Mike Patterson Ministries

Author: Truth Seeker

  • A Kingdom of Priests

    “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” Exodus 19:6

    “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign of the earth.”Revelation 5:10

    Moses predicted it and the Bible confirms that all disciples of Jesus Christ are called to be priests. In fact, His kingdom is to be a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). In the New Testament a disciple or Christian is a priest as well. When one understands the role of a priest in the Old Testament, a better understanding of our discipleship becomes prevalent. The priests held a special role in the Old Testament. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. They oversaw the spirituality of Israel, administered the sacrificial system to keep the purity of Israel, and helped with diseases and other needs as part of their profession. Their role was to guard the worship, be a personal example of holiness (Leviticus 11-15), bless/encourage people (Leviticus 9:22), and handle contribution (Nehemiah 10:36-39) among other duties. As disciples, we are all called to be priests and carry out these roles under the new covenant. Ultimately, the priest was called to reconcile men to God (evangelism!) and preach the word. Let us look at the first priesthood ordination of Aaron and His sons in Leviticus 8:23-24, and at the three actions that priests must take, which are also what we as disciples must adhere too.

    “Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he sprinkled blood against the altar on all sides.”Leviticus 8:23-24.

    I. Hear God’s Voice

    The blood was to be put on the ear lobe as a reminder for the priest to always listen to the voice of God. Constantly, we are putting noise in our ears, whether it be the radio, kids in the back seat fighting, and in general just the commotion of life. In all this, it is easy to miss the voice of God. While walking around on campus, trying to do my priestly duty by reconciling men to God, it is amazing how many have headphones on listening to music. Our generation has forgotten the importance of being still and listening to God. The priest was responsible to determine what God’s will was for the nation (1 Samuel 23:6-12). As Christians, it is imperative that we are in God’s word on a daily basis to listen to His voice, and follow where He goes. Sadly, even in the Old Testament, priests could be misled to think they are following God, yet they followed lies. Jeremiah 5:30-31 reads, “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, and the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” It is sad to see in our former fellowship many ‘prophets’ preach lies to the people. Character assassinations, half-truths, and false-doctrine (discipling is optional, autonomy, lukewarmness, mainline theology, etc.) may be preached to the people, but as priest we cannot rule (do our discipleship) by our own authority. Even more heart breaking is the false prophets in the denominational world who see visions of their own mind and not from God’s word. Are you as a priest in God’s authority? It is great to be part of a movement where discipling is practiced and world-wide brotherhood is the norm. If this isn’t the norm, you may be missing God’s voice. What will you do in the end?

    II. Do the Work of God

    Next, the priest would put the animal’s blood on his thumb. This was a constant reminder to always do the work of God. For the priest, this meant living a sacrificial lifestyle that focused on the atonement of men’s sins. We are all priests according to the scriptures, yet only Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who helps us share a relationship with God. It is because of His great sacrifice at we are bent on helping others meet with our High Priest, Jesus (Hebrews 7-8). As a young Christian, I remember having many big dreams for God’s kingdom such as being a Bible Talk leader and one day leading a church. Yet, I wasn’t willing to work as hard as I needed to see these dreams accomplished. When entering college, I gained a deep conviction that a disciple is a worker although my personal righteousness was not at God’s standards. Through God’s discipline and love I personally have decided to carry out my priestly duty in serving the Orlando campus ministry. We have seen a lot of growth and with that comes new challenges of taking care of our baby disciples. It requires hard work. Jesus himself calls us His workers that are sent out to reap a harvest of disciples (Luke 10:2). In fact, the Bible says we were not only saved to work, but created for good works in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). If you aren’t a worker for the Lord, you aren’t truly saved. Jesus has given us the ministry of reconciliation. One must look inwardly and ask themselves if they are truly giving it all they’ve got to see men and women reconciled to God? 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “…Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” In context, Paul is teaching us that we work hard because we know that there will be a resurrection one day when God comes to dwell with us. Because of this, our labor isn’t in vain! God is using this work to train and transform us for the day when we will reign with Jesus. Secondly, not only did priest work hard at reconciling lost man to God, but they collected and gave tithes to build God’s house and keep the ministry of reconciliation going strong (Nehemiah 10:36-39).As a church we are excited about our priestly duty to give 10x our regular weekly contribution to help build God’s house here in Orlando! A true priest has the heart of Nehemiah 10:39b, “We will not neglect the house of our God.”Let it be said that no member of the Orlando International Christian church neglected the building of God’s church here by not giving our tithes or participating in this special contribution. Are you remembering to do the work of God required of a New Testament priest: evangelism and contribution?

