AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD
1 Peter 2:1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 ¶ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 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. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
But just who are these New Testament priests? They are those “newborn babes” (1 Peter 2:2) who are born of the Holy Spirit. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
They are “you which believe” (1 Peter 2:7) John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
And they are “the people of God” who now “have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:10) For every true, born again believer is a priest! He is to mediated Christ to his own soul in constant communion with God. John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
He has the ability to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) For he sits in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! (Ephesians 2:6) For a true believer is not one who sits on earth, looking towards heaven. That is merely a religionist! A true believer is one whose God-consciousness causes him to sit in heavenly places looking back towards the earth judging life’s affairs!
He is one who looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen! 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. He sees things invisible to the natural eye as he sees by faith! Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
And he is one whose prayers direct the earth’s affairs. For he is both king and priest! The true church does not realize just how privileged they are concerning the affect of their prayers! The incense of their prayers are co-mingled with the powerful work of Christ’s cross and are poured out to shake the earth! Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The Amplified Bible reads: “The earnest (heart-felt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available – dynamic in it’s working.”
For that earthquake is but the receiving of the spiritual kingdom of Christ. Hebrews 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 …and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.The believer, coupled with Christ, by the Holy Spirit is too formidable an opponent for Satan and the powers of darkness to overcome. Sadly, the Lord has but few who enter into their birthright of being joint-heirs with Christ, and use their priesthood and kingship for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom on earth. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christ, our great High Priest has provided us glorious entrance into the presence of the Father. When the temple veil was split from top to bottom, his flesh was torn in five wounds to open to us the spiritual access into the true Holy of Holies! Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
DO NOT LISTEN TO SATAN AS HE ACCUSES YOU OF UNWORTHINESS! Of course we are unworthy! We all are! But the Lord God has chosen the unworthy ones, the weak ones, the despised ones, and the foolish ones to assure that no flesh shall glory in his presence! 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
That’s what grace is all about! God saves sinners!! Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
He saves wretched sinners in order to glorify his grace! Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
And Satan has already been defeated. He is a defeated foe! He is not able to overcome anyone who resists him in the power of Christ, by the Holy Spirit! Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
And take careful notice of the diversity of the priesthood of all believers as shown in 1 Peter 2:5 and in 1 Peter 2:9. In the former we are listed as “an holy priesthood” with focus towards God. Yet in the latter we are deemed, “a royal priesthood” with a focus of service towards mankind. And they are both summed up in christ’s words as recorded in Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: The true church stands upon the moon which reflects the glorious sun into a world of darkness. We are only light as He is light within us. To some is but “the light of the world.” That is intellect and natural understanding. John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
But to all believers he is “the light of life.” John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Psalm 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
And these do not have to be schooled as how to become a witness. They ARE witnesses! God has made them so. Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And all true believer-priests have a worthy sacrifice to offer up to the Lord. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
So, dear Reader, shall you just continue to practice the routine of ‘church-anity,’ falsely convinced by inordinate affections that this is true worship? Or shall you dare to venture into your glorious privilege of exercising your spiritual, priestly ministry and boldly enter into true and personal fellowship with the living Lord? The Harlot church does not see the Lord God as a person. They only see him as an imagined influence. But can you break that cycle of being pleased with yourself in only satisfying that religious itch?
Talk to the Person of God as a real, living and true Being. Speak to him, even without words, being conscious of Him in your heart of hearts. For how can you “pray without ceasing” otherwise? Put down you devotional books and all religious helps and face the Holy Being of the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Brother, Friend, Lord and Savior. John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Proverbs 18:24 ¶ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
You shall soon face him. Why not do so now? Be careful. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Pastor Gene Breed
March 22, 2023
