Peculiar People
Rev. Peter Tuchyna
With the increase of knowledge, greater ability to do research in any given field and scientific discoveries, we admire in a greater
measure the creation of God here on this earth and distant galaxies.
The Word of God declares that whatever God created was good. Genesis 1 .
The same Word of God describes the New Testament people of God as peculiar people. There is no any other closer and more
accurate description of the lives, the purpose and the involvement of God’s people.
God’s people are unique and therefore there is nothing on the earth and nothing in heaven we can be likened to or compared with,
except the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our lives and our lifestyle are peculiar. Our involvement and our attitude, our response to people from outside and from within is
peculiar. We are so peculiar that even angels are curious and desire to look into, as they are the ministering spirits unto the heir of
salvation, 1 Peter 1:12, Hebrews 1:14.
What is so unique?
Apostle Peter said, that we are a chosen generation, royal priesthood and holy priesthood 1 Peter 2:5-9.
The purpose of priesthood was to offer and to bring sacrifices and as Ezekiel 44:23 declared, to teach my people the difference
between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
The peculiarity is revealed in the word “a royal priesthood”. To be royal means to be linked with kingship, there is a connection
with the king. Priesthood is linked with the office of a High Priest, which is divine, spiritual, separated and put aside for a specific
purpose.
That connection between holy priesthood and royal priesthood was never introduced in the Old Testament period.
Only the New Testament relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is introducing such peculiarity.
The purpose of priesthood is a spiritual or divine service unto the Lord.
The purpose of a king is to rule and to secure order and justice.
Never ever in the history of mankind was any man able to reconcile the rule and the servant hood in one with justice.
Many kings and rulers and many systems, including some church organizations attempted so, but they failed miserably.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and the High Priest, is able to rule with love, compassion
and justice, serving mankind and responding to individuals for the benefit of eternal life.
As the king rules, one of his tasks is to subdue the unruly, so that justice is secured.
The New Testament church, which was given birth by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is fulfilling the will of Jesus by
“whatsoever I do you shall do also” John 14:12 .
In this case it is subduing the rebellious, demonic spirits, which are manifested in the lives of unbelievers.
The submission comes by the power of the Gospel and the presence of Jesus.
Therefore, the Word of God declares, and is revealing to us, that our rule, our subduing, our warfare is different of the warfare of
this evil world. We are peculiar even in our warfare.
Ephesians 6:12 declares that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Every ruler must know, who is subject of his rule, and who is his enemy. He must be also familiar with weapons he is using. In the
case of the royal priesthood, the Lord is saying 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 for thou we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the
flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to pulling down of strongholds, casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ.
If you do not know who your enemy is, you are engaged in civil war. Everybody is fighting everybody. It is a common tactic of the
wicked one to cause chaos, stir up the problem, divide and rule. Unlearned and immature Christians fall prey to the simplicity of
the devil’s tactics.
Civil war is a trademark of this world. It represents worldliness. It is a result of a spirit of rebellion against central authority.
It’s causing internal strife.
If you are not careful, it may happen to you and to your church. Therefore the Holy Spirit speaks through apostle Paul in
1 Corinthians 12 , now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
The devil is according to Ephesians 6 throwing fiery darts. They are thrown from a distance. It is not your brother or your sister
who are throwing the fiery darts. They are standing close to you. Look past them and do not presume. Do not prejudge. Darts are
used from a distance. The devil is scared to come close to you for you have a sword Ephesians 6:17 . you would chop his head off.
So he is sending fiery darts from a distance and he hopes that you will fight the one who is near to you, that you would chop off
his or her head.
That would mean one less soldier, one less royal priest fighting against the devil without the devil doing it.
The devil wants you and me to commit the murder. Therefore after taking on the armor of God the Ephesians 6:14-17 is giving the
instruction in verse 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints. Isaiah 54:17 God is giving us a promise that no weapon formed against thee
shall prosper… every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servant of the
Lord.
What a heritage – no weapon formed against us shall prosper. This is a reason why apostle Paul declared in Romans 8:35, who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril
or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the book of Luke 12:42-48 the Lord Jesus said a very notable parable. The Master gave his steward a task. But something
happened and the steward lost his focus on the task and next moment you see that there was a kicking, bashing and beating of the
menservants and the maidservants. Whenever you loose focus of the task, the fight breaks out.
How did Jesus conquer the power of the enemy? Not by might, nor by power, but as John 3:16 recorded, it was done through love and
sacrifice.
Therefore Romans 12:1-2 is giving instruction how to follow Jesus. It is in presenting our lives as living sacrifice.
Hebrews 12:1-2 is revealing the secret of the transforming power. Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.
May we all recognize and realize who we are in the Lord Jesus Christ, that no doubt, nor fear, nor disappointments may rob us of the
understanding and life of the whole Gospel, where Jesus Christ is the Lord and not our servant even when we are going through trials,
hardships, deprivation of certain rights or abuse by others.
All things work together for good to “us” that love God, to “us” who are called according to his purpose Romans 8:28 .
