We shall count all of our tribulations as joy when we stand in that day and are able to minister life and healing to the nations of the earth. Let us bear the fruit of righteousness and eternal life with patience. We are being made trees of life by the fact that the Tree of Life, Christ, has been formed in us and is dwelling in us.

Rulership—the ability to enforce one's will.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:6-8)

All the creation has been placed under the rulership of man. Christ is the first "man" to appear on the earth. Christ possesses all authority and all power over the works of God's hands. It is Christ's desire that each of His younger brothers sit in the throne with Him.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)

The power to govern, the power of the royal priesthood, is that of endless incorruptible life.

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)

One of the main purposes of the two thousand years of the Church Age is the development of the rulers of the ages to come. If we suffer we will govern with Him, the Scripture teaches us. Why must each ruler suffer? Why are those who sit on the right and left hand of Christ in His Kingdom required to drink the cup of suffering?

The reason is, suffering teaches us obedience just as it taught Christ obedience. Each of God's rulers must be sternly obedient to the Father under every conceivable provocation. They must cry out, "Not my will but Thine be done" no matter what pain they are enduring. Only then can the Father be certain there will be no more rebellions in His creation.

God has provided each disciple of the Lord Jesus with a personal cross. He must carry that cross patiently throughout his discipleship. It is the cross that slays the adamic nature. It is from the cross of deferral of fulfillment of desire, of intense thirst, that the incorruptible resurrection Life of Christ arises. It is that Life that will govern the world throughout the endless ages to come.

If you are destined to rule you will suffer. Stay in your prison of unfulfilled desire. Remain patient when you are forced to do things you despise. If you break out of God's prison by breaking God's laws you will lose your crown of righteousness and life. God will have no rulers who cannot be trusted to obey Him in every situation.

To be continued.