Transcript _ Priesthood Of All Believers Part Iii

Transcript Priesthood of all believers – Part III There were a couple of questions from last time that we wanted to make sure we addressed before going on. A Brother had brought up the issue of how some of these priesthood issues tie into the assembly now. Is this the question on how we as believers can affect the exercise of our priesthood? We were in Exodus 29 and we had said that the food for the priests, involving the shoulder and the breast, the wave and heave offering, came from the Peace offerings offered by the people. Lets read Exodus 29:27 27 And thou shalt hallow the breast of the wave-offering, and the shoulder of the heaveoffering, that hath been waved and heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons. 28 And they shall be for Aaron and his sons, as an everlasting statute, on the part of the children of Israel; for it is a heaveoffering; and it shall be a heave-offering on the part of the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, as their heave-offering to Jehovah. I had made the statement, in looking at that, that we hardly appreciate that these priests were dependent upon the people to be in a right spiritual and moral state for them to enjoy this food. Let me make the connection. Look at Lev 7 Here you get the people offering, in the law of the peace offering, voluntary peace offerings. Notice in verse 19 what it says about their peace offerings 19 And the flesh that toucheth anything unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire. And as to the flesh, all that are clean may eat the flesh.20 But the soul that eateth the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offering which is for Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his peoples.21 And if any one touch anything unclean, the uncleanness of man, or unclean beast, or any unclean abomination, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offering, which is for Jehovah, that soul shall be cut off from his peoples Now I was making this connection, that as the people brought their peace offerings in Lev 7, if they were not in a right state (in wrong associations, touching something unclean or defiling) then they were not able then, to follow through with that peace offering. They themselves were under the judgment of God and would be put out. If this happened regularly it would affect the priests themselves. It was from these peace offerings that they gained the shoulder and breast as priestly food. IN understanding this connection between the state of the people and the welfare of the priests it helps us understand in a figure, how the priesthood of the believer today is affected by the state of the people of God generally. If we go to the local assembly level and one had a situation in that assembly, a situation of defilement of subversive doctrine or sinful practices/associations, then that touched the ability of those believers in that assembly to exercise their priestly functions to the glory of God. It affected their priestly health. . They were not able to exercise their holy priesthood because of their defilement. This is why in Corinth, Paul had to come in such a way so as to recover. Paul was in this case, “eating the sin offering” and seeking to recover. He enabled them to overcome this and in 2 Corinthians we see their humbling self-judging and raised up so that they could again exercise their priesthood. So this is a good OT illustration of this point.

I did leave you with this question about the connection of what we find in Leviticus 8 and Leviticus 16. Remember this question? Did you figure it out? There is actually something that ties them together. Look into Leviticus 8. It says here regarding Aaron. We know they bathed him and dressed him and put on him all the priestly garments. Now look at verse 9 9 and he put the turban upon his head; and upon the turban, on the front of it, he put the golden plate, the holy diadem; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and hallowed them. Did you see what happened? There was no blood, simply the anointing oil – symbol of the H.S. This was one who was ever led out by the HS. Here we have a picture in Aaron of Christ, and I would suggest Christ as expressing God’s purpose in bringing everything into association with Himself. He anoints the tabernacle and everything associated with it. Now, when you go to Aaron in Lev 16, something else happens. When he goes to the tabernacle now, he has to do what? He has to sprinkle blood all over it. Look in Leviticus 16 and look at Moses actions toward that same tabernacle; there blood is introduced. The connection is this. In Lev 8 we have the purpose of God in Christ. But in Lev 16 we get Christ in grace, moving through the sacrifice of Himself to give effect to the purpose of God; to make that purpose a reality. But a reality that could only be accomplished through bloodshedding because of man’s sin and failure. God had this eternal purpose in his heart, but sin came in. Thus Christ in a figure in Lev 16 “ brings in the blood.” God will realize his purpose, but it will be through his beloved son giving effect to it through the sacrifice of Himself. We see this anointing on one hand, of the Tabernacle and yet the blood again in 16, and we scratch our head and ask - Why does He have to cleanse this Tabernacle when He had already anointed it? It seems almost a reversal. But its not so. And you will remember that in NT, it says – almost all things are cleansed by blood. And Hebrews brings in the anti-type of this WW Question - the emphasis on the Holy Place and the sprinkling before the Holy Place. Brother G response >> it is there that cloud meets cloud. The cloud of the shekina glory and the cloud of Aaron’s censor. Back in exodus 30 the 4 key ingredients of the incense speaks of Christ in regards to the four gospel. Look quickly back in Exodus 30 where we have in verse 34 34 And Jehovah said to Moses, Take fragrant drugs—stacte, and onycha, and galbanum—fragrant drugs and pure frankincense; in like proportions shall it be. This whole section has a relationship to each of the gospels. That’s important actually as we talk about the failure of the priesthood and what it means to eat the sin offering. But I wanted you to see the connection between what you get in Lev 8. I want you to see that we are, in the light of God’s purposes when we talk about priesthood and Lev 16 is Christ coming out to get effect to that purpose. Lets move on to Lev 9. We’ve already dealt with Lev 9 in an overview fashion. Lets just point out a few things about our priestly function. In Lev 9 we have the 8th day. We have had 7 days prior to this. During those 7 days, according to Ex 29, the priests dwelt in the Holy place and fed upon the meat of the atoning sacrifices. For that complete period of time. In Ex 29 we discover that there is this continual burnt offering constantly being offered up evening and morning. Its in that place and with this continual offering going on, that God meets

with the priests. You wee immediately the connection. The ground for our fellowship and communion with God as priests is the sacrifice of Christ – the Lamb of God’s providing. It’s as God giving his beloved son as burnt offering who delighted his heart, and was consumed on the cross. It is as having his Son before him that he can have communion and fellowship with us. Its in Ex 29 that God repeats in a short span of time that it was his Purpose to dwell with them. Yet he would do so while having a continual reminder of the One who would take away the sin of the world. The priests could enjoy that nearness based upon that Blessed One, His person and Work. And its in a Holy place that they can enjoy it. So this coming near the holy place also requires a moral correspondence on our part. Its not just that Christ as sin and burnt offering offered himself spotless before God so that we can have fellowship… But now as priests we must also be in moral corresponding and during this “complete period of time” be feeding upon the atoning sacrifice and learning of Christ, enjoying Him. Peter said, Grow in Grace and the knowledge of Christ It’s a priestly food that we must have constantly in enjoyment of That’s the moral ground upon which we embark upon Chapter 9. Now we see the 8th day, there’s a connection exists between the 8th day and the7th day. We don’t simply arrive at the 8th day. It comes in light of the fact that we have kept the 7th. We enjoy the Passover, spiritually speaking, because we have been in the enjoyment of the feast of unleavened bread in the previous week. Any leven, symbol of sin was removed. We were Holiness unto the Lord practically. That is the kind of imagery that Paul brings to bear upon the Corinthian company in 1st Cor 5 to move them away from their sin. We have already looked at this 8th day dispensationally, and prophetically, and seen how ch 9 takes in the thought of the revelation of the glory of God 3 times over. Its in this ch in verse 23 & 24 that we get the picture of the “king priest” according to Zech 6:13 in the persons of Moses who in Deut 33 was called a king in Jesurum. He has that royal title and along with the priest Aaron go in. And then they come out in blessing. And the Fire of God’s acceptance consumes the sacrifice – and it’s a glorious picture of great blessing and the people BOW DOWN in worship. So we can see, how chapter 9 introduces us in picture to the world to come and the day of display. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out and blessed the people; and the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people. Now, have they come out? Not for us, not for Israel, not yet. My point is this. They have not yet come out dispensationally. But for us, we can enjoy this thought spiritually. Let me ask you something. What were they doing inside? It doesn’t tell us. Some try to speculate that Moses was teaching Aaron what to do in the Holy of Holies. Its all speculation. Where God is silent, let us be silent. They went in. In our own situation lets remind ourselves according to Heb 10, we go within the veil. Christ conducts us into that place. So where THEY are at is where he wants us to be in the enjoyment of that. Though they have not come out, who has come out for us? The HS has come out for us. John 14… “I will send a comforter just like myself, and I will send him to you.” The HS is sent out from both the father and son in John. He has come out and we see that take place historically in Acts. There is one now who has come out to take this truth, which shall be publicly seen, and bring it to our hearts spiritually so that we can enjoy the spiritual reality of it. Lets look at the book that shows you this. 1 Peter Ch. 1 -

10 Concerning which salvation prophets, who have prophesied of the grace towards you, sought out and searched out; 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed out, testifying before of the sufferings which belonged to Christ, and the glories after these. That’s a summary of ch9. You will have the sufferings in the offerings and the glories as they come out. Notice then in verse 12 12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to you they ministered those things, which have now been announced to you by those who have declared to you the glad tidings by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven, which angels desire to look into. They have declared this thing to you by the HS.. SENT FROM HEAVEN. See this, which angels desire to look into vs. 13 Wherefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope with perfect steadfastness in the grace which