Being successful as a King Priest is important for it is a vital role for all true followers of Christ. It defines who we are, how we relate to God and how we function in the world. It is a calling of alignment, authority and service in Christ our Lord with worship as the central focus.  

The Absolute Reference Frame

Christ is the absolute reference frame for all eternity without relation to anything external. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. Christ is the fixed constant in reality, just as light is the fixed constant in physics.

Jesus Christ is Prophet, Priest and King. He was One with the Father, and did only the will of the Father, John 6:38. As a prophet He was the Word made flesh, John 1:14. As a King he established an unshakable kingdom in heaven and on earth, Mark 1:15. A kingdom that was designed in the eternal past. Christ is the High Priest but also the sacrifice. The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8.

Prophet

The prophet was called by God to speak God’s word to the people. In the beginning He was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, John 1:1,14.

A prophet speaks Christ’s non-negotiable truth, reveals what is hidden and calls the people to repentance and realignment. The few who truly stand in the office of a prophet on earth, stand in authority that must be word-based through revelation. They know God as a personal God, have discernment and insight and wield the sword of the Spirit in truth, Ephesians 6:17.

Priest

A priest was a divinely instituted office related to a particular tribe, or family. Being a priest of the Most High God is not status or privilege. It is position through proximity and purpose. A priest stands between God and humanity, offering up sacrifices and intercession, and is a worshipper.

In Moses Tabernacle priests alone entered the Holy Place, but once year only the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place, the place of God’s shekinah glory. As priests we all have free access to the intense presence of God, Ephesians 2:18. We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19.

A priest has access-based authority through surrender, power through obedience and influence through holiness. A priest is who he is, not what he does.

Stability

A priest represents stability and continuity and is the example of faithfulness. He sees order and chaos as the two poles of existence. He represents the invisible God as being present, which is a source of great rejoicing, for God desires to dwell among His people, Exodus 25:8. A people for God’s own possession 1 Peter 2:9.

The priest is the teacher of holiness, Exodus 19:6. He keeps us facing the light so the prophet sees clearly and the king acts rightly.

King

A king is a God-appointed and God-anointed position with succession flowing through the blood line. He is the representative of God’s authority on earth. He wields power wisely, with strength and humility, bringing heaven’s order into time and space. 

Reveal Character

As kings we are to reveal the character of the One who has called us. We are to be ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:20, in the Kingdom of Heaven. Appointed to proclaim God’s message of reconciliation to the world.

When we stand in the light of Jesus, darkness loses its authority. Darkness is merely the absence of light, for light outshines it.

King of Kings and High Priest

Christ is the King of Kings for all eternity, Revelation 19:16, and our High Priest, Hebrews 4:14. Through Him we enter a personal, covenantal relationship with the One who has called us to align ourselves to the royal priesthood in Him, Luke 22:69.

A royal priesthood that is a fixed reference point in a shifting culture that is chaotic. A royal priesthood that transforms everyday life, for it is moral clarity without coercion, authority without domination and holiness without withdrawal. The royal priesthood exercises authority without distortion, fear, control or self-glorification.

United

Through Christ, the roles of king and priest are united and extended to all who follow Him. A priestly role that keeps us aligned to truth and holiness. The kingly role exercises authority that flows from that alignment.

All believers are called to a royal priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, through Christ, 1 Peter 2:9.  Our Great High Priest has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, Revelation 1:6, and to reign with Him, 5:10.

This life is a temporal but fiery testing ground, 1 Peter 4:12, because of God’s call on our life. The enemy can discern where we are in our spiritual walk and fiercely uses our weakness against us. The mark of a royal priesthood is how difficult times are handled. Do we accept that all things have a purpose in God and work together for our good, Romans 8:28?

Priest and King

The King has power and reach, but no restraint. The priest has access and is holy but limited in reach. When there is unity between royalty and priesthood, authority flows from presence and power flows from alignment. Authority and power that is not generated by either the king or the priest.

The authority comes from God’s presence. The power from all that Christ has done and is doing through the indwelling Holy Spirit, John 14:17. God inhabits continually and there is no separation between the spiritual and the natural life.

Restores

The royal priesthood restores man to the original state, that is to walk with God, and exercise dominion. When you have authority without holiness and intimacy you end up with tyranny. When you have holiness without authority you end up impotent and powerless.

The first domain of royal priesthood is ‘self’, for rule must first be internal. He who rules his spirit is better than he who captures a city, Proverbs 16:32. Inner alignment with the Word of God precedes external fruitfulness, for first there is the being before we see the fact.

Being Successful as a King Priest

Being successful as a King Priest should be the goal of all true followers of Christ. We are in the world, but not of it, John 15:19. The old is gone the new has come, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The royal priesthood lives and worships in God’s presence and produces after its own kind, people who are Spiritually Transformed. How to be a successful royal priest enriches how we live in the generous present ‘Now’, the space where heaven and earth meet. It defines our unknown future which God holds in His hands.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a servant of the Lord who enjoys researching Biblical topics and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God. She asks the hard questions.

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