TEXT: Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
"So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
INTRODUCTION
The notion of a priest is prevalent in most cultures and religions. A priest is someone who intercedes with the divine on behalf of others with sacrifices of appeasement. "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Heb 5:1).
In my teen years, there were strange deaths happening in the family and my dad took me to a native doctor (priest) to proffer solutions. A lot of sacrifices were made, incisions and divinations followed, at a cost. The priest visited our home to purify it and gave me a locked padlock to bury somewhere far in the bush. It was a weird experience, but thanks to God for delivering me. Priest are usually highly regarded in the society, some are feared while others revered.
PRIESTS IN THE BIBLE
The first priest mentioned in the Bible was Melchizedek of Salem, the priest of the most high God who had an encounter with Abraham (Gen 14:18). Joseph married the daughter of Poti-pherah, the priest of the Egyptian god, On (Gen 41:45). Moses father in law, Jethro was the priest of Midian (Exo 18:1). The Lord declared Israel as a kingdom of priests unto him (Exo 19:6). The father of John the Baptist was a priest, offering sacrifices to God for his sins and that of the people when an angel visited him with the news of the birth of John. We have priests and priestesses all around us.
YOU ARE A PRIEST
God in his mercy has declared all who believe in Jesus as priests unto him.
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Rev 1:6). If you are born again, then you are a priest unto God (1 Pet 2:9). To be effective, every priest must purify himself or herself before appearing before God on behalf of others. Satan, the adversary of believers is waiting to accuse us and render our sacrifices unacceptable before God. Joshua, the high priest of Israel, was accused as he stood before God. He was found guilty as his priestly garments were stained with sin. Satan thought he had succeeded, but Jesus intervened. The mercy of God spoke on his behalf and he was purified by coals of fire in the court of heaven (Zech 3:1-5). The mercy of God will speak for you. The Lord will purify your lips with coals of fire and purge your heart with refiners fire in Jesus name.
JESUS - THE PRIEST OF PRIESTS
Believers are flesh and blood, mortal beings with flaws and faults. God recognises this and made a glorious provision to take care of it. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." God made Jesus, his only begotten Son, seated on the right hand of God in heaven, our great high priest. He mediates and intercedes on behalf of every believer. He offered himself as a one time sacrifice for the sin of man. He shed his blood as a sacrifice for you and I. He is the unblemished sacrifice acceptable to God. He was tempted just like we are being tempted by Satan but did not sin. He therefore knows about the temptations we are passing through. He knows about our weaknesses and struggles. He is able to emphatize with us and plead on our behalf (Heb 4:15). He is our high priest, the priest of priests. The Lord will intercede on your behalf in Jesus name.
We can therefore go boldly before God, irrespective of Satan's accusations and find help in times of need. "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (Heb 4:16 NLT). As believers, we can fulfil our priestly roles in our families, communities, churches and nation because we have a great High Priest in heaven who is looking out for us. He knows all about our troubles, struggles and weaknesses but is willing and ready to help us when we cry to him. Even when we fall into sin in error, his blood sacrificed on the cross of calvary, is able to make us clean, when we confess and repent.
CONCLUSION
However, as priests unto God, we should offer our bodies as holy and living sacrifices unto him (Rom 12:1). A priest who sins deliberately on a regular basis and refuses to repent cannot minister before God effectively. Prov 29:1 says: "Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." Nothing in creation is hidden from.God and as his priests, we are accountable to him; so take heed (Heb 4:13).
PRAYER:
Father, purify my lips with coals of fire. Purge my heart with refiners fire, baptize me afresh with the Holy Ghost and fire in Jesus name.
CONFESSION:
I am a priest, consecrated unto God.
God bless you. Shalom.
