APOSTLES - STILL NECESSARY OR OBSOLETE

Eph 4:11-14  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; "

I will preface this message by citing incidences referring to Apostles in the New Testament

2 Cor 12:12 -signs and wonders and mighty deeds attest to a genuine Apostolic call

Gal 1:19 James the Lords brother was an Apostle, however, he was not part of the original 12

Phil 2:25 Epaphroditus was an apostle to the Philippian church

Rev2:2 It seems that there was a trend of people fraudulently claiming they were called to be Apostles, however, the Ephesian church could test and disprove such. By inference, it means they could prove those who were called indeed.

Acts 14:14 Barnabas was also separated as an Apostle by the Elders of the church.

1 Thess 2:6 Silvanus and Timothy are addressed as Apostles even though the previous stringent criteria of having seen the Lord is not evidenced to have been fulfilled.

Rom 16:7 Andronicus and Lucia are counted as being of note among the Apostles even though their credentials of having walked with the Lord or having gone through any special requirements are not stated (Not that such a system for sanctification was not there for we see in Acts 6 a strict spiritual and moral test for Deacons)

The apostles were by nature “Sent Ones” or “Messengers”. The Office of the Apostle was revered; however, it was not exclusive to the original 12 nor the later revised 12. From studying the scriptures, we realize that even early on, more people gained the title of Apostle. We can set this as a precedent for the coming Bible times in the New Church age whose practice was to heed the voice of God in “sending people out”. We need to be careful when we do our hermeneutics of the context of a verse and not make it the one thing that makes this office exclusive without considering the dynamics of the bigger Church experience in those days eg. Eph 2:20 There are instances which refer to the original 11 Apostles, which became 12 again, but the instances which refer to them should not be read as an exclusion of the other Apostles from the Office and neither is it relegation to mere “messengers” also. The same with Prophets, we do not have any indication from scripture that that Office will cease after the initial Church Age. In fact, Paul goes to great lengths to encourage people not to forbid prophecy. Acts 13 doesn’t even elaborate on who the Prophets were and what their role was in the Church at that time, but it was no secret that they were there and that they held that Office, again, because each office has accompanying signs. I find it interesting though that it seems that the “5 fold” ministry gifts did not isolate themselves, but were found working together for the good of the body. So there was no denomination which was just Prophetic, or Apostolic, or Evangelistic, or Pastoral.

-Eph 4 makes it clear that Jesus set some in “the Church”. That is a definite article representing the institution which was and still is in existence. For men to then endeavour to reason through without scriptural precedent as to the abolition of any of the set offices in scripture is very dangerous. It is not entirely true that an Apostle must carry a unique authoritative message. It is true, however, that an Apostle is foundational in his disposition, and hence will propagate foundational issues with attendant confirmatory signs (Acts 4:33). As an example, we find that there were many Apostles in scripture who don’t have a book in the NT authored by them. They all carried a message that was revealed already either by Christ Himself on earth or through the post-ascension manifestations. Paul is unique in that for him he was chiefly called to Gentiles, but this same inclusive revelation was given to Peter through a vision (Acts 10). 

We can also see that the Gospel has always been a “new authoritative message” requiring men to propagate it. However, the way in which the individual moved it i.e. the signs of his ministration indicated where in the “five-fold” he was graced to stand. The Apostles are always mentioned first and I am convinced by scripture, that this unique ministry carries signs from every other major office (2 Tim 4:5). Timothy as an Apostle had to also watch that he also fulfilled the Evangelistic call on his life in order to make “full proof” of his ministry. I once blogged about a challenge within the body, which Paul also addressed in 1 Cor 12, where different members do not see value in what the other members are called to do. 

This can be observed when you see ministries where the Senior Pastors or Bishop or President has a teaching gift, and he doesn’t see why there should be a prophetic gift in the Church or worse he makes it his duty to discredit anything that is not plain teaching. We also see it where the leader(s) have a strong Evangelistic office, in such cases they cannot see why people should be taught anything else other than Jesus and His saving grace. And they are quick to cite 1 Cor 2 where Paul determined to know nothing save Christ and Him crucified. Forgetting that the same Paul did know more than that. He knew about family, about prosperity, he knew about church leadership, about beneficial behaviour, dealing with stress, handling complex societal divides etc and he taught all these in a godly way consistent with the gospel and its provisions. So then we see conflict arise, Pastors want everyone to be soft spoken and understanding, teachers want everyone to be a master of didactics and homiletics, Prophets want everyone to see the way they do, Apostles want to be everything including your local politician because of their governmental unction. 

