Minister Unto the Lord
Foundational Text: Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; (5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I. We are Kings and Priests Unto Our God
A. As Kings we have been made to rule and reign with Him
B. As Priests, we have been made to minister unto Him.
1. If that is my job, don’t you think I should know what I am to do? If that is my calling, wouldn’t you think it would be a good thing to know what it means to minister unto Him so that I can do it with all my heart?
2. How do I know that this is what I am supposed to do as a priest?
a. Exodus 28:1,41 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
b. Exodus 40:13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
c. Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
d. Deuteronomy 21:5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:
e. 1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
3. How long are we to minister unto the Lord? Forever!
a. 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
b. 1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
C. We Are to Minister Unto Him!
Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalms 66:4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalms 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
1. Minister?
2. shârath (shaw-rath’) A primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively to contribute to: - minister (unto), (do) serve (-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
3. How long are we to minister unto the Lord? Forever!
a. 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
b. 1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
Ministered to the Lord
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
II. As We Minister Unto the Lord
A. When we are corporately, or individually in the presence of God, it produces and atmosphere conducive for the Holy Ghost to move in our midst.
1. James tells us (James 4:8), if you Draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to you.
2. If we are in His Presence worshipping Him, He will draw nigh to us tonight.
3. Look at another verse: Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
B. What qualifies us to “Minister Unto the Lord”? The Blood!
1. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
2. Because of the blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, Has
empowered us to approach a Holy God.
a. You who sometimes were for off, this word far off in the Greek means you were a great distance, or far, far away. Tells of our position before Jesus.
b. “Are Made” in the original Greek text said “cause to be”, to become (come into being)
c. Made nigh by the Blood of Jesus = brought close
d. In Christ Jesus = A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state). Because of our fixed position in Christ Jesus. What position is that? Having been translated out of darkness and into the kingdom of His dear Son.
3. Our Fixed position qualifies us to minister unto the Lord. To draw close to God, we have been washed clean but the Blood Covenant of Jesus Christ the righteous, the Holy and Accepted.
