JESUS IS OUR HIGH PRIEST, AND YOU’RE A PRIEST TOO.

LOOKING PAST CALVARY

Revelation 5:10   And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” [NKJV]

Heb 4:14   Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [NKJV]

I want you to see something. Picture the ascension. Do you understand where Jesus is and what He is doing on your behalf? He is passed through the heavens and sits at the right hand of the Father. When the accuser tries to lay condemnation on you, Jesus holds up His nail pierced hand and the Father sees your sin paid for. Your sin was nailed to the cross. Therefore, this verse ends with the admonition to, “hold fast our confession.” In other words, live what you say you believe. We need to understand, and be mindful of Jesus functioning in HIS priestly role and interceding for us before the Father. He is our role model.

Heb, 4:14   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.

15   This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

16   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. 

Romans 8:33   Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

34   Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:17   pray without ceasing,

2 Timothy 1:3   I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers.

The Altar if Incense pictures this wonderfully. There’s a song we do with the chorus, 

DAY AND NIGHT,

NIGHT AND DAY,

LET INCENSE RISE

 

Exodus 30:1   “Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense..

7   “Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar.

8   And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.

Rev. 8:3   Then another Angel, carrying a gold censer, came and stood at the Altar. He was given a great quantity of incense so that he could offer up the prayers of all the holy people of God on the Golden Altar before the Throne.

4   Smoke billowed up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the hand of the Angel. (MSG)

Hebrews 5:1   Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.

2   And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.

This says allot about the responsibilities and qualifications of priests. We are called to be a kingdom of priests so let’s walk worthy of the calling. Priests are taken from people and appointed for people. Now, in Christ, priesthood is not a leadership position; it is a responsibility of every believer with Jesus being our Great High Priest. Jesus took care of the offerings for sins, now He has left us with the obligation to forgive and to exercise the compassion specified in Gal. 6: 2 below.

Gal. 6:1   Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

If we are, “appointed for men in things pertaining to God,” every believer has intercessory responsibility. Pray for people, hold them before the Lord, We are accountable to each other. If we see someone stumbling or fallen; love dictates that we help them get back up, always beginning with prayer and hearing from the Lord how best to do that.

We are not left alone to stumble, but placed in the Body of Christ. It has often been said that there are no “lone rangers” in the Body and this is why. Is there enough love in our relationships for us to be at this level of help and accountability to one another? If so, intercession becomes more personal

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

The old covenant priesthood had the responsibility of performing sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people until Jesus came and finished the work. These guys had to slaughter and butcher, boil and burn many animals every day. Thank God our priestly responsibilities don’t involve all the blood gore and guts every day, but sometimes the Lord puts an intense gut level burden for something or someone in us. We get a taste of praying for others with such intensity that the physical body sometimes feels some pain and their spirit groans, aching for the deliverance from sin, sickness, brokenness of people. Sometimes we feel the pressure of someone else’s adversity. Priestly intercession often includes identification with the sins of others. Oh how much we need the prayers of the intercessors and to be willing to be in that role ourselves. Jesus exemplified intercession at this level, especially in the garden just before they came to take Him.

This may sound negative but look at the last phrase. The scriptures say allot concerning the fear of the Lord. When we understand that we find so much hope, realizing God hears and answers prayer. Going through the troubles of life should cause us to develop compassion for others and enable us to pray for them more effectively. Ask any of the hundreds of thousands of people who couldn’t find a good, long-term job. I was there several times. Companies downsizing and reorganizing, or just going out of business left us suffering the feelings of failure and rejection. Oh the wonder of His grace, the beauty of His face. We look at His face instead of the face of adversity and find that grace to help in time of need. People joining with us in prayer over things we can’t control lessens the load.

Jesus’ whole earthly existence was so focused, so directed to this purpose. Everything He did, everything He said, everything He experienced was for our salvation and set the example of how we ought to live and love.