“The Church”, because it is perpetually in multiple stages of growth, cannot afford to do away with any of these giftings. This because in our midst churches still need to be planted and new territories conquered (APOSTLES), governments and Christians still need prophetic voices to declare the way of the Lord and bring correction in times of error and to guide the body into the unfolding purpose of God(PROPHETS), cities need to be evangelized, to hear the heart of God for a dying and lost generation (EVANGELIST), the won need to be embraced, initiated, grounded and loved (PASTORS) and finally the grounded and founded need to grow into maturity and leave the milk and handle meat of the kingdom (Heb6) so that they don’t wander around in the wilderness of doctrinal darkness (Col 3:16) and they grow into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ and walk in the fullness of their God-given inheritance in Christ.

Yours in His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

JESUS IN THE LEAD....

Mat_26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (KJV)

Mat 17:16-17  I have brought him to your disciples, and they have not been able to cure him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" replied Jesus; "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him to me." (WNT)

The call to lead a godly people is inevitably intertwined with a responsibility to always be a step ahead in intimacy with God. One cannot "discipline" or instill a discipline which he himself does not have. This is not to say that leaders should be perfect, however, it is to say that leadership sets the pace and leads the course. Jesus never said I am the weakest/most confused/least spiritually aware/most unworthy/most carnal among you..no, in fact he could teach and fashion characters for his own was worth emulating. His command of spiritual things was then later taught to His disciples, whom we also see displaying amazing feats in the book of ACTS.

If we look at the Jesus model, it is replete with examples of a man who was, in reality, spiritually astute. A man who desired to impart his know-how and see his followers practice it themselves. He did not have a blanket approach to his followers, however He understood that at the end he would need as many of them as possible. He was a man who understood that He had a limited amount of time and a formidable amount of work to accomplish. Thus his priority was to teach, impart and depart, leaving behind a competent set of people to carry on (John 14:12) We see Jesus using a segmented form of leadership, which ultimately started with Him as the Chief in charge of training. I would imagine that in His interaction with them He knew their weaknesses and in seeing their destiny paths He could train each of them adequately to become the champions of the faith that they were meant to be. He prayed with them (at different levels, with differing levels of access to the mission).

He also demonstrated the way in which they should treat people eg. He fed and cared for those that followed them and listened to His teachings (Mark 6) He demonstrated the way they should deal with demonic attacks (Matt 17:17) He demonstrated the way they should pray (Matt 6) and many other areas of their lives. He was loving and yet strong in rebuke of error. He was welcoming and yet unequivocal. His mandate was clear...people were lost and He was there to save them!(Luke 19:10)

In a world where there is a crisis of leadership in the Christian circles, we need, now more than ever, to have "Jesus model" leaders. It is the kind of leadership that will drive the market out of the Church and pray in the will of God! It is disheartening to see people lower their expectations from leaders in the present day. We seem to be slowly but surely accepting the statements that define our leaders as "only human" and "just like us". Frankly, this is exactly what the enemy wants. A poor leadership will consistently disappoint its follower-ship, thereby driving their expectation down, which perpetuates an even poorer leadership and the result is a Church in crisis. 

We trust in the grace of God, and in the restoring power of God, however we expect the transforming power of God to change our leaders for the better. After all, James says those who teach will have a harsher judgement. For they ought to teach not out of what they know, but what they live (James 3:1). And Paul gives a template for Bishops and Deacons which can be very tricky to preach for many of today's "Bishops".(Scripture quoted in full at the end..)

We then who are sheep, look to the Word and the true master of our souls Jesus to keep raising godly leaders in the house. Those that can truly stand "blameless" and perpetuate a standard that will convict the world and shine the light of Jesus into men's hearts. Every kingdom stands on the quality of it's leaders, and every leader stands on the quality of the knowledge he received. If we lose the templates of the "Jesus model", we have lost the greatest leadership lessons ever taught. We cannot let it happen on our watch. This is my prayer, and it should be the prayer of every one who desires to be discipled in the ways of the kingdom. A RESTORATION OF MEN WHO DEMONSTRATE AND TEACH THE KINGDOM IN ALL ITS GLORY.

