Sanctified for Service
What to Expect from the Moment You Accept God’s Call to Enter the Priesthood of Believers.
Rev. Sean Lester
Sun., May 18, 2003
Text: Hebrews 5:7-8
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Introduction:
A. God calls people to be priests to our world. It is a priesthood made up of all believers. It is the church and its members who are called to intercede for the people in this world and bring all who will come into this priesthood.
B. All who enter this priesthood enter the same way.
1. They hear and believe the preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ.
2. They humbly and reverently come to Christ in repentance.
3. God gives them His promised Holy Spirit to empower them for service.
C. The call to this priesthood is not the same as being designated a priest. The call is the anointing, the designation is the fulfillment of the call.
1. Jesus was called, but he had to suffer and obey before he was designated to be a priest.
2. David, Jehu, Joseph, all were anointed some time before being designated to their posts.
3. The anointing of God to be a priest and intercessor is only the permission to enter this priesthood, but you must submit to being prepared for service.
Transition: The process of bringing the anointing of God into reality is called sanctification, the act of separating from the world and being set apart to serve God.
I. The act of separating from the world (verse 7).
A. Only the spiritually mature are allowed to serve as priests in the world. Maturity comes about through suffering (James 1:3).
1. Jesus separated from his fleshly demands (Matt. 4:1ff)
2. Jesus separated from the demands of his family (Matt. 3:20,21)
3. Jesus separated from the demands of his society (Matt. 26:39)
B. Suffering produces the maturity required to handle the emotional strain of ministry.
1. Produces perseverance (Rom. 5:3)
2. Gives us grace (2 Tim. 1:90)
3. Enhances reputation (2 Pet. 2:19)
4. Makes strong (Rev. 1:9)
Transition: Once you have separated from the world, you are in a position to become trained for service to God.
II. Being set apart to serve God (Verse 8)
A. Only people who have teachable spirits will be able to be fully trained for service as priests and intercessors.
1. Jesus learned it as a lad (Luke 2:51)
2. David learned it in service to a flawed king (I Sam. 16:21)
3. Teach this at home! Make your children be teachable (Pro. 5:11-13)
4. Teachable spirits allow people to hear what they don’t want to hear (2 Tim. 4:23)
B. Teachable spirits make it possible to have the skills necessary for service.
1. The instructions for worship were very detailed. The priest had to be properly trained for the worship to be acceptable.
2. Worship music was to be done skillfully, therefore lessons were required (Psalm 33:3)
3. Instruction allows you to improve by accepting skills and knowledge others have.
C. Teachable spirits allow you to succeed because you trust the one who gives you commands.
1. The talents (Matt. 25:20)
2. The young prophet (I Kings 13)
Conclusion:
A. Everyone who enters the priesthood hears the call of God through preaching, and then responds submission to the process of sanctification. The anointing, for many people, has never been fulfilled in them because they wouldn’t submit to the process of maturing in the spirit. They pray for the anointing, and God gives it. But because they refuse to be taught, and refuse to separate from the world, they remain unused in the service of the intercessors.
B. I didn’t much care for school. I wanted to do the thing for which I was preparing, not practice for it. I wanted to be a pastor, not the sound man, janitor, Sunday school teacher, but I had to do all of them before God allowed me to be designated a pastor.
C. Maturity comes about through obedient experience, suffering for the kingdom. The Lord opens the door for you to minister in His church. It may not be what you believe to be your ultimate calling, but it is the door for maturity that the Lord gives you. Take it, it leads to becoming regarded as a priest of God in this world.
