THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRISTIANS

THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRISTIANS – Our Key Verse: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied. Dearly beloved, I exhort you as temporary residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify God in a day of His visitation, seeing your good works.” (1 Peter 2:9-12)

With the great exchange created by our “Lord & Savior – Jesus the Christ”, and having replaced the entire religious paradigm with a more sure and pure relationship with God Almighty. In turn, creating a new priesthood of Christians to love and serve God. Being made up of all people from all over the earth; be it Jew or Gentile, Rich or Poor, Bond or Free. It matters not to YHWH. All those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died for their sins as a perfect sinless sacrifice- they are the new priesthood of God. Over the next couple of studies, we are going to dig into how to harness our new positions in Christ. As it stands now, we will in the forth coming studies cover: Sacrifices, Works, & Application.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRISTIANS

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THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRISTIANS

Sacrifices

• What We Do!

“You also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

• What Are The Sacrifices We Offer?

This is by far not a complete list of the Spiritual sacrifices we as true followers of God can offer. This list is meant to help unlock our understanding of what God finds to be important. So, as we begin, remember to listen to the Spirit of God to unlock more!

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

“Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God with these words: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:16-17)

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” (Hebrews 13:16)

“But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.” (Luke 11:41)

“Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

“Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble. And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:14-20)

“But if you had known what this is, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned those who are not guilty.” (Matthew 12:7)

Love Your Fellow Believer

“Therefore be followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“But the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned,” (1 Timothy 1:5)

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  (1 Corinthians 13:13)

*Be Sure To Read All Of 1 Corinthians 13

Love Your Fellow Man

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

Love Your God

“I rejoiced greatly that I found your children walking in truth, as we have received command from the Father. And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” (2 John 1:4-6)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42)

THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRISTIANS

The Daily Priesthood

As servant priests of God, we minister daily for His glory. Central to this theme is how we go about our everyday life. We do not live reactionary lifestyles, responding to every whim and terror the world throws at us. We have meaning and purpose for our days upon this earth. As we seek the Kingdom of God first every day, this list will help us understand what it means to be a servant priest seeking God. Again, this is not a complete list, just an introduction to the daily office of a servant and child of God.

• Search For Him – Daily:

“Seek the LORD’s favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands! Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble! Maybe you will be protected on the day of the LORD’s angry judgment.” (Zephaniah 2:3)

“Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!” (Isaiah 55:6)

“Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations! Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds! Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually! Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,” (Psalms 105:1-5)

• Search The Scriptures – Daily:

“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

• Seek Wisdom- Daily:

 “Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts. For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:33-36)

• Receive Those God Sends To Teach You His Ways- Daily:

“Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.” (Jeremiah 7:25)

• Encourage And Provoke Each Other To Good Works- Daily:

“You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn.” (Hebrews 3:13)

• Deny Yourself- Daily:

“Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

• Die to Your Will And Self- Daily:

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25)

• Share The Gospel- Daily:

“So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there.”  (Acts 17:17)

“And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

• Stay In Unity, Share, & Be Singles Of Heart- Daily:

“All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)

• Pray Always:

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

• Praise God Everyday:

“Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear him, both the small and the great!” (Revelation 19:5)

 “Then I will sing praises to your name continually, as I fulfill my vows day after day.” (Psalms 61:8)

• Cry Out To Him For His Mercy- Daily:

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long!”  (Psalms 86:3)

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.” (Psalms 68:19)

• Endure- Daily:

 “You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:3-5)

• Expectation

“As they went through the towns, they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day.” (Acts 16:4-5)

Recap:

We are still called to make sacrifices for our God. We still minister before Him every day. We have a daily calling upon our lives. Beyond that, we are an entry level bridge for the lost world and encouragement to the faithful. We hold a high office in the courts of Heaven. We must declare the salvation of our Lord. Many Christians are asleep on the job and fail to perform their God-given function. It must never be so for us. Salvation is the starting line, not the finish line. We are saved by faith in Jesus, now we are called to fulfill our calling. This will be the topic of our next Bible Study- Works!

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