Royalty

                                                                                                                                        

Aloha Dearest Family,

Much has been said and reported regarding Britain's royal family. Endless articles, television programs and specials have been dedicated to these people. American society has been enamored with the royal family for years. From Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate Middleton to their new baby. Even prince Harry gets lots of publicity wherever he goes and whatever he does.

All of which leads me to ask — "What if one day you discovered that you were royalty?" What if you discovered that you were a prince or princess of a distant country? What would be your response? Would you start to look upon yourself a little differently? If I found this out I would first start some serious research into my homeland and what my family ties were to the kingdom. I would try to find out about my specific rights and privileges as well as what my responsibilities were. My life would change forever! Or is this all a fairy tale?

The truth of the matter is, we ARE royalty. When we confessed Christ as our Lord we became "sons of the Living

God",

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God,..." (I John 3:1 and 2a) 

We are "forever" heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). This makes you "royal". As a child of God you have certain God-given rights and privileges that every Christion should know and that no man can take away.

1) You are made forever righteous. You can stand in the very presence of God without any sense of fear, condemnation or shortcomings because God has made you righteous. (II Corinthians 5:21)

2) You have been justified. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, you have been made just (a wiping clean of all iniquity and sin — as if you had never sinned). You have a clean slate and are brought into a right standing with God. (Romans 5:1)

3) You have unlimited access to God. You are able to daily walk and talk with God and ask for anything you need, and He will supply it. (Ephesians 3:12)

4) You have the same power and authority that Jesus Christ had. Though some may disagree with this statement, the Bible is very clear on this. To carry out the work that God has called us to do, God has given us this power and authority so that we will be able to bring men and women to Christ. (John 14:12)

5) God has endued us with holy spirit. God has placed His spirit inside each of us so that we may have continue fellowship with our Heavenly Father and that we may bring the impossible to pass. (Romans 8:14)

This is a very small list of some of our rights and privileges that are ours today because we are royal children of God. God has given these to us, not because we were so great or deserving. But because Jesus Christ was. God now wants us to "reign" in this life (Romans 5:17).

As royalty, we are citizens of heaven itself, 

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3:20) 

Most of the time in the Bible, the word "conversation" means manner or conduct of one's life. But not here. In this verse the word "conversation" means "citizenship". We are literally "citizens of heaven". This is our true homeland. There is an old hymn that states, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." These words are true. The world that we live in is not ours. We belong to a better one that we will see when Christ returns.

This being said, we need to look at II Corinthians 5:20, 

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 

Just as a prince or a princess is an ambassador of their kingdom, we are ambassadors of our kingdom. We are citizens of heaven and we are made to be heaven's representatives on earth. In this verse the phrase "in Christ's stead" literally means "in the place of Christ". Jesus Christ was the ultimate ambassador for God when he was upon earth. Now we are. The only question is, are we good ambassadors or poor ambassadors. You may ask, "What do I do to be a good ambassador?" We do just as Jesus Christ did. We tell others about the greatness of the King. The words you speak can bring other children to the kingdom, and make them royal too.

Of course, you are free not to speak about the kingdom or the King. The choice is up to you. Winston Churchill once said "Freedom is not the right to do anything you want to do. It is the opportunity to do what you ought to do." Remember, you are bought with a price. The highest price anyone has ever paid. The life of Jesus Christ was the cost. We owe God to do what He has asked us to do. Let us rise up and take up our responsibilities as children of the royal household and citizens of heaven.

Love Always, Prince Ray