Tcb (Taking Care Of Business) - Pt. 3 - Sickness And Glory

TCB

Pt. 1

Elvis was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948. Over the course of his career, Elvis, He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas.

Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations with 3 wins from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

In 1992, the U.S. Postal Service announced that Elvis’ image would be used for a commemorative postage stamp. The stamp was released on January 8, 1993, with extravagant first day of issue ceremonies at Graceland. The Elvis stamp is the most widely publicized stamp issue in the history of the U.S. Postal Service, and it is the top selling commemorative postage stamp of all time.

Currently, there are over 625 active Elvis fan clubs worldwide.

However, Elvis didn’t succeed by himself. He was help along by some close friends that made up his band which he dubbed the Memphis Mafia and then later because Pricilla Presley didn’t like the mafia connection of the name he came up with the name the TCB Band. It was a four piece group made up of a piano player, drummer, bass player, and guitar player. However, TCB or Takin’ Care of Business was more than just a band name. It in fact was even more than just a slogan. Elvis had adopted TCB as his life motto. Elvis put this logo on everything including necklaces and rings that he handed out to close friends and confidants. He even had it painted on the tail of his personal jet. He had it painted on the walls of his TV Room. It is even on his tombstone.

These 3 simple letters drove his life. But these letters should also have significance for us as believers. Not because they were made famous by some legendary rock icon or even because of the extremely successful song by the same name. No these 3 letters speak to our roles as priests. Before I go any further let me stop here and remind you that of all the things you can be called as a follower of Christ, disciple, saint, and member of the body, brother/sister, and joint heir, perhaps the one that is the most accurate, descriptive and heavy with the weight of responsibility is the moniker of priest. Peter makes it very clear that this is who we are.

I Peter 2:9 – “9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Most of us never think twice about this passage and the demands that it places on us. We just quickly and glibly pass over this identifier with thoughts of white clerical collars and rosary beads, or silly little jinglish song roles over in our head, but no real consideration that this title places on us very specific responsibilities.

I want us to take a journey together over the next few weeks. I want us to journey back into the Old Testament and examine the daily jobs or duties of the priesthood because I think they still translate and speak to us today. I want to remind us that we have to be TCB. We have business that we are required to attend to on a daily basis as priest of the kingdom! I want us to look at two specific duties today.

TEXT: Leviticus 13:1-7, 9, 29-30; Deuteronomy 10:8

1And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: 3and the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4And if the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days: 5and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if in his eyes the plague be at a stay, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6and the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7But if the scab spread abroad in the skin, after that he hath showed himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again: 9When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; 29And when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the beard, 30then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard.