The New Testament Priesthood — 1 Peter 1-2

0:00 Let's open with a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for our precious Lord Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Lord, we worship him. Jesus, we worship you. You are worthy.

0:22 You alone are worthy. Lord Jesus, you are the living word. In the beginning was the word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. You are this living Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Lord, we thank You that You're the living Word.

0:43 We thank You for Your written Word, Your very voice. So speak to our hearts, fill us with your spirit. Speak to our hearts, Lord. Start with me, I pray in Jesus' name, amen. First Peter written by Peter, and he has a purpose in writing.

1:08 He's writing to a church that's suffering, and he wants to give them some instruction on how to live, how to endure suffering when you suffer for doing right. And a real theme in First Peter is there's three main reasons why God wants to have us to be conformed to the image of Christ. And most of Peter's letter here is about that, how to be like Christ, what to do, what does that look like and how to do it. And then the second thing is how to be this New Testament priesthood. Now individually, priests, but he doesn't address it as such.

2:07 He says priesthood, all of us. And so he gives us three reasons in chapter one, and we're going to read those briefly and then go into chapter two just as a backdrop. These three reasons why we should want to be and will be and should be and try to be conformed to the image of Christ, be like Jesus, and then live out our priestly duty, which is to serve God and offer Him spiritual sacrifices. We're going to look at what those are, those sacrifices, and how we're enabled to do those. So we'll start in chapter one verse three.

2:45 The first reason why we should want to be and will be conformed to the image of Christ, and then also number two, being a New Testament priesthood, is in verse three of chapter one. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The first reason is because you've been born again by a living hope. It's not about now.

3:32 It's about when we're resurrected, the ultimate goal. He says that in chapter one, fix your hope completely on the grace to be given you, chapter one, verse two, verse 13, one, verse 13, fix your hope completely on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Just like Jesus endured suffering in this life, and then the crown, right? Then the reward as he left this place, for the joy set before him he endured his suffering, which of course is beyond any of our suffering. So the first reason we want to be conformed to Christ and be this New Testament priest performing our priestly duties is because we've been born again by a living hope.

4:16 The next one is found in verse 18, chapter one. Knowing that you are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. We've been born again to a living hope through Christ's resurrection. We've been redeemed by his very life, the suffering of Christ giving himself completely for us. And the third reason is picked up verse 23 of chapter one.

4:54 Born again to a living hope, redeemed by the blood, in verse 23, you've been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable. That is through the living and enduring word of God. And then he adds this side note, for all flesh is like grass, all its glory, like the flower of the grass, the grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever, and this is the word which was preached to you. So Peter reminds us that our flesh is like grass, just fading away, right? Everything disappearing.

5:29 All the glory of the flesh like the flower of the field, but the word of God endures forever. So Peter's exhortation to live for eternity, not living for what we see, but living for the unseen, right, because that's eternal. So those three reasons, because we've been born again to a living hope, redeemed by the blood of the lamb, and born again by the eternal word of God. What should we do? And I want to focus on three things in this passage, and that is, number one, conform to the image of Christ, which we find in chapter two, verse one.

6:24 How do we do this? What's our enablement? And that is the word of God in verse two and the spirit of God. So let's pick it up now that we just read the introduction in verse one and start to read chapter two, the first 10 verses. Therefore, what do you mean therefore?

6:42 Because you've been born again to a living hope through the resurrection, because you've been redeemed by the blood of the lamb, because you've been born again by an eternal word and your flesh is fading away. Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and this is the portion there, and really most of the rest of the book is being like Christ. We'll look at that in a moment. So that's point number one. Number two, verse two, like newborn babies long or crave for the pure milk of the word.

7:16 Crave it. Just the same than a newborn baby. And you moms and dads know what that's all about. How the baby doesn't care about anything, anybody, just give me the milk I need, I must have, I want, I long for, I crave the milk. Of course, that's milk of mother, but here he uses that as a picture how we should crave the milk of the word.

7:40 So that, why? So that you may grow in respect to salvation. And Peter's last, almost his last words in chapter, in the second epistle, are grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Grow in your salvation. But what does that mean?

7:55 Growing in the grace and knowing Christ. Being like Christ. If you've tasted, or since you've tasted, the goodness, kindness of the Lord. Or another translation says that the Lord is good. Verse four, he shifts gears here quite strongly.

8:18 Coming to him as to a living stone, coming to Christ 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. In this verse he says a holy priesthood. For what purpose? To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ offers the once and for all sacrifice dealing with our sins.

8:50 These sacrifices have nothing to do with paying for our sins at all. Instead, they are a thank offering, a burnt offering, offering up thanks to God because Christ is our high priest and offered up that once and for all sacrifice. And we'll talk about this as we get going here. What does that look like, a New Testament priest? What do we do?

9:11 What are these spiritual sacrifices? Verse six, for this is contained in scripture, the Old Testament. Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, speaking of Christ, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed or ashamed. This precious value then is for you who believe. This is for believers only, how precious he is.

9:36 But for those who disbelieve, the stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word. Why do they stumble? Because they're disobedient to the word. And to this they were also appointed.

9:56 My translation adds the word doom. And to this doom they were also appointed. Just a quick note here, and this is all we'll say about this, but it's very important. He is not saying that they are doomed to be disobedient to the word, that they're appointed for that. They're not predestined to be disobedient to the word.

10:17 No, Judas was not predestined to betray the Lord. Yes, someone was, and this is a great mystery, but Judas had total free will. The great balance of God's sovereignty, God's election, and man's responsibility and free will. But they are destined for what? That if they're disobedient to the word, they'll stumble.

10:43 They'll stumble over the stumbling stone, which is Christ. So as they're disobedient to the word, they are going to reject Christ and they will be doomed, damned, crushed by this rock, Jesus Christ, right? So God is not saying that they're predetermined, I've chosen, chosen, chosen, chosen, chosen this person, that person, that person, they will be disobedient to the word, they will go to hell. That's not the teaching of scripture. The teaching of scripture is the great mystery that God does choose us who are saved.

11:16 I don't understand it completely, but I know the Bible clearly is not talking about them being predetermined that I'm choosing that person to go to hell. No, he desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. He's not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance. And if there's any question that I would like to sit down and listen to the Lord explain to me, this is it when we get there. I don't fully understand it.

11:39 I like what somebody said. It's like two railroad tracks. They're parallel. They never meet in our understanding. God's election, his sovereignty, in choosing us before the foundation of the world, and he did.

11:56 But that doesn't mean that he chose others by name and damned them to hell before they ever born. That's not true. This is what this verse says. No, they are predetermined that if they're disobedient to the word by their own free will, then they will stumble. If you want that better explained, you'll have to wait till we get home to heaven.

12:20 Or, yeah. But it's awesome. It is. You need to leave them alone. The problem comes when you try to make these two railroad tracks meet, and that's the problem.

12:30 Well, if God shows beforehand, then so and so is damned. No, it doesn't work that way. You just take the scriptures that we do know for certain, and then leave it like the Bible says, the secret things belong to the Lord. We don't fully understand it. It's like an in house secret, the doctrine of election.

12:47 Once we're saved, it's like D. L. Moody, I think was the one who said it before, as he's walking up to the pearly gates, a picture of course, it's not like this, but he sees on the gates of heaven, you know, whoever will may come. Anybody that wants to come to heaven can get saved, right? Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, right?

13:04 And once you get into heaven, wow, wow, thank you, Lord. I was able to choose you and be saved. You look back, they're chosen. You look back again at the same in house secret chosen before the foundation of the world. What a mystery.

13:19 What a mystery. We just sit in worship, don't we? Because we don't grasp it. But who can say that they had anything to do with their salvation? Were you seeking God?

13:29 The Bible says no one seeks God. Right? So it was the Lord. Not only provided the means of Christ dying on the cross, for by grace are you saved. We actually got saved.

13:40 He provided the means of Christ on the cross as an act of grace, obviously, way beyond what we deserve. But He also provided us being saved, for by grace are you saved. So enjoy His salvation. How does that make me feel about the lost? Well, they don't get saved unless somebody tells them, the Bible says.

13:59 Oh, but they might not be elected, but they don't get saved unless somebody tells them. Paul says, I'm ready to, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they might inherit or obtain salvation. Yeah, Paul knows that only the elect will be saved, but they don't get saved unless somebody goes to tell them. The greatest evangelist perhaps in the world who believed in the doctrine of election, who taught it in the scripture, Apostle Paul, he was the greatest burden for every soul. He wanted all of Israel to be saved, right?

14:28 So as you understand that God is so gracious to save us by His grace, you're just so thankful you want to tell the whole world. But again, it's not teaching that people are predetermined to go to hell. No, it's predetermined that those who disobey the word will go to hell. Okay? Just like it's predetermined that for God so loved the world, whoever believes will not perish, right?

15:26 We are this New Testament priesthood that wants to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us, Him who saved us. We want to tell the world that Jesus saves. Amen? Amen? Amen.

15:42 We do. We do. We've got a great story to tell. Verse 10, for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

16:03 So let's look at three kind of points here. That is the first one is found in verse one of chapter two. Because we've been born again by a living hope through the resurrection of Christ, because we've been redeemed by the blood of the lamb, because we've been born again by his living word, eternal word, and our flesh is quickly fading away, we want to be conformed to the image of Christ. Verse one, chapter two, therefore putting aside or getting rid, rid yourselves, the NIV says, of all malice, all deceit, all hypocrisy, all envy, and all slander. A couple definitions here.

16:41 Malice is the intention or desire to do evil, ill will, or harm to another. So we don't want to, even if people wrong us, even if believers wrong us, even if there's tension in a marriage, we don't want to do, wish for them evil and ill will. Doesn't mean necessarily you want to kill them and murder them, Of course, it includes that, but it's even in the heart, right? We don't wish for evil upon those who hurt us, right? That's malicious.

17:09 Deceit means to mislead or to cause to believe what is false, Right? We don't want to deceive people. And it has very close relationship with the next one, hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is being an actor, pretending. Hypocrisy is claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which your behavior doesn't conform.

17:33 Or putting on a mask and pretending to be what you are not. And we're all guilty of some of these to some degree, right? But that's why Peter reminds us because we've been redeemed with the blood and a living hope and the word of God, put these things aside. Stop doing those things. And we're going to see that we're powerless change, right, on our own.

17:58 But we're going see in a moment that there is power that God's given us to change. How quickly a body of believers can be destroyed because believers have malicious intents in their hearts. How quickly a marriage can be destroyed, right? We've seen, we've heard of that happening. We want to guard ourselves.

18:20 We want to put aside these things. Malicious intent, deceiving. No, be real. Be real. Don't be a hypocrite claiming to be, yeah, something that you're not.

18:32 Jesus condemned the the pharisees for that constantly. Right? You hypocrites. You whitewashed tombs. In John chapter eight, right, the woman caught in adultery.

18:45 If you don't have any sin, go ahead, throw the stone. Right? But we can't, but we do. We throw stones and they hurt with our words, with our thoughts. Somebody once said that this bitter spirit is like drinking poison and expecting it to hurt the other person, right?

19:06 It only hurts you. It's been medically, scientifically proven that much sickness, especially internally in our digestion and our whole body, even cancer, they've seen some people, don't want to get too far off here, but it's true that it can cause physical ailment. David says that constantly, Psalm 32 and other places in the Psalm, my body wasting away, why? Because of my sin. So brethren, we want to put away these things.

19:37 And the last two are envy, a feeling of discontent and ill will because of another's advantages, possessions, or success. I've been dealing with this lately. Now in my life, I don't envy so much by God's grace, like a bigger house or things like that, but that's envy, right? I want what somebody else has, and boy, how come they got it and I don't? Or better health.

