Kings & Priests

Revelation 1:6 And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (NKJV).

“There’s a new breed of ministers emerging in the world market-place.  These ministers are passionate about the Kingdom, and are people of integrity and high moral character.  They think strategically and creatively about ways to impact the world for the Lord.  They are called of God and know it, but not in the traditional sense of preaching, teaching or even evangelism as we have known it.  They serve the Lord, but not in church offices or mission headquarters.  They serve Him in the market place.  Why?  Because they are business and professional people, and they know that their work is their ministry”.

Wow!  I couldn’t start this Brief Word any better than to quote the very first paragraph of a book that has recently had a huge impact on me.  It is called God @ Work, by Rich Marshall.

This Brief Word is I trust a message of hope.  I write on this occasion specifically for business and professional people.  May you rediscover that your destiny is to see the market place as your ministry place.

Jesus says; John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me.  (NKJV). You’ll experience a new level of fulfillment when you see what you do for a living as an important part of God’s will for your life.  Jesus preached and healed, but He saw it all as ‘work” His Father had given Him to do.  We must too.

Over the years I have watched many serve as a ‘Priest’.  Ministering in and from the local church.  Some are obviously called and anointed to that role.  I have also seen many minister as a ‘King”.  In business, owning, managing or in a professional role.  Again, some are obviously called and anointed to that role.

But it seems a tragedy, when a person who is already serving in a Kingly role, believes that the only way to fulfill the call of God is to be a Priest.  They leave that fulfilling, productive and influential kingly position to take on a role they were never called to, gifted and anointed for.

The same tragedy applies to other way, when God has clearly called, gifted and anointed someone to the role of Priest, yet they continue trying to serve in the market place.

One of life’s greatest thrills for me is to see someone serving and doing what they are gifted, called and empowered to do.  Be it a doctor, teacher, mother, café owner, pastor, baggage handler, entrepreneur, machine operator, salesperson, evangelist, etc.

I enjoy seeing people exercise the skills God has given them.  It is something worth seeing.  I mean have you ever watched a machine operator and wondered how they do that with such skill!  What about the surgeon, who with a steady hand administers healing through surgery?  What about the business entrepreneur who just seems to have the knack of knowing what deal to go for and what not to?  I love watching people doing what they do with their God-given skills.

Here’s an important truth.  When your skill level is high but the challenge of the task is too low, you experience boredom.  When your skill level is low but the challenge of the task is too high, you experience frustration and anxiety.  But when the level of challenge matches your skills – then you’re in the flow.

When you’re working in the flow of service to God, when you’re experiencing flow in activities that enhance and bless the lives of others – you’re working ‘in the Spirit’.  Paul was in the flow when he described himself “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things”.  (2 Corinthians 6:10).

What about you?  And me?  Do we see what we do for a living as our God-given call?  Do we see our work as service to the Kingdom?  Do we see our career as an opportunity for the Lord to use us to make a difference, to minister to others?

Let’s not confuse the call to the ministry in the market-place with the call to ministry in the local church.  We need both the Kings and the Priests ministering in their respective callings to see the Kingdom of God on earth as we so yearn and pray for.

Revelation 1:6 And has made us … (NKJV).

Press in to the Lord this year to discover what He has made you!  The discovery of that will transform your life.  Once you know, you can then serve with passion power and praise.  The market-place and the local church will also be much better for it!