1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,140 We've always been edified and blessed in our worshiping with you here in the 2 00:00:07,140 --> 00:00:15,720 house of the Lord. On one of our previous visits here, Galen asked me if I 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:21,640 would speak and I said, Galen, when we come I'd rather sit at your feet and 4 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:29,160 have you speak. That doesn't mean I can only be blessed when I sit at his feet. 5 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:38,120 Because I was blessed last Sunday as I sat at the feet of Dr. Smith and heard 6 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:44,840 the message from God's Word by him. So it's a privilege to be here this morning 7 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,880 and Galen asked me, well I guess about a month ago, he said I'm going to be away 8 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:55,400 the last Sunday you all were going to be there with us and would you speak then? 9 00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:02,080 And I said, well I'd be glad to do it. So you'd be praying for me. Some of you 10 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:08,560 found out about my throat condition and you said you would be praying for me. I 11 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:15,200 was all prepared for this. Earlier last week I came down with this throat 12 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:20,760 condition. I got some holls cough drops and I got some of those little discs, you 13 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:29,400 know, that burn your throat so and I laid them out this morning. I should never have 14 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,680 done that. I should have put them in my coat pocket at that time and so they're 15 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:40,560 laying out there on the desk at home. But I guess the Lord wanted me to depend 16 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:48,720 more upon him than for holls cough drops. So it's a real privilege to be here this 17 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:55,800 morning. We're Southerners so if I say you all this morning and I see you kind of 18 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:04,880 smile I have an answer for you. We're more scriptural than some northern folk. 19 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:12,400 They smile at us when we say you all. In one of my pastorates in Indiana they 20 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:20,600 always kind of when I say you all but I shut their mouths. I said we are more 21 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:28,000 scriptural than you folk and they never did that again. I asked Pastor 22 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:33,480 McDonnell if he could get me a glass of water. My throat is a little dry and he 23 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:39,880 so graciously got me the water and he's after returning from here putting it on 24 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:52,080 the stand. He said that's to keep the sermon from being dry. One time years ago 25 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:57,640 it was my privilege to take Dr. Peddinggill and his wife from the church 26 00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:04,520 in Covington to the hotel in Cincinnati and on the way there we were talking 27 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:11,640 about a certain preacher and Mrs. Peddinggill spoke up and said there's 28 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:18,960 no excuse for any preacher being that dry. So I guess that takes in all of us. 29 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,520 We should never be dry in our preaching. All right well if you have your Bible 30 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:30,160 there now the bulletin gave you the scripture this morning in 1st Peter 31 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:42,320 chapter 2 verse 5 and then verse 9 and 10. If I lose my voice this morning 32 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:47,240 Brother Pat Murphy is prepared to come over and just take this message over and 33 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:58,280 go right on through with it. 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 5. I appreciate that. I 34 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:06,040 appreciate that. But let me tell you I've been in his class the three Sundays and 35 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:11,360 I've been blessed by his teaching I believe he could do it. He could just take 36 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:22,400 over where I leave off. 1st Peter 2 5. He also as lively or living, living stones 37 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:29,040 are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual 38 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:36,920 sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Down to verse 9. But ye are a 39 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:48,160 chosen generation, a royal priesthood and holy nation, a peculiar people that ye 40 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:56,160 should show forth or proclaim the praises, the excellencies, the virtues, the 41 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:05,080 attributes of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light 42 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:12,320 which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not 43 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:25,640 obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Christian you are a priest. Three 44 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:36,240 of the outstanding Old Testament Bible characters ask this question. Who am I? 45 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:43,680 Moses asked that question in the third chapter of Exodus. David asked that 46 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:50,880 question in 1st Samuel chapter 18 verse 18 and Solomon asked the question in 47 00:05:50,880 --> 00:06:00,400 2nd Chronicles chapter 2 and verse 6. Who am I? I want you to notice they didn't 48 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:12,160 say look who I am. They did not have a high estimation of themselves. There are 49 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:20,320 