The royal priesthood of every believer

In His grace and mercy, our Lord Jesus redeems us from our sins as we repent and gives us the great privilege of being chosen to be a kingdom and priests for God the Father. Every believer is called to be a royal priest, to act as an intermediary between heaven and earth. In other words, we are called to move with the authority bestowed on us by the King of kings in heaven to execute His will on earth and have the humble servant heart of a priest to represent people to God through intercession as a house of prayer. This is the calling for every follower of Jesus – one that is not meant to be outsourced to other people or institutions.

(简体中文 > 信徒皆为君尊的祭司 | 繁體中文 > 信徒皆為君尊的祭司)

 

Revelation 1:5-6 NIV  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

1 Peter 2:9 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;

Unlike the priesthood in the old covenant which was given through birthright, our priesthood in the new covenant is qualified by the blood of Jesus, and the indwelling and outworking of the Holy Spirit from heaven. It requires us to be cleansed and consecrated through confession and repentance so our consciences are purified. Then we can become purified vessels of honour for His use, “prepared for every good work”. This is a calling for every believer, no matter what vocation we may be in. 

Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

2 Timothy 2:21 NKJV  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

When Peter addressed the believers dispersed across Asia minor and reminded them they were now a “spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Peter 2:5), he told them something very significant. Previously, they had to pay for the priests at the temple in Jerusalem to conduct various rituals and go on their behalf before God. This was how it had been  for over 1,200 years for all their forefathers but now, they could present themselves before God. Spiritually, this was a seismic shift. They did not need to rely on any institution or institutionalised system but collectively, had themselves become a living temple for God! All the glory that had manifested in the temple when God appeared as a cloud when Solomon dedicated the temple to God, could not manifest in them.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Unfortunately, many of us have become part of organised religious systems, which historically evolved from hierarchical, state-supported institutions that sought to control the spread of spontaneous home gatherings focused on the Holy Spirit. 

Today, we “outsource” our priesthood to these institutions and rely on a few paid staff to intercede, teach and disciple, spread the gospel, pray for and consecrate God’s people, and so on. We seldom practise consecration and daily worship before the Lord – much less think about representing heaven’s will on earth as a collective house of prayer for all nations. This is to the benefit of the kingdom of darkness – and not surprisingly, the Kingdom of God has suffered as a result. 

Mark 11:17 NKJV  Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Priesthood is not an employment, it is a spiritual appointment for all of Jesus’ followers. What does this spiritual appointment look like and what does it entail?

The first priest on earth

God created the first man and woman to act as His intermediaries between heaven and earth, giving them dominion on earth. 

He instructed Adam to “‘abad” and “shamar” the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). These are the same Hebrew words used for the duties of the Levitical priests of the Mosaic Law. In fact, the Temple where the Levitical priests served was decorated with carvings of palm trees, open flowers, and gourds, depicting the garden of Eden, and of cherubim in the Holy of Holies, signifying the cherubim now guarding its entrance. Both Adam and the priests were to serve (‘abad) and guard (shamar) sacred spaces where God’s holy presence manifested. A priest’s duty is to secure heaven’s gifts and blessings for the people and to present the people’s worship and prayers before the Lord. 

Genesis 2:15 NKJV  Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend [‘abad – work, serve, cultivate, work, worship] and keep [shamar – observe, guard, watch] it. 

Numbers 3:7-8 NKJV  And they shall attend [shamar] to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle. Also they shall attend [shamar] to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work [‘abad] of the tabernacle.

Unfortunately, Adam allowed the snake into the Garden to deceive Eve. This led to the downfall of mankind. The Levitical priests corrupted their covenant with God, specifically Eli’s sons. This led to the Ark of the Covenant being captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 2-4). When priests stay loyal to God and fulfill their duties, people remain in close proximity to God and are blessed. When they do not, people are separated from God and suffer. 

Malachi 2:8-9 NJV  But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law.”

God, in His infinite goodness and mercy, chose to become our High Priest and personally teach us how to be true, faithful, and incorruptible priests, as Adam was first supposed to be. 

Similarly, people suffer when we, as Christ followers, do not step into our priesthood.

The old covenant priesthood

God has always meant to raise up a kingdom of priests on earth as His special treasure, set apart for Him. In His covenant with Moses, God gave detailed instructions on a priest’s duties. In that covenant, priesthood rested only on Aaron’s bloodline and the Levi tribe. Their entire lives were dedicated to serving the Lord and His people.

Exodus 19:3,5-6 NKJV  And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying … Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

The Levitical priests:

• Ministered to the Lord (Exodus 28:1)
• Fully dedicated themselves to the Lord (Deuteronomy 33:9)
• Obeyed the Word of the Lord (Deuteronomy 33:9)
• Kept their covenant (Deuteronomy 33:9)
• Taught God’s people God’s Word (Deuteronomy 33:10)
• Presented offerings and prayers (incense) before the Lord (Deuteronomy 33:10)
• Conveyed the blessings of God (Leviticus 26:1–46).
• Stood guard at the Lord’s temple and its treasury (1 Chronicles 26)
• Purified the house of God (Leviticus 16:1–34)
• Offered up song and worship daily at the Temple (1 Chronicles 16:1)
• Took up positions as government officials and judges (1 Chronicles 26)

In order to perform their duties, the priests were to keep themselves ceremonial clean. For instance, they could not perform the sacrifices or eat the sacred things if they had skin diseases, bodily discharges, or had touched a corpse. And they most definitely had to confess and purify themselves from their own sins every day.

