REPPIN' MY HOOD

Peter 2:5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

and 

Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light



HOOD:    1.state :  condition :  quality :  character  2. individuals sharing a (specified) state or character <brotherhood, fatherhood, womanhood, manhood, etc.>

If you were at any of the Calvary Campuses right before communion you may have heard one if not both of these verses mentioning that we are to be holy priests, or belonging to an order referred to as a priesthood.   I am not sure if you've given this much thought, but in pop-culture there's this desire to rep or represent one's hood. We know this.   Whether you went to a particular high school, or college those lines are drawn and either you are with us or against us.   It's that sense of school spirit, or frat, or an order's pride that makes us hold our heads up a little higher, and stick our chests out with dignity that we came from (fill in the blank).

It was me growing up in J-Town (aka Jennings, Mo) as a WARRIOR, that's what we were supposed to be prepared to do at any time, go to war.   Whether that was on a baseball diamond, gridiron, debate club, or basketball court.   When we visited our rival schools (Riverview, BERKLEY, Normany.....) we carried ourselves as if to say " We can do anything you can do better than you...."  I know machismo most of it.   But seriously.....if you heard that you are to be like/as a holy priest, and a part of a priesthood.......have you lived your life in such a way since coming to Christ that you stand out?  Not like look at me.....but rather made it your goal to live your life (1Thess. 4:11-12) in such a quiet manner (not boring) that it is stunningly attractive or interesting to those that don't know you or your Jesus?

YOU
Are you approachable?  Or have you amplified the "minding your business" part of the verse to which you are of the order, or hood that drive into your garage never having engaged those who live next door, across the street, and or in back of you?  In short you don't know your neighbors/co-workers and they don't know you...and you are disgustingly fine with that.

These are important questions, especially if you belong to the "priesthood," of Christ.   Now some of you will go to..."Ray but priest wore sacred linen tunics, linen undergarments, and some stoles and royal robes...so what are you saying."  What you wear is pretty important...it's so important that Paul reminded the people of faith how they should cloth themselves...(Col. 3:12-13)    Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Is this you?  Chances are these verses exposes many of us as being improperly dressed believers, let alone priests.  Forget mentioning how merciless, impatient, and.......we are....let's just admit we make few allowances for each others faults (ESPECIALLY THOSE OUTSIDE THE very FAITH we profess), and forgiveness...what's that?   It's clear that after yesterday's message on Christ as our PRIEST, and coming to realization that we were SAVED for the purpose of reconciling others to Him as priests has upped the ante.   2015 is coming to a close and maybe we haven't truly represented (repp'd) ourselves as imperfect priest reflecting a perfect savior.   But in 4 days some of us will awake to a whole new year pinning New Years resolutions and goals, and I pray you seriously consider joining the priestHOOD of intentionally modeling behavior consistent with that of a individual that is madly in love with Christ, and lives to introduce others to Him.  

Then you will be truly reppin' the Hood to which your life should bear fruits that have people coming to Christ, and that is a Fructiferous Year worth celebrating.   #LGLP365

BY THE NUMBERS Part I

Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”  Numbers 14:1-3


Absolutely amazing.....how complainers are like schools of fish, or herds of animals that they travel in packs.  All it takes is us standing in a line somewhere and one person can lament over there not being enough checkers, or how slow this person always is, or where did all these people come from, or I wish they had a separate line for......ME....all about ME is really what we want.  Many of us go to places with a preconceived idea that we will be able to go in, get what we want, and get out without a line or an incidental hold up.  Selfish is what it is. 

The people of Israel were whining again, the spies had come back from scouting out the land that GOD had told them to go in possess and ultimately they balked at doing what HE said and succumbed to doubt and fear.   They believed the report of 10 of the 12 spies that there was no way they could take the land.  They didn't even remotely trust GOD to give to them what He said He'd give them.  Maybe they wouldn't have to lift a sword, or throw a punch, but rather than trust GOD they began to focus on their pre-freedom lives.  

How institutionalized is their mindset?  To the point they were comfortable with the thought of being enslaved and dying  in Egypt than they were seeing how GOD would bless them since it was Him who delivered them out of slavery.   What's really sad is that we do the same thing.  There are women that go back to abusive relationships as opposed to trusting GOD to be their husband, heal their broken/shattered hearts, then bless them with a husband (not a man there's a difference.  There's a abundance of men, and a lack of husbands.).  On the converse we have many men that have grown up without a GODLY example of a man/father/husband and instead of giving our lives to Christ to reshape our minds, we simply prefer to go back to either trying to figure things out on our own, or defaulting to become the very person we despise our broken fathers.  

They focused on the wrong thing.  Notice this phrase: " If we had only died in Egypt or even here in the wilderness."  Simple question, was the wilderness their destination or a mile marker?  They focused on their past and present situations, and became discouraged.  Had somebody remembered that their destination was the Promised Land, and they continued in that thought maybe they would've made it to the very place GOD was taking them (Hint: Caleb & Joshua's families).   For us....we need to see where we were and give thanks/praise that we aren't there anymore.   Then see where we are as places for us to learn something new about GOD, acquaint ourselves more intimately with Him, and those around us for His Glory.  Lastly, get excited about where He is taking us to fuel our motivation for continuing on the journey. 

Make sure you have an intelligent answer to stupid questions?  They ask, "Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"  Ok, so let's really look at this:  They walked across the Red Sea so going back across it would likely be by boat which they didn't have.  Continuing...what are they going back to?  Slavery!  Lastly the only thing they could really look forward to is not the food mentioned chapters before, but death.  Death would be their only out, for peace.  So what about you?  What is your Egypt vs Where you are now?  Is it really better for you to be back there?  GOD freed all of us from....to bring us to Himself more than a destination here on Earth. Where you are now...are you closer to GOD, or have you spent more time complaining about?  

My encouragement to you in closing is sure you are not where you were, and maybe where you are right now is difficult, but realize what the Israelites missed.....1) GOD was with them day and night as He is with you.  2) GOD delivered you from something, someone, or somewhere that was possibly god-awful if that's the case give thanks, and praise for where you are.   3) Lastly, focus more on developing your relationship with Him on the journey so that the final destination doesn't become more important than your relationship with Him.  So no matter what you simply enjoy being where ever He is.  LGLP365