You Are Called To Be A Royal Priest
(1 Peter 2:9 NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
A priest is one who intercedes before God for another person, a family, a city, or a nation.
Prayer and Intercession are communicating with God, speaking to and hearing from the God who created the universe. Prayer is the front line where we do spiritual warfare, it is where we win or loose the battle. Prayer makes the difference between success or failure, power or weakness, and life or death. The most powerful and effective prayers are when we pray in the Spirit ,
that is speaking God's words through your mouth, calling forth His will upon the earth as it is in heaven. Praying in the Spirit is Spirit led prayer, it is the Holy Spirit interceding through you for people and situations on earth.
I used to believe that intercession was a ministry that some Christians were called to and other Christians were not, and that it was usually reserved for saintly older women in the church. But the Lord has been showing me that as Children of God we are all called to the ministry of the priesthood, which is to be an intercessor.
Some people teach that Christians are either kings or priest because of verses like this one. (Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV) And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, {10} And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." I believe that each Christian is both a king and a priest, a "royal priest". We need to be both because a king has authority, but a priest has access.
Our authority is given us as children of the Most High God. We are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. So that we have the authority to use the name of Jesus. (John 14:12-14 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. {13} "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. {14} "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
This is the authority that we have been given to bring people into the Kingdom. (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
As a priest we have access to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 5:1-4 NKJV) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. {2} He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. {3} Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. {4} And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So we have access to the control center of the universe, the throne of grace, that we may obtain compassion and find grace to help in time of need. We know that Jesus is the ultimate King and High Priest. (Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV) But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. {25} Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
I believe that intercession is a ministry to bring people into the Kingdom of God. When someone enters the Kingdom then they become a royal priest, with access and authority, then nothing and no one should ever come between them and God. But of course we still pray for each other and this is a way of sharing each others burdens which helps unify Christ body of believers. (Galatians 6:2 KJV) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
The ministry of intercession is the ultimate in spiritual warfare. It defeats Satan and his strongholds over people like a hydrogen bomb destroys an ant hill. It binds all the power that Satan has and unleashes the forces of heaven to attack and wage war, taking more territory and people into the Kingdom. Intercession begins with us allowing compassion to flow through our hearts, which is the presence of the Holy Spirit. We then allow the Holy Spirit to make intercession through us, guiding us as to what to pray for, on behalf of whom we have compassion for. True intercession is God praying through you. True intercession is praying to the Father thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and knowing what His will is, and speaking forth His will to bring in the Kingdom, coming with all power and authority.
Intercession is the ministry of reconciliation, the reconciliation of man to God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20 NIV) For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. {15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. {16} So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. {17} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! {18} All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: {19} that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. {20} We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Recently God took me into the deepest realm of forgiveness I have ever experienced. Feeling wronged by a Christian Brother, I was offended, and felt that I did not deserve the false judgements and things he was saying against me, mainly to other people. Jesus teaches us if someone has something against us to go and be reconciled to your brother before you even bring a gift to the Lord. I wanted to reconcile but it seemed impossible because we were unable and it seemed unwilling to even communicate so that we could reconcile. One night when this was a heavy weight upon my soul I began crying out to the Lord not even knowing what to say or pray. I sometimes just groaned in my Spirit and even groaning out loud at times. For about two hours I sought the Lord and His help.
At one point it finally occurred to me that the Lord must be trying to teach me something because it seems always at my lowest points of despair God gives me the greatest revelations. So I said Lord what are you trying to teach me? Within a few minutes the revelation began. I felt that I should pray what I have been teaching others to pray. That is for God to have grace, mercy, and compassion upon the person who I felt had wronged me. But immediately I thought no maybe God needs to deal with this person and "teach him a lesson". Recognizing that this was judgmental on my part and a very wrong attitude, I proceeded to pray for him that God would have grace, mercy and compassion on him.