1Ti 3:1-13  "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Yours in His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

The Way_The Truth_and The Life

Joh 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"

There can only be ONE truth. There is ONE way, and there is only ONE life worth having. Jesus is THE way, not a way, He isn't trying to be one of the ways, He is THE truth, not a version of it, not a parallel with the other truths, he embodies all that is true, and finally He is THE life, there is no greater form of life, there is no life more potent, no life to substitute Him and no life form that can overwhelm or subjugate His life.

Jesus Alone! For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell (Col 1v19). He came that we may desist from all the other endeavors that men was engaged in in pursuit of salvation. For indeed there was a glory even in the Law given to Moses on the mountain, but even that Law couldn't compare to the glory that was embodied by Christ (2 Cor 3 v 11 - 18) For the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus (John 1 v17). In that the disciple uses "but" he is attempting to separate the work of the Mosaic Law from the dispensation that Christ brought in. This one that we live in is a New Covenant between God and man, one in which our hope now is built on nothing less than Christ alone. All our study of the Old Testament (OT) is fruitless if we do not see the face of Christ and all that he espoused. All lessons we draw should be consistent with that one truth that is Christ, and promote that one life, and lead us in that one way.

Paul makes a radical statement in addressing the Galatians who were being persuaded to get circumcised, he tells them that Christ doesn't profit them if they attempt to add any other observances as part of their salvation (Gal 5v2). Our transformation is by looking at Him, nothing else! He is the revelation of God's ultimate plan for man, for he was sacrificed "once for all", that all who would come by Him would in no wise be cast away.

There are those who have added their own qualifications for salvation and pleasing God. In their pursuit of these extra qualifications they have found a humanly reason to boast. You hear words like "we have kept this and observed that, hence we will see God". But like Paul said to the Ephesians, our salvation is found in appropriating grace through faith, and that not of ourselves lest we should boast (Eph 2 v 8). This grace didn't come by law neither by any work of the law can it be found. All that we see in the OT is a shadow, pointing at Christ. After the reality has come there is no longer need that one chases after the shadows and the types (Col 2 v 17).

There is no greater prize than to know Him as He is revealed to us in the NT, to see the very substance of what the prophets longed to see. To see Him walk and radically shift the pharisaic interpretations which had the form of godliness but denied the very essence of God and that essence is love. To see Him take up the sick and cleanse them, and then make bold statements to say that those that merely believed on Him would do the same and greater would they do...and that in this life! It boggles the mortal mind to imagine such compassion as Jesus demonstrated, such mercy, such principle. It is that ONE man who Himself pleased God till He was given the name above every name. The ONLY name by which men may be saved. 

Act 4:10 "be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom *you* crucified, but whom *God* has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health" This is that life that causes the paralytics to walk and be in perfect health. WNT

Amazing how the exercise of authority in the name of Jesus left this man perfectly healthy. Not a prayer, not a vigil and candles lit in Jesus' name, not even a week of pleading and hoping. But that is a story for another time. I trust that this Christmas shall be a time when you choose the only way, realize the only truth and partake of the only Life worth having.

Yours in His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Be sober, be vigilent!

Dan_10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  

2Co_4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

In this article I have chosen to bring a gentle reminder to the bretheren, to those that have accepted Christ, a reminder that there is truly a world which is invisible to the naked eye. In this world where there are so many voices crying out to be heard, and so much media to carry them, we are not best served by spiritual blindness and deafness. Indeed the "perilous" last days are upon us and the enemy is moving his agenda with greater zest. It is with this in mind that I bring to remembrance the passages of scripture above. Fights were taking place in the realm of the spirit, fights for territory and fights against Godly agendas.

I was speaking to a young man who is very dear to me about the subject of "worldly" or secular music. I then realized as I spoke to him that we seem to be slowly growing oblivious to the general direction that this world is taking. As Peter put it, "sobriety" is slowly being lost as we fill ourselves drunk on the world's delicacies (1 Pet 5v8). Of course, like the studious person he was, he had been gathering opinions from other bretheren about the same topic, and he now wanted to get a wholistic view to inform his own. It came as no surprise that he had been told by others that there was no problem with taking in this worldly music. The biggest challenge I have seen with our generation of Christians is that the "want" to be entertained has replaced the "need" to be informed and the need to grow to maturity. This is why systematic doctrine is not a favored stance by many.

