Ministry Of Priesthood

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you doing your priestly duties here on earth?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To enumerate some of the priestly duties that we need to fulfill for GOD.

IV. TEXT:

1 Chronicles 16:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

V. THESIS:

Pray, thank, praise and worship GOD because He deserves it from His priests, that's us.

VI. TITLE:

Ministry of priesthood

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain, thought to be edited by Ezra

B. Date written: Between 450 B.C. and 430 B.C.

C. Distinctive features: Deals almost exclusively with the history of Judah

D. Purpose: Provide spiritual perspective of events from David's reign to the decress of Cyrus in 538 B.C.

E. Intended audience/reader: Nation of Israel

F. Main theme: Sovereignty of GOD

G. Key verse:

1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.

He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.

I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”

We are the priests of GOD on earth.

Revelation 5:10 (Amplified Bible)

And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!

Exodus 19:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Isaiah 61:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Pray

Ephesians 6:18 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Jude 1:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 26:41 (New Revised Standard Version)

Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Pray at all times, pray in tongues at all times. There are times we pray not knowing GOD's Perfect Will but when we pray in the Spirit, we are praying perfectly.

1 Samuel 7:8 (New Revised Standard Version)

The people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines."

Philippians 4:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Psalms 5:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.

B. Thanksgiving

Exodus 29:28 (Amplified Bible)

It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their due portion from the Israelites perpetually, an offering from the Israelites of their peace and thanksgiving sacrifices, their offering to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:15 (New Revised Standard Version)

Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:11 (New Revised Standard Version)

You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;

This is a separate activity for us, since as we practice our priesthood on earth, most of our understood prayers are asking and requesting GOD but this time, it's intended to thank Him for who He is, not what He can give.

C. Praise and Worship

Psalms 22:23 (Amplified Bible)

You who fear (revere and worship) the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him. Fear (revere and worship) Him, all you offspring of Israel.

Isaiah 12:4 (New Century Version)

At that time you will say, “Praise the Lord and worship him. Tell everyone what he has done and how great he is.

Deuteronomy 32:43 (New Revised Standard Version)

Praise, O heavens, his people, worship him, all you gods! For he will avenge the blood of his children, and take vengeance on his adversaries; he will repay those who hate him, and cleanse the land for his people.