IT IS TIME TO MAKE JESUS KING!

 

It was time to make David king over all Israel

In the book of Chronicles we learn how David became king over all Israel. The key to this happening was that some of the leaders “had understanding of the times.” “Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” 1 Chron.12:32. The context of this verse is, that after the death of Saul, David had been made king of Judah, which was his own tribe. But one of Saul’s sons had taken over the kingdom of Israel in place of Saul. This was not according to the perfect will of God. God had pronounced judgment on Saul and David had been anointed to be king. It is now thirteen years at least since David was anointed to be king by Samuel. He has already been king of Judah for seven years, but now it is time for David to become king over all of Israel.

It was a time of great change, an historic time, an out-working of history in the nation of Israel to fulfill the purpose of God. It was time for the kingdom of God to find expression through David and the nation of Israel. 

Jesus has been the priest of the church

Jesus’ priesthood of the church has been manifested in intercession, prayers, worship, healing; many good times have been experienced in the presence of the Lord. But Hebrews 3:1 tells us to “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus Christ.” For 1,800 years Jesus has been the Priest of the church and to the believers, offering salvation, forgiveness and cleansing but always being hidden within the confines of the church. 

Now He is to be known as King

When we consider Jesus as the Apostle we are moving into the realm of the kingly anointing. Jesus is “a Priest according to the order of Melchizedek”. In Genesis 14:18-20 and Hebrews 7:1-10 we are introduced to Melchizedek, King of righteousness and King of peace and Priest of the Most High God. From the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, we have the revelation of Jesus as King, a King Priest.

He is the King Priest

“For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizdek’” Heb.7:17. In Genesis 14:18 Melchizedek is twice king as well as being “the priest of God Most High.” Jesus therefore is a King Priest forever. This Melchizedek was not made like the son of man; he had neither father nor mother, no beginning of days, nor end of life. He was made like the Son of God. He was the one to whom the father of the faith Abraham gave his tithe (Heb.7:3-4).               

Jesus, the son of David

Under the Law of Moses there was a clear distinction between the priestly ministry and the kingly ministry. King Uzziah trespassed into priestly ministry in the temple and was struck with leprosy as a result (2 Chron.26:16-21). He did not respect the clear division that God had set. King David was an exception in that he had a special dispensation of grace to minister as prophet, priest and king, being a type of Christ; but nevertheless his primary ministry was that of king. Jesus is the one to occupy David’s throne eternally. David’s throne and the kingdom of Israel at that time pointed to Jesus ruling and reigning as the King eternally and the kingdom of God being fully established in the earth.

Priests offer sacrifices & kings have authority to rule

Under the law when kings overstepped the God-given boundaries of their ministry and offered sacrifices they were judged. King Saul did not wait for Samuel who was in the office of priest, to offer the sacrifice to God (1Sam.13). Samuel was anointed as a priest to offer the sacrifice. Kings were anointed to rule; they were anointed to exercise authority and go to war. As soon as the young prophet anointed Jehu to be king of Israel, the captains of the army immediately acknowledged his kingship (2 Kings 9:4-13). 

 

The priest shall be crowned as ruler [king]

“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, then speak to him saying ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD. Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule on His throne. So He shall be a priest on His throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both” Zech. 6:11-13.

Here the high priest is being crowned a king! This priest is to build the temple of the Lord, an apostolic work, and bear the glory. Kings normally bear the glory. Majesty belongs to kings. Jesus is Priest and King, and He is building the church, God’s temple, and He bears the glory. He wants us to not only minister as priests but to rule and reign with Him as kings, and thus bear His glory. He has appointed apostles to lead the saints in building the house of God, to fulfill His own calling to build the temple of the Lord. The building of the house of the Lord is a kingly task; it was Solomon who built the temple. It was Zerubbabel the governor who rebuilt the temple; it is not primarily a priestly task.

Zechariah is one of the last prophets of the Old Testament and he is speaking of a transition from the division between priest and king under the Law to the restoration of the original order of priesthood which is the order of Melchizedek.

 

In Jesus Christ, the order of Melchizedek has been fully established

and now the saints are entering into their inheritance to rule and reign as kings.

 

Jesus has made us kings and priests

“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, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” Rev.1:5-6.  

We are to reign as kings

We are “a royal priesthood” 1Pet.2:9. That means we are kings and priests. The Lord wants to strengthen our hand today in kingship, in rulership. A royal priesthood does not mean a priesthood that serves kings but a priesthood of the same kind as our Lord Jesus: of the order of Melchizedek, the king priest. In Melchizedek, this eternal order (Heb.7:3) is demonstrated. In Jesus Christ this order is brought into being for the church. It is not the case that some are priests in terms of ministry unto the Lord, and some are kings in terms of ruling in the society at large. No!

 

We have been made a royal priesthood of the order of Melchizedek,

in whom there is “the counsel of peace between the two offices.”