At that moment I felt in my spirit that I was moving into the presence of God and my burden starting to lift. I then proceeded to ask God to please forgive my brother who I felt wronged me and I started to name off each offense I felt was done against me. Each time I named an offense and asked God to please forgive him I felt a heavy burden lift from my being. When I named the last one that I could think of I was free. Immediately I felt the Holy Spirit say to me the words of Jesus "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." I knew that my brothers' sins were fully forgiven, not just by me but also by the Lord, and now Satan had no right and no more hold over my brother, or me, the next day we began to be reconciled.
I had always thought that I was very good at forgiveness, and I believe people that know me would agree with that because of some situations I have gone through before. But this time the Lord took me to a new dimension of forgiveness that I have never known. Now I realize that what I thought was forgiveness was not. Until you go before the throne of grace in front of the mercy seat and plead for God to also forgive the people who have wronged or offended you, you have not fully forgiven. Just as Jesus hanging in agony on the cross, looked down at the people killing Him and said "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing". God wants us to come to that point in our life. When you get to that point you are dead to yourself, you have given up all of your rights, all your rights to be angry, hurt, offended, to punish, and to judge the other person. It is the most humbling spiritual experience I have ever had, it is very painful to cross that line of giving up all your rights and dying to yourself. (James 4:6 NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
But once I was there, and I felt that burden lift, I felt the most awesome blessing of God come upon me. (Matthew 5:7 NKJV) Blessed are the merciful (compassionate), For they shall obtain mercy (compassion). I felt God's compassion come all over me, and fill me to overflowing. We have to be very careful to not let ourselves become offended at other people because we will be judged the same way we judge others. (Matthew 7:1-2 NKJV) "Judge not, that you be not judged. {2} "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. It's better to have mercy than judgment.
We must forgive everyone that offends us, and everyone that sins against us. (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. It is clear from God's word that we are required to forgive sins that are against ourselves because our God and Father forgives, so as His children He wants us to forgive also. Forgiveness is an action of compassion, an act of love. (Luke 6:35-38 NKJV) "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. {36} "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. {37} "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. {38} "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Prayer and intercession is a powerful way of giving to another person. It is something anyone can do and we are commanded to do it, but it also comes with an awesome blessing from the Lord and the privilege of experiencing God's presence and His compassion. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Intercession will take you very deep into spiritual maturity, because it requires that you be led by the Spirit. (Romans 8:14 KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Intercession is a ministry that must be totally led by the Holy Spirit, anything less is not intercession and a waste of time and effort. (John 20:21-23 NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."Jesus is not talking here about sins against us because those we must forgive or we will not be forgiven. But here He is sending the believers out to proclaim the gospel, then arming them with the Holy Spirit and telling them whoever's sins they forgive God has already forgiven them.
When Jesus says their sins are forgiven it is in past tense. The perfect tense should be rendered "have been forgiven" instead of "are forgiven," and "have been retained" instead of "are retained." This tense signifies action which is past at the time of speaking, yet with abiding results. Any declaration of forgiveness should be done on the basis that God has already forgiven. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the church proclaims salvation and the accompanying forgiveness; the gospel.
What we must understand is that Christ died once for all. (Romans 5:18 NIV) Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. (Hebrews 10:8-10 NIV) First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). {9} Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. {10} And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
When we feel compassionate love toward an unbeliever that is the presence of the Holy Spirit leading us to bring that person into the Kingdom. When we feel compassion for someone then we have forgiven their sins. Compassion includes the components of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Compassion always comes from God who is full of compassion and the Father of all compassion. Therefore when compassion flows through us toward an unbeliever then God has compassion, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for that person also. We will never have more compassion than God, because He is the source of all compassion. When we forgive someone's sins then they have already been forgiven by God.
Salvation is a free gift already bought and paid for, free to anyone who will accept it. Though it is offered to everyone not everyone will accept it, and the Lord has known before the earth was created who will and who will not accept His precious gift. Their choice has become their destiny and God has planned their life accordingly. This is why we must be guided by the Holy Spirit in intercession, the Lord knows who is destined to receive Him and who will reject Him. There is a time when being led by the Holy Spirit we are not to forgive a persons sins. (Jeremiah 7:16 NKJV) "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.
