And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And You have made them a kingdom (a royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth! (Revelation 5:9-10 AMP)
We were not saved just to have a ticket to heaven and in the meantime to maintain selfless and sinless lives here on earth. The purpose of our calling is to make known the excellencies of God. We are called to reveal and demonstrate His power, goodness, and love. We are destined to bring heaven here on earth.
The term 'royal priesthood' signifies we are both to be priests and kings before our God. In the Old Testament the priests focused on intercession and serving God in worship, and the offering of sacrifices in the secret place, while kings focus on ruling and reigning by decrees over their domains. Our identity as a royal priesthood is crucial, because we are called to walk in a balance of these two aspects of our identity.
As priests, we are called to minister to God in the secret place. In intimacy we see His face and hear His voice. As kings, we have the covering of authority and favor of the Father upon us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we expand the Kingdom of God. We rule by serving the people in love and destroying the works of the enemy. What we have received in the secret place, in the ministry of the priest, we are to release to the world, destroy the works of the enemy, and dispense the resources of heaven as kings. This is how we are to declare and show forth His excellencies and glory to this earth.
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