Women of the Bible Lesson 21 Believers Authority: Kings and Priests

Revelation 5:9-10, 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 unto our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (MEV) 

In his commentary Matthew Herny wrote, “Every ransomed slave is not immediately preferred to honour; he thinks it a great favour to be restored to liberty. But when the elect of God were made slaves by sin and Satan, in every nation of the world, Christ not only purchased their liberty for them, but the highest honour and preferment, made them kings and priests—kings, to rule over their own spirits, and to overcome the world, and the evil one; and he has made them priests, given them access to himself, and liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices, and they shall reign on the earth; they shall with him judge the world at the great day.” 

Priests: Holy and Royal 

As we read in the Matthew Henry quote, when Christ purchased our freedom, he also gave us access to the Holy of Holies.  As priest unto God, it is now our responsibility to offer up sacrifices to God. We know that in the Old Testament, the priests offered animals (I.e. goats and lambs) as sacrifices for the sins of the people.  The blood from these sacrifices covered the sins of the people, rolling them forward to the day when Christ’s blood would atone for the sin of all mankind, in all generation's: past, present, and future.   

Today, we as priests, offer a different kind of sacrifice.  In the Believer’s Bible Commentary, they divide our priesthood into two types.  Holy priests, and Royal priests. As Holy priests we minister to God and the body of Christ.  As Royal priests we minister to the lost and broken world around us.  

Holy Priests entering the Holy of Holies to offer up sacrifices of worship.  

1 Peter 2:5, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NLT) 

The priesthood of all believers means “that all Christians have immediate access to God, that they serve God personally, that they minister to others, and that they have something to give.”i 

Priests are to offer the following spiritual sacrifices: 

Our bodies as a living sacrifice.  Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (NIV) 

Praise. Hebrews 13:5, Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (NIV) 

Good works. Hebrews 13:6a, Do not neglect to do good, (AMP) 

Resources. Hebrews 13:6b, and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices. (CEB) 

Service. Romans 15:16-17, So that I might be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, performing-priestly-service-for the good-news of God in order that the offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (DLNT) 

Intercession: Ephesians 6:18, With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. (AMP) 

Roya Priests go out into the world and proclaim the Word.  

1 Peter 2:9, But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (NLT) 

"Royal priesthood" may be understood as "a royal house" and "a body of priests." Both titles stress the dignity of the church because of its union with Christ. Jesus is King, and all in his "house" belong to a royal house. Calling the church "a body of priests" emphasizes its corporate role in worship, intercession, and ministry.ii 

In Acts 16 we see the two types of priesthood lived out by Paul and Silas.  

Acts 16:25, Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. (NLT) Here we see Paul and Silas performing the duties of Holy Priests.  They are offering sacrifices of praise unto God.    

Acts 16:31, They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” (NLT) In this passage Paul and Silas are performing the duties of Royal Priests.  They are ministering to the lost jailer and his family and bringing them to Christ.   

Kings:   

Exodus 19:5-6, Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” (NLT)  

Ephesians 2:4-6, But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (NLT)  

It is important to note that this verse is written in past tense. It has already happened. We are not waiting for a future day to rule and reign with Christ, we are to do it NOW!!!  

Kings rule and reign, walking in authority and having dominion over their kingdom because that is what they are anointed to do. We have the right to rule as kings because of our position in Christ. He anoints all believers to rule and reign with him.  He has given us dominion over the earth. 

In the garden Adam and Eve were given dominion.  However, when they chose to sin, their God-given authority was transferred to the devil.   In 2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan is called the god of this world.  He had authority on earth until the death and resurrection Jesus, when Jesus took back the authority that Adam and Eve lost.    

Colossians 2:15, And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (NIV)  

Once he had reestablished his authority on earth Jesus then gave that authority to his followers.  Because he held the authority, he was able to give it to his disciples.  Today, as disciples of Christ we have this same authority.   

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (NASB)  

Luke 10:19, Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. (NLT) 

Today we must take our rightful place of authority as priests and kings.  We cannot separate the roles of priest and king. They must go hand in hand.  As we read above priests serve both God and man.  As priests one of the sacrifices we make unto God is intercession.  As kings we couple that intercession with declaration.   

Romans 4:17, (as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. (AMP) 

Matthew 6:10, Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven. (TPT) 

We have been vested with the authority of the King of kings to bring His desires to pass in the earth through relationship and partnership with Him. We are ambassadors for Him, representing His wishes, heart, and desires.iii 

Kings rule by their words. They order things to be, and they are. We know this is how God operates in His Kingdom.  In Genesis 1 we read, “And God said, “Let there be...” and it happened just as He spoke it, every time!!! 

We have been called by God to rule over the affairs of the earth and expose the works of the enemy.  Paul says that we are not ignorant of the enemy’s schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11) We do this by declaring and decreeing.   

We will look at this in-depth next week, however, for today I want us to understand that our words have power to bring life and death, blessing and cursing.  (Proverbs 18:21; James 3:9) 

As kings unto God, we must guard our words, and like Jesus, only say what we hear the Father say. (John 12:49) We reign as kings by declaring the Word of God into every area of life, every situation or trial, every venue and arena.   

In conclusion, we have been made kings and priests unto God and as such we must take our responsibility and authority seriously.  We must partner with Christ to see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.   

Works Cited: 

i Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004. 

ii Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004. 

iii https://eagleswings.org/kings-and-priests/