Page 137 - The Christian Life and the Church Life_Government of God

The Recovery of the Church as the Israel of God 136

In God’s New Testament Economy, Our Having Been Made Both the
Sons of God and the Israel of God

In God’s New Testament economy, we have been made both the sons of
God and the Israel of God.

Our Being Sons of God, Members of God’s Family, for His Expression
We are sons of God, members of God’s family, for His expression. This
is the function of the son. Christ Himself is God’s Son. The Father is hidden,
and the Son expresses Him. This matches the word “image” in Genesis 1;
representation follows expression. According to Romans 8:29, we are sons
being transformed who will be conformed to the image of God’s Son. He will be
the Firstborn among many brothers. But we do not stop at half of Genesis 1:26.
Our Being Kings-To-Be, Those Destined to Be Kings;
Kingship Being Related to the Israel of God
We are kings-to-be, those destined to be kings; kingship is related to the
Israel of God. We are kings-to-be but not kings yet. I am not “King Kangas”.
We are young princes. We are not on the throne like in England. I do not
know if Prince Charles will ever be a king. His mother is in her late 90’s,
and she is not going to resign as far as we know. Eventually, will William
be a king? But they are princes. Let us realize we are kings-to-be. Do not go
back home strutting about and say, “I am a king.” You do that one time and
you will get some special training from God, governmentally. No. You are a
young prince, you are a king-to-be.
We are kings-to-be destined to be kings. Kingship is related to the Israel of
God – that is our destiny. If we, by the Lord’s mercy, and our faithfulness, are
counted as overcomers before the Lord, then we will have the kingship. Now
we are princes; we are kings-to-be. But as kings-to-be corporately, we can
be the Israel of God, executing God’s government. This thought just warms
my heart, “Lord, you would have hundreds, even thousands of churches on
the earth in absolute oneness and harmony; all the churches executing the
government of God. You will be able finally to do on the earth whatever You
will. Lord I want to live to see this.”

If the Lord arranges, and it is His will, that I return to be with you one
year from now, I am full of hope, and full of trust in Christ in you, I believe
this year will be one of the best years in your Christian life and church life.