Pastor's Pondering, February 20, 2017

God Has Made You Kings and Priests

In the 1994 movie, the Lion King, Simba sings, “I'm gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware...I'm gonna be the mane event like no king was before. I'm brushing up on looking down, I'm working on my ROAR…Oh, I just can't wait to be king!”  We must admit that we love royalty.  We are fascinated with the adventures of kings and queens.  Many of us are transfixed with stories of nobility such as Downton Abbey and the Russian aristocracy from Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace.  Like many of us, the world was greatly saddened when Princess Diana died.

While we are interested in worldly rulers, the Bible says that God has made those who love Him to be kings and priests (Revelation 1:6).  God calls us to be a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). We do not have to look up and wonder at the world rulers because God declares that we are on top and not the bottom (Deuteronomy 28:13).  This is not to say that we will never go through challenges in life but it is God’s will that we overcome challenges.  Those who love God are His children who can call Him “Father” (Romans 8:15-16). We are heirs of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Romans 8:17).

In addition, we have been given much more authority that those titled people in the world system.  God gives us the keys of His kingdom so that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven (Matthew 16:19).  Not only do we get the keys to the kingdom, but we also get His kingdom (Luke 12:32). He has given us His authority to cast out devils, and to lay hands on the sick so that they can become well (Mark 16:17-18).  The power that God gives those who love Him is greater than any king, queen, or any ruler of the earth.

While we may enjoy stories of royal nobility, let us remember that we have been chosen to be royalty for real. We have been given the right to call God our Father. We who love God can rejoice in life in spite of any temporary challenges because we have direct intimate relationship with the Almighty God Himself.

Revelation 1:6
King James Version (KJV)

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9
New International Version (NIV)

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Deuteronomy 28:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Romans 8:15-16
New International Version (NIV)
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Matthew 16:19
New International Version (NIV)

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Luke 12:32
New International Version (NIV)

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Mark 16:17-18
New International Version (NIV)

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

18 … they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”