Now because the belief system is sponsored by the enemy, it is a spiritual and not just a mental fight that you enter into when dealing with these systems. Of all the voices being propagated, the Humanistic voice is the loudest and that is my main focus in this article...this is the self-centered world view. It's about me, my belief, my opinion, my benefits, my sexuality, my preferences, even my destiny. Now back to the music...lol. I find it interesting that a man would want to hold on to something that he "can" live without, which does not glorify God, and in some cases utterly goes against the very character of God, and after that say that "God doesn't mind" or "His grace is sufficient so I don't need to change". I would ask like Paul and say 'shall we continue in unrighteousness because grace hath abounded?' God forbid!

To ask a person what his soteriology is, and what their eschatological views are is very often a futile task. "As long as I am saved" seems to be the general attitude. Unfortunately this is one of the reasons why 8 out of 10 encounters between a Muslim teenager and a Christian teenager will result in a confused Christian teenager. It is simply that the Muslim is taught systematically through their belief structures and beyond that they are taught how to apologetically break down other belief systems, including and especially Christianity and Judaism. This is a very alarming trend if we are to think generationally into what will be of Christianity after we leave. Allow me to state categorically that any belief system that does not espouse the Gospel message of Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, is not of God and hence is sponsored and propagated by the enemy himself. 

2Co_11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

I will ask some questions in conclusion; What is the message of this song? How does it help me in my walk with God? If not, what is the spirit behind the message? Who is sponsoring it? Can I live without this? If not, why not? Can I find a godly substitute? A transformed life is something that we work on as Christians, God saved us in order for us to live with Him daily and for Him daily. There are standards and patterns embedded and peddled by this music that will militate against God's plan for your life.

Rom 12:2  Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. 

Let us not forget that the "pleasures" of this world come at a price. I will reiterate that there is a spiritual world to deal with as a Christian. Paul calls it a wrestling match and some of us have been pinned down and we don't understand why we can't move in worship like we would like, why we can't pray as we would like, why we can't break out of fear like we want, why we keep falling into sexual sin, or why we are constantly depressed. It is time that we as Christians awoke to the times we are living in, like Issachar's sons we need to be aware of what to do, and what not to do (1 Chron 12 v 32). 

Let us disentangle ourselves from the enemy's reigns, from the songs that tie us down and weigh us down, we have a Jesus to live for and a world to show Him to. We cannot be the same as that world in this endeavor.

Yours in His Royal Service



George Mwamlowe

Champion men for a Challenging world!

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

I have chosen to write this particular blog to men. Those men who have not given up on life, those who still look into the Bible and see themselves as the pinnacle of creation. There are 5 Cs that I will share which are not the entirety but they can serve as a good framework within which to attain to the potential that God has placed in us. These are all Christ centered points by design. There is a dangerous teaching going around these days that makes it seem that God never intended for us to be on this planet. As if men should not dream of impacting their world for good. It is not the pride of life, it is the God given gene that requires significance in the realm of creation. We are not them that are chasing after riches, we are them that have been given all things. (1 Cor 3:21) And as such we need to occupy to the fullest of our potential till Christ returns.

1. Christ:   Mar_9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth". 

Christ not only gives you a clean slate, He gives you the wherewithal to accomplish seemingly impossible things. The ability to attain to that which seems outside the realm of human acumen. If you don't know Him no amount of money can make you truly successful. Everything else falls away if you can't relate to Him. For truly your end is found only in your Maker. No man can live meaningfully without Christ. For all that you do is temporal. Get to know Christ today and unlock the realm of the impossible!

2. Competence:     Mar_7:37  "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." 

After you discover what your unique giftings are, you need to give your life to Mastery. The world does not reward greatly that which has not been executed beyond expectations. Do it till your enemies cannot deny that it's good...until they become the marketers of your achievements. Do it like you are doing it for TV.lol Anything that you do halfheartedly is not worth doing at all. Determine that you will also be know for doing things well. Strive for excellence, strive for the extra on the extraordinary. 

3. Character:    Mat 21:12"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,.."

 A man's character is his compass. It defines your true North, what your boundaries are, the "four corners" of your belief system. Don't allow everything, in as much as you shouldn't always seek your own way. How do you behave amongst women, how far is too far for you? Is it settled in your heart according to God's Word or will we find people selling doves in the temple of your heart where God should reside? Character is not leaving a life without blemish, it is living a life that acknowledges and conquers ones blemishes. Character is an active driving out of all that is not consistent with the Word of God in your life. Are you struggling with worldly music?, or is it a lust for pornography?, or is it just plain being a churched "Casanova"? What defines your character is whether you have settled or are on the war path, whipping and driving these out of your life!

4. Charisma: Mat_19:14  "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

On the flip-side we have Charisma. Charisma is likability. It is the ability to sway the hearts of the masses. Your achievements are at best "ok" if they do not win the hearts of people. Don't just seek to please them, seek to genuinely win them. Jesus wasn't a modern day political baby kisser, he genuinely did the kind of things that will have people's hearts melting. Don't be arrogant, remember the wisdom from above is easy to entreat.(James3v17) So what you know, and what you can give doesn't matter if there is no one who can receive. Develop the ability to allow people into your "space".

5. Connections: Joh_15:15  "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" 

One of the most treacherous areas for men is finding people to call friends. According to Jesus any man who wishes to be successful needs to have levels of friendships. You also need to have qualifiers to friendship otherwise every jack and Jill will trample over you. A true friend has seen your tears and they have seen your struggles, and through it all they have continued with you. Get connections that can contribute to your vision, and that you can in-turn assist to realize their own dreams. Don't let distance overcome true friendships, keep them as long as they are relevant to you, and as long as they don't harm you. 

At the end of the day every man is born with the blueprint for success on their genes. To be born with the kind of understanding and intellectual capability that no other creature possesses is a gift, make use of it. Dream and dream BIG for there are no laws against dreaming gentlemen!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Restore, Reconcile, Resume the journey!

2Co 5:18  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation"

Gal 6:1  "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

These are the two scriptures that have been a major influence on my thinking and conduct as a Christian. The sooner we realize the urgency of the need to continually reconcile man to God and to reconcile brothers back to God, the sooner we will stop back biting and carrying organizational grudges. Some of the fights we fight are not our fights. They are borrowed offenses which we are stuck with for life to our own detriment. 

The picture above was chosen to show us just how we should view our Christianity.  A journey of diverse characters, personalities, people of differing strengths and weaknesses. When a brother falls, restore as quickly as you can, love on him, keep him in the fold, don't allow him to draw back for there is a reason why we left that place of sin.

Gal 6:2  "Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ." (GNB)

Imagine looking at this picture and you were a part of the great trek to a better place and you see a child fall to the side of the tracks. What would your response be at such a time? Looking honestly we would not stand by or walk on, we would be "actively" involved in bringing such an one back to their feet. For to leave them there would be tantamount to murder. And that's exactly how the Word of God puts it. He who hates his brother is a murderer. 

1Jn 3:15  "Those who hate others are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life in them." 

Let's look at these people in solidarity and picture what a powerful force Christianity would be if we simply held each others hands and kept walking. I can guarantee you that these people are not asking each other about lineage or bank balances. They are not joined by class and societal positioning. They are united by the personal struggle they had with a tough master. The promise of a better life for all. I can guarantee you that some will find home before others do. They will reach a place of peace and settle for good, but for others they will keep walking and keep together till they are all safe in their place of the "promise". 

We should make reconciliation a major focus as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If we were honest with ourselves I'm sure we all know that one family where the members seem to stick together so strongly. They create memories and their smiles beckon you to join them. They pay for each others fees, or helped each other emigrate and they are all doing well. It's a very attractive picture. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the picture that the world sees when they look at Christianity. They can see the schisms and they can see the brothers we have left behind to be fodder for the beasts of the wild. And it doesn't look good. 

Luk 15:8  "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? "

Are not our brothers more precious than that woman's lost coin? Let's try and knit ourselves together in a spirit of love and true "comradery". The denomination is no the problem, the destination, however, is. The grades at school are not the matter, the growth in Christianity, however, is. Doctrinal difference is not the matter, for we can agree to disagree and continue to love those who are truly brothers in Christ. I'm not saying incorporate the totally lost. I am, however, saying that we can love beyond our differences and truly create the kind of Christianity that Christ set out to see.

