3 Priesthood types - 2.3 3 Priesthood types - 2.3: Digging Deeper into the Order of Melchizedeck It is interesting that men and women called by Yahweh as ministers of the New Covenant would seek to subvert the very basis of their ministry by clinging to motifs and symbols of The Old Covenant or even the Gentile themed Order of Nimrod. It is sad that they would place emphasis on most of the things that were intrinsically part of the Levitical Priesthood, including these five: i). A mindset where a tiny professional, overworked clergy ministers to a large, dormant laity of bench warmers who essentially come as ‘fans’ of preachers at agreed intervals when they receive ‘shots of encouragement and hope’ only to go back and live normally after a few days. Such people though called ‘Christian’ have at the center of life, their favourite preachers, not Yeshua. They are dependent on their favourites preachers for affirmation, do not study the Word independently but rather swallow hook-line-and-sinker what is projected as ‘truth’ denominational and humanistic filters of humans long dead or alive! ii). The use of titles that are not biblical to define who they are and what they are called to do. Some of these titles are clearly of Babylonian construct such as those which project a special status apart from other saints. iii) Insistence on wearing of ‘priestly’ robes to validate ministry. Such ministers feel out of their element if they do not wear the robes that loudly announce their nearness to heaven. iv) Making the Building as ‘the Church’ where people must resort to on certain days of the week and year to ‘transact with God’. v). With this paradigm in iii above, the modern Levitical priesthood essentially elevates buildings of brick and mortar above the tabernacle of the New Testament which is the hearts of humans. This is in no way an indictment of congregating to worship in buildings. It is simply a declaration of what should constitute priority and what exists for whom. Yahweh is far more interested to see greater esteem of and investments into outreaches to transition sinners into saints and heart transformation of the redeemed than He is to see great building projects! Big buildings where religious activities take place but heart transformation is stunted was likened by Yeshua in Matthew 23:27 to the business of making ‘Whited Sepulchres’ The remnant of Yahweh must know the truth that sets free and give space for those who desire to live in self-willed religion or mixing up of the two Covenants to deceive no one appointed for eternal priesthood. Two Raw Truths Let us remind ourselves of two raw truths that settle this question: 1. The New Covenant has a High Priest: Yeshua Ha Mashiach! He is our forerunner and we are to follow His footsteps into the Priestly Order of Melchizedeck. Any one purporting to be a minister of the gospel who knowingly or unknowing rejects this priestly order is either functioning in deadly ignorance or an impostor living in self deceit. Hebrews 5:5-10 (KJV) 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedeck. 2. The New Covenant which was mediated by a New Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedeck had as its main theatre of operation, a new type of Tabernacle: the heart of men. The heart has always been a place Yahweh sought to commune with man. This is the very epicentre of his/her being. It was here that Yahweh saw the corruption that led to the Flood of Noah as Genesis 6 says. The heart is the heart of humanity which since the fall had grown progressively inclined to systemic corruption! Here is how the heart of humankind is described in the book of Jeremiah: Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV) 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. The heart we speak of here is not the physical organ which pumps blood into veins and arteries! It is the spirit-man, the very core of human kind. Because it is of higher value than animals and birds, Yahweh had a plan to redeem the depraved heart with a sacrifice that was fitting: the very Blood of Yeshua! By that Blood, the Old Covenant was to be fulfilled a new put in place based on a better promise: Hebrews 10:15-16 (KJV)15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; As Yeshua told a bewildered Samaritan woman, Yahweh is far more concerned with what goes on in the heart than in physical temples! John 4:21-24 (KJV) 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. We can now understand that previously dead in sins and trespasses, Yahweh in Yeshua paid the price to quicken the spirit-man and make it come alive in Him! It was for this very purpose that Yeshua became the Lamb of Yahweh who would take away the sins of the world! Those who receive the ministry of the Blood become His New Creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17. This translation enables the heart or spirit-man of the redeemed to enjoy the exceptional privilege of sitting in heavenly places with Yeshua, far above all principality or power! Ephesians 2:1-6 (KJV) 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Take note of this reality... Great leaders in the Order of Melchizedeck are not known by how much great buildings they put up or even how much crowd of people gather around them to build great denominations! They are rather known by how much they build according to the pattern whose foundation has already being laid in Yeshua who is the ONLY Mediator of the New Covenant! 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (KJV)10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Accordingly, they are known only by how much their vessels are used to bring about thorough redemption of the hearts of those assigned to them from heaven through these processes: Lead sinners to truly repent and be converted –Acts 3:19 Systematically use teaching of the word, especially the building blocks of the New Covenant enunciated by Yeshua and His disciples to renew their minds and challenge them to surrender their whole hearts to become His disciples in whose hearts He reigns supreme as King. Train and equip them to be priests after the order of Melchizedeck by discovering and effectively deploying their spiritual gifts and callings to continue the cycle from generation to generation until Yeshua returns 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. As we shall see in subsequent lessons, this is possible because ALL saints, not some, are called to be part of the Royal Priesthood. Whoever will deny this truth in order to justify keeping saints in ignorance and use them to build Nimodic or Levithical kingdoms is on the pathway of anathema! 1 Peter 2:9-12 (KJV)9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 01:55:19 +0000