Kingdom Priests

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble.

But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.

Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners. And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the Lord to water the Valley of Acacias.” Joel 3:14-18 Berean

The Day of the Lord is upon us, wherein we are have opportunity to be filled with all the fullness of Christ. We are to do His will in the earth as He has destined for us. We need all of His nature, all of it! If we are to have God’s redemptive justice married to His mercy, we will not feel a speck of superiority or in any way predict oncoming condemnation outside of His love. We long for our hearts to be free of religious zeal, the need to appear and act righteous in front of others.

Yes, we are to avoid the appearance of evil, but not because we want to impress others. We desire first and foremost, to be right in God’s eyes and at peace whether others are okay with us or not. God says that when a man’s ways please the Lord, even His enemies will be at peace with him! Amazing, isn’t it? We submit to the Lord when we are drawn, allowing God to prepare our hearts:

“The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.

Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established. In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:1-3:6-7 NKJV

Think of it. God looks at the spirit dwelling within our hearts. We prepare our hearts for the Lord as we seek Him for His answers. When our ways please the Lord, our enemies won’t bother us. The refining of any area that pleases God needs no more opposition, no internal or external enemies to test it. It is no longer needed when God pronounces that the refining process is complete in us. This is when He is reigning over us, His authority supreme in all matters. Then we can truly say we are ruling and reigning with Him!

Remember, our enemies are not people:

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NLT

Do you realize that there are evil spirits in heavenly places? Heaven is a spiritual place of dwelling, and there are many dwelling places in God’s heavens. Not all heavens are pure in spirit, but there is the highest heaven that is pure and clean, where those who overcome dwell with God. This is Zion, the new Jerusalem, the habitation of priests and kings, where the throne of God and the Lamb are established, in full authority of rulership.

Oh yes, the enemy of our souls, the devil who Jesus said was evil from the beginning, loves to stir up trouble in some of the heavenly places we dwell. He delights in dividing and conquering through strife among the brethren. He plants the seeds of discord, discontentment and disturbance in our hearts. But this is not always to be.

For kingdom priests, these heavens are not our final destination.

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1 Berean

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’

And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ Revelation 21:1-5 NASB

He sent His holy messenger to be in our temple, within us, preparing the way for the Lord to fully dwell within. Our holy habitation is a dwelling place not made by hands, just as Abraham sought. It is a place in the spirit while on this earth. A new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness actually dwells here, in our very own fleshly earth. He brings about His Day, where there won’t be tears or sorrow or crying or pain, ever again.

When God fully dwells within us, all tears are wiped away. Wouldn’t you like to be a part of wiping away all the many tears of sorrow and pain for the people of this world? It is to come on the earth, in this life, where death is to be destroyed. These promises may not happen in our particular lifetime but they will happen. God said this would all come to pass, and cannot be for “heaven” as most conceive of it, because there already is no sorrow or tears or mourning or pain for the dead.

Here, where we live in this world, is where the need is for the Lord to bring His full and complete victory over death and sin. And it shall be so, no matter how long it takes. Christians do not yet have unity in much of their beliefs and doctrines but most of us sense it is the beginning of the great and terrible day of the Lord. Knowing we are the temple of the Lord, we see that He has promised to come and dwell inside of a people who are His holy habitation.

“For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16b NASB

“I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has promised, among the remnant called by the Lord.” Joel 2:31-32 Berean

His kingdom priests, those dwelling in the spirit in Zion as well as those remaining on the earth, are being trained to build, to edify and be built up in love. We seek the Lord to tear down those strongholds that remain in past heavenly places we have experienced. Satan can only operate where there remains earth for him to work within. Where God gives the victory, we no longer dwell on that earth.

“The Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:14 ESV

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31 Berean

God’s judgment on the small serpent in the Garden was that he could only operate on the earth. The serpent was cunning, using his deceptive venomous mouth to deceive and destroy. And by the end of the book, in Revelation, he is going about “as a roaring dragon”, seeking whom he may devour. But the book also says he will be cast out, done for, destroyed, thrown into the lake of fire along with hell and death.

Snakes are an effective symbol of the devil’s weapons. Snakes have no hands or feet, but they do have a mouth with venom that can destroy. Is this not just what has happened in the Christian churches since the beginning? Words, words, words! Man’s opinions of the things of God, man’s judgment on others who believe differently, rumors and gossip condemning without understanding, laws and traditions debated and used to “kill” others’ ministries— all these words used to deceive and condemn are satan’s weapons.

But our earth is being swallowed up in victory! In every area where we overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Satan will have no more access to that earth to trouble us. He can no longer plant his seed of deception and evil within our souls because we have a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness! He no longer is allowed to buffet us, to test us as we overcome in our walk with the Lord:

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 ESV

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11 ESV

We are living in the spirit in ever-growing, victorious areas no longer dominated by the fleshly habitations of men. All the saints who have passed on, eligible for the highest place in God through suffering and overcoming, dwell in spiritual Mount Zion. They have no more enemies, but we on this earth still have much to overcome. They without us cannot enter in, so you can just imagine how they are cheering us on!

There is a great deal of the “earthy” in us that must be purged. Our enemy in this life is still around until God swallows up all in victory in the ages to come. There are those who will have a spirit of opposition and contention, coming against the word and will of God until facing Him after death, but the spirit within them cannot disturb our peace. Oh, Hallelujah! There is a season for all things.

God knows His sons and daughters and He is preparing us thoroughly for every good work, as Paul told Timothy:

“A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Berean

God is the only one who knows exactly what is in the hearts of His people. He always knows where His wonderful surgical word needs to cut away the flesh, allowing the fire of His presence to burn up the dross.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV

Each of us can be a vessel of honor at some times, used for every good work, and potetially, at other times, as a vessel of dishonor used to try and test our fellow humans. We want all of God’s best as we interact in this world, desiring pure motives in our hearts. If called to be kingdom priests, we will be representing a balance in intercession between God and men, a priesthood, as well spiritual authority as kings. God will not give authority or responsibility in His kingdom into the hands of anyone who is not made in His likeness and image.

Oh, to be like our Father: full of love, always redemptive in our judgments with the intent to alleviate suffering and pain, releasing others from bondage, blessing and not cursing, to wait upon Him for His dealings. Some of us “talkers” have many more times when God tells us to be quiet than to speak His word! Thankfully He has “spiritual duct tape” necessary for just this purpose until His ways are fully written in our hearts. After enough times of God stopping words that rise up in haste or selfishness, to be heard rather than to hear, or just because it is not the time, our hearts will be purged so such words don’t even occur to us.

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2 KJV

“Every way of a man seems upright in his own eyes, yet it is Yahweh Who gauges the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2 Concordant Literal

God makes clear that we cannot judge our own hearts. We humans all think we’re right in our own eyes until God sheds His light within us sufficiently to see. The Hebrew word “takan” is translated as “ponder or gauge” in the above translations, meaning to “balance, measure out, or weigh” the heart. The Lord is not just seeing what is in our hearts, He is evaluating it, balancing it in accord with His righteous heart.

The Lord knows when our hearts are not right, whether we do not know or refuse to recognize it. He continually calls us to love with the unimaginable purity of the love of God. New vistas of God are unfolding within as He enlightens us to the truth of His redemptive judgment. His Kingdom priests will be empowered to rule righteously, with mercy and justice together.

Those dwelling in spiritual Zion now are kingdom priests—kings with authority who intercede with God for people on their behalf. The two together—kings and priests—are the Kingdom's authority in His holy spiritual government. Melchizedek was the first such priest and Jesus is a priest of this Melchizedek realm of an endless life.

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’” Genesis 14:18-20 NIV

“And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 9:9-10 Berean

Melchizedek was king of Salem, meaning “peace,” serving as priest for God Most High.He just suddenly appears in the account of Abraham’s experiences. In Revelation, God speaks of the many more kingdom priests He will form after this same order of an endless life. Others may not be called to be kingdom priests, not required to take the same route to God. God is in charge of each Christian’s calling.

After Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep,” Peter asked Jesus what was to happen to John, his brother in Christ.

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’ )

When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." John 21:20 NASB

Jesus essentially told Peter, “It’s none of your business what I do with another. You focus on following Me!” What great advice this still is, particularly when we are wondering why our sisters and brothers in Christ seem to be having experiences with God that differ from ours. We need not be concerned if another seems to be prospering in their way while we are not. We are told to not even concern ourselves with what another follower of Christ is, has, or may be doing that differs from our own lot in life.

What does it matter to us if they have 1000 followers while we have only a handful—or none? What is the difference if some are called to large successful ministries fit for that age while we wait upon God in the desert to become priests and kings for Him? We have the roadmap of His Word, by the spirit and in the Book. We must walk our own walk in the way God has designed for us. We cannot tell by outward appearance whether another is called and chosen by God as a king and priest in God’s spiritual kingdom.

Once when our son was in grade school, his circle of friends began to change, leaving him alone on the playground for a time. I told Chris it was a test from God. His all-too-human response was: “Well, can’t someone else take the test?” The only One who ever could, Jesus Christ, was my son’s Friend, and he did pass this test in his young life. There are times when another’s trials do look easier, even preferable, to ours. We might want to ‘trade tests” with them as Chris did.