When Jesus healed the sick, and cast out demons from people, He also forgave their sins without the people even asking for forgiveness. He would sometimes tell them that their sins were forgiven, and sometimes He would tell them to go and sin no more. For a person to be healed or have a demon cast out they must not have sin or else Satan would still have the right to afflict them. As believers we have this same authority to cast out demons and heal the sick in Jesus name, when we do the persons sins are forgiven them at that time. (James 5:14-15 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Many of the New Testament epistles begin or end with a salutation similar to this; grace, mercy, and peace, be unto you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. When we pray for God's grace upon someone we are asking God to forgive their sins, the word mercy here means compassion and also carries the meaning forgiveness. (1 John 5:14-16 NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. {15} And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. {16} If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.
As the compassion of God, (which is the presence of the Holy Spirit), begins to flow through you toward an unsaved person we have the duty as priest to proclaim liberty to the person bound by sin, as we are led by the Holy Spirit. If the person is not yet available or receptive to receiving the Gospel then it is our duty, being led by the Holy Spirit, to intercede for that person at the throne of grace even to the point of claiming their sins forgiven by the blood that Jesus shed. There sins being forgiven now Satan no longer has a right to blind that person against the knowledge of God and the message of the gospel. Intercession is speaking for God to man, and for man to God, but always as we are being led by the Holy Spirit only.
Every day we make decisions on forgiving people of their sins or retaining their sins against them, often by our mind without being led by the Holy Spirit. Any situation or person that causes us to be offended or angry in the least causes us to make a decision of forgiving or retaining their sins against them. On the road a driver pulls out in front of our car, immediately we are offended and angry. Do we forgive the other driver and pray for them, or do we curse them by our words of condemnation, retaining their sins against them? Since all things happen for our good could it be that God had that driver pull out in front of us so that we could pray for that person. A spirit led person knows that God is in control, everything happens for a reason. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-19 NKJV) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. {16} Rejoice always, {17} pray without ceasing, {18} in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. {19} Do not quench the Spirit.
Immediately when we allow anger or offenses to control our reactions we have quenched the Spirit. Watching the nightly news can cause us to make decisions to forgive or retain several people's sins. Maybe a politician that represents you is caught in a scandal that causes you to be offended and angry. Do you forgive and pray for him, or do you retains his sins so that you can gripe about him tomorrow at work? (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. A boy goes to school with a gun and kills several classmates, do you forgive and pray for him, or retain his sins against him? When you think about it you have been forgiving and retaining peoples sins for a long time, how often were the decisions made as you were led by the Spirit? (Matthew 18:18 NIV) "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
In the Old Testament the priest would sprinkle the blood of a bull or goat on the altar and God would forgive the sins of a whole nation. (Leviticus 16:15-17 NKJV) "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. {16} "So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. {17} "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.
In the New Testament how much greater is the blood of Jesus which is given once for the sins of the whole world. (Hebrews 9:13-14 NKJV) For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, {14} how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
There are many examples in the Bible of intercession. Moses interceded for the children of Israel more than once when the Lord would have destroyed them because of their sin and rebellion. Aaron as high priest interceded for the people. (Numbers 16:46-48 NKJV) So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." {47} Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. {48} And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
The prophet Samuel interceded for the people. (1 Samuel 12:23 NKJV) "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
King Hezekiah interceded for the people. (2 Chronicles 30:18-20 NKJV) For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone {19} who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." {20} And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
Job interceded for His children. (Job 1:1-5 NKJV) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. {2} And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. {3} Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. {4} And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. {5} So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.
You always have the right to intercede for your family because you have compassion for them. (1 Corinthians 7:14 NKJV) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Your family is your first ministry priority as a priest of the Lord. The compassion you have for them is from the Holy Spirit leading you to make intercession for them.
