KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
by David A Brogdon
God had intended for His people to be a kingdom of priests.Ex. 19:5-6
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
Israel however, was unfaithful and God had to settle for
a
priestly tribe, the tribe of Levi. (Ex. 28:1) On the day of
Pentecost, a new order of Royal Priests was inaugurated which was
intended to become an international priestly nations among nations.
"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Worship does not equal music! Worship is the act and
attitude of
wholeheartedly giving ourselves to God - spirit, soul, and body. (Mk
12:30; Rom 12:1)
"Yet a time is coming and is now when the true
worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the
Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit
and in truth (reality)."
"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father - to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. What is a priest? A worshiper who draws near to God, offering gifts and sacrifices. (Ex 19:22; Heb 5:1; 8:3) Begin to think of yourselves as a priest ! !
The Kingdom of Priests - The international, transcultural, wholehearted, spirit-filled community of reigning worshipers, in heaven and on earth.
(1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:1; 8:3) Visualize the church as an emerging international network of wholehearted worshipers under God. Visualize the relationship between the Kingdom in heaven and the Kingdom on earth as the two parts of a glorious antiphonal choir, joining hearts and voices to bring glory to the Lord. Hallelujah ! !
A worshiping church - A congregation of activated
worshipers.
Characteristic of "Worshiping Churches":
* powerful churches* growing churches
* generous churches
* creative churches
* caring churches
* united churches
* history - changing churches
The priestly anointing - A quickening of the Holy Spirit which authorizes and activates our priestly functions.
The Worshiping church has "activated priests". There is
a "priestly
anointing" that activates. A Levite was born a Levite, but he could not
function as a priest until his consecration and anointing. (Ex 29; Num
8)
Priestly tokens: Biblically specified acts which serve as symbols of giving ourselves to God - spirit, soul, and body.
* Thanksgiving - 1 Thes. 5:18
* Vocal declaration - Heb. 13:15
* Good works - Heb. 13:16
* Prayer - Rev. 5:8
* The song - Eph. 5:18-21; Ps. 40:3; 69:30-31
* Instrumental music - Ps. 150; 1 Chr. 15:28
* Lifting of Hands - 1 Tim. 2:8; Ps. 63:4
* Bowing down - Is. 66:23
* Dancing - 2 Sam. 6:14; Ps. 149:3; 150:4
* Clapping - Ps. 47:1
* Shouting - Ps. 47:1
* Offerings and tithes - Mal. 3:8; 2 Cor. 8:9
* Any act of obedience to God in faith - Ps. 40:6-8
* Etc. , etc.
A Presence Church - a group of people who want to make the presence of God a priority.
The most profound need anyone has is the presence of God.
Priests come to worship, to give, to aggressively offer sacrifices to God.
Passive worship - when we're there to receive only.
Activated Priests in active worship - we are there to
bless God; to
minister to God.
The awesome presence of God:
1. Judges wickedness
2. Rewards faithfulness
***"The ultimate in church - not to merely sit and listen; but to stand in the very presence of God and with His power to bind (permit) and to loose (forbid)."***
In God's presence we - Stand before God on behalf of others.
In His presence His enemies melt like wax.
THE PURPOSE OF LEADING WORSHIP IS TO HELP THE
CONGREGATION OFFER
PLEASING SACRIFICES UNTO GOD. WORSHIP IS FOR GOD'S SAKE. REMEMBER: GOD,
NOT THE CONGREGATION, IS THE AUDIENCE.
1. Acceptable worship will cause the enemy to flee.
2. We must offer an acceptable offering, not an unacceptable offering; refused - sin in worship group - sin in congregation.
3. We need to be a Servant - even if a leader or Pastor.
4. For every acceptable sacrifice - there is a divine Presence.
5. God moves when and acceptable sacrifice is given.
6. The deeper the relationship, the higher the praises.
7. Contention comes only by pride.
8. Drawing near to God for God's sake, not our own.
9. Christ Jesus is in the business of decentering us, so He can recenter us in Christ.
10. There is a time to wage warfare and a time to wait for the proper time.
11. Proper acceptable worship will cause your enemy's to melt before you - Glory of the Lord.
12. Acceptable worship will cause the Glory of God to
fall -
fire or cloud.