But we have no idea, unless God reveals it, what that other person has or is now really experiencing. Our trials may appear similar, but God designs just the adversity we need to form us into His image. As we mature, we’re grateful that we only have our own particular tests that God has allowed. We are thankful not to have the experiences some other Christians are going through. There are always those who are suffering more, and others suffering less, than we are.

“For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:506 KJV

It’s not about suffering or worthiness, it’s about God’s will. As Jesus said, our job is to follow Him, passing those tests He puts in our way. Sometimes our tests and trials seem more difficult, even unfairly so. There are times when a series of adverse events have occurred, that we may say to God, “Really?? Really, Lord, you thought I needed all of this?” We give no credit to the devil as we are in the hands of the Father and it is Him with whom we have to deal.

It is the way of the flesh to bring critical judgment to what is happening to others. If bad things happen, the carnal judgment is that the person must have done something to deserve it. That’s what Job’s friends told him. This also means that those for whom good things happen must have done something to earn it. It is a comfortable, if erroneous, explanation for suffering, giving us the illusion that if we are good enough, we can escape suffering.

God’s judgments are different. They focus on our character and our calling, what will most grow the fruit of the kingdom within us. He is always working to refine His truth within, writing it in our hearts. Sometimes the suffering and trials that come upon us are because of what we have asked Him to work out within us, such as the old joke about praying for patience, only to have a number of things that test just that!

We all bring our past into our present walk until God deals, heals, and moves us on, enabling us to forget it. He is exposing and purging lies we have accumulated along the way. Just as our calling and gifts differ, so do our wounds in this life. Even very similar experiences bring different testings for different people. Some saints have been deeply wounded by being lied to, stumbling around believing a deception that parents, caregivers, or society had taught them. When these precious saints recognize the lies, particularly from those who are supposed to love them, a commitment to truth grows.

Others suffer more from life’s losses, the many closed doors that God allows along the way. Some suffer so quietly, we don’t even know they have trials! The Lord works within to strengthen our faith, to refine our ability to trust God and His people who are sent our way to love us from a pure heart. We need the “love” side to grow to be kingdom priests who speak the “truth in love”:

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.” Ephesians 4:15-16 Berean

The Body of Christ, the true church of the spirit, is built up in love. Observing some believers, however, we would sadly conclude that His kingdom is built of criticism and condemnation of all other Christians who believe differently, let alone sinners who are missing the mark. How can this be? How many of God’s people have misunderstood or ignored this directive in favor of speaking the truth without God’s love? Some saints have been so battered with the truth they are discouraged in their walk.

The goodness of God is overshadowed by this focus on what is wrong, regardless of whether the intent is to help rather than hurt. Some are created by God to be tender of heart, easily persuaded and sensitive to others. Harshness and anger from parents, caregivers, and society further this timidity into a fear of people more than God. Such timidity God needs to swallow up, replacing fear with His boldness.

The timid and fearful cannot enter, so we must learn to not fear anger, rejection, or punishment from others. God’s work of refinement for Christians enables us to be balanced as we stand on the truth, without fear or favor. No matter what man can do, He will enable such timid pleasers to become pleasers of their Lord and King:

“The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Psalms 118:6 NASB

God also knows how to temper His bold speakers of truth into ministers who serve others in love. Some people have not developed or nurtured kind and patient ways of interacting with others. He knows our frame, exactly what each of us needs to bring about the change we so long to have seen within us. It is a calling to maturity in Him. These fierce warriors God gentles into loving fiery warriors for Him!

The prize of our High Calling is not a gift. Prizes are earned, rewarded for running the race well and successfully. Being kingdom priests is not a free gift, such as salvation. It requires sacrifice, overcoming suffering as obedient servants. We yearn for the Lord Jesus Christ to take up full residence within us, tabernacling—coming to dwell—in His temple, which we are.

Jesus said the kingdom is within us. It is established there with the purpose of us becoming His habitation. We are truly being built up in love to be His dwelling place.

“In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22 Berean

As we actively engage with others in our calling, the holy spirit teaches us to look past outward behaviors to see the heart. When God graciously reveals the heart of another, He provides a key to understanding them. He will not tell us another’s secrets unless He knows we can be trusted with them. When we see the wounds, the arrows that have pierced the heart of those with whom we deal, we are enabled to compassionately understand even wrong behavior.

God reveals to us how it happened, the root of others’ actions and issues. This we take to God for the Holy Spirit's direction and guidance. God reveals the secrets of others’ hearts when our purpose of knowing is redemptive. God is never a tattle tale and He is the best keeper of our secrets, ever! Thankfully, there are many things that only God will know about us. He is fully trustworthy. And when He calls us into His army, we are trusted with the deeper secrets of men’s souls, for the purpose of intercession and healing.

When we are the one sitting opposite a troubled soul, praying to our Lord to give us His insight into this person’s heart, will He not hear us and equip us to do the work He has called us to do? God allows us to understand how another is trapped in their misery, what led to their suffering and problems. Then our assistance is meaningful, compassionate, and on target. God’s word always accomplishes what it is sent to accomplish. There is no failure in His work.

“ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said,

‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever!

And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.” Revelation 1:17 Berean

Jesus has the keys to freedom from all death and misery, even for those who do not yet know Him. What does having a key mean? A key unlocks what has been hidden, so it can be seen, accessed, and dealt with. Keys give us a way in and Jesus Christ has the keys—the answers—to all that has brought death and hell to humans. Everything that separates us from God is accessed by Him within us, destroyed by the fire of His authority and presence.

This sounds like a really massive project, doesn’t it? While it is lifelong, it’s not too big for our God. Jesus Christ is unlocking within us anything that has been locked up, hidden within our hearts, bringing death instead of life, hellish conditions instead of love, peace and joy. He already defeated it all and now He is within to defeat it in us, His temple. He also gives us the keys to the death and hell that others are suffering, that we may minister a powerful word of hope and healing.

God teaches His kingdom priests how to apply His keys, the answers that fit what’s been locked up in the darkness of our souls. His spirit of Life enlightens it all. There are good things locked up too, promises God has made to us that are yet to be released in our earth, to bring us to maturity in Him. He holds the keys to death and hell, not man nor man’s will that brings so much evil and destruction here on this earth.

God gives discernment to those He calls for this work. Often we cannot judge by outward appearance or demeanor what is in the heart of another, whether their struggles or their beliefs. Believers do struggle in the same way as non-believers in all things that are common to man. We, however, have hope that life’s struggles have their purpose in Him. We know that there is a way out. He always makes a way to escape.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:20-21 Berean

The key to ruling and reigning with Jesus is to overcome all by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. It is by faith that we enter in to all He has promised. As we overcome every trial and test that comes our way, we are qualifying to sit with Him, to rule as an authority in His kingdom of peace, love, and joy. When called to be a Counselor in His house professionally (and not) as I was— we trust that those who come our way are those He is bringing.

Perhaps it is someone else’s prayers that brought them. They may or may not know our Lord, but regardless, they are God’s workmanship. We have compassion for those God sends our way to walk with for a while, regardless of their beliefs. We can rest in knowing that He knows the end from the beginning for them. We are confident that Jesus Christ our Lord has the keys to unlock and expose in love and truth, that which is keeping Him out of the hearts of people.

We search for these keys as we intercede as priests between God and the people He brings our way, or into our hearts for intercession. Sometimes, God provides the key to understanding the other’s heart right away, but understanding another’s heart's motives does not always change the outcome. They must be ready, willing to follow through. Some may need time following a seed for change but another may water this crop and witnesses the fruit of His spirit of truth and righteousness later.

It’s difficult for those of us desiring to help our brothers and sisters to accept that some people don’t want to be helped! It may not be their time, just as there were those in Jesus’ earthly ministry who were not given “ears to hear; eyes to see.” Those who are not ready wear out others who keep trying to assist them on their journey. We end up working harder than they are on their issues! This happens in fellowships as well as families.

It’s important to recall that Jesus was surrounded by acute and chronic need in the people in His earthly ministry, but He did not minister to everyone. Nonetheless, seeing into their hearts as God allows increases compassion and love for the other person, particularly if we have not walked the path that they have. While many behaviors are sinful, problematic or wrong, they can be compassionately understood. One of my favorite verses at these times is:

“For He knows we are but dust and that our days are few and brief, like grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever.” Psalm 10314-16 TLB

Ah, yes. We are but dust, earthy. We came from the dust of the earth and will go back to it, as God so ordains until all death is swallowed up in victory. Jesus Christ only did what the Father showed Him to do. He is absolutely able to show us what the Father would have us do. Each step towards this kingdom priesthood requires no reliance on our flesh. It absolutely cannot enter in.

Only complete surrender to the will of God takes us through. He subjected us to this knowingly:

”For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God.

For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation.” Romans 8:18-20 Concordant Literal

We did not choose this way. God Himself subjected us to “vanity.” We did not volunteer for living in our present fleshly creation. We were created by God to be “transient, temporary, profitless,” until the plan of the ages unfolds to restore us back to what Adam and Eve lost.

God knows every person, inside and out and understands the creation in which we dwell now, our temporary home. When we are called to be kingdom priests, sons of God and servants of man, we are being prepared by the Lord to deal with the hearts of others in order to bring deliverance from Mount Zion, God’s holy habitation in the spirit.

All we have is His, and all we go through is His path for preparing His Kingdom Priests. All we are or can be is preparation for the work of reaping the hearts of His people in this Day of the Lord. Hear what He has promised:

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 Berean