In the spiritual realm, there is a hierarchical structure that exists, and there are
rankings and positions which are designated for God’s sons and daughters. These
rankings are not positions based on merit, which some have suggested but are
based solely on these sons and daughters recognizing who they are in Christ and
standing in that role.
These are high ranking positions, for they are all about
bringing the spiritual Kingdom to earth and establishing dominion over the
earth and its resources.
Each believer (son or daughter of the King) has a part
to play in the divine drama unfolding before us.
Paul’s admonition to us is to
walk holy, keep in mind that holiness is not piousness, holiness is uniqueness
and specialness. God is calling us to this type of holiness, which is
uniqueness and specialness separate from the world. God says, “Be holy as I am
holy.”
Paul is saying that with this holiness, operate your daily life from a
position of awareness that others are watching you, and they need to see what
the Father is doing in your life that they may be drawn to you.
He also speaks
of high ranking position, that rank is as a family member, we are of the
household of God, which means we have a loving Father who also sees us.
The
Father has appointed us as guardians and caretakers of His creation; our role
is an important one which is necessary to bring closure to this present era of
law, death and destruction, and usher in the new era of grace, life, and
restoration.
The divine call we have all been given is to be ambassadors of this new Kingdom, a kingdom that is eagerly desiring to be revealed.
“For all of creation is waiting, yearning for the time
when the children of God will be revealed.” Romans 8:19 (VOICE)
So Paul tells us to have “tender humility and quiet patience” with people we encounter, that is the draw for
others as well as the demonstration of how a child of God behaves.
We are not to
sweat and to labor to stand in this position of authority, the victory over
sin, and the devil has already been accomplished through Christ. We are to
stand in that victory and to declare what this Kingdom looks like and to speak
it into existence.
“Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every
purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (TPT)
Always “demonstrate
gentleness and generous love toward one another,” these are the earmarks of a child of God.
Some
have said that in the Kingdom, we are warriors who fight against the forces of
darkness, Paul does not mention that here, In fact, the battle plan he lays out
is Godly character or virtue. We stand in the righteousness of Christ and
demonstrate love toward one another.
It is always a controversial position
because it seems passive, but in actuality, it is an offensive posture. We are
not defending the Kingdom for the battle has already been won, besides Jesus is
God and doesn’t need us to defend Him.
Our offensive stance is that of love, declaring the victory and standing in absolute confidence in what we already
have in Christ. We respond to what happens to us and put into motion our position
of life to make things happen to create opportunities for love and to intervene in
every situation.
Paul makes one last mention of loving “especially those who why try your patience,” Paul had many detractors. Still, he never let
those people become his enemies; he took every opportunity to demonstrate the
love of Christ to those who opposed him.
He also wrote this letter from prison,
which being falsely accused, and being a Roman citizen was wrongly imprisoned,
but Paul did not use that defense to free him from prison this time.
Paul took
every opportunity to share Christ within the prison walls and with the prison
curator and to dictate letters which were transcribed by Luke.
Paul’s patience was
tried to the limit every day he served the Lord Jesus, but he did not complain
or go against what he believed was our greatest weapon of all, which is the
love of Christ.
May we domonstrate Christ's love in all things during our day.
May we domonstrate Christ's love in all things during our day.
Be Blessed;
Stephen Barnett
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