THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
1 Pet. 2:9
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. An old lady had always wanted to travel abroad. Now that she was getting on in years, she thought she would really like to do so before she died.
2. But until now, she’d never even been out of the country. So she began by going in person to the Passport Office and asking how long it would take to have one issued.
3. "You must take the loyalty oath 1st," responded the clerk. "Raise your right hand, please." The old gal raised her right hand.
4. The first question: "Do you swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all its enemies, domestic or foreign?"
5. The little old lady’s face paled and her voice trembled as she asked in a small voice, "Do I have to do that... all by myself?"
B. TEXT
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession[“peculiar people” KJV], that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet. 2:9. (See also Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).
C. THESIS
1. Imagine if I, Joel, and Eli (and other ministers) were the only ones who could come into the church and all the rest of you could only gather in the parking lot!
2. Imagine there was no way you could get forgiveness without coming to the church with an offering and having to confess your sin to the minister!
3. That was the situation under the O.T. dispensation. But now the Scriptures announce the glorious truth that ALL Christians are made priests before God!
4. However, are we aware of what God expects of us as priests? That’s the subject of tonight’s message, “The Priesthood of Believers.”
I. THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE O.T.
A. AARON THE FIRST HIGH PRIEST
Whenever people think of the priesthood they think of the High Priest. That’s because the High Priest was central to everything that took place at the Tabernacle. Aaron was the 1st High Priest.
B. UNIFORM OF OFFICE
1. All priests wore the white linen robe and turban, but in addition to that the High Priest wore a blue robe over their white one.
2. At the bottom of that robe were bells and pomegranates. Over the blue robe the High Priest wore an ephod. It was like an apron that was made from red, blue and purple cloth with a gold strand running throughout.
3. On his shoulder were two gold plate engraved with 6 names of the tribes of Israel on each, and on his chest was a breastplate with twelve precious stones – each stone engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
4. Thus, the High Priest bore the nation of Israel on his shoulders and wore them over his heart. Attached to turban (on his forehead) was a gold plate engraved with the words: “HOLY TO THE LORD”
II. MANY JOBS, ALL NECESSARY
A. TONS OF WORK TO BE DONE:
1. The daily sacrifices had to be offered (9 am til 3 pm)
2. Knives had to be sharpened.
3. Utensils to be cleansed.
4. Wood had to be cut & stacked for the fires.
5. Ashes to be collected.
6. Animal remains had to be removed.
B. WORK ONLY AARON’S FAMILY COULD DO
1. They offered up the sacrifices
2. Took care of items inside the tabernacle: lit the lamps, burned the incense, changed the bread on the table of showbread.
3. But there other things that needed done and so God gave the entire tribe of Levi to Aaron to do those tasks.
C. 3 CLANS OF LEVITE TRIBE & JOBS
1. Kohathites: take care of the ark, table, candlestick, and the altars.
2. Gershonites: care for the Tent, curtains, veil, and ropes, of the sanctuary.
3. Merarites: pack and maintain the boards, bars, sockets, pillars that held the tabernacle together.
D. IMPORTANT & UNIMPOTANT JOBS?
1. One commentator said the Kohathites carried the “important” items of the tabernacle (the ark, the altars, etc.) and the other 2 clans had “less important responsibilities.”
2. NO! The entire tabernacle was holy unto the Lord. All of it necessary. There were NO insignificant roles. It’s the same in the Church. Every function and job, however humble, are essential for the functioning of the whole! All are needed!
3. In order for things to run smoothly, lots of people had to take responsibility for various activities. There were many people had to work behind the scenes, so that others could worship. It’s the same today!
III. PRIESTLY MINISTRY TODAY?
A. TODAY’S HIGH PRIEST & LEVITES
1. Do we have a High Priest now? (Yes) Anybody know who our High Priest is? (Jesus). Heb. 6:20 tells us “Jesus…has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” So, Jesus is our High Priest.
2. Do you think He could do everything that has to be done in worship?
a. Of course He could. Who could sing better than Jesus can?
b. Who could preach better than He could?
c. He could come on down and pass out communion in half the time we could.
d. Not to mention, Jesus could witness and evangelize in ways that would put us to shame.
But He’s the High Priest… those technically aren’t His jobs.
3. Just as Aaron was given the tribe of Levi to help in his ministry, so also Jesus (our High Priest) has been given the church to do His work.
4. In fact, we have been given the responsibilities of being HIS priests in this world. Peter writes: “… you are a chosen people, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1Peter 2:9
B. NO LITERAL PRIESTHOOD TODAY
1. Some have substituted “Clergy” as modern day Levitical Priests. There is no such distinction in the New Testament. If you are a Christian – you are a priest.
2. You have been set aside by Jesus to do the ministry of the church: You can serve communion, baptize people, teach and preach about Christ & the Word.
3. Yes the N.T. Church have Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, etc., but in the eyes of Jesus – you’re all priests.
4. HUMOR: A Sunday School teacher was teaching her children the benefits of unselfishness. She concluded by saying’ "The reason you are in this world, children, is to help others." After a moment’s silence, a little girl piped up’ "Well, then, what are the OTHERS here for?"
C. OUR PRIESTHOOD TO THE WORLD
You’re all here to minister: To visit the sick, feed the hungry, Support missions, Teach the youth, Have Bible Studies, Work with programs, Pray for one another, Witness, etc.