Heb 12:2   looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

”You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3); there is no sacrifice, only loving obedience to our loving savior. All we are, all we have, we have on loan from Him. Jesus looked past the Cross and saw you. Wow, this realization always overwhelms me, what did Jesus see when He looked past the Cross? Was it the grandeur of Heaven? Was it the enemy of our souls cast into the bottomless pit? These things are real but were not what He went to Calvary for. I believe He was looking at us, and seeing us as born again, filled with His Spirit and in right relationship with the Father, walking in the Spirit and experiencing the Joy of the Lord. He saw us tapping into His grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16). He saw us as His beautiful bride in that pure white robe, free from the bandages of sin. Knowing this should drive us to our knees in thanksgiving and urgently praying for those without Christ or living with less than what God has for them.

There are so many people whose hearts are hard, who just don’t want to hear it. There are lukewarm pew sitters, believers not committed to local churches, fence sitters. My heart cries out for the fire proofed kids and grand kids of those who were on fire. There are many scriptures that address these “dull of hearing” people.

Isa 6:10   "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed."

Acts 28:27   For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

In all these, we see God’s heart is that the broken people would hear and be

healed, be made whole. Every believer not in this category can probably think of some broken, “dull of hearing” people. I know Jesus gives us the intercessory burden for. Don’t try to manufacture intercessory burdens, just make yourself available. Join us here Sunday mornings before service praying for those walking in the door to wake up from their spiritual slumber.

As a body we all need each other and grow together in Christ, we all are responsible to bare each other’s burdens and to reach the world for Christ.

One final thought. Considering the verse:

Revelation 5:10   And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Can you wear this hat?

JESUS WANT TO HANG OUR WITH YOU.

Ex. 25:8, “And let them make me a sanctuary; 

that I may dwell among them.”

The title of this series is “Dwelling with God.” The title of the blog that this series is a part of is “From God’s Heart to Yours.” I need to share some of God’s heart on this topic before finishing up the teaching with a review of the applications of the priest's uniform.

Let’s start with some Scriptures that mostly clearly express God’s desire for what our heart’s desire should be. 

Psalm 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

2   I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

3   Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

Psalm 27:4   One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 63:1   O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

2  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

3  Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

While my wife was doing most of the driving down to and back from Florida on our Christmas trip to see our son and his wife, I had time to lay back and pray, and as I did the Lord stirred up a heart cry, “God send us people to disciple who will in turn make disciples.” After I cried out to God for awhile I asked the Lord about what steps we, as a church, may need to take, or be prepared to take as HE answers that prayer? The following 6 things came to mind.

1)
Be a people who spend time alone in His Presence. We follow the words of the old song, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus until the things of earth grow strangely dim." Disciples must, above all else, practice the Presence and hear from God personally.

2) Walking in the Spirit while in the world, we also practice the Presence. This practice in all parts of life we consequently lead others by that example.

3) We need to have a powerful prayer life so that people know we are a people of prayer and seek us out when they face the stuff of life and realize they need prayer. I’m not necessarily talking about mature believers. May we have such an experiential understanding of our role as priests of God that people will seek us out for help.

4) We experience God’s Presence as the power and experience Him so that others are provoked to do likewise.

5) As we stand in the gap for people we eventually will see them get connected to Jesus. Then we step into the role of the great commission and take the opportunity to make disciples.

6) The Lord sending us “fresh fish” may require us to change our routine, to alter our time priorities, perhaps make changes in our church services. We need to be willing to do whatever the Lord leads us to do when He leads us to do it. Jesus is Lord and works all things together for our good.

Let’s pray for, and expect, that after a few months of the Evangelistic Crusade type meetings with Peter Kumar every 1^st Friday, we will see this happen. Let’s make every effort to invite the people that need to hear the message of salvation, healing and deliverance and that they experience Jesus. May God give us more and more opportunities to share our testimonies and brag about Jesus to those outside the church.

Meaningful results of any outreach requires that the intercessors be faithful to saturate things in prayer.

Exodus 19:6   And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ …

As we review the teaching on the priests’ uniform, let’s keep what I just said in mind. Everything I’ve taught about the Tabernacle all leads to our role in God’s process of building His church.

God’s Call of the Priesthood:

Heb. 5:4   And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

5   So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” (NKJ)

Likewise, we are children of God.

God’s Purpose for the Priesthood

Heb 5:1   For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2     He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also beset by weakness.

