The priesthood of a believer (Part 1)
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BY BISHOP DR. FRED AKAMA
Exodus 19:6 (NIV)
“You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.
God created man essentially to be a priest unto Him. He created man in His own image so that man could minister to Him. The way man ministers to God is through priesthood. A priest is one who ministers to God, and priesthood involves human interaction with the spiritual realm.
There is priesthood of darkness and priesthood of light.
At some point in life, the natural is no longer sufficient. There are levels where natural abilities can take you far, but there are dimensions where the natural is inadequate, requiring spiritual backing. When you reach certain levels of influence, wealth, and position, you will encounter gatekeepers—spiritual forces that govern those realms. To access those positions, one must interact with the spirit world, either through the Holy Spirit or other spiritual entities.
Many innovations, scientific breakthroughs, and creative ideas are not purely the product of human intelligence but stem from spiritual inspiration. Some of the world’s most renowned inventors, such as Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin, received revelations in their dreams. Similarly, major corporations consult spiritual seers before launching products.
Jude 1:14-15 (NKJV)
“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’”
It is a foolish Christian who believes that breakthroughs are solely a result of human effort, while those producing them are aware of their spiritual origins.
Many aspects of culture, including certain sexual practices, musical styles, and dance moves, originated from demonic interactions. Some musicians and performers receive tunes and choreography from marine spirits, which carry a supernatural influence. What seems ordinary to a believer of light can captivate the entire world because it carries a spiritual essence that resonates with those unprotected by the light.
Many traditional cultural practices were shaped by principalities negotiating with men in exchange for knowledge and influence. These interactions established laws passed from generation to generation, often referred to as culture. When revival comes, these principalities revive cultural practices to maintain their influence.
Since God is a spirit, He created man to interact with Him through priesthood. The entire purpose of man’s creation was to serve as a priest to minister to God. When a priest ministers to a spirit, that spirit imparts its secrets, granting the priest dominion over the earth.
There are two kinds of priesthood: light and darkness. Though God never intended priesthood of darkness, the devil counterfeited God’s system, creating his own priesthood.
Genesis 2:15 (NKJV)
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”
God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden with two primary responsibilities: to tend (cultivate) and to keep (guard and connect it to heaven). Adam’s original role was to be a priest.
The Hebrew words for these responsibilities are:
- Yadah (to cultivate, to worship through service).
- Shammar (to guard, to keep connected to God’s presence).
God’s plan was always to create a kingdom of priests. When Israel failed in this role, He chose a tribe—Aaron and his sons—to serve as priests. However, His ultimate goal remained: to establish a nation of priestly kings who would exercise dominion over the earth.
Exodus 19:4-6 (NKJV)
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
When Jesus came, He fulfilled God’s desire by establishing the church and making believers kings and priests through His blood.
Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV)
“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.”
The level of influence a believer has is directly linked to their ascension and interaction in Zion. Natural influence is the lowest level; true dominion requires spiritual backing. Without strong priesthood, either one remains weak, or a dark priesthood subjugates them.
Throughout Scripture, altars and sacrifices are indicators of priesthood. Believers must recognize that their primary function is to be priests. While Christ’s finished work grants access to spiritual blessings, it is through active priesthood that believers manifest those blessings in their lives.
Prayer and priesthood serve as conduits for spiritual realities to manifest in the natural realm. Without an active priesthood, one may claim the finished work of Christ yet see no evidence of it in their life.
To bring the spiritual into reality, priesthood must be strong. If not, dark priesthoods will dominate. Every realm of influence—business, politics, entertainment—has spiritual gatekeepers. Those who enter without adequate priesthood either fail or are absorbed into the existing priesthood of darkness.
For instance, large businesses and industries are often governed by spiritual covenants. Some companies sacrifice animals before undertaking major projects to secure supernatural backing. Certain financial thresholds require a corresponding level of priesthood to access them without destruction.
Joshua 6:1 (NKJV)
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.”
When the Israelites confronted Jericho, its impenetrable walls were not upheld by physical strength but by dark priesthood. God’s strategy addressed the spiritual stronghold, causing the physical walls to collapse. Similarly, the Israelites’ bondage in Egypt was not due to Pharaoh alone but to the gods of Egypt. Once God judged those gods, Pharaoh had no choice but to release them.
Exodus 12:12 (NKJV)
“For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.”
Priesthood is progressive; as believers grow in priesthood, their influence expands. Spiritual altitude determines lateral impact—just as a higher-flying plane sees more land, a believer’s spiritual elevation determines their reach.
Before Abraham encountered the king of Sodom, he first met the king of Salem, Melchizedek. Negotiating in the courts of Zion precedes negotiations in the courts of men.
Many politicians and business leaders practice priesthood through sacrifices, influencing those who unknowingly partake. Even in dreams, receiving food signifies spiritual manipulation. Many experience financial blockages despite opportunities because dark priesthood governs their access.
Conclusion: The believer’s primary identity is that of a priest. Priesthood determines effectiveness on earth. Without strong priesthood, success is limited. Either one operates under the priesthood of light or becomes subject to the priesthood of darkness. Spiritual battles are won in the realm of priesthood before they manifest in the natural.
“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” (1 Peter 2:9)
……….TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2