will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;. Yes there is the world to come and Christ’s revelation to come. Yet right now the HS of God sent out of heaven has come and announced and revealed these things to us in a spiritual way. That gives us good NT authority too see that the 8th day has relevance for us today. The whole message of ch 9 speaks to our circumstance. We gather on the 8th day as priests. In doing so it is because we have during the week been true to the 7 days. WE have kept it in the holy place. Who of us can possibly partake of the emblems of his dying love, the bread and cup? Who of us can arise to exercise our priestly functions in worship and remembrance if we were not keeping the 7th days. The 8th day has wonderful and moral implications for us. I did say this that they have gone in v23-24, and we belong there with them. Jump now to John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, *he* hath declared him. Now where is he? Well, he’s tabernacled amongst us BUT… its says who IS in the bosom of the father, just as we get in John 3 that statement of the Son of man.. let me read it to you “13 And no one has gone up into heaven, save he who came down out of heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.” Just as in chapter 1:18, his dwelling place is in the bosom of the father. Here the son of man though his feet are upon earth, he is in heaven. It is a great mystery, who can understand this. Turn then to John 13. This is what I am getting at in connection with Lev 8.. that he not only conducts us in as priests but in fact that is where the Lord wants us to dwell.. in contrast. 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end. 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came out from God and was going to God, So thus we have in chapter 1 that he should depart out to the father to be with God. Notice then in verse 8 [8 Peter says to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me.] If he is with the father then what part is it with him? There is a moral requirement for you to have part with me. Its not just that you are washed all over.

Certainly you are bathed; yet if you don’t let me wash your feet, you can’t enjoy this place and part with him in the fellowship that goes along with it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Not on Tape~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Go now to chapter 14. We already saw in verse 4 that Christ goes to the fathers house to prepare a place for us. Notice though in verse 21. [21 He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me; but he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.] Here is part one. As we are true to his word we gain a revelation of Himself. That’s the plan fact of John’s statement. The relationship is always there but it is important that just as the Levites were always a part of Israel, they were required as Levites to carry themselves in a certain way. You and I as God’s children are to carry ourselves in morally that answers to that high calling. As we do, he reveals himself, there is a revelation and unveiling. We gain morally and appreciation and enjoyment of what we get PUBLIC ALLY in Lev 9. That’s not the whole story. Notice what you get in vs. 23. Here is the breast of the consecration offering. If you looked at verse 21 [ He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me; but he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.] as the doing of his word, as the shoulder. [23 Jesus answered and said to him, If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.] We get in both verses.. the doing and the affections. [reads on] What we get here then is he says… I’ve gone to the fathers house to prepare you a place. There are many abodes in his house and I am coming again. But MEANWHILE as you and I walk true to truth he will actually and spiritually bring the truth of that prepared abode into our very souls so that you and I, THIS SIDE OF GLORY can get a foretaste of that abode where he dwells… nothing less than the bosom of the father. This is an astounding thought if you look at it this way. Now granted there is always the 2000 cubits by measure. He is always… This helps us see that when we look at something like Lev 9 we need not look at it in simply a historical fashion or purely prophetic fashion for Israel. We can see its significance for us spiritually today. We can look at all this in light of NT truth and say that is our place. We can see he will manifest himself to us, as we are true. That place they enjoyed in there (tabernacle) we can enjoy now. The Holy Spirit according to 1 Peter 1, is the one who makes it a reality in our souls. He is the one who comes out to make the sufferings and glories real to us. In chapter 9 then this 8th day takes on a whole new significance. A new beginning, and creation, for we are people of the 1st day of the week. Let me just point out that we have the appearing and glory in here in verses 4, 6, and 23. It is interesting that when we come to the matter of verse 7 [ And Moses said unto Aaron, Go to the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Jehovah has commanded] WE must always remember that the types always fall short. Aaron was himself human and needed blood shedding. 2nd point is this that what we are looking now at individuals that have already been redeemed by precious blood at Passover. Now as redeemed in the wilderness… as we look at these offerings we are looking at them as people redeemed who enjoy this relationship based upon what these offerings speak of. These offerings bring us to the blessed person and work that makes our standing such a reality. It’s interesting that Aaron is told to offer the Sin offering AND burnt offering. They must both be together. That’s a significant 1st point when it comes to our priestly ministry. We have the

greatness of his person and the greatness of his work. We get the greatness of his person in the burnt offering as such a delight to the Father. Every bit of Him was received up into the Father’s nostrils with great delight. Yet it was that great person who became our sin bearer. That is the foundation upon which our priesthood stands. Unless we appreciate this twofold truth of person and work, our priesthood would suffer as we seek to exercise any measure of it. How often have those who claimed to be his in fact undermined his person and work. It all begins here with a right understanding of it. The Father delights in the Son. 8 And Aaron went to the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin-offering which was for himself; 9 and the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar.10 And the fat, and the kidneys, and the net above the liver, of the sin-offering, he burned on the altar, as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp. The second point we must see is that when he talks about this sin offering, in verse 10, everything inside is burned up as a sweet fragrance but everything outside is burned down in consuming fire of judgment. In the Hebrew text these are 2 different expressions. In verse 10 we get that expression which speaks of the sweet savor offerings going up as a fragrance. In verse 11 speaking of flesh and skin – that is consumed with fire. Thus the 2nd point is to understand this great truth of His incarnation. He Himself was holy harmless undefiled and separated from sin. The holy one of God. Everything about him was to the glory of God. Satan could find nothing to draw upon. Nothing in him or upon him until we look at those 3 crosses. On one there was the one who rejected the lord – he had sin in him and upon him. The 2nd had sin in him but none upon him as it was transferred to the head of the one in the middle. He had no sin in him but sin upon him. God laid upon him the iniquity of us all. The truth of this is here in picture form found with the FIRST exercise of Aaron’s priestly function. All that we previously discussed prepared them to the work but now they take that work up to execute it. As they do so, all is connected first to Christ’s person and work. Secondly it has to do with holding His person and work in highest degree because of who He is. […Missed some…] It is as if the spirit wants to bring this home with such force as the foundation of our priestly ministry. Lets face it; this is the battleground today. We have countless denominations and religious organizations of every stripe. If you query them you find it often comes right down to this – Christ’s person and work. Whether as it were the inwards were really a fragrance to him… or whether the flesh was really consumed… was he really the sin bearer or do we have to do something? Then notice this point regarding our priestly ministry. In verse 12 the blood is sprinkled on the offering round about [12 And he slaughtered the burnt-offering; and Aaron’s sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar round about.] Then he offers the peoples offering. Just go there, it says there [reads]. Now it sounds like its one offering but look at this, a sin offering v 15, a burnt offering v16, a meal offering v 17 and a peace offering in v18. Every category of offering is represented. What about the trespass offering? It comes under the category of the sin offering. These are the four categories and yet we read that he presents the peoples offering (singular). So in all these facets of exercised priesthood, these four aspects of Christ picture by the four offerings, we find a coming of all into the one and same person, the one and same offering. It is one offering here. Rather interesting is also the fact that the order is reversed from the order that is found in Leviticus. There we begin with the burnt offering – the divine side first, what God thinks of his son, and move out in condescending grace to man’s need (the

trespass offering). Yet here we begin with man’s side of sin and move up to the fellowship of the peace offering. This is a key of our priesthood to know if we are really exercising it right. Are we really taking God’s people and drawing them from where they are at and drawing them up near to have fellowship with the Father and Son. That’s an important function of our priesthood. It is for the people. Drawing the people of God. He says… he moves from the sin offering and burnt offering then to the meal offering which of course pictures Christ in incarnation as that food upon which we dwell.. Christ as the manna from heaven. We behold his glory in the gospel full of grace and truth – words, walk, and deeds. We run after him and want to have fellowship with him as in the peace offering. Notice though verse 18 [reads it] Wait a minute. In chapter 6, and again in 16, you have the blood brought in. Its not only sprinkled before the mercy seat but also upon the horns of the altar. There is more done there as they draw near with blood. But here its kept near the alter of sacrifice and the rest is missing. Why is this. Often we learn more from what is not there. Well in chapter 6 we might say that Christ in his peace offering ministry comes in to recover interrupted fellowship. In chapter 16 the great day of atonement comes back to our deep need as sinners. But here where the priests begin to function as such on behalf of the people, the blood stays at the alter of sacrifice as if to suggest this… that what we have here, especially tied in with this 4 fold presentation of one offering, this great truth of acceptance. Its not now salvation or communion recovered but acceptance. That is one of the great ministries of our priesthood. Its not just that we are safe as under the blood of Passover in Egypt. The people were not simply under the blood