THE BASIS FOR OUR MINISTRIES AS PRIESTS
MF Blume
December 11, 2011
Numbers 17:1-10 KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of
them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their
princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou
every man's name upon his rod. (3) And thou shalt write
Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of
the house of their fathers. (4) And thou shalt lay them up
in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I
will meet with you. (5) And it shall come to pass, that the
man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease
from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur
against you. (6) And Moses spake unto the children of
Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each
prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and
the rod of Aaron was among their rods. (7) And Moses laid
up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
(8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the
tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of
Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and
yielded almonds. (9) And Moses brought out all the rods
from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked,
and took every man his rod. (10) And the LORD said unto
Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a
token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their
murmurings from me, that they die not.
As we have been discussing, the ROD OF AARON was placed in the Holiest
of Holies with the other rods of the tribes to determine which tribe
would be the priestly tribe.
- Overnight the rod of Aaron
budded, bloomed blossoms and bore fruit.
- Supernatural life.
- Resurrection life.
This was the characteristics of the shape in which the seven
candlesticks of the Tabernacle and Temple were made.
- Almond branches and shaft
with buds, blossoms and fruit.
- Supernatural life in the
shape of a TREE.
THE MOST HOLY PLACE, a model of the GARDEN.
Isaiah 11:1 KJV And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem
of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Jesus was foretold as a BRANCH.
- This branch was dead and
resurrected to life again.
We have studied how the HOLIEST OF HOLIES represented the Garden of
Eden, with e veiled barrier blocking the only entrance on its east,
embroidered with the likenesses of cherubims.
- The Garden of Eden had a
blockaded entrance on the east with cherubims and a flaming sword as
well.
- So the laying of the DEAD rod
of Aaron in the Holiest before the Ark represented the laying of Jesus
Christ in the GARDEN OF EDEN so to speak.
- And as the rod came to life
again, Jesus resurrected .
What makes this even more apparent and real are the following verses.
John 19:40-42 KJV Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it
in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to
bury. (41) Now in the place where he was crucified there
was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man
yet laid. (42) There laid they Jesus therefore because of
the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
The tomb in which Jesus was buried was IN A GARDEN!
- Just as the rod of Aaron was
laid in the most holy place, which represented the GARDEN OF EDEN,
Jesus was laid in a tomb IN A GARDEN.
- And it was IN THIS GARDEN
TOMB where supernatural life came upon the body of Jesus Christ and He
resurrected!
- A perfect picture represented
by the DEAD BRANCH OF AARON’S ROD that resurrected in the holiest
of holies!
When Adam was placed in the Garden, He was instructed to DRESS AND KEEP
THE GARDEN.
- That was his task.
- Jesus Christ is actually
referred to as the LAST MAN ADAM as follows:
1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV (45) And so it is written, The
first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a
quickening spirit.
Now there is a wonderful difference that Paul makes here in contrast to
the first Adam.
- While Adam was only a living
soul, JESUS WAS MADE A QUICKENING SPIRIT.
- QUICKENING literally
means LIFE-GIVING.
- We read HE WAS MADE a
life-giving Spirit.
Notice these words that follow:
1 Corinthians 15:46-47 KJV (46) Howbeit that was not first
which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which
is spiritual. (47) The first man is of the earth, earthy:
the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Adam was the NATURAL, and was he who came first.
- The SPIRITUAL ADAM is said to
come last.
- This is the principle.
- The first element is always
natural.
And something important is pointed out in verse 47.
- Adam was the first man, who
was natural, and was said to be OF THE EARTH EARTHY.
- Then Jesus is mentioned next.
- And He is called THE LORD
FROM HEAVEN.
- Notice what this verse is
talking about.
- BODIES.
- When we read Adam was from
the earth, it is talking about his body.
- What happens to the BODY in
resurrection is what this chapter is all about.
- Adam’s BODY was from
the earth.
- So it must be talking about
Jesus Christ’s body when it says He is the LORD FROM HEAVEN.
- Now we know the BODY with
which Jesus was born was NOT FROM HEAVEN.
- It came from Mary’s
womb.
- Mary contributed to the BODY
OF JESUS.
- So, how can this verse say
his body is from heaven?
Simple: IT IS SPEAKING OF HIS RESURRECTION BODY.
Did you know that when our bodies are changed from mortal bodies to
immortal ones in the resurrection, they are going to be BODIES FROM
HEAVEN?
2 Corinthians 5:1-4 KJV (1) For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For
in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we
shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this
tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of
life.
Mortality exists in our present earthly bodies.
- And 2 Cor 5 calls the bodies
we shall have, when these mortal bodies are changed and put on
immortality, BODIES FROM HEAVEN.
- As our souls and spirits
indwell our BODIES, they are like TABERNACLES.
- And these tabernacles are
going to change to become HEAVENLY HOUSES.