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Living in The Inheritance!

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Reading the Word of God we find that the issues of inheritance played a very pivotal role in Jewish culture, much as they do in many cultures around the world. It is no wonder then that God used this crucial issue to deal with us about his promises. The inheritance is important because it speaks of two things; i.e Relationship and Identity. You cannot inherit outside of relationship. Any inheritance will link you to a direct identity of lineage. 

Looking at Psalm 2, I find that this scripture is often misapplied by the generality especially in Charismatic circles. As the old idiom says, if you don't understand the purpose for a thing, you will inevitably abuse it. This is one of the Messianic psalms. It is Father God talking to His Son, a direct statement seen again in Matt3v17. He then promises to give the Son, "the heathen" as an inheritance and the ends of the earth as well. This is important to note because there is a reason why the Father wants this to happen and without that reason we cannot begin to understand this promise. It wasn't a promise to just ensure that Jesus gets the earth in order for him to be rich. Far from it! The Father wants the heathen back in fellowship with him. 

The Primary mission that Jesus had was to win an inheritance of souls. The central mission on the heart of God has always been to regain fellowship with men in their numbers. How are we then involved in all this? Good question. Rom8:16 and 17 makes it clear that for everyone who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit i.e born again, this person is a child of God. Herein is the 1st requirement for inheritance fulfilled.

Col_1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

It is the awesome reality for a believer that he is not just forgiven by a Sovereign and Supreme "Being" who is far away. We are recreated after the image of the 2nd Adam, into fellowship with God Almighty! Hallelujah!!(1Cor 15v45-). It is this truth that is borne witness to by the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. It doesn't stop there however...by implication being a part of those recreated after Christ means that we become candidates for the inheritance according to Rom 8:17. While many may fight to be the heir of their earthly fathers riches, it should not be so for a Christian. Our eyes are to be set on what is in store for us by virtue of divine son-ship. 

We become joint in ownership of all that was bequeathed to Christ by God Himself! What was the Chief of Christ's inheritance? It's the heathens, not money, not houses, not national influence. It was the promise of brothers! This is key to understanding the heart of God. Otherwise we become like the foolish prodigal son who spent his inheritance on riotous living. Not understanding that there is a mission field ahead we can become consumed in a worldly standard of prosperity. Just as Christ knocked on our hearts we should carry the message of hope to the heathens. We need to know that these have been promised by God Himself. That's the boldness that should garrison our hearts when we see unbelievers! We preach the gospel with boldness to those that we know God has given us already! When they come in they become co heirs with us. We will suffer the same as Christ suffered in this mission, no doubt about it. men won't understand at times, men will persecute us for our stance, they will marginalize us but we will be victorious nonetheless! For this is what God promised us.

The 2nd part of the inheritance in Ps 2 is interesting when we study it carefully. God promised the uttermost parts of the earth to Christ for a possession. This makes it abundantly clear to me that the promise to Jesus was not just for soul saving but for dominion "AS WELL". I would like to put it to you that if we can get the order of the inheritance right we will in no wise fail to realize the blessing of God in supplying for our needs. There is no glory to God for possessing the nations if the heathen therein are not won. God knows that evangelism needs money, which is why for those that are truly winning souls to the kingdom, money is there in abundance to satisfy the needs.

Act_4:34  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

If we are to alleviate poverty within the body of Christ we need to begin to have a kingdom centered focus. We need to build up ourselves as spiritual stalwarts for the kingdom, willing to lose everything for Christs glory, knowing that we can't lose after all. For to live is Christ and to die is gain. Let's get back to the right hinges for operating in godly prosperity. Lets be liberal in our alms, liberal in supporting the work of Christ, for indeed the ox will not be muzzled as it treads out the grain. Our portion is there in sufficiency.

This is just the first part of the teaching on living in the inheritance, but it is the most integral part. We will endeavor, God allowing, to look at "The name of Jesus and growing in son-ship in the coming posts for it is truly amazing the things that we are given in the New testament to equip us on the journey. But until then keep walking in the The Inheritance!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe