When The King Is A Child 1: A Book Review of Bro Gbile Akanni's Message on Child-Kingship
- Who is the author? - Why is it relevant for today's Christians? H2: The Concept of Kingship in the Bible - How God established kingship in Israel - The role and responsibility of kings - The consequences of good and bad kingship H2: The Characteristics of a Child-King - How a child-king differs from a mature king - The dangers and challenges of a child-king - The signs and symptoms of a child-king H2: The Causes and Effects of Child-Kingship - How child-kingship can result from disobedience, ignorance, or immaturity - How child-kingship can affect the king, the people, and the nation - How child-kingship can hinder God's purpose and plan H2: The Cure for Child-Kingship - How God can transform a child-king into a mature king - How the king can cooperate with God's work in his life - How the people can support and pray for their king H1: Conclusion - A summary of the main points - A call to action for the readers - A recommendation for further reading Table 2: Article with HTML formatting Introduction
When The King Is A Child 1 is a book by Bro Gbile Akanni, a Nigerian preacher, author, and renowned teacher of the Word. He spreads the Christian gospel through his Living Seed fellowship in Gboko, Benue state. Gbile is also the founder of Peace House, a retreat center for ministers and leaders. He is widely known around Nigeria as a simple man with deep knowledge of the word of God and tenacity to go after souls .
When The King Is A Child 1 By Bro Gbile Akanni
The book is based on a series of messages he delivered at a ministers' conference in 1998. It addresses the issue of child-kingship, which he defines as "a situation where a man who ought to be a king is still behaving like a child" (p. 9). He uses biblical examples and illustrations to show how child-kingship can affect the destiny of individuals, families, churches, and nations. He also offers practical solutions and guidance on how to overcome child-kingship and grow into maturity as God's representatives on earth.
The book is relevant for today's Christians because it challenges us to examine our lives and leadership in light of God's standards. It exposes the root causes and effects of child-kingship, such as disobedience, ignorance, immaturity, pride, selfishness, compromise, rebellion, and idolatry. It also encourages us to seek God's grace and power to change and become mature kings who can rule with wisdom, justice, righteousness, and love.
The Concept of Kingship in the Bible
To understand what child-kingship means, we need to first understand what kingship means in the Bible. Kingship is a divine institution that God established in Israel to represent His authority and will on earth. God chose and anointed certain men to be kings over His people and gave them specific roles and responsibilities. Some of these roles and responsibilities include:
To lead the people in worshiping and obeying God
To judge the people according to God's laws
To protect the people from their enemies
To promote peace and prosperity among the people
To serve as models of godliness and holiness
Kingship is not only a privilege but also a responsibility. God expects His kings to be faithful and loyal to Him and to His people. He also holds them accountable for their actions and decisions. The consequences of good and bad kingship are evident throughout the history of Israel. When the kings obeyed God and did what was right in His sight, they enjoyed His blessing and favor. They also brought blessing and favor to their people and nation. But when the kings disobeyed God and did what was evil in His sight, they incurred His wrath and judgment. They also brought wrath and judgment to their people and nation.
The Characteristics of a Child-King
A child-king is someone who has the position and title of a king but lacks the character and maturity of a king. He is someone who is still controlled by his fleshly desires and impulses rather than by the Spirit of God. He is someone who is more concerned about his own interests and agenda than about God's interests and agenda. He is someone who is easily influenced and manipulated by others rather than by the word of God. He is someone who is unstable and inconsistent in his walk with God and in his dealings with people.
The dangers and challenges of a child-king are many. A child-king can bring dishonor and disgrace to God's name and reputation. He can also bring confusion and division among God's people. He can also bring destruction and calamity to God's work and purpose. A child-king can hinder the progress and growth of God's kingdom on earth. He can also forfeit the rewards and inheritance that God has prepared for him in heaven.
The signs and symptoms of a child-king are also many. Some of them include:
Lack of spiritual discernment and wisdom
Lack of self-control and discipline
Lack of humility and submission
Lack of love and compassion
Lack of faithfulness and integrity
Lack of vision and direction
Lack of courage and conviction
Lack of patience and perseverance
The Causes and Effects of Child-Kingship
Child-kingship can result from various factors, such as disobedience, ignorance, or immaturity. Disobedience is when a king deliberately chooses to go against God's commands and instructions. Ignorance is when a king lacks the knowledge and understanding of God's ways and plans. Immaturity is when a king fails to grow and develop in his relationship with God and in his character as a king.
