Digging Deep (Tuesday 22nd Oct 2013)

                                                     Topic: THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

                                                                Text: I Peter 2:9

                                                                  INTRODUCTION:

                                          There is a common idea which is unbiblical. 
                           That is there is a distinction between the clergy and the laity.
                        In I Pet. 2:9, the apostles says that all Christian are 
                                              “….a royal priesthood of God”

                        1. This should not surprise us because several passages 
                                      in the Bible said that God’s people

                         are to be named the priests of the Lord and Ministers of our God. 

                        Some of such passages are Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 61:6; 
                                                                  Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6.

                            As Priest of God, we are to offer sacrifices unto God,
                                                     not of rams and goats as the 

                          Old Testament priests. What are these spiritual sacrifices?
                                                   They include, among other things.

     a.    Praises – Ps. 9:11, 67:3; Heb. 13:15; Rev. 19:5.

     b.    Singing -  Ps. 81:1; Eph. 5:19; Rev. 5:9,13,

     c.    Rejoicing – Ps. 107:22; Phil. 4:4; Isa. 12:6.

     d.    Glorifying – Rev. 5:12, 7::12; Lk. 2:20

     e.    Thanksgiving – Ps. 100:4; Col. 3:15; I Thess. 5:18.

     f.     Listening – Eccl. 5:1; Isa. 55:3; Jn. 5:25.

     g.    Doing – Matt. 5:16; I Cor. 10:31; Heb. 13:16.

    CONCLUSION

Thus we see that praises and thanksgiving are offering but we must remember as worthy priest of God that there is a great temptation just to praise God in song without offering one’s self, money and one’s time. Remember Rom. 12:1