The Father's Business Devotionals

You Are A Priest – Isaiah 61:6

The Bible says you are a priest. The basic functions of priests were to represent God to man and man to God. One of the duties was to bless the people. Our culture doesn’t understand blessing as it was practiced in the Bible. The Bible was written in and to a culture that was steeped in blessing: the blessing of shalom, blessing the child with his name, the patriarchal blessing to sons, the blessing of God for His people, the blessing of Jesus, of the disciples, of the early church, of Peter, Paul, and James.

In the New Testament the priestly functions are transferred to all believers, and we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). We have authority and privileges as priests. Through Jesus our High Priest we have the right to come into the holiest place in worship. We are called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and prayer (1 Peter 2:5), abiding in His presence, drawing near to Him and dwelling in Him, and He in us.

In the Bible, blessing flows three ways: from God to people, from people to God, and from person to person. Because Jesus is in us, we can pass on to His people the blessings of His heart for acceptance, identity, meaning, affirmation, legitimization, and God’s good purposes.

Here’s a blessing for your spirit in your identity as priest.

Isaiah 61:6 promises, “You will be called priests of the LORD and ministers of your God.” And in Revelation 1:6. “(Jesus) has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father. To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom. Now the awesome privilege of access to the inner court belongs to all believers. You may boldly come to praise, worship, adore, and glorify your Father. Be blessed with knowing your free access to Him. Receive the words of 1 Peter 2:5 and 9. You are a priest and minister to God. That is your duty and your privilege as a member of the royal priesthood. Be blessed in drawing near to Him, abiding in His presence, and dwelling in Him, and He in you, as you offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and prayer.

Be blessed as you minister to God in the secret place where He releases His heart to you. Be blessed as you seek Him intimately and experience all of who He is. Worship and adore Him, being joyfully, willingly submitted to the One you love. Meet Him in complete surrender of all you are. Draw near as the Spirit of the Lord abides in you, indwells you, rests on you, and anoints you.

You represent God to others by releasing His heart of blessing to your world. By prayer, faith, intercessory living, and blessing, you open the door for restoration for yourself, your family, and others. You are an instrument of renewal and rebuilding of generations of desolation and ruin. You can bless and minister to others, so that God can convict, woo, love, and reconcile them. He will make all things new and glorify Himself as He ministers through you, and the glory of the throneroom puts its stamp on all you are and do in His name.

You are blessed to be a blessing. You can speak deeply personal words of acceptance, identity, meaning, affirmation, and legitimacy. Let God’s presence and blessing flow through you to His glory and praise. As you sow to the Spirit, and you will reap the things of the Spirit, for the one who sows to the Spirit reaps life. Be blessed in the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2).

Be blessed in the name of Jesus, your High Priest (Heb 3:1; 9:11).


Taken from You Are Blessed In The Names Of God, page 193. © 2008 by Sylvia Gunter. www.thefathersbusiness.com

Devotion Category: Blessing

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