Introduction by T M Smith
As New Testament Priests there are many things the Lord expects us to be, many things that are fitting requirements and characteristics of that duty. They were foreshadowed in the Old Testament Priesthood by the duties performed by that office. But as Satan’s infiltration of the Churches would have it; God’s mandate that each individual be a priest of Christ was rendered obscure and obsolete, giving way to a total religious aspect of priesthood in the churches everywhere. At the start the writings of the apostles and in particularly Paul, John and Peter made it vitally clear that priesthood was to be the province of every believer, Male and female, rich or poor, without regard to race or former religious creed. The requirements were issued in the writings of the apostles, all being inspired by the one and only baptizer and commissioner of priests, the glorious everlasting, Holy Spirit Himself.

The system of Christian religion and its bogus idea of priesthood has been in place nearly from the beginning of the Christian revelation given by Christ himself and reiterated by His personal friends after His ascension to heaven. Since the second century of the Christian Era, when the last apostle went home the church began making it an exclusive club, one which quickly became subject to the theology and discretion of men who were not adherents and students of the Holy Ghost but of the schools of the limited, but arrogant intelligence of human beings. It took a few centuries before the priesthood of Christianity fell entirely into the hands of Man, the churches finally, a generation before of Augustine, around 350 AD jettisoning whatever was left of the vestiges of true priesthood.

In these last days, however, with the revival of the personal acceptance of the Holy Spirit among some churches, starting roughly with revivals of pilgrims in Europe and England of the 16th and 17th centuries AD, the priesthood of the believer began to resurface. Little by little its truth was revived, until its explosion in Twentieth Century United States blew the lid off of the old vagrancy of the church concerning its worship and honor of the third person of the Trinity. Though it was only widely embraced for a short time after WW II to the end of the century, until its complete disappearance in the ‘90’s it was revived for the end times purposes of revival. For all intents and purposes the revival of the Spirit of God has been kicked aside by the new millennial churches in favor of reviving the theology of the day; which now is ‘the rights of man’, the natural goodness of man and the hope of goodness inherent  to human liberty and the freedom of thought of the American and French Revolutions.

But the truth of the priesthood of any believer being possible is not to be mourned as if it has totally died. Not only is its memory alive but its reality is available today to any reader of this article. For what the apostle Peter wrote two thousand years ago burns brightly with more than hope; it is vitally available to the simple believer in Jesus Christ. As Peter put:

“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.” 1 Pet 2:5

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Article Written by Joelle Gagnon

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Sacrifices – Priesthood begins with being able to offer up sacrifices that are acceptable to God.

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1. We offer up ourselves; our will, minds and our way of doing things unto God in order that we might do His Will.

2. We offer sacrifices for others by allowing the Lord to use us. We can’t put restriction on God about how he uses us. Many times it can look like we are being taken advantage of by others and it can actually be true. The Lord arranges situations for the truth to come out about people and what they are really all about. If we put restrictions on what you are willing to do or not do, then you can’t be used by God. He can’t operated under men’s conditions, he is God and with him all things are possible. Even having others take advantage of you for his purposes.

3. We are to offer up our bodies. It is the temple of God and the Holy Ghost dwells there.
Rom 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.” The Lord can also use our bodies for his purposes. I knew a godly man that God allowed to suffer cancer so he could minister salvation to his surgeon and his surgeon was saved. I happen to have an affliction that the Lord has used numerous ways for the sake of other people. One way was so I could be home and available to help young christians get through some very troubling times. Another was so I could help some people save some money by babysitting for them. Those are just a few examples of ways the Lord can use our bodies for his purposes.

4. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise Heb 13:15 We should do this…”to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” We ought to always be praising God for all he has done for us and others. Sometimes when things are really difficult it may be hard to Praise God but we still ought to offer the sacrifice of praise knowing that all things work together for the good for those who are called according to God’s purpose. I know it blesses God when we Praise him. It’s another way of saying I love and trust you. I will remember the things you have done for me. 1 Pet 2:9 says further: “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:”  The fact that God has chosen me and made me a royal priest makes me praise him. That he could take such a worm as I and make me into something that can be fit for the master’s use is one of the most unbelievable miracles of all times. He really has taken me out of my dark and lonely world into His marvellous light. What a very kind Father God is. When I was deep in sin he said I love you. He also promised to make me a better person and he has. What great freedom there is not to be a slave to sin and my selfish desires.

5. “To do good and to communicate Heb 13:16 “…forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”  Doing good to others, helping others, sharing the gospel, tithing are all examples of sacrifices that are pleasing to God and helpful in furthering the gospel, and bearing fruit in our lives that we share with others.

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Handling Holy Things We handle holy things and are expected to handle them properly.

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This demands we put under holy scrutiny what things are holy. The churches have concluded that items, cups, certain people approved by a system, and a wide array of sundry things and ideas are holy, but this is not the true New Testament theology of the Spirit for it amounts to holding on to the Old Testament law which the Church has been told from the beginning was to pass away God under the spirit of the New Testament.

1. First off God is Holy Jesus told us that we should be holy even as God is holy. We should care for his will and understanding that we can act in a holiness that is not known by us unless we seek His holy character as a witness to being like Him.

We need to approach him with gravity, humility, and above all a desire to be like Him and not according to some textbook learning but according to a personal knowledge of Him gained by a genuine relationship as a perfect disciple, believer and friend should exhibit. Everything he does is Holy, therefore we need to strive to be as He is. To do this we must sacrifice on the altar of holiness our own perception of what is needed, what is good, what is true, always listening to his voice and deferring to his guidance on personal and general matters of the present and future alike. God’s testimonies are suffice, they need not be embellished by us or helped by exaggeration or undue explanations as if God did not know what He is doing. A testimony in a new testament priest’s life needs only the telling and doing, it needs no help from the priest. A priest handling it properly must report on in with pure honesty, never helping God out. This is the general spirit of what ‘handling holy things ’ means in all simplicity.

2. The Word of God is Holy and we ought not to be using it for our own gain. We are to teach others the truth and only teach that which we have learned from God. The Bible also tells us not to cast pearls before swine’s. We need to use discernment in dispensing the Word to others. We need to wait on the Holy Ghost to let us know what to say, to whom and when. People will be accountable for what they heard and what they did about it.

3. The Sabbath is holy. We need to keep it holy. God does give us rest from our earthly toils and if we are wise we will take these Sabbath’s seriously. There is also a spiritual rest for us to enter into and that is to cease from your own works and enter into God’s works. Do his will only in every situation. It’s that simple but it’s hard to do at times. You need to trust him.

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We Can Intercede in Behalf others

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1. We pray for the salvation of others.

2. We also pray on behalf of people. Sometimes the Lord will show us what that person may be lacking and we can pray for that.

Suffering is also a form of intercession. Paul says in Col 1:24 “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:”  There are times when we will suffer for the sake of others. Some of these are persecutions, physical afflictions, putting up with other people’s sins, and immaturity of young christians. It helps to know that we are partaking of the same affliction that Jesus himself partook of therefore he can comfort you in all these things.

We are to be in God’s Service
A help to God. A good servant does what they are told. They are also trustworthy. In Isaiah 42 Jesus is referred to as a servant. God in Matt 12:18 says of Jesus “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” Jesus is our example of a perfect servant, he came for one purpose, to do the Father’s will. We should have that same purpose driving our lives always.

We are to Promote Salvation to everyone the Lord leads us to help out in every situation. Salvation means being saved or protected from harm or being saved or delivered from some dire situation. People souls are in jeopardy and they need saving. As people that have freely received salvation from God we ought also to minister that same salvation freely to others as the Lord leads.

We Extend Mercy to others just as we have received mercy from God. Along with mercy is also forgiveness. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Remember how merciful God treats you and treat others the same way according to the leading of the Holy Ghost.

We Offer Forgiveness to others when they ask for it. If indeed they are sincere. God will show you this also. Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”  If he doesn’t repent, stop committing the trespass, we can’t forgive them.

We Are Able to See the Light It’s a very dark and treacherous world, but God will light the way for us. God will reveal himself, his will, the truth, and his word to us. We will be able to see him, speak with him, pray for answers. The Word will also be a lamp unto our feet. We will be able to walk where he is walking. He will show us all that we need to know to live as true priests in service to him. This is especially true when dealing with people. God will show us what is truly going on in every given situation so we can act according to the truth.

