#494 Consecration of the Priests – Part 12

            Consecration and The New Covenant Priesthood

            Reevaluating Our Definitions

July 26, 2011

I thought #11 would be the last study in this series on Consecration but there seems to be another dimension of Consecration that we have neglected. That is more of a mystical dimension that is difficult to define in words. This involves a personal confrontation by the Holy Spirit as He deals with our adjustment to the Eternal Dimension. This is because it takes place in the invisible dimensions of the new inner man. We might call this an addendum on Consecration because it may not be all new but just enlarges upon the personal experience of a Final / Eternal dimension of Consecration. One of the difficulties we have of clarifying this experience is in creating a universal definition to define even basic Consecration. The next problem is that our definition of Consecration is continually changing. In the early 1970's our definition of consecration revolved around the outer man and was related to the consecration of the Adam man to do the whole will of God! Now we understand that God has no plan for the Adam man to even be in the ministry except as a tent in which the real minister (Christ) lives. We have friends in the ministry that still hold to that concept of Human Consecration. While we cannot label that as “false doctrine” it is surely far below what we see and preach today. Today we recognize that the person that is still living in the Romans 7 realm of development is NOT qualified to even be “in the ministry.” The “Consecration of the flesh” to do the will of God is a big waste of time and unacceptable to God! Since those who are in the flesh can NEVER please God, this kind of consecration is fantasy.

Since Consecration is NOT an option for the New Covenant Priesthood Life and Ministry, which is a universal Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek, more details concerning Consecration may be helpful. Since it is this “ministry” that is the basis of an Eternal Kingdom of Priests, it would be difficult to over emphasize the importance of this understanding, personal preparation and function.

The “doctrine” of “the Priesthood of every believer” began in the 1500's with Martin Luther and was a tenet of the reformation. However, the “experience” of the “priesthood of every believer” has not yet been attained. At least this “universal Priesthood” has not yet manifested even though we know the doctrine. Does that mean the doctrine is wrong? No! Some think this “Experience of Priesthood” must wait until this earth passes away which could be another thousand years. Since Jesus has ALREADY became our High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek it seems reasonable to assume that His body (that is living and functioning) will participate in this same Eternal Priesthood. To postpone the Priesthood simply because the preparation is still a mystery today is not an acceptable excuse. Surely if the Bible calls for a Kingdom Priesthood it must be available to us as New Covenant Christians. It is really pitiful when we even have to make a distinction between the average Christian and a New Covenant Christian. EVERY Christian should be a New Covenant Christian but there is so much confusion what the New Covenant even means. In every group that I visit and ask that question of pastors I get ridiculous answers.

In the type of the Tabernacle of Moses we saw that there can be NO priesthood without (foundational) preparation and Consecration. Consecration being the last of the Outer Court experiences before we are confronted by “experiential Reality” in the Second Veil. None of these foundational experiences are optional because each foundational experience provides something that is essential or removes something from us that will hinder our Holy Place function! For example; Those who are “in the flesh” can NEVER please God. For that reason the “flesh dimension of ministry” must be removed before we can move forward into the Holy Place dimension of Life, Spirit and Priesthood Ministry and then into the purpose of God!

Therefore, we are assuming that EVERYONE who will be participating in the Pure Gold Lampstand Church in the Holy Place will also be called to participation in that Kingdom of Priests. It is in this location that we experience this universal Priesthood of the true believer.

Of course the actual preparation of the Lampstand Church to participate in the Eternal Kingdom of Priests is the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what we see taking place in Revelation 2 and 3. Of course this scene in Revelation is NOT final but if we overcome in that Lampstand dimension we can be elevated to the next dimension of the Most Holy Place! In other words, if we are EVER going to sit with Jesus on the Throne in the Most Holy Place we must first discover and complete our function in the Lampstand Church.

Our concern is that we haven’t seen any corporate group (universal Priesthood) get elevated beyond the Outer Court dimension. It may NOT be fair to blame all this failure on the ministries because each believer must accept their own personal responsibility to change, to grow, be disciplined, to be transformed until we are conformed to the image of Jesus. Then to be expected to fulfill the Purpose of God will not seem incredible! Still, God may hold the “ministries” responsible to make this message of the Kingdom clear and certainly NOT as ambiguous as is being preached today.

