A More Excellent Way

A more excellent way Exodus 29 (NLT)

Recap

• Vs. 6 – Pastor Matt spoke about what each piece of garment signifies 
• Vs:10 “The Hebrew word means more than lightly placing the hand, it gives the idea of pressing hard upon the bullock’s head. They came each one and leaned upon the victim, loading him with their burden, signifying their acceptance of its substitution, their joy that the Lord would accept that victim in their stead. When they put their hands on the bullock, they made a confession of sin.” (Spurgeon)
• Vs. 20 – Placed upon the tip of the right ear, it reminded them that their ears were to be ever open and attentive to the whispers of the Divine voice; placed on the thumb of the right hand, it taught that they should take in hand nothing but what was sanctified; placed upon the great toe of the right foot, it was a warning that they were to walk thenceforth in the paths of holiness. God wanted the life of the sacrificial victim to be evident in the body of the priest.
• VS.29- God had a process for Aaron and His sons. He has always had a plan.
• Conclusion: There is a price to pay for being fully surrendered to God. The ceremony of consecration was long, bloody, and it took persistence to complete. Yet the reward was far greater than the cost – the glory of the LORD was revealed not only to the consecrated priests, but to the people in general

1. How did we get here?

• These sacrifices and concentration, though beautiful in the way they were done and the significance of them were not the primary plan of God 
• If we didn’t sin, these sacrifices would not be necessary 
• Why do I share that, because, as I we go through this process its easy to forget that it was SIN that put those animals on the altar and its was sin that put Jesus on the cross 
• The elaborate cleansing and the amount of sacrifice is an indication of how FAR we were from God- What it took for Him to be in our presence 
• From the beginning God wanted to have a relationship with you 
• Genesis 1:26 – Let’s create a man in our own image, according to our likeness (Not animal)  
  • Even when God said that it was not good that a man should not be alone, the woman was created to support the man – not to replace God’s relationship (Dude needed help)
  • Nothing no matter how beautiful, adorable or amazing that was created should replace God and man’s relationship

2. First sacrifice and Last sacrifice 

• It wasn’t until Adam and Eve sinned that the first blood was shed. Killing of the animal to make garments of skin for them to cover their nakedness (First sacrifice)
• The shedding of blood provided clothing for Adam and Eve, symbolizing a covering for their sin. 
• Foreshadows the sacrificial system that would later be more formally instituted, as well as the ultimate sacrifice of Christ
• All along, God planning a way of covering our nakedness, our sins- In order to have a relationship with Him 

3. God’s plan and protection

• • God has continuously instituted ways to bring this relationship back together, and even after Jesus ultimate sacrifice- we continue to be sinful humans, and God has to put people in place to draw us near to Him

• Hebrews 13:15-17 (NLT)15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. 17 Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your soul ($$), and they are accountable to God. Give them a reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. 

• • Right out the gate, the Lord is making it known – very clearly- who Aaron and his sons are called to serve 

• Vs 1: “And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests

• • As we have read, its God who continuously plans reconciliation meaning that He chooses those who will Mister to Him 

• Its easy to think that we choose our leaders, our Pastors and hence they do what we want 

• WRONG!! – God chooses the detail of the sacrifice because He knows what it takes to fill the gap that sin has created between us. Hence, HE chooses those who will minister to Him on our behalf

• Today being our Pastor’s appreciation day- I acknowledge that God has chosen Pastor Matt and Pastor Crystal for our benefit 

• • Wisdom comes when we know who chose them for us – and entitlement comes when we think we did, and they are here to serve/minister to us

• Pastor Matt did an excellent job going over the garment and also the Mercy seat in the previous weeks 

• • Indulge me for a minute: I would imagine that it would be silly if right when the priest is getting ready to go atone for their sins someone says:
    • Excuse me Priest Aaron today I feel you should not include the head covering, its distracting when you walk in the tent 
    • Oh Aaron, I am not feeling purple today – can we maybe try different colors, how about the rainbow colors on the outer garment 
    • Mr. Priest this process of sacrifice it too long – can we just skip to the good part – let’s eat 
  • Yet, we do this in various capacity – we want to compromise the process God has put in place – that includes undermining THOSE that God has anointed to watch our over souls, 
    • Pastor the music is too loud 
    • Pastor, I think you should use this version of the Bible – it’s the right one 
    • The preaching was not good  
    • The songs they choose are not good, 
    • Use the Greek translation next time 
  • And if our influence doesn’t succeed, we just get up and quit – looking for the next victim

• Don’t miss this – That God established an order – An excellent way guaranteed by a covenant of blood – First the blood of animals and Finally and permanently the blood of Jesus Christ 

• Blood covenant can only be changed by blood – Be careful what you are challenging or asking 

• God had you in mind then and He does today with the leaders that He has put in place to guide you, watch over your affairs and bring you back to Him 

4. Protect our leaders and Protect the Church 

• 1 Timothy 5:17-19 -Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate [a]financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire. Listen to no accusation [presented before a judge] against an elder unless it is confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (Nkjv) And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [a]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

• I love my reality show (Sunday nap time) – National geographic – Example of Buffalos 
• When a man of God has preached- that’s one of the most vulnerable times in the their live -Protect them 
• Protect them when you hear people speak against “Those that watches over your soul’
• Here is what happens, If the herd fails to protect the fellow animals, the enemy has a memory 
• The enemy become bold and now they have found a weakness (strategy) in the Church – and at will, thy pick one person at a time – Sowing discord, bitterness, fights, sicknesses 
• All because we refuse to remember “ It was our Sin that put Christ on the cross and our choose our leaders here to minister to Him on our behalf”
• Protect them so that they may serve God on our behalf 

5. Submit to Christ 

• • Think about it for a minute, God is all along knowing: He knows what going to happen in the future
    • As He  Kills the first lamb and clothes Adam and eve, then institutes the elaborate ritual, the priest’s consecration, killing of the animals, sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat for the Israelites attornment- He knows that THE SAME would be done to His only begotten son for our sake
    • That He the LORD would cloth himself in human flesh, die a painful death, pour out His blood to establish a permanent relationship with you!

• Romans 5:8-11 (Nkjv) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. He showed us a still more excellent way 

• • God continues to demonstrate His love for us by providing amazing leaders here at Faith and Victory and all around the world – in Bible believing churches that speaks the real truth

• What these leaders are doing is tilling the ground 

• Some lands are more barren than others – don’t be fooled by the rain in Seattle – Spiritual it must as well be Mojavi desert 

• This is a true labor of love – Let us give grace to those who are working the land 

• • Our leaders are not looking for a pat in the back- though- nothing wrong with giving them a bottle of water as they till in the 100 degrees spiritual weather 
  • They are looking to plant you in this ground that they till – so you can bear fruits -And as you grow you will offer to the Lord a sweet aroma 

• The best thing you can do for Pastor Matt and Pastor Crystal is to be the best productive fruit ever that there is an increase in their deliverable to the Lord 

• • James 3:1-instructs us that “those who teach will be Judged with great strictness- The standard for those entrusted with teaching Christ’s church is great.
  • If you could please, take up every nutrient that is available (read you Word – you have already been taught how, Pray without ceasing- they have shown you how (+prayer night), Worship, they have raised a worship team that have shown us how to worship vertically 
  • Faith and Victory what is your excuse not to grow- other plants next to you are bountiful – planted on same soil, tilled by the same leaders, nutrition evenly distributed
  • Remember, it was our sins that put those animals there- It was our sins that put Christ on the Cross!!

• Exodus Vs 44-46 44 So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons (Pastor Matt and Pastor Crystal) to minister to Me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel (Faith and Victory) and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt(Bondages), that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

This is my prayer for You Pastor Matt and Pastor Crystal

• 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NLT) Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your own good example.

• We love you very much and we are very happy and blessed to be under your priesthood – Thank you for watching over our souls!!