REIGNING IN LIFE

Jack Davis

“They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” Rom. 5:17. Herein we read of the present overcoming activity of the believer in fellowship with the dependance upon our dear Lord Jesus Christ. We might also express it like this, living victoriously, being a crown winner, prevailing. There will be no prevailing without availing ourselves of an abundance of God’s grace.

 

Grace must be received, appropriated, claim, laid hold of, seized upon or grasped by faith. “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” Rom. 5:2. Oh, who can tell the full measurement, and total contents of such a room? Such a standing should produce wholehearted rejoicing from recipients of amazing grace divine.

By the new birth we are destined to reign with Christ, but our capacity for reigning then is being determined now, developed now. Marvelous development is taking place during this life by the present workings of grace. Grace works; The apostle Paul could say I am what I am by the grace of God, it was not bestowed upon me in vain. He found it sufficient to make him something special for God’s glory and so may we. I Cor. 15:10.

Paul spoke of the saints at Philippi as being partaker’s of his grace, and they were in many ways. In this series I would like to consider three aspects of reigning in life. Receiving the grace of God’s peace plan, power plant, and provision pavilion. In the grace of God’s peace plan we find incomprehensible peace whereby we are preserved. At the power plant we may receive energizing grace to persevere, and in His provision pavilion we gain exhaustless supplies to prevail.

INCOMPREHENSIBLE PEACE: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation by known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:4-7.

The grace of God’s peace plan is enjoyed by those who by faith are at peace with God – Rom. 5:1. We experience a peace that “keeps” (guards as with a garrison) our “hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This is realized when we let our requests be made known unto God with thanksgiving. God does resist the proud and give grace to the humble, that cast their care upon Him. Therefore we are challenged to come boldly to the throne of grace, and thus enjoy the comfort of his peace.

OUR ATTITUDE: In Col. 3:15 we are admonished as to what we are to do with this peace. “Let it rule” in our hearts, hence submit to divine control. “Let” expresses yieldedness, obedience. In other words we are to allow his peace act as umpire or be the ruling principle of our living. We may permit peace to decide all issues, each decision may be made in relation to that which accommodates real deep-settled peace. We are told to let God’s peace rule in our hearts, ah, there is the secret of it’s protection.

I have read that archaeologist have discovered castles and forts that have been built over or around deep springs of fountains giving important protection of this water supply which was guarded by a peace force during time of siege. A channel bringing their water supply from without could be cut off, or controlled by their enemy. But they could not stop the spring from within. In Jesus Christ, with Him within, our hearts are wonderfully supplied with an eternal peace, not as the world could give. The world’s peace? Depends on surrounding conditions, and in times of trouble such is cut off, but divine peace is also for us a personal well or spring within. Jesus said, “My peace.” He is the peace bringer, peace maker, prince of peace. His peace overcomes the anxieties and fears that would arise in our hearts and minds as we stay focused by faith on Him. Unbelief and fear of a troubled heart are related, See John 14:27.

Jesus said; “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” – John 14:1-3. Does it not give peace to our heart to know that Jesus wants us with Him? Can we believe all that He went through to prepare a place for us?

“I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me, because he trusteth in me” – Isa. 26:3. We are so prone to fear the unknown, but how comforting to know that our future is in His hands. Now it is the Holy Spirit’s place to reproduce the peace of Christ within us. He inspired Paul to write, “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” – Rom. 8:6. We are told to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” - II Cor. 10:5.

That which only Jesus can impart, is a deep settled calm. It is not a downer that can wear off or leave bad after effects. This that He gives does far more then subdue our anger, or quite our anxieties. His preace is enjoyed by faith which enables us to rise and reign, lifting us above our troubles. We are able to look beyond this earthly scene, and to being caught away to our eternal home. What will all the little daily frets and worries amount to then? How will those things actually be that seem now to loom so large and threatening? Ah, Yes, remembered then will only bring a smile.

Our peace, will be entwined with Jesus; who could be at rest and sleep in the midst of a threatening storm. We certainly face frustration, anxious moments and pass through very disturbing experiences here. They seem to grow and glow and rage. The elements against us on our course seem to multiply as we near the end of this age. The sea and waves are roaring. Yet He can still any storm, speaking to the winds and waves and say “Peace be still” Mk. 4:35-41. Oh, yes, He did it the, and does it now, even in our most troublesome times. SOON HE WILL AGAIN!! He will arise and rebuke the winds and the sea, and there will come the greatest calm the world has known since the fall of man.

The grace of God extends unto us, and provides for a perfect peace, which we cannot explain, for we do not fully understand it. Yet His peace is promised as our’s to enjoy and employ to make us victors.

Part 2 – next issue