20:03 Mine is ministry opportunities. I love to share the word of God, and I've been guilty of this recently and dealt with it by God's grace to put that away. I see other brothers being, open doors for them in ministry and envying. And what does that mean? It means to have a feeling of discontent and ill will, and instead of just rejoicing in what God gives me to do and doing what I'm supposed to do, what he tells me to do, I'm usually not doing what he wants me to do, but I'm seeing somebody else, and I end up feeling negative toward that person, right?

20:38 So God says put that away. Resentful dislike of another who has something you desire, that's envy. And then slander, making false and damaging statements about someone. And I believe we can actually slander a person. It doesn't even have to be false.

20:57 It might be truth. But we're just so quick to just hurt the people with our words. Isn't that what Romans three says? Their tongues, their mouths are like an open grave. You know what that means?

21:09 You ever smell rotting flesh? It's the worst smell on the planet, literally. It is. There's no other smell that compares to rotting flesh, human or animals. Right?

21:19 It's just stench. And that's what God says our words are because of our slander sometimes. We don't want that. Instead, Ephesians, if you go to Ephesians chapter four, go back a couple books. Ephesians chapter four, the last two verses, think it is, one and thirty two.

21:43 Yeah, chapter four, verse 31, 32, let all bitterness and wrath, notice Paul says the same thing. And both the writers, Peter and Paul, they both, they give the, Peter gives the first chapter of all that God has done for us, right? Therefore, live like this. And Paul says in Ephesians, he starts in chapter four, verse one, he says, therefore, walk worthy, because the first three chapters, he's blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, right, and all that he's done. Therefore, therefore, verse 31, and it's a long list in chapter four, but we just want to stay on this point.

22:21 Let all bitterness and wrath, bitterness, all bitterness, all wrath, all anger, all clamor, all slander be put away from you along with all malice instead. I'm adding the word instead there. Be kind to one another. Practical way, how do you stop having this bitterness towards a person? You determine that you're going to serve them and do good for them and be kind to them, and you do it.

23:33 God says don't be a hypocrite. If you're a Christ one, a Christian, then be conformed to the image of Christ. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving. How does God forgive? He removes our sin from us.

23:48 I like what the amplified says. It says, drop it, let it go. Drop it, let it go. How often? Every time you have the thought about it.

23:58 Did you ever wonder why I forgave that person, but I still wrestle with it? Well, God says if you have anything against anyone, forgive them. Anything against anyone, forgive them. So, but I forgave her or him yesterday, but it's back again. Well, guess what?

24:15 Forgive them. Drop it. Let it go. Talk it over with the Lord. Do it again.

24:21 70 times seven. Unlimited times. Every time that negative comes to you, just do what God says. He says drop it, let it go, forgive them. God will work it in your heart.

24:31 He will. You just do what He says, and that is every time the negative is there, just forgive them, right? Colossians, the two books to the right, chapter three, says similar admonitions, chapter three verse 12. And he gives the reason why. So as those who have been chosen, chapter three verse 12, Colossians, so as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other.

25:07 Whoever has a complaint doesn't even mean that you, you know, you really, it's just a complaint. You don't like what they're doing or did. Whoever hasn't complained against anyone, that's the ones you're supposed to forgive. Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity and peace.

25:32 And of course, the love chapter, we won't look there just for time's sake. First Corinthians 13, if you're taking notes. The first few verses, I can speak in tongues as men or angels. I can prophesy and be a great preacher. I can know all the mysteries of the Bible.

25:48 I can have great faith to move mountains. I can be so committed to Jesus, I'll die and let them burn my body at the stake. But if I don't have love, three things. I'm a loud clinging gong to who? To God, to myself, to the world.

26:05 Right? I am nothing and it profits me nothing. Love. Without love, we're just the hypocrite. We're just the hypocrite, aren't we?

26:15 And again, this is not me pointing a finger out. This is the word of God talking to this guy first and all of us here. Examine our hearts. The second thing is talking about being a holy and a royal priesthood. So we want to be conformed to the image of Christ because of what he's done for us, given us a living hope through the resurrection, redeemed by the blood, and the word of God we've been born again by.

26:39 Right? What is a priesthood? Go to Exodus 19 very quickly. Exodus 19. God chose Israel to be his holy nation, his royal priesthood.

26:56 But when they crucified the Lord, they made the ultimate final, no, I'm not interested to the Lord. God had been so patient with them. Centuries, he'd been sending them prophets. Turn back to me, turn back to me, turn back to me, turn back to me. Until finally they said, we will not have this man rule over us.

27:25 And from that point on, Christ crucified, right? And then Pentecost fifty days later, the church begins. And now we the church, born again believers, are God's holy nation, his royal priesthood, his people. Now I am not saying that we replace Israel, don't think that. God definitely is going to bring Israel back to himself at the second coming of Christ, all the Jews that will be left after many are murdered and killed and slaughtered, and Jesus, it says, when he returns, they'll look on me, another I am, right?

28:00 I am, whom they have pierced, and they're going to weep and mourn, and all of Israel then will be saved. So God still has His plan, His program, but temporarily, I guess you would be the way to say it, we, and I don't want to say replace the Israel, but we are that holy nation now. Wow, that's powerful. But in Exodus 19 verses five and six, here's when God told Israel, now then, this is a covenant, but it's a covenant based upon obedience. It's an if then.

28:35 Here's what he says. Now then, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession among all the peoples. For all the earth is mine. Again, he did, they did rebel and reject him and disobey. And he did lay them aside, but not permanently.

28:53 Okay, that's very important. Again, the church does not replace God's program for Israel. Now then, verse six, I lost my place here, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. Wow.

29:14 A kingdom of priests and a holy nation. And again, that was then, but now it's us. If you come back to first Peter chapter two and verse five. You also as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Verse nine and ten, 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.

29:56 For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. So what does a priest do? Turn to Revelation chapter one. Revelation chapter one.

30:17 And this is the New Testament priesthood which we are all a part of, and again, that's every true born again believer. That's why we don't ordain quote unquote a man of God to be in charge of this assembly. Why? Because there's no distinction. We are all equally priests to God.

30:37 We have free access to go to God, to serve God, to bring our spiritual sacrifices to God. Well, then why do we have elders? Because even in the trinity, there's order of authority. Down to the family, order of authority, right? The father, the husband, and even in our government, right?

30:56 And so now, even in the church, there's definitely authority. The elders are to oversee, to oversee the flock, and to lead by example. And by the way, we want to keep praying for these brothers. They are under big time attack constantly. If I were the enemy and I wanted to attack an army, which we're called, I'd go for the leadership, right?

31:18 You can be sure they're under attack, and we thank God for each one of these men. They're not perfect, but I do thank God. I boast about my elders as I around a little bit here and there. So we want to lift up our brothers to the Lord. Chapter one, Revelation verse six, speaking of Christ, and he has made us...

32:25 If anybody has found my other bible, please. I've got a little bit larger print there and the numbers aren't here. Okay. Here we go. And verse nine, and they sang a new song saying, worthy are you to take the book and to break its seals.

32:39 Why? For you were slain, you purchased for God with your own blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and what will they do? They'll reign upon the earth. They'll reign upon the earth and they'll serve our God.

32:57 So priests serve God and they offer up spiritual sacrifices. That's the simplest explanation we need for right now for our understanding. So what spiritual sacrifices? Let's move quickly through this. Romans chapter 12 verses one and two.

33:14 Romans chapter 12 verses one and two, some familiar verses, but what is the spiritual sacrifices that we as believers offer up to our God as priests? This is the all encompassing one. This is the umbrella. If you haven't offered this sacrifice, all the other ones are just basically void. They're just in the flesh.

33:39 Here's what God wants from His priests, His children. Because of his great mercy, verse chapter 12 verse one, therefore, because of God's great mercy, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. So what does God want these priests to offer up to him? Our bodies. Literally, our bodies.

