A Royal Priesthood

Greetings to all our dear youth in Christ. Praise His Name. For He is good. His Name is greater than any name. Glory to the Father who is in heaven, His Son and the Holy Ghost. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life ( I John 1:1 )

As I was pondering over the life and times of Jesus, who Himself lived a perfect life conforming to all the Mosaic laws. A perfect living example for all of us to emulate. But what difference has Jesus made  for our lives ? As Jesus himself proclaimed :”  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad “ (John8:56). But the response from the then jews was to take stones to stone Him to death, and it is written He passed by them. 

During the old testament days, God Himself led His people out of slavery through Moses, Joshua who were mighty servants of God and Prophets. In the promised land, God gave them judges to deliver them from their enemies. Samuel was the last judge. At the insistence of  the people, God anointed Saul to be the King and array of Kings  followed the line. God sent His prophets to guide, bless and warn  Kings and people. God has made  definite roles for the Kings and the Prophets and  Priests in the promised land. At least two Kings tried to merge these roles in their height of power and arrogance and were rejected by God.

First Samuel chapter 13 documents clearly how King Saul lost favour with God. He tried to don the role of Samuel just to satisfy the impatient people who started melting away.  “ And Samuel said to Saul :You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord, your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you” ( I Samuel 13: 13-14).

History repeated itself later, when one of the good Kings of Judah, who started well and did well in the eyes of the Lord, faltered in the height of his power and kingship  in the last year of his reign of about 52 eventful years. It was Uzziah alias Azariah ( son of Amaziah ) , great grand father of Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah being  his first cousin.  “Uzziah” in Hebrew means “ My strength is God”. Probably he was the most powerful king who lived after King Solomon. So much is written about his valour and war machinery he built and how everyone was subdued before him. But what was lost in the process of 52 years was being  turned around from humble spirit to that of an arrogant spirit : self pride. “ I “ takes the place of   “ I AM ” (the Lord).   Read James 4:6 ; Proverbs 3:34  regarding this. It is written : “ But when he was strong, his heart lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense……..Then Uzziah became furious and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar…….Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him……..King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death.  ( II Chronicles 26: 16-21). He must have lifted his heart to God rather than on himself. What a tragic end of story to a good king ! Our mighty Lord opens a new chapter on the death of King Uzziah . For it is written” In the year that king Uzziah died…( Isaiah 6:1)….. And also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying “ Whom shall I send , and who will go for Us” ( Isaiah 6:8). Voice of a grieving God.  For God wants all his children to live a fruitful life and  be part of His Kingdom for ever.  Isaiah immediately obeyed. A great prophet was born ! 

Kingship is also an anointing by God. Many blessings that were conferred on the Prophets were also conferred on the Kings anointed by the Lord of Israel.  Melchizedek was a King and a priest. King David was a King and a prophet. Jesus is King, Prophet and Priest. Jesus came in the lineage of  anointed kings. Both  Joseph and Mary came in the lineage of kings. What the Lord expected from these people was only unquestioned implicit obedience to his commands. Our Lord Jesus by his life and sufferings on the cross has made us His sons and daughters. I only vividly recall the oft quoted remark of a great Evangelist of today : “ The child of a goat is goat; that of a leopard is leopard; the son of God is ……..”  (Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:6-7; John 17:21,23). The mighty Lord has consecrated us  as Kings and Priests, for Him. Not because we are holy and great people, but by His grace and abundant love. This is the big difference that the Lord has made in our lives.

“Consecrated” means to be “separated”. For Jesus prayed :” They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by  Your truth. Your word is truth” ( John17: 16-17). In the last days, The Lord has  given us this special anointing to win as many souls as we can, for Him. Separate yourself now from the world , even in your youth. For it is said” Remember now your creator, in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Prayer :

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light  ( I Peter 2 :9  )

  ⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  ( Revelation 1 :6)

Dear Lord ,

We thank you for this great honour and love conferred on us, sinners and ordinary people, least in our tribe and family. Help us to stand for you . Only for You.

We ask this in Jesus name.

Amen.

God’s Love Missions Family.