Our Priestly Ministry
Our Priestly Ministry
We are all priests unto God! We need to understand and function in the purpose and responsibility for which we are called. It is God’s idea and desire and will to have a people, a priesthood who ministers in praise, prayer, and worship before Him continually.
A. The original pattern of the priestly ministry was given to Moses.
Exodus 19:1-11
In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt--on the very day--they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
EX 19:3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 `You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
EX 19:7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
EX 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.
EX 19:10 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
B. The children of Israel broke the conditions of the priesthood. They worshipped the golden calf and by their idolatry broke covenant with God.
1. The children of Israel disobeyed God’s voice by making a graven image.
Exodus 20:3-4
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
EX 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
EX 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:22-23
"Tell the Israelites this: `You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.”
2. The priesthood became limited to the tribe of Levi because of the golden calf idolatry.
Exodus 32:26
EX 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
On Mt. Sinai, Moses was given the pattern for the tabernacle including the ministry of the high priest. Yet, it was always Yahweh’s intent to have all the people of Israel function as ministering priests. The disobedience of the people led to the priesthood becoming selective and limited only to the tribe of the Levites.
C. The promise of the priesthood is now fulfilled in the church, the New Covenant priesthood of believers.
I Peter 2:5-10
1PE 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."
1PE 2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone, "
1PE 2:8 and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.
1PE 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Revelation 1:4-6
REV 1:4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 5:9-10
9 And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
REV 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was ripped open from top to bottom, signifying that every believer has the opportunity and privilege to enter into the presence of God through the blood of the Lamb. It was at Calvary that the ministry of the New Covenant priesthood of all believers was instituted.
D. The function of the royal priesthood is to offer sacrifices, to minister unto the Lord by means of those sacrifices.
1. Under the Old Covenant physical sacrifices were offered (animals, birds, grain, etc ;).
Exodus 28:3
“…that he (Aaron) may minister unto me in the priest’s office.”
*Four times in Exodus 28 does God use the phrase “minister unto me” to describe the priestly ministry.
2. Under the New Covenant spiritual sacrifices are offered (praise and worship)
I Peter 2:5
“…offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
I Peter 2:9
“…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Hebrews 13:15
HEB 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
*From Old Covenant to New Covenant, the function and purpose of the priesthood never changed! We are still commanded to minister unto the Lord with sacrifice and with offerings. The Old Covenant sacrifices were animal sacrifices because they involved the covering of sin. Jesus’ substitutionary death at Calvary forever abolished the animal sacrifice system. He became the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The sacrifice that God desires today is the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to him. When we stand in the house of the Lord and offer up our voices and hands in praise and thanksgiving, we are moving into divine fulfillment of our office and ministry as priests unto God.
As a praising New Testament priesthood, we draw close to God through our ministry of praise and worship unto the Lord. He has promised to inhabit or dwell in our praises. Because we are redeemed by his blood, we are a royal priesthood. Psalm 50:23, “Whoever offers praise, glorifies me…”
The Priestly CALLING
Aaron and his sons were separated to minister to the Lord. Remember that a priest is one who is authorized to minister in sacred things, to offer sacrifices (at the altar), to mediate between men and God.
Exodus 28:1 - "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests”.
Hebrews 5:4 - No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
Revelation 17:4 - They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
1. Called – David was called when he was anointed by Samuel, the prophet.
2. Chosen – There was much testing and purifying between the time of the call and of being chosen for David. He was chosen when he was made king, first partially over Judah, and then fully over both Judah and Israel.
3. Faithful – David was found to be faithful at the end of his life.
Acts 13:36 - For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
Psalm 40:6-8 - Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come--it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. To be faithful is to do the will of God.
1. Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
2. Ephesians 5:15 – redeeming the time, not being unwise, understanding God’s will…
3. Two aspects of God’s will
a. The GENERAL WILL of God applies to all believers.
1. I Thess. 4:3-8 - It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
2. I Thess. 5:18 - Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
3. I Peter 2:15 - For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
4. Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
b. The SPECIFIC WILL of God is his will for you that differs from his will for anyone else.
1. Prophetic words, dreams, visions, etc.
The Priestly CHARACTER
Exodus 28:1 - "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests”.
Hebrews 2:17 - For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
- A priest is taken from among the people, which speaks of having compassion for others.
Hebrews 4:14-5:2 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray…
Matthew 9:35,36 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
- A priest has a ministry of mercy, showing compassion to others
Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Galatians 6:1-2 - Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians 4:2-3 - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
