THE MAKING OF KINGS……….

Rev 5:9-10
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take
the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have
REDEEMED us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and
tongue and people and nation,
AND HAVE MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD; AND
WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.” (NKJ)
The scripture above is announcing the definite and deliberate
emergence of royalty and enthronement in the affairs of life. The
earth is our jurisdiction or area of influence as we see in Ps
115:16 - The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S; but the
earth He has given to the children of men.(NKJ) We have been
given stewardship over the earth and it is for that reason that
Jesus commanded us to occupy until He comes (Lk.19:13 - KJV).
As priests, we are to serve in a spiritual capacity but as Kings,
our sway and scope is in the natural affairs of this life. The Latin
word for a priest is Pontifex which means a bridge-builder. The
priest is the person who builds a bridge between man and God. To
do that, he must know both man and God. He must be able to
speak to God for men and to speak to men for God. This is purely
a spiritual service. But as Kings, our province is the earth and its
operations. God is out to release the believer into the fullness of
his redemptive package. Redemption is an all round, complete
work of grace. It touches spirit, soul and body. Though our spirits
have been regenerated, God wants us to renew our minds to the
end that our bodies will embrace divine life. In line with divinity,
we are to reign in this life through the application of heavenly
principles. The following scripture will shed light on this;
Reigning in life
Rom 5:17
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through
that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s
abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness
REIGN IN LIFE through the one man, Jesus Christ. (NIV)
It is crucial to remember that Christ and the Word are
synonymous (Jn. 1:14, Rev. 19:13). If we are to reign in life
through Christ, it simply indicates that our royalty will only be
expressed to the level that we grasp principles from the word of
God and apply them in the affairs of life. This is not an automatic
process; there is a making we are to undergo if we are to be Kings
and Priests unto our God and if we shall reign on the earth. Friend,
until you begin to reign and have dominion in the area, sphere or
domain where God has placed you, then you are operating way
below the expectations of God. The world should be looking at
us to learn how to operate successfully.
Jesus likened the believer to a city set on a hill (Mt. 5:14),
insinuating that the world was to look up on the church. He
actually said that we were the light of the world. The believer is
meant to command attention and to be an attraction to his
generation. We are also meant to be the salt of the earth (Mt.
5:13). This means that we have been created to give taste
(understanding) to our contemporaries and thereby preserve it
from rottenness and putrefaction.

An evil under the sun

Inspite of such clear revelation of who we are to be, the scriptures
point out some deplorable conditions among princes in the
following verse;
Ec. 10:5 -7
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun........I have
seen servants upon horses, and PRINCES WALKING AS
SERVANTS UPON THE EARTH. (KJV)
God uses the word “evil” to describe the state in which the
redeemed individual is NOT manifesting his true colors on the
face of the earth. Any under performance in life’s affairs, is
diabolical in the eyes of God. It is an abuse to redemption and a
mockery to the work of grace. By virtue of where we come from,
failure is as grave as blasphemy. We must not disappoint our
creator, whose image we bear.

Made in God’s image

Gen 1:26-27
And God said, Let us make man in OUR IMAGE.....So God
created man IN HIS OWN IMAGE, in the IMAGE of God created
he him; male and female created he them.(KJV)
Since the potential of a thing is related to its source, God expects
those who have His nature to operate as He does because the law
of Genesis states that everything produces after its kind. If we are
from God, then we should respond to life’s affairs as He does.
Who you are is related to where you came from. You have a rich
spiritual heritage and you must manifest it on the earth. It is for
this reason that Jesus made the following prayer - Jn. 17:14-18 - ...
they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not
that thou shouldest take them out of the world.... They are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world....As thou hast sent me
into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (KJV)
For the Messiah Himself to have prayed this prayer, he knew what
we are made of. The only way to release our inherent ability is on
the earth as we represent the kingdom from which we hail.
All things are composed of whatever they came from and hence
contain the potential of that source. Time has come for us to
release the dormant ability and untapped capability that resides
within us. When God looks at you, He sees things that everybody
else ignores. Eleanor Roosevelt echoed this same truth when she
said - No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

A major essential in the unveiling of our royalty is to DIG DEEP
into God’s word (heart) and FIND OUT what it takes to make
Kings. We must avoid what brings ruin and embrace what brings
dominion. Though Ec. 10:16-17 is not all there is in scripture as
concerns Kingship, it is a crucial text when it comes to what to
avoid and what to embrace. Take time and study it and you will
pick out nuggets that will eternally bless you.
Ec. 10:16-17
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes
eat in the morning!
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles,
and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for
drunkenness! (KJV)

I. Deal with “childishness”

Ec. 10:16
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a CHILD....(KJV)
In our text we see that woes (calamity, affliction, distress, sorrow
and trouble), come upon a domain when its ruler is a CHILD. What
does this mean?
When scripture uses the symbolism of children, it speaks of the
following things, as we see in Paul’s writings;
a. Instability
Eph 4:14
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..(KJV)
Here we see that Children are unstable, erratic, inconsistent and
vacillating. They are also gullible and vulnerable. These are
dangerous words more so when they are used to describe people
who are meant to be in authority. Many believers can be rightfully
described as children; and it is not surprising that their domains
are under woes. Are you guilty of any of this? If so, then you
cannot be an authority in the area of calling or gifting that God
has assigned to you.
b. Immaturity
Gal 4:1-3
What Iam saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no
different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
He is SUBJECT to guardians and trustees until the time set by
his father.
So also, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WE WERE IN SLAVERY
UNDER THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD. (NIV)
To be Immature is to subject to any earthly or carnal force that
asserts itself in our lives. It is the inability to say no or to take a
stand against appetites, impulses, drives, cravings, longings and
pressures. Childishness is a relative of immaturity. To be childish
is when one behaves way below his age and status thus being
impulsive, spoilt and ill-mannered. It is actually to be soft, easy-
going, indulgent, permissive and spineless. This is what it means
to be soft in the head and “wet behind the ears”.
When a “King” is childish, trouble is not far. For him to be subject
to mood swings, tempers, personal hang-ups etc., is contrary to
his job description which we see in the word - Jer 23:5.... a King
who will reign WISELY and do what is JUST and RIGHT in the land.
(NIV) It is impossible to reign wisely in our respective fields when
we have not overcome personal hang-ups. Justice and
righteousness are virtues that begin within us before they flow to
the domain.
Time is one of the cures of immaturity. Many of the thing that we
hold on to dearly simply evaporate with the passing of time and
the attachment is cut. The other cure of immaturity is the
chastisement of God - Heb. 12:7-15. God usually employs this
approach when there is little time.
c. lack of understanding
I Cor 14:20
Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in
malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
(NKJ)
For a ruler to be described as a child, it means that he has title
without entitlement. This is a perfect description of many
believers. They have no grasp or understanding of who they are,
why they are, what they should be doing in this world. They have
no clue to their purpose or potential. A lack of understanding is
their undoing. They are just a bunch of lazy people who do not
want to work and be productive, yet are waiting to go to heaven.
Heaven is a place of overcomers and not undergoers.
Daniel 9:2 shows us one crucial source of understanding, namely
BOOKS. Acts 8:31 also points out specific PEOPLE as sources of
understanding. Jn 16:13 highlights the office of the HOLYSPIRIT
and one of His functions is to teach, instruct and give clarity. In
the pursuit of our Kingly duties we cannot ignore these three
sources of understanding.

II. Deal with indiscipline

Ec. 10:16-17
Woe to thee, O land, when thy ...PRINCES EAT IN THE
MORNING!
Some people seem to succeed at everything they try. They have
successful careers; they relate well to their families; they may be
involved in major corporate or communal ventures; they are
active and vibrant- they are even physically fit. A study into their
lives will reveal one major quality - Discipline. By contrast, other
people have an embarrassing string of setbacks, failures and
disasters. If they were to be honest with you and themselves,
they would give you a catalogue of undisciplined lifestyles with
time, money, friends etc. Discipline is one of the most important
character qualities one can possess because it plays a crucial role
in developing every area of our lives. Bill hybels, the pastor of
Willow Creek Community Church, defines Discipline in two words -
Delayed gratification. He seems to agree with Scott Peck who has
this to say about delayed gratification, “Delaying gratification is a
process of scheduling the “pains” and “pleasures” of life in such a
way as to enhance the pleasures by meeting and experiencing
the pains first and getting over with them.” He adds, “It is the
only decent way to live.” and I couldn’t agree more. Most
believers seem to have this in reverse. They want the pleasure
(heaven) without having gone through any training (“pains”).
Jesus went through delayed gratification - Heb 12:2 - Let us fix
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for
the joy set before him ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS
SHAME, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NIV).
The crown (Pleasure) always comes after the cross (Pain)

III. Understand Nobility

Ec. 10:17
Blessed art thou, O land, WHEN THY KING IS THE SON OF
NOBLES....(KJV)
NOBILITY can be defined as Dignity, eminence, excellence,
grandeur, greatness, illustriousness, magnificence, majesty,
stateliness, superiority, honour, integrity, uprightness, virtuous.
Daniel is one of the best examples we have in the bible of a noble
man - Dan. 6:2-3 - And over these presidents; of whom Daniel
was first: that the princes might give account unto them, and the
King should have no damage. Then THIS DANIEL WAS PREFERRED
ABOVE the presidents and princes, because AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT
was in him.
Our King’s business is suffering damage because we have no
nobility or excellence in our dealings. To be excellent means to be
better, to beat, to go beyond, surpass, be master of and
dominate. From Daniel’s life we learn that preferment or
promotion is a product of excellence. Many desire promotions but
few are ready to pay it’s price. Daniel’s promotion was not an
accident; it was as a result of excellence.
In Acts 17:10-12, we find Golden nuggets hidden in the pages of
scripture as concern the pathway into NOBILITY. It is evident that
we have placements when it comes to Nobility because Acts
17:11 mentions that the Bereans were “more noble than” the
Thessalonians. It is a virtue that can be measured in terms of
output and performance.
The name BEREA means to pierce through and to go beyond. This
simply speaks of thoroughness and emphasis.
In view of the above revelation, nobility is a product of
Thoroughness. We should be intense and consumed in all we do.
Kings should be meticulous, scrupulous and exhaustive.
“Bereans” will always pierce through and go beyond. They are
finishers. This calls for hard work.
What are the principles the Bereans operated that saw them more
dignified and distinguished than their contemporaries?
a. Receptivity
Acts 17:11
These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they RECEIVED the word......
Receptivity speaks of our ATTITUDE. It shows our teach-ability
level. Our text reveals that receptivity will determine our status or
rank in the kingdom. When Mary the mother of Jesus, exhibited
receptivity by saying, “Be it unto me according to your word”, her
status in the kingdom was immediately elevated. Receptivity in
the kingdom always precedes elevation. In Mt. 13, we have the
parable of the sower. The emphasis of this illustration is the good
ground or noble heart. The first quality of the good ground is that
it RECEIVES the seed. (Every success in life is founded on a right
attitude). The seed is the Word of God (Lk. 8:11). After the Word
is HEARD and UNDERSTOOD, the good ground begins to bear
fruit. (Hearing and understanding are components of receptivity).
The interesting thing to note is that in the same Good ground, we
have varying degrees of productivity - thirty, sixty and hundred-
fold. Why is this so? Since RECEPTIVITY is the parent of
PRODUCTIVITY, the varying degrees of productivity are functions
of the varying levels of receptivity - despite it being the good
ground. Good ground therefore, does not automatically guarantee
an hundred fold increase. Look at Jn. 1:12 - “But as many as
received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of
God”. The power to become, therefore, only stems from the
principle of receptivity. For one to become anything promised in
the Word, he must first operate the law of receptivity which is
expressed in hearing and understanding.
b. Intensity
Acts 17:11
“....... with ALL readiness of mind...”
This is a journey that will take ALL you have. It is not for the weak
hearted. It involves concentration and passion. It calls for a fixed,
engrossed and fully absorbed heart and mind. One must be totally
lost in the Word. This kind of fervency is the only thing that will
yield the Berean kind of results. In Num. 21:18 healing from the
snake bite only came to him that “looketh” on the brazen serpent.
No one was to receive healing except on this condition. All the
promises of God are hooked to the same condition. ‘Looking’ here
means, to be occupied and influenced with what we are looking
at. That is intensity. We can see intensity in Abraham’s life when
he refused to consider his own body which was now dead, and