The Lord also had Job intercede for his friends. (Job 42:7-10 NKJV) And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. {8} "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." {9} So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. {10} And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
It is interesting that after Job interceded for his friends that this is when God restored Job and blessed him with more than before. Intercession is giving, and it always comes with blessings. The greatest blessing of intercession is the presence of God flowing through you in the form of compassion. Intercession and prayer is a gift anyone can give and it is probably the best gift that you can give for someone.
Intercession can be the difference between victory and defeat for the one you are interceding for, and it must be continued until the victory is accomplished. (Exodus 17:11-13 NKJV) And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. {12} But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. {13} So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
God does not need intercession to bring people to Him but He has chosen this method to bring people into the Kingdom, and so that we His Kingdom of priest could become more like Jesus. (Isaiah 59:16 NKJV) He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Christ is the ultimate intercessor. As part of His body it is the destiny of every believer to be conformed to His image. Intercession is big part of spiritual maturity.
The Qualifications and Blessings of Priesthood
I believe that what we call the beatitudes that Jesus gave at the Sermon on the Mount are the qualifications and blessings of priesthood in the Kingdom of God. Immediately following the beatitudes Jesus spoke that we are salt and light in reaching the lost world. Salt is for taste and light is to see, I believe that as we operate in the beatitudes as priest reaching the lost world people will taste and see that the Lord is good.
(Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. {4} Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. {5} Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. {6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. {8} Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. {9} Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. {10} Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. {11} "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. {12} "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. The phrase poor in Spirit carries with it the connotation of a spiritual beggar. The Spirit gives life and is life. We must crave the Holy Spirit like we crave oxygen, continuously asking God to fill us with the Spirit. (Luke 11:13 NKJV) "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Children of the Kingdom recognize that the presence of the Holy Spirit gives us everything we want such as love, peace, and joy. The Holy Spirit also frees us from everything we don't want, such as bad emotions, sin, and even temptation; for where the Spirit is there is freedom. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives causes us to produce spiritual fruit, guides us into all truth.
As royal priest of the Kingdom we must be guided by the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the great commission to bring the Gospel to the lost world. To be effective in bringing people into the Kingdom we must be led by the Spirit; led where to go, when to go, what to speak, and who to speak to. Who, what, where, how, and when come together into destiny when one is led by the Spirit. (Romans 8:14 NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Gifts of the Spirit are manifested in the priest life to strengthen the believer, and to convince the unbeliever. The Holy Spirit flows through us in the form of a river of compassion seeking to bring people into the Kingdom, and to strengthen our brothers and sisters that are in the Kingdom.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Christians mourn because of our spiritual failures, and also for the lost souls that we have compassion for. The prophet Samuel mourned for Saul when God rejected Saul from being king. (1Samuel 15:35 KJV) And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. Feeling the pain and suffering of others is a part of being compassionate. Jesus gives us comfort through the Holy Spirit, which is the oil of joy.
(Isaiah 61:1-6 NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; {2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, {3} To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." {4} And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. {5} Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. {6} But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. (Galatians 6:1-2 KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {2} Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Meekness is a requirement of the priesthood, the Spirit of meekness is the Holy Spirit. Meekness is not weakness, meekness is Spirit controlled strength. Meekness is the strength of humility, which is submission to God's will rather than our own selfish interest. Meekness is not using your strength, or position, or authority, or knowledge, to force your own will, or your revenge against someone else. Meekness is submitting all these things under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The meek shall inherit the earth not by might nor by power but by being led of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says that Moses was the meekest man on the earth and an example is given in Numbers 12 1-13. Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. Moses did not answer them, he did not use his position or authority against them he just humbled himself. Instantly the Lord called all three of them out to speak to them and the Lord's anger burned against Miriam and Aaron for speaking against Moses. When the Lord departed Miriam was covered with leprosy. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away." So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!"
Moses interceded for the ones who had spoken against him. This is meekness, not weakness, and it is being led by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. We are made righteous by the atonement that Jesus provided for us, and we live a righteous life by being led by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16 NIV) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. In the Old Testament the priest would make atonement for himself first then his household and then the congregation. As royal priest of the new covenant we also must be righteous, that is clean before God so that we can intercede for others. (Leviticus 16:17 NKJV) "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. Our priority as priest must be first to make sure we are righteous before God, second to bring our family members into the Kingdom, and then to reach the lost world.
