The Air I Breathe

Why does the Church exist? Why does Calvary Baptist exist? Why do you and I exist? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Cor.10:31 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. I Cor.6:19-20 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph.3:21 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom.15:5-6 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:11-12 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:11-12 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Mt. 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Mt. 5:14-16 Why does the Church exist? To bring glory to God Why does Calvary Baptist exist? To bring glory to God Why do you and I exist? To bring glory to God Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen.1:26 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom. 8:29 The Church exists to fulfill the original purpose of God-to reflect God back to creation so that all of creation will glorify God John 4:16-26 The greatest heist in history Scripture…Until the Reformation, the people were prevented from reading the Word of God in their own language Worship…In the 4th century, the council of Laodicea ruled that only appointed singers could sing in church in Gregorian chants and only in Latin Priesthood…has not yet been returned, except in name only Who am I? Who we really are and what we are called to do is the primary motivation for everything we do in our lives. How God sees us, how much He values us, and how we can serve His heart and you (Israel) shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:6 How did Israel go from being called a nation of priests to only having one tribe represent them as priests? Exodus 32:25-29 (ESV) Idolatry And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Rev.5:9-10 How did you become a priest? you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Pet.2:5 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Pet.2:9 What priests are meant to do… Priests are meant to worship God and to help other people worship God Priests set up meeting places between God and people Numbers 1:49-53 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Pet.2:5 The circumstances of your day are ordained appointments. God brings people into your path as opportunities for Him to inhabit those moments Priests…… Each day ask God where He is going “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. Jn.5:19-20 Priests…… Each day ask God where He is going “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. Jn.5:19-20 Priests Carry the Presence At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. 9 Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him. Deut.10:8-9 Priests Carry the Presence At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him. Deut.10:8-9 Priests…Everywhere you go, you take the presence of God with you Everywhere you are the kingdom of God is represented We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. II Cor.5:20 Priests Minister to God At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him. Deut.10:8-9 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Rom.12:1 Often unintentionally the church has turned worship into idolatry “When we make worship about us—our preferences, our tastes, our comforts, our opinions -- Worship is not for us. Worship is for God. It is ministry for His pleasure, His heart, His opinion, His tastes, and His desires.” Zach Neese “Most churches make ministry to man the primary goal. Please don’t get me wrong. God loves people. He sent His only Son to minister to us and to save us. If we are going about our Father’s business, we have to be about people. But we can never truly be about our Father’s business if we are not first ministering to Him. As long as ministry to man is our primary objective, we are not priests; we are only philanthropists (and not very good ones.” Neese While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 When we as priests minister to God, He comes Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Ps.22:3 (ESV) W…orship I…nstruction F…ellowship E…xpression When we as priests minister to God, He comes Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Ps.22:3 (ESV) I…nstruction F…ellowship E…xpression Priests…Do we show the world that there is a God in the church that’s worth following, worthy of devotion, and deserving of our ministry? It’s going to take a kingdom of priests to do it Priests Bless the People At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him. Deut.10:8-9 Priests bless the people Biblical blessings catalyze destiny into people’s lives May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” Gen.27:28-29 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and protect you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”’ Num.6:23-26 Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God… II Cor. 5:14-20 (The Message) Priests…do we look at people through the eyes of God? Do we see lost causes or divine potential? God’s intention for the Church is not just raising up a bride for His Son; He’s ordaining a priesthood for His world. "A sage of India was asked by a young man how he could find God. For some time the sage gave no answer, but one evening he asked the youth to come and bathe with him in the river. While there he gripped him suddenly and held his head under the water until he was nearly drowned. When he released him the sage asked him: 'What did you want most when you were under the water?' 'A breath of air,' he replied. To which the sage answered, 'When you want God as you wanted the breath of air, you will find Him.'" -G.G.