#347 Kingdom: The Practical Priesthood Of Melchizedek
The First, The Only And Final Priesthood Ministry That Is Directly Connected To The New Eternal Covenant!
While I have written several articles about Melchizedek over the years there seems to be a large gap between what I have written and what God is showing us now. Trying to discover eternal truth by the natural mind, through logic and a literal interpretation, has left us ignorant of most of the reality that we will need to make the transition to the next dimension of life and ministry to God. However, actually knowing what is the revelation and understanding of God and what is our interpretation of that reality is very difficult to discern. The scriptures give us certain facts that we can understand with our natural mind. Most people can locate these facts and physical information concerning spiritual truth. Nevertheless, to then interpret the facts with the natural mind and by logic can result in false doctrine or in just another natural message from the natural mind to some natural people in the pew.
For example; from these scriptures we can establish some simple facts. All Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek begins with God and. He appoints who He wills and is the sovereign God over this priesthood. The Father appoints “sons” who have been birthed by God, Himself. Also, that the Priesthood is established for eternity.
Hebrews 5: 4] And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. [5] So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE”;
HEB 5:6 just as He says also in another passage, “THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Heb 5: 8] Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. [9] And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, [10] being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Heb 6:18] in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. [19] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, [20] where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
From these scriptures we learn that this priesthood is preceded by suffering, obedience and serious preparation. Also, that all who will follow Jesus into this priesthood must also come to perfection or full maturity and obey the High Priest. There is “an eternal salvation”connected to this priesthood. Both God’s promise AND His oath concerning Jesus becomes a strong encouragement to the others who follow in the footsteps of the “Forerunner.”
Another fact we learn from these scriptures is that it is this “priesthood” that enters into the Most Holy Place ministry. Then, that this priesthood is not just one Priest but is an entire “order of priests.” This hope of entering into this great and high calling becomes an “anchor of our soul” and the encouragement we all need to press on into that tremendous dimension of Life.
Interpretation; The church, which is His body, must certainly be where the Forerunner is. Therefore, the church, which is His body, MUST become an eternal priesthood after the same order as the Head. From this we can speculate that whomever is not pressing into this eternal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek cannot be joined to our High Priest in this eternal ministry.
Heb 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2] to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. [3] Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually.
Interpretation; The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is a priesthood WITHOUT a natural source or beginning. This priesthood PRE-EXISTED the creation and is the ONLY priesthood that exists WITHIN the realms of God, Himself. To be extremely clear, this priesthood functions within God, Himself. The Holy Spirit is the ORIGINAL PRIEST, who always was a priest, is now a priest and always will be a priest. Jesus Christ has taken up His Eternal Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek who has always been a priest of the Most High God. Jesus BECAME a high priest after the same Eternal Order.
If ANOTHER PRIEST arises; means that now there is more than one priest of that order of priests. The temporary order of priests, after the order of Aaron, was done away with because it couldn’t bring anyone to perfection. Since Jesus, our High Priest, has come to perfection and established this Eternal Priesthood of heaven, now among men, He is able to also bring us to perfection. Of course absolute obedience to Him is part of the requirement. This Eternal Priesthood is connected to our final and eternal salvation.
Heb 7: 19] (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. [20] And inasmuch as it was not without an oath [21] (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, `THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER’”);
HEB 7:22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Speaking about the New Covenant outside of speaking about the Eternal Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is just speaking words without understanding. In that same way, speaking about our eternal salvation without any understanding of the eternal priesthood is much too shallow for today.
Heb 7: 28] For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
It should also be clear that when we speak about priesthood we are also speaking about sonship AND perfection, maturity, completeness or full growth.
HEB 8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, [2] a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
Interpretation; This priesthood functions in two dimensions. One, as a priest before God and two as co-ruler from the Throne of God. This “throne” is not on earth but is “in the heavens.” The throne is in the True Sanctuary in the True Tabernacle which God, Himself, has constructed.
