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The Royal Priesthood

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9

During February of my 2013 journey to read the entire Bible in one year, something I had done several times before, I read Numbers 16, the story of Korah rebelling against Moses along with two hundred and fifty Levite priests. I was stunned by Korah’s reasoning for rebellion. I thought to myself, ‘What is so great about the priesthood?’ The answer followed closely in Numbers 18:7, I give your priesthood as a gift…

A new revelation was emerging. A revelation that would change everything I ever thought about myself and the way I would minister to and interpret the whole body of Christ.

I’ve heard teachings on the priesthood, and even taught on it myself, but never really understood it. I was enlightened by what God was revealing to me. I saw that only the priest, Aaron, was to come near to God in the inner court. All other Levite priests were to minister in the outer court. Only Aaron, with the gift of the high priesthood, would be allowed in the sanctuary.

We Christ followers have been given the gift of the priesthood. Our function is to minister to God and draw near to Him with thanksgiving. Through praise and worship, the heavenly gates are opened and we move into the Holy of Holies to the mercy seat. Jesus, a priest Himself, spent time with the Father to understand His will. We, as priests, have the same opportunity.

The Original Design for the
priesthood

In Exodus 19:5-6, God told Moses to tell the Israelites to come up the mountain to receive the gift of the priesthood. In other words, they would come directly to God, rather than having an in-between person like a king or a high official. He would be their father and they would be his children, they would hear His voice and know His heart. He would shepherd His people.

The Israelites actions said, “NO. Moses you go for us to speak to God and tell us what He says.” 

God’s original plan was rejected by Israel (Exodus 19:6, Exodus 20:16-18, Deuteronomy 5:20-24). This angered God…

It should be recognized, that when Aaron, the High Priest ministered, that he carried an ephod on his chest, over his heart, also known as the breastplate. The breastplate had twelve jewels, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The high priest, Aaron, brought the offenses of the congregation and the priesthood to God. He brought his own offenses to God also. So where is he bringing them? To the mercy seat! He is crying out for forgiveness and grace over the children of Israel.

Many people are ministering and operating in the outer court and not from the Holy of Holies where God speaks. Those who seek to fulfill their own ministry, vision or plan eventually burn out and may even abandon their original calling. Jesus said, in John 15:4&5 “You must abide in me.” If we realize that our true responsibility is to independently minister to God, with the desire to be near His heart, we will fulfil His plans.

God’s original plan in Exodus 19:5 is now our gift through Jesus, His Son.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Wow! At the cross, by the power of the blood we are cleansed, sanctified and redeemed. We are changed into the body of Christ. We can now begin to fulfill God’s original plan to be a holy nation of priests, a royal priesthood and learn how to minister to God. 

With this revelation, that we are now the priests that the Lord desired from our Aaronic ancestors, my purpose changed. My number one goal and responsibility is to minister to God. I am to live a life for God at the mercy seat. I am to bring God my own offenses and the offenses of world. Jesus said, in John 5:22, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” How does Jesus judge? He says, 

I desire mercy. Matthew 9:13

Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13

Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Romans 5:20

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it.
Ezekiel 22:30

Purpose and Responsibility
of the Priest

Intercession

The priest is to bring the worst offenders and situations to God at the mercy seat. The priest is to cry out to Him to break the darkness over the cities and nations helping them toward repentance and salvation.

God delights in pouring out His love, mercy and grace. He is blessed when we involve Him and His love into every situation; it is what He wants us to do.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

The Old Testament priests were required to keep the fire going day and night. They were also required to keep the showbread fresh in the Holy place. We must also keep ourselves fresh in Jesus, The Bread of Life, and continuously burn with the fiery passion of love for God.

Sanctuary

What does the Sanctuary do? It makes everything Holy because God’s presence dwells there. Paul stated that when you give thanks over your food, you sanctify it. The thanksgiving prayer will destroy any curses, such as food being sacrificed to idols. In 2 Timothy 4&5, we see God makes everything Holy through thanksgiving and His word. As I was pondering these things, I remembered this worship song 

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, Tried and true, With thanksgiving I’ll be a living Sanctuary for You (Scruggs & Thompson, 1982)

I never really understood what I was singing. Paul’s words became clearer to me:

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16

Therefore, we are a walking sanctuary creating an atmosphere of holiness. We must realize our true identity as an end-time church, without spot or wrinkle and as a sanctuary for Jesus to come back to. I am compelled to think twice before I am tempted to sin and break the heart of the One I live to bring my love and joy to.

Intimacy

This is truly the ultimate place we can be in God, and it gets better as we go deeper.

Deep calls to deep. Psalms 42:7

As we learn to function in the gift of the priesthood, intimacy becomes increasingly obtainable. Priests are to take their place on earth as Jesus once did. We become priests under the order of Melchizadek. The deeper the intimacy we have with God, the greater the capabilities. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. We are a kingdom of priests reigning with Him. Revelations 1:6, 5:10, 20:6. 

You shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Isaiah 61:6

Each person, in his special way, contributes to the Priesthood. When we work together in unity and share our God-given talents and gifts, we can reach the goals that God has set before us. There is no great or small, all are equal in the servants’ dwelling place. It is the place darkness cannot enter. Only the lovers of God and those that humble themselves may go under the Shadow of the Most High to cry out for the redemption of others. Each person will be readied in his own time.

You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (AMP)

Understanding the Priesthood will change your life. YOUR kingdom will crumble and God’s kingdom will rise out of the ashes, never to be burned up. Our first calling is to minister to God (Ezekiel 44:15-16; Deuteronomy 18:5). If you minister to God, and operate from God’s heart, in no way can your prayers not be answered. You will be carrying out what the Lord reveals to you, just as He did with Jesus. You will develop a keen ear, a watchful eye and a sensitive spirit. Your soul will prosper like never before.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2

Our Rightful Place:
Our Role as Kings and Priests

Made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. Revelation 1:6

I did not fully understand what being a “king” meant until recently. A king has the authority to decree a new law on earth. We also have this authority. This means that we as kings can decree God’s law on earth in the name of Jesus. We are to bring in God’s word and apply it to all situations. We will take back everything that was stolen from Adam in the garden. Jesus, who is the second Adam, commanded that we are to take dominion and rule in God’s righteousness to stop the devil’s influence. It should also be noted that when a king dies, the next true king emerges out of His offspring. Jesus gave us our true inheritance through His death. When we take our rightful place as kings and priests we live whole heartedly in that truth. We can use the authority that belongs to us to advance the kingdom of God like never before. 

And they have conquered him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11 

My Testimony

I’ve been walking and living in this Holy priesthood for three years now. I’d never seen so many prayers quickly answered and so much of the supernatural move of God. We are truly operating from the kingdom of God, not out of our own strength and emotions, to fulfill His original plan.

Recently, God asked me to compile a list of the names of every world leader from every nation. I was to choose a few names and bring them daily to the mercy seat; crying out for their salvation. Imagine what could happen if the darkness over them was broken and testimonies began to unfold.

Saul’s original intent was to put an end to Christianity and to destroy all hope for believers. On the road to Damascus he met Jesus, and encountered love for the first time. He was so changed that he became St. Paul and wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. Most importantly, the church was praying the right way, ruling over Saul’s darkness and declaring a new life for Saul. 

In the old testament, when the kings were righteous the people became righteous (Proverbs 14:3; 1 Kings 15: 25-26 ). It says in Habakkuk 2:14,“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Peter said the Lord is not wanting any to perish 2Peter 3:9. This is not new information for the body of Christ. It is God’s original plan and has always been as such. It just took me over 40 years as a believer to see it. 

Now that I understand, I can easily adapt to my true identity as a priest within the Priesthood. I have found my place where I can share my gifting. Priests can be the most powerful people on the face of the earth if they operate out of God’s will. If they use their individual gifts, while working in the spirit of unity with others, they could bring in the greatest harvest the heavens have ever seen. God’s original plan for the Priesthood is the groundwork for His kingdom to come and His will to be done that none should perish on earth

Questions

You might ask, “Why didn’t Paul teach on this subject, or at least allude to it?”

It would have been confusing at that time. The new covenant was just beginning. Christianity had to mature and establish the groundwork for the Priesthood. Near the end of the New Testament God used Peter and John in Revelations to open our eyes to it (1 Peter 2:9). 

You also might ask, “Why didn’t Jesus ever mention the Priesthood specifically?”

Jesus was the high priest. He showed us by example how to minister and how to accomplish God’s will through intimacy and obedience.

My Prayer

My prayer and vision is that we all become a living sacrifice unto God (Romans 12:1&2). I pray that the revelation of God’s original plan of the Priesthood would be a help for any believer that has succumbed to the mundane. I pray that our eyes would be opened to see God’s purpose, so that we may find our calling to live out the rest of our days on earth by Your grace, mercy and love. Let us be like Paul. Help us to know how to turn weakness into strength, failure into success, fear into perfect love and doubt into great faith. Bless us as we take his journey called the Royal Priesthood. 

In closing......

What if all believers could see their true identity? What if when coming together, they came as the gathering of priests, a holy nation on earth, living out God’s original plan in love and unity.

We would be the most powerful nation on the face of the earth bringing reconciliation, deliverance and healing in the Name of Jesus to a hurting world. We would be a true bride of Christ; a church without spot or wrinkle preparing the return of Jesus, together leaving nothing for the enemy to claim!

MARANATHA........COME LORD JESUS!

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