#489 – The Consecration of The Priests and The Priesthood Ministry – Part 7

The New Covenant Ministry– The Inward Ministry Expressed Outwardly

It seems important that we digress from the actual details of the sacrifices included in the Consecration Offerings in order to include more of the actual reasons for the individual consecrations of the believer. Even though it may not be possible to make precise individual applications because of the diversity of God’s preparations, it may be helpful to indicate some of the general benefits to the priesthood ministries. These “benefits” are not just “blessings” but are part of the individual equipping of the believer to enable him to function in a New Covenant ministry dimension. This New Covenant preparation of the believer will equip us to “participate in Christ” which is the hallmark of the Priesthood Ministry! “Participating in Christ” is a huge subject beyond the scope of this study but the Consecration Offering is the doorway to this essential experience!

This “hallmark” {participating in Christ} is invisibly stamped upon the Holy Place ministry and certifies its authenticity and purity. It indicates a distinctive feature that is revealed as a special excellence in ministering the Showbread. This Holy Place ministry will have been tested and approved by the Holy Spirit to participate “in Christ.” Obviously this statement needs a lot of clarification. Therefore, we will use these next paragraphs to review some thoughts of the last few years.

Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, had no beginning and can have no ending. “Christ” is that portion of the trinity that is referred to as “the Word.” The almighty God is referred to as Father, Word and Holy Spirit. He is ONE GOD! It is NOT “They are One God.”

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

All these verses are pointed directly at HIM, the “Word of God.” It was that portion of the Eternal God that became flesh in Jesus Christ. The Eternal “Word” arrived “in the realm of time” at the Conception / Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago. It has been about 2000 years since the Eternal Word was Conceived in Mary and birthed in Jesus who was born of God. The Divine Sperma that conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary is called the “Living and Abiding Word of God.” The “Man, Christ Jesus”, was conceived by and born “in Christ”, the Living and Abiding Word of God. As the baby Jesus grew He grew up “in Christ” into the “fulness of the Word of God.” The Seed of God grew to full maturity in the Man, Christ Jesus, and His Name is now called “The Word of God.” One of us {humans, after the order of Adam} has become the fulness of the Word of God. However, He is of an entirely different species of man upon earth because He was born of God. This new species is perfectly designed by God to fulfill His Eternal Purpose and to rule over the world yet to come. This new species is the substance {Gold} of the Lampstand Church which He is building!

1Cor 15:21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

Since by Adam, sin and death came into the earth system, by another MAN, Christ Jesus, must come forgiveness of sin and the resurrection of the dead. After His death at Calvary and the resurrection there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE between Jesus and Christ, the Living Word of God. They are one and the same. How did the “Word” become Jesus? He, the WORD, the Living and Abiding Word, was conceived in the womb of Mary when the Holy Spirit deposited the Eternal and Living Sperma of God. A conception took place and the Baby Jesus was born. Why? To handle the sin and death problem. Of course He must first grow into a perfect sacrifice and willingly go to Calvary to die for the sins and sin of mankind. Sins are forgiven by the blood and sin is removed by death and burial. Then He must be resurrected from the dead to become the Savior, the baptizer in the Holy Spirit and a King / Priest/ Ruler / over the world yet to come in order to fulfill God’s original purpose! Psalm 8:2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, Because of Thine adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. This Resurrected Christ Jesus must now be able to impart the Living and Abiding Word of God, the Spirit of CHRIST, into all willing believers so each one can be “born of God.”

1Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed {Greek= Sperma}which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

Everyone who is truly “born again” by the Living and Abiding Word of God is of the same species as Christ Jesus. Then why do we see all this diversity of religion and division of doctrines from one group to another? The problem is a matter of growth of the inner man and the and purpose of God. If the Baby Jesus never grew, there would be NO Christianity today! The Church that He is building could never have developed. No corporate Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek could exist and there could be NO Kingdom of Priests. No Consecration Offering would be required and all these studies would be irrelevant. Jesus Christ growing to the full maturity of the Sperma that was planted is the key to all that has taken place since His Baptism and Gethsemane. Let us not forget that Jesus dealt with “Thine adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

John 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Now, since Jesus is the prototype Son, the plan of God becomes very clear and can be defined for us who are believers today. Believers today can be divided into two groups. (1) Those who are growing to full maturity and (2) Those who are born again but have remained static in their growth. They are still babes and unable to receive spiritual food and have developed no capacity to receive revelation from God. They are “children of God” but are still worthless to become Priests of God after the order of Melchizedek or to fulfill the purpose of God.