but had been brought through the red sea and fully accepted by God at Sinai. God made Israel a nation of priests. They were the ones that rejected their priesthood. Here in this chapter, where we get this blessing that is coming out to them, notice as a result of this in verse 2 [reads] It was after the offering that he blessed. My point is that all of these things speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, who in his person and work, so wrought by God’s grace and on our behalf, that there is a people now upon earth FULLY ACCEPTED who can draw nigh and enjoy the blessing of heaven. So when you and I exercise our priesthood, holy or royal… in worship or practical ministry… this truth of drawing God’s people into this realization that we are in fellowship with God.. in a place of nearness and an acceptance, is key to a successful priestly ministry. You see in Romans 5. You remember that in Romans 4. You can see Paul doing this in his won ministry. IN Romans 4 we read. [reads 4:25-5:2] In other words it is the fact that Christ has not only been delivered for our offenses but now raised again. Thus in his resurrection we get this great truth of our acceptance. Because of that forerunner in the veil, you and I can look up and cry Abba father. Because of that THEREFORE we have peace toward God. Not only right now. We stand in this place of favor and have access but we can also boast in the hope of the glory of god – the day of display. This is a bit of what we get pictured in Lev 9. When we are really exercising our priestly functions we will find the people of God not only engaged with his great person and work.. more clearly understanding.. but also having a sense of the acceptance which enables us to draw near. [missed sentences on Luke] … that is a picture of Lev 9. The end result is that our ministry brings them to a sense of this and then verse 23 and 24 gives them a sense of the blessedness of his person and glory so that they fall down in verse 24. [reads 24] When this happens morally speaking we have a sense of realizing what real priesthood is - when people are caused to bow and worship. When we are a vehicle by which we are engaging people with the blessed person and work of Christ and Gods

purposes in his son.. giving them such a sense of acceptance such that they draw near.. we are realizing priesthood. This is it. Lets stop here. Later we will get into the matter of eating the sin offering. This matter of chapter 10 as we get into it will really be crucial. Its one of the most sobering chapters on priesthood that one can possibly encounter,. We have just begun to see how priesthood functions and the blessing that flows from it. Suddenly in ch 10 we see failure and how do we deal with it. Is there possibility of recovery? What does God expect from us when we realize failure? Will we be able to maintain a priestly character in days of departure. It will also affect our ability to carry out our royal priesthood. The outflow of all this is royal priesthood. Lets look at one example. Turn to Romans 15:15. Notice what Paul says. [reads v15-19?] Paul was so in the enjoyment of his holy priesthood that the natural outflow of it was that it characterized his relationship to the entire world .As he went out to the nations as an evangelist it was in priestly character that he did so as an offering up to God. Thus even the royal priesthood function, setting for the glories of him that called us out of darkness… even I that royal ministry it ultimately winds up becoming a holy priesthood offering up people to god. Each flows into the other. If I could just give you one other example of royal priesthood here. Turn to 2 Samuel 8. We read there in verse 17 in talking about David’s key people around him. He says [reads v17-?] This little expression, chief rulers, is the same expression as the word priests in verse 17 – same root. Now flip over to 1 Chronicles 18:16 [reads v16-17] What we discover then is that the sons of David who were called CHIEF rulers, and expression of the priests, where at his hand. They had the liberty of going into David and had liberty exclusive to them. Open fellowship that was unique. Now look at 2 Samuel 20:23 [reads v23-24] And Ira ALSO… here we have then a Gentile put in the place of son you might say and of priestly position. Interestingly enough in the book of Hebrews you might want to study the connection between Son and priest. It is as sons that we are able to go in as priests in Hebrews. Here we are; that position that was David’s sons as chief rulers – a priestly function and yet a function of son ship and liberty… being able t go into David, is now entrusted to Ira. Now part of that function was that they went in and could have liberty fellowship with David. Then they could go out to the people. They could take the peoples interests into David and David’s interests out to the people. It was a royal priestly function. It’s a beautiful picture of royal priesthood. Its based upon the nearness of Holy priesthood hood. Its based on where we dwell for 7 days. Then only can we go in and out with the peoples needs. All of that is a very very important foundation for when we look at the next chapter for there is an almost shocking difference of expressions between what we encounter in Lev 10 and this strange fire and the failure of priesthood and what we have had in Lev 7-8. There is an expression found 14x over which is suddenly overturned in chapter 10. That strange fire, in that incident becomes the opportunity for god teaching us how to handle ourselves as priests in the day of failure. In fact the remaining sons are treated as a remnant of priests. And that’s when we learn what it means to eat the sin offering. [In our priesthood we walk in concert with Christ. Aaron’s sons were integral to him as he served as high priest]