“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 marvellous light.” (1 Peter2:9)
Introduction
As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are not just residents of His realm—we are kings and priests under the authority of Christ, our King and High Priest. (See Revelation 1:5–6; 5:9–10.) Our twofold role delineates our God-given dominion on earth. God has always intended for His people to develop a close, intimate relationship with Him while carrying out their purpose as His chosen instruments of kingdom expansion in the world. In this study, we will discover how God wants us to fulfil our ministries of king and priest in the here and now.
Study Questions
… From Last Week
Part IV: The Role of King in God’s Kingdom in the Now
The “territory” of our allotted “kingdom,” or sphere of influence, might be our family, our business, our community, our ministry, another realm of life, or a combination of some of the above. Yet, regardless of the size of our territories, we are kings over them, and we need to “extend our rods” and begin to rule, according to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
- Rule with the Rod of Authority in Christ
- (a) What is announced in Psalm 110, indicating what God the Father will do on behalf of His Son Jesus? (Verse 2a)
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(b) Following this announcement, what decree did the Father give the Son? (Verse 2b)
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KEY DEFINITION: In biblical times, a rod was “a sign of authority, hence a scepter.”2 The rod is representative of a king’s authority. After Jesus resurrected, ascended, and sat down on His throne in heaven, He gave us authority to use His “rod” over the nations and to extend His kingdom, carrying out the purpose and plans of the Father. (See, for example, Matthew 28:18–20.) We rule according to Jesus’ rod of authority to expand the kingdom of God and to push back the kingdom of darkness in all its forms.
(c) Indicate the “rod of authority” that Jesus has given to believers to enable them to save, heal, and deliver others. Complete the following:
Mark 16:17–18: “[Jesus said,] ‘And these signs will follow those who believe: ______ _______ ____________ they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”
(d) Acts 3:1–9 recounts the healing of a lame man by Peter and John. What did Peter explain was the means through which the lame man was “made strong,” or healed? (Acts 3:16a)
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The authority is in the name written on the rod, but it has no use until it is exercised.
- Rule Through Prayer
Ruling through prayer is one way in which the roles of king and priest overlap. True power in the spirit realm is activated by those who know how to pray in order to establish the kingdom of God and cause His will to be done in their communities and nations.
- (a) In the New Testament, we read how the prayers of believers ruled over a situation of persecution—even though they didn’t know how effective their prayers would be! What did the believers do when the apostle Peter was imprisoned by King Herod, shortly after the king had killed James, the brother of John? (Acts 12:5b)
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(b) Whom did God send to supernaturally release Peter from prison, where he was bound with chains and guarded by four squads of soldiers? (Acts 12:7–11)
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(c) How did the believers respond when Peter suddenly showed up at the place where many of them had gathered together to pray for him? (Verse 16b)
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(d) Shortly thereafter, Herod sat on his throne and gave an oration to the people of Tyre and Sidon, who shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” (See verses 21–22.) What happened to Herod, and why? (Verse 23)
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(e) What occurred with the word of God following this incident? (Verse 24)
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Let us now explore three principles in relation to ruling through prayer.
Prayer Principle #1: Our Prayers Must Be Based on Scripture
- (a) God’s will is written in His Word. What confidence can we have in God when we ask for something in prayer? (1 John 5:14b)
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(b) What do we have, if we know God hears our prayers? (Verse 15b)
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Prayer Principle #2: Our Prayers Must Correspond to a Rhema, or a Revealed Word from the Holy Spirit in the Here and Now
- (a) As a proclamation of God’s judgment of the Israelites’ idolatry and other wickedness, what rhema did the prophet Elijah receive regarding rain in Israel, a rhema that he proclaimed to King Ahab? (I Kings 17:1b)
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(b) A true rhema will not contradict God’s written Word. Rather, the Bible will support it, and supernatural manifestations will confirm it. What warning in the law of Moses would Elijah likely have been familiar with as a confirmation of the rhema word he received? Complete the following:
Deuteronomy 11:16–17: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He ________ _______ _________ ______________ ______ __________ __________ ______ ______ _________, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.”
(c) After three-and-a-half years without rain had passed, what new word did the Lord give Elijah? (1 Kings 18:1b)
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(d) What corresponding rhema did Elijah later communicate to Ahab? (Verse 41)
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(e) The above episode provides an example of how God’s people have exercised His rule through obedience to His word, and prayer. The fulfilment of the above rhema took concentrated prayer on Elijah’s part. (See verses 42–44.) What was the eventual result? (Verse 45)
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(f) What encouragement did the apostle James give us that God can work through us to do His will, just as He worked through Elijah? Complete the following:
James 5:17a: “Elijah was a man ___________ _____ _____________ ________ _________.”
(g) What kind of prayer avails much? (Verse 16b)
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Prayer Principle #3: Our Prayers Must Be Empowered by the Holy Spirit
- (a) In Acts 4:23–30, Peter, John, and their companions prayed together, asking God to give them boldness to speak His word, and to heal and do signs and wonders in Jesus’ name. What was the result? (Verse 31)
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(b) In what other ways did the Holy Spirit answer their prayer? (Acts 5:12a, 14, 16b)
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- How does the Holy Spirit help us in our weaknesses? (Romans 8:26b, 27b)
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Conclusion
The world is waiting for us to go out and demonstrate that our supreme King and High Priest, Jesus Christ, lives today and that we are kings and priests in God’s kingdom. People need us to show them practical solutions to their difficulties and to manifest the power and authority we have in Christ to rule over the works of the devil—to prove that the gospel of the kingdom is not mere theology, theory, or words, but that God’s power can save people, heal their afflictions, and deliver them from bondage.
Dear friend, I challenge you to take your place in the kingdom as a priest of almighty God and as a king over the territory He has given you. From your position in Christ, seated with Him in the heavenly places, rule with authority, in the name of Jesus—whether in your home, business, ministry, church, neighbourhood, city, or nation. From that place, bring God’s kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy to the earth, expanding His reign and manifesting miracles, signs, and wonders to destroy the works of the devil and to banish the kingdom of darkness!
Prayer of Activation
Holy Spirit, we ask You to enlighten the eyes of our understanding so that we may comprehend our calling as God’s kings and priests under our Supreme King and High Priest, Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, we present our bodies to You as a living sacrifice. We place ourselves in Your hands. Do with us as You wish, and send us wherever You want us to go. We will give You praise, tithes, and offerings. Empower us as we serve and intercede for other people, that they may come to know You and be freed from sin, guilt, and oppression. We take our rod of authority and begin to use it, right now. Anoint us as we expand Your kingdom on earth, today! Give us the grace to carry out our responsibilities as kings and priests before You, offering acceptable sacrifices and ruling according to Your will and Word. Amen!
Action Steps
- Since we are the extension of the ministry of Jesus, who “always lives to make intercession for [us]” (Hebrews 7:25), we should make prayer and intercession on behalf of other people a priority. What an honor and privilege to be a priest of the living God! There are countless plans and purposes of God that cannot be carried out until we birth them through prayer. Let us align our prayers with Christ’s prayers. Let us pray for the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth and for the salvation of souls, as well as other spiritual needs. Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you, according to God’s will. (See Romans 8:26–27.)
- As a kingdom ruler, start using your rod of authority through the name of Jesus. Demonstrate His reign with miracles, signs, wonders, and the casting out of demons. Exercise rule in your own environment. Take authority over sickness in your body, lack in your finances, depression in your soul, and every attack of Satan. Remember that you are anointed and that God has given you the authority to do these things. Use the rod right now! It has the power to deliver you, your spouse, your natural and spiritual children, your ministry, your business, your community, and even your nation.