Why is this travesty so apparent and universal? Simply because there is so little spiritual ministry available. Where will we find this New Covenant ministry today? ONLY in the Church He is Building. What is this Church called? The Lampstand Church! Where is this Church functioning? In the Holy Place realm! What advanced ministry is functioning in the Holy Place realm? The Priesthood Ministry after the Order of Melchizedek! What is the difference between this Eternal Ministry and the popular ministries today. The Advanced Ministry originates within the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God and functions by revelation and not just by the knowledge (gnosis) of the scriptures. How did this “ministry” make the transition from the natural light of the Outer Court? Through the full Consecration Offering! What is the difference between The Holy Place Ministry and the popular ministries today?

That is the Theme Of This Document!

Luke 2:40 And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1Co 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

1Co 2:4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

1Co 2:13 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.

Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It not necessary to include the 49 verses dealing with the difference between the wisdom of men and the Wisdom of God. It is essential that we know for certain “Christ”, the Living and Abiding Word of God, has been made unto us the Wisdom of God. We must also be fully aware that “the manifold wisdom of God” must now be made known through the church” so that we see the experiential nature of the Wisdom of God. Why? Because this is what God purposed for us in Christ.

Ministering the Manifold Wisdom of God that has been hidden from the natural man for ages is obviously NOT the ministry of the Outer Court. This is one difference between the popular ministries and the Priesthood Ministries. It is these Holy Place Priesthood Ministries that are appointed by the Builder of His Church to function as the five fold ministries. These are the ministries that will be manifesting and sharing the Manifold Wisdom of God. Why? Because they function within the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God. It is these exclusive ministries that have been assigned to bring the church to perfection. If the church is NOT coming to perfection it is simply because these ministries are missing from the assemblies. Why are they missing? Because of the lack of True Consecration that results in the Holy Place Ministry.

But hasn’t Christ been made unto us the Wisdom from God in the Outer Court dimension? Yes! But the source and manifestation of that Wisdom originates in the Showbread, the Living and Abiding Word of God, that must be eaten by the Priests. It is a big mistake to assign this exclusive ministry of Revelation and Manifold Wisdom to the Outer Court People even if they have a title of “ apostle or prophet or pastor.”

2Tim 3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge (epi-gnosis) of the truth.

This verse defines the difference between the professional ministries and the ones that Christ Jesus appoints from out of the Holy Place dimension! These ministries are the ones that are an integral part of the Lampstand Church that He is building. They are functioning directly under the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God and under the discipline of the One who walks among the Lampstands and “knows.”

How do I know about this difference? Because I have recently discovered that this is my testimony of “always learning.” From the time that I was “saved” and baptized in the Holy Spirit I started “learning.” I was traveling from job to job in electrical construction and maintenance. In 1970 my wife bought me the whole Bible on tape. Every day I put the tape player on the seat of my truck and listened to scripture for hours each day. I learned the scriptures and accumulated much Bible knowledge. From that “knowledge” I developed a “ministry” and for several years I shared in four and five day conferences in various countries dispensing my “knowledge” of scriptures.

I only recently learned that this is an illegal way to share “knowledge” in the “Kingdom” dimension of ministry. I have recently recognized many other “ministers” are doing the same thing. But can that be wrong? This is not a matter of right and wrong but a matter of God’s eternal design for Holy Place ministry. Then what is God’s Design for ministry? This New Covenant ministry is NOT from the tree of knowledge but ONLY from the Tree Of Life.

