THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRIESTS
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I
should sin against the LORD in ceasing
to pray for you: but I will teach you the
good and the right way
(1 Samuel 12:23).
The Bible says in Revelation 1:6 that the Lord
Jesus has “…made us kings and priests unto
God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” So, in Christ, you’re a priest before God. Each one of us is occupying that office today, and there’re responsibilities attached to that office.
The first responsibility of priests is ministering to the Lord. When Aaron was going to be made a priest, God said to Moses, “…take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office…” (Exodus 28:1). But how do we minister to God as priests?
1 Peter 2:5 says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are
built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” We don’t offer bulls and goats as they did in the Old Testament but spiritual sacrifices: the calves of our lips (Hosea 14:2). Hallelujah!
Secondly, priests make the Word of God known.
When Jesus gave the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20, it was to us—the priests of God. He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
You’re to make pupils of those in your world; teach them about God and the Kingdom-life; let them in on the fundamentals of the glorious Kingdom we’ve been brought into. The Bible says, “It’s the job of priests to teach the truth. People are supposed to look to them for guidance…” (Malachi 2:7 MSG). This is your ministry as a priest; it’s your calling, and responsibility, to make His Word known to the world; people should seek, inquire for and require knowledge from you about the life of righteousness.
The third responsibility of priests is intercession. We’re like Jesus our High Priest, about whom the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Our theme verse shows us Samuel as a teaching priest who wouldn’t cease to pray for the people. Be likeminded. Pray often for all men and for your country.
God has given us the dominion and the authority to alter the course of events in the earth, using the Name of Jesus. Therefore, in prayer, let’s bring His will to pass in the earth, in the lives of those around us, in our cities, and nations. Take your place of priesthood in ministering to the Lord, teaching and intercession. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege to take hold together with you, to side with you in bringing your will to pass on behalf of others. Thank you for the dominion and the authority to alter the course of events in the earth, using the Name of Jesus. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 5:10; Malachi 2:7; 1 Peter 2:9
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Philippians 2:1-18 & Isaiah 35-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN John 3:9-21 & 1 Kings 8