Judgements –
We are judged by God not men. I need to do God’s will and be pleasing to Him. He is watching me. Sometimes he wants me to do things that might not seem nice but it’s for his purposes for someone else’s need. One time the Lord had me be a real stern with someone and later when I doubted myself and asked him if I did correctly he told me yes. That person needed that so they could cry out to God. When it comes to things of God they are serious matters. Nothing to be trifled with. As much as I wanted to be pleasing to that person at the time I had to do what God wanted me to do. It’s not about pleasing others and what they think of me. It’s what God thinks of me that counts.

John 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”  We are to judge righteous judgements and that can only happen by knowing God and his will and receiving his word on every situations. We don’t do things according to what we see with our own eyeballs or what someone says. It’s what people actually do that matters. People say lots of things and then don’t do them or make up excuses why they can’t. This is especially true with sinful habits. Jesus came to set the captives free from sin. If they aren’t being freed from sin then they just aren’t seeking to become a disciple of Christ. If God says to be patient and give them some more time then do that. But if they don’t change you will not convert that person it’s best to leave that person and move along.

We are also to told that in Matt 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits”. What are they truly living by. Do they say one things but do another? Do they walk according to the word of God. Review the history of that person or situation. Start from the beginning about what you know is true. Then trace the whole situation and examine the fruits of what actually has taken place. What people actually have done throughout the course of time.The Holy Ghost will bring out the truth. He will let you know what to do about the situation. We ought not to be foolish by neglecting to examine the fruits. We should be judging things by God’s standards. It doesn’t mean I judge that person and say whether or not they are going to heaven, that is Jesus’ job at the White Throne Judgement. I judge according to the truth.

God’s judgements fall on people first and foremost to bring about salvation for them.

“exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
  for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
  who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:1-4

It is a serious matter when judgements fall on people, it is another way that we handle Holy Things, we ought wait on God and find out what he wants us to do if we find ourselves involved in the judgement that has fallen.

We Are to Wait on God: not do something on our own. Many times when bad situations come up I want to do something about it. But I have learned not to do anything and to wait on God. He is doing something and I don’t want to get in his way or ruin what he is trying to do. Things are so complex that only God has all the answers. He is usually dealing with many people and many situations to give people what they need, or try to get someone’s attention to work out his salvation. He is not sitting there with a magic wand and saying abracadabra, presto it’s done. He is dealing with people and their free will. It takes time for things to develop. So wait on God.

Psalm 62: 5-8 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,and my refuge, is in God.Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Paul, being the prototype new testament priest, gives us a concise picture of what one’s life consists of as a Priest. It is equally true in this last era before the return of Christ. Paul gave up everything and counted it all as dung to apprehend the high calling in Christ Jesus. Below are some of the conditions upon which priesthood must be built.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
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. 2 Cor 4:6-18

God’s priests have been perfected by the working power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost now guides us into the works of God. Shine his light (by the example of our lives and the preaching of The Word) to others to extend the invitation to become the bride of Christ.

As we live these holy, consecrated lives, we need to take courage and be strengthen by God because we are troubled on every side by the world, satan and our own flesh, and sins surrounded us and others, yet we are not distressed because we wait on the Holy Ghost to help. We are often perplexed by the situations we are in, but not in despair because we know in seeking God, in his time, he will show us what we need to know and do. We may be persecuted by the world, satan, and people, but we are not forsaken. He will never leave or forsake those that are his. We may be cast down at times by circumstances and situations but never destroyed by them.

To be assured we are his we must strife to die to our wills and perceptions of good and right and lean entirely on God’s vision as told in the prophetic scriptures. We speak of the things which God has taught and shown, things which we have actually lived and experienced ourselves. We know the power of God, the power that has worked in us, and that it will do the same for others when they allow His spirit to lead them without double-mindedness.

Though our outward man perish and is afflicted our inward man can then continue to grow in the knowledge of God. God’s mercies are new every morning. I am blessed to see the works of God in my life and others.

The goal of every New Testament priest is indicated by Colossians 1:28: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”