Rock Family Church of Morgantown WV
From Glory to Glory 3 - WHO
  • Theme: The Priesthood of the Believer

    1 – Holy – INVITES the Glory

     
    Theory - Holy Supports Glory
    God’s GLORY does not change, but man’s condition can
    Man’s POSITION does not change - always under
    Man’s CONDITION can change - by choice - holy to wicked
    God’s MANIFESTATION is determined by man - choose life!
    Sin cannot stand under the Chabad weighty glory
    Result - crushed to death
     
    Be holy as I am holy –
     
    1 Peter 1:13–16 NLT
    13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
     
    Consecrate - set yourself apart for sacred use - as God is set apart for sacred use
     
    Life lesson - God never asked us to do anything without equipping us -
    1- information (what holiness is)
    2- example (as I am holy)
    3- instruction (to follow, be holy)
     

    Holiness of the priest

    Holy - set apart for his glory
    Consecration - set apart for the use of the divine – priest, altar, sacrifice became holy once offered
    1- One man - HIGH priest
    2- One garment - Special garments
     

    Holiness in the Head - pure intentions

    Priest Headband - holiness unto the Lord
    Holiness Applies to ALL - Believers are a nation of priests
    He knows our thoughts afar off
    Word discerns thoughts and intentions-
    God’s more concerned about the WHY than the WHAT
     

    The Two Priestley ROLES – distinction and instruction

    Twofold directives for the twofold direction
     

    Distinction –

    Distinction - between clean and unclean
    ·     Leviticus Chapter 11-13
    ·     Priests to be mindful of
    ·     Kosher
    ·     Diet - echoes of Eden - do not eat
    ·     Archeology - no pig bones where Jews lived
    ·     Detestable- idols 2 mentions
    ·     Childbirth –
    ·      Leprosy - skin disease - unclean - live outside - don’t defile tabernacle
    ·     NT example – Prodigal was still a son, even though he was unclean from the pigs
    o  The distinction is between the relationship and fellowship
     
    Modern day prodigals
    Today, many sons and daughters are out of FELLOWSHIP of church, Bible reading, giving, praying, talking to God, ignoring His voice, but they may still have relationship with God.
    The more of the world’s attitudes, behavior, viewpoint, reasoning, actions and speech becomes part of their lifestyle, the more “unclean” they become.
    This is called a backslidden state.
     If the rapture were to happen today, they may still have a chance of going to heaven, but their rewards, if any, are in jeopardy of being burned up.
     
    Distinction - between holy and unholy
    ·     priests – Set apart from other believers
    ·     church – set apart from the world, light set apart from the darkness
    ·     the world wants you included, don’t give in to peer pressure!
     

    Instruction – between right and wrong

    ·     Teaching is the main job of ministers
     

    Holiness sees the Lord

     
    Hebrews 12:14–17 NLT
    14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
     

    The 3 Priestley DUTIES – Mediator between God, public, unclean

    Priesthood 3 DUTIES – as a mediator
    1 - Serving God - by keeping things holy - by Keeping the tabernacle protected and clean
    2 - serving public - by protecting the public through separation (from things that can harm them) and intercession – praying to God on their behalf
    3 - serving unclean - Keeps an eye on the unclean (like the leper) by making sure they stay away from infecting the public – and follow God’s prescribed rules.
     

    The priesthood of the believer

    Single - Priest unto yourself
    Married - husband is priest of the marriage
    Family - father is priest of the home
    Pray for - agree with - intercede for wife and children - leading by reading family devotions - family prayer
    Stand against the breakdown of the family - separate lives sharing one address.
    Irony of the family - is a dysfunctional family that is always running to family functions - sports etc. but seldom have time for God.
    Baby dedications are for the parent’s sake, to raise the child as a priest, in the way they should go.
    What example are you leaving by your leading? 
    Even if the adult child refuses to follow God, they should at least know that you led by example based upon godly convictions.
    And continue even after they moved out.
     
    Job - you might be the only believer/ priest on the job.
    Church - kingdom of priests
     
    NT priesthood of the believer
    Principle applies in the NT
    Jesus is the sacrifice, but we are still priests unto God.
    WE represent God to people
    WE are modern mediators
      
    Israel – is a NATION of priests – to evangelize the world
    Church – is a KINGDOM of priests – Rev 1:6 – to minister to the Lord forever
    Priests mediate in the home – the dad, as the priest of his house, has every right to know about the lives of his children, such as who their friends are, where they go, what music they listen to, who is influencing them, etc., to protect them.
     
    Parents who let an electronic device take the place of quality parenting run the risk of allowing their own children to become defiled by the spirits of this world.
     
    Although unhealthy attitudes can be the result of immaturity and carnal desires, they can also be the result of exposure to unclean spirits, as spirits often manifest as attitudes and moods.
     
    examples of distinction
    Distinction -
    God’s house was respected, even in a carnal or backslidden state
    Instruction -
    Knew he wasn’t right when he came in wrong
     
    1- brother ABC quit praise team -
    Tragedy - Left church in shame (self) when he knew the Name!
    Grace - should have gotten help - still can
     
    2- brother PDQ stepped down, at 14,
    knew the distinction
    he knew he wasn’t right - instruction
    Still knows the difference, even though he’s not actively serving the Lord
     
    Their attitude seems to say:
    “I won’t let my bad touch God‘s good.”
    Bothe knew that there are certain lines you just don’t cross,
    certain things you just don’t do – while serving God
    Certain “places” you just don’t “go” - whether figuratively or literally
     
    They are to be commended for their self-sacrifice for the good of the ministry. Although they ran away with their sin, they did not HIDE under their sin, make excuses or shift the blame.
    Let’s continue to believe for their healing and restoration.
     
    Life Lesson: A higher standard is not a double standard.

    2 – Sin – DESTROYS the Glory

    Relationship factor – Sin grieves the Spirit, breaks the Heart of God
    Aaron’s first two sons died because they offered “Strange” fire or “unauthorized” fire
    Modern example – modern praise and worship music.
    Distinction – between Unintentional vs Intentional sin
    Severity based on knowledge and position
    Knowledge – they knew better.
    ·      Cannot claim ignorance, childhood, status, class, race, age, gender, education etc.
    Position – leaders held to higher standard
    ·      Affects those under you – the High Priest affected the NATION
     

    Enemy tactic – Block the Glory through sin

    maintain victory by weakening the church by blocking the glory
    By sin of various means
     
    Examples
    ·      Sin of familiarity - block God’s glory by making the Sacred House secular
    o   Result – Weaken the church
     
    Tactic #1 - The uncommon becomes common
    ·      NO Distinction – God’s distinction is no longer respected
    ·      Avoid drinking - now allowed
     
    Tactic #2 - ungodly instruction is against distinction
     
    ·      Flipped on its head - Saying that everything is now sacred
     
    Sin of compromise –
    ·      Hell‘s best kept secret is a watered-down Word - diluted with doubt, embalmed in unbelief and contaminated with carnality - of man’s philosophy
    ·      The Hypocrisy of Duplicity - Don't ask someone to be like you on when you act like them on Monday
     
    Sin of Secular –
    ·      appeals to people rather than men
    ·      Fads vs Father’s will -
     

    Result - Modern church disregards holiness –

     
    Modern Distinction = none
    ·      disrespected by the modern church
    ·      Avoid drinking - first allowed outside, now allowed inside
     
    Instruction -
    ·      Watered down word - to appease themselves for a crowd
     
    Last days distinction = Glorious church vs Ichabod
    ·      End time separation- come out from among them
    ·      Would they know the difference?
     

    Jesus is Our High Priest – for Forgiveness

    Us - come boldly to the throne room of grace
     
    Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT
    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.
     
    Call to Action: Let holiness draw others in
    ·      Let’s show the world how awesome God is, so they will come to Him!
    ·      Instruction – teach others
    ·      Intercession - Pray for others
Mountaineer Church
web@mountaineer.church
304-413-5717
http://www.mountaineer.church
1 member