Ex. 30:30-32 π Ex. 30:32 π Lev. 10:2 π Lev. 21:12 π Lev. 21:15 π Lev. 21:17-21 π Jer. 17:5 π Ezek. 44:7-9 π Ezek. 44:17-18 π Mt. 10:24 π Rom. 8:7 π Rom. 13:14 π 1 Cor. 1:29; 2nd π 1 Cor. 1:31 π 2 Cor. 7:1 π Gal. 5:24; 2nd π Gal. 6:8 π Heb. 7:19 π Heb. 10:16 π Heb. 12:10; 2nd π Heb. 12:11 π Heb. 12:19 π Heb. 12:21 π Heb. 12:23 π Jude 23
The claim in many full-gospel circles today is that they are priests, and a royal priesthood unto God. This boast in itself proves the futility of their claim, as true priests unto God don’t boast about themselves. Their self-life has died, and they no longer live unto themselves, but totally unto God, and their boast is only in the Lord. (see 1 Cor. 1:31; top )
We may be in the process of becoming priests unto God, however we are a long way from arriving. He who is one spirit with the Lord is His priest.
Today, even in some of the most spiritual of fellowships, there is a spirit of the world that usurps the Holy Spirit’s direction and power. This is evidenced by the inability to discern and to bind the forces of darkness, even in their own fellowship.
Lord, God, be merciful to us in these end times.
We know that the law of the Old Testament made nothing perfect. ( Heb. 7:19; top ) Yet the priests of that promise had requirements of obedience, discipline and being separated unto God’s holiness and righteousness that we in our better covenant have not required of ourselves. So obviously our priestly standards have yet to be fulfilled.
God said He would put His laws into our hearts. ( Heb. 10:16 ) How does God put His laws into our hearts? Through chastenings and purgings, “that we might be partakers of His holiness,” ( Heb. 12:10 ), because after chastenings we gain “...the peaceable fruit of righteousness...” ( Heb. 12:11 ) “...The spirits (hearts) of just men made perfect.” ( Heb. 12:23 ) “That we might be partakers of His holiness.” ( Heb. 12:10; top )
In our present times, many Christians feel that they can use the anointing of God anytime they wish, as long as they are working for the Lord. That is not true.
The priest is not above his master (God - Mt. 10:24; top ), but a servant to the Master’s anointing, not the anointing a servant to the priest.
The Old Testament requirements for priesthood included Lev. 21:12 : “Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary.” (top) They were required to live in God’s holy presence, sitting before Him in quietness and fearfulness, waiting for direction and the anointing of God.
Today we establish our own ministry as soon as we’ve graduated from a Bible school; it is our ministry, not God’s.
Lev. 21:15 : “Neither shall he profane his seed among his people, for I the Lord do sanctify him.” (top)
No marriage to a woman was allowed that was not acceptable to God: no foreigner, but an Israelite.
Lev. 21:17-21 (top): Here there is a list of qualifications for physical requirements of a priest, so no glorification of weakness, disease nor sickness would take place which would be out of harmony with God’s perfectness.
Ex. 30:30-32 (top): The holy anointing oil of God was not to be put on man’s flesh, because it (the oil) was holy.
Jesus’ holy anointing is not put on carnality. The flesh must be crucified ( Gal. 5:24; top ) because, as New Testament priests, we must be in total harmony with the Lord.
Ezek. 44:17-18 (top): Wear nothing that causes sweat. We are to have garments of His righteousness. None of one’s own promotions are to be used to serve God.
Ex. 30:32 (top): Neither shall you make anything like it (concerning the holy anointing oil). No substitute anointings, no fleshly promoted gifts, no carnal gifts are allowed.
Ezek. 44:7-9 (top): No strangers allowed into the sanctuary; no one uncircumcised in heart, as they will pollute it.
The priests were to be totally dedicated and set apart for God’s use. Nothing was to be allowed to enter into this priesthood except God; no ministry, no denomination, no other systems or teachings of other religions, because these would pollute the sanctuary.
The results of these “strange” anointings are dramatically demonstrated in the lives of two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu; these two priests who on their own undisciplined initiative made folly of the holiness and obedience to God’s commands in the sanctuary and were suddenly burned to death. “And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” ( Lev. 10:2; top ) There was no funeral and no mourning for them.
Today we have our strange anointings also - to please men, to promote ministries - many of these are strange because the glory of the Lord is not there. The true presence of the Lord would destroy the false anointing.
Moses said of the presence of the Lord, in Heb. 12:21 : “I am terrified - aghast and trembling with fear.” God’s voice was so terrible that the Israelites who heard it begged that He (God) speak no more. ( Heb. 12:19; top )
Jesus as our high priest is the example for us after the order of Melchizedek (the king of righteousness). In Jesus’ life, no flesh could glory in the sight of the Lord ( 1 Cor. 1:29; top ), because He was the perfect one.
Today the Scriptures proclaim to us, in the better covenant:
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh. ( 2 Cor. 7:1; top )
Flesh is to be crucified. ( Gal. 5:24; top )
Cursed is the man who trusts in the flesh. ( Jer. 17:5; top )
Sow to the flesh and reap corruption. ( Gal. 6:8; top )
Hating even the garments spotted by the flesh. ( Jude 23; top )
The carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God. ( Rom. 8:7; top )
Make no provision for the flesh. ( Rom. 13:14; top )
That no flesh should glory in His presence. ( 1 Cor. 1:29; top )
Then - when we are one spirit with the Lord - then we are His priests.
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