Pt Five: Your Destiny, a King and Priest

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Last week I ran into a person that was really discouraged. After listening to him, I encouraged him in the promise from God’s Word that the Lord encouraged me with that very morning. I watched his countenance lift and a smile come to his face as I shared with him and then prayed for him.

As I said earlier in this series, we are surrounded by people in this life that are wandering through life trying to figure it out. They may work to figure out an answer they can live with but the truth is, it won’t last. They’ll get confused again. They’ll never really understand what life is about nor their God-given destiny until they have committed their life to Jesus. It is at that time and only at that time that His Holy Spirit begins to unfold and reveal to us the plans and purposes of God.

This is what is meant by the verses in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 which say that “no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. But we (Christians – those who have committed their life to Christ) know about these things because God has sent His Spirit to tell us, and His Spirit searches out and shows us all of God’s deepest secrets.”

Part of God’s phenomenal plan and one of His great secrets that He reveals to us is that He takes ordinary people like you and me and calls us kings and priests in the earth. Rev. 5:10 says, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” “Reign on earth.” Doesn’t that sounded powerful? But what does it mean?

Look around you. Is it difficult to see the demonic forces of Satan working in the earth? Can’t you see the greed, destruction, corruption, and evil that has invaded this earth? There will be a time where God will deal with these demonic forces once for all. But at this time, as a king you take authority in prayer over these invading forces. You cast down evil imaginations. You cast out fear. You know who you are in Christ. You pray in faith knowing that God is working on your behalf. As a priest, you are able to learn, know, and discern God’s will and be the priest of encouragement to your family and the world around you. That has everything to do with your destiny.

It is easy for you to look in the mirror, see your own shortcoming, be aware of your sins and failings, and think, “How could I ever be used of God?” The truth is, every person God ever used had major shortcomings and failings, all while they were being used by God. Your life is and will be a process of learning and practicing to become more Christ-like. But God has already received you and washed your sins away and made you righteous in His eyes. It can be so difficult to put your arms around that kind of love can’t it? Nonetheless, it’s true! Despite your shortcomings—it’s one of the secret truths of God—He’ll use you, even though you feel unworthy and inadequate. And if you will spend the time with Him, He’ll speak to you through His Word every day as His priest to give you a work of encouragement for yourself, and one that will also encourage someone who needs it in the course of your day. Be aware of that and you are walking in your destiny!

Isaiah 50:4 (NLT) “The Sovereign Lord has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt