Are You Prepared to Serve as a King & a Priest

_Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 says that we are to be kings and priests.  These are two distinct functions and we in the Church today are called to do both. 

_Role of a Priest - Hebrews 7 describes the primary characteristics of a priest well; there are two.  The first characteristic deals with handling offerings.  It is the number one activity because the offerings deal with worship and intimacy.  Their primary role is to bring offerings before the Lord in worship and intimacy.  The second major characteristic was they made intercession just like Jesus did in verse 25.

Role of a King - Revelation 19:11 - Once again Jesus is our primary example.  Kings are called to judge (make decisions) and make war.  Christ wants us to not only make spiritual war but He wants us to win.  He’s called us to rule and reign and He wants us to be more than overcomers!

In Christendom today we've tended to think in terms of the natural as unholy and the spiritual as holy.  The natural was unimportant while the spiritual was more important.  In Hebrew thought, remember, Jesus came from the Hebrew culture, they considered all of life holy both natural and spiritual.  The most important thing was not natural or spiritual, but relationship with our Lord.

Jesus taught us in Luke 19 the parable of the minas.  He gave servants 10 minas (pounds/money) and said "do business till I come."  That word translated business from the Greek means "occupy or trade."  The Lord wants us to do business, take risks, and trade until He comes.  He expects us to multiply that which he deposits into our hands.  That deposit could be wealth, influence, talents, skills, etc.  and usually a combination of all that was just mentioned.  

One steward reported taking one mina and getting a return of 10.  The owner of the mina rewarded him with oversight of 10 cities.  Another steward reported taking a mina and earning five.  He was rewarded with oversight of five cities.    The last one hid his mina and saved it. He took no risk.  The nobleman took the mina from him and gave to him who produced the most return.  

Luke 19:26 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

There are several lessons in this parable. One lesson is that your stewardship of the resources God puts within your hand it important.  Your handling of those things qualifies you or dis-qualifies you based upon how you choose to act.  Those who are good stewards are given more.

1 Corinthians 4, Galatians 4 and 1 Peter 4 teach us that we are to be stewards.  Our goal with this series of "Are You Prepared?" is to help you be a good steward and equip you serve your family and neighbors.  We want to equip you to excel as a king in every sphere of society and as a priest in the house of the Lord.

Wise kings act with prudence.  The bible says: 

Proverbs 13:16   Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. 

Proverbs 18:15   The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 

Proverbs 22:3  A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.


Click here if you'd like to learn more or attend our "Are You Prepared" monthly equipping meetings.