Child-kingship can affect the king, the people, and the nation in various ways. Some of these ways include:
The king loses his intimacy and fellowship with God
The king loses his authority and influence over the people
The king loses his peace and joy in his heart
The people lose their respect and trust for the king
The people lose their unity and harmony among themselves
The people lose their security and prosperity in their land
The nation loses its identity and destiny as God's chosen people
The nation loses its testimony and witness to the world
Child-kingship can hinder God's purpose and plan for His people and His kingdom. God wants His kings to be mature, faithful, wise, righteous, loving, courageous, visionary, patient, etc. He wants His kings to reflect His image and glory on earth. He wants His kings to advance His cause and agenda on earth. He wants His kings to prepare His people for His coming kingdom.
The Cure for Child-Kingship
The good news is that God can transform a child-king into a mature king. He can change the heart, mind, attitude, behavior, and destiny of a child-king. He can restore the relationship, reputation, authority, influence, peace, joy, etc., of a child-king. He can do this by His grace and power through His word, His Spirit, His discipline, His mercy, etc.
However, the king must cooperate with God's work in his life. He must acknowledge his sinfulness and repent of his child-kingship. He must submit to God's lordship and obey His will. He must seek God's face and listen to His voice. He must study God's word and apply it to his life. He must depend on God's Spirit and follow His guidance. He must humble himself before God and learn from Him.
The people also have a role to play in supporting and praying for their king. They must not rebel against or criticize their king but respect and honor him as God's anointed servant. They must not follow or imitate their king's childish ways but encourage him to grow up in Christ. They must not complain or grumble about their king but intercede for him before God's throne.
Conclusion
The book is divided into four chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of child-kingship. The first chapter is titled "The King is a Child". It introduces the concept of child-kingship and explains its origin and meaning. It also gives some examples of child-kings in the Bible, such as Rehoboam, Joash, Uzziah, and Manasseh. The second chapter is titled "The Child-King and His People". It explores the relationship between the child-king and his subjects. It shows how the child-king can oppress, exploit, deceive, and mislead his people. It also shows how the people can react to the child-king, either by supporting him, opposing him, or ignoring him. The third chapter is titled "The Child-King and His God". It examines the attitude and behavior of the child-king towards God. It reveals how the child-king can rebel against God, disregard His word, resist His Spirit, and worship other gods. It also reveals how God can deal with the child-king, either by warning him, correcting him, punishing him, or restoring him. The fourth chapter is titled "The Child-King and His Destiny". It discusses the impact and outcome of child-kingship on the king's future. It warns how the child-king can lose his crown, his throne, his life, and his soul. It also encourages how the child-king can repent, change, grow, and fulfill his destiny.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book:
Q: Where can I get a copy of the book?
A: You can order the book online from Living Seed Media or Amazon. You can also watch or listen to the messages on YouTube or other platforms.
Q: Who is the target audience of the book?
A: The book is mainly written for Christian leaders and ministers who are called to be kings for God. However, it can also benefit any Christian who wants to grow in maturity and responsibility as God's representative on earth.
Q: What are some practical steps to overcome child-kingship?
A: Some practical steps to overcome child-kingship are:
Confess and repent of any sin or weakness that hinders your growth as a king
Seek God's forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus
Renew your mind with God's word and meditate on it daily
Yield to God's Spirit and follow His guidance in every situation
Seek godly mentors and counselors who can help you grow in wisdom and grace
Join a fellowship of like-minded believers who can support you in prayer and accountability
Serve God and His people with humility and love
Q: What are some benefits of overcoming child-kingship?
A: Some benefits of overcoming child-kingship are:
You will enjoy a closer and deeper relationship with God
You will experience more authority and influence as a king
You will have more peace and joy in your heart
You will bring more blessing and favor to your people and nation
You will fulfill God's purpose and plan for your life
You will receive God's rewards and inheritance in heaven
Q: What are some other books by Bro Gbile Akanni that I can read?
A: Some other books by Bro Gbile Akanni that you can read are:
The Dignity of Manhood
Becoming Like Jesus
Costly Assumptions
Timely Warning
When God Speaks
Silent Labours
See Full List Of Books By Bro Gbile Akanni
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