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Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size

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Today’s Devotional – June 16th

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GOD’S ROYAL PRIESTHOOD TODAY!

THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONAL IS MADE OF EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

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“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me…” Psalm 27:4, 5

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David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain

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THE MOST HOLY PLACE

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“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” Psalm 15:1

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The above passage asks a very odd question: “…who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?” Psalm 15:1.

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Now why would God ask such a ridiculous question? After all, for most of the past 2,000 years, the temple lay in ruins. So how can a Christian abide in God’s tabernacle?

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Holman The Tabernacle in the Wilderness wikipedia US public domain

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THE ARK

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The Ark of the Covenant was the centerpiece of the tabernacle sanctuary, during the years of the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel, prior to their entering into the Promised Land. 

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Temple items – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“YE ARE…A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”

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“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” 1st Peter 2:9

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We have been chosen to be, as Peter, in the above verse put it, a “Royal Priesthood”. Even the Book of Revelation testifies to this heavenly calling… “And (God) hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10.

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Now as New Testament priests, there is no more brick-n-mortar temple. No, today’s New Testament priestly action takes place in our heart. We are now the Temple of the Lord…

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Listen…“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1st Corinthians 6:19, 20.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Most Holy Place – Signs Of Heaven

Priesthood – the Holy of Holies – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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“PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”

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God has called us to be priests together with Christ.

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We are to be co-laborers with Christ, pleading for the people. Scripture commands us to… “Pray without ceasing.” 1st Thessalonians 5:17.

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As a Christian goes about his or her day, they are constantly praying and thanking the Lord, and interceding for others.

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Listen again to this great encouragement… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” 1st Peter 2:9.

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USMC- prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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PRIESTHOOD, A HIGH AND HOLY CALLING

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In Scripture, the priesthood was a very high and holy calling. It wasn’t to be taken lightly. It was a life-and-death matter!

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An unconsecrated priest could actually be struck dead, should he enter into the Holy Place with unrepentant sin. And so the thought of today’s Christian should be exactly like the faithful priest of long ago. He must have a trembling heart at God’s holiness. All presumptuousness and flippancy and worldliness must be banished out of the Christian’s heart.

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No, today’s True-Worshiper will not literally be struck dead, like these two in this drawing. But those who enter into the life of a Christian, will never know the deep spiritual and holy things of God, until they enter into this most solemn priestly office, by faith… “And they (God’s priests) shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23.

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Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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TEACHING HOLINESS BY EXAMPLE 

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As God’s royal priesthood, we are to be an example to the Church.

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And by example, we are to “teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23.

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As priests, we have the high and holy calling to proclaim Jesus to the world, by our every thought, word, and action.

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Now, being an example to the flock doesn’t give us the right to exercise a censuring lordship over the flock. But by our godly example and holy conversation (lifestyle), we are to lovingly exercise that quiet patience which Christ would exhibit to them, if He were standing in our place.

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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s

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POWER OF PRAYER

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And so, this is where priestly prayers come into play. As a royal priesthood, we are to cry out to God for His erring people (and for our own sins too!).

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We are to enter our chambers and secretly cry out for our families! For our friends! For the entire Christian community! This is how change is to be effected amongst God’s people. Never by lording our views in harsh words.

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Listen again to Peter… “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1st Peter 5:2, 3

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Tissot_The_Two_Priests_Are_Destroyed – wikimedia – public dom.

Ebenezer_Newman_Downard_- Morning_prayer_- 1860 – wikipedia – public domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…SEPTEMBER 21 (God’s Royal Priesthood Today! Part 2: Sacrifices of Joy!)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Give me the grace to rise to the responsibilities of being a royal priest. Give me the grace to pray without ceasing, no matter where I am…

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READ MORE…

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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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THE HOLY AND MOST HOLY PLACE

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“And thou shalt put the Mercy Seat upon the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.” Exodus 26:34

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The Tabernacle in the wilderness was a picture of God. Just listen to Revelation… “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22.

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So, instead of dwelling upon all the fine points of the earthly tabernacle, let it suffice to be said, this earthly tabernacle is merely a metaphor of God Himself. And the Most Holy Place is the heart of that temple, and upon the Ark, represents God’s throne, as is written…

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“And David arose…to bring up from thence, the ark of God…the LORD of hosts that dwells between the cherubims.” 2nd Samuel 6:2.

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So, if, as it states here, that God dwells “between the cherubims”, then this is speaking of the Mercy Seat over the Ark. But even though it speaks thus, we need to keep in mind that the temple itself, represents God Himself, as is written… “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22.   

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Holy Place & Most Holy Place – wikipedia – public domain

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ARK SEEN IN HEAVEN 

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“And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the Ark of His Testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”  Revelation 11:19

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The above verse from Revelation, speaks of God’s Temple in Heaven being opened. But this great constellation, the  Sagittarius Constellation  is actually the constellation of the Ark of the Covenant. So these two events go hand in hand simultaneously. The Ark Constellation, as sketched into this Wikipedia star-chart, is a representation of the heavenly Ark, as God begins to open up the spiritual concepts of that true Ark to our minds.

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Ark Constellation in Heaven – (aka Sagittarius) – Summer – Wikipedia Star-chart with ark drawn in by this website – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license

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READ MORE…

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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Ark of the Covenant Constellation”

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TOMORROW:

June 17th (“Internet Censorship: Hate Speech or Love Speech?”)

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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