Whatever “knowledge” man can accumulate through the discipline of study and human effort will be quite different from the epi-gnosis that can only be gained by the inward dealings of God and though the revelation given by the Seven Spirits of God. Ministering revelation as Spirit and Life is certainly different from ministering Bible knowledge. It may be difficult in the New Covenant times to assign to the tree of knowledge the error of learning and ministering Bible facts and information. It was amazing to discover that the same deception of the devil was present in our “ministry” for so many years. It was not that I didn’t know something was wrong but I could never pinpoint the problem. I recognized that something was phony about what I was doing but I was looking for some error in my doctrine rather than in the source of my message. However, NO Spirit and Life message can ever come from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why? Because the basic characteristic of the Tree of Knowledge is knowledge received by human ingenuity but by being independent from God. This knowledge is from human understanding and knowledge gained by man’s own cleverness. Of course we don’t see the “evil” source of the power of suggestion that is behind our search for independent knowledge. Since this problem is so common in the church today, we cannot attribute this to coincidence. We suspect the same deceiver is still behind this deviation from the ONLY source of wisdom that is from God; the Tree of Life!

Gen 3:5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

If we remove the references to male and female and include the “ministry” being tempted to revert to their own resources, we will understand the problem. This “problem” is universal and wide spread in the visible church. Knowledge is accepted as good for food, pleasant to the eyes and the means to fulfill our desire for wisdom. I am suggesting that the true wisdom for which we search can only be imparted by God but this is NOT automatic just because we are “in the ministry.” God is sovereign over the distribution of His Wisdom and He alone is responsible for giving the revelation of His Truth, His ways and His purpose! Men will never discover this kind of Wisdom in the natural light of the Outer Court.

Paul was very concerned about the wisdom of man and the wisdom that is from below invading the church. He recognized that the wisdom of man can never achieve the Wisdom of God. Even though this is one of the absolutes of God, men are still seeking the wisdom of their own making. I am not excusing myself from this dilemma but I confess I was ignorant of the futility of this method of “ministering.” The great problem now is how to make the transition to a proper New Covenant Ministry that is acceptable to God. It is for this reason we are devoting so many words to the Consecration Offering.

My theory is that it is the Consecration Offering that removes the human wisdom and carnal reasoning from the New Covenant ministry. If this is clear then let us pursue this solution to this distraction and negligence of God’s revealed ways. I will suggest another absolute in Christ that is associated with the ministries that He appoints. There is NO OTHER WAY to participate in the real New Covenant Priesthood Ministry except by the Full Consecration Offering!

However, the next reality presented is the Second Veil that was never torn and stands today as a barrier to all casual entrance. All visitors, sightseers and casual believers are prevented from entering though this Veil. Why? Because this realm is assigned exclusively to the Priesthood Ministry that is after the Order of Melchizedek. This statement is offensive to the Outer Court “ministries” because they are very bold in preaching that all casual believers are part of the Church He is Building. A simple reading of Revelation 2 and 3 will destroy that false concept that the lukewarm are accepted because of what they believe.

The three Veils (barriers) correspond to what Jesus said about Himself. John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. “The word translated as TRUTH can be translated as THE REALITY” and that is much clearer description of this Veil. This Veil is a barrier to all phony, proud and pretentious persons who are still unconverted as far as the Holy Place reality. This Veil, in its Holy Place Reality, is designed to be such a small opening and narrow way that ALL carnal, human, phony, casual attitudes will be scraped off of anyone attempting to enter through this Veil / Barrier. Personal opinions, carnal programs, human concepts and popular advise is forbidden in this New Covenant Ministry.

How do I know that? Because the Prototype Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, said He only did what He saw the Father doing. He did NOTHING from His own initiative so that no ministry originated with Him but He ONLY did the will of the One that sent Him. The man, Christ Jesus, became a High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek and functioned in the Holy place dimension.

John 8:28 Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 16:13 “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.

One of the characteristics of the Holy place ministry is that NO ONE does ANYTHING on his own initiative.

Dictionary— initiative >noun 1 the ability to act independently and with a fresh approach. 2 a new development or fresh approach to a problem.

This means to NOT act on one’s own initiative without being prompted by a Divine directive. Searching out “programs and new methods” from other men is forbidden in the Holy Place realm. Why? God is absolutely Sovereign in that dimension and independent action is an abomination in the Kingdom of the Son.

