God's Servants

How To Regard God's Servants

 1 Corinthians Chapter 4

 I liked the statement in our lesson that said churches that go against the Word of God are trying to construct a shambles out of man's wisdom and the things of this world, rather than a mansion in Heaven.

 Some mega churches are doing this today. In fact, there are many churches in many denominations doing this today.

 The one thing we know about those who preached in the Church of Corinth were some of the best men of God at that time.

 1) Apollos was a Jew who knew the Scriptures very well and was an eloquent speaker.

 2) Cephas was the Apostle Peter, led to the truth by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 2) Paul, the great Apostle to the Church called by the Lord Jesus himself, just as the other Apostles were called.

 These were all ministers of Jesus Christ.

 This word minister means "chief servant" of God, and each one must be called of God to be His ministers.

 Exo 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. 

Exo 28:2  And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 

Exo 28:3  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 

 Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

Heb 5:5  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. 

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who gives each of them directions.

 Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

 The Lord Jesus gives us all these same directions.

 I cannot understand any denomination that rejects any teaching of our Holy God.

 Some people in this Church in Corinth had been blessed, probably led to the Lord by Apollos, so they spoke up for Apollos.

 Some people in this church had been blessed by Cephas, and Cephas, the Apostle Peter, is the only one that the Bible says led over three thousand to the lord in one day.

 Some people said they had been blessed by Paul, who can be said to be the greatest Christian of all time.

 All these men had the same "Gospel Message" because there is only one Gospel!

 *****1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Co 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

 Paul said none of us have any qualifications on our own, but our just servants of the Most High God.

 This church should have had only one question, which is, were these men of God faithful to the Gospel, not whether they were eloquent or philosophical.

 Sermons are to be much more than just material for discussion.

 There is no discussion on the mandate of God.

There is no discussion on our means of salvation.

There is no discussion on the Lord Jesus Christ and the work that He did for our salvation!

There is no discussion on the truth of God, our Creator.

There is no discussion on the Virgin Mary and the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ.

 A steward is a person who manages the property or affairs of another person. A good steward will deal with these things in a way that other person will benefit from it.

 We are all to be stewards of the Word of God, so Heaven will benefit from it.

 God has already warned us not to add to or take away from or twist His Word into some other meaning than what it says.

The Word of God is settled in Heaven and must remain as it is written!

 No servant of God is to be elevated above another servant of God; we are all in this thing together, yet each servant is to be esteemed highly for the work's sake.

 We are all to be faithful to God's calling.

 Every minister of God's Word is to be faithful, and this is essential.

 In reality, God's man has no other requirement.

 1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

 What is our Pastor to our church?

 1) He is a servant of God.

2) He is a steward of the mysteries of God.

3) He is a steward to be faithful to his Master and our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We are not to judge our Pastor beyond these things.

 *****1Co 4:3  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 

1Co 4:4  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 

 Every man of God who is truly called and speaks the message of God that comes from the true Word of God does not care what the world says about him. Their judgment is meaningless in the plan of God.

 Every "Born Again" child of God has been judged by God and is then justified by God.

 To be justified is to be forgiven of our sins and pardoned from guilt and punishment, and is an act of God's "grace," and this comes by the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

 Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

 If we are in the will of God, answering God's calling, then we are free from the guilt of our past lives.

 Justify means just as if we had never sinned to begin with. This is an action of God's "Grace". 

 How the world judges us becomes irrelevant.

 No judgment of man can overrule the judgment of God!

 Paul adds that he is not aware of any action he has taken that would seem to be a dereliction of his duty to serve the LORD.

 Paul understood that he was still a sinner saved only by the "Grace of God".

 No doubt there may be many sins which we commit without being aware of them, so God and God alone has the power to pronounce sentence upon our doings.

 God did not call us to be "judges", God called us to be free servants!

 *****1Co 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

 Just because we are God's children, this does not give us the right to judge anyone else, lost or saved.

 This does not mean that we will not recognize the lost and the saved by their actions: Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 We must learn not to judge because only the Lord can know the heart of man.

 No one but the Lord can know the real motives behind the way we live our lives.

 Only the Lord can know the darkness that is in us!

 Jer 16:17  For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes. 

 It is only when the Lord Jesus returns that He will judge this world!

 Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 

 Because my name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, the Lord Jesus is my Master; only He has the right to judge me!

 Worldly judges love to judge according to their own beliefs and not by the laws of the land as we are seeing today.

 *****1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

 Some of the members of the church in Corinth had begun to judge other members in the same way a court-appointed judge would judge.

 They were judging according to the gifts they saw in each Preacher, when it is God alone who can judge those He has called to the ministry.

 God says they were just a bunch of puffed-up airbags who were doing their best to divide the church.

 The pure fact is that we are not ourselves living according to the Word of God, how can we be examples for other believers?