34:01 Every morning I try to do that. When I don't genuinely do that, now I can do it just by words, you know, in quick prayer. Here's my body, Lord. And, but when I genuinely mean that and think it over and offer up my body, here I am, Lord. Use my hands, my feet, and as those who are risen from the dead, Romans six says.

34:21 I'm dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, and I go through my body parts, and I offer up my body to the Lord. God wants us to do that. Why? Because of His great mercy in saving us. And this is holy and acceptable.

34:35 This is your reasonable act of worship. We call the Lord's Supper our worship service. The Bible doesn't necessarily call it that. And you can sit in the Lord's Supper and not worship the Lord. And I don't mean just by remembering Him.

34:51 I mean by not having offered your body as a living sacrifice to Him. You're sitting taking the Lord's Supper, but you're still not surrendered to do whatever He wants. You're not worshipping. True sacrifice is to offer up our bodies to the Lord. And the second one goes with it in verse two.

35:09 And be not conformed to this present evil age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God wants you to offer your mind to Him. To do what? To be renewed. How?

35:19 By the reading of His word. By getting His word so much in your mind that your computer just constantly thinking those things. And so this is how we offer up our first and I believe our primary and most important sacrifice. Second Timothy chapter four verses six through eight, Paul talks about offering his body literally to death. In Romans, we offer our body living sacrifices.

35:50 But there's another sacrifice that God talks about in two Timothy chapter four, also in Philippians chapter one, I think it is. Yes, chapter two verse 17, Philippians. And two Timothy chapter four, Paul says these words. Second Timothy four verses six through eight. But I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

36:16 I fought the good fight. I finished the course. I've kept the faith, and in the future there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. What is Paul saying? I'm going to die.

36:31 I was in jail once before, and I wrote to the Philippians and I wasn't sure. He says, I'm not sure. I'm betwixt between the two. To go and be with Christ is far better, or to be here and serve you guys because there's so much work that needs to be done. And he says, I might be poured out as a drink offering.

36:50 Here he knows he's going to be poured out as a drink offering, and history tells us he does. He goes to the chopping block and gets his head cut off. For Jesus, what a great offering to the Lord. But again, just in in in in, just a reminder there, first Corinthians Paul writes, but if I do that, offer my body even to be burned or have my head cut off, but I don't have love, it's nothing. It's nothing.

37:16 So I can be that committed to Christ that I'll die for Christ, but still, if there's somebody that I'm not actively loving, because love is an action, right, it's a decision to serve them for their good interest and to be slow, long suffering with their shortcomings, right? So Paul here says he's going to pour out his life as a drink offering. Hebrews chapter 13 gives us a couple more offerings or sacrifices we offer up to the Lord. Again, not to pay for our sins, not to earn our salvation, but in thanks because of our salvation, because of who he is and what he's done. Chapter 13 verse 15 of Hebrews.

38:21 Just because it's my mouth reading, he's talking to me. Any of you here ever go through any suffering in life? Oh, not you guys. I do. Yeah, we all do.

38:31 And sometimes it's really painful and hard. And there's death, and there's sickness, and there's relationship problems, right, and broken families, broken marriages, etc. I'm getting older, so you start to wonder about that. But God says just continually offer up a praise to God that is, he defines what he means by that. The fruit of lips that give thanks to his name.

38:57 It's giving thanks. Doesn't he say that elsewhere? In everything, thanks, right? Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks. And I'm learning that as I do that, if you're ever discouraged and depressed, I'm telling you just start thanking God for all things, it says.

39:13 For the good, the in between, and even the fact that you're depressed, discouraged, and there's so much trouble, just thank him and start to thank him and think it through, but literally do it. Why? Because he says so. And God will work in your heart great things. The next verse gives us another sacrifice.

39:29 Verse 16. And do not neglect doing good and sharing. So you could say there's two different sacrifices here. For with such, what, sacrifices, God is pleased. So what do New Testament priests offer up to God?