three levels of self-estimation of ourselves. One is a super estimation of 50 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:26,140 ourselves. Simon the sorcerer in the 8th chapter of Acts had that kind of an 51 00:06:26,140 --> 00:06:34,200 estimation. He gave out that he himself was some great one. He would have said 52 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:44,600 look who I am and then there is a sub estimation of ourselves. The children of 53 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:50,920 Israel in the 13th chapter of Numbers had such an estimation of themselves. When 54 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:58,920 the spies came back from spying out the land they said to Moses we are as 55 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:06,400 grasshoppers in their sight. Pance Havener said if we think we're grasshoppers 56 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:13,600 that's about all we'll ever be. They had a sub estimation of themselves but I 57 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:20,640 think there's a sane estimation we can have of ourselves. A sane estimation. 58 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:27,920 We're not going to think that we're somebody because the Word of God says in 59 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:35,880 1st Corinthians about the first chapter and the 28th verse God 60 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:44,800 hath chosen those that are things that are not to confound those that are those 61 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:53,560 things that are things that are not mean nobody. Nobodies, noneties. In ourselves 62 00:07:53,560 --> 00:08:03,400 we're nobodies. But James Eliot that martyr missionary in our time he 63 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:12,520 said we are a bunch of nobodies exalting somebody. I like that. It isn't who we are 64 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:19,960 in ourselves because in ourselves we're nothing. It's who the Lord Jesus Christ 65 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:26,120 makes us what he makes of us. So that's the same estimation of ourselves. Paul 66 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:32,760 said I am what I am by the grace of God. Paul never had a high estimation of 67 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:40,080 himself. I am what I am by the grace of God and in the third chapter of 1st 68 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,560 Corinthians he said to these Corinthians that we're all divided up about 69 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:50,520 preachers. They were preacher worshipers. Some said weird of Apollos, weird of 70 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:58,400 weird Paul, weird Cephas. Paul said you want to know what we are? We're just ministers. 71 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,240 We're just ministers. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said that word ministers means 72 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:13,400 errand boys. We're just errand boys. Just errand boys. In the third chapter of 73 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,760 Exodus, let's come back there and notice the time that Moses asked the question 74 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:26,880 who am I? The third chapter of Exodus. God had just called Moses in the tenth 75 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:31,520 verse of the third chapter of Exodus. He said come now therefore and I will send 76 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,640 thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel 77 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:46,160 out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God who am I? That I should go unto Pharaoh. Who 78 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:55,680 am I? You know how old Moses was at that time? He's 80 years old. When he was 40 79 00:09:55,680 --> 00:10:02,120 years old he wouldn't have said who am I? When he was 40 years old he just had 80 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:12,120 graduated from all the schools of Egypt. And I tell you he felt so sufficient to 81 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,320 deliver his people from Egyptian bondage then because you remember he saw an 82 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:21,720 Egyptian smiting somebody some of his people and he killed the Egyptian hid 83 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:29,880 the body away thought boy I have arrived I'm ready for this I'm able to do it. He 84 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,440 just got his PhD from the schools of Egypt and man he was ready he was 85 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:41,920 sufficient he was adequate. Get himself. PhD. Have a friend in the church back at 86 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:48,760 Calvary he told me a PhD meant posthole digger. Well I told him I have that 87 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:57,440 degree because I've dug many a posthole. But now 40 years later when God calls 88 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:06,320 him now the time had come for God to use Moses and Moses said who am I? You see 89 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:17,200 his PhD he needed another degree. He needed a PSD backside of the desert. He 90 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:22,200 needed to spend 40 years on the backside of the desert taking care of sheep to 91 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:27,760 get rid of some of that ego in him. Takes a long time for the Lord to get some of 92 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:38,160 that ego out of us doesn't it? And now he said who am I? That I should do this. But 93 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,120 you know what the Lord said to him in verse 12 he said certainly I will be 94 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:50,360 with thee. It isn't who we are it's who sends us and who goes with us. Who am I? 95 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:57,800 You know I think it's good maybe for those of us who are saved to sometimes stop 96 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:07,200 and ask ourselves the question who am I? Who am I? You know one of the good ways 97 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:12,480 for us to find out who we are in God's sight not in the eyes of men because in 98 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:18,680 the eyes of men we're nobodies but for us to stop and consider in the eyes of God 99 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:26,040 who are we? And one of the fine ways to find out who we are is to take the Word 100 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:32,120 of God and go through it and see the different names and titles used of 101 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:38,480 believers in the Word of God. I tell you that's a profitable study. I had a series 102 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:43,200 of messages in the church back there. We went through the Bible and we noticed 103 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,780 these names in alphabetical order. Names and titles used to believers in the 104 00:12:48,780 --> 00:12:57,600 Bible. First one we took was ambassador, second one was believer, third one was 105 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:04,960 Christian, so on. But in that series of messages one of the messages dealt with 106 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:15,040 Christians as priests. Christian you are a priest. I'm a priest. The Lord blessed 107 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:25,320 my wife and me with two girls. Later on we got two sons. You say I don't 108 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:30,400 understand that. I thought you just had two. Well both girls got married and so 109 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:37,000 the son-in-laws became like sons to us. But the girls, Marilyn is eight years 110 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:43,440 older than Jeanette. One time when Marilyn was about four years of age we 111 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:51,120 were shopping in Cincinnati, walking down 4th Street in Cincinnati and we met a 112 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:58,960 man who had on a black hat and a black suit and black shoes and a black 113 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:04,920 topcoat and he had his collar on backward. And after he'd passed a little 114 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:14,560 ways from us, Marilyn looked up at me and said, daddy that man was a priest. 115 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:22,360 And I said well honey daddy's a priest too. And she said oh no you're not. You 116 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:29,920 don't have your collar on backward. You know it isn't the way we wear our 117 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:36,720 collars that make us priests. The Word of God calls us priests. Here in our 118 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:44,040 scripture this morning two times a holy priesthood, verse 5, second chapter of 119 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:52,760 1st Peter, verse 9, a royal priesthood. Revelation 1, 5, and 6 we're called 120 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:59,480 priests. Revelation 5, 10 we're called priests. Four times in the New Testament 121 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:07,680 believers in this age are called priests. So we're priests, every one of us. Now what 122 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,360 is the significance of this name? There may be several reasons we're called 123 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:16,680 priests but I want us to think this morning about we're called priests 124 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:22,960 because of our resemblance to the Levitical priest. I want you to notice if 125 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:29,840 time will permit and my voice will hold out six ways in which we as believers 126 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:37,920 are similar to the Levitical priests. The first one is the Levitical priests were 127 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:46,440 priests by virtue of their birth. Would you come with me to Exodus chapter 29? I 128 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:54,520 think it is. Exodus 29 or 28 it is and we'll just have time to read the 129 00:15:54,520 --> 00:16:02,920 scripture mostly without much comment. Exodus 28, verse 1, God speaking to Moses 130 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:07,880 and he said take thou unto the air and thy brother and his sons with him from 131 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,440 among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office 132 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:19,240 even Aaron, he was the first high priest in the Levitical system, Nadab, Bihu, 133 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:26,640 Eliezer, and Ithamer, Aaron's sons. So now Aaron was the first high priest under 134 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:34,640 the Mosaic economy. He had four sons, Nadab, Bihu, Eliezer, and Ithamer. They 135 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:41,360 were priests under the high priest Aaron. Now how did they happen to become 136 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:48,120 priests? Not because of any goodness in them but by virtue of their physical 137 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:54,040 birth. They were born into the family of the high priest. Let me tell you 138 00:16:54,040 --> 00:17:00,560 something, we who are saved today by the spiritual birth were born into the 139 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:05,120 family of the high priest Jesus Christ. Would you let me take you to Titus 140 00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:11,760 chapter 3 and verse 5 quickly? Titus chapter 3 and verse 5, you could quote it 141 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:18,080 but let's look at it. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but 142 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:26,400 according to his mercy he saved us by the washing. I have a version at home the 143 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:31,960 improved edition. He said, oh my goodness another version that was brought out 144 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:38,400 years ago by a bunch of Baptist scholars and it says in the rendering there is 145 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:43,680 the bathing by the bathing of regeneration. Let me tell you something 146 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:51,880 when you got saved, when I got saved, God gave us a bath spiritually and that bath, 147 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:58,120 that birth brought us into the family of the high priest Jesus Christ. That's the 148 00:17:58,120 --> 00:18:03,280 way we have an experience similar to theirs. Levitical priests were preached 149 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:09,160 by virtue of their physical birth into the high priest family. We are priests 150 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:14,800 today by virtue of our spiritual birth, our birth from above into the family of 151 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:19,840 the high priest Jesus Christ. We hurry on. I want you to notice something else 152 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:27,640 about the Levitical priests. They were bathed, they were they were washed at 153 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:33,000 their institution into the into the priesthood office. Come with me now 154 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:42,200 to Exodus 29 and verse 4. And Aaron and his sons thou shall bring unto the door 155 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:49,320 of the tabernacle of the congregation and shall wash them with water. Listen, 156 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:55,840 at the institution of the Levitical priest into the office of priesthood they 157 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:04,680 were washed all over, they were bathed all over. That was never repeated. That was 158 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:09,600 never repeated. You say didn't they ever take a bath after that? This was done for 159 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:17,160 them. They never had that done for them again. Let me tell you something. When we 160 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:25,600 got saved we were once and for all washed from the guilt of our sins. The 161 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,320 scripture we can use in the New Testament to prove that is in John 13 and 162 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:35,480 verse 10. My wish we had a lot of time to talk about this but you remember when 163 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:41,160 Jesus was washing the disciples feet and Peter said you'll never wash my feet. 164 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:46,880 Didn't that just like Peter? Verse 8, Jesus said if I wash thee not thou has 165 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:54,000 no part with me. Don't you put another preposition in there instead of with. He 166 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,680 didn't say if I wash thee not thou has no part in me. He's talking about 167 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:05,120 fellowship. He's talking about fellowship and that's why he says with me. Simon and 168 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:09,560 Peter said unto him Lord not my feet only but also my hands and my head. Jesus 169 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:15,000 said unto him he that is washed. Now here's that word. That means a once for 170 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:22,520 all washing. He that is washed needeth not save to wash. That's a different word 171 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:28,680 here. It means just washing a part of the body. Wash needeth not but to wash his 172 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:34,680 feet but is clean every with. I tell you what we're just like them in that. They 173 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,600 were priests by virtue of their physical birth. We're priests by virtue of the 174 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,760 spiritual birth. At the institution of them into their office of priesthood they 175 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,680 were given a bath all over never completed never done again for them. That 176 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,840 was a once for all act. We've been washed from the guilt of our sins the moment we 177 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:57,240 trusted Christ as Savior. Dr. Ironside said I will not sing this part of a hymn. 178 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:05,200 My faith looks up to thee thou lamb of Calvary. Savior divine now hear me while 179 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:14,320 I pray take all my guilt away. Dr. Ironside said I will not sing that. They 180 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,840 must have got the word because in some of our hymn books now take all my sins 181 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:25,880 away. Now listen we were given a bath once for all cleansing from the guilt of 182 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:31,680 sin. Notice another thing about these Levitical priests. Exodus 29 verse 8 and 183 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:38,760 9 and thou shall gird them with girdles Aaron and his sons and put the bonnets 184 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:45,720 on them and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute and thou 185 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:52,480 shall consecrate Aaron and his sons. They were clothed. They were clothed. You know 186 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:58,880 the clothing with which they were clothed was prescribed by God prescribed 187 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:05,000 by God. They were clothed when they were instituted into the office of priesthood. 188 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:10,680 You know we who are priests today those of us who are saved today God closed up 189 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:17,080 the moment we trusted Christ as Savior. He stripped off the old clothes the 190 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:22,920 filthy garments of our own righteousnesses and he said I'm gonna 191 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:27,920 clothe you in a perfect garment even the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Second 192 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:35,320 Corinthians 5 21. Ah listen we're clothed in the righteousness of Christ. If we're 193 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:39,160 priests we're clothed in the righteousness of Christ. When he shall 194 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,760 come with trumpet sound oh may I then in him be found dressed in his 195 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:50,800 righteousness alone faultless to stand before the throne. Then let's notice 196 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:56,740 another thing about these Levitical priests. They were also anointed. Exodus 197 00:22:56,740 --> 00:23:01,600 chapter 40 we could give you more than one verse for these but one sufficient 198 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:07,060 isn't it. Here it is Exodus 40 and verse 15. The 199 00:23:07,060 --> 00:23:15,520 Levitical priests were anointed. Exodus 40 15 and thou shalt anoint them as thou 200 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,440 didst anoint their father that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 201 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:25,040 For their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their 202 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:33,760 generations. They were anointed with oil. What's the counterpart of that to those 203 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:40,360 of us who are priests today? Come with me to 1st John chapter chapter 2. We too 204 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:46,960 have had an anointing from the Lord. 1st John chapter 2 and verse 12 verse 20. 205 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:56,320 But ye have an unction. That's a kind of a difficult word isn't it? Unction. Down in 206 00:23:56,320 --> 00:24:01,680 verse 27 is translated anointing. That's what it is really referring to here. But 207 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:07,600 ye have an anointing from the Holy One and ye know all things. We have within us 208 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:12,760 the person of the Holy Spirit who enables us to understand the Word of God. 209 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:17,520 Verse 27. But the anointing which ye have received to him abideth in you and you 210 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:22,400 need not that any man teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you of all 211 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:27,440 things and is truth and no a lie and even as he hath taught you ye shall 212 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,560 abide in him. You have an anointing. We've been anointed with the person of 213 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:38,280 the Holy Spirit. You don't have to pray for a fresh anointing. We already have 214 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:43,080 him. We just need to let him have more of us. We have an anointing. We've been 215 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:49,600 anointed not with oil as Christian priests. We've been anointed with the Holy 216 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:59,520 Spirit of God. I read last week that whenever Charles Spurgeon was to speak 217 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:05,720 shortly before he would speak he'd say may God the Holy Spirit lead us into the 218 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:12,880 truth. Lead us into the truth. Oh that's what we need to do. We have the anointing 219 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:18,480 of the Holy Spirit. The author of the book lives within us. Why don't we ask him 220 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:26,280 to teach us more? Why do we run to the commentaries first? I didn't say why do 221 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:38,760 you. I said why do we? A man of the past, a Christian man, called a famous Bible 222 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:45,600 scholar and he said I want to ask you a question about a verse in the Bible and 223 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:50,480 the famous Bible scholar said I tell you what I'm busy right now. I said could you 224 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:56,040 call back later today? And so that was the end of the conversation but he 225 00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:02,240 waited all day for the man to call him back and he didn't. Several weeks later he 226 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,880 met the man on the street and he said say you never did call me back and ask me 227 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:11,640 about that question you had in the Bible you want me to help you with. I said why 228 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:16,520 didn't you? The man said you know soon as I held up as soon as I hung up the 229 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:23,520 receiver the Holy Spirit seemed to say to me why didn't you ask me? Why didn't you 230 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:30,720 ask me? Christian let me tell you this practice this I try to I forget it 231 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:35,040 sometime go to the commentary first we have the author of the book living 232 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:40,120 within us we've been anointed with him and let him be our teacher they were 233 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:45,160 anointed so are we anointed and then let's notice on a fifth thing that is 234 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:51,520 true of those Levitical priests in Exodus chapter 30 verse 17 won't have 235 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:59,080 time to read the verses but you read them Exodus chapter 30 and 17 through 21 236 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:04,080 you know one of the vessels one of the pieces of furniture in the tabernacle 237 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:10,160 and the temple was the brazen laver every time priest went into the temple 238 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:17,120 to serve the Lord he had to wash his hands and feet in that laver they daily 239 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:24,200 had to do this you know what if our service and our fellowship with the Lord 240 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,160 is going to be acceptable to be acceptable to him we're daily gonna have 241 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:33,240 to wash our hands and feet in the Word of God oh yes not to get rid of our 242 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,360 guilt but get rid of our sin as children of God 243 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:42,320 interfere with our fellowship that also is taught right there in John 13 if we 244 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,720 have fellowship with him that's acceptable he's gonna have to wash her 245 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:52,480 feet someone wrote a book I've never seen it soil feet in the master's hand 246 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:58,560 I'd like to have a copy of it sometimes if I could find one speaks of believers 247 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:05,640 whose hands and feet our activities our goings have displeased the Lord as 248 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:11,360 children of his we need to judge that and with the Word of God be cleansed from 249 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:16,800 it like those Levitical priests and then the sixth thing about the Levitical 250 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,980 priest is this they offered sacrifice I'll just give you the scripture 251 00:28:21,980 --> 00:28:26,680 reference for it this is one of them Leviticus chapter 1 verse 5 through 8 252 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:32,760 those Levitical priests had to offer animal sacrifices that was some of their 253 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:39,320 responsibility to offer animal sacrifices to God what did Peter say in 254 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:45,240 the first verse of our scripture this morning 1st Peter chapter 2 and verse 255 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:52,080 5 he also is living stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to 256 00:28:52,080 --> 00:29:00,040 offer up what spiritual sacrifices spiritual sacrifices we don't offer 257 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:05,680 animal sacrifices we offer spiritual sacrifices when we were visiting with you 258 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:12,920 in August September of last year Garen was having a series of messages dealing 259 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:18,760 with worship and one of those messages dealt with the spiritual sacrifices we 260 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:23,440 offer as priests today so I'll just give you the scripture reference and you can 261 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,400 look them up you probably already have written them down 262 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:34,280 Hebrews 13 15 we're offer the sacrifice of praise and Thanksgiving that's what 263 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:39,160 we've done this morning brother John when we sang this morning holy holy 264 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:48,920 holy that was a praise to him praise and then Thanksgiving that is a sacrifice 265 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:55,840 what's the difference between praise and Thanksgiving when we praise him we're 266 00:29:55,840 --> 00:30:02,840 dealing with the person of God these wonderful attributes when we thank him 267 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:09,480 we're dealing with what God has done for us what God is that's praise what God 268 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:15,520 does for us that's Thanksgiving and then another one of the spiritual sacrifices 269 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:24,280 in Hebrews 13 16 doing good and sharing with others doing good Bible speaks of 270 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:28,280 three kinds of works evil work dead work and good work you know what good works 271 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:32,960 are works wrought by believer under the leadership of the Spirit of God to 272 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:39,680 glorify him and good work sharing with others not just in the material realm but 273 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,220 also in the spiritual sharing with them the gospel sharing with them the 274 00:30:43,220 --> 00:30:48,940 precious truths of the Word of God and then in Philippians 418 financial 275 00:30:48,940 --> 00:30:55,080 support of God's work that's like a sacrifice those those Philippian 276 00:30:55,080 --> 00:31:02,440 believers they sent Paul a gift and Paul said you know that's like a sacrifice to 277 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:09,640 God when you brought the Lord's tithes and offerings young fellow in the church 278 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:15,320 there at Calvary said bring your tithes and offerings I said they're not ours 279 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:20,520 there he is when we bring the Lord's tithes and offerings to him that's like 280 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:29,280 a sacrifice to him are you daily bring that sacrifice to him supporting the 281 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:37,880 Lord's work with your material gifts tithes and offerings I heard Roy 282 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:43,040 Gustafson Gustafson tell about dr. Savage was getting ready to baptize a 283 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:49,240 man and man said wait just a minute so I got something I want to do then he went 284 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:53,920 off came back dr. Savage said what what what'd you go for he said I want to get 285 00:31:53,920 --> 00:32:02,280 my bill fold I won't have you baptized too listen that's a sacrifice and then 286 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:10,200 the sacrifice to cap it all off is mentioned in Romans 12 verse 1 you know 287 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:15,840 it I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your 288 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:22,760 bodies and you know when he gets your body he gets you all all of us that's 289 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:29,880 personal giving personal and personal all of us acceptable unto God which is 290 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:36,560 your reasonable service are you offering these sacrifices to God as priests are 291 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:41,360 you there's so much of this resemblance between us and those were vehicle 292 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:48,120 