DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE A PRIEST?

“Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel “(Exodus 19:5, 6)

Believers in Christ are peculiar people. The Bible says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Your redemption in Christ did not only qualify you to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the light, but it has also repositioned you to stand in the priestly office, representing God’s interest on the earth. The Bible says: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5, 6)

Believers in this New Testament dispensation are spiritual Israel. In other words, just as God set apart the children of Israel and used them to showcase his glory and power among the nations, God wants to use the believers of this age to express his power among the heathen (Psalm 2:8)

If you’re a child of God in Christ, you have a combination of the anointing for Priestley and kingly operations. You must not be ignorant of this truth. As a priest, you have the responsibility of offering a daily acceptable sacrifice of praise and worship to God, both for yourself and for the people. The Bible says: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:5)

Besides, you also have the priestly role of making intercession for nations so that all may come to the knowledge of the truth. The Bible says: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). In other words, as a priest, you’re responsible for what goes on in your environment. You’re to take charge of the spiritual space of your vicinity.

Also, as a priest, you’re to reconcile men to God through prayer and personal witnessing to the saving power of Jesus. That’s a crucial ministry of priests. The word says: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor.2:18)

Now, you’re also a king. And as a king you’re to exercise kingdom dominion over your environment. You’re to subdue your environment and fill it with the glory of heaven. That was your original mandate. The Bible says in Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that crepes upon the earth”

That was what man lost in the garden and that was exactly what Jesus came to restore. The word says: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:12-13).

Now, as kings and priest, you must be careful how you conduct yourself. You cannot afford to talk, dress and eat anyhow. You must live a life worthy of respect. The word says: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12)

As you sojourn on this part of eternity, conduct yourself with the consciousness that you’re a priest and king and play your role where necessary.