[5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, [6] and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

 

In this verse, Jesus Christ is speaking to the seven churches in Asia, and he is describing the redeemed believers. The phrase "has made us kings and priests" refers to the status and role of believers in God's kingdom.

 

In the Old Testament, kings and priests were two distinct groups with different responsibilities. Kings ruled over the people, while priests ministered to God on behalf of the people. 

 

King Saul attempted to perform priestly duties. Saul offered a burnt offering to God without waiting for the prophet Samuel, who was designated to perform the ritual. This this event marked a significant turning point in Saul's reign, as it led to God's rejection of him as king over Israel (1 Samuel 13:13-14). 

 

The proper performance of priestly duties was seen as essential to maintaining a right relationship with God, and Saul's attempt to assume these duties was seen as a violation of God's ordained order.

 

However, in the New Testament, believers have been given the privilege of operating a dual role - they are both kings and priests.

 

‭I Peter 2:9 NKJV‬

 [9] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

 

‭1 Peter 2:9 TPT‬

[ 9] But you are God’s chosen treasure — priests who are kings ,  a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.   

 

 Kings 

 

Kings rule over territories. Throughout history, one of the ways that kings  acquired territories through conquest where they expanded their territories through military campaigns, defeating other kingdoms.

 

As kings, believers are called to reign with Christ because satan is a defeated foe! Through Jesus death and resurrection, He conquered death and Satan! The kingdom of darkness has been defeated.

 

Colossians 2:15 NLT

 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. 

 

This disarming occurred when Jesus died on the cross, like stripping a defeated enemy of armour on the battlefield. Evil no longer has any power over believers because Christ has disarmed it. 

 

Our seating and reigning with Christ in heavenly places is a position of authority, honour, and triumph—not failure, depression, and defeat.

 

According to Ephesians 2:6, believers are now seated with Christ in heavenly places. 

 

‭Ephesians 2:4 ESV‬

 [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

 

Joint-seating with Christ is "far above" all principalities and powers of darkness. Evil spirits can't influence the believer who has joint-seating with Christ, far above all principality and power! 

 

Our position as believers is one of joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places. If you want to rise above your circumstances, take advantage of your position in Christ.

 

God designed the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to be triumphant because we share, and we are partakers of Christ's victory over satan.

 

The Church is the Body of Christ, and this body is connected to the head. If Jesus the Head triumphed over the devil, is the Body of Christ to be any less triumphant since we are in Christ? Of course not! 

 

It is our legal right to enjoy joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places in a position of authority and triumph far above all principalities and powers. If you take advantage of your joint-seating with Christ, you will begin to triumph in life!

 

The believer's position and seating in Christ is a fact. It has already happened. 

 

Now, all we have to do is enjoy the rights and privileges that already belong to us as joint-heirs with Christ. 

 

 Priests 

 

In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as an intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ’s victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now, we can come directly into God’s presence without fear (Hebrews 4:16).

 

As a believer, you are a priest, chosen by God. As a member of the royal priesthood you have constant

access to the King. This privilege

describes your position as a priest.

 

It's important to note that your priesthood is fuelled by your prayer life and the study and obedience to God's word.

 

 Priests offer sacrifices 

 

One of the duties of priests in the Old Testament was making sacrifices to God. When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal and place it on the altar as an offering to God. 

 

 As priests, we are called to minister to God through our worship and offering our lives as living sacrifices acceptable to Him. 

 

‭Romans 12:1 ESV‬

 [1]  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

 

Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament, God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (see 1 Samuel 15:22;  Amos 5:21-24). 

 

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT

 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 

 

Amos 5:21-24 NLT

 "I hate all your show and pretense- the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. [22] I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. [23] Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. [24] Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. 

 

God has always been after our hearts, not our sacrifices.( Psalm 40:6 NLT

 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings ...)

He wants us to offer ourselves, not animals, as living sacrifices—daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.

 

When we become “living sacrifices,” we are transformed Christians. We don’t live according to the mandates of this present age, Our minds are renewed. We’re to live lives consecrated to God and lives that are not conformed to this world, but transformed by God.Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to be transformed into Christ’s likeness. 

 

‭Romans 12:2 ESV‬

 [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

 

 Called to minister on behalf of others 

 

The priest represents God to the people, but he also takes the people's concerns to God. Many hesitate to witness about their faith in Christ because they don’t feel like the change in their lives has been spectacular enough. But you qualify as a witness for Jesus because of what he has done for you, not because of what you have done for him. 

 

Christ demonstrated his great love by setting us free from our sins through his death on the cross, guaranteeing us a place in his Kingdom, and making us priests to administer God’s love to others.We are given the responsibility of bringing others to him .

 

2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT

 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And *God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.*

 

When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and humanity.

 

In summary, Revelation 1:6 is a declaration of the exalted status and role of believers in God's kingdom as both priests and kings and as we embrace our dual roles, we are bringing the reality of God's kingdom to our world.

 

 Praying like a king and priest 

 

As believers are encouraged to pray like kings and priests, based on biblical concepts like Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 1 Peter 2:5,9. Here's a summary of what this means:

 

 Praying like Kings: 

 

 1. Boldness: Kings pray boldly, knowing they have authority and access to God's throne.

 

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV‬

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

 

 2. Confidence Kings pray with confidence, knowing they can make requests without fear or hesitation.

 

I John 5:14 NKJV‬

 [14] Now this is the confidence that we have in Him , that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 

 

 3. Authority 

 Kings pray with authority, declaring God's will and purposes. Kings dont beg. They make decrees.

 

‭Job 22:28 AMP 

 You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways. 

 

‭Matthew 18:18-19 AMP‬

 [18] I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven. [19]  “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 

 

 Praying like Priests: 

 

 1.Intercession 

Priests pray on behalf of others, interceding for their needs and well-being.

 

1 Timothy 2:1 NLT

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 

 

 2. Identification 

They pray with empathy, identifying with others' struggles and pains.

 

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 

 

 3. Offering spiritual sacrifices: 

 

 Priests pray, offering sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and worship.They offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

 

 1 Peter 2:5 NLT

 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God . 

 

Hebrews 13:15 NLT

 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God , proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 

 

Remember, praying like kings and priests is not about our worthiness but about our identity in Christ. We are called to pray with confidence, boldness, and authority, knowing our prayers can make a difference in the world!

 

Praying like a king and priest is not just about the words; it's about the posture of your heart, humbly and confidently approaching God's throne as His beloved child and ambassador.

 

1. Let us minister to the Lord through worship and adoration.

 

2. Let us thank Him for giving us the dual role of believers who operate as kings and priests 

 

3. Let us minister on behalf of others by standing in the gap for other believers and non-believers.Pray for family, friends, and those in need. Let us pray with confidence and boldness as we exercise our authority in Christ.