81.4 Desire For God's Temple

(Psalm 84)

How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty!
How I want to be there!
I long to be in the Lord's Temple.
With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrows have built a nest, and the swallows have their own home; they keep their young near your altars, Lord Almighty, my king and my God.
How happy are those who live in your Temple, always singing praise to you.

How happy are those whose strength comes from you, who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.
As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, it becomes a place of springs; the early rain fills it with pools.
They grow stronger as they go; they will see the God of gods on Zion.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty.
Listen, O God of Jacob!
Bless our King, O God, the king you have chosen.
One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.
The Lord is our protector and glorious king, blessing us with kindness and honor.
He does not refuse any good thing to those who do what is right.
Lord Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you!

81.3 No Reason For Boast: It Is By The Grace Of God

(1 Corinthians 15:9-11)

For I am the least of all the apostles--I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God's church. But by God's grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, although it was not really my own doing, but God's grace working with me. So then, whether it came from me or from them, this is what we all preach, and this is what you believe.

81.2 Tasks Of A Preacher

(1 Timothy 4:6-16)

If you give these instructions to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, as you feed yourself spiritually on the words of faith and of the true teaching which you have followed. But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future. This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed. We struggle and work hard, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all and especially of those who believe.

Give them these instructions and these teachings. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity. Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all. Watch yourself and watch your teaching. Keep on doing these things, because if you do, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

81.1 A Preacher Is Taken By God From Among Men

(Hebrew 5:1-6)

Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes.  And because he is himself weak, he  must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest-- just as Aaron was.

In the same way, Christ did not take upon himself the honor of being a high priest. Instead, God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your father."

He also said in another place, "You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek."