Honored and privileged, continued

You probably guessed from the picture above that we are talking today about the privilege of offering sacrifices to God. You get an A+ and can skip class! No, not really....
Let's dig into this, OK?
Here's the verse:

...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5)

Peter says that one of our special privileges is to be priests of God. Most of the peeps that would initially read his letter were Jewish Christians, since he was an apostle to the Jews. Calling them priests would have been really significant to them. Why? Well, in the Old Testament, priests came from the line of Levi, and more particularly from the family lineage of Aaron. They were chosen by God to pray for the people and to offer sacrifices for their sins.
In fact, anyone who tried to do their jobs without being a priest was judged by God. King Uzziah comes to mind (II Chronicles 26) and also King Saul (I Samuel 13). It's a good review to go back and check those! Anyway, the priesthood was a pretty special job.
There are an awful lot of similarities between Christians as priests and the priests of the Old Testament!
Let's look at some of them.....
First, Christians have been purified by the blood of Christ. The Old Testament priests were sprinkled by the blood of animals to symbolize that they were set apart and cleansed to serve God.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7)

Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. (Leviticus 8:23)

As believers, we are called to offer prayers for the church and for the world, in the same way that Old Testament priests offered prayers on behalf of the people.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. (I Samuel 12:23)

Believers are anointed with power from the Holy Spirit. In much the same way, the Old Testament priests were anointed with oil and the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. (Leviticus 8:30a)

As Christians, we have access to God in a similar way to the Old Testament priests. But there is a HUGE difference! Back then, only the high priest could enter God's presence, and that only one time a year!

But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. (Hebrews 9:7)

We believers are called to offer sacrifices to God, just as the priests did. Ours are different, though, as they are "spiritual" sacrifices (we'll detail that momentarily).

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5)

Our study has gotten lengthy today; let's briefly look at the spiritual sacrifices which we offer to God. We may come back and look at these again later in more detail.... I'll provide scripture references for each one.
Surrendering our bodies in service to God is an act of spiritual sacrifice and worship:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  (Romans 12:1)

Praise is a spiritual sacrifice to God, and should be a natural result of the joy that He gives us:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15)

Righteous acts that we accomplish are gifts to God, and our giving is a spiritual sacrifice, too:

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

Witnessing to unbelievers is a gift to Him:

Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:15-16)

Sacrificial love for other believers is a spiritual sacrifice:

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Even our heartfelt prayers are spiritual sacrifices to our Lord:

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." (Acts 10:4)

We've covered so much this week! It's hard to take it all in....take some time in prayer to consider what we have studied.....and then we should ask ourselves, what are the spiritual sacrifices that we can offer to God?
We are privileged to be able to offer them to Him.