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.

This was the characteristics of the shape in which the seven candlesticks of the Tabernacle and Temple were made.

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.

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.


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!

When Adam was placed in the Garden, He was instructed to DRESS AND KEEP THE GARDEN.

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.

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.

And something important is pointed out in verse 47.

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.

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.

Not only is Jesus supernaturally ALIVE, but 1 COr 15 says HE IS A LIFE GIVING SPIRIT.

IT GAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

We have Communion today.

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.

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.

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.

We get hold of God on the behalf of others.

This is a perfect picture of what God has been showing us.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Remember that THE ROD OF AARON that represented Jesus’ resurrection was resurrected IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE, which represents the Garden of Eden.

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.

And Romans 6 is telling us that we need to present ourselves to God for MINISTRY and being used BY HIM.

We look for people to admire us.

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.

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!

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.

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.