Priesthood

A Priesthood sounds like a high and exalted position in Christianity, but in reality it is no more than just a servant of God first and foremost.  It is easy to get Priesthood mixed up with what a priest does, as opposed to who a priest is.

Revelation 5:9-10 (NKJV)

⁹ 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 king and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

As believers we are all called specifically to be priests unto our God, so what does that look like?  The apostle Peter points out that believers are to join Jesus as priests in this life and to this world.

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.

We have Jesus as our model, who demonstrated devotion to the Father even in the midst of great trial and persecution; He remained faithful to the Father and to the purpose of His coming. 

We also have the testimony of Melchizadek in Hebrews 7, who is an antitype of Christ. 

Hebrews 7:1-3 (NKJV)

Melchizadek meets Abraham after the slaughter of the kings and blesses him

¹ For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” ³ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

What an amazing man this Melchizadek was. He was an amazing warrior poet in battle who also held the position of Priest of the Most High God.  The Scripture says that Melchizadek was “…returning from the slaughter of the kings…” What a very strange statement to say about a priest, but very telling in regards to His priestly ministry.  Melchizadek, even though he was a priest, also answered to a higher authority. He was obedient to the Father by “slaughtering the kings” of the land who had set themselves against God and His ways, and who had held captive Abraham’s nephew Lot. 

How many times does the Lord ‘slay’ our own attitudes, habits, or ideas which rise up in our lives and hold us captive demanding obedience like a pagan king? We worship these pagan kings as gods by giving them our attention.  We come to the Lord and find that these ‘kings’ in our lives must die to the desires which have risen up and are set against the purposes of God. 

Our battle ground is a fight to control the mind and the spirit.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

It is recorded that Melchizadek’s trip to visit Abraham was for the purpose of blessing him.  He was also a messenger of God’s tender mercy with the message to Abraham that his prayers were heard and his desire for a son would soon be answered.  The name Melchizadek as the scripture indicates means “king of righteousness.”  He was also “the king of Salem” which means “king of peace.”  This description is very similar to what was prophesied about the coming of the Messiah King, Christ Jesus.

So if we are priests, who do we actually serve?  Like Melchizadek, and also with Jesus we serve the Father as our core ministry.  We may mistakenly think that the core ministry of the priest is just to serve others, but that is where we miss the transformative nature of the priest’s office if our service is misdirected.  The priest should only do what he sees the Father doing.

John 5:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

What are the sacrifices offered by a priest which are demonstrated by either Jesus or Melchizadek?

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  ¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Obedience and Praise are the two defining characteristics of a priest. 

Doing good by obediently responding to the voice of the Father as He opens opportunity to us daily to share the good news of the Kingdom to others in our words as well as our actions, and also by giving thanks with a grateful heart to the Lord for showing us mercy by making us “…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…”

May you grow into the fullness of your priesthood and find the joy which comes from being obedient to the voice of the Father; and may your heart and mind be filled with praise and gratefulness as you continually unpack the gift which is Jesus who has given us His mercy and given us a place in Him which has transformed us into the people of God.

Stephen Barnett

Blessed Are They

(Words and Music by: Kevin Prosch)

Blessed are they that know the joyful sound

Blessed are they that know the joyful sound

They shall walk in the light

The light of His countenance

They shall walk in the light of the Lord

In Your name shall we rejoice all day

In Your name shall we rejoice all day

We shall be exalted by Your righteousness

For You are the glory of our strength

You have anointed us with the sacred oil

And the songs of Zion burn within

Oh Lord release to us

The supernatural sounds

The sounds of deliverance

So when men hear they’ll fear Your name

And obey the call to follow, follow

Copyright © 1989 Mercy Publishing. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
The music and lyrics above are copyrighted by the respective artist and is presented here for educational purposes only and not for profit.