priests we're like them in so many ways offered the sacrifice of your body if 293 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:52,920 you've never done that I read of a wealthy man who had one girl just one 294 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:58,720 daughter and oh how he loved her he gave her everything she needed he gave her a 295 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:05,160 good education he he gave her a good musical education and tried to keep her 296 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,800 away from Christian influence he was an atheist didn't want her to have anything 297 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:15,680 to do with Christians one time she and a girlfriend were walking in the evening 298 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:22,520 and they heard some music coming from a distance and they kept walking in the 299 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:27,320 direction in which the music was coming they came to a tent they were having a 300 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:33,840 tent meeting that girl and her friend went into the service and for the first 301 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:40,600 time in her life she heard the gospel of Jesus Christ she felt an emptiness in 302 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:47,040 her heart a long ago before that and in that service she trusted the Lord Jesus 303 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:55,800 Christ and got saved she went home told her father about it he blew his top he 304 00:33:55,800 --> 00:34:07,440 blew his top oh he just raved raved and screamed at her the next morning he told 305 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:12,400 her said I tell you what said I'm gonna give you 48 hours to give this all up I 306 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:20,880 give you 48 hours to give it all up you think about it the next two nights that 307 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,800 girl went back to the tent meeting where she heard the gospel again heard more of 308 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:30,600 the Word of God she was made the stronger so the morning of the second 309 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:36,320 the second morning came and he called her in said what's your answer she said 310 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:45,200 I can't give up Jesus Christ he said you get out of my house get out she said may 311 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:51,400 I go to the piano and play one number before I leave I'll go ahead and do it 312 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:58,920 she went and played and sang this number Jesus I my cross have taken all to leave 313 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:07,000 and follow thee destitute despised forsaken thou from hence my all shall be 314 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:13,920 Perry's every fond ambition all I've hoped or sought to be yet how rich is my 315 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:19,680 condition God in heaven are still my home and she went to the door to leave 316 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:25,560 the home she never got out he was there at the door put his arms around that 317 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:31,360 girl and said listen honey if Jesus Christ means that much to you I want him 318 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:39,120 as my Savior you see that girl had offered her body her all to Jesus Christ 319 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:44,800 have you done that believer maybe there's someone here this morning you've 320 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:49,320 never had that birth that brings you into the family of the high priest Jesus 321 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:54,120 Christ that's what you need if you don't have that birth from above you'll never 322 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:59,200 see the kingdom of God most of you here I'm sure have had that birth have we 323 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:05,840 been offering all the sacrifices he wants from us I wonder if we could just 324 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:14,840 stand together I wonder brother Mark would play for us 445 the time has slipped 325 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:21,280 away have thine own way Lord have thine own way could we just stand with bowed 326 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:30,440 heads pleased please we'll not even sing it just with bowed heads as brother 327 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:36,760 Mark plays this if God's spoken to some heart this morning and there's something 328 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:42,680 he's been tugging at your heart that he wants you to do spirit of God's been 329 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:51,440 speaking would you come just now surrender completely to him have thine 330 00:36:51,440 --> 00:37:03,040 own way Lord have thine own way don't come if he isn't speaking but if he is 331 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:17,440 speaking don't resist him what would he have you to do as a believer 332 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:19,880 priest 333 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:36,880 don't be ashamed to do openly what he wants you to do don't do anything if he 334 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:54,880 isn't speaking to your heart 335 00:37:54,880 --> 00:38:02,120 thank you for your presence your kind attention let's pray now father we 336 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:09,960 claim your promise to bless your word bless it to the edification of believers 337 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:15,280 bless it to the bringing of those who are outside the family of the high 338 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:21,680 priest the Lord Jesus to bring them to that place where they'll say Lord I've 339 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:27,240 gone too long without you as my Savior and may they do like the father of that 340 00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:34,120 girl say I want Jesus Christ as my Savior and may they trust you Lord for 341 00:38:34,120 --> 00:39:01,360 Jesus sake in whose name we pray amen