Developing the Priest in You:  Part 3

Join us for Part 3 of the series, 'Developing the Priest Within You' with Prophet Hari Rao, where we explore the profound stewardship and teaching role of a priest. Discover how Samuel, an able steward, prophet, and judge, exemplified managing God-given resources with excellence while leading others in the ways of the Lord. Learn why stewardship in the natural qualifies you for the supernatural and how prioritising God’s presence unlocks your destiny. A Priest is an excellent Steward: Samuel was an excellent steward of the territory God entrusted to him. As seen in 1 Samuel 7:16–17, each year he traveled to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah—establishing centers of power, teaching, preaching, and imparting the understanding of the Lord. He returned to Ramah, his home, where he continued to judge Israel and built an altar to the Lord. Just as God holds us accountable for what He entrusted to us, Samuel exemplified wise and diligent stewardship. Why does an almighty God, with an endless supply of resources, choose to manage them with such care? If He, who lacks nothing, values stewardship, how much more should we, who have limited resources, strive to steward them well? Jesus cursed the fig tree that bore no fruit, reminding us that every child of God must eventually outgrow the tendency of solely depending on miraculous provision. In doing so, we risk becoming poor managers of the resources God has entrusted to us. In the Old Testament, the people brought their sacrifices only once a year, but the priest had to offer sacrifices daily. He was required to manage his resources carefully to ensure the lamp remained burning every day—there was no miraculous provision of oil. Could it be that in areas where God calls us to stewardship, we are instead waiting for the supernatural? To develop the priest within you, you must grow into an excellent steward of your resources. Your ability to manage the natural is what qualifies you to manage the supernatural. A Priest is a Teacher of the Word:  Every child of God is called to function as a priest within the boundaries God has assigned to them, carrying the holy responsibility to nurture and instruct their household in the ways of the Lord. Families are the smallest yet most significant jurisdiction God has established. A place saturated with the Word becomes potent, leaving no room for the enemy to enter. The distortion of the Word allows the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy. 1 Samuel 8:3 speaks of Samuel's sons, who grew up not walking in the ways of the Lord. They bore the title of their father but failed to follow the ways of the father. If you learn the ways of the father, you will build what the father has built. Every child of God is a living letter, constantly demonstrating to the world whether they should follow the Lord. A priest watches, manages, and teaches! Most of us approach the presence of God driven by a need, but when you come to Him, He always has something far greater prepared for you. In His presence, you never leave with just what you sought after. You come as a man but return as a king. In 1 Samuel 9:20-21, Saul came searching for his lost donkeys but left with his destiny.  What he thought was a simple search led him to his anointing as king over a nation. In your pursuit of what’s lost, if you shift your focus to seeking the presence of God, you will return with far more. God has a way of taking that which is lost and maneuvering you into His presence. You come seeking provision and leave stepping into purpose. In finding Jesus, you find everything.