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[2903.18 --> 2906.84] To him be glory and power forever and ever.
[2907.46 --> 2908.46] Earlier in our worship,
[2908.60 --> 2910.90] we read from Revelation 4 and 5
[2910.90 --> 2912.62] as we were called into worship.
[2912.74 --> 2913.60] And there we read,
[2913.92 --> 2915.66] and they sang a new song saying,
[2915.82 --> 2917.54] you are worthy to take the scroll
[2917.54 --> 2918.90] and to open its seals
[2918.90 --> 2920.24] because you were slain
[2920.24 --> 2922.18] and with your blood you purchased for God
[2922.18 --> 2923.78] persons from every tribe
[2923.78 --> 2925.44] and language and people and nation.
[2925.78 --> 2926.48] And then hear this,
[2926.48 --> 2928.52] you made them to be a kingdom
[2928.52 --> 2931.00] and priests to serve our God
[2931.00 --> 2934.22] and they will reign on earth.
[2935.34 --> 2939.12] The calling of all people of God everywhere
[2939.12 --> 2942.36] has always been to be a priest.
[2944.02 --> 2946.48] Our going is for revealing.
[2947.18 --> 2949.62] A priest is set apart in holiness.
[2949.86 --> 2951.72] A priest mediates God's presence
[2951.72 --> 2952.54] and his blessing.
[2952.94 --> 2954.22] And a priest does it all
[2954.22 --> 2955.80] for the sake of others.
[2955.80 --> 2957.08] When we say,
[2957.60 --> 2957.82] gather,
[2958.00 --> 2958.18] grow,
[2958.38 --> 2958.74] go,
[2959.36 --> 2960.70] what we are saying is,
[2960.88 --> 2962.30] you are priests.
[2963.08 --> 2964.22] We are all priests
[2964.22 --> 2965.92] and ministers of our God.
[2967.20 --> 2968.40] When we gather
[2968.40 --> 2969.34] and you grow
[2969.34 --> 2970.86] so that you can go,
[2971.30 --> 2972.38] go into the world.
[2973.06 --> 2974.66] Set apart in his holiness.
[2975.38 --> 2976.34] Go into the world
[2976.34 --> 2977.08] bringing God
[2977.08 --> 2978.14] and his presence
[2978.14 --> 2979.88] closer to those around you.
[2979.96 --> 2980.82] Go into the world
[2980.82 --> 2981.50] for the sake
[2981.50 --> 2982.70] of other people.
[2983.36 --> 2984.20] Showing them God.
[2984.20 --> 2985.32] Showing the presence
[2985.32 --> 2986.20] of Jesus.
[2986.40 --> 2987.68] Go as a kingdom of priests
[2987.68 --> 2988.42] to reveal
[2988.42 --> 2990.40] the great high priest.
[2993.12 --> 2995.66] Let me illustrate it this way.
[2995.92 --> 2998.02] Imagine that you're sailing
[2998.02 --> 3000.50] on a dark and stormy night
[3000.50 --> 3001.16] out at sea.
[3001.58 --> 3002.66] Waves are crashing up
[3002.66 --> 3003.40] against your boat.
[3003.62 --> 3004.44] You can hardly see
[3004.44 --> 3005.46] anything around you.
[3005.78 --> 3006.34] And suddenly,
[3006.66 --> 3007.84] in the distance,
[3008.24 --> 3009.50] cutting through the darkness,
[3009.50 --> 3011.02] you see a lighthouse
[3011.02 --> 3011.98] shining brightly
[3011.98 --> 3012.62] from the shore.
[3013.98 --> 3015.04] That lighthouse
[3015.04 --> 3016.46] cuts through the darkness
[3016.46 --> 3017.48] and guides you
[3017.48 --> 3019.32] safely to the harbor.
[3021.20 --> 3022.20] That lighthouse
[3022.20 --> 3023.16] doesn't exist
[3023.16 --> 3024.46] for itself.
[3026.50 --> 3027.38] That lighthouse
[3027.38 --> 3028.74] exists for the sailors,
[3028.96 --> 3029.48] for you,
[3029.76 --> 3030.72] lost at sea.
[3032.42 --> 3034.20] It stands firm
[3034.20 --> 3035.06] and strong
[3035.06 --> 3035.64] and tall,
[3035.80 --> 3036.48] shining its light,
[3036.70 --> 3037.78] not for its own sake,
[3037.78 --> 3039.32] but to help others
[3039.32 --> 3039.88] find the way.
[3041.38 --> 3042.18] This is the role
[3042.18 --> 3042.80] of a priest.
[3043.24 --> 3044.02] Just as the lighthouse
[3044.02 --> 3045.20] shines its light
[3045.20 --> 3045.98] to guide people,
[3046.38 --> 3047.62] priests bring the light
[3047.62 --> 3048.40] of God's presence
[3048.40 --> 3049.12] into the world.
[3049.38 --> 3050.56] They don't shine their light
[3050.56 --> 3051.40] just for themselves,
[3051.66 --> 3052.44] but they do so
[3052.44 --> 3053.42] that others can see
[3053.42 --> 3054.40] and can be guided
[3054.40 --> 3056.16] to safety in God.
[3057.18 --> 3058.06] And in the Old Testament,
[3058.22 --> 3059.06] Israel was supposed
[3059.06 --> 3060.32] to be like a lighthouse
[3060.32 --> 3061.60] for the nations,