The Air I Breathe
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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.