The priest must pursue righteousness from God. (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV) He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness and honor. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are free to be righteous before our God, keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, our righteousness, our High Priest, and our example, we are transformed into His image. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. {18} But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. The word merciful is the Greek word eleemon, which means to be actively compassionate. Compassion is the kind of love that God is. This is the only beatitude where what you give is the same thing as the blessing that you receive. That is because there is no greater reward that God can give us than His compassion, His Love. Compassion is its own reward, an awesome blessing because compassion is the presence of God. Inside of God's compassion are His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His patience, His faithfulness, His loving kindness, and every other characteristic of God, and Love. Our God is the Father of all compassion, and we are the vessels of compassion that His love flows through.
When we feel compassion toward someone that is the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us into actions of love toward that person or for that person. As a priest compassion is what leads us to intercede for a lost soul. Words spoken in compassion carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they penetrate to the heart of man and God. True intercession is always energized and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Compassion causes you to feel the pain and suffering of other people as if it was your own. Compassion is loving your neighbor as yourself. (Hebrews 2:17-18 NIV) For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. {18} Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Compassion is love in action, it is giving to meet the needs of another person spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. What God gives us, the Holy Spirit urges us to give to others. When you first receive salvation you immediately have a desire to share it with others. If we give in love what we have God blesses us with more to give. (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV) One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. {25} A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. As we give, God gives to us, this is especially true as we give compassion (mercy) to others, when we do we are immediately rewarded with the presence of God's Holy Spirit flowing through us.
When we are interceding for a lost soul, or when we are praying for a brother or sister in the Kingdom, then we feel God's compassion flowing through us, because prayer and intercession are two of the most wonderful and beneficial gifts you can give anyone. Prayer and intercession can be done by any believer and should be done by every believer.
Every Christian that I know of has an inner desire to serve God and to reach the lost for Christ. But most are waiting for some great opportunity or another location to begin. But God has given every believer the ministry of prayer and intercession to change their world her and now. Prayer and intercession can take you into the depths of spiritual maturity and into awesome revelations of knowing God and experiencing His presence.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. A priest must have a clean heart to approach the presence of God and so that we can enlighten sinners with the Gospel. David prayed in (Psalms 51:10-13 NKJV)Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. {13} Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
A priest must have a clean heart to get revelations from God and about God. Holiness allows us to see God. (Hebrews 12:14 NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Having a clean heart before God gives us confidence and faith to receive the promises of God from His Word. (1 John 3:21-23 NKJV) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. {22} And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. {23} And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. A peacemaker is one who reconciles people. A priest is a peacemaker that reconciles people to God. The Bible says that when we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ then we are given the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. {18} Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, {19} that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. {20} Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. {21} For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
As priests we also pursue peace between people. (Romans 14:17-19 NIV) For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, {18} because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. {19} Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
We are to use our God given authority in Jesus name, and our access into the throne room, to bring the Holy Spirit into every relationship that we are concerned about, man to man, and man to God relationships. (Colossians 3:12-15 NIV) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. {13} Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {14} And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {15} Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
When we bring the Spirit of compassion, the Holy Spirit, into a situation then we also bring all the fruits of the Holy Spirit to the people also. (Galatians 5:22-25 NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. {24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. {25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Compassion contains all of the fruits of the Spirit.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV) "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Persecution is how you know that you have arrived into the Kingdom. (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The good news is (Psalms 34:19 NKJV) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
The Great Royal Priest Commission
(1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; {10} who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
(Revelation 1:4-6 NKJV) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, {5} and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, {6} and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
(Mark 16:15-18 NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. {16} "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. {17} "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; {18} "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
(Luke 24:46-49 NKJV) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, {47} "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} "And you are witnesses of these things. {49} "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
(John 20:21-23 NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
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