Old Testament – God’s Declaration:
“And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” Exodus‬ ‭19:6‬ ‭NLT‬

Old Testament – The People’s response:
“And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”” Exodus‬ ‭20:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

New Testament – God’s Declaration
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭CSB‬‬

New Testament – Many People’s response:
“I’m just a sinner saved by grace. Who am I, that God would speak to me? Who am I, that I should proclaim the Gospel with signs and wonders?

I had a thought this morning as I was reading these passages.

The Children of Israel continually complained and questioned God’s goodness because they had a slave mentality. For years they had been treated harshly, separated, made to feel like second class citizens. Because of this, it was difficult for them to understand a Good God. A God who was fighting for them and protecting them.

They felt unworthy to hear the voice of God.

Similarly, many of us grew up in an atmosphere where we taught more about the judgment of God than the love of God. We were taught how to “fear” God but not how to “hear” God. Healing and Hearing were left to the super-spiritual, those free of worldly passions not to us lay people. So like the Children of Israel, we don’t feel worthy to hear God’s voice, so we say to our Pastors, “Let God speak to you, and you tell us what to do.”

We feel unworthy or ill-equipped to hear God’s voice.

But I Peter 2:9 is true!
You are a chosen people!
You are a royal priest!
You belong to God! You can hear His voice and He is speaking to you!

Yes, you were a sinner. We all were. But you have been saved. Washed in the blood. Given the mind of Christ. You stand in His presence as Holy and blameless. You have been equipped and commissioned to hear His voice, heal the sick, speak in new tongues, raise the dead, and set the captives free.

It’s time to break agreement with the religious mindset of our past, recognize who
God says we are, what Jesus paid for us and walk in it!