 Paul said he and Apollos could be looked upon as examples of true stewards of the Word of God who also lived according to the Word of God.

 The one standard for every Christian is the Word of God!

 God did not give us His Word to think about and meditate upon; God gave us His Word for us to live by.

 This should be the message behind every sermon from every God called preacher to teach us what God expects from our lives.

 We are never to think above what God has written for us.

 If we all live according to the written Word of God, we will all arrive at the same place.

 The Apostle Peter said we have the most important words that have ever been written, and they are the truth.

 2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

 It is the Word of God that lights up our path to live in this life: Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 Not one Christian is more important than another in the eyes of God!

 *****1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

 I truly believe we have the best pastor in our area or any other area, but we must realize that when we begin comparing one pastor with another, we are bordering on sin.

 Indeed, we can sometimes receive more from one preacher or teacher than from another. We must then apply this teaching to our lives, or that message was fruitless.

 It is a sin when a believer begins to think that no other preacher can preach like our favorite preacher, because this is meaningless in the work God has asked us all to do, and leads to a divided church.

 It is in God's design that makes each one of us different from another.

 Who makes us different from others?

Why do I think I can judge one person over another?

Why do I think I have grown so much Spiritually that I can judge one preacher over another?

Who gives us the gifts we receive to serve in God's army?

Why do I feel that I can exalt myself and make myself superior?

 How many of us would dare to answer these questions without taking a hard look at ourselves?

 We should be able to see that God the Holy Spirit provides us with the gifts we have, and he chose those gifts for His reasons because only He knows how to make the House of God the strongest it can be

 Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

 1Co 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 

1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 

1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

 How could we ever believe that we could be lord over God's people?

 How can we ever believe that God has appointed us to hand our approval or disapproval to any brother or sister in Christ, much less to God's preachers!

 There is never an excuse for any church to become divided if it accepts the truth of the Word of God!

 Why was Paul writing all these things to this church?

 *****1Co 4:14  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 

 These were strong words from the Apostle Paul, but keep in mind every letter written to the churches was then passed around to every church that was established, just as we are reading these words today.

 It is never the job of our Pastor to shame us.

It is always the job of our Pastor to warn us of just what God says.

 There would be no divisions in the Church if we paid attention to what God has said!

 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

 The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and uses those words to sanctify us and to perfect us.

 This why the Word of God is so important!

 *****1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 

1Co 4:16  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

 We should be able to notice the love the Apostle Paul had for this church as he refers to them as his children.

 We all know we got some harsh words from our parents as we grew up, but those words were words for us to learn from.

 Paul had led many of these Corinthians to the Lord, so in this sense, he was like a father to them, and Paul was warning them rather than causing them shame.

 No genuine preacher would ever fail to warn the flock that the Lord has given to them.

No wise congregation would ever reject or attempt to silence that warning of a caring and loving Pastor.

 We can only know if our pastors preach the truth if we study our Bibles.

 If our Pastor is true to the Word of God, it will show in his lifestyle, and he will be an example for us to follow.

 As the men of the Church, we should all try to set the example as fathers to the children of the Church.

 We should set a good example as husbands to our wives.

 We should set the example as the heads of our family.

 This is what our Lord Jesus did every day of His life in the flesh: He set the example and lived a perfect life without sin.

 The Apostle Paul lived a life of commitment and self-denial for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Paul gave all he had in his service of the Cross of Jesus.

 2Ti 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

2Ti 1:13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 1:14  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 

 If we truly know our Savior, then we will certainly know the truth of those who preach to us!

 *****1Co 4:17  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

We must understand Church growth.

It is not the number of people in any church; it is the number of people in the church who are no longer babes in Christ and are committed to serving the Lord.

It is the Spirit of God that provides for the growth of His people, and He uses that man of God who is committed to the Word of God and the will of God.

Peter and Apollos were performing their duties, and they could not be held responsible for the events occurring at the church in Corinth.

Timothy was also led to the Lord by the Apostle Paul, and Timothy could show by example what he had been taught by the Apostle Paul.

There was a great contrast between the preachers and their so-called followers.

These Corinthians were judging the preachers who had given their time to this church, but not many of them bothered to follow the Word of God they were taught.

Many profess to be Christians, and the Bible says we can know them by their fruit.

The fruit would be the way they lived their lives.

Paul took responsibility for this church and its welfare.

Though he could not be there in person at this time, he sat down and wrote an epistle to them.

Paul sent this letter by Timothy, a young preacher who was solid in his faith.

Every preacher of the Gospel must be driven to provide whatever is needed for the growth of each Christian in his flock.

If there is anything in the life of the individual Christian that will hinder the growth of that individual, then it is serious to the Lord!

Timothy was a faithful servant called of God, trained by the Word of God and the Apostle Paul, and a great example of faith.

Remember, we all need discipleship to grow in the "Grace of God".

Amen 

It Takes Spiritual Leadership

 Spiritual Leadership for Israel

Book of Numbers Chapters 16 and 17

We must understand there is a great danger in going outside of God's plan of salvation!

In fact there is no plan of true salvation outside the "Grace" of God!

There is also great danger in taking a role in the leadership of the Church without being called of God to do so!

What is one of the biggest problems in America? Our leaders have no fear of God, and this is one of the signs of the last days.

As for the Church, God has given us all we need to know how to worship Him and serve Him properly!

To all who know they are called of God, they should do their absolute best to walk in obedience to the Word of God and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit living within you, the Word of God cannot be clearly understood.

The Bible is a Spiritual Book when it is taken from the right source, the "Received Text".

The seeking of power and authority other than the power of God will be the downfall of this world!

Just look at this man Putin who feels like he has the power to rule any nation he so chooses.

There is only one power God allows any government and it is the power to serve the people and that according to the Word of God.

Certainly not to be lord over God's creation. This is the thing that the Devil seeks!

The was an Israelite named Korah who grew disgusted with the leadership of Moses, but remember Moses was God's chosen leader.

Because of the unbelief of the Israelite people, Moses had just turned the nation of Israel around and led them away from the Promised Land by the orders of Jehovah.

Num 14:21  But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 

Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 

Num 14:23  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 

Num 14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 

Korah and his allies were now ready to act and filled with anger, they sought to take the leadership away from Moses.

In reality, this was an insurrection against Jehovah God! 

It was God who instructed Moses to move away from the Promised Land and no human being would have been able to take control of this young Israelite nation to lead them to the Promised Land.

If not careful we could see some typology here. No one but Jesus can lead us to the true Promised Land, the New Heaven, and the New Jerusalem.

Korah was the ringleader of this rebellion. He too was a Levite in fact, he was a cousin to Moses.

Korah led a group of 250 men who were not just men, but leaders well known to the tribes of Israel.

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 

Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 

Some were even Levites.

When they should have been encouraging all the tribes of Israel to be obedient to God, they began a total rebellion to God's chosen men.

By the way this is happening today to those chosen men who preach the truth of the Word of God.

Much of the world just does not want to hear what God has to say!

Korah and this group of rebellious men felt that Moses and Aaron had assumed too much authority and they were ready to take over the reins of Israel and lead them into the Promised Land, where God would have destroyed them.

It is God that makes these kinds of decisions not man.

Heb 5:1  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: 

Heb 5:2  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. 

Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 

Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

It is not man who decides what is holy and what is not holy. This too is decided by God Himself!

Num 16:5  And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

God does not like to see these things!

Num 16:20  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 

Num 16:21  Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 

God was so angry with this group of men that He sent them straight to Hell without first dying.

Moses received His instructions again:

*****Num 16:23  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

Num 16:24  Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 

Num 16:25  And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 

Num 16:26  And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 

Num 16:27  So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 

**Num 16:28  And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 

We should be careful if we decide to challenge the Word of God for this is the same as challenging God Himself!

Evidently these rebellious men had joined their tents together so they could meet and discuss the intent to go against Moses and Aaron.

A tent is also called a tabernacle.

We can see that rebellious talk will bring a large crowd.

Moses had challenged these unruly men according to the Word of God to a trial by fire.

Moses just said that God would speak for Himself.

Num 16:16  And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 

Num 16:17  And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

We will also notice that this trial by fire would take place at the entrance to the Tabernacle of Testimony.

This would be the place where God would choose the men to be His leaders.

What does God always do before He brings final judgment? He gives a warning.

This is a biblical truth even though He does not have to do this.

Remember these rebels were official representatives of the nation of Israel.

It was also these same men who had agreed to the believe those ten spies rather than Joshua and Caleb.

Jehovah was ready to lead this nation into Canaan Land, but they had said no.

It was too late now, just as it will be too late for all those reject the truth of God once God has removed His Church at the rapture.

Will God take judgment upon a group of people for the sin of one man? No never.

Remember God looks into the heart!

God said:

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

Not only were these who were innocent to depart, they were not to take anything from them, which would include words of rebellion.

The only ones left were these wicked men and their families and those who did not walk away from this rebellion some 250 people.

There were four ringleaders of this rebellion. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On.

We see that prayer still worked for the Lord listen to the words of Moses, but "judgment" was still coming to those who were guilty.

Judgment will always come to those who reject the Word of God!

As this group of rebels faced Moses and Aaron the hand of God fell upon these rebels.

The Lord did something new in this "judgment" that had not been seen before and I do not believe it has been seen since.

God opened up the earth and sent these rebels straight to Hell.

