To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5-6.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
As you read My Word in the Bible be careful to notice the detail of what I am saying in how it applies to your life. I have told you that you who are in Christ are a royal priesthood. As Jesus is, so are you now in this world. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, your High Priest, and your Shepherd. And He has released you from your sins by His blood and made you a kingdom, priests unto Me. So you need to see, since you are priests with Him ministering unto Me, what the protocol and duties are for this perpetual priesthood of the disciple. And this all has to do with knowing Me.
There is a passage in the book of My prophet Samuel about the two priest sons of the high priest Eli that is very pertinent to this and that is where we will begin this life lesson. Remember these are men that have been ordained and consecrated as priests by their relationship to the high priest, anointed and appointed by My sacred mandate, just as you are.
Now the sons of Eli were worthless and corrupt, they did not know the LORD and the custom of the priests with the people. 1 Samuel 2:12-13.
They became worthless and corrupt in their position in which they had been ordained for two reasons. Number one was because they did not know Me and number two was they did not know the sacred protocol for how they were to behave in ministering unto Me and the people as priests.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9.
And it was not because this knowledge was not available to them, but they chose to reject the knowledge and make their own rules that enriched themselves at the expense of the people and of Me. They abused their assignment and the dignity of their high calling by refusing instruction, correction, and any connection with Me. They did not honor Me nor the people I had entrusted to them for their guidance and intercession. Instead of shepherds they became ravenous wolves of the flock. Satan had blinded their minds to the truth. They lived in and loved the darkness because their deeds were wicked.
For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), learning what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness . . . Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of (redeeming) your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:9-11;15-17.
They became worthless and corrupt because they did not know Me. Jesus defined knowing Me as eternal life. When you do not know Me you will walk in futility and corruption, which leads to death, because it is all flesh with a starved and quenched spirit.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3.
And because they did not know Me, they never knew the great honor and dignity of the work to which they had been called. I was their portion and they were Mine as the anointed and appointed priesthood.
So let us begin to look at the protocol of the priesthood as it applies to you today. This will require more than one Life Lesson, but today we begin.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5.
At the time Peter in his ministry to the early church community and John on Patmos penned the revelation about your royal priesthood, the only priesthood they knew and were referring to was that which I had established under the Old Covenant under which they had grown up and which were the only Scriptures at that time. So, we must look back to see why I wanted to make you all My priests in Christ and what the service of the priest was unto Me.
For instructions I gave Moses for the priesthood were a shadow of the good things to come, the substance is Christ. Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1. Also, if you recall, on the walk to Emmaus with the two disciples on the day I raised Jesus from the dead, the way Jesus revealed Himself was by explaining the things concerning Himself in all Scriptures, beginning with Moses and with all the prophets and all the writings of the Old Testament. Luke 24:27.
Even before I gave the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai and the plans for the tabernacle and the priesthood to Moses, when I had just redeemed My people out of Egypt to be My own treasured nation, I revealed the desire of My heart that all My people be priests unto Me.
“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own special treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5.
Because of the people’s sin of turning away from My voice and worshipping an idol (the golden calf) in the desert when I had brought them out of Egypt and spoken to them from Mt. Sinai, I chose the one tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel that was loyal to Me in that incident to be My priests to minister unto Me for themselves and the people. And that tribe was descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. Leah named that son “Levi” which means “attached.” Aaron and Moses were both members of that tribe.
In Christ, the desire of My heart has come to pass, for by His Blood Christ has released you from your sins and made you a people set apart, priests unto Me. Revelation 1:5-6.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10.
By redeeming you, sanctifying you, and making you righteous, I have fulfilled My vision for you in Christ.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Psalm 33:11.
And what is your work as priests unto Me? We must look again to the Old Covenant as the physical representation of what we are to do in the spiritual, for your sacred duties as priests are the spiritual fulfillment of the physical, for the physical comes first and then the spiritual.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:46-49.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.
The Levitical priesthood had two main categories of service unto God: First, to minister unto the people and the nation by offering sacrifices to atone by the blood of lambs, goats and bulls for the people’s and the nation’s sins so that they would be forgiven of their sins and saved from My judgment and just wrath and to heal and cleanse them (Book of Leviticus; Ezra 6:20), by interceding for them before Me (2 Chronicles 30:27, Leviticus 16), by blessing them so they could not be cursed (Numbers 6:24-26; Numbers 23:8; Numbers 23:20), by consulting Me and learning My plans for the nation so they could direct the governing officials accordingly (Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; Ezra 2:63), and by instructing all in My Word (Deuteronomy 33:8-10).
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14.
Second, to minister unto Me personally by playing musical instruments and singing before Me in My house, making melody at all times before Me (1 Chronicles 25).
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16.
And to take care of the things of My house (incense, keep the lamps of the golden lampstand burning, showbread, utensils, upkeep, vestments) (Numbers 4:16, Deuteronomy 33:8-10;1 Samuel 2:28).
The Levites attend to their work. Every morning and evening they burn to the LORD burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening.” 2 Chronicles 13:10-11.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16.
The priests were a consecrated, holy people living apart (Joshua 21:41) and belonging to Me, and here I would like to pause for a moment and show you how the consecration and setting apart of the priests matches in the physical how I have consecrated and ordained you in the spiritual reality of the fulfillment of the priesthood in Christ.
“Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.” Exodus 28:1-3.
I was very particular about holy attire for the priests, garments of glory and beauty. And the garments set them apart as holy, as consecrated unto Me. My own portion and special treasure and I was their portion and treasure. Clothed in glory and beauty they again walked with Me as Mine as Adam and Eve had in the Garden until sin stripped them of glory and they found themselves naked and I was no longer their portion.
“The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them they may be anointed and ordained.” Exodus 29:29.
Do you see? Aaron was the high priest and his sons after him clothed in his holy garments were authorized to be anointed and ordained. When you are baptized into Christ, you clothe yourself in Christ. I make you beautiful in Christ. Psalm 149:4.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27.
To be consecrated as priests, atonement first had to be made for their sins. Just as it has been for you in Christ, and not just atonement but complete removal of your sins in Christ.
“Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them to minister as priests to Me: take one young bull and two rams without blemish, and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; you shall make them of fine wheat flour. You shall put them in one basket, and present them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod and the ephod and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; and you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them. You shall gird them with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and bind caps on them, and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.” Exodus 29:1-9.
You see here the sacrifice of the unblemished clean animals that will atone for the sins of Aaron and his priest sons so that they may take their sacred office. Jesus was sacrificed, the sinless for the sinner, once for all. The priests had to make offerings for themselves and the people continually because the blood of lambs, bullocks, and rams did not remove but only covered the sins on credit until the real payment was made in full for all of you by Jesus as the true and only perfect lamb of sacrifice. The priests were first washed with water in the bronze laver before receiving the sacred and glorious garments. And the same is true for you, when you are baptized in the waters of regeneration by the Holy Spirit you come from death to life, clothed in the glory of Christ, a royal priesthood. And once you are clothed in Christ, as the priests of old once clothed in the sacred garments, the anointing oil was poured on the head of the high priest. And as His body that same anointing flows over you. It is the same anointing as on the head that drips down over the body, and I anointed Jesus with the oil of joy and My joy is your strength. There is power in the anointing to destroy the yoke and lift the burden off you of the oppressor.
It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever. Psalm 133:2-3.
For each of the sin offering, burnt offering, and peace offering Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the animal and all their sins went into that animal and all the unblemished righteousness of the animal covered them for their sins. And the for the ordination ram the blood was not only poured out upon the altar but also sprinkled upon Aaron and his sons mixed with anointing oil.
“You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram; and you shall slaughter the ram and shall take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments and on his sons and on his sons’ garments with him; so he and his garments shall be consecrated, as well as his sons and his sons’ garments with him.”
And for the peace offering the wave and the heave offering (making the sign of the cross with the breast and the leg and thigh) (Jesus made peace through the blood of the Cross) became the food of the priests.
Thus they shall eat those things by which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration. Exodus 29:
And it is the same for you: “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
I was the priest’s portion and inheritance. I provided for all their needs and more (Deuteronomy 10:9; Numbers 18). And the same is true for you who are in Christ today. You are joint heirs with Him and I have given Him everything.
And the priests had a royal mandate and sacred duty to offer to Me for the people daily in the morning and in the evening, the morning and evening sacrifice as follows:
“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and there shall be one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD. It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God. Exodus 29:38-46.
And that same mandate is yours in offering spiritual sacrifice as you intercede for the people and the nations.
You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5.
Each morning and each evening you should come before Me as My royal priest with Jesus your High Priest right to My throne of grace and offer to Me the Lamb that takes away the sins for the world, Jesus, in spirit and in truth as you lift your hands before Me like the morning and evening sacrifice and let your prayer come as incense upon the golden altar before Me and pour that precious blood by prayer over your home, your city, your state, your nation and the nations and peoples of the world praying for all to be saved and come to know the truth.
Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the holy ones on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the holy ones, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Revelation 8:3-4.
And there is certain protocol in approaching Me that still applies to you today. Let us look at Psalm 100.
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Psalm 100:1-2.
As you go to your room to pray, start with a joyful shout unto Me and be there with gladness and come in with joyful singing. And how do you begin your priestly duties of prayer in the spirit?
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His Name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:3-5.
What does it mean to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Me through Jesus Christ? This topic is for our next Life Lesson; and it has to do with praying effective New Covenant prayers to accomplish My Will and take territory for My Kingdom on earth.
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16.
I love you. You are righteous with My own righteousness (and there is none higher) in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21, but to pray effective prayers that move hearts, change nations, convert sinners, bring back the lost, and overcome the devil and his demons every time, you must understand who you are in Christ, the sacrifices of Old Covenant (which are all fulfilled in Christ), what your job is and what My job is. You must understand the Blood of the Lamb. The only thing that worked to overcome the power of the tyrant Pharaoh to release My people from the cruel slavery of Egypt was the sacrifice and the blood of the Passover lamb. And it is still the same today. Christ your Passover has been sacrificed, 1 Corinthians 5:7, and you only overcome Satan by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony. Revelation 12:11. And you will learn how to pray effective prayers and how to intercede for your loved ones, friends, neighbors, nation and the world and make your life one of significance to Me and man.