- Just like Jesus
Christ’s body.
Notice we read that when our souls and spirits are clothed upon WITH
houses from heaven, MORTALITY IS SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE!
So this is why Jesus’ body is called a body from HEAVEN.
- Resurrection changes the
mortal body to become an immortal body that is also called a HEAVENLY
and SPIRITUAL BODY.
Not only is Jesus supernaturally ALIVE, but 1 COr 15 says HE IS A LIFE
GIVING SPIRIT.
- While Adam was a living soul
we know he was more than a soul.
- He was SPIRIT, SOUL and BODY.
- The most predominant thing
about him, though, was HIS SOUL.
- But the most predominant
thing of Jesus is HIS SPIRIT.
- HE IS LIFE GIVING SPIRIT.
- QUICKENING SPIRIT.
- And that is exactly what the
TREE OF LIFE was for in the Garden.
IT GAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
- IT IS QUICKENING!
- So we see Jesus as BRANCH
that was dead laid in the MODEL OF THE GARDEN, the most holy place.
- And He resurrects to become A
LIFE GIVING SPIRIT.
- Like the TREE OF LIFE in the
Garden of Eden giving FRUIT OF LIFE to everyone who would eat it.
We have Communion today.
- Jesus said we eat his flesh
and drink his blood to have eternal life.
John 6:54 KJV Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
And it says He will raise us up at the last day!
So when we have communion, the last supper, we indicate that HIS DEATH
AND RESURRECTION that occurred by the cross PROVIDED US ETERNAL LIFE.
- He was speaking about HIS
BODY being broken like bread and his blood poured out like wine from
his crucifixion.
- And when we believe the TRUTH
OF THE GOSPEL that we gain eternal life because of His death, burial
and resurrection, it is symbolized by eating the bread and wine that
represent his body and blood.
- Since it is eternal life we
have from his death and resurrection, it is like eating from the tree
of life!
Jesus was not recognized immediately in the GARDEN When he resurrected.
But what the bible says they mistook Him for is a spiritual message.
John 20:15 KJV Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?
whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto
him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid
him, and I will take him away.
He was the GARDENER LIKE ADAM WAS!
We have taught much about BEING KINGS IN THE KINGDOM in the here and
now.
- One other time we delved into
the PRIESTHOOD as well.
- And we still need to learn
more of what it is to be a priest of God.
- And we are going to see more
of that today.
Revelation 1:5-6 KJV And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful
witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins
in his own blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
The specific picture we see of the ROD OF AARON in the Holiest is
PRIESTHOOD.
- Aaron was HIGH PRIEST in
Israel.
- He was the one who ministered
the spiritual things to God for the people.
- THE WORK OF GOD in the world.
- Priests were the property of
God.
We get hold of God on the behalf of others.
- The Israelites had the
PRIESTS be a contact to God for them.
- Since all believers are
priests today, we are contacts to God FOR THE UNSAVED WORLD.
- We are used of God for the
world to come to Jesus.
This is a perfect picture of what God has been showing us.
- When we preached last week
about branches bearing fruit, we used the candlesticks that were ALMOND
BRANCHES with the same supernatural life indicated on them as
Aaron’s rod had when it supernaturally resurrected.
- This LIFE ON US is meant to
work through us and manifest in our lives as MINISTRIES.
- This is the priesthood part
of us.
- We are contacts to God for
people.
- The unsaved see God working
through us for their sakes.
- That is why we stressed so
much last week that we need to learn to minister by the supernatural
life in us.
- As much as Jesus said that
Branches were supposed to produce fruit or be broken off, we need to be
manifesting MINISTRY by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told the church at Ephesus in Rev 2 that they must not only
LABOUR and work for Him, which they were doing, but return to their
firstlove.
- FIRSTLOVE relationship is
like abiding in the VINE, so the branch gets the full flow of the sap.
- And this RELATIOONSHIP with
Jesus causes HIS LIFE TO WORK IN US and FRUIT to result.
- When you have a real
relationship with Jesus, HIS LIFE lives through you and you reproduce
HIM THROUGH MINSTRIES.
- A fruitful ministry is a
ministry that accomplishes supernatural things.
- And that can only occur
through a relationship that you have with the Lord where you LEARN TO
DRAW ON HIS LIFE and HE LIVES THROUGH YOU!
Notice this:
Like a branch needs to let the sap flow through our lives in order to
manifest fruitful ministry for the Lord that is anointed and obviously
supernatural, we see these instructions in Romans 6.
Romans 6:9-10 KJV Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead
dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10)
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he
liveth unto God.
JESUS MINISTERS UNTO GOD now as HIGH PRIEST.
- He became HIGH PRIEST when He
resurrected and ascended into heaven.
- We know He is king, but He is
also HIGH PRIEST.
