The concept of the present Christian life as an "apprenticeship" or preparation for the Millennium is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but there are biblical principles that support the idea that the way Christians live now prepares them for roles and responsibilities in the future Kingdom, including the Millennium. Here’s how this concept can be understood:
1. Training for Reigning:
Revelation 20:4-6 (KJV): "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." This passage describes believers reigning with Christ during the Millennium. The idea is that the faithful life Christians live now is preparing them for their roles in this future reign.
Luke 19:17 (KJV): "And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." In the Parable of the Ten Minas, Jesus teaches that faithfulness in small responsibilities now leads to greater responsibilities in His Kingdom. This suggests that our current life is a preparation or apprenticeship for future leadership.
2. Sanctification and Growth:
Romans 8:29 (KJV): "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." The process of sanctification—becoming more like Christ—is part of preparing Christians for their future role in His Kingdom.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV): "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." This verse speaks to the ongoing work of God in the believer’s life, shaping them for future purposes, possibly including their roles in the Millennium.
3. Learning Obedience and Faithfulness:
Hebrews 12:10-11 (KJV): "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." The discipline and trials Christians experience now are seen as training in righteousness, which can be viewed as preparation for future service.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (KJV): "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" This passage implies that Christians are in training now for their future role in judgment during the Kingdom age.
4. Stewardship and Responsibility:
1 Peter 4:10 (KJV): "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." The idea of stewardship—faithfully managing what God has given—prepares Christians for greater responsibilities in the Millennium.
2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV): "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." This verse connects current suffering and perseverance with the promise of reigning with Christ, indicating that present faithfulness is a preparation for future rule.
The present Christian life can indeed be seen as an apprenticeship for the Millennium, where believers are being prepared for future responsibilities and reign with Christ. The concept is supported by various Scriptures that highlight the connection between faithfulness, growth, and preparation in this age, with the roles Christians will have in the age to come. This apprenticeship involves learning obedience, stewardship, and growing in Christlikeness, all of which will be crucial in the Millennium.
Preparing to reign with Christ during the Millennium involves investing in things that have eternal significance and align with God’s Kingdom values. Here are some priorities and important actions Christians can take now to prepare for their future role:
1. Spiritual Growth and Sanctification:
Pursue Holiness: Growth in personal holiness is vital. As Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Spiritual maturity and sanctification prepare believers to fulfill their roles in God’s Kingdom.
Transforming Character: Romans 12:2 (KJV) exhorts, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Investing in spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and fasting helps believers become more like Christ, ready to serve in the Millennium.
2. Faithful Stewardship:
Using Gifts and Talents: In Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents teaches the importance of using the gifts and resources God has given. Faithfulness in small responsibilities now is preparation for greater responsibilities later. 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV) also encourages, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
Managing Resources Wisely: Jesus also spoke about storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21, KJV). Investing time, money, and energy in things that have eternal value, like supporting ministries, helping the needy, and spreading the Gospel, aligns with Kingdom priorities.
3. Building and Investing in Relationships:
Discipleship and Evangelism: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV) commands believers to make disciples. Investing in the spiritual growth of others through discipleship, teaching, and evangelism is directly tied to the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
Loving Others: Jesus emphasized the greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-40, KJV). Cultivating love, forgiveness, and compassion in relationships reflects Kingdom values and prepares believers for their future roles.
4. Perseverance in Trials:
Enduring Hardships: 2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV) states, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." Trials and suffering can be seen as training grounds for reigning with Christ. James 1:12 (KJV) reinforces this by saying, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life."
Building Faith and Trust: Persevering through trials builds character, hope, and faith (Romans 5:3-5, KJV), which are essential qualities for those who will rule with Christ.
5. Engaging in Kingdom Work:
Service and Ministry: Engaging in acts of service, whether within the church or in the broader community, is a way of participating in God’s Kingdom now. Matthew 25:40 (KJV) emphasizes the importance of serving others: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Spreading the Gospel: Mark 16:15 (KJV) commands, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Evangelism and missions are critical investments in the future Kingdom.
6. Cultivating Humility and Servant Leadership:
Learning Servant Leadership: Jesus taught that those who desire to be great must be servants (Mark 10:43-45, KJV). Developing a heart of humility and service is crucial preparation for leadership in God’s Kingdom.
Faithfulness in Small Things: Luke 16:10 (KJV) says, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." Faithfulness in small, seemingly insignificant tasks demonstrates readiness for greater responsibilities in the Millennium.
7. Living with an Eternal Perspective:
Setting Your Mind on Eternal Things: Colossians 3:2 (KJV) advises, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Living with an eternal perspective shapes priorities and decisions, ensuring that investments are made in what truly matters in the long run.
Anticipating Christ’s Return: 2 Peter 3:11-12 (KJV) challenges believers to live holy and godly lives in anticipation of Christ’s return. This urgency impacts how believers invest their time and resources now.
The most important investments for the Millennium involve growing in Christlikeness, faithfully stewarding God’s gifts, building relationships that reflect Kingdom values, enduring trials with perseverance, engaging in service and ministry, cultivating humility, and maintaining an eternal perspective. These priorities align with God's purpose and prepare believers to reign with Christ in His future Kingdom.
Journey to Christlikeness
The journey to Christlikeness involves commitment and dedication to cultivating a relationship with the Father, bringing the message of the Kingdom, and fulfilling God’s mission. This exegesis explores the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as the ultimate model for believers to emulate.