39:45 First, their body and their mind to be changed to be like Christ, and then we are not neglecting doing good. To all men, it says, right? And we're sharing, we're giving what God has given us, our lives, our thoughts, and especially, you know, in our possessions. For with such sacrifices God is pleased. Philippians chapter four, if you go back a couple books again, chapter four verse 16.

40:11 Specifically, Paul commends them, the church at Philippi, for sharing. And the context here is sharing with those who are ministering God's word. Look at what it says, chapter four verse 16 through 20 of Philippians. Paul says to this church, for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Okay, for my needs.

40:38 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account, and here it is. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance. I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus which you have sent a fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. So as we support with our money and our stuff, the work of the Gospel and the preaching of God's word, that's an awesome sacrifice of love and thanksgiving back to God. Romans chapter 15, another sacrifice that New Testament priests can and do offer up to God.

41:19 Romans 15 verse 15. Paul says, but I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given to me from God. Verse 16. To be a minister, a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. Ministering, look at this, as a priest.

41:57 What am I giving to these Gentiles? The Gospel of God. So that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. So every time we share the Gospel with someone, that is a sacrifice offering up to God, and that should be our motive for doing it. We're thankful, God, we want to share with everybody, even if it means they're going to reject us, even if they're going to throw us in jail.

42:23 Right? We were talking about the tortured for Christ, and how we're praying for the church that's suffering for Christ, the voice of the martyrs, right? We don't know that here. We don't experience that here. We will one day soon.

42:36 But as we just offer up the gospel to people, and then it says, and as Paul says, then the offering of the Gentiles is going to be sweet smelling and pleasing to the Lord. I believe this is talking about literal people getting saved. There's twofold here. Sharing the gospel is an offering to the Lord, and then if God chooses to save them, that's an additional offering to the Lord. Wow.

43:01 And anybody can do this, right? Anybody can carry Gospels of John in their pocket or their purse and give them out. And again, an encouragement, people are ready to receive them at least, and we can pray for them and talk with them. Revelation chapter eight, the last one I'd like to share with you. It might not be the last one.

43:23 I don't know if I've covered them all. I've tried to investigate the best I could. If any of you have any others that you discover, please share those with me. That would be great. Revelation chapter eight verses three and four.

43:57 God is wrapping up his judgment on the earth during those seven years of tribulation. Verse three, another angel came and stood at the altar holding a golden censer, and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to what? The prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. What's the altar for? Offering up sacrifice to God.

44:21 This was an incense sacrifice. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints went up before God. Let me say that again. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints went up before God out of the angel's hand. Isn't that awesome?

44:41 When you're on your knees or sitting or standing and praying, when you're participating here at the Lord's Supper and you're just praying, You could be praising and thanking his name, right? That's a sacrifice. But then just the prayers of the saints, that's a sacrifice to the Lord. It's an offering. It's sweet smelling.

44:58 This is why he saved us. This is what we're going to do in all eternity. We're going to serve the Lord. That's what New Testament priests do. So just very quickly, a couple things that God says are even better sacrifices we can offer, or perhaps you might say best.

45:14 First Samuel fifteen twenty two. Some of you know that verse. What? Obedience is better than sacrifice. So again, you can try to be doing all this stuff, but in your heart you're determined you're not going to obey the Lord.

45:28 I think it's a sacrifice that's not so pleasing to the Lord. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Psalm 51, if we'll go there quickly. Just give me a minute or two here. We'll finish.

45:40 Psalm 51, David's great great great confessional chapter in the Bible. And what does God desire? In a sense, even more than sacrifice. Chapter 51 verse sixteen and seventeen. David speaking to God, for you do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it.

46:05 You're not pleased with burnt offering. It's not to say that he's not pleased with it, but he's saying that's not really what God wants at this point in David's life. Here's what he says. And actually in every believer's life. Verse 17, the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

46:23 A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. What is a broken spirit? It does not mean that, oh, I'm sad. That's not it. Contrite means that.

