means you are putting on Christ. This means you are being clothed in Christ, having his mind, his heart, and pure intentions in all that you do and say. This means you are digging deep for the mind of Christ, to know him and grow in him and dwell in his love. This means you are learning that your identity is found in him and not in yourself. And as you learn and grow in this understanding, you also learn with a deep and abiding faith as a child of the King that you are exhorted to lay aside all of your fears. Dear Church, we do not belong to just any family where we are vulnerable to the lions and the wolves which may come up on our path. Jesus gives us such encouragement in the living word of God found in Luke 12, 28. In Luke 12, 28. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, oh, you people of little faith? Verse 29. and you do not seek by meditating and reasoning to inquiring into what you are to eat and what you are to drink nor be of anxious troubled mind unsettled excited worried and in suspense for all the pagan world is greedily seeking these things and your father knows that you have need of them Only aim at and strive for and seek his kingdom And all these things shall be supplied to you 32 verse 32 Dear little flock Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear Little flock for it is your father's good pleasure To give you the kingdom So beautiful I pray that word touched you. Can we trust as people of faith and not be overwhelmed with fear, no matter what the circumstances, that our loving King and Father are jealous over us, we who live to please Him? The world has not the tranquility, the order, or stability of knowing this inner peace and comfort, because it comes from one source, and that source is a heavenly fountain. And these are a part of the promised blessings of inheritance. And while we have breath on this earth right now, the world will experience every fear that excites their senses and comes their way because Satan is king and ruler of this kind of fear. It is cruel and ravenous because it terrifies and seizes with hopeless alarm its victims who are poisoned with its venom. And the mind goes through terrible gymnastics of imaginations and ungodly fear of what may happen. people who live in this state are sure and certain that because of this cruel and overwhelming condition they face in their minds that it certainly their last People in this state generally face deteriorating health both in mind and body They've never learned or cared to know of the wonderful good news of our Lord Jesus Christ, who became the willing and precious sacrifice of the God of all creation and laid himself upon the cross as the innocent Lamb of God and died for all who would choose him to be saved and ransomed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The kingdom of darkness, which is Satan's kingdom, brings terrible and horrible remembrances of the past and its free reign in the present moment to throw terrifying images and thoughts into the unregenerated or the unrenewed mind. For the renewed mind for a Christian is having the mind of Christ, who is now king and ruler in our lives and over our lives in body, soul, and spirit. Jesus said, Fear not, little flock. For those who love him and obey him, he gives peace in the midst of every storm that may come into our lives. And if we have uneasiness or apprehensions, he gives us peace and stills the storm in our mind and our hearts. He is our waymaker, church. We do not have to be ignorant of the road in which we travel. We are people of faith, and we follow the author and king of faith himself, who is Jesus Christ. We belong to the kingdom of light. And Jesus said in John 8, 12, in John 8, 12, once more Jesus addressed the crowd, and he said, I am the light of the world, and he who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the light which is life. Jesus promises to take care of the sheep of his pasture and the lambs of his fold by giving them his comfort and his peace. Advancing to John 14, the chapter 14 of John. John 14, 23. Jesus answered, If a person really loves me, He will keep my word, obeying my teachings. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home, our abode, a special dwelling with him. Verse 24. Anyone who does not really love me does not observe and obey my teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not mine, but comes from the Father who sent me. I have told you these things while I'm still with you. But the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, the Standby Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, in my place to represent me and act on my behalf. He will teach you all things, and he will cause you to recall, will remind you of, and bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you. Verse 27 Peace I leave with you My own peace I now give and bequeath to you Not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your hearts be troubled Neither let them be afraid Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed And do not permit yourselves to be fearful And intimidated and cowardly and unsettled Do you see, precious ones, why we should not have fear? Neither fear of circumstances or fear of men. What comfort is given us by the very words of our dear and loving shepherd? We, who belong to the royal family of God, are exhorted to lay aside every fear. we are the children of God the God of all creation the God who by his tender affection and mercy was drawing us with loving kindness while we were still and yet dead in our trespasses and while we were still dead in our sin God Almighty full of love and compassion had in his plans for each one of us a rich and royal inheritance. What love, dear people! What love! We were offensive to him because of our vileness, but yet he had and has a purpose and plan for each one of us who would choose him as our Heavenly Father through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. What an inheritance! Even though some at this moment in time who are listening to this message may not understand what I'm speaking in its depth, the Spirit of the Lord, nevertheless, is drawing you and touching your inmost being called your Spirit Man to plant the truth of this Word in your heart in order to draw you deeper into his royal family of love. We cannot understand these things with our carnal minds because these are spiritual truths. And this is why in the scripture we have just read, Jesus says in John 14, 25, I told you these things while I'm still with you, but the comforter, the counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener the Holy Spirit whom the Father send in my name in my place to represent me and act on my behalf he will teach you all things and he will cause you to recall and remind you of and bring it to your remembrance everything that I have told you peace I leave with you Jesus says and my own peace I give I bequeath to you not as the world gives do I give to you do not let your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid you see Jesus said in the 23rd verse of this chapter it's that if we obey him and and we live what his word tells us to do it proves that we love him in verse 23 please jesus answered if a person really loves me he will keep my word obeying my teachings and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode our home a special dwelling with him anyone who does not really love me does not observe and obey my teaching and the teaching which you hear and heed is not mine but comes from the father who sent me when we obey him in this way because we love him no matter what level we are in our spiritual growth or attainment we will experience the promised blessings of inner peace and joy right now as a part of our royal inheritance and also the holy Spirit will be pleased to dwell within our temples and teach us and lead us and guide us into all truth. It is only by this way and this process that we will receive the royal and rich inheritance which awaits us. We are promised as well a crown, a crown and a kingdom. It's only this way. This is the only way that we will inherit. this beautiful, rich, royal inheritance and the promised crown. We are promised that we will co-reign and rule with our Lord and God, who is the ruler of all fairness and equity, and who is the God of all power, love, and peace. We are these who were purchased and ransomed out of the kingdom of darkness by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Dear Church, these are not idle words that I speak to you. Never take lightly or for granted what your Lord and King Jesus Christ did for you. It is out of this precious sacrifice of his undying love for you personally that you learn and grow and fall deeply in love with him. Neither you nor me, or anyone for that matter, could truly, honestly, or sincerely love anyone except we know and experience personally the love of this sacrifice. Even to know and experience this precious love is a gift from God. the reason why so many Christians do not know or experience this deep and wonderful love of our Heavenly Father the way that they should is told us in the scripture we have been reading John 14, 23 Jesus answered if a person really loves me he will keep my word obeying my teachings and my Father will love him and we will come to him will make our home with Him. You see, when we obey Him, He gives us His peace. He gives us His Holy Spirit to do His good work within us. God, our Abba Father, delights to give us every good thing now while we have breath. And to some people while I speak this, they think oh boy when I say God delights to give us every good thing now while we have breath some people think ah I've always wanted a million dollars and while others in their mind race to the thought or of a new home or a bigger car and others yet ponder on fortune or fame and this is why these kinds of people these christians never grow in their deep and abiding love for the one who died for them because they are tethered to this side of heaven they are earthbound chained to the carnal appetites and pleasures instead of their thoughts being heavenward and god-centered they love the things of the world and not the things of god in 1 John 2.15. Do not cherish or love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Verse 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, craving for sensual gratifications and the lust of the eyes, greedy longings of the mind and pride of life, assurance in one's own resources and or stabilities of the earthly things. These do not come from the Father, but are from the world itself. Verse 17. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings, the passionate desires, the lusts of it, that he who does the will of God and carries out his purposes in his life remains forever. Let me provoke you at this moment. If you presently have continual battering of the mind, have not peace or joy. May I cause you to ponder your present state. Thank you for giving me permission. Are you or do you have your thoughts and your heart set on worldly desires and pleasures? This could be the cause for you not enjoying the peace of God and your possible future and rich inheritance. As the scripture says, those who love the things of the world, which are those things that cause our flesh to tingle with delight, either greedy longings for more stuff and also for fame and fortune, have their minds set on things below. That these things can also include the sensual or the sexual pleasures, and these as well rule the senses and belong to the world. Verse 15 of the chapter that we have been reading here. stability of earthly things these do not come from the father but are from the world itself can i tell you dear church that our father our heavenly father has more in store for those who love him than the worldly pleasures that give us a moment of satisfaction while it appeases our senses or better said our carnal appetites in any given moment you who truly belong to christ must know that it is your father's good pleasure to give all good things to you now that he has in store for you while you dwell in this earthly temple he's prepared and is providing for those who love him as the scripture says in 1 Corinthians 2 8 none of the rulers of this age the world perceive and recognize and understood this for if they had they never would have crucified the Lord of glory but on the contrary as the scripture says what I have not seen or ear heard he has in store for them who love him that God has prepared he's made ready for those who love him and hold him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying him and gratefully recognizing the benefits that he has bestowed. You see, God, I just want to pause here in this moment here, and I want to reiterate that we who truly belong to Jesus Christ must know that it is our Father's goodwill and pleasure to give all good things to us now that he has in store for us while we dwell in these earthly temples. He is prepared and he's providing for those who love him. And as the scripture says, no eye has seen, no ears heard what he has in store for them who love him. In 1 Corinthians 2, 8, none of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this. For if they had, they never would have crucified the Lord of glory. Verse 9, but on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the hearts of men, all that God has prepared and made and keeps ready for those who love him, who hold him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying him and gratefully recognizing the benefits that he has bestowed. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! He is bestowing and lavishing upon those who love Him eternal rewards and a rich inheritance right now. and with the most watchful eye and the tenderness of love, the tenderest love, he watches over you with the most jealous care and desire more for you to have true happiness than any earthly mother or father could ever have for their child What he desires for us is more than what our parents could ever desire for us for they cannot comprehend. We could not comprehend the very depth and magnitude of the love of God. But what we do know as a Christian, we do the very best that we can and as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, we just desire more and more for our children to have the rich and royal inheritance that awaits them forever and ever. You see, he promises never to leave us or forsake us. And we can't fathom, precious church, what our Heavenly Father has in store for those who truly love him and his Son, Jesus Christ. But we can know that it is more than we could ever imagine in our mind's eye. He has promised to make you inconceivably blessed with himself forever and ever. What a rich and a royal inheritance. Nothing on earth is more lasting or richer than this. we should be ashamed of ourselves for any doubt which may ever enter into our minds regarding this inheritance we should be ashamed of any fears which come and set itself in a vain imagination in our mind we should quickly be learning through the helper called Holy Spirit given us to pull down every stronghold or vain imagination which sets itself up to steal this inheritance. And if we truly love God our Father and understand this and are exercising the truth as we learn it, we will not be left to wander in the wilderness of our minds, in all of our fears, without the protection and the guidance and provision and providential care and love of God. because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice for us. God, our Heavenly Father, declares in Romans 4 and other verses, All things are yours. Hallelujah! God Almighty, God of all creation, declares it to His own. All things are yours. As I said, Jesus made this possible for us because when He ascended into heaven with His own blood, He had obtained eternal redemption for us upon the basis of his death and resurrection on our behalf. In Hebrews 9, 12, He had not entered by means of the blood of goats and calves, but he entered the most holy place once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Verse 13, The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean, sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. Verse 14. How much more then will the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God. You see, when Jesus sat down at the Father's right hand, man had been perfectly redeemed because he'd been legally identified with Christ in his redemptive work. I would like you to understand here that your identity with Christ as a child of God means that you've been legally redeemed from spiritual death. You need to see yourself now in your new identity in the family of God. Our beloved Apostle Paul makes it clear for us in his epistle in Romans 6.6 that we were crucified with Christ in Romans 6.6. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Jesus was delivered up on the account of our trespasses and sins on the cross. God made Jesus to become sin for us. It was our spiritual death in our trespasses and sicknesses that he bore upon himself and in himself when he went willingly upon the cross to be nailed to it. Jesus became identified with us on the cross. He was our substitute. And Paul tells us in the book of Romans that we died with Christ in Romans 6, verse 5. Right where you are. For we have been united together in the likeness of his death, and certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, and the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Verse 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. As Christ died, we died with him. Christ would not have died physically if he'd not first had our spiritual death laid upon his spirit. So there followed, as a result of our identification with him in crucifixion, the death of his body, which had then become mortal, subject to death, as had Adam's when he died spiritually. We died with him. And his spirit left his physical body and went into hell, and we were identified with him there. What love! What love, dear church! You could say to yourself, what love my Savior has for me! what love and the more you say that and the more you hold fast to that the more real that love becomes Paul also goes on in this chapter of Romans to declare that we were buried with Christ Romans 6 4 therefore we were buried with him through baptism unto death. Baptism is a type of our burial with Christ. And his body lay in the tomb, but his spirit suffered in hell as he paid the penalty that was due man, that is you and me. Jesus could adequately pay man's penalty and meet the demands of justice for our sins because he had been identified with man in this place. Dear Church, the penalty Jesus paid was not his own, but man's with whom he had been made one with and identified with. In the mind of God, it was you and me who were there in the place of torment, bearing the judgment that was due us on the basis of this identification, the man who receives the redemptive work of Christ need not go to hell now but goes free. He's set free, while the man who refuses Christ's redemption on his behalf must go there. When the penalty of man's high treason was paid, we were freed from bondage to Satan. Hallelujah. Romans 6.1, please. Romans 6.1. dead to sin, alive to God. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Verse 3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were with him through the baptism of his death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. Verse 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Verse 6. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of it, for he who has died has been freed from his sins. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Sin no longer has dominion over him for the death that he died. He died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Likewise, you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Did you see here? The body of sin or the body of spiritual death was destroyed. Hallelujah! You were released. We were released from spiritual death because we died in Christ and He adequately paid our penalty for us. and when the penalty had been paid man, that is you and I, stood before God justified or declared righteous. Righteousness means that we have the ability to stand in God's presence as being free from sin and condemnation as though there had never been any spiritual death within our spirit. when God could declare man's righteousness and legally freed from spiritual death he had the right to impart life his own nature to the spirit of man so after Jesus had been declared righteous in his spirit because our penalty was paid he was made alive hallelujah and the identification of man and Christ that had been completed upon the cross still continues. And Paul goes on to say here in Colossians 2.13 in Colossians 2.13 that we were made alive with Christ and you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh He has made you alive together with Him having forgiven you of all your sins having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us which was contrary to us and he's taking it out of the way having nailed it to the cross having disarmed principalities and powers he made a spectacle of them triumphing over them in it hallelujah he did this for me he did this for you he did this for all who choose him when God raised Christ from the dead he said you are my son you are my daughter's this day I have begotten you Jesus was the firstborn from the dead precious ones and he was the first man to be born out of spiritual death into eternal life he was the first man over whom the Dominion of death was broken hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah. Jesus was the first man over whom the dominion of death was broken, saints. In Romans 6, 9, death no longer had dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once. Hallelujah. And when Jesus was identified with us on the cross, death had dominion over him. But when he paid our penalty, the dominion was broken. Hallelujah. Jesus was released, and Satan hates this. Jesus was released, and he died unto sin, and he was begotten of God in the realm of life. Romans 8, 29. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. and the many brethren were legally identified with him in his birth out of death into life. But he was the first one to virtually experience being the firstborn. These terms which say we were legally being made alive with Christ means that we were conformed to his image. And the word conform means to make exactly like, and it means to be made according to a certain pattern. In his crucifixion, Jesus had been conformed to our image of spiritual death. And when he was made alive, we were made alive with him, hallelujah. and with him we are conformed to the image of this firstborn. All that Jesus is now, we become. And that is why we are joint heirs with him. We were legally born out of death into life with him. Romans 6, 6-11 We are told that we're able to reckon ourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God in as much reality as Christ is dead unto sin and alive to God. And the reason for it lies in the fact that we were together born again, made alive legally. A man virtually receiving this life of God is actually born out of death into life when he personally accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. were ransomed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. So our identification with Christ in his death and resurrection in reality means this. It is as though Adam had gone to hell, suffered the judgment that was due him, and had been released, freed from all the bondage of spiritual death, legally acquitted from his crime of high treason and given the right to receive eternal life and walk in fellowship with God once again. If Adam could have done this, the human race which had been identified with him in his spiritual death would never have been under the dominion of death. But Adam could not do this. God, in his great love for his creation, that is you and me, sent his precious son to do it on our behalf. In Adam, all humanity died spiritually. And as a basis of identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, all humanity legally has been made alive. 1 Corinthians 15, 22 For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. All who come to Christ declare him as Lord and Savior. Any man or woman who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior's Lord may now walk in fellowship with the Father and free from Satan's dominion as though Adam had never sinned or been spiritually dead. At the new birth, a man passes from the authority of Satan into the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1.13 Colossians 1.13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. And this is because when Jesus was released from His death into life, man was really released with Him. All that Christ did was not for Himself but for man that is you and me and all others who would choose him as their Lord and Savior of their lives After Jesus had been released from Satan authority the next step was to put off from himself the forces of Satan. The Word tells us in Ephesians 1.20 that when God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities, all other government, in power and might and dominion. Every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that to come, Christ now has all authority. Christ was raised up. That means that we were with him too, and we find that in the book of Ephesians also, this is an important foundational truth and principle in the life of every believer. None of us should ever miss this point in fact of what our blessed Savior did for us. God raised us up with Christ. We were identified with Christ in this victory. Ephesians 2.6, and God raised us up with Christ. We were identified with him in this victory over Satan. And it's only because of our identification with him that he was therefore triumphing over Satan. Jesus was always greater than Satan, dear church. And it was because of his identification with us that as a man he must meet Satan in his own dominion and conquer him. And he went there as our substitute