Called to Be Priest
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Partakers of the Presence
Partakers of the Presence
What do you think of when you think of a Priest?
I usually see a Catholic Man in a black shirt and a collar
Maybe a levitical priest from the Old testament
Elaborate rings
sashes
The pope
If you think wearing a tie is bad, I can’t imagine wearing a big robe
Usually it means wearing some sort of fancy gown or robe
My Father in Law is Orthodox Greek
Went to the wedding
Usually when I think of priests I think of religion
Rules
Chants
Tradition
Candles
Fire retardant robes
The theme of priests are pervasive through the Old testament
God’s priest’s were always associated with offering sacrifices:
Before Moses’ brother Aaron and his descendants became the priestly class of Isreal
Melchizedek, the priest and king of Salem in Genesis 14:18
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
He was a type and prophetic foreshadow of Christ
4 The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
In Exodus, we learn Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law); he was not an Israelite but a priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1)
There were pagan priests of Baal, Dagon and Zues
Pretty much every historical societies in some way shape or form had a type of clergy or holy man
Some had and still have: witch doctors, shamans, medicine men etc
The common denominator in all these-whether these people are technically called priests or not- is that they stand out from the common people:
They are perceived to have special abilities, that enable them to serve as a link or mediator between the common person and their respective deities
Catholic Church before the Protestant Reformation
Priest started to use their influence and power to their monetary advantages
sell of indulgences
the Bible was only read by those who could speak latin
The lay person had no access to the Bible
Then Martin Luther came around and challenged the fallacies of the church
Translated the Bible to German
You can see the Church has a Rich history of Priest like figures
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
James tells us to confess to one another not a priest- There’s freedom in confession
Now we have things like Pastors when referring to senior leadership of a congregation
Pastors are biblical Acts 20:28
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
I’m not here to diminish the importance of pastors or the local Church, they are God’s idea in His word and they are important
BUT
What I want you to get from today is that YOU! Yes You are called to be Kings and Priests:
Kings and Priest of your family
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
A peculiar people
WE’re called to look differently than the World:
We don’t have to have crazy dresses or gown or hats but
The way we talk, act, respond
We should look different from the World
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
WE - all of us are called to be by new covenant definitions PRIESTs
How many of us believe that we can only receive something from God if someone else prays for us?
There is special anointing and gifting that people possess from God as laid out in 1 Corinthians 12
There are giftings and different annointings
As the spirit rests on people
But we are all called to be filled with the Holy spirit
Discipleship?
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
WHE YOU PRAY
WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE PRIEST’S OF OUR FAMILY:
We are called to have direct access to the King of Kings AND Lord of Lords
Not because of what we’ve done
But because who Jesus is!
How many of you had a dad growing up present in your life?
How many of you your dad played catch with you or encouraged you to do something?
How many of you your dad took you to church
How many of you your dad had conversations with you about God?
How many of you feel like you were discipled by your dad?
If all the women’s ministry folded up and kids ministry went away
LET’S LOOK AT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PRIESTS:
We’re called to sacrifice
The priests of the old testament offered sacrifices for the cleansing of sin for the nation of Isreal
They had to cleanse themselves and make sure they were fit, able and prepared to offer the sacrifices to God
We are called to the same level of sacrifice
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
One translation says your priestly service
When we sacrifice our will, our emotions, even our wants and desires
We function in the role of a priest
How do we do that?
We let the word shape us
We surrender to His will
We function as a priest When we worship, Praise and Pray
2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Surrender in worship
We surrender in praise
God gave the priest very important instruction on how things were to be made, prepared, how they were to conduct themselves in order to spare their own lives!
God gives us the same instruction for today in His word, to keep us living the life of divine FAVOR that he has for us
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
We function as priests when we serve
16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Her worship and service changed the atmosphere in the room
Your serving your family, your church, and your community changes the atmosphere wherever you go
4. We are Priests when we Give
11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Our giving is an offering to God
5. We function as priest when we Evangelize
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Minister of priestly
What’s in it for me?
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We get to come boldly into his presence
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
WE have a hope in a God who is Faithful to meet us wherever we’re at
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
We get to have God’s unmeritted Favor in our lives
