The Priesthood

HUMAN AND DIVINE

Hebrews 2:9-18

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

The priesthood is the office of man’s representatives before God. It is a peculiar race of intercessors whose sole responsibility is to succour those who are ignorant and out of the way. The divine creature, which is very Christ, was made subject to the body of vanity. Remaining in the fleshy body makes us liken unto our brethren after the flesh. Christ and the ones He sanctified are all of one. They are all of God the Father. They are all partakers of the divine nature. However, they [Christ and the church], are all partakers of the seed of man, as pertaining to the flesh. This means that those who work the priesthood must be human and divine. This state of being satisfies the law of kinsmanship. It allows the priesthood to continuously be touched by the infirmities of the human race.

Hebrews 3:1

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

The priesthood is a heavenly calling. It is the work of heavenly creatures who maintain their existence on earth in an earthen vessel. The priesthood is a profession. It is a confession, a promise and a covenant to present the goodness, the faithfulness, the love and the purpose of God the Father to a dying world. The priesthood is intercessors who stand in the gap for the sins of the world. We are the living witnesses that Christ is alive. The priesthood is the personage of Jesus Christ building the house of the Lord, just as He promised the Father.

Hebrews 4:14-15

14 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. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Finally, the priesthood must be holy and without sin. Christ is the priesthood. He is the person living in these earthen vessels. He is the one working the ministry through us. He is holy and does only those things that please the Father. It is the earthen vessel who gets in the way of the priesthood operating. Where do we appear in this reality? Where is the Church in relation to co-operating with the sinless Christ within? Divinity and Humanity have once again come together. However, this time, the human side of the being must come into agreement with God relative to the sin issue. The earthen vessel must take on the mind of the Spirit within it. Why is this so difficult? As long as the human vessel refuses to agree with God, it will never endeavor to achieve the perfect will of the Father. It will seek its own.

THE CHOSEN PRIESTHOOD

Exodus 28:1

And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Hebrews 5:1-4

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Note that the priesthood for the house of Moses, as well as the one established for the Body of Christ, was chosen by God the Father. It is the Father alone who chooses those who are to serve as intercessors for His people. All the priests of the Tabernacle had to be descendants of Aaron. No one however, of the house of Aaron was allowed to work the ministry if he had any broken bones, a disfigured face, a hunched back, or who was married to a profane or divorced woman. Such a person was not allowed to dispense the sacred duties of the priesthood. The true humanity of Jesus makes Him a more effective high priest to the Christian community.

In Old Testament tradition, the high priest was identified with the people, guilty of personal sin just as they were.

Hebrews 5:1-3

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Even so, the office was of divine appointment (Hebrews 5:4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.), as was also the case with the sinless. For Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Psalm 110:4

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Although Jesus was Son of God, He was destined as a human being to learn obedience by accepting the suffering He had to endure (Hebrews 5:8 - Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;). Because of His perfection through this experience of human suffering, He is the cause of salvation for all. These physical and moral traits make reference to the moral disposition of the flesh. The priesthood must be holy among the people and in the sight of God. The choosing of Aaron and his sons is a type of the calling of the apostle and the four subordinate ministries in the church today.

Below is a listing and explanation of the operation of the gifts of the ministry.

A LISTING OF THE GIFTS

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

THE ORDER OF THE GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS

Ephesians 4:11-16

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Gifts are given to mature the Body. These gifts constitute the royal priesthood.

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

This verse demonstrates the setting of the apostolic order in the house of God. This order must be referenced as the authority of God in the church. The Lord spoke to me in May of 2000 and said that He was about to exalt His leadership in the Body. This means that the Lord is about to purge and sanctify the royal priesthood. This sanctification and cleansing must take place before the priesthood can offer up sacrifices and offerings for the sins of the people. It was necessary for the High Priest to first offer a blood sacrifice for his own sins before He could offer for the people. Now the Lord has demanded that we present our bodies, [this flesh], a living sacrifice, and a holy, acceptable lifestyle onto the Father. We have known this for some time. However, the application of the process of cleansing is upon us. We have no more time to take a nonchalant attitude regarding righteous living. We have gotten by so long with missing the mark until the church is very indifferent about living holy. But God is not indifferent. He is very serious about purging those who have been called into His service.