According to Acts 7:44, and Heb 8:5, the Pattern that Moses saw on the Mountain was of the “True” real, Spiritual, Tabernacle which was revealed to Moses in the heavenly realm! It was this Spiritual Tabernacle that Moses used as a “pattern” to construct the “temporal”, i.e “type” or “shadow” of the REAL or TRUE Tabernacle in the wilderness.
The pattern for the “True Tabernacle” in heaven WAS the Tabernacle on Earth constructed by men’s hands. Moses was shown the “True Tabernacle” and was commanded to make the tabernacle on earth an exact copy of the true one in heaven. This indicates that the Ark of the Covenant, in the pattern tabernacle on earth, corresponds to the Throne of God in the True Tabernacle in heaven.
Heb 8:3] For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. [4] Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; [5] who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”
Interpretation; Our High Priest must also have something to offer to God. However, He cannot offer animal sacrifices or the blood of bulls and goats because they only were acceptable in the pattern tabernacle on earth. In “The True Tabernacle” our High Priest first offered HIMSELF and His own blood. He, of course, is our Forerunner. Now we must discover exactly what He is offering in our generation. He offered Himself as the “True Consecration Offering” and now the other “priests” after the Order of Melchizedek are offering themselves as “full consecration offerings to God.”
Interpretation; Rom 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Heb[6] But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
Interpretation; The New Covenant is not designed for the ministers of the New Covenant [priests] to see how much they can get from God without cost, just by grace, but to participate in the “True Government of God.” That means the Kingdom of God which functions from the Throne of God in the True Tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
Anybody can read these scriptures and assemble certain facts from the scriptures. Men don’t even need to be born again to do this because we all have natural facilities by which we can do this “ministry.” One of the greatest challenges that I face today is trying to share on these things dealing with eternity by just interpreting from the facts. I struggle, trying to rid my consciousness of all the natural things that I have learned over these many years by the natural mind of the natural man. These natural things are continually being dredged up to confuse the spiritual reality that God is trying to reveal to us today. The natural mind is truly at odds with the Spirit of God and the flesh misinterprets nearly everything that is written OR spoken. The natural mind reveals itself as a great enemy of spiritual understanding.
For Example; Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” [3] For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, And from the deadly pestilence. [4] He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
From this we can assemble certain facts with the natural mind. We learn very clearly that God, who is Spirit, casts a shadow. He has feathers and He flies about with wings. Also we find that he has a right hand etc, etc. He is a fortress with walls. We also learn that David was a sheep and that God was his shepherd. Although we all know none of this is literally true, that does not prevent us from thinking in those terms when we read the scriptures. The natural man with his natural mind is totally incapable of discovering spiritual and eternal truth just from the facts.
These kinds of symbolic words are found throughout the Bible and it is clear that all these metaphors must be interpreted to reflect a spiritual truth. The natural mind will “visualize” these things as literal and make doctrines that have absolutely nothing to do with truth at all. No place in scripture is this more dangerous than in the Book of Revelation. One of the first facts we learn in the Book of Revelation is that this is, “the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Still, we can clearly see what the natural mind of the natural man has done to distort the revelation of Jesus Christ into all kinds of strange and weird things. The symbolic language of scripture that reveals Jesus Christ has turned into terrible end time events. Who can sort all this stuff out by the natural mind? The most learned theologian is totally helpless to unveil these truths with the natural mind.
Jesus was constantly in conflict with the natural mind of the people to whom He spoke eternal truth. He had so many things to say to Israel concerning His Father and eternity but they were just not equipped to understand anything. The fact is that they misinterpreted nearly everything He said. Even the disciples could not understand even simple truth that came with spiritual words.
John 2: 19] Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” [21] But He was speaking of the temple of His body. [22] When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken.