    III. Walk in God’s Ways

    Finally, the priest put some blood on the big toes of their feet for a constant reminder to walk with God. Genesis 5:24 says, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”This man walked so closely with God that the Lord just couldn’t wait to have him. How has your personal walk with God been lately? The priest was to be an example in personal righteousness, especially in the area of purity. He represented the purity of Israel. The disciple’s life should represent the purity of God’s church. When sin was in the camp, it was the priest who had to act fast and radically to atone for the sin and obey the law. God desires a fellowship of only “sold-out disciples” because when He looks down from Heaven that is all He sees in regards to the church. It is heartbreaking for me to see churches that are no longer composed of a “royal priesthood” (only disciples) and the few priests deciding to stay in lukewarm fellowship ruling by their own authority(autonomy). One disciple in such a fellowship was content that his personal ministry practiced the truths of God’s word, even though the older members were not living as priests (disciples of Jesus). A true priest is concerned with ALL spiritual Israel (the church) not just part of it. God works when His movement is pure, the priests understood this concept. Will you follow God and walk with Him if you are in a dead congregation? After a time, you cannot. A daily walk with Jesus is essential to living out God’s will. We are called to “worship in spirit and in truth” John 4:23-24, not with dead or lukewarm disciples who have forgotten they were called to be priests.

    Matthew 28:18-20 states the mission of God’s priesthood and encompasses the three reminders. Those eleven men heard Jesus’ voice to go and make disciples, and because they did the work of God and walked with God- they saw an evangelized world in their lifetime (Colossians 1:23). We too can do it in our lifetime if we understand and then live out our calling as priests to the Living God. The promise then was that Jesus would always be with them as they carried out their priestly duty and to Him be all the glory.

    Campus Minister,

    Mike Patterson

  • Audio Sermons

    Secrets of the Kingdom – Leadership techniques to grow your ministry.

    Identity Crisis- A Sunday morning sermon on finding our identity in Christ and overcoming darkness.

    These two sermons and more can be found at this link:

    http://yourlisten.com/user/public/missionsprophet

  • Heaven – Audio Teaching

    Have you ever wondered what Heaven actually will be like? In this teaching Mike gives his    personal views on what eternal glory awaits for God’s children! Click the link below to listen.

    http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16923400/Heaven?rn=ze6jao8ym8e8

  • NEW AUDIO TEACHING: Battle of the Heavenlies

    Once a month in my campus leaders d-group we have a “deeper” bible study to inspire the leaders to dig deep in their bibles and be Bereans. Many have asked me where they can find my personal convictions on the subject of the spiritual war we are in and it is finally up now! Explore the origin of Satan, where demons come from, the nature of angels and fallen angels, how demons attack disciples today, and learn how to put on the full armor of God to battle in the heavenlies against the evil forces as we save souls from Satan’s kingdom into the kingdom of light! CLICK THIS LINK TO LISTEN:

    http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16915214/Battle_in_the_Heavenlies?rn=321t2cm3s6f4

  • 4 New Audio Lessons from Mike Patterson

    Grab your bible and notebook and get ready to learn leadership principles from the word of God!

    PRAYING LIKE SAMSON – Leadership lessons from Samson and his desperate prayer. A ten minute charge. (given at the GLC)http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16914024/Praying_Like_Samson?rn=fplbv2g09fy8

    BEING DISCIPLED- Hinderances to discipling relationships and keys to effective discipling relationships. (given to my leadership d-group)

    http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16913955/Being_Discipled?rn=ozy9xvpqjif4

    SEEKING AND SAVING THE LOST- keys to effective evangelism and bible study on the Parable of the Minas. (given to my leadership d-group)

    http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16914018/Seek_and_Save_the_Lost_?rn=sot6zzwsf400

    GOD IS LOOKING FOR A MAN- God desires a man who will take a stand in this dark world. Hear the call of God! (Given to my leadership d-group)

    http://yourlisten.com/channel/content/16914020/God_is_Looking_for_a_Man?rn=3xebo11oyp4w

  • New Video Teaching: “The Heavens Declare His Glory”

  • NEW VIDEO TEACHING: “What are you doing here?”

    This teaching comes from the Valley Campus Conference: “Here am I, Send me” of this year and was taught to a men’s class. It is very real and blatant but I believe the Holy Spirit will bless you with this teaching.

  • Hidden Manna: “The Love of the Father”

  • Reading Reflection: What Goes Around…Comes Around!

