THE IMPARTATION OF PRIVILEGE

WHAT NEVER HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Let’s journey back several thousand years to Jerusalem during Passover week. This was the holiest of the seven Hebrew festivals that attracted thousands of worshipers. Some traveled hundreds of miles to attend this celebration in the religious capital of the world—Jerusalem. What a sight it must have been! For seven days the Priests appeared in their royal apparel, led the people in worship, offered sacrifices, and blew shofars (2 Chronicles 30:21). Everything was leading to the Day of Atonement when the High Priest would present the blood of a Passover lamb for the people’s sins. Not only was Jerusalem sightly its aroma was pungent.

Speak Lord, But is it Really You?

Of all experiences that exhilarate people, chief among them is when God speaks directly to the human soul. One inspired word to a thirsty, hungry traveler can refresh and sustain more than a thousand meals. It was Elijah who heard God’s instruction to “rise and eat” that received nourishment to navigate 285 miles for the following forty days

PARDON ME!

In Psalm 32, David proclaims the blessedness of the one whose sins are forgiven. And he does this in a unique way. He uses three expressions for sin and then employs three expressions of God’s pardon for sin. Here’s what I mean: David called one category of sins transgressions, which indicates “rebellion against God”; another he simply called sin, which describes “knowingly missing the mark”; and the third category he called iniquity, which speaks of a “vile perversion.” Those terms cover the entire gamut of our sinfulness—major and minor. But then after showing us three categories of sin he uses three expressions to show how God pardons our sins:

GOD RAISES DEAD DREAMS

Scripture uses death to identify man’s greatest enemy and there’s nothing man fears more. When a person expires, losing all vital signs, doctors, medicine, and science stand powerless in its presence. Only God can resurrect. But this sermon doesn’t deal with the physical cessation of life, it deals with death of a different nature. The death of God’s divinely inspired promises and visions. I’m persuaded that many Christians are in the gestation stage of a specific promise God has given them. Perhaps years ago He planted a dream and you’re still awaiting its fruition. Maybe even hope has begged you to admit that promise is dead. But the God that resurrected Christ from the dead can resurrect your promise.

A CHRISTMAS TRIP

Luke says as these shepherds watched their flocks during the night, the glory of God shined all around them. Now can you imagine that? It’s pitch black and then, suddenly, everything around them is illuminated! Then an angel appears and announces that the awaited Savior of the world has been born and is lying in swaddling clothes in a manger in Bethlehem. But it’s still not over. Besides this angelic messenger and the glory of God that is all around them, a vast, multitude of angels appears praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (2:13).

Robert D. Pace

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

While this message does not apply to everyone, I ask that you open your heart to the Holy Spirit and discern its application for you. Ultimately, only God can confirm whether this “word” has right-of-passage into your life. As you apply this, do so in terms of God’s impartation of privilege for you now! Why now? Because, according to Jesus, it’s always the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:19).

Awhile back, I pondered the word privilege. As I researched its definition, I discovered it meant, “a right or benefit granted to select people. Privilege grants a person permission to enjoy something un-afforded to others. One dictionary noted that the privileged “have obtained advantage to accomplish something noble.” In essence, privilege can be summarized in three words: Advantage, Immunity, and Opportunity. I want to examine each:

1. The Privilege of Advantage: Jesus wants you to excel because he has summoned “advantage” to your life. Your Savior has placed his Signet Ring upon your finger, given you the “key of David,” and kissed you with privilege. And as Christ embraces you, he also releases his promise from Revelation 3:7 that says, “[These are] the words of the Holy One, the True One.” Do you see what Christ is saying? He’s saying that as the “holy one … [and] true One,” he goes before you with the keys to open doors and make your assignment successful. Your advantage is sure! “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut” (Rev. 3:8, NIV).

2. The Privilege of Immunity: The assignment God has for your life is important to God. So much so, that your faithful obedience to him enables you to surmount difficulties that would defeat others. In fact, your assignment is of such magnitude that God says, I want to elaborate on this privilege of immunity:

First, as you pursue your assignment and walk with God, he will exempt you from the sentence that plagues outsiders to his grace. I am not suggesting that God eliminates tests, difficulty, or even peril. But because of our faithfulness to God he returns a special “keeping” grace. Revelation 3:10 puts it this way:

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

To state it another way the Lord is saying, “I exempt you from defeat! You are not numbered with the world and, like Noah, you will rise above its curse.”

Second, the grace of immunity says, “The defeats of your past have not disqualified you from your assignment. The pardon from Christ’s Blood exempts you from being sidelined.”

Third, God exempts you from the repression of slander. Though Satan fires his flaming missiles at you the grace of Christ subsumes them all. Revelation 3:9 says, “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” God’s promise to the Philadelphian Christians shows how their faithfulness elicited God’s public affirmation of them.

3. The Privilege of Opportunity: Advantage coupled with Immunity makes way for Opportunity. And Opportunity is the assignment itself. For example, recall those to whom God extended privilege:

Mary, privileged to birth the Messiah says, “Be it unto me according to your Word.”
Noah, privileged to spare the human race from the Flood, proceeds to build an Ark.
Moses, privileged to secure the Ten Commandments, ascends Mount Sinai and returns with the Stone Tablets etched by the finger of God.

Whatever your opportunity is, you have the backing of Heaven to make it successful. Jesus said, “I have set before you an open door” (3:8). That denotes opportunity. It denotes privilege. So, go forth in faith!

“And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, (7) “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.”

(Zechariah 3:6–7)

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