IV. PREREQUISITES OF PRIESTS
A. RELATED TO THE HIGH PRIEST
You could only be a priest if you were related to Aaron; only he and His sons could freely draw near God. You had to be “BORN” into the family. Same today: You must be “born again.”
B. CLEANSED
“6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water” Lev. 8:6.
1. Moses washed them with water – outward cleansing.
2. Second cleansing with Blood (Vss. 14-21)
a. Vs. 2, Blood of Ram & sin offering sprinkled them.
b. So they were CLEAN BEFORE GOD.
3. Rock of Ages Hymn says, “Let the Water & the Blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.”
4. The priests still had to wash at the laver each time they went up to the Temple – we need cleansing/ confession DAILY!
B. THEY WERE DIVINELY CLOTHED
“Then he brought Aaron’s sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses” Lev. 8:13.
1. No matter how clean or pure, they could not appear before God until they were suitably clothed.
2. The Priests garments represent the righteousness of Christ.
3. We are told to “Put on Christ” as a garment (Rom. 13:14). Incredible picture: transfer of mantle from Aaron to Eleazar,
4. Not just cleansing from sin, but imputed righteousness!
C. THEY WERE ANOINTED
“He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him” Lev. 8:12.
1. Aaron had the Holy Oil poured upon his head, until it ran down to the skirt of his garments. “It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe” Ps. 133:2.
2. So, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34). Even if you and I have been cleansed and clothed, we still need to be anointed.
3. UNLESS THE HOLY GHOST ANOINTS US:
a. My preaching is useless;
b. Our praying is useless;
c. S.S. teaching is useless;
d. Our intercessions are useless;
e. Even in our daily life, without the Spirit, it is without value!
4. We need that anointing daily!
D. THEY WERE CONSECRATED
“Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet” Lev. 8:24.
1. The Blood was applied to their right ear, thumb, and big toe.
2. EAR – Every Christian should have consecrated Ears:
a. To hear God’s Voice:
b. To NOT HEAR some things: 1). Slander, insult, gossip. 2). Some books not read. 3). Some songs not listened to, movies not watched.
3. THUMB – consecrated hands/ activities. What we handle, what we do.
4. BIG TOE – Where we go.
a. We should be going to church, or be doing good deeds/ works in fulfillment of the Word of God.
b. We should NOT be going to Bars, gambling casinos, places of decadent entertainment, etc. If Jesus wouldn’t go somewhere for enjoyment, then you shouldn’t be going there either!
V. TYPES OF SPIRITUAL MINISTRY
A. WE ARE GOD’S, & GOD IS OURS
1. “Priesthood” (Kohen) comes from the Arabic qurab, “to draw near,” while others must remain afar off.
2. PRIVILEGE OF THE PRIESTS
a. Their portion of the inheritance was God; they received no earthly territories. Their focus was NOT worldly possessions, but pursuing and possessing GOD! Such should be our priority system!
b. Because they were set apart, they alone had the privilege of entering God’s Presence (as we do, by the blood of Jesus!)
1). This created controversy with the Korah Levites, who wanted not only to serve the Tabernacle, but to act as priests without the qualifications (Num. 16:10). Don’t you just hate being told you can’t do something?
2). This controversy was settled by the Budding of Aaron’s rod (Num. 17:8).
3. GOD’S POSSESSION.
a. 1 Pet. 2:9 (KJV), “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.”
b. The same Greek word is used in Mal. 3:17 and translated “My Jewels.” It’s sweet to think that God considers us as His treasured possessions!
B. VERTICLE MINISTRY, GOLDEN ALTAR
1. Duties In the Holy Place – clean, trim lamps & lights; put fresh showbread on the Table, etc.
2. Most important – to put Incense on the Golden Altar (Ex. 30:7-8). As the incense touched the fire, the fragrance filled the sanctuary, impregnating the garments of the priests.
3. SIGNIFICANCE. Effect of Prayers & Praise.
a. “ Let my prayer be set before You as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” Ps. 141:2.
b. “Offer unto God thanksgiving….Whoso offers praise glorifies Me” Ps. 50:14,23. These are “offerings.”
c. “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne” Rev. 8:3.
4. What a lesson for us as believer-Priests! We must be DAILY ministering at the Golden Altar of prayer!
C. HORIZONTAL – BRAZEN ALTAR
1. The priest met people who needed atonement for sin. They were guilty, estranged from God.
2. It’s our responsibility as Believer-Priests to help people understand they can be saved by the sacrifice of Christ.
a. Share the message of John 3:16.
b. “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ….And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 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” 2 Cor. 5:19-20.
3. Early believers took this ministry seriously.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Hippolytus, 200 A.D., describes baptism at Rome. Candidates took off their clothing, were baptized three times after renouncing Satan and affirming the basic teaching of the faith, and put on new clothes.
2. PURPOSE? Help them to understand they were putting off the old garments of sin, being buried in the waters with Jesus, and they putting on righteousness of Christ!
B. THE CALL
1. The O. T. priests could become priests because they were related to the High Priest.
2. Are you a child of God? Has Jesus washed your sins away? Have you been clothed with the righteousness of Christ?
[Much of this message is derived from Jeff Strite’s “Servants at the Tabernacle”]