Hebrews 7:27 NKJV  who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Our royal priesthood in the new covenant

The priesthood changed significantly on the evening of Passover when Jesus broke bread and  drank wine with His disciples as He established a new covenant with them (Luke 22:19-20). The writer of Hebrews called Jesus “the Mediator of a better covenant”, one where God would not rely on human priests to be an example of and teach the covenant, He would teach every believer directly Himself, by dwelling in their hearts. 

Hebrews 8:6,10-12 NKJV  But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 

1. God’s presence at the Ark of the covenant to the heart of every Spirit-filled believer 

In the old covenant, God’s Spirit would manifest between the two cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. Today, He manifests Himself in our hearts after we are baptised in the Holy Spirit! Interesting, the Ark of the covenant was covered in pure gold inside and outside (Exodus 37:1-2). God also tests and refines our hearts as gold in a furnace.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV  And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Romans 5:5 NKJV  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Proverbs 17:3 NKJV  The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

2. From the biological line of Levi to being re-born into the royal line of Judah 

When Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), became our High Priest in heaven, the priesthood moved from the Levites to the tribe of Judah, which is the tribe with the lineage of kings. To be a royal priest now, we do not need to be born a Levite, we are spiritually born again (John 1:12-13) into the royal priesthood through faith in and obedience to our King, Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3-4 NKJV  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Genesis 49:8-10 NKJV  “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

3. From intercession for sin with animal blood once a year to joining with Jesus’ intercession 24/7

In the old covenant, the Israelites had to rely on an appointed human high priest, who would go through various cleansings rituals before he could enter into God’s presence in the Holy of holies, the most sacred part of the tabernacle, once a year to atone for his and the people’s sins. The high priest had to bring the sacrificial blood of unblemished animals with him for the atonement. He also burned incense, so that the smoke would obscure his eyes from viewing God’s presence directly (Exodus 28; Hebrews 9:7) and not die (Exodus 33:20). 

In the new covenant, Jesus is our High Priest in the temple in heaven interceding 24/7 for us. He offers the purest blood possible, His own! He has become the ultimate Sacrifice.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV  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.

Hebrews 10:3-7 NKJV  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”

4. From woven priestly garments to spiritual robes of righteousness and armour of God

God called the Levitical priests’ garments “holy and for glory and beauty” (Exodus 28:2). He filled gifted artisans with a spirit of wisdom to know how to create these special garments (Exodus 28:3). 

For instance, it included a crown of pure gold to be worn with their turbans. A plate was engraved with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Exodus 28:36), depicting their regal, set apart status for God. On their breastplate were sacred stones called Thummim and Urim that Israel’s leaders, such as Joshua, king Saul, and king David used to discern God’s will on national, military, or leadership matters. While the Spirit guides us, we too will discern God’s will for important matters on this earth.

Now, as followers of Jesus, we are given garments of salvation and robes of righteousness, as well as the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

Isaiah 61:10 NKJV  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

We are also given crowns in the spirit, if we fulfill the following:

• An imperishable crown for spiritual self-discipline | 1 Corinthians 9:25,27 NKJV  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown… I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
• A crown of rejoicing for leading others to Christ | 1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
• A crown of life for remaining faithful to Jesus in spite of suffering, trials, and temptation | Revelation 2:10 NKJV  Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• A crown of glory for humbly shepherding God’s flock | 1 Peter 5:2-4 NKJV  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
• A crown of righteousness for living in anticipation of Christ’s return | 2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

5. From the anointing with oil to the anointing of the Holy Spirit 

At the start of their service before God’s presence, the Levitical priests were anointed with a special, holy oil and blood from an animal sacrifice to dedicate them to God’s service. Today, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit and covered by the blood of the Lamb. This is to signify that we are set apart in the spirit to serve God. To receive the Holy Spirit was a very big deal for the first disciples. They knew that the Holy Spirit only anointed their kings, prophets, and judges in the past. Now, ordinary people get to be led by the King of kings on matters close to His heart.

1 John 2:27 NKJV  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Where the Levitical priests were appointed as officials and judges, we have been appointed to judge the world and angels alongside Jesus one day.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NKJV  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

6. From serving in a physical temple to serving a heavenly temple

The Levitical priests served a physical temple in Jerusalem. 

As followers of Jesus and as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), we serve the temple of God in heaven where Jesus, our High Priest, presides. When our spirits are joined with the Holy Spirit, we can abide in Christ who is seated in heavenly places. So even though our physical bodies are on earth, our spirits can be united with and seated in heavenly places with Him, who sits at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20), to work out the Lord’s will on earth.