46:33 It means you're sorrowful over your sin. Contrition. Contrite means you're sorrowful over your sin. Broken means it's like when you're taking that wild horse, what do they call it, when you can finally ride him and control him? He's broken.

46:46 He's broken. That's what David is saying. That's what God wants. He wants the brokenness. To be broken before the Lord means you're totally surrendered to Him.

46:55 That's all it means. And contrition means that you're sorry for all the zillions of times you've not been. Right? That's what it means. Proverbs 2eight 13 says, let's look it up, it just slipped my mind here.

47:11 I got part of it. I misquoted it. I don't want to do that. Proverbs 2eight 13. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

47:29 So again, God wants a changed life. And I want to close with this in Jonah chapter two. Two verses. Jonah chapter two, a little bit further to the right. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Job, Obadiah, Jonah, there we go.

47:50 Chapter two. Now Jonah's in the belly of a fish. I was thinking about this this morning. Listen, in the belly of a fish, just like in your belly, there's no air space. There's a kidney next to you and a heart.

48:04 It's not like an automobile, you lift up the hood and there's room to move. No, no, you are stuck together, right? That's why when your tummy gets full, you can feel the pain everywhere else in a sense. Jonah is stuck. I mean, can't move.

48:19 He's in this belly of this great fish. Whatever that means. I mean, literally happened. He was really there. Why?

48:27 Why? Disobedience. Right? Disobedience. Look at what Jonah prays in verse nine.

48:36 Chapter two verse nine. But I will sacrifice to you. And he's all, and the stomach acid has to be eating his skin away, right? Burning and just, and it's just horrible. And he's gotten motion sickness because he's down at the bottom and up and around and turning.

48:50 But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I'm going to offer my sacrifice of thanksgiving. And that which I have vowed, I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord. Thanksgiving and surrender.

49:05 Thanksgiving and surrender. Lord, I'll do it. I'll go. Lord, if you deliver me out of this. I don't know if he even said if.

49:13 He's just saying, Lord, you want me to go. That's why I'm here. I'll go. I'll go to Nineveh. Next verse.

49:21 Then the Lord commanded the fish and vomited Jonah up on the dry land. Now Jonah's free from the fish. To do what he wants? No. To now be obedient, right?

49:52 If you would have only known that what I really desire is compassion, loving kindness. He told that to the Pharisees, Jesus did. More, more, more than the sacrifice is the love. How do we get this all? Second Peter chapter two verse one, we crave the milk of the word like newborn babies.

50:12 And we get along with Jesus in the closet, wherever that might be. Closet means bedroom. That's what it meant. It meant your own private quarters. Get alone and get along with the Lord in his word.

50:23 Right? Jesus said, Martha, there's only one thing necessary. Sit at my feet, listen to my word. And then surrender. Surrender.

50:33 Don't be afraid to surrender, Christian. Christian. Right? Don't be afraid. God's will is perfect.

50:42 He wants to use you. You young boys, don't like us old geezers. You surrender to the Lord. He's got great things He wants you to do. Great things He wants you to do.

51:10 God will do that. And as you pray and surrender, Father, our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. Let's pray.

51:24 Lord, that is our prayer. Lord, thank you that your spirit is the teacher here, and your word has been read. And I'm sure I didn't do the best job, but Lord, your word, it's your word. So interpret these scriptures into our souls. Lord, deal with each one of us.

51:46 If there's anybody that we've got any envy, deceit, or bitterness toward, Lord, us grace to forgive. Give us no rest until we deal with that, we pray. We want to see such a spirit of love and unity. And Lord, your word says we're only going to have that as we're broken. Lord, give us broken spirits.

52:06 Because a broken and contrite spirit, the Lord will not despise. Thank you, Jesus. You are our high priest. Lord, what we've been talking about, sacrifices, you did it all. It's finished.

52:20 You paid for our sins. Help us to surrender and submit to you, to trust you, Lord. And if you have to put us in the belly of a fish, Lord, So be it, Lord. Give us grace, Lord, so that your name is glorified and honored. We praise you in Jesus' name.

52:39 Amen.