The disciples were no better equipped to understand spiritual truth than the religious leaders or the Jews. It was only AFTER the resurrection that they understood a little bit. Nicodemus was a religious leader and a learned man but he could understand nothing of spiritual or eternal truth. Therefore, training the natural mind of the natural man to understand scripture is a big waste of time because this only causes confusion and very bad doctrine and has led the visible church into all kinds of errors.
My theory is this; Speaking about the eternal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek from the natural mind of the natural man and trying to explain our doctrine to natural people who are trying to comprehend eternal truth from the natural mind is a waste of time.
Jesus said in John 16: 12] “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Jesus could have wasted a lot of time teaching the disciples spiritual truth but He recognized that until the Holy Spirit came they just could not understand. This has nothing to do with our intelligence but with the inner revelation within the new inner and spiritual man. In other words, until there IS a new inner man, immersed in the Holy Spirit, spiritual truth can only be perverted by being misinterpreted by the natural mind.
While this is NOT some dark saying or mystical principle that all revelation only comes through the Holy Spirit by spiritual enlightenment in the inner man, the natural mind has decided that what we really need is to establish schools where the natural man can teach the natural mind of the natural man how to serve God and do the ministry. With this “better way” the whole ministry of Melchizedek becomes irrelevant. Jesus becomes the High Priest over an imaginary priesthood [misnamed “ministry”] That is the product of the natural mind.
The natural man, preaching from a natural pulpit, has determined that this Kingdom of Priests is something that all believers will become a part of after we depart from this life. Some say that this Kingdom of Priests is just another term for describing “heaven.” There is no limit to the error that the natural mind can present, not out of malicious intent, but purely out of ignorance of spiritual truth revealed ONLY by the Spirit. The “theology of the natural mind” has declared that the ministries, the gifts, casting out of demons, miracles, signs and wonders are no longer valid but passed away with the “last” apostle.
Therefore, the natural mind has conjured up all kinds of ignorant statements concerning Melchizedek and the priesthood of the believer after that divine and eternal order. One statement is that Melchizedek was just a man in the Old Testament. Since they lost his genealogy there is no way of knowing who he was. Since Melchizedek is compared to Jesus this confirms that Melchizedek was an incarnation of Jesus Christ. Even the simple truth of scripture about His Eternal Priesthood is interpreted by the carnal mind as something temporary that was limited to a few years in the middle east in the time of Abraham.
We have many examples of the natural mind being at enmity with God and the flesh being in constant conflict with the Spirit of God. The basic fact is this; We also are in a constant struggle with the natural mind and trying to interpret scripture by the intellect, using logic and carnal understanding to comprehend spiritual truth. The commentaries are full of the natural understanding from the natural mind of very learned and committed men. For this same reason we recognize that we have made many errors in speaking and writing. This is evident when we recognize that what we have “ministered” is factually true and logically true but spiritually dead and without spirit or life.
My thesis is this; The restoration that is NOW upon us will require and demand that the whole system that we have used in the past to “preach the gospel” and to “minister truth” is bankrupt. Even as the Old Covenant was condemned to pass away because it was useless and could bring no one to perfection, so now our old methods of “ministry” Are growing old and ready to disappear?
Still, even as many in Israel and some in the church refused to abandon the Law and Old Covenant and make the transition to the Holy Spirit and the provisions of the New Covenant, so also we can expect the same now. Because the intellect and logic are ego things, attached to titles and education, many will not give up that failed method of ministry. Many will hold to a priesthood after the order of Aaron which is based upon the law of physical requirements and carnal commandments. That priesthood functioned after the patterns of carnal understanding and natural logic. We could call this old type of priesthood “the priesthood of the natural man doing the very best he can with the natural mind” to serve and worship God who is Spirit.
Now, this transition to the Eternal Priesthood Ministry is not just important for us and our eternal destiny but it is essential to the next restoration!
The natural mind does not have the capacity to understand how we are lifted up and seated with Christ in heavenly places when it is clearly evident to the natural mind that we are still on earth. Exactly what capacity does the natural mind posses to understand that we no longer live but Christ lives in us. How can we be assured by the natural mind that when Christ died we also died. When He was buried we also were buried. When He resurrected we also resurrected. Does the natural man have any capacity to understand the “fact” that we have now ascended and we are presently seated with Him in heavenly places?
We speak about this as “metaphoric” but not actual! Why? Because any other explanation is not logical or satisfying to the natural mind. Even if we say this is spiritually true and we believe it, we are helpless to experience its fact and its truth in the natural man.
My theory concerning the Kingly Priesthood / sonship ministry is this; The Priesthood ministry that stands before the Lord, ministers to the Lord and burns Incense will finally fulfill God’s original purpose to have a MAN and His genealogy to rule over all the works of His hands. This “Priesthood Ministry” HAS BEEN raised up and seated with Christ and ministering from the Most Holy Place! That means from His Presence in the inner life in the Sanctuary now in us! It is there that we will be equipped to rule over the earth from Zion. The Laws of the Kingdom will go forth from Zion and the Word of the Lord from the Priesthood of Jerusalem.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, [21] equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
If we turn this scripture into a prayer for today we could ask God something like this;
“Now, Lord, according to the blood of the New Eternal Covenant and through the resurrection of Christ Jesus, our Lord, equip us in every good thing by working His resurrection Life and character into us so that we can do the will of God through the indwelling Christ. Let the glory of Christ be manifest.”
When we truly pray from the Incense Altar of His Presence and according to His Eternal Covenant, within His eternal will, out of His resurrection Life, from the Wisdom of the indwelling Christ, and under the teaching Priesthood of Melchizedek, we touch the Absolute of the Kingdom Government of God.
Psalms 110:1 The LORD [Father] says to my Lord [Christ]: “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine [Christ’s] enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” [2] The LORD [Christ] will stretch forth Thy [ Father’s] strong scepter from Zion, saying, [ to His people] “Rule in the midst of Thine enemies.” [3] Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee as the dew.
Psalms 110:4 The LORD [Father] has sworn and will not change His mind, “Thou
[Christ] art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” [5] The Lord [Christ] is at Thy [Father’s] right hand; He [Christ] will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. [6] He [Christ] will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. [7] He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He [Christ] will lift up His head. [ In Triumph] (Amp.)
If we can perceive that “CHRIST” is both Head and Body and that His feet are in His body, the other scriptures concerning this truth begin to illuminate our inner man. Since ALL His enemies are not yet under His feet, we should understand that this verse is still not fully fulfilled today and that the church, which IS His body, must be participators with Christ in this ministry. This does not refer to selected “ministries” but His body and the corporate ministry of the Priesthood.
1 Cor 15: 25] For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. [26] The last enemy that will be abolished is death. [27] For HE [Father] HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS [Christ’s] FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He [Father] is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him [Christ]. [28] And when all things are subjected to Him [Father] , then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One [Father] who subjected all things to Him [Christ], that God may be all in all.
1 Cor 15: 23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, [24] then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He [Christ] has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
From this I am assuming that it is this Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek that will fulfill this purpose of God to have a “Priesthood People”, which means [the Head and corporate body] who can and will rule over the earth and over all of God’s enemies until they are ALL subjected to Christ. This Priesthood People will be the Kingdom People which Christ Jesus will turn over to the Father. This assumes that “the Kingdom” is not of this world but is a Corporate People in whom and through whom Christ can reign until every enemy submits to the humblest member of His body, the feet.
All these eternal truths have their beginning in God before the world was! The Kingdom in Heaven has always existed, the Living Word of God has always existed, the Priesthood of the Holy Spirit has always existed, The Eternal God had no beginning nor does He have an ending.
What is new and part of the New Covenant is the revelation that now God has included “man” in His eternal plan. However, God cannot include fallen man in His eternal purpose. Until the “fallen man” has died and been buried to everything and every connection to first Adam he cannot qualify as a candidate. God must begin with a whole new species of man that has no connection to the first Adam. Until the natural man has been totally transformed into a new creation in Christ he will not fit into God’s Eternal Government. This Eternal Government will be administrated by a new order of man who have become a Kingdom of Priests after the Order of Melchizedek.