I am speculating that our total commitment to total change is made at the Consecration Offering but the human junk must be scraped off, washed, cleansed and removed as God brings us into that Kingdom Reality at the trauma of passing though that Second Veil of Absolute Reality / Truth. Nothing that we received by the tree of knowledge and human searching of scriptures will be of any benefit to us. Why? This Holy place ministry is reserved exclusively for the ministry of Spirit, Life and Truth under the Sovereign direction of the Seven Spirits of God. Our opinion or fresh ideas are not needed and acting on your own initiative can get us removed very quickly. King Uzziah and Nadab and Abihu are shining examples of those who felt the Wrath and Discipline of God in the Holy Place dimension. They did not survive their fresh ideas and human opinions. The Big ego along with human titles and positions of leadership are not welcomed in that ministry dimension of the Kingdom Government of God. The Seven Spirits of God represent the fullness of the Absolute Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit over everything that takes place in the Holy Place Ministry.

Mat 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 “And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.

Since it is clear that Melchizedek is the physical appearance of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and that He holds His Priesthood Forever, He holds a VERY special place in the Holy Place Life and Ministry. The Trinity is actively involved in this function. How do we know that? Because, even though the Holy Spirit holds that absolute position in the New Covenant Function He still does NOTHING from His own initiative. Whatever He hears, He will speak.

Therefore, to make the transition to this New Covenant Ministry Realm will require a total transformation into a totally rectified person that will only do what he sees and he will only speak what he hears. It is obvious that VERY few can qualify for that ministry and that in our present condition it is doubtful we could even survive in that Sovereign atmosphere. However, since we may lose heart and decide that this transition is impossible for us, we can be encouraged that Jesus is walking among the Seven Golden Lampstand Churches in the Holy Place Realm and speaking to MANY who advanced to that realm. He reveals it is entirely possible for each of us to attain to that realm even though there are still severe problems pointed out in these Lampstand Churches. What is revealed is that what may be acceptable in the Outer Court dimension of preparation will not be accepted in the Holy Place Realm. Correction, discipline, threatening and judgement is still present in that advanced dimension of “Church.” If any hypocrites slipped through the Veil of Reality they will be dealt with in the Lampstand Church and given an opportunity to repent and change or they will be cast out. Why? They CANNOT inherit the Kingdom.

Rev 3:16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. { Vomit you out of My Body}

It is from this verse that we place the “body of Christ” in the Most Holy Place, in the Lampstand Church, rather than in the Outer Court dimension of preparation.

1Cor 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Even though the Super Grace churches say these people will certainly inherit the Kingdom of God, they are wrong. The Outer Court preparation must solve all these and many other problems before we can safely make the transition to the Holy Place Life and Ministry. It appears that certain defects may be manifested in the Lampstand Church but Jesus will certainly root them out. Why? Only those who repent and change can be accepted into the Holy Place Life and Ministry! Only the Overcomers in the Lampstand Church can inherit all things.

Rev 21:7 “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

This seems straight forward and clear so there should be no excuse for ignoring these eternal requirements by creating a super grace doctrine. Who would dare do that? The Natural man in the pulpit. He may have tremendous religious knowledge and be fully versed in theology and he may have earned many degrees but he can still just be eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He can create doctrines that are good but he can also create doctrines that are evil and because he is just a natural man he will not even know the difference!

It is interesting that Jesus quoted the Old Testament but never did a Bible Study. He chose disciples that were ignorant and unlearned. Why? Ministry is not intellectual but must be birthed in the inner man as “CHRIST”, the Living and Abiding Word of God. This is the ministry of the Holy Place and the location of the Lampstand Church. Without the inner illumination of the Seven Spirits of God we would just have to rely on the natural instincts of the natural man to do the ministry. Of course this is what we see TOO MUCH of today. Even though this is the popular method used today it is still unacceptable to God. I believe the Holy Spirit has declared war on this ministry of the flesh and has condemned this abomination. I also believe that the Holy Spirit is pointing out the error of attempting to preach Bible knowledge that was attained by human discipline, training and effort by some independent action of the natural man.

1John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

This is the New Covenant way of receiving spiritual insight and the epi-gnosis that can only come from God. This method is the real source of TRUTH.