Revelation 11:19 NKJV  Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Ephesians 2:5-6 NKJV  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

As royal priests, we operate with a royal inheritance, with access to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3-4) and get to manifest glimpses of heaven on earth (Revelation 21:1-4, fruit of the Holy Spirit). And we exercise our authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:18-20).

Ephesians 1:3-4 NKJV   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

The priesthood for every believer

Jesus will empower us to operate as His royal priests through the Holy Spirit in us so that we can:

• Live holy lives, not enslaved to worldly desires and lusts  | 1 Peter 2:11 NKJV  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
• Offer daily sacrifices of praise, prayer, thanksgiving, and righteousness | 1 Peter 2:5 NKJV  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
• Manifest the Kingdom of heaven on earth i.e. heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons, help the poor | Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV  And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
• Praise and proclaim God’s goodness on earth | 1 Peter 2:9 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; 
• Be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ | Romans 15:16-17 NKJV  that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
• Pray for all the nations | Mark 11:17 NKJV  Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
• Teach and admonish one another | Colossians 3:16 NKJV  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 
• Patiently suffer for doing good to God’s glory | 1 Peter 2:20 NKJV  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 
• Reign with Christ on earth one day | 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, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
• Judge the angels one day | 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NKJV  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

A prototype in Daniel

To picture what this royal priesthood might look like, we need to take a look at the life of Daniel.

Daniel was not a Levite, he was from the tribe of Judah (Daniel 1:6). Even though Daniel was captured and exiled in Babylon, he walked faithfully and fearlessly as an intermediary between heaven and earth, so much so that he turned many in Babylon towards God, including king Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar (605–562 BC) was the most powerful king of the neo-Babylonian empire, known for creating a massive, wealthy empire and building architectural wonders like the Hanging Gardens and the Ishtar Gate. For such a king to bow before God was no small feat.

While in exile in Babylon, Daniel:

1. Prayed to God three times a day (Daniel 6:10) 
2. Kept himself consecrated to the Lord and would not eat the Babylonian king’s foods, because they were likely associated with the king’s idols (Daniel 1:8)
3. Did not hesitate to call for group intercession (Daniel 2:17-19)
4. Boldly testified of God before king Nebuchadnezzar and gave God all the glory for the revelation of the king’s distressing dream (Daniel 2:27)
5. Prayed persistently and brought breakthrough in angelic warfare in the heavenly places (Daniel 10)
6. Was never defeated by his political enemies (Daniel 6)
7. Was granted favour and divinely protected by God (Daniel 6:10-23)

It was the priests’ duty to keep the fire on the altar in the temple burning at all times and not allow it to go out. We see that throughout his life, Daniel was unwavering in his faith and kept the fire on the altar of his heart burning for the Lord, even during all the 70 years he spent on exile in Babylon. There is certainly much we can learn from this man of God.

Daniel became known as a man “in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God…  light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him.” (Daniel Daniel 5:11). His example of walking as a royal priest of the most High God on earth led to king Nebuchadnezzar falling on his face in worship of the Lord, saying, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” (Daniel 2:47) 

Daniel 2:46-47 NKJV Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”

Can we believe that kings will fall at our feet to glorify the one true God as a result of us faithfully walking as His royal priests on earth? If so, here is a prayer we can pray to step into our priesthood.

A prayer to step in our royal priesthood

“Lord Jesus, 

I repent of neglecting my royal priesthood and relying on institutions (if applicable), rather than relying on You. You are my High Priest who has sent Your Spirit to live in my heart so that I can fulfill heaven’s will on earth. 

Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV  In this manner, therefore, pray:  Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Today, I accept my role as Your royal priest, to receive instructions from Your Temple in heaven. I will not be swayed by unbelief, feelings of unworthiness, and (name anything else that comes to mind.) With Christ, all things are possible. 

Please teach me to be a faithful priest who will do all that Your heart and mind desires. Establish my family in Christ, that we may all serve You too. Turn us into a royal lineage of priests who serve Your Temple in heaven.

1 Samuel 2:35 NKJV  Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

Open the eyes of my understanding so that I understand Your calling for me, and the exceeding greatness of Your power toward us who believe.

Jesus, You are seated in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named”. When I abide in You, no demonic power can overcome me because I am seated with You in heavenly places. I will walk in authority on earth to continue Your work of preaching the gospel, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, casting out demons, and raising the dead in Jesus’ name.

Ephesians 1:18-21 NKJV  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

1 Corinthians 4:20 NKJV  For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV  And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

Jesus, my dear Lord, I commit to fulfilling my priestly assignment on earth, and will not allow anything of my flesh to rob me of my crowns! I will not be un-faithful and un-fruitful. I will fulfil all the good works the Lord has prepared for me, and turn from all works of my own flesh and my own understanding. I will multiply the talents the Lord has given me to fulfil in my priesthood, all for my Heavenly Father’s glory. 

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Matthew 25:20-21 NKJV  “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 

In Jesus’ name, amen.”

May this sharing be a blessing to you as you seek to love the Lord with all your heart and step up in royal priesthood.