waxed strong in faith by looking unto the promises of God.
c. Diligence
Acts 17:11
“.... with all readiness of mind and SEARCHED the scriptures.
Crisis produce hunger which provokes a search and this in turn
will always yield revelation. The revelation received from the
search brings realisation which finally propels a revolution. A
searching spirit emits out of intensity. Search involves checking,
examination, exploration, and investigation. Pr. 22:29 - Seest thou
a man DILIGENT in his business? he shall not stand before mean
(obscure) men. Diligence separates the committed from the
crowd. It requires a persistent, fixed heart. That’s why intensity
comes before diligence. If one is not consumed and passionately
involved after God, then there is no atmosphere for diligence.
d. Focus
Acts 17:11
“........ with all readiness of mind, and searched THE
SCRIPTURES daily.
The Bereans received THE WORD and not human philosophies,
ideologies or reasonings. Their focus was on THE SCRIPTURES.
Wrong focus is a destroyer of destinies. In Jn. 5:39 Jesus advised
that we should search the scriptures (diligence and focus
combined). The Bereans were focused people..
When the distraction of serving tables almost robbed the early
church in Acts 6, a resolution was made that should be repeated
in this our day. Acts 6:2-4 - “.... it is not reason that we should
leave THE WORD OF GOD,(OUR FOCUS) and serves tables...... But
we will GIVE ourselves (INTENSITY) CONTINUALLY (CONSTANCY) to
prayer, and to the ministry of THE WORD (FOCUS). (* Ps. the
emphasis is mine).
e. Constancy
Acts 17:11
...... with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures
DAILY.
Nobility is only attained when approached as a lifestyle. This is
not a place of pop calls. It is a day to day, hour by hour walk with
God. We are in the age of instant things-instant coffee, instant
tea, instant machines etc. With this ‘instant-ism’, the church is
loosing out on the principle of constancy. Preachers have come up
with instant messages which have three points and a poem. As
ministers, we do not minister to people out of what we know, but
out of who we are. The word we read must be made flesh, only
then can we become the living epistles of Christ. This can only
happen if we have a DAILY walk with the Lord.
Relationship, fellowship and communion are the essence of today.
Therefore we need to be fervent in season and out of season.
Christianity is not the performance of an hour; it is the outflow of
a lifestyle. It is meant to be a consistent life.
Constancy is a mark of maturity. That is why Jesus is the same
yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).
Constancy produces trust and trust will always give you access to
the truest treasures of God.
f. Proving
Acts. 17:11
“..... and searched the scriptures daily, WHETHER those things
were so.”
According to I Cor. 2:15, the spiritual man judges all things. He is
a man of discernment and sensitivity. Though not going into the
extremes of criticism, he is a man who tries all things. II Thess.
5:21 gives us the commands - PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that
which is good. It is only after proving, discerning and trying all
things that the spiritual man will know what is good and thus what
to hold on to. The apostle of love, John, cautions in 1 John 4:1 that
we should try each spirit whether it be of God. The reason for this
is given in that we have many false prophets that are gone out
into the world. May we be people given to the Holy Spirit; then
this sensitivity, gentleness and discernment will be ours.
g. honour
Acts 17:12
“Therefore, many of them believed; also of HONOURABLE
women... and .. men....”
When these six principles were in place, many people were
attracted and they believed. Such people are referred to as
honorable. Honor is a product of the sequenced principles that the
Bereans put into place-Receptivity, Intensity, Diligence, Focus,
Constancy and Proving. Honor represents high standing, glory and
dignity. The Principles of nobility will automatically birth honor. I
Sam. 2:30 gives this staggering declaration from God: “those who
honor me I will honor, and they who despise me shall be lightly
esteemed”. Honor stems from our love and fear for God. These
will always create a desire and a focus on Him.

