#543 – The Fifth Foundation for Priesthood
Installing the Priests Garments
Functioning Within The Garments; Christ!
The Living Garments
That You May NOT Die!
March 4, 2013
Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This “clothing” is obviously NOT speaking about “clothing” the outward man, the old man or the natural man because among natural persons there are all these distinctions. However, in the New Man, who after Christ is created in the image of God, there is and can be NO distinction because the New Man is a new SPECIES of Man that has NO outward or physical distinctions. Every New inner man has come from the same Father so there can be NO DISTINCTIONS. Is there still a distinction in the outer man. Yes! Paul makes THAT distinction between male and female and between their function in the natural realm. In ministry, Peter was called to the Jews and Paul was called to the Gentiles.
For you are all one in Christ Jesus surely means that we are ALL of the same species. The most notable distinction remains, which is monumental. That is the distinction between the old species, Adam, and the New Species, Christ. The New Species is the same species as Christ Jesus. Anyone who will be part or a member of His body MUST be of this New Species.
Only those who are of the New Species can be CLOTHED WITH CHRIST! That means that ONLY those who are Clothed With Christ can be Priests of God that are authorized to be clothed with the New Covenant Priesthood Garments. That indicates that only the “new men” can be Priests after the Order of Melchizedek. Therefore, this is NOT a priesthood of the outward man but ONLY of the New Inner Man. Standing before God and Ministering to the Lord then takes on a new dimension.
If all the Garments are properly in place, the ONLY distinction that remains is the maturity of the Priests and the realm in which they will function. The question is this; Are the priests still in training and preparation or are they now functioning as Members of the Body of Our Great High Priest?
My thesis has been that ALL the “Five Fold Ministries,” that He appoints for the perfection of the saints, will be members of the Body of the High Priest!
This, of course, has been a very controversial statement because of how the Pentecostal Movement, the Charismatic Movement, the Apostolic Movement and the Prophetic Movement interpreted and appointed the five fold ministries between 1970 and 2000! In fact, some of these “ministries” (which are called five fold but are not) are still being appointed today.
The “Prophets” have been recognized since the early 1900's. The “Pastors” have been appointed since Martin Luther in 1517. The ministry of the Evangelist / Apostle / Missionary has been recognized since the Missionary movement in the 1700's. The “ministry” of the Teacher began to be recognized as a functioning ministry during the Charismatic Movement. Before that it was called the Pastor / Teacher ministry. Few, if any, of these ministries recognized the Gospel of the Kingdom as the real Gospel nor did they recognize the “Body of the High Priest.” It was in 1970 that the “five fold ministries” began operating as one composite ministry within the Charismatic Movement in this country. Some of the big conferences, starting in 1970, were presenting this concept of multiple ministries!
Since the Reformation and before MANY “Naked Ministries” (without proper garments) have been appointed and have been functioning in pulpits all over the world. I was one of them! I was ministering “naked” and didn’t know it. It seems reasonable to assume that the pitiful condition of the visible church can be attributed to these “Naked Ministries.” We are defining “naked ministries” as those who are functioning without all the Priest’s Garments in place. For example all natural men in the church are naked and are without the priests garments. Why? The natural man is not qualified to wear the Priest’s Garments. Of course the natural man can wear natural clothes but the Priest’s Garments can only be properly worn following Baptism, when he is clothed with Christ! The priest, in preparation, removed the natural garments before he was washed in the laver. The Priest’s Garments follow Baptism. That is because ONLY the new man can ever wear the garments that are acceptable to God and Christ Jesus is the one who decides who is qualified to function under His Headship. Also, those who are functioning without all the seven foundations (preparations) have not yet been qualified for the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. However, it appears that some in the early church and also today had white garments but didn’t keep them white or lost them and had to “buy new ones.” Evidently, neither the gold nor the garments are free!
Rev 3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Jesus is addressing the casual Christians in the Church that He is building! These had a good testimony about their blessings but their testimony was a lie. Their actual condition was FAR from acceptable and if they didn’t get things corrected they would be vomited out of His body.
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.
Rev 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.”)
Nakedness in the natural realm is quite evident and no one should be surprised. However,
in the realm of the New Man this is NOT so obvious. These casual Christians that Jesus was rebuking were surely surprised that they lacked the proper garments and were “naked.” Why? They had on natural clothes! They didn’t even know they were attempting to function naked in a Lampstand Church. It appears that they ASSUMED they had on the “white garments” in the same way it is “assumed” today. It seems obvious that Jesus observes the church from a different dimension or realm that the casual believer is not failure.
The fact that these garments cost something is another great shock. In addition to that, they had several other problems, that they were unaware of, that prevented them from seeing the big picture. Their “eyes” were not able to see into that realm where their nakedness was obvious so they had no way of knowing they were naked and had all these other problems.
Then after they had proper Garments they were warned to “stay awake and keep their garments, lest they walk about naked.” After we get the Garments we must be careful to maintain the Garments. These in Revelation 3 were attempting to function in that Lampstand Church but were still not qualified to be Priests! When Jesus points out the problem He is VERY direct. “You are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. “
But weren’t these “just believers” of whom no demands were made? Doesn’t grace cover our nakedness, our wretchedness, our poverty and our shame? Aren’t the priest’s garments optional. Doesn’t the Blood hide our wretchedness? Aren’t we clothed with “GRACE?” The fact that old believers would be asking questions like these today, reveals a serious lack of reality or the lack of truth being delivered by the “ministries.”
It is possible that I make too many comments about the “grace” that is being preached. However, some of this stuff is so grievous that the error must be pointed out continually.
It seems to be continually necessary to mention that God has called every believer to find their place in that Kingdom of Priests which He predestined to fulfill His Eternal Purpose! It is NOT a Kingdom of Believers but IS a Kingdom of Priests. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how the Priesthood was prepared and how it functioned! Some, in full ignorance of simple truth, even complain that “the pastor” has replaced “the priest” so there is no priesthood today.
Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, 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.
Rev 5:10 “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
1Peter 2:5 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;
Psalm 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. 14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. 16 “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation; And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
To ignore the calling of EVERY believer into the Royal Priesthood is a very serious blunder when the scripture is so clear. To assume that ANY priest can minister naked or without the proper garments is really ignorant. Even logic and good sense condemns it! To assume that the Garments are put on at Calvary when we receive the forgiveness of sins is uninformed at best. Assuming that we can put on the Garments of the Priests before the washing (baptism) is certainly lacking in the knowledge of God’s requirements or of His ways.
Exodus 40:12 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 13 “And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me. 14 “And you shall bring his sons and put tunics on them; 15 and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”
Exodus 29:29 “And the holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them they may be anointed and ordained.
The Garments of the High Priest are also for His Sons in their order. The Holy Garments are NOT another “doctrinal” option for the true Christian. Both the anointing AND the ordination should only be done after we are fully clothed “In The Priest’s Garments.” Our Moses, the Holy Spirit, is supposed to weigh the preparation and make this decision. It is a terrible offence for man to take that responsibility upon himself, and yet this is ignorantly practiced regularly. I am also guilty of the same.
Exodus 28:40 “And for Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics; you shall also make sashes for them, and you shall make caps for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 “And you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests. 42 “And you shall make for them linen breeches to cover their bare flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs. 43 “And they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they enter the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the holy place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and to his descendants after him.
When we examine the requirements that God has placed upon the Priesthood it becomes clear why the Holy Place ministry is still in darkness today. Each piece of the Priest’s clothing was and IS essential including the linen breeches (underwear) or they could die. In so many places the Lampstand and its illumination has been removed from the church and this whole aspect of the Holy Place Life and the Priesthood Ministry no longer functions or even exists. We might expect to know, at very least, that the hierarchy of the groups were functioning in a valid priesthood capacity!
It is interesting that the Priests in the Old Covenant MUST have their head covered. In the New Covenant, Paul is bold to say that it is a shame for a man to have his head covered. Of course he is speaking of the outward man. Even the High Priest had his head covered. In the New Covenant we have a New Inner Man who cannot be the Head so he must have his head covered! Now, there in ONE New Head over the body and this is the only acceptable Head for ALL those in the Body of our High Priest. Every member MUST have his head covered, establishing the fact that “I am NOT no longer the Head.” Nevertheless, our High Priest, also, has His head covered because He is NOT the Ultimate Head. His Father is the Ultimate Head over everything. Since the body of our High Priest has ONLY one Head, Christ Jesus, anyone functioning as “another head” must be functioning outside the body and out from under the Ultimate Head. He is, therefore, eliminated from the priesthood that is related to the Kingdom of God.
In Exodus 28 there are so many details involving the Priests Garments that we can’t investigate them here. While each is important, at this point they would only confuse the reason for the garments. No one could “work” or do the ministry without all the specified garments. The priests “worked” within the garments lest they die!
These background scriptures can be expanded but let us begin to focus upon the New Covenant application of the Priestly Garments. The “laying aside of the old garments” signals the abandonment of everything associated with Adam and the old life. That includes those things that are associated with the old man, Adam, and his “manner of life.” We want to point out that the old garments speak about the old way of working! Also, being clothed with Adam can ONLY produce a “wasted life” and a “rejected work.” The laying aside of the old garments is laying aside EVERYTHING related to the old self, the natural life and its limitations and failures. Ministering in the old garments is ministering “naked” before God.
Eph 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
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.
Eph 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Rom 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Putting off the Old man and all his corrupted manner of life is NOT complete until we put on Christ and His Divine characteristics and a whole new Christian / Kingdom manner of Life. Putting on Christ or being clothed with Christ will define the new priestly garments.
