Lesson 7: Train Now to Help Christ Rule
Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth as King of the Kingdom of God to save humanity from destroying ourselves. How will the rebellious and traumatized citizens of this world become the peaceful subjects of God's Kingdom? Who will help serve and teach the people? What does the Bible say about the citizens of the Kingdom of God?
Simon was a rough fisherman—brave, audacious and zealous. His life goals
surely didn't include becoming a fancy preacher or a high-and-mighty king.
But when he heard Jesus' message, he was convinced that this was the real
thing. This was a true and powerful message from God.
So when Jesus asked him to leave his fishing nets behind and become
one of His "fishers of men," Simon could not refuse.
What followed was a remarkable time of training and transformation. Day after
day he walked the dusty roads with Jesus, hearing His parables and teachings.
He watched Jesus' service to others and was sent out to practice serving others
too. He felt the joy of Jesus' praise and the sting of His corrections. All
these things were helping shape and mold the clay that would become the powerful
apostle Peter. And those same experiences were training him for the job Jesus
promised him in the Kingdom of God: to be king of one of the tribes of Israel
(Luke 22:29-30)!
Jesus gave two final commands to Peter: "Feed My sheep" and "Follow Me" (John
21:17, 19). The New Testament record is of a man who did both of those
things throughout the rest of his life.
The incredible thing is, the training program
God used for Peter is also available to us through the Bible and living
the Christian life today. Peter's last recorded words to Christ's sheep
were the encouragement for us to also follow the same training program: "Grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory
both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).
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Christ's Loyal Subjects
In 6,000 years of recorded history, there have been few times of real
justice, happiness and peace between people. And there have been even
fewer times when people truly respected and obeyed their Creator God.
Living the way of "get" described in the last lesson has led humanity
to this downward spiral, threatening our very existence.
As we have seen in the last two lessons, things will change! Jesus Christ
will take over as King. His laws will become the constitution of that
coming Kingdom of God. But these two elements are not enough. The citizens
themselves must change. The transformation of rebellious humanity into
the peaceful subjects of the Kingdom of God is a fascinating story. It's
a story that can begin today—with you!
What will people's predominant attitudes and actions be in the
last days before Jesus Christ's second coming?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong,
haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form
of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can
know it?
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Romans 3:10-18
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none
who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned
aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does
good, no, not one." "Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues
they have practiced deceit"; "the poison of asps is under their lips";
"whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift
to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way
of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before
their eyes."
Because the selfish way of "get" will so thoroughly fill the world, people
will not even realize that thinking and doing what "seems right" to them
is actually producing the problems of the world. They will want peace
but will live in ways that make peace impossible.
What will the state of the world's people be when Christ returns?
Matthew 24:21
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the
beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 9:20-21
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not
repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons,
and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither
see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His
army.
Human rebellion will bring the worst time of trouble the world has ever
seen. It will be worse than the Inquisition, the pogroms, the genocides
or the Holocaust. Yet even through the plagues and troubles, people will
refuse to repent, and nations will even try to fight Christ at His return!
But at the end of it all, the remnant of humanity still alive will be
ready to surrender, and they will be in great need of healing in body,
mind and spirit.
Who will Christ rule?
Daniel 7:14
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples,
nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall
not be destroyed.
Jeremiah 16:19
O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction,
the Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, "Surely
our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness and unprofitable things."
Jeremiah 31:34
No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother,
saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least
of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their
iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
All people will finally come to know that all human ways and traditions
are worthless. Eventually each person will be able to learn God's way
and have a personal relationship with God.
Who will help Christ teach and rule the people?
Daniel 7:18
"But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."
Jesus Christ will have His people assist Him in ruling, teaching and
caring for all people. All the faithful people called by God and set apart
by the gift of God's Spirit are known as saints (Romans 1:7; 5:5).
What specific jobs in the Kingdom of God are mentioned in the
Bible?
Jeremiah 30:9
But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I
will raise up for them.
Ezekiel 37:24-25
"David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have
one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes,
and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to
Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there,
they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My
servant David shall be their prince forever."
Matthew 19:28
So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration,
when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed
Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
David and the 12 apostles' responsibilities in the Kingdom of God are
specifically stated.
What other jobs should we be preparing to help with in the Kingdom
of God?
Isaiah 30:20-21
And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of
affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind
you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn
to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
Luke 19:15-19
"And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom,
he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to
be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by
trading. Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned
ten minas.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you
were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And
the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.'
Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'"
The Bible lists future responsibilities such as teaching people God's
ways and serving them as rulers over cities. God's people have the challenge
to train now for those future responsibilities.
How do we prepare to serve in God's Kingdom?
2 Peter 3:18
...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Revelation 3:21
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also
overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Mark 10:42-45
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that
those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not
be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall
be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave
of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."
To be able to teach and help others to live God's way in the future,
we must learn and practice His ways now. To help others overcome sin and
transform their lives, we must overcome sin and transform our lives. To
serve Jesus and others effectively in the future, we must learn to serve
them now. Our booklet Transforming
Your Life: The Process of Conversion has much more on this subject.
Jesus Christ will bring a way of peace and real joy that will spread
to all people around the world. He wants us now to be training to help
Him in that most wonderful work. Now is the time to accept that challenge!
Apply Now
In Lesson 6 we looked at God's command for Israelite kings to write out
a copy of God's laws and to read them regularly (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
Writing down scriptures can help emphasize what we are studying. And rereading
and thinking deeply about God's words can help us keep the right perspective.
Last time we asked you to write out the first four commandments.
Today, take the time to write down the last six of the Ten Commandments
from Exodus 20:12-17. These six commandments deal with our relationships
with other people and help explain how to "love your neighbor as yourself"
(Matthew 22:39).
After writing down these six commandments, take time to reread them and
to think about how to apply them every day this week. You will find a
chapter about each of these commandments in the booklet The
Ten Commandments, which you will find very helpful in your further
study of this subject.
Next Lesson: The Earth: Real Utopia Is Coming!
Questions about this lesson? Feedback about
this lesson?
Related Resources:
Transforming Your
Life: The Process of Conversion
What
Is True Leadership?
What's
the Key to Real Leadership?
God's
Family: The Reason You Were Born
Life
in God's Family from What
Is Your Destiny?
