You Have Made Them A Kingdom and Priests To Our God

You Have Made Them A Kingdom and Priests To Our God

A Royal Priesthood

What is our role, as Christians, in God’s kingdom? Are we all just serfs, working all the time and getting nothing in return? No, God is not in the business of forcing us to work.

Instead, according to today’s scripture reading, we are priests of God, and we are to reign on the earth.

If you read the news, it surely does not feel like we are reigning over anything, but we are. Remember, that Jesus said, “All power in heaven and earth has been given to me.” And by extension, we have God’s supreme authority.

With that in mind, it brings us back to what is our role? Specifically, what are our duties as God’s royal priesthood? A priest’s job is to offer sacrifices to God. Paul says that we should “offer our bodies as a sacrifice to God, as a reasonable service.” He’s not talking about a carnal sacrifice here, but rather that when we pray “Thy kingdom come” our prayers will rise like a sweet-smelling incense before the Lord.

This is the sacrifice that we offer as priests, and by this, we reign over the earth. Our prayers are more powerful than we realize.

Today’s sermon is based on these passages from Revelation 5:

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

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Announcements

Voters Meeting: The next meeting is May 22nd via Zoom at 3 pm.

Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study meets via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7 pm and is covering the book of Revelation. Our Sunday morning class meets at 9:45 and is currently discussing the papacy.

Donations: Even during the pandemic and with a decline in attendance, the expenses still go on. If you wish to make a donation please mail them to the St. James post office box as that is a secure location. You may also donate online.

Prayer requests. Bring your prayer requests to Pastor Jenson, Deacon Poe, or Loyd Harris (bulletin typist). They will be printed in the bulletin and prayed in the Sunday service. The deadline is Tuesday. Remember to obtain permission if you are bringing a prayer request on behalf of another person.

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