Montrose, Colorado

Rev. Willis A. (Bert) Jones, a country preacher & Bible teacher

When I was a rural pastor in the State of Wyoming, while attending a convention, a fellow pastor said that a certain minister was a gifted teacher with powers from God. This minister said that this unique man was a "priest" and "prophet", therefore we should follow him. To this statement I pointed out that all who followed Jesus were initialled by the Holy Spirit and therefore were priests under the Chief Cornerstone Jesus Himself, the real High Priest.

4 " To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." -- 1 Peter 2:4-10 (KJV)

More than half of the pastors in the group did not know anything about the "priest hood of the believer." This is a fundamental teaching of the Church and has been for 500 years, following a monk Martian Luther (October 31, 1517) when he split with the Catholic Church by nailing 95 theses on the church door. That Church taught the separation of the Clergy and the Laity. The teaching was that only the Clergy heard from God and they spoke to the common man, the Laity. Conversely Martin Luther taught the unity of all believers, each a priest of God, each caring for and ministering to each fellow believer and also receiving such ministry. This is known as the "Priest Hood of the Believers."

If you are a believer you are a priest, So we should behave like it and be a Blessing!