Kings, Priests And Prophets By Dr. Temi Odejide

Our assignment is not about creating things, but to discover what has already been created for us. Our second assignment is to tend and to keep what (we have discovered that) God already created for us. Adam discovered the garden God already created for him and he was given the assignment of tending and keeping it (Genesis 2:8,15). This is a repeated instruction from God in scriptures – we are meant to tend and to keep what we discover that God has already given us (Psalm 127:1).

Your life is a life of discovery; firstly and most importantly, to discover God, and secondly, to discover who you are in God (Ephesians 1:18). Discovering who you are in God clears identity crisis and you will not be susceptible to deception as Eve was, in the garden.

I Peter 2:9 – ‘Royal priesthood’ is a combination of kingship and priesthood. In the text, they ‘proclaim’; which is a prophetic function. God has called us to be a house of kings, priests and prophets.

The kingship of David is the greatest in Israel. In the Old Covenant, kings and priests were separate offices and did not mix, but David broke that rule ahead of his time. David functioned not just as a king, but also as a priest and a prophet. In I Samuel 21:6, he claimed spiritual priesthood when he took the Holy bread, and his Psalms contain prophecies of the Messiah many years before they would happen (Psalm 22, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 69, Psalm 23).

David foreshadows what the New Testament believer is meant to be – king, priest and prophet – Revelation 1:5,6 (NKJV), Revelation 5:10 (NKJV), Revelation 19:10 (NKJV).

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit was the release of the Prophetic on the New Testament believer (Numbers 11:27-29, Acts 2:1-4, Joel 2:28).

We are meant to operate in all three roles. It is our identity.

As prophets, we speak about the future. As priests, we stand in the gap. As kings, we effect change, making what we have prophesied to come to pass.

As prophets, we reveal God’s will. As priests, we represent God’s people. As kings, we administer God’s rule.

As prophets, we speak from heaven to earth. As priests, we carry earth to heaven. As kings, we govern heaven’s agenda on the earth.

The prophet hears what heaven is saying and declares it; the priest kneels and intercedes; while the king stands and commands.

The prophet exercises authority by revelation; the priest, by mediation; and the king, by administration.

Prophets shape perception and vision. Priests shape hearts and worship. Kings shape systems and outcomes.

Prophets announce God’s future; priests anchor people in God’s mercy; kings advance God’s purposes.

Prophets discern the battle; priests pray through the battle; kings win the battle.

As prophets we receive the Word; as priests we carry the burden of the Word; as kings we execute the mandate of the Word.

As prophets we speak truth; as priests, we embody truth; as kings we enforce truth.

Prophets are given for direction; priests for connection; and kings for dominion.

Prophets reveal God; priests reconcile people to God; kings restore order among the people.

Prophets open the way; priests hold the way; kings walk the way.

Prophets foresee; priests intercede; kings proceed.

Prophets announce; priests advocate; kings activate.

Prophets discern; priests disciple; kings deploy.

Prophets chart the path; priests guard the heart; kings govern the house.

The New Testament believer is not either of these – prophet, priest, king – but all. These are not three separate functions placed side by side, but are lined up together – three in one. You have to learn to function in all three. It’s about time you started walking in the fullness of the prophetic, the priesthood and the kingship. Switch! Learn to move between all three – bringing to the fore what is needed per time, depending on the situation before you. This means you also need to understand all three functions so you know when to switch.

In John chapter 11, Jesus the Prophet declared He was going to wake Lazarus up (vs 11,14); Jesus the Priest wept (vs 35); and Jesus the King instructed that the stone be rolled away, boldly assured Martha and then commanded Lazarus to come forth (vs. 39-43). Where the word of a king is, there is power (Ecclesiastes 8:4).

You must embrace the three parts of you – your prophetic, your priesthood and your kingship; and must learn how and when to shift between them.

I Timothy 1:18 (NKJV) – Not all prophecies are automatic. God-level prophecies are unconditional and cannot be hindered from occuring. A Man-level prophecy on the other hand is ‘divine intent that is conditional on the agreement and alignment of the man it has been spoken to’, that means, you have to insist upon its fulfillment in your life. Your prophecy is not just a promise, it is an arsenal – a weapon of war. Stop allowing it gather dust on your shelf. Take it up every day in the place of prayer, and insist that what God has said is what will come to pass in your life.

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) – When the Word moves out, it looks for who will agree with it (II Chronicles 16:9).

Psalm 62:11 (NKJV) – You hear twice what God has said once because you repeat it. Be a repeater of God’s Word. Don’t keep your mouth shut.

Matthew 6:10 – Though it’s done in heaven, it’s only done on earth when someone repeats it on earth. Repeat the prophetic word. This is your year of thanksgiving!

As you allow the king, priest and prophet in you arise, latch onto the Word and see it being performed in your life. Amen.