representative. His victory was our victory. And when he stripped Satan of his own authority, it was though we had done it. After Jesus' justification, Satan no longer had dominion over him. Our identification with Christ makes us as free as Jesus is. The Word says we are now seated with Christ. After Christ's spirit had been freed from hell, he entered his body, raising it through the power of the Holy Spirit to immortality. Acts 2.31 In Acts 2.31, he, seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. Jesus now holds all power and authority. And Jesus spoke this in the book of Matthew 28 when he said to the apostles, he said, all power is given unto me, all authority is given unto me in heaven and on earth. And as a man he possessed authority over the world rulers of the spiritual darkness. And with that authority, he sat down at the Father's right hand, and it was for us. In the book of Ephesians, Ephesians 1, declare that the work that God worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion, and in every name that is named, and not only in this age, but the one to come. Verse 22, he put all things under his feet and gave him to behead over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. You see, Jesus legally put all things under his feet, that is under his body, the church in his resurrection. and he is waiting now for you and me to take our rightful inheritance, which is his power, his word, and his legal rights in his name, and subdue the enemy in his name and put Satan under our feet. We are seated with him. Let us arise to that place and sit with him. Jesus is now waiting for us in his name to virtually to rise up, to pick up and take what is legally ours, and in his name put every enemy of ours under our feet that we might reign as kings and priests with him. As I said at the beginning of this word today, what a privilege it is to be counted among the children of God. A royal family with a royal inheritance. It was purchased by the one and only innocent Lamb of God who spilled his blood for all who would choose him. This rich and royal inheritance is awaiting every true believer of Jesus Christ who are being sanctified and purified by their tests and trials in overcoming this world and its enemies. Lay hold, precious church Of your eternal and legal rights in Christ And possess your rich inheritance Through knowledge, faith, love and holiness This is called maturity in your walk In reaching for the high prize and the high call in Jesus Christ Take your rightful place And be seated next to your king As his royal subjects and co-heirs and reign with him as a king and priest in his royal kingdom forever and ever. God said to you and to me, All things are yours now. Believe it, dear church. Believe it and take your rightful place and be seated next to your king. Hallelujah. The End God made a covenant with David which took place several thousand years ago. And this covenant was a promise to David and his seed and all future offspring coming forth out of that seed of David. And this covenant was established through the root and line of Jesse. And it was the holy seed through which Jesus Christ, our Savior, came through. Let's look at this precious truth so that it may be sealed in your hearts today. And we're going to begin in Isaiah 11, verse 10. Isaiah 11, verse 10. In that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. And the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day, the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamas, and from the islands of the sea. And he will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel. And he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Precious church, Jesus Christ is this banner of truth whom God the Father raised up. In verse 12, he will raise up a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel. and he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. As I said, Jesus Christ is this banner, and he is alive and active today, gathering his people from the four corners of the earth. Jesus spoke and announced testimony of himself in Revelation 22, 16, that he was this very root who had come in fulfillment of Scripture. In Revelation 22, 16, I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. You see, ultimately, through this chosen seed, a holy and pure virgin branch was to come forth out of this long-awaited time and birth forth the virgin bride church called the royal family members of God. Let's read this scripture again. I would like you to hear it. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. You see, Jesus, I just want to say again, he made testimony, he testified that he indeed was this long-awaited, this chosen seed, this holy and pure one that was going to come forth and birth the Virgin Bride Church, amen, called the royal family members of God. Now, I'd like us to read in Psalms 89 and see that these divinely inspired words were prophetically speaking of the Christ to come in Psalms 89. And we're going to see also that he's sworn to David, his servant. Now, David means beloved, my beloved. and also before we continue on in psalms 89 i'd just like you to mark that please because i want to make a point here in matthew 3 16 before we get going about how god spoke this to his son this God spoke this of his son in Matthew 3.16. When Jesus had been baptized and he came up out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him. This is John, of course, who is observing this. And suddenly a voice out of heaven came saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. And so, again, beloved means David. Now remember that Jesus came from the seed of David, the root of Jesse. Amen? The root of Jesse. So, just establishing that fact before we move on to Psalms 89, beginning in verse 1. I will sing of the Lord's great love forever. With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. And I will declare that your love stands firm forever. And that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Verse 3 You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn to David my servant. Verse 4 I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm throughout all generations. Now, please, let's drop down to verse 19. Once you spoke in a vision to your faithful people, you said, I have bestowed strength upon a warrior. I have exalted a young man from among the people. And I have found David my servant with my sacred oil. My hand will sustain him. Surely my arm will strengthen him. No enemy will subject him to trite or forced labor or forced service. And no wicked man will oppress him. Verse 23. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. My faithful love will be with him. And through my name his horn shall be exalted. Verse 25. I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the waters. And there he will call out to me, you are my father, my God, my rock and my savior. So I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever and my covenant with him will never fail. And I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens will endure. If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my command, I will punish their sins with the rod, their iniquity with flogging. But I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. Verse 34. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips uttered. Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness, and I will not lie to David, verse 36, that his line will continue forever, and his throne endure before me like the sun. The sun is the sun of righteousness, verse 37, and it will be established forever like the moon, which represents the church, the faithful witness in the sky. And the word of the Lord here, precious church, is certainly speaking in a prophetic nature. By this, the Lord's giving comfort to his people when he says, I have made a covenant, and therefore I will make it good. And the covenant is made with David. The covenant of royalty is made with him as the father of his family and with his seed through him and for his sake, which represents the covenant of grace made with Christ as head of the church and with all believers as his spiritual seed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. David is here called God's chosen and his servant. And as God will not change once he's made a promise, so he will not cast off one who has served him. And there's two things here which encourage the psalmist to build his faith on this covenant. Two things. One is the confirmation of it. It was confirmed with an oath. The Lord has sworn and he will not go back on his promise. God stated that in these scriptures that we just read. And the second one is the continuation of it. The two things that encouraged David to build his faith on this covenant that God has given to him would be also the continuation of it. The blessings of the covenant were not only promised to David himself, but to his whole family, which includes you and me and all who have repented of their sins and truly live their lives according to Scripture. It was a promise that the covenant would continue forward through all of his family line. Hallelujah. When he says, Thy seed I will establish forever, so that David shall not want a son to reign, and that it should continue a royal family. Praise God. See, this is even spoken in the book of Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 33, 19. Jeremiah 33, 19. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, verse 20. Thus says the Lord, if you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not be done. cometh their appointed time then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers verse 22 as the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured so I I will multiply the descendants of David, my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me. Hallelujah. Our Lord is still building today a kingdom of priests. Amen. And we know that in the New Testament. Let's go to the New Testament. Jesus' ministry was springing into action. And he was selecting those whom he knew before the foundation of time. who would work with him in John 1 43 in John 1 43 the next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee finding Philip he said to him follow me Philip like Andrew and Peter was from the town of Bethsaida Philip found Nathanael and told him we have found the one Moses wrote about in the law and about whom the prophets also rode, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Verse 46, Nazareth, how can anything good come from there? Nathanael asked. Come and see, said Philip. And when Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false. How do you know me? Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you. Verse 49, then Nathanael declared, Rabbi, you are the son of God and you are the king of Israel. Verse 50, Jesus said, you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree and you shall see greater things than that. And he added, I tell you the truth, You shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. You see, nothing false. Jesus said he saw nothing false of this man, Nathanael. That means nothing in the way of crafty or deceitful. False also speaks about he didn't set up entrapments or entice by beguiling ways or clever. There was nothing clever or crafty in this man. And Jesus was pointing out that Nathanael was indeed a righteous man because he studied the word of God and he lived what he knew according to what he read. But God's word also shows that there is a place of rest and peace beyond even the letter of God's word. That's what we were understanding in scripture that Nathanael was living. was according to the Word of God. What he read, he lived it, and he also kept the Jewish practices and the laws that were required in that time as well. Those who are called and those who live in Christ, this is a difference here, that this peace here, this place of rest, that God's Word shows us, that there are those who are called and they live in Christ, and they're vitally united to him and connected to him and are considered to be true worshipers of God in spirit and truth. And this is the difference. This is what Nathaniel was going to learn. And this is why our Messiah came, amen, in Revelation 22, verse 7. Revelation 22, verse 7, we see this. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecies of this book. I, John, am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, you must not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. And he said to me, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book for the time is near. Let the evildoer, verse 11, let the evildoer still do evil and the filthy still be filthy and the righteous still do right and the holy still be holy. Verse 12, behold, I'm coming soon, bringing my recompense to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. See, you must understand that the throne of David is now being built and established. And that Jesus is the head of his church. It is not that he is going to be the head of his church. He is the head of his church now. now he is the head of his church and his bride will be those who worship in spirit and truth and do not have a divided heart or they go to church out of duty but do not put into practice in their daily lives the things of God the commands of God is a new way of living and and they go through the ritual but it's not a work in their hearts it's not living in their hearts there's no change in their hearts the secret desires of their hearts are roaring within their bodily members and when the opportunity springs forth for that carnal appetite to be satisfied The scriptures say of the adulterous one that she satisfies herself as though she just finished a good meal and says, I've done nothing wrong. Proverbs 30, verse 20. You see, what God was speaking through Psalms 89 saying that I will build up thy throne to all generations and to all the generations of time. is that this covenant has its accomplishment only in Christ of the seed of David who lives forever. And also to keep confirming the covenant promise, it's declared in Psalms 132. Please, 132 of Psalms, verse 1. oh Lord remember David and all the hardships he endured he swore an oath to the Lord and made a vow to the mighty one of Jacob I will not enter my house or go to bed I will not allow sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my eyelids till I find a place for the Lord a dwelling for the mighty one of Jacob we heard it in Ephraim and we came upon it in the fields of Jair let's let us go to his dwelling place let us worship at his footstool arise Oh Lord and come to your resting place you and the ark of your might verse 9 and may your priest be clothed with righteousness may your saint sing for joy for the sake of David your servant do not reject your anointed one Verse 11, And the Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke one of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statues I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever. Verse 13, for the Lord has chosen Zion and he has desired it for his dwelling. This is my resting place forever and ever, and I will sit enthroned. I have desired it and I will bless her with abundant provisions. Her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will sing forever with joy. Verse 17, Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp, guidance, approval, authority for my anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent. Crown, precious one, means victory, approval, and authority. David, he says in verse 17, And here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp, which is guidance and approval and authority for my anointed one. But the crown on his head will be resplendent, meaning victory and approval and authority. Even in the book of Acts, Apostle Paul spoke of this in Acts 13, 26. Don't you love it when we tie the Word of God together? It's like serving a meal. We bring a little here and a little there and put it together and it's delicious. Hallelujah. Acts 13, 26. Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation, verse 27, for those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which were read every Sabbath, fulfilled by these condemning him, though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. Verse 29. And when they had satisfied all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in the tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, verse 33, this he has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus. And also it's written in the second psalm. Thou art my son, and today I have begotten thee. And as far as the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in this way. I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David. Therefore, he says also in another psalm, Thou wilt not let thy holy ones see corruption. Verse 36. from by the law of Moses beware therefore lest there come upon you what is said of the prophets behold you scoffers and wonder and perish for I do a deed a transaction or doing in your days a deed you will never believe if one declares it to you this message of the deed or the transaction that took place is the declaration of the gospel message of Jesus Christ for every ear that we'll hear. And it's saying that sinners must repent and accept their Savior, Jesus Christ, and come into the royal family of God. And these royal members of the family of God are a part of a true anointed church which come out of the seed of David. And they are not those who just do a bi-weekly, out-of-duty, going to church, which could be their social time. But they are those who truly discern good from evil, that which is false and counterfeit, or said in another way, that discern the holy from the profane. And these true believers are united in oneness with Christ Jesus, their King. This is called obedience and love. And this vital union is saying that we are actually one with Christ by living experience, precious ones. Yes, living experience. Let's look please in Romans 6.1 to see what Paul says about this. Romans 6.1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not. Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him. We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Verse 5. And since we've been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. and since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. And we are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. He died once to defeat sin and now he lives for the glory of God. Verse 11. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Verse 12, do not let sin control the way you live and do not give in to its lustful desires and do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you've been given new life and use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. Verse 14, sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. Giving yourself in complete oneness. This means your mouth, your heart, your soul, your whole being. it is not saying give a part of yourself and reserve a part of yourself or for somebody else jesus is saying i want all of your heart and your soul your mind i want all of you and that's what paul was speaking in the scripture give yourself in verse 13 give yourselves completely to god since you've been given a new life. Jesus wants all of our hearts, our souls, our spirits, our minds. Jesus wants to be king of our lives. And he's saying, let me reign and let me rule in your heart, which is my garden. Let me make it beautiful. You see, you and I have tried all of our lives until we came to Christ, and maybe some still do to reign and rule over their own lives. And, you know, we come to see we've made a mess of it. And the Scripture tells us give yourselves completely to God since you been given a new life in Christ To give yourselves completely means entirely exclusively wholly totally absolutely To give yourselves completely means thoroughly, unconditionally, with full measure, and painstakingly. Ah, that means there's some effort exerted there in our parts, doesn't it? Painstakingly. the terms for this divine covenant relationship is as i said agreement in union or oneness with christ and his acceptance by grace to come into this place the royal family of god is divine relationship and fellowship with the king of kings Jesus is your King and you are welcome as a royal subject into his kingdom so am I and this beautiful relationship is demonstrated by love and oneness in agreement or vital union and you actually live of this by living experience. Yes, living experience. There's a wonderful testimony of an account of a man many years back. This man's name was Christmas Evans. And I just say this, that he gave the testimony of this covenant promise, which we speak of. It's Just an awesome testimony of a man whose struggle brought him back to Christ. He didn't give all at first. The man's name, as I said, was Christmas Evans. And the testimony is called Covenant Comfort. Christmas Evans, after being greatly tried and tested because of his state and place of backsliding, was led into a new and personal covenant with God. And he declares, the joy which followed cannot be uttered in words. True joy. After reuniting this covenant with my God and Lord, he says, which is saying that he had broken covenant with God. He says, I felt such great calmness and peace. I had the feeling of a poor man who would just come under the protection of the royal family. And he says, I felt like I was truly a poor man, a beggar who had obtained a pension for life. And the dreadful poverty I felt after I left his house, the royal family seemed like it would be forever and ever. And this awful feeling was now no longer a part of him because he says after his renewal of the covenant with his king, he quotes, I felt the safety and shelter which little chickens feel coming under the protection of the hen's wings. It also sounds like the story that we read in the New Testament, the prodigal son. You see this beautiful reunion or renewal of that broken covenant with the king of kings. This beautiful mystery of union is depicted in the fact that Christ loved his church and gave himself for her. And just as a king would protect his kingdom, how much more would the king of kings, Emmanuel, who is God with us, who spoke the very words into existence and all that's in it, how much more would he protect us? let us the church of jesus christ the royal family of god arise to the place of understanding and reality to be awakened to the fact that the king we serve and bow our hearts to is a real and living king in our midst amen let us learn to bow our knees to our living and loving king Jesus the King is alive Jesus is alive and we the church should arise to her place in preparation of taking her place seated next to him on his throne and it's time we the living Church of God understand who we are in him he's no ordinary king. No ordinary king. He gave his life for his church and he's well thought of by his heavenly father. This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. He is the most ancient king, precious church, and he is the richest and the most gracious, loving, and affectionate of kings. He alone is qualified and he has his father's approval to manage his kingdom. He rules his kingdom with equity and fairness. And his kingly commands to his people are all and only for their own good. All that he is, we are to become and inherit as well. we will inherit these beautiful promises by enduring the painful trials which we will go through while we walk out our Christian life on this earth. In the very cross of Christ, all the tribulations and calamities which we too are called to endure for his namesake are counted as good matters by his followers. They're considered good for us. You, as his royal subject, have no pride or arrogance in your place or position in his kingdom. And you know that this place of standing is inward and mostly unknown to those around you. This place evidences itself by the kind words you speak or by the good deeds you do because they come from your heart of love and not by dead works mentality. This is the church of Jesus Christ demonstrating the love of their king because they live in a place of communion with their Lord. and just as Song of Songs speaks, My Beloved is Mine and I am His. Union. Divine union and communion with Him. This is the church of Jesus, the King, who tries to be all to men that Christ was, the earthy vessel of His Spirit, the instrument of the mind of Christ. And these are the faithful and the fearless followers of her king proclaiming the words of the Lord. Yes, the faithful and fearless followers of her king proclaiming the word of the Lord to those around. and it's at this place and point that I wish to pause and share with you the story that comes out of voice of the martyrs magazine touch my heart deeply about a pastor in Vietnam whose name is Pastor Jay and a fearless follower a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ who was imprisoned in 1979 for eight months for illegal gospel training of workers it was considered illegal but not to the followers the fearless followers of Jesus Christ and he was told the gospel was not from God but man and was accused of being a spy and throughout this time they kept him in a small two foot by four foot cage with ankle chains and handcuffs that were attached behind his back with one arm behind his head and the other at his hip. Many times during interrogation sessions, he was beaten over every part of his body. On one occasion, he was hit in the face with the rifle butt, breaking some of his teeth. However, Pastor Jay never lost his joy or his faith. He always believed God had given him a ministry and he would one day release him and he did not know when but he knew that god would release him and during this time the lord gave pastor j a very strong vision on the ceiling of his cell and he said it was like seeing a movie a large red cross was appearing on the ceiling and he felt no fear only comfort and knew this was of the lord and he believed the lord said to him If you want to follow me, carry your cross and follow me. And after the beatings, he thought he