Sermon for 04/15/07

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Sermon for 04/15/07
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YOU – An Ordained Priest –

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN

Main Theme: Easter was a message of pure Grace. But now what? We were saved FROM sin, Satan, and death, but what are we saved FOR? Believe it or not, Peter says each and every one of us have been ordained (set apart) as “priests”. The priestly function is one of bridge-building, mediating, connecting people with God. As priests we 1) speak with God, 2) speak for others, and 3) speak for God. The church will never function properly or faithfully until we see ourselves as “ordained plumbers, homemakers, engineers”, etc… The Christian life is more than just “not sinning”. In our baptism we were “blessed to be a blessing”, “set aside for sacred service”. This can only happen if we understand that we’re called to make Christ NOT just our “Savior”, but our “Lord” too! For Christ called us to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people, God’s own people – to proclaim His glory! Each of us a privileged priest with a purpose!

1) EASTER CHANGES EVERYTHING! Well, Easter Sunday is over, and we heard a message last week of God’s pure grace. Our salvation was an undeserved, unearned divine gift that came to us through Christ’s sacrificial and unconditional love! Last week was all about God! But this week, we recipients of God’s grace need to move past our awe and celebration to recognize that Easter is going to change everything! My life, your life… will be transformed completely! Now some of us may respond with “Duh! Of course it changes everything!” But not all of us. You see, there are many of us who want to be saved FROM the bad stuff of life, but we aren’t eager to hear that we were saved FOR something! We don’t mind being saved from the power of sin, Satan, and death – but then we want to go on with life as usual. In other words, we want Jesus as our SAVIOR, but not as our LORD. Because if we accepted Jesus as BOTH Savior AND Lord, we have to surrender our lives to HIS will - to a whole new way of thinking, acting, and living! Gulp!

2) SAVIOR AND LORD? After all these years of ministry, I am convinced that too many church attendees want Jesus as their Savior, but NOT as their Lord. We want a ticket to heaven, and divine help in case of crisis, but for the most part we want to be basically left alone so we can go out chase our dreams and live our lives according to our own personal desires. We attend church, but avoid Bible studies, small groups, or daily devotions… because if we were to get any closer to Jesus, we might find out that He has “a plan for us” that differs from our own. What we’re saying is “Save me Jesus, but don’t ask me to change!” “Be my Savior, but if you ask me to let you be Lord over my life, that will mess up my plans for life!” “Pour your grace and salvation down upon me, but keep your will to yourself!” Ask yourself, do you really want Jesus as both Savior AND Lord?

3) MY! Now having met Jesus in my 20’s, I can tell you that accepting Jesus as Savior is a lot easier than accepting Him as Lord! Preferring to be in control, I enjoyed making the decisions in my life! I had dreams, goals, and plans! MY dreams, goals, and plans! And when I began to suspect Jesus wanted more from me; I hide from Him! As Jesus began to whisper HIS plan for my life, I put my hands over my ears, and began singing at the top of my voice, “La, la, la, la, la!” Why? You know why! My selfish soul feared hearing what Christ might say, because He may call me to change! …to wash away my dreams, goals, and plans, in order to turn me into one of… well, you know – one of those! Those religious fanatics! One of those who walk, talk, and breathe religion 24 hours a day! They dedicate everything they have, say, or do to God’s service! And that’s scary – because after all, “What about MY needs!” I feared that if I let Jesus get His foot in the door, He may want to come in and run the whole show! So I stiff-armed Him, accepting Him as my Savior, but keeping distance between us every time He asked to be my Lord!

4) YOU - AN ORDAINED PRIEST! Now some of you may not want to admit it out loud, but you also share a bit of that fear, don’t you? In fact you look at my life, and your fears appear to be confirmed! You see me up hear preaching and wearing a collar, and say, “See what happens when you give in completely – you end up a pastor – a preacher, a member of the clergy! Thanks, but no thanks!” Funny how we see people in the ordained ministry as being so different than the people they serve. We see them and church staff as “special cases”, and separate them from the congregation in our minds. We even may be glad we have ordained clergy, but we don’t want to be one. And that is so ironic in light of what God calls each and every Christian to be: A priest! Yep – an ordained priest! No - I haven’t blown a gasket – I assure you, it’s true! You are each called to be an ordained priest! Open your Bibles if you brought them and mark this passage in 1^st Peter 2:9-10; “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

5) A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS! Before we think Peter has gone off the deep end, let’s understand that this is not a new idea! Back in Exodus (19:5-6) God told Moses to tell the Israelites, “‘Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." It appears clear – God wants a kingdom of priests! Now at first the Israelites were excited and we read, (Exodus 19:8) “The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.” But when God delivered the 10 Commandments to the people in a spectacular and powerful way, the people’s attitude changed! “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." What they did is push Moses out in front and tell him to be their go-between, to mediate for them. They responded to their calling to be a kingdom of priests, by rejecting the idea! They delegated that to Moses, and later God set aside Aaron and his sons, from the tribe of Levi, to be the priests. God would have to wait until the time of Jesus, to get His kingdom of priests.

6) ALL! For 2 centuries, all of Christ’s disciples did a bang up job sharing God’s love with others! They took Peter’s call to be a royal priesthood seriously, and they all strived to change the world! Unfortunately, it didn’t last… because around 200 AD, two church leaders, Hippolytus and Tertullian revived the notion of a “special priesthood” with a title to be worn only by the clergy. By the end of the 4^th century, the position had been formalized, and the laity began to sadly accept “second-class status” in ministry. Not until Martin Luther rediscovered the claims of scripture in the 16^th century, did the call to serve in the “priesthood of all believers” come back into focus! He said, "All Christians are priests, and all priests are Christians. Worthy of abomination is any assertion that a priest is anything else than a Christian." All the reformation leaders professed that the clergy and laity were equals; peers in the proclamation of the gospel, intercessory prayer, and mission service. Yes, clergy are specifically called to use their spiritual gifts to equip the laity through “Word and Sacrament”, but in God’s eyes, the service of all the laity is just as important – and together we are the true priests of the kingdom.

7) HIGHER PLAIN? Now you would think we moderns would have grasped that idea by now, but even today “Creeping clericalism” among church leadership plus a spiritual inferiority complex among the laity have continued to water down the their perception of the priestly call. There is still a strong desire among Catholic’s to have one of their children become a priest, monk, or nun! Why? Because some how we mistakenly think it is a higher, more holy and sacred calling! And if you think we Lutherans are exempt – think again! I have had church members refuse to take communion from a lay person while I am on vacation, because they were not clergy! Somehow they had elevated the position of ordained clergy to a higher plain, and felt that God’s sacramental gifts could only be given by the clergy. Friends, we may have different spiritual gifts, but in God’s eyes we are ALL on the same higher plain or level, because “All Christians are priests!”

8) GOD’S CALL TO ALL! Friends, do you know that every one of you have the right to give Communion and Baptize others! The reason we prefer, (and that’s all it is – is a preference) to leave it to clergy is for order’s sake! We ask trained people to make sure the Word and Sacraments are not abused or watered down. (So that someone without a clear understanding of it’s holy purpose doesn’t try giving the Lord’s Supper with Beer and pizza instead of bread or wine. Or add a salad bar to the end of the altar). This guideline of leaving Word and Sacraments to the trained clergy is just that – a guideline. If any of you pull over to assist with a serious accident and someone lies dying and wants to get baptized – do it! You are a priest! If you’re a nurse and a delivered baby may not make it, and the parents want the baby baptized, and no clergy are available – do it! You are a priest! The clergy play an important role – with a specific calling to “equip the laity” through Word and Sacrament, but it is no more special than your own calling. For you are also called to be priests, using your specific and God-given spiritual gifts to bring glory to God! It is God’s call and commission for all of His children to fulfill.

9) JESUS CHRIST! Well then, if we’re called to be a “kingdom of priests”, what do priests do? Priests in the Old Testament were those called to connect the people with God. They were mediators between God and His people. They interceded on their behalf, they offered sacrifices for the sins of the people. They were responsible for bringing God’s Word to others. The need for human mediators changed after Jesus came! We Protestants don’t have a pope or bishops that must intercede for us, for we read the scriptures and recognize only one mediator between us God, Jesus Christ! We’re told in Hebrews (7:23-28) “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” We Protestants believe that through Christ we have been given direct access to God; the Creator of the universe! The only sacrifice we need to get right with God has come to us now on the cross on Easter day! Jesus, and Jesus alone makes us “holy” through His death and resurrection! Christ is the one who connects us with God!

10) CONNECTIONS! How amazing then, that Jesus chooses us and now calls us to join Him in His mission; of making connections between the created and the Creator! Just as God told the Israelites their purpose: "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7)… so too, is the “priesthood of all believers” today called to connect the lost children of God to Him and one another! Some of His last words to us were: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) So as a priest, ordained by Jesus Christ, what are you to do? The priestly function is one of bridge-building, mediating, and connecting people with God!

11) SPEAKS WITH GOD! At the very heart of this, a priest is someone who 1) “SPEAKS WITH GOD” directly. In the Old Testament, God’s dwelling place symbolically was in the Temple, which was divided into two parts. The first was the Holy Place. Only the priests could enter into that area. A large curtain divided the Holy Place from what is called the Most Holy Place. Inside of that room sat the Ark of the Covenant, and was where God symbolically dwelt. Only the High Priest could enter into that room one day a year on the Day of Atonement to speak with God on the behalf of the people. But on the day Jesus died – do you remember what we read? (Matthew 27:50-51) “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Through those words, God was indicating that the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Direct access to God could be obtained through Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul tells us, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God… Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) Approach the throne of grace “with confidence”! Other versions say “boldly”! You, as a partner with Christ, as a member of His Holy priesthood, may now speak with God directly with a bold confidence!

12) SPEAKS FOR OTHERS! Secondly, a priest “SPEAKS FOR OTHERS”. In the Old Testament priests mediated between God and those who did not know Him. They would sacrifice for others, and bring their appeals to the one who had the power! Priests prayed for God to save their souls, heal their diseases, and to restore their blessings! It is the same for you! As a member of the priesthood of all believers, the Apostle Paul speaks to us when he says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1^st Timothy 2:1-4) There is power in prayer. How many of our family members, co-workers, fellow students, neighbors, and friends have failed to receive God’s blessing because no one prayed for them? You and I are Christ’s kingdom of priests – and we need to spend major portions of our day silently praying for those whom God places in our paths. Because “Priests” speak for others.

13) SPEAKS FOR GOD! And thirdly, a priest “SPEAKS FOR GOD”. Paul tells the Roman churches and us, “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15) Friends, only the Word of God can change a person’s heart! Priests, which you are, are called to share the love and message of Jesus to those who hunger for the truth. This is not license to force the bible down people’s throats! We are to care for, love, and bless others, so that when the Spirit tells you the time is right – Jesus can use you to bring the gift of life and light to those who are in bondage and darkness. A priest “Speaks for God!”

14) PRIVILEGED PRIEST! Friends, there’s a human tendency to think that being is a Christian means “not sinning”. But it so much more than that! In our baptism we were each “blessed to be a blessing”, and “set aside for sacred service”. So why do we tend to isolate a few servants, elevate their status, and dump the entire ministry in their lap? How sad that both laity and clergy fall for that sacrilegious model of thinking that “leadership” in the church is “more special”, or “holier” than other callings! It is a lie that handicaps the church, decreasing the effectiveness of our ministry to God, to one another, and to the world. We are equals in Gods eyes! We are peers called to the same Holy mission, though called to serve in unique ways, using our specific God-given spiritual gifts and resources to be a blessing to others! The potential of All Saints’ to change the world one heart at a time must never be left to a few! It depends on all the priests! God’s priests! And because of what Christ did on Easter, you are now a “privileged priest with a purpose!”

15) THE LORD! At the end of this service, we typically greet each other. Today I ask you to do something different. Share with one another your identity. And I want you to do it this way: Hi, I am _________________ and I am an ordained _______________”. Maybe you are an ordained plumber. Maybe you are an ordained secretary, or homemaker, or retired person. Maybe you are unemployed – in which case you are an ordained unemployed person. But in doing so, you accept being that special person the Lord has chosen in grace, set aside, empowered, and privileged to belong to a kingdom of priests! Regardless of your vocation, location, age or education, Christ calls and enables you to be a priest who “Speaks with God”, “Speaks for others”, and “Speaks for God!” Now that the miraculous Easter Event has passed, Christ whispers to those who would hear it: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9-10) Let us not just make Christ our Savior, let us also make Him our Lord! The Lord of a Kingdom of priests! Praise God! AMEN!

Opening prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, last week we walked in pure Grace as your son made salvation possible for us, even though we did not deserve it, nor could we ever earn it! Because of His sacrificial death and resurrection - sin, Satan, and death will no longer have the final say in our lives! You poured down upon us your unconditional love in ways that overwhelmed us! As we continue to stand in awe and wonder at the loving, caring nature of your heart, we seek ways to respond to that amazing grace and love! Though we are broken, though we struggle, though we have weaknesses and frailties abounding, we seek ways to join with you in your mission! So, we ask that you forgive our sins, that they do not become stumbling blocks to serving you! We ask for healing, that our entire being can focus on sharing your light with those in darkness. We ask for your guidance and wisdom, confident that you and you alone can make the impossible possible – in us and through us! Fill us with your Holy Spirit as we seek today our true identity and purpose! As the children of Easter, use us to bring others into life-giving relationships with you! Teach us to love one another, encourage one another, and work together to be your hands, feet, and voice to a broken world! Make us your church! In Jesus Name we pray, AMEN

Sermon/Confessional Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are so eager to receive you as our Savior, but not as willing to make you our Lord – our master! Our self-centeredness and incomplete faith causes us to strive to stay in control – seeking our goals, plans, and dreams. Forgive us, and empower us to do what we cannot do on our own – respond faithfully and lovingly in ways that reflect your love and grace to a hungry and broken world!

Lord, we confess that the idea of being a kingdom of priests demands more of us than we are willing or capable of giving on our own. We have not always been willing to accept the priestly functions of “Speaking with you”, “Speaking for others”, and “Speaking for you”. Again forgive us, and help us to see ourselves as your ordained priests – daily serving, praying for, loving, and connecting others with you!

And now Lord, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, healed, and recommitted to you! (made anew.)

(Silence)

Lord, you have chosen us and made us a kingdom of priests, a holy people, set aside to reflect your light and love to a broken world! You have ordained each and everyone of us to be a privileged priesthood with a purpose! You and you alone can make us holy, faithful, and productive in building your Kingdom! Enter in and transform us into the priesthood you would have us become! AMEN

Assurance of Forgiveness:

Friends, listen to the good news: The Lord, who desires to be your Savior AND Lord, …that Lord has mercifully heard your confession and eagerly forgives you all your sins. Go now, know that you have chosen to be an ordained priest for the kingdom of God! Turn to Him, get closer to Him, walk in His Word so that you may discover your spiritual gifts and be empowered to use them to serve Him and those He loves! In Jesus Name we pray! AMEN

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