One of the bigger problems we have in every study is in trying to define what we mean by the different terms we use. We have discovered that the definition that we had in mind when we wrote the study was NOT the same definition that other people had when they read the study. For that reason there has been some confusion over the studies. Peoples definitions as well as their doctrines change as they develop in their inner man. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is limited by our lack of growth in the inner man from leading us into ALL truth. This is especially true in every Outer Court experience. For example; What we originally thought was repentance 40 years ago is not even close to our definition of personal repentance today. Personal repentance changes as God deals with us personally about our character, attitudes and ideals when they are much lower than God’s attitudes and ideals. In each Outer Court experience we first accept the universally acknowledged definition but then we discover this is not how God is dealing with me personally. This then adds a certain confusion to the study when we write from the viewpoint of our personal definition which is not universally accepted or understood.

Let us take a universal definition of “salvation” as defined by the Evangelical Church. This “salvation” is mostly defined by “the forgiveness of sins.” As the inner man develops we discover that the beginning “salvation” is quite different from our “ending Salvation” or what Peter calls the “final salvation.” “Growing in respect of our Salvation” means that we have a “growing definition” of what “salvation” encompasses as that reality becomes our personal understanding. Since “salvation” takes place in the new inner man, growing with respect to salvation takes place in the new inner man. Even a little growth will radically affect our doctrines, our definitions and our understanding of spiritual dimension.

2Thes 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

This definition is quite different from the universally accepted definition of “salvation” by forgiveness of sins. Here sanctification and truth has been added to the definition. But now the reason for this “salvation” by sanctification and truth is revealed.

2Thes 2:14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Kingdom or Bible salvation then means much more than forgiveness of sins but forgiveness of sins becomes one part of the whole package which we call “Kingdom or Bible Salvation” that includes every aspect of reconciliation and conversion. Are we saved by the blood as is commonly preached? Yes! However, Romans 8 says that we are justified by the blood but “saved” by His Life, Zoe. Is this a different “salvation? No! However, our definition of “salvation” has grown to include several other aspects of Christian development. Each growing experience produces a greater understanding and that produces a more inclusive definition of that experience.

For example; We begin with Gnosis (general knowledge) but if we develop the new inner man we contact another dimension called Epignosis or a precise knowing beyond gnosis. This is in the realm of wisdom. CHRIST ( the Living Word) has been made unto us wisdom from God. Wisdom, as our practical experience, opens up higher dimensions of understanding which seriously affect our definitions. I am speculating that the next dimension of Holy Place Life and Ministry will demand MANY adjustments to our doctrines and to how we evaluate what is “normal” Christianity.

The definition generally given for “grace” is “God’s unmerited favor.” As our new inner man grows and develops it becomes clear that “the grace of God” extends to every area of our life including our full consecration and our confrontation with the uncompromising reality of Christ at the Second Veil. Therefore, our definition must be continually changing to include God’s Eternal Purpose, the Kingdom Government of God, the Bride of Christ, Mount Zion and the growing in grace and our knowledge of the Lord and faith in the truth.

2Pet 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Here we see the Grace of God is a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our definition of Grace must be enlarged to include this purpose “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession!” If this aspect of “GRACE” is not being experienced we have fallen short of the grace of God. Grace is experiential!

In this same way our definition of Water Baptism and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit are

much different and far more inclusive than when we first began. Our knowledge and faith in these experiences today should be without the limitation of our first experience. (Getting wet) Any thought of these foundational experiences being optional should soon have disappeared. Why? Because now we see them as an integral part of an eternal whole dimension. In other words they are what makes the “Whole” complete and are fundamentally essential. Our first encounter with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was defined as “speaking in tongues.” Now our definition of the baptism in the Holy Spirit includes all the former foundational experiences and includes many of the future experiences that we “see today” as visionary. For example; It is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that leads us to a full consecration but also reveals the truth of Water Baptism, Salvation, Grace and Repentance. Even our understanding of justification, reconciliation and forgiveness of sins is enlarged by the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This fundamental experience also helps us to define “faith” in its various dimensions that are far beyond “belief” in some doctrine or Bible fact. It is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that encourages us to begin to function in the higher and eternal realm of the “faith of the Son of God.” If the Living and Abiding Word Of God is dwelling in our New Inner Man, Christ in you, then it is possible that we can live by His Faith which is much more effective than “our faith.”

