Giving back to God. The story of Abraham and Isaac is well known. However we do not appreciate Abraham's agony of soul until God requires a similar sacrifice from us.

We came naked into this world. During our lifetime we acquire many relationships and things. At any time God may take from us what He has given to us.

Sometimes God prefers we surrender our gift voluntarily. God knows the possession that is the most deeply rooted in our soul. He may ask for that.

The self-ruled individual may attempt to evade God's request, or may refuse outright.

The true saint is prepared to give to God his very soul. When the time comes, the saint bows his head in agony and cries: "Not my will but Yours be done."

It is unthinkable for any member of the royal priesthood to deny the Lord anything He asks. It is only the immature believer playing around the edges of salvation who debates whether God will require this idol or that idol.

We have a world full of immature believers. In addition there are some true saints. The true saints are ruled by Christ, not by their emotions. When God asks for something, though it is their very soul, they give it. They endure the cross. They hold back nothing from God. These are God's ruling priests. The lukewarm, those who debate about obeying God, will be vomited out of Christ's mouth.

Spiritual darkness is increasing rapidly in the world. Only the strongest will stand. Each person who is walking by faith will be required to give to God the idol of his or her heart. God's will shall be done among His kings.

Abasement before exaltation. He who exalts himself shall be abased. We must humble ourselves before God can exalt us. God must pierce the self-rule and self-centeredness that are so vital a part of our personality.

Christ Himself is our Example of humility before exaltation:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)

Each member of the royal priesthood has been called to stupendous power and glory—incomprehensible power and glory. Before we are ready for any such exalted position we must be brought very low by the Lord. We must respond well to our discipline.

There is no place for grumblers in the royal priesthood. We are to bear our cross readily and cheerfully, looking forward to the glory that awaits us so we shall be able to persevere through every trial of our faith.

There is no question of our calling. We were called from before the creation of the world. We were not called to a life of ease in the present world. We have been called to a severe discipleship during which every aspect of our personality will be brought down to death and then raised again in Christ.

The part of us that is unworthy of the Kingdom will remain in death—eternally separated from us. The part of us that is to be saved will be brought down to death, judged, and then raised again in Christ. We are being made a new creation. All things of the royal priesthood are of God.

We are separated from the world so we may be the kings and priests of the world, so we may bring deliverance, righteousness, peace, and joy to the world as Christ through us reveals God to people.

We are separated from sin so we may be free from Satan and from death, thus becoming candidates for the fullness of eternal life—the very Life that God Is and Christ Is, an eternal part of God's Being and energy.

We are separated from self-rule so God in Christ may find His eternal rest in us, so we may never think, speak, or act against God's will or apart from God. We are the eternal Tabernacle of God. God through us will wipe away the tears of the nations of saved peoples of the earth (Revelation 21:4). (from The Three Separations of the Royal Priesthood)