Putting on Christ is NOT a doctrinal Statement we are asked to agree with!
Being found naked then is a very serious offense for any believer and one that can cause us to be rejected. Also, putting off the old garments but failing to put on the New Garments results in nakedness. Putting on the New Man is putting on Christ. This signals that unique Christian experience when we put on EVERYTHING that is 100% opposite to the characteristics of the old man. This transition from old garments to totally New Garments is a process that is called the “normal Christian Life.” Putting on CHRIST is putting on Life or we could say this Garment is a LIVING GARMENT.
We must STOP thinking of Garments in terms of cloth or linen. Since Christ is both in us and we are in Christ, the Garments which is Christ are made from the Living and Abiding Word of God. The Anointing of the Holy Spirit is both IN US AND ON US. This anointing is upon the Garments and not upon us personally. The Holy Anointing Oil was forbidden to be put upon the flesh.
Exodus 30:30 “And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. 31 “And you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 32 ‘It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it, in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 ‘Whoever shall mix any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a layman, shall be cut off from his people.’”
This why we are implying that the next restoration will be so much different from anything seen before! The “greater works” will manifest from the greater anointing.
Unfortunately, what is being witnessed in the visible church is NOT normal Christianity. Why? That is because believing a church doctrine about Jesus, which is “called” salvation, has replaced the understanding that we MUST be clothed with Christ or we are still naked.
Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Col 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 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 11 --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Everything we are cautioned to TAKE OFF has to do with Adam and the old life and those things that are temporary, corrupted and of the earth dimension! EVERYTHING we are commanded to PUT ON is of the New Covenant and of the New Life and within the reality of the Eternal Dimensions. We could shorten this to say “PUT ON THE LIVING GARMENTS.” It is my opinion that the living Garments, which are invisible in this dimension will be visible in the Eternal Dimension.
Now, if we adopted the popular reasoning in the visible church, I would just assume that everyone is preparing for the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. That everyone in the church is “saved.” That everyone had on the Priest’s garments and everyone is pressing into the Kingdom of God. Of course this is just fantasy!
When we look at the seven foundations as mandatory, we discover there are several preconceived ideas, accepted by the “leaders,” that cannot be reconciled to truth. This “truth” begins when we recognize the foundations to be essential, required, personal and experiential. Any preconceived idea that the garments are optional MUST be rejected.
One of the least recognized aspects of the Priest’s Garments is our function within the Body of the High Priest. That ignorance is probably because all we hear about is functioning within the body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up of those who are IN Christ. Believing in Christ Jesus is NOT the same as being “in Christ” or of having “Christ in us” or “being clothed with Christ.” The group in Corinth were “the body of Christ” but certainly could not yet qualify as the functioning “Body of our Great High Priest.”
There are 88 verses that refer to being in Christ.
1Cor 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
There is another very important aspect of experiencing Christ which is normal Christianity! That is CHRIST IN YOU, our hope of glory.
Col 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Heb 5:5 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”; 6 just as He says also in another passage, “THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Both these dimensions of Christ are essential if we are going to fulfill God’s Purpose and His “eternal” reason for saving us. However, both these dimensions of Christ must fit into and be compatible with HIM being our High Priest after another and MUCH HIGHER Order. That is after the Order of Melchizedek. It should be easy to see that Sonship is related to Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. ALL the LIVING Garments are essential to participate in that Eternal Priesthood.
Heb 5:9 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.
While it is assumed that we can get away with anything with the Savior, we must reexamine how we will respond to our Great High Priest who demands our obedience! Why? This is why we are constantly referring to the Body of the High Priest. As the Absolute and Sovereign Head of His Body, He demands obedience of all the members of His body! Why is this important? Because, He offers salvation to those who obey Him.
Heb 6:19 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.
Heb 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
Since God has predestined, within His Eternal Purpose, to have a Kingdom of Priests, it is only logical that this Priesthood must be after the Order of Melchizedek. Why? Because this IS the ONLY Eternal Priesthood! Christ Jesus has become our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is NO LONGER just our Savior but He is now our High Priest and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
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.
The throne of Christ is the destiny of those whom overcome as He overcame. He sits there now as our High Priest. To sit with Him requires that we also be Priests after the Order of Melchizedek. Why? There is no other priesthood available now! The priesthood after the order of Aaron finished with the New Covenant!
Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
Since the priesthood after the order of Aaron could NOT bring anyone to perfection, it was laid aside, along with the law which established it. Now, it is this Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek that is able to bring the church to perfection. Since the job description for the “five fold ministry is the perfecting in the saints,” it should be obvious that the five fold ministry MUST be functioning within the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.
Therefore, my thesis is this; We participate in this Priesthood as members of the Body of the High Priest! As