In this same way our “Consecration Offering” enlarges our viewpoint on all the former experiences and becomes an integral part of our future experiences. This includes the Lampstand Church, the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek, the Eating of the Showbread, the Burning of Incense, our continuous participation in Christ (priesthood) and the reality of the Kingdom Government of God as an inner reality actively dealing with “every lawless deed.”

Even the TRUTH / REALITY incorporated in the Second Veil and its confrontational effect challenging us to press forward produces a “foundation” that enables us to surrender. This essential and personal transformation can be tied back to the provision inherent in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is all part of “And He will lead you into ALL Truth.” However, it is the Consecration Offering that opens the door to the revelation of the Second Veil and becomes an integral part of the former basic six foundational experiences and enlarges these events in our experience.

It is for that reason that our definitions are continually growing and changing. Even though our definitions are not identified and recorded in words they do affect our writing and our interpretation of scriptures. We generally interpret scriptures from our own definition rather than from a generally accepted interpretation which are, for the most part, very basic and primary. They are not wrong but they do not incorporate ALL the Bible Truth necessary for a clear understanding.

“The Universal Priesthood of Every Believer” doctrine is obviously true because the Bible declares this principle with several witnesses. However, to assume that every believer is functioning as a priest is fantasy. Why? “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant” is the first but not last condition.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Israel NEVER became this Kingdom of Priests but God’s will and purpose never changed and this offer has been extended to the New Covenant believers.

1Peter 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Rev 1:6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

God’s calling for EVERY New Covenant Believer to become a Kingdom of Priests still stands. (A universal and corporate Priesthood) Therefore, the problem is NOT in the calling but in the fulfilling. In Revelation 1:6 we see that God finally completed His Kingdom of Priests. One of the problems in the fulfilling this purpose of God is that these demands of the Kingdom are not being clearly preached. This “universal Priesthood calling for EVERY believer” becomes part of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Then why does it seem too radical today? Because “this Gospel of the Kingdom” has been sorely neglected by the established ministries. They seem to have accepted “a substitute gospel” that neglects these truths, confuses the demands and limits the “priesthood” to trained ministers.

Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

Why is this gospel of the Kingdom neglected by the average preacher? Because they believe the new believers will not understand it or be offended by the demands and we cannot build “A” church without appealing to new believers. Therefore, let us establish our new definition of the Kingdom and create a happy Kingdom with NO DEMANDS and no purpose except to go to heaven someday!

However, rather than reduce the Kingdom down to a cliche maybe we should reevaluate our definition of “believer” and extend it to include the Kingdom Government and its requirements. The common definition is “anyone who believes in Jesus as personal Savior.” Another definition is “Whomever has had their sins forgiven through faith.” These definitions have some basis in truth. But what if our definition is “Anyone who has taken up their position in the Church He Is Building?” Is that definition also valid? Certainly! But this definition conflicts with our accepted doctrines (opinions) and not everybody accepts this evaluation of a “believer.” Why? Because my definition of “believer” is just based upon my personal understanding based upon my definition.

However, both of these concepts of “believer” may be true at one end of the doctrinal spectrum or the other. However, each person takes his stand according to his own understanding. Why? Because the Kingdom WAY (the way, the truth, the Life) is NOT understood just through common knowledge or teaching, or doctrines but through Revelation. This “Kingdom revelation” begins within the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God and our EATING of the Showbread, the Living and Abiding Word of God!