This Kingdom of Priests, which IS the the Body of Christ, and many of the mysteries about eternity have been hidden from past generations! Still, they all have their origin in God, the Father! Even though a complete revelation is not given they begin to be revealed in Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2.
For that reason we will review a few things from some other studies to solidify this point.
Since the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is an eternal priesthood that had no beginning and certainly has no end, it is clear that this Priesthood existed in Genesis one. It is also not much of a stretch to “imagine” that Adam was designed to function within the Kingly Priesthood when he was put in charge of the garden. Adam was designed to rule over the earth and the things upon it. He was also designed to stand before the Lord and to minister to the Lord doing His will.
My theory is that even though there was no covenant specifically in Genesis one, there is an “implied Covenant” between God and Adam. A careful reading of the spirit of the words should reveal this fact. Of course this is very subjective so each person must be personally convinced. If it is true that God BEGINS with COVENANT in Genesis one, it will help us understand more of His message to the Hebrews.
This should, also, help us to see the relationship between the Kingdom, the Priesthood, the Covenant, the Last Adam and His body [Eve], and God’s purpose to have a “MAN” rule over all the works of His hands. There is no doubt that God has this “MAN” now and that His name is Jesus. There is no doubt that His Man, Jesus, has been given ALL rule, authority, power and dominion on earth AND in heaven. This is so well defined in scripture that it has become an absolute.
The real mystery surrounds the “Corporate Christ” [the Last Adam and the Second Man] who is both Head and body.
1CO 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit [Melchizedek] we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body [of Christ] is not one member, but many.
“Christ” is BOTH Head and body! This is what we are referring to as “THE CORPORATE CHRIST.”
It seems clear that if we understand the “corporate Christ” we can also understand the “corporate Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.”
There may be some doubt about the “corporate Adam” in Genesis one but the truth of the corporate ADAM is very clear in the Book of Romans. If every person born on earth is “in Adam” it should be clear that “Adam” is a corporate person. If this is really an absolute, then the Corporate Last Adam should also be a valid truth! (Of course the natural mind of the natural man will have difficulty with this truth)
Since Eve was just Adam in another form, we can conclude that the true church is just Christ in another form. Since Eve was taken wholly from Adam it is clear that the true church is taken wholly from Christ. Then our genuine death to the first Adam is essential to be joined to the Last Adam. In other words it is not possible for the real church to have its origin in first Adam. The real church can ONLY have its birth and origin in the Last Adam.
Of course all this is very confusing to the natural mind of the natural man. The natural man with his natural mind will have difficulty separating the old outer man from the new inner man, who after Christ is created in the image of God. Since the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek functions in the Holy and the Most Holy Place it should be clear that this is the priesthood of the New Inner Man and not just another outward ministry designed by the natural man. The “corporate Christ” is not a group of natural outward people coming together on Sunday but is the “corporate Christ” made up of the Head and a Spiritual and corporate joining of multitudes of “New Inner Men” who are the image and likeness of God, who IS Spirit! These are candidates to become a Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.
Col 3: 10] and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.
Eph 4: 23] and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, [24] and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Neither “image” or “likeness” is outward in the natural man but inward in the “new man of the heart.”
Eph 2: 15] by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, [16] and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
My theory is that this “one new man” is the “Corporate Christ” Or if we use our imagination a little we could say “the Last Adam.”
That is the “Last Adam” singular and the “Second Man” singular.
Since full dominion was given to the first Adam at the first creation it is reasonable to assume and is absolutely essential that full dominion be given to the Last Adam at the new creation. Since dominion and rulership of the earth was given to man at creation, it was essential that the Living Word of God become a genuine man if He was to gain back dominion of the earth. To accomplish this Jesus Christ must become the Son of Man and become the sovereign Head over a new species of men upon the earth who would make up this new corporate man and function within the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek..