V. Grasp the timing and purpose

Ec. 10:17
Blessed art thou, O land, WHEN THY PRINCES EAT IN DUE
SEASON, FOR STRENGTH, AND NOT FOR DRUNKENNESS! (KJV)
The phrase “due season” speaks about time. Certain activities can
only be scheduled at certain times and a leader should know this.
A leader should have discernment and insight into time and
seasons. Time and seasons go hand in hand with purposes and
intentions. Have a reason for all you do. Let your life be always
pregnant with objectives, aims and goals. Avoid aimless, empty
and roaming individuals.

VI. Embody Mercy and Truth

 Pr. 20:28
MERCY and TRUTH preserve the king: and his throne is
upholden by mercy. (KJV)
A King who has no compassion, benevolence, leniency coupled
with genuineness, integrity, uprightness and proven principle, will
not last long. These are the virtues that PRESERVE and UPHOLD a
domain. They ensure longevity. We should not allow ourselves to
be corrupted by the ways and operations of the world.

NATURALLY SPEAKING....
In the natural, a King cannot be made without the following
disciplines - Education, Culture, Economics, Religion and Politics,
of which we can only examine a few;
* EDUCATION - this relates to intellectual (Professional and
Academic) schooling of a leader. Beyond Education, we have
wisdom. Wisdom is the applied knowledge or the experience
earned from the practical employ of education. Meaningful
Education is that which helps us to know ourselves, our world and
how best we can deal with life. The way in which we experience
and interpret the world obviously depends very much indeed on
the kind of IDEAS that fill our minds. Education is the transmission
of ideas which enable man to choose between one thing and the
other. It puts meaning into life and creates identity. All this is done
through ideas and concepts. Weak, small, superficial, and
incoherent ideas and concepts will make life appear insipid,
uninteresting, petty and chaotic.
When we talk of Education we mean something more than mere
training, or a simple knowledge of facts. Education speaks of
ideas that make the world and our own lives, intelligible to us.
When a thing is intelligible one has a sense of participation. They
are not lost. When a thing is unintelligible, you have a sense of
estrangement. Estrangement breeds loneliness and despair.
Education should be a tool-box of ideas with which, by which,
through which, we experience and interpret the world. Education
comes in ideologies, theologies, psychologies and philosophies.
The issue here is to influence the world through Kingdom policy,
philosophy and ideology made practical and relevant to the
society. Such policies should be able to solve problems, correct
misunderstandings and give instruction.
* CULTURE - Culture relates to the social schooling of a leader. A
leader has to know the background, customs, habits, lifestyles
and way of life of the people in the field in which God has
assigned him. He has to understand trends, cycles and behavior.
If you are going to understand anyone, you need to know
something about his parents, his heritage and ancestry and the
home he comes from. No wonder the bible is full of histories and
genealogies. To be able to create change and have impact one
has to be versed with the social orientation of his field. It is in this
aspect that that the church has miserably failed. Moses could
deliver Israel out of Egypt because he perfectly understood the
Egyptian system having once been in the same “limitation” (Ps.
Egypt means limitation) Paul was so effective in fighting against
distortions of the gospel because he had once been a fanatical
Pharisee. In essence, the broken become experts in mending.
Many Christians just chant and rave about heaven and thus the
society can never relate to them because they have never been
there. People will never identify with our cause if we cannot relate
to their personalities. One key ingredient of a priest, who we are,
is fellow-feeling, which we see in the following verses;
Heb 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been TEMPTED IN
EVERY WAY, JUST AS WE ARE— yet was without sin. (NIV)
Heb 2:14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too SHARED IN THEIR
HUMANITY.....For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s
descendants.
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in EVERY WAY,
in order that he might become a MERCIFUL and FAITHFUL high
priest.....Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is
able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV)
* ECONOMICS - A King must be in touch with the Economics of
his area of influence or he is just a sham. Please look at the
following extract from Financial management and policy by James
c. van Horne;
Each year Fortune magazine polls thousands of business people
and asks them to rate companies according to key attributes.
These are;
* Quality of products or services,
* Innovativeness,
* Ability to attract, develop, and keep talented people,
* Financial soundness,
* Community and Environmental responsibility,
* Quality of management,
* Use of Corporate assets, and,
* The long-term investment value.
This is what Economics is all about. To say the least, Christians are
miles away from such concepts, not mentioning the language. If
we are going to be Kings ON THE EARTH, then we MUST pay
attention to these disciplines. God has given us CALLINGS and
GIFTINGS - (Rom 11:29 - For the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable - NKJ) - which will usher us into our royalty and sphere
of influence. In these two categories, we must excel. If you have
not received any call, find your gift and begin to maximize your
life. You are a king in the making!!