You Are a High Priest!

For now, you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that God readily accepts through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:5 (TPT)

Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King! As you think, so you are. God has a high opinion of you. His Word teaches that as co-heirs of Christ, you are prophet, priest, and king too.

You are a priest! Let’s focus on your priesthood.

Hmmmhhhh, what does this mean? Incense, taking confessions, long flowing robes, and reading long passages of scripture? Not really. You serve as an intermediary between yourself, others, and God.

You are priest to your family and friends. At work, walk with dignity as God has you there to represent Him. When others cannot represent themselves, either by weakness or spiritual blindness, that is what you do.

You are a priest.

You represent God through your prayers and actions. It is serious business. If Jesus didn’t fulfill his role as Priest, none of us would have salvation. We were not able to respond to God because of sin, so Jesus came and died, once and for all, as our Priest.

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but Jesus, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  Hebrews 10:11-14

By our thoughts, actions, and prayers, others are sanctified, as we have the same ministry as Jesus. We are priests, and if we don’t fulfill our role, the sins of others will not be sanctified. The Old Testament says that the sins of the father and mother are passed to the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5:9). Psalm 25 states that those who fear God will leave a blessing to their children’s children.

As I was considering the priesthood of all believers, I read 1 Peter 2:9:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The phrase “royal priesthood” is better translated “high priest.” Before Jesus, there were thousands of common priests and everyday Levites, but only one high priest. But he died, and so on to another and another and another…

…until Jesus became the permanent High Priest, dying for our sins and representing us through intercession to the father.

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.  Hebrews 7:23-24

We are not called just a priest; made in the image of Christ, we are High Priests. A high calling and much responsibility. Fortunately, our priesthood is dependent upon grace and not our works.

Start walking in the authority of a priest! By the power of the Spirit, your high priestly prayers can:

• Change the nation and open the doors for God’s grace with those you know.
• Claim and pronounce healing on those who are sick.
• Destroy strongholds of deception and release truth.
• Avert judgment from sin allowing blessing.

We need many high priests today representing THE HIGH PRIEST. I think that I might change my wardrobe to include a few long-flowing robes.