*****Num 16:29  If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 

Num 16:30  But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 

Num 16:31  And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 

Num 16:32  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 

Num 16:33  They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 

Moses said, if these rebels die a natural death, then he Moses was not chosen of God to lead them, Moses said he could be considered an imposter.

What is the truth?

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

When we start doing what we think is right instead of doing what HGod says is right then we have chose our own path to destruction.

Remember we have no righteousness within us. We are accounted holy only because we have the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not know how to do right unless we are doing what the Word of God says!

No doubt that the Lord had told Moses what He would do.

These rebels went straight to hell to be tried by the fires of Hell and they are still there today realizing they should never have questioned God's man Moses.

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 

We need to pray for our Pastors and Church leaders who are called of God, and it will show by the way they preach Jesus Christ!

It was Moses who had selected Aaron by the Word of God and there would be a separate test for Aaron.

*****Num 17:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

Num 17:2  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. 

Num 17:3  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. 

Num 17:4  And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 

Num 17:5  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. 

Num 17:6  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. 

Num 17:7  And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. 

Num 17:8  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. 

If we cannot see these things as they have happened, we must at least see that God does not like a bunch of complainers and most all of us complain far too much.

We must understand that nothing happens that God is not aware of and that He could stop if He chose to do so!

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

All the things of this world are moving along according to the plan of God!

We should understand that a "rod" used by the Israelites could have been from any tree and they were sometimes formed as that of the staff of a shepherd.

This rod used here seems to be the rod of the tribe of Levi and may not be the same rod Aaron used earlier.

Aaron's name was written on the rod of "Levi" and eleven more rods were gathered from the other tribes and their names were written upon their rods.

These rods would be from dried wood none of them being green.

The rod used in this manner was as an emblem of authority.

We should understand that God has it in His power to appoint His Pastors and other men of God.

God's method of choosing is far different from the way we would choose.

This person would serve under God.

This person would serve under the Lord Jesus Christ.

This person would be filled with the Holy Spirit because they had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and are obedient to Him.

All others are false!

If this person does not promote the truth of God, then they are not God's man and God has the power to deal with them.

God holds this power over all His chosen servants!

Today, everyone called of God are chosen to be a type of Jesus Christ so it should be easy to see who are true to the Word of God and who are not.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect priest which means those chosen today are not perfect because they are only men and their importance comes by preaching the truth of God, which in the original manuscripts is also perfect!

When we attack the Priesthood, we take the chance of attacking the men God has specifically called into the ministry.

When we attack our Pastor, we are attacking God, we are attacking the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that Korah and his cohorts attacked Aaron and God sent them straight to Hell where they would be judged by the eternal fires of Hell.

It was God who established the position of High Priest and God would defend His choice.

Heb 5:1  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: 

Heb 5:2  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. 

Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 

Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

Every priest, or pastor, or whatever their title must serve as being like the Lord Jesus Christ!

If they don’t preach Jesus, or the Blood, or the Virgin Birth, and all the truths of Him written in both Testaments then they are false and not called of God.

All Aaron had was the first five books of the Bible and then he only had the part that Moses had written up to that point which was the moral law and the Book of Leviticus.

Even today some people murmur against any Pastor when the ten commandments are mentioned.

The world rejects most all the Book of Leviticus because of what it teaches about being gay and abortion.

Moses obtained twelve staffs, one from each tribal leader as was Aaron.

The purpose of this is stated: the staff that belonged to the man God had chosen would sprout and this man would be the one God had chosen.

A simple enough test but it required a miracle.

It was the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and Aaron was the High Priest and the line to the priesthood would continue from the line of the tribe of Levi.

All the grumbling and murmuring must come to an end.

This priesthood is not accountable to man but accountable to God and this has never changed.

Complaining and murmuring are not of pleasant to the ears of God and if we are to please Him.

True faith says we trust everything God does so there is no place for murmuring and complaining!

Murmuring and complaining are of the Devil!

If our Pastor is declaring the Word of God from a legitimate translation then those words came from God and that Pastor is just the messenger God has chosen.

God wants His children to know, respect, and honor His chosen messengers!

Aaron's rod sprouted, budded, and blossomed and produced almonds.

None of the others did so.

The tribal leaders knew from that point forward the Levites were priests, and the High Priest would be a Levite.

The point of God's ministers is to produce fruit, just as the rod of Aaron produced fruit.

Bearing fruit is the purpose of the Word of God.

Bearing fruit is the purpose of God's chosen men.

Bearing fruit is the purpose of the Church.

The "Lost" cannot know the truth without the truth being told them!

Bearing fruit means to stop walking in the ways of the world and walk in the "Fruit of the Spirit"!

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

The fruit of the Spirit is being welcomed into the family of God and a home reserved in God's New Heaven.

It takes Spiritual Leadership from God's chosen men to reach the Lost with the Truth!

Amen