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Kings And Priests II
- David Brown
- Jan 11, 2009
- Series: Kings And Priests
Passage: Revelation 1:5-6
Kings and Priests
(2)
Revelation 1:5-6
Last week we learned that we are all Kings and Priests. We are all created, converted and called to be Kings and Priests, Winners and Worshippers.
We all have a divine destiny to govern and reign over our own lives. We can all be successful at what God has called us to do in life…whether it’s ministry, business, education, health care, art, or service. God wants all of us to reign in life through Jesus Christ.
We all have a direct connection with God through Jesus. He is our High Priest and we have all entered the priesthood of Christian living…praying, studying his word, worshipping and serving. The Priesthood of all believers is a precious biblical truth long proclaimed by Bible believers.
Now, let’s look at our subject of Kings and Priests in another light.
Every one of us has a private life…as well as a church life.
We function in our own personal lives and we are also called to function in Kingdom/Church life.
(I have a personal life. I eat, sleep, do chores, shop, go to the mall, the movies, take vacations, spend time with my family. I don’t just pray, preach and prophesy)
You have personal/private responsibilities but you also have responsibilities to God’s Kingdom…His church.
Now, in our Kingdom life, we all tend to gravitate to one ministry office or the other.
There ARE two major functions of ministry.
Some of us are primarily Kings. Others are primarily Priests!
(There are NOT two classes of Christians. We are all Kings and Priests in our personal lives.)
In the church, God has given the Ephesians 4, leaders to equip the body of Christ for ministry! The ministry falls into two primary categories. They are simply illustrated by the function of King and Priest.
God has brought Two Ministry Offices of King and Priest out of the Old Testament and into the New Testament.
To make it simple…
If you serve the church full time in church work, leadership and ministry and you work no other job or career, you serve in a Priestly function. (ministering, inspiring)
If you work outside the church, run a business, manage, lead, or labor in providing good or services, you are a King. (ruling and reigning in the world)
Obviously, there are going to be more Kings than Priests. (In Israel, priests came from only 1 tribe, Levi. But Kings came from any of the other 11 tribes.
Now…
We all can serve in church ministry, even Kings. But primarily, you spend the majority of your work time outside the church.
A rare few are both Kings and Priests… (Melchizedek, Jesus…a few can juggle both but most Kings who want to be Priests fail. And most Priests who want to be Kings fail.)
Whether we are Kings, or Priests in our Church functioning, we all need to discover our office, operate in it, and bear fruit!
Kings and Priests are Divine Partners!
(Moses and Aaron) (David and Nathan)
They function together for the good of the Kingdom!
Let’s compare their functions.
Priests… Kings…
1. Consecrate 1. Conquer
2. Bless 2. Be blessed and bless others
3. Redeem and Renew 3. Rule and Reign
4. Impart Vision 4. Impart Provision
Both offices are called of God.
Both offices are anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Both offices are vital to God’s Kingdom.
Both offices need the other to succeed!
The Church today is filled with frustrated, uninformed, uninspired, undeveloped, unfulfilled, Kings.
Many Kings feel unspiritual, unneeded and insignificant.
Some Kings unwisely try to become Priests. (full time ministers) .This didn’t work for Saul or Uzziah.
Frustrated Kings often turn to pleasure over purpose.
(They don’t realize that their conquering is for the Kingdom, not just their own personal gain.)
Many Kings don’t understand their great purpose of providing finances, gifts, ideas, influence and networking connections to God’s Kingdom!
Kings are absolutely necessary for a Great Church with a vision from God! Some churches just exist to perpetuate themselves. Other churches want to change the World! Churches that have a noble world changing vision will empower Kings to rise to their greatest potential!
Here at Victory Church, we have a People Changing, City Changing, World Changing Vision. It’s a vision for something bigger than ourselves.
We’re all about…Changing the world by
.. Loving God and loving PEOPLE.
…Teaching people to live in VICTORY.
…Creating connection with GREATNESS!
(God’s greatness and potential in people)
Let’s take a look at the prototype of the relationship between Kings and Priests!
Genesis 14:1-4
Chedorlaomer (who seems to be an Overlord in the region) along with 3 Kings in league/covenant with him went to war with 5 rebelling Kings.
Genesis 14:8-13
News of Lots capture reached Abram.
Genesis 14:14-17
Abram led 318 employees and conquered his family’s enemies and took a great spoil as well as recovering all of Lots family and goods.
Abram was met in the Kings Dale (a place where Kings held their meetings) and was met by the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, King of Salem. It is obvious that Abram was considered a King, who was in league with others, a conqueror, and a participant in meetings in the Kings Dale.
Genesis 14:18
Bread and Wine…symbols of Covenant
Genesis 14:19-20
Melchizedek blessed Abram and reminded him of…
his covenant with God (“Abram of the most high God”)
his blessing from God (“he has delivered your enemies”)
Abram gave Melchizedek tithes (a tenth) of all the spoils of battle. (He partnered with the priest. He gave provision to the vision of God)
Abram tithed without even being reminded, berated, buttered up, bragged on about his great battle strategy…etc.
Melchizedek just reminded Abram that he was in covenant with God and blessed!
The Priests job is to remind you that God is the possessor of heaven and earth…that God owns everything.
Today, I want to remind you that…
God is the possessor of Heaven and Earth. He owns everything and has made you stewards/managers of it.
You are in covenant with God. You, like Abraham are blessed…and you are to be a blessing. Galatians 3:29, “If ye be Christ’s, then ye are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The Promise? “I will bless you and make you a blessing!”
God has a great Vision for your life…to make you a Blessing, a Conqueror. He empowers you to rule and reign over the realm or your life and destiny. He empowers you to win the battles of life and take the spoil
God has a great Vision for the House of God…To love, help, teach, inspire, empower people to live the victorious life Jesus died to give them. We have a vision to change the world…one life at a time!
Priests are to impart that Vision.
Kings are to impart Provision for the Vision.
When Kings and Priests partner together, when do your part and we do our part…one of these days we’ll hear Jesus say, Well done good and faithful servants. Enter into the Joy of the Lord!