Most will wonder if the Outer Court people have revelation also? My opinion is that since they are advancing through the seven “natural light” foundations their experiences revolve around doctrines, knowledge and obedience to the partial truth that they know. Even though some basic revelation may be involved and some may call that “revelation”, we believe that revelation involves the Holy Spirit in His unlimited (seven) functions and capacities which are related more fully to the Holy Place Dimension. Jesus said it is the Holy Spirit that leads into all truth and brings revelation. Still, the Holy Spirit will convict of sin, righteousness and judgement. Is that also by revelation? Yes! This is an Outer Court revelation but not the progressive Revelation of the Holy Place by the Seven Spirits of God.

When we evaluate a “believer” from the Kingdom viewpoint we must ask if the “believer” begins at the Bronze Altar OR does He begin in the Lampstand Church. We hear preachers say that when a person has their sins forgiven that they have entered the Kingdom of God. This portrays a fact that is simply not completely true. To think they are now living, experientially, under the Government of God is fantasy. While he may be a believer in Jesus as personal Savior (or some other contrived doctrine) does that qualify him to be part of the Church Jesus is building? My opinion is that he must experience ALL the Outer Court foundations and make the transition to the Holy Place Life and Ministry to be included in the Lampstand Church.

Rev 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 ‘Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. 5 ‘He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.

Jesus is writing to the Lampstand Church that obviously is full of “believers” but they are “believers” that do NOT meet His standards for the Lampstand Church He is building in that location. The meet certain qualifications or to live by certain standards to be accepted into “church” is a strange concept today. Still, in the Church He Is Building we cannot escape from the qualifications.

This is also true of all the Lampstand Churches except one. There is only one group out of seven that met His qualifications to be included in the Church He is building’ This is NOT a great fulfillment of His purpose. That would mean that 6/7 of God’s Purpose would not be fulfilled and that only 1/7 of the groups were acceptable.

Rev 3:17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.

Even in those early days there were churches that had a good testimony of their many blessing but because of their lack of revelation of the Kingdom they didn’t know their testimony was a big lie in the Kingdom dimension. In the Kingdom dimension they were in trouble because they just didn’t measure up to His standard. The fact remains that they were ignorant that they were “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked! Their ignorance did NOT excuse them.

What a shock it must have been when they finally learned the TRUTH about the reality of their actual qualification! Jesus’ evaluation of their condition was; “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.” Obviously their definition of “salvation” and “church” was quite different from His definition. We must be bold enough to never let these people, in this condition, think they are going to sit with Him on His Throne. This failure to preach the truth is scandalous.

Rev 3:21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

To preach that everyone who has forgiveness of sins will sit on the throne with Jesus is a big lie. Even those in the Lampstand Church at Laodicea could not qualify for the throne. They still must overcome at that level to be advanced to the Throne Room level! This ignorance among the “leaders” is incredible but it is clear that even in that day the “leaders” were “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” but didn’t know it. It is easy to recognize that something is wrong in the visible church today! His evaluation of the “church” might be this same way today. In fact this could be a vivid example for the church in every dispensation! Rev 3:22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Of course, if anyone was hearing what the Spirit was saying to the church today, this whole system of “having church” would be reevaluated. Do I know what changes need to be made to pattern the church after the one in Philadelphia? NO! But I believe the Holy Spirit will reveal what is essential if we repent and seek for the necessary change and are willing to pay the price of being pioneers of an authorized system that accurately reflects the Kingdom Government Of God.

The “church that men are building” has fallen far short of the Church He is Building but that is to be expected. Only He ( Jesus Christ) knows the standards and qualifications necessary to complete God’s Eternal Purpose and bring joy to the heart of God. He fully accepts that responsibility. What He expects of us is that we shepherd the believers through the 7 Outer Court Experiences and help them make the transition through the Second Veil and He will take them from there. Since we are NOT doing that (but everything except that) we are NOT getting the believers into the Church He is Building. Everything else we do with the believers is irrelevant. Revelation 1- 2 and 3 reveals how He Builds His Church!

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Rev 1:20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

This is NOT complicated if we just do it His Way {instead of creating our own system}