Since this “one new corporate man” is both Head and body, and the Head has received all authority over heaven and earth, it is reasonable to assume that the church, which IS His body, must begin to function by the new rules and laws for the earth. Some of these are revealed in the New Covenant! We, the redeemed, must personally take our place in the body of our High Priest and begin to minister to the Father as priests after the order of Melchizedek.
Mat 28: 18] And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
If the authority of the Head does not extend to His body it will be impossible to go into all the world because the world will not give us the permission to make disciples of their people. The world will be offended if we begin teaching and baptizing their people in the name of God whom they do not know or accept. Maybe we could compromise by baptizing them in the name of the god of this world so it wouldn’t be so offensive.
All this would be quite practical if we could just go out on our own initiative and speak whatever we like, to whomever we like, whenever we like! But now having taken our place in His body we find the rules have changed. Now we cannot do anything on our own initiative or speak anything on our own initiative. We can no longer do our own will but ONLY the will of the Head who is the ONE who has sent us.
But why is this now so absolute? Because BOTH the Head and the Body are manifesting the Kingdom Government Of God. Now eating His flesh and drinking His blood is not a matter of going someplace but of “being someplace.” That means receiving The Word and The Spirit from the eternal source. Metaphorically, as a branch grafted into the Vine.
Once the eternal principle of the “One New Man” becomes real to us, we will be able to clearly understand why God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. When one member rises up to take authority over another member, the principle of the One Head and one body has been perverted. The Nicolaitan spirit seeks to take the place of Christ as Head of the body and becomes the anti-Christ or against Christ. The Nicolaitan spirit seeks to act on its own initiative and control out of the natural and carnal nature with its natural mind. (The Nicolaitan = the natural man exercising natural authority out of the natural mind and ruling over others from the carnal nature)
The hierarchal system of church government among natural church leaders is famous for this controlling and ruling spirit and trying to exercise some personal authority out of an imaginary position in the body of Christ. Perhaps an imaginary prophet has created an imaginary “position” to appoint the Nicolaitan spirit to exercise an imaginary authority in the church but one that is totally independent of the Head.
The Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is identified first as the King of Peace and then the King of Righteousness. [ Jesus is called the Prince of Peace and the Sun of Righteousness) This Priesthood’s principle desire is to bless and not control. This Priesthood is not tied to any earthly thing (mother, father, genealogy) but functions as a Priest of the Most High God.
All Kingdom Authority has been given to Christ. Therefore, IF we have any authority it is because we have taken our place in His body and are functioning totally under the authority of Christ. This authority is given to carry out the Word of Christ and not some carnal authority over other members of His body.
Insisting that our bankrupt form of ministry and this “church system” of pulpit and pew is always the way we have done it in the past and is the only valid ministry today is ignorant. While this has worked as an Outer Court Ministry for nearly 500 years it is certainly growing old and is ready to disappear among those who are beginning to function in the New Covenant Priesthood ministry.
This ministry of the natural man never was valid for the building up of the Lampstand church and the function of the Priesthood Ministry after the Order of Melchizedek. Trying to assemble a people who qualify by grace through faith so they can “go to heaven when they die” is quite different than preparing a people who qualify to take their part in the Kingdom Government of God and function in the eternal Priesthood after the Order Of Melchizedek..
Mat 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Interpretation; Blessed are those who know they are bankrupt in the natural man because this is necessary for the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.
1Cor 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. [14] But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Here Paul is addressing the Church of born again believers who had experienced all the gifts of the Spirit. [ Came behind in no gift] Still they were functioning in the church like ordinary men. [ Not New Covenant people] This could be written to the church today. Nearly everywhere!
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
Until we move from the natural into the spiritual realms we will be just natural people doing the best we can, in human effort, to bring in the Purpose of God! This is NOT the New Covenant OR the New Priesthood!