    The last couple of readings in Genesis have been somewhat entertaining for me. I feel like I am watching a good soap opera or drama. Now that work and campus ministry is back in session for me, my updates will be more thoughts about the readings and some general nuggets and I hope you will continue to share yours as well. The one consistent theme that I see is the promise of God that originally was with Abraham consistently reinforced to his children as well. God is always faithful to his promise; it is us that sometimes aren’t. God promised Abraham that through his seed a great nation would form (Israel) and eventually the Messiah. Even when God makes promises, we can lack faith in them. Jacob and his mother Rebecca felt it was necessary to deceive Isaac in order to get the blessing and inheritance when God had already promised it to him! This was not necessary. God is sovereign and will hold to his word despite our sin. God still kept his promise but there would be consequences to Jacob’s decisions to practice deceit. His name can also mean “deceives” and it show that this was a pattern sin that became his character. It led to hiding from Esau, flattery, shame, and strife amongst brothers. It made me think of my life at times and how deceit was so much a part of who I was without God. Deceit is always a by-product of a deeper sin. It is simply used to cover something up. It doesn’t necessarily have to be telling a direct lie, but can come in the form of presenting to someone something that isn’t what it really is. Is there sin in your life that you are covering up by practicing deceit? Consider 1 John 1:5-10. If we claim we do not have sin and come to church acting as if everything is great, we practice deceit. I remember hearing an old saying long ago “what goes around comes around.” Jacob’s sin would come back to haunt him. Laban would deceive and manipulate Jacob in order to get him to work for him a total of 14 years in return for his two daughters. Jacob was under the impression that he would only have to work seven years for Laban’s daughter Rachel and ended up with Leah. There is a spiritual law that I have noticed, what goes around comes around. Jacob practiced deceit and now he became the deceived and these consequences would break him to become a more godly man. I can remember hiding a certain sin and deceiving someone who was very close to me and it shattered that person. Later on that same year I was deceived by someone close who hid an even more intense sin and it shattered me. As hard as this experience was this story came to mind and I was grateful to God because I learned how sin hurts other people, especially deceit. For you personally, are you learning from the consequences of your sin? These are just some quick reflections on the readings. I will post some interesting theological points very soon. Tithing is another theme we have seen in the readings I want to write about. Have a great Friday the 13th!

    MP

  • DAY 4: Bible in a Year- Genesis 10 & 11

    Genesis 10 list the generations of the sons of Noah and is foundational in us understanding the world. Shem the second son of Noah was mentioned last in this table of nations perhaps because his seed was to be the important subject of the remainder of Genesis as well as the Old Testament. This line is the line of which the Messiah would come. Genesis 10 is parenthetical as an introduction to the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their offspring. Chronologically, this chapter should follow Genesis 11:9 but it is positioned here to complete the story of Noah’s 3 sons.

     

    Genesis 10:25 shows the earth was divided at this time. This means that at one point the earth was one big continent! This matches what Genesis 1 shows us that God made the land one big mass with the waters surrounding it. TheBabelincident in chapter 11 would occur and following this scattering during the days of Peleg. The earth would be divided into continents and islands after various nations were scattered abroad on all the one land at the time of the God’s judgment (Gen. 11:1-9). Many wonder how Native American Indians arrived in theAmericas, but this passage helps us understand how they got here.

     

    Chapter 11 literally is a day that would change the world. A commentary said “the term ‘mighty hunter”’ in Heb. could refer to a hunter of animals or of men to enslave them. Nimrod was a hunter of both men and animals.” The term mighty is also used of the giants and it is likely he was a Nephilim (see previous post). Tradition says he established the first great kingdom (that would becomeBabylon) and the first false religion that openly opposed God (thus “before the Lord”). Josephus (Roman/Jewish historian) wrote that Nimrod had the tower built to protect them from if God decided to flood the world again, he would be high enough. God would then come down to take action to counteract the rebellion of Nimrod.

     

    Tradition and some history say the original language of man was Hebrew. The whole earth spoke one language. We see the power of unity in the fact that God said if they speak one language then nothing they imagine to do will be impossible for them.

     

    AncientMesopotamiahad a structure called a ziggurat that dates to a time after the flood. Interestingly, these structures are seen all over other parts of the world! This is what is believed theTowerofBabellooked like and why similar structures were found all over that were similar.

     

    I find it amazing that atheism didn’t really begin until recently. All religions practiced common things in ancient times such as tithing, animal sacrifice, etc. This is proof that there was one universal people at one time. God is awesome!

     

    Man builds his tower, and God comes down to see it the bible says. This shows us how high God is compared to what we think is great.

     

    Notice once again, God says, “let us…” This referred to the divine council of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit worked in unity to make divine decisions and judgments.

     

    The beginning of languages is at the heart of this text. God allows man certain freedoms as the tower was built, but he had to react and stop the building of the city as it was being built to glorify man.

    PRACTICALS:

    • Unity is a powerful tool. Consider Genesis 11:6. This unity was used for evil. How can you use unity for good? Are you completely united with your ministry, leadership, and with God?
    • At the heart ofBabelwas pride and rebellion. Man wanted to glorify himself. What towers are you building in your life that God wants to demolish?
    • Man is very powerful in skill, technology, imagination, etc. How are you going to use these abilities to glorify God and not yourself?

    Mike Patterson