PRIVACY & PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS (6-12-01)
(1 Thes. 4:11-12; Rev. 1:5-6, 5:9-10)
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1. All born-again believers are PRIESTS in full-time Christian service (Rev. 1:5-6, 5:9-10).
Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
Rev 1:6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Rev 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (NIV)
There is no such thing Biblically as "lay" believers. God the Holy Spirit, as He wills, gives at least one spiritual gift to every Christian to be used in service (1 Cor. 12). Certain believers may have the gift of pastor-teacher or evangelism, and they may receive financial support from the rest of the Church. However, this does not make them "reverends" with special stature, nor does it make the rest of us "laity" who are second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. We are all piests in full-time Christian service.
2. As a priest, you have the right to represent yourself before God, having your own relationship with Him. No one has the right to judge your spiritual life, nor do you have the right to judge theirs (Col. 2:16-17).
Col 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (KJV)
3. The Bible tells us to study, to mind or take care of our own business, to work with our hands, so that we may treat others properly or honestly and have no need to depend on others (1 Thes. 4:11-12).
1 Thes 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1 Thes 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (KJV)
The Greek word for study is philotimeomai (fil-ot-im-eh’-om-ahee), which means to labor or strive or study something eagerly or earnestly and to be fond of the honor that comes as a result.
The Greek word for quiet is hesuchazo (hay-soo-khad’-zo), which means to keep still, to avoid meddlesomeness, to hold one’s peace, to be quiet, to rest. This is referring to our spiritual attitude and life, not to working for a living which we are told to do at the end of 1 Thes. 4:11. Bible study will teach us to have spiritual rest, and avoid meddling in the affairs of others.
The Greek word for do or mind is prasso (pras’-so). This means to do or practice something habitually or repeatedly, to ultimately accomplish something. Doing or minding our own business is something we are to habitually do.
The Greek word translated your own business is idios (id’-ee-os), meaning your own private, personal business.
The Greek word for work is ergazomai (er-gad’-zom-ahee), and it is a verb which means to toil at a task or occupation.
The Greek word for walk is peripateo (per-ee-pat-eh’-o), and this refers to your lifestyle, the way you carry yourself, the way you occupy yourself.
The Greek word for honestly is euschemonos (yoo-skhay-mon’-ose), and it means honestly or decently.
The Greek word for outsider or them that are without is exo (ex’-o), referring to the people outside in society whom you encounter regularly.
The Greek word for ye may have lack of or not be dependent on is hustereo (hoos-ter-eh’-o), which means to suffer need, to be destitute, to be deficient or fall short, to lack.
The Greek word for nothing or anybody is medeis (may-dice’), has the meaning of "not even one man, woman, or thing."
Other translations of these same two verses are:
NAS Version:
1 Thes 4:11-12
11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you;
12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. (NAS)
NIV Version:
1 Thes 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
1 Thes 4:12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (NIV)
4. Jesus himself illustrates a believer’s right to privacy in an incident concerning the apostles Peter and John from John 21:20-22:
John 21:20-22
20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21 Peter therefore seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"
22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" NAS
Jesus had just finished telling Peter something about his own future, when Peter saw John following them and asked Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" Does Jesus say, "Well, let me tell you some things about John. He’s going to be exiled to the island of Patmos. He’s going to write a book of the Bible called "Revelation"? No, Jesus doesn’t say any of this.
Instead, Jesus responds firmly to Peter, "What is that to you? You follow me!" In other words, Jesus is telling Peter, "It’s none of your business. Be concerned with your own spiritual life. You follow me! Don’t worry about what’s going to happen to John."
That’s a lesson we all need to take. We need to concentrate, each one of us, on our OWN spiritual life, and not make it our business to "poke our nose" into the spiritual lives of others.
So in conclusion, God says to us throuugh His word:
- Mind your own business!
- Study!
- Be Quiet!
- Work hard!
- Walk honestly!
- Let no man judge you!
- Do not be dependent upon others!
- Lack nothing!
In grace, He’s freely given us the tools to accomplish these things:
- His indwelling Holy Spirit;
- a human spirit that was regenerated at salvation;
- His written word, the Bible;
- a pastor-teacher to study and teach the Bible to us,
- the filling (control) of the Holy Spirit;
- rebound (naming our sins) to recover that control of the Holy Spirit when we lose it through sin;
- prayer, through which we confess, praise, thank, and request for ourselves and others;
- physical and mental talents;
- and at least one spiritual gift.
It’s difficult enough at times for each of us to live our OWN Christian life. Why do we often try to live someone else’s, too?
Copyright (c) 2001, Frank J. Gallagher
Abiding In The Word
http://members.aol.com/abidingitw
All materials are written by me and are copyrighted. These materials may be freely copied and distributed for the purpose of study and teaching, so long as they are made available to others free of charge, and my copyright is included. These materials may not, in any manner, be sold nor used to solicit "donations" from others, nor may they be included in anything you intend to copyright, sell, or offer for a fee. God the Holy Spirit freely provides this knowledge in grace, and so do I. My copyright is exercised to keep these materials freely available to all.
