Priest's Services

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you a priest?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To enumerate the priest's services.

IV. TEXT:

1 Chronicles 23:13 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart to dedicate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s presence, to serve the Lord, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.

V. THESIS:

The priest's services are to make offering to the LORD GOD, serve GOD, and to declare blessings in His Name.

VI. TITLE:

Priest's Services

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.’”

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Burned sacrifices to the LORD

"to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s presence"

The word "burned" came from the Hebrew word:"qatar" meaning to smoke, turn into fragrance by fire, burn, incense, sacrifice, kindle, offer.

Malachi 1:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Amos 4:5 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving. Then give your extra voluntary offerings so you can brag about it everywhere! This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do,” says the Sovereign Lord.

2 Chronicles 29:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”

Burned sacrifices to the LORD, we are the living sacrifice before the LORD.

Romans 12:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

B. Minister before the LORD

"to serve the Lord"

The word "minister" or "serve" came from the Hebrew word:"sharath" meaning to attend as a menial or worshipper, to contribute to, minister, serve, wait on.

Exodus 29:30 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The descendant who succeeds him as high priest will wear these clothes for seven days as he ministers in the Tabernacle and the Holy Place.

Ezekiel 42:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

When the priests leave the sanctuary, they must not go directly to the outer courtyard. They must first take off the clothes they wore while ministering, because these clothes are holy. They must put on other clothes before entering the parts of the building complex open to the public.”

Joel 2:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’”

We only serve one LORD, that is our LORD JESUS CHRIST and one GOD - our Abba FATHER GOD. We are servants of the Most HIGH GOD, not men.

C. Pronounce blessings in His Name forever

"and to pronounce blessings in his name forever"

The word "bless" came from the Hebrew word:"barak" meaning to kneel, to bless GOD, congratulate, praise, thank, salute

Psalms 100:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Ezekiel 3:12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the Lord be praised in his place!)