Friday, November 3, 2017, 12:30 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “The Lord’s Anointed.” Speak, Lord, your
words to my heart. I read various scriptures on the subject of us being God’s kingdom
priests.
Our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16; cf. Heb. 10:11-25)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without
sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus Christ, the only
begotten Son of God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy
Spirit – left his throne in heaven, came to earth, took on human flesh,
suffered as we suffer, and was tempted in like manner as we are also tempted,
yet without sin. He healed the sick and afflicted, raised the dead, delivered
people from demons, comforted the sorrowful and oppressed, fed the hungry, and
performed many, many miracles, which gave evidence as to who he was and is. He also
confronted sin in sinful humans, preached repentance for the forgiveness of
sins, and taught obedience to his word as a sign that we are those who truly
know, love and worship him.
Yet, even though he never
sinned, and all that he did was good, and was for the good of humankind, i.e.
in their best interest, still many hated and rejected him, primarily those of
his own faith (belief), nationality, race and homeland, and even some from his
own family. His principal (primary, chief) opponents were actually the religious
rulers or leaders within the temple of God, i.e. those who wielded enormous
influence and/or rule over the people, some of them being on the Sanhedrin, the
Jewish ruling council. In fact, they hated Jesus so much that they plotted and
carried out his death on a cross. But, this was God’s plan for our salvation,
that Jesus Christ would become our sacrificial Lamb on the altar as a sacrifice
(offering) for our sins.
In Old Testament times, and
up to the time in which Jesus was crucified on a cross for our sins, the people
of God had human priests who yearly made sacrifices for the sins of the people,
including for their own sins. In Jesus’ death, he not only became that
sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world, but he also was the high
priest who offered up the sacrifice for our sins, which was his blood, shed on
the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. When he died,
the veil that hung between us and God’s holy presence was torn in two,
symbolizing that Jesus Christ had now made the way for us, his followers, to
come directly into God’s presence. Now we are called his kingdom priests, a
holy nation belonging to God.
His Kingdom Priests (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9; cf. Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:10; Ex. 19:6)
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been
rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as
living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s
own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
On the third day after Jesus
Christ died on a cross, he was resurrected from the dead, by the Father. About forty
days after his resurrection, he left the earth, and went back to heaven to be
with the Father. Then, he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell the lives of his
followers. Jesus had told his disciples that they would continue on his
ministry after he left the earth. As followers of Christ, and as those who have
the Holy Spirit within us, we are anointed of God to do the kinds of things
Jesus did while he was on the earth. We, as his followers, are to be Jesus to
the world around us in doing what he did.
As a result of what Jesus
Christ did for us in dying on the cross for our sins, and being resurrected
back to life in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, we can now come to Jesus
Christ in faith and receive his eternal salvation. In delivering us from
slavery to sin, he gives us new lives in him, born again of the Spirit of God,
and he restores us back to a right relationship with God the Father. In Christ,
by faith in him, God can now use us in the lives of others to help them, as
well, to be saved from sin, born again of the Spirit of God, renewed, restored
to God, and to have their broken lives rebuilt.
Thus, we serve as priests of
the Lord in ministering to the lives of others in the same manner in which
Jesus Christ did and now does through us. This means that, first off, we need
to be living holy lives, pleasing to God. We must no longer be conformed to the
ways of this sinful world. We cannot any longer live as though we are still
enslaved (addicted) to sin, but we must walk (conduct our lives) according to
the Spirit, and not according to our sinful flesh. Sinful practices should no
longer be part of our lives.
Then we can proclaim the
excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light
because we are now walking in the light and no longer in the darkness. And, all
the glory, praise and honor belong to Christ Jesus – great things He has done!
The Lord’s Anointed / An
Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for
pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll
listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s
righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor,
and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore
them,
And you’ll be called priests of the
Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to
wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
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