Moved with compassion, Jesus did miracles. We should follow His example and see Him do things beyond our human capabilities.

https://blogs.bible.org/impact/hal_warren/

gods_heavenly_pattern_for_our_spiritual_transformation

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God’s Purpose for the Priests Uniform:

Exod 28:2      "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. (NKJV)

Psalm 132:16   I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (NKJV)

This calling is to a joyous lifestyle of loving others more than ourselves. It’s is so rewarding and liberating.

As we looked closely at this uniform, we saw things that apply to how we conduct ourselves as a nation of priests unto God. It is like when you dress up in a fancy dress or suit, you are more mindful to watch your manners and are acutely aware of why you are dressed up. It is also like a solder dressed in full battle gear, ready to use everything he (or she ) is wearing.

Ø The clothes are a constant reminder of the dignity and responsibilities of the office the Lord has called us to. We are Christ’s ambassadors. Our lives reflect Him to the world. We should conduct ourselves in such a way that people see His love and holiness in us, without hypocrisy, without grounds for accusation.

Ø These clothes were for beauty and glory. God sees us, His bride, as beautiful. He invested His Glory in us - Christ in us, the Hope of Glory.

Review of the NOW applications of various parts of the uniform

Ø the Golden Crown of Aaron,
 

o   Would you live your life any differently if you wore a hat or tee shirt that said Holy to the Lord on it?

Ø The Ephod, a fancy embroidered over garment held together at the shoulders with stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes

o   WE CARRY THE NAMES OF OUR LOVED ONES ON OUR SHOULDERS

o   Sometimes we may experience this weight as a burden to pray.

 

Ø The weight on the shoulders was increased 

because also hanging from the them was the 

Breastplate of Judgment:

o   9” square plate holding 12 engraved stones is hanging from the shoulders and fastened around the body, held close to the heart. Each stone was big enough for the name of a tribe to be on it.

When we are empowered by the Spirit, even the heaviest of these burdens is

   light because Jesus is the burden bearer.

o   Exodus 28:30 Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chest piece Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people.

    

Hear the still small voice of God directing your steps.

Bells on the bottom hem of the blue robe

Ex. 28:33   "And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:

35   "And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die.

The fancy embroidered pomegranates could have been symbolic of the sweetness of God’s Holy Presence. The bells were a signal to everyone within earshot that the priest was going into the Holy Place; it was a call to prayer. Thank God it’s no longer an annual ritual.

Conclusion: Experiencing the Shekinah.

History changed when the Tabernacle was completed. Everything was in place.  Then suddenly, like on the day of Pentecost, God did the unexpected and started something marvelous in motion.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/strange-physics-trick-lets-people-create-a-cloud-in-their-own-mouth-10476817.html

Ex. 40: 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

All the Hebrew and Greek words translated as Tabernacle refer to a dwelling place, a booth or a covering. Just as the cloud covered Israel in the wilderness, and the fire held enemies at bay and provided light at night, the Shekinah enters our room. Because they followed the cloud & the fire, they became bearers of the Presence.

Psalm 65:4   Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.

Psalm 85:9   Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

The Almighty dwelling with man, showing us His glory can be such an awesome demonstration of God’s great love There is nothing in life as fantastic as experiencing the Shekinah, God’s Manifest Presence in such awesome power. It causes you to just fall in love with Him, intensely. Things happen when the Lord shows up in His power. Lives are changed. Miracles, healings, deliverance, Divine callings are realized. The chains of the power of sin and of the enemy of our souls are broken. Our emotions react to Him, tears may flow, hysterical laughter may break out, bodies may shake, people may dance and sing – all spontaneously.

Let me repeat what I said in my opening of this sermon find an altar,  to do this and pray for whatever specific needs you may  have. Please, don’t leave still carrying burdens you came in with. 

You can send your prayer requests as a MESSAGE from the Glad Tidings Tabernacle facebook page  

https://www.facebook.com/gladtidingstabernaclegreersc/

Let’s pray for and expect that after a few months of the Evangelistic Crusade type meetings with Peter Kumar every 1^st Friday, we will see this happen. Let’s make every effort to invite the people that need to hear the message of salvation, healing and deliverance and to come to Glad Tidings Tabernacle, that they experience Jesus. May God give us more and more opportunities to share our testimonies and brag about Jesus to those outside the church.