Hebrews 4:14 KJV Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession.
And that is what we read about when Romans 6 says HE LIVES UNTO GOD.
Paul applies this same principle to us.
Romans 6:11-13 KJV Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,
that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither
yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but
yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
He takes the same experience of Jesus and tells us to consider it as
our experience.
- As Jesus died to sin, we are
dead indeed unto sin.
- As Jesus is now alive unto
God, we must consider our selives alive unto GOD THROUGH JESUS.
- Now, remember that ALIVE UNTO
GOD means HE IS MINISTERING FOR GOD THE FATHER now.
- So this is what it means when
it says the same thing about us.
- WE ARE ALIVE UNTO GOD through
Jesus.
- In other words, WE HAVE BEEN
MADE PRIESTS FOR THE WORK OF GOD through the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus.
- His death counted as our
deaths, and as far as God was concerned, WE DIED when Jesus died, and
we were buried and resurrected when Jesus was buried and resurrected.
- The same resurrection that
SUITED CHRIST to be HIGH PRIEST to live UNTO GOD is OUR RESURRECTIONS
that also suited us to be priests UNTO GOD.
And what is so wonderful is that this is the reason we are encouraged
to ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE throughout the book of Hebrews.
- You will miss what that means
if you do not keep in mind that the MOST HOLY PLACE represents the
Garden of Eden where Adam was a KING AND PRIEST.
- We have not spoken much about
ADAM being a priest in the Garden but he was.
- We seem to more easily grasp
our office as KINGS moreso than as priests.
- But God is showing us these
things.
Remember that THE ROD OF AARON that represented Jesus’
resurrection was resurrected IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE, which represents
the Garden of Eden.
- And this was regarding
PRIESTHOOD.
- When we are encouraged to
ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE, we are actually being encouraged to
ACT AS THE PRIESTS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.
- Jesus is HIGH PRIEST in
Heaven’s most holy place right now.
Hebrews 4:14 KJV Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession.
And look what else Hebrews says:
Hebrews 6:19-20 KJV Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil; (20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even
Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 10:19-22 KJV Having therefore, brethren, boldness to
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new
and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest
over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
And He begins to explain that we need to get hold of BOLDNESS to enter
in, because this ministry which he wants to operate in is something we
HESITATE to accept.
- THIS IS DEALING WITH BEING
USED OF GOD.
- We hesitate when we think of
BEING USED OF GOD.
And Romans 6 is telling us that we need to present ourselves to God for
MINISTRY and being used BY HIM.
- We are alive from the dead
and our bodies are instruments for His righteousness.
- And the things we look for to
have confidence that He can use us ARE OFTEN OFFKEY!
- We are looking for a quality
in ourselves that is not what Romans 6 teaches us is the quality that
makes us fit for use.
- The quality that we need to
be used by God is TO BE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD!
We look for people to admire us.
- We look for being from a
certain family.
- We look for being brought up
with parents who did not put us down all the time.
- We look for big personalities
that everyone likes.
- We see so many things lacking
in our lives that the bible says nothing about when it comes to what we
need to be used by God.
- We look for everything except
what the bible says it is that makes us useful to God as MINISTERS.
- BEING ALIVE FROM THE DEAD.
- What did Romans 6:11 say was
the reason we are ALIVE UNTO GOD?
- How can we say we are alive
from the dead?
- We are alive from the dead
“THROUGH JESUS CHRIST”.
That means we have to forget about looking for any reason that makes us
fit to be used as ministers ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT WE RESURRECTED
FROM THE DEAD WITH JESUS.
- And step out on FAITH UPON
THAT FACT, and say “I AM READY, God!”
If the requirements to be used by You are being made alive from the
dead, then here I am alive from the dead THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!
- His resurrection from the
dead caused you to be included in it.
- AND THAT MAKES YOU FIT TO BE
HIS MINISTER.
- Anything else is NOT GRACE OF
GOD.
- Anything else IS LEGALISM.
If you hesitate to be used by God because of ANY REASON aside from
being alive from the dead through Jesus, YOU ARE A LEGALIST and you are
insulting the work of God that alone makes us fit for ministry.
I am not talking about sinful living.
- If you are living sinfully,
you are not ready to be used of God.
- You have to repent and get
right with God.
- But if you are serving God
and looking for something to gain confidence for Him to use you, then
STAND ON THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD THROUGH JESUS, and
upon THAT BASIS you are ready to be used of God!
Like Jesus went into the GARDEN TOMB to be resurrected and become our
great high priest, YOU WERE BURIED WITH HIM AND RESURECTED WITH HIM.
- So, get on in there and catch
up with your spirit, and get your heart focused on the fact that HIS
RESURRECTION made you worthy to be a minister.
- All of this is described in
Hebrews as GETTING YOURSELF IN THE HOLIEST to be a minister for God and
used by Him.