1. Life of Prayer and Fasting
Jesus’ life was marked by prayer and fasting, which enabled Him to live an uncompromised life, conquer temptations, and walk in the authority of the Spirit.
Morning Watch: Uncompromised Lifestyle
Jesus prioritized early morning prayer as part of His spiritual discipline. Mark 1:35 says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” This consistent communion with the Father anchored His unwavering obedience to God’s will.
Fasting: Life of a Conqueror
Jesus fasted for forty days and nights to prepare for His ministry. In Matthew 4:2-4, He overcame the devil’s temptations, demonstrating that fasting strengthens spiritual resolve: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Through fasting, He conquered the flesh and revealed the power of dependence on God.
Fasting not only prepared Jesus for ministry but also empowered Him to overcome the temptations of Satan. It signifies a deliberate act of humility and dependence on God. Believers today can use fasting as a means to break spiritual strongholds, increase sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and align themselves with God’s purposes.
Lord’s Prayer: Way of a Warrior
Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer as a model for spiritual warfare and dependence on God (Matthew 6:9-13). This prayer aligns believers with God’s Kingdom, will, and power, equipping them to live victoriously: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
The Lord’s Prayer encapsulates the priorities of a Christ-centered life: reverence for God, submission to His will, reliance on His provision, and victory over evil. It serves as both a model and a weapon in spiritual warfare, reminding believers of their dependency on God and their role in advancing His Kingdom.
2. What He Sees and Hears from the Father, He Implements
Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the Father, speaking and acting only as directed by Him.
His Words Are Not His: He Is the Living Word
Jesus proclaimed that His words were given by the Father. John 12:49-50 says, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” As the Living Word (John 1:14), Jesus embodies God’s truth and speaks life.
Jesus’ declaration that His words originated from the Father underscores His role as the divine communicator of God’s will. As the Living Word, He invites believers to immerse themselves in Scripture, which reveals God’s truth and transforms lives.
He Operates by Revelation: The Realm of the Supernatural
Jesus’ ministry was marked by revelation from the Father. John 5:19 states, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” His supernatural works, such as healing and deliverance, flowed from divine insight.
Jesus’ reliance on revelation from the Father allowed Him to operate in the supernatural realm. His ability to discern the Father’s will and act upon it encourages believers to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their own lives, stepping out in faith to experience God’s power.
His Works: Proof of His Identity
Jesus’ miracles were evidence of His divine identity and mission. Acts 10:38 highlights His works: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” His deeds validated His claims and fulfilled God’s promises.
The miracles of Jesus not only affirmed His divine identity but also revealed God’s compassion and authority over creation. They challenge believers to reflect His heart by engaging in acts of kindness, healing, and deliverance through the power of the Holy Spirit.
His Mission: Redemption of Mankind
Jesus’ mission centered on redeeming humanity. Luke 19:10 declares, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He also came to destroy the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8) and establish God’s Kingdom (Matthew 4:17).
Jesus’ mission reflects God’s ultimate plan to reconcile humanity to Himself. This mission motivates believers to share the gospel, stand against the works of darkness, and proclaim the hope found in Christ. His life exemplifies the selflessness required to advance the Kingdom of God.
3. He Selected and Developed Disciples
Jesus intentionally trained and mentored disciples to continue His work.
His Method
Jesus’ method of disciple-making was relational and intentional. Mark 3:14 says, “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.” He prioritized being with His disciples, teaching them by example.
Jesus’ relational approach to disciple-making emphasizes the value of investing time in others. By living alongside His disciples, He imparted not only knowledge but also character. This method serves as a model for mentoring and spiritual growth within the church.
His Teachings
Jesus’ teachings focused on the Kingdom of God and practical application. Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount) provides foundational principles for righteous living, emphasizing love, humility, and faith.
The teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, provide timeless principles for living a life that honors God. Believers are called to study and apply these teachings, allowing them to transform their hearts and guide their actions.
His Dependence on the Father
Jesus’ dependence on the Father was evident in every aspect of His ministry. John 8:28 affirms this: “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” This dependence modeled total surrender to God’s will.
Jesus’ absolute dependence on the Father illustrates the necessity of abiding in God’s presence. This dependence fosters humility and trust, enabling believers to carry out their calling with confidence in God’s provision and guidance.
His Example
Jesus lived as the perfect example for His disciples, demonstrating servanthood, compassion, and sacrifice. John 13:15 says, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” His life inspires believers to emulate His character.
By living a life of servanthood and sacrifice, Jesus set the ultimate example of what it means to lead and love. His actions challenge believers to adopt a mindset of humility and prioritize the needs of others.
His Commission
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commissioned His disciples to continue His work. Matthew 28:19-20 commands, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” This Great Commission calls all believers to make disciples and advance God’s Kingdom.
The Great Commission encapsulates Jesus’ mandate to make disciples of all nations. This mission remains the responsibility of every believer, calling for active participation in evangelism, teaching, and nurturing new followers of Christ.
Conclusion
The journey to Christlikeness involves imitating Jesus’ commitment to prayer, fasting, obedience to the Father, and making disciples. As believers follow His example, they grow in their relationship with God and fulfill their purpose in advancing His Kingdom on earth. Jesus’ life provides a blueprint for living a victorious, Spirit-led life, bringing glory to the Father and transforming the world.
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