 

All the saints are kings and priests

Some have incorrectly taught that there is a division between those who minister as priests, suggesting this is the role of a clergy group, and those who minister in business, politics etc. in the community, they being the kings. There is no Scriptural basis at all for such a claim and this wrong teaching misrepresents the order of priesthood which is so clearly taught in Scripture. The priesthood of the order of Melchizedek preceded the only other order of priesthood in the Scripture, that is, the priesthood of Aaron. The order of Melchizedek has now clearly succeeded the order of Aaron. 

Another misconception popularised by certain versions of the Bible which misquote Revelation 1:6 to say Jesus has made us “a kingdom of priests”, robs the saints of the role of kingship, which is to rule and reign in Christ Jesus. A kingdom of priests suggests that all the citizens in the kingdom are priests ruled by a king; this infers that the only ministry of the saints is to minister to the King as priests. This is far from the truth of the Scripture and a totally misguided understanding of God’s intention to give the kingdom to the saints who are meant to be ruling and reigning with Christ now.

It is the kingly nature of New Testament saints that speaks of and points to the reality of the saints receiving inheritance in the earth. Because the church historically has concentrated on the priestly ministry of Jesus, the church has been seen as that building where priestly ministry happens: prayer, worship etc. and the ministry of the word has been largely in sermons giving personal exhortations to help people walk with Jesus. However when we begin to be taught on the true nature of Jesus as Messiah [the promised anointed King, who is seated on David’s throne, “for He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” 1Cor.15:25] God will raise us in the authority of sonship to walk as kingdom saints [those who inherit the kingdom Dan.7:18&27]. Now is the time for this to happen! This is the generation that God is raising into sonship to enter the land and inherit all of His “magnificent and precious promises” 2Pet.1:4.   

 

We have been made kings and priests

                    

        Kings <--------------------- all saints ------------------------> Priests

   are crowned <----------  both are anointed -------------->  are ordained

are heirs to the inheritance                            are ministers in the sanctuary

are seated on thrones                                                          offer sacrifices

    issue decrees                                                                  make intercession

set policy                                                                          offer prayers

 rule                                                                                    minister

bear the glory                                                                   walk in holiness

 

Much of this text has been taken from Chapter seven of

“Walking in our Inheritance”, 2^nd edition, pages 114-119.

Written by Paul Galligan

 

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Update on orphanage proposal in Myanmar:

We praise God for His awesome provision! Money to purchase a plot of land in Mawbi Town, just out of Yangon was sent to Vung Cin Mung via Ps. Jean and brother La Htoi. However when Vung Cin Mung went to purchase the plot he found that the price was more than what we had been told. Another $1000 AUD was needed. We had received a further $3200 which was given specifically for the building of the house etc. By faith we made the decision to send the extra $1000. The very day the money was sent, a sister phoned SHILOH to discuss the orphanage proposal and committed to sending a cheque of $1000! The land can be purchased and we still have the funds to send for the construction of the children’s home.

 

CALENDAR

April:

1^st – Wondai meeting 4pm

        Paul, Janet & Robert Pitkin preaching in three different churches in Nairobi

6^th – Bruce & Jean Manning arrive home from India

8^th – Easter Sunday: Community Sunday at SHILOH 9.30am teaching, 10.30 morning service

April 15^th – Wondai meeting 4pm

 

May:

5^th – Jean Manning is ministering in a ladies retreat in Gladstone

7^th – Team home from Africa

12^th – TRAINING DAY at SHILOH – 10am to 4pm

13^th – COMMUNITY SUNDAY at SHILOH

19^th – Training Day at Warwick

25^th – Teaching meetings in Mackay; evening house church at Proserpine

26^th & 27^th House church meetings at Proserpine

 

OVERSEAS TRIPS

INDIA: Bruce and Jean Manning continue ministering in North East India until 3^rd April

 

AFRICA: March 29^th to May 7^th – Paul Galligan, Janet Barton & Robert Pitkin depart on 29^th for East and Central Africa; Miriam & Rhoda Truss dept. on 30^th    

                               Mar.31^st – April 7^th Nairobi, 8^th - 11^th Burundi, 12^th – 17^th Rwanda, 18^th -21^st Kampala, Uganda, 22^nd – 3^rd May West Kenya, Return to Nairobi 3^rd May. Depart on 5^th. Miriam & Rhoda Truss are staying on in West Kenya to serve in orphanages for 6 months.

 

INDIA/PAKISTAN: May: Pastor Peter De-Bressac and team will be ministering in Vishakahapatnam, and then in Lahore and Faisalabad in Pakistan.

 

WEST AFRICA: proposed trip late September Paul and team

 

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INTERNATIONAL

TRAINING 2007

Two weeks school plus two weeks consultations & regional visits

Monday 25^th June to Saturday 21^st July

 

for Pastors, Leaders and those called

to minister in the body of Christ

 

to be held at:

SHILOH CENTRE

19 Russell St TOOWOOMBA

QLD 4350

AUSTRALIA