The Priests of Israel
Book of Leviticus Chapters 8 and 9
We should understand that God calls and also ordains every true preacher, or pastor, or priest or
whatever the leaders of the Church are called today, just as He calls every Christian.
Rom_1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, "called to be an apostle", "separated unto the gospel of God",
Rom_1:6 Among whom are "ye also the called of Jesus Christ":
We must be called and that first calling comes by the Holy Spirit for our salvation.
We may at that time, or some other time be called into a special ministry, but all the ministries of the Church must point to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
If they are not called of God and ordained of God, they will never know how to lead the Church and are subject to damnation!
God does not take kindly to imposters!
No one can understand the truth of the Word of God without being filled with the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in every Christian!
Ordination means to be appointed by the Lord to serve in the ministry of God.
Ordination means to be called, set apart (sanctified) and consecrated to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have not been called of God, you should not be leading a ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father "I have made known unto you".
Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, "but I have chosen you", and "ordained you", that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father "in my name", he may give it you.
Aaron and his sons were called of God.
Every true Christian has been called of God!
Not every true Christian has been called into a special ministry.
In fact if we are not already busy about the work that the Lord Jesus gave us to do, God will never call us into a special ministry!
*****Lev 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 8:2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
Lev 8:3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Aaron and his sons had been called and appointed by God to the priesthood.
A priest, a pastor, or any such others are called to minister to God's people.
The goal of these ministries is to bring us all into one accord and not to cause division in the Church.
That ministering must be of the Lord Jesus Christ, or it is not a true ministry of the Church!
The ordination of these men should make a lasting impression on God's people.
Just as these things were completed at the entrance into the Tabernacle, every Christian should make a public profession of faith.
All such as a pastor or evangelist, are to never forget their calling and appointment.
When such a man of God is called and show it, they will have the respect of the Church as Aaron did have with the Children of Israel.
When a Church needs a new Pastor, then the selection of that person should be visible and not done behind closed doors!
Here, in the Book of John, we see that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who does the calling so at this time Moses would be considered to be a "type" of Christ Jesus.
It is of critical importance that our Church leaders be called by the Lord.
One of the problems in the modern Church is that the leader of that Church was not called of God and are not God's chosen!
They will only cause havoc in the Church!
*****Lev 8:4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 8:5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.
Why would someone enter the ministry?
1) Some like the idea of serving and ministering to people.
2) Some like the professionalism of the being the pastor, the idea of leadership and being recognized in the community.
3) Some like the idea of teaching and speaking on a regular basis.
4) Some like the prestige and the image of respect shown to the men of God.
5) Some just like the money in a big church.
6) There may be many other reasons.
The truth is, no one should serve in the ministry unless they are called and ordained of God to serve God's people!
Every Church should verify the calling of their church leaders and teachers.
That person should spend a lot of time in the Word of God and in prayer.
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Just because someone went to a Seminary does not mean they are taught of God.
In fact, many seminaries ruin what would have been a good Pastor.
Let us look at the calling of the Apostle Paul:
Act 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
The Apostle Paul was a Jewish Pharisee and knew most of the Word of God by heart, but even Paul had to spend some time with the Holy Spirit.
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
It could be said that no man of God should be leading a Church until, that man of God has been trained by the Holy Spirit for at least three years.
The Holy Spirit will only teach the things of Jesus Christ.
All those who lead people away from Jesus Christ are not called of God and should be removed until they repent and get saved and then trained in the works of Christ!
Obviously, the Holy Spirit is in charge of every called man of God!
A man called of God will teach the things of Jesus Christ!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
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. Amen.
The Holy Spirit will never lead that ordained man of God away from the Lord Jesus Christ nor the Blood of Jesus Christ!
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
A Church is not a Church unless it teaches the truth of Jesus Christ!
A Preacher is not a man of God unless, he teaches the truth of Jesus Christ, The Gospel.
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Any works doctrine or any way of man cannot reconcile you to God!
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
It is only by the "Blood" of Jesus Christ that we can be cleansed of our sins.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
It is only by the water of regeneration of the Holy Spirit that we become the chosen of God!
Tit_3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
*****Lev 8:6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
Remember Moses is a "type" of Jesus Christ.
No one can be cleansed without the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Psalmist wrote:
Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Moses, God's mediator, took those to be ordained and washed them in water.
You see, it is only God's mediator who can do the washing and the cleansing.
Jesus Christ is God's true Mediator!
This washing with water is a "type" of being Spiritually cleansed!
No one can cleanse themselves and no one can be cleansed but by God's Mediator!
This is the truth of the Scriptures!
God can only cleanse us of our sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ, He is God!
Joh_10:30 I and my Father are one.
Joh_17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
We should notice that this washing and cleansing with water took place right before the putting on of those white linen priestly clothes.
These clothes in type represent the righteousness of God.
As sinners we must be cleansed from that sin before we can put on the righteousness of God!
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
It is only after this cleansing and this ordination that the true man of God can be a servant of God!
*****Lev 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
Lev 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
God met these children of Israel in this unique way, only because they had sought Him through the substitute sacrifice.
They had prepared themselves for the presence of God.
God has not ever changed!
That substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must be called, we must be chosen, and we must be cleansed, to ever be in the presence of God and the Holy Spirit does these things.
The Church has the truth for this ungodly world!
These children of Israel are still blind to this truth!
2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
There is no other way to be saved but by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ our substitute.
There is no other way to be cleansed and regenerated, but by the Holy Spirit.
There is no other way to meet God our Heavenly Father, but by obedience to his Word and His Son.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Won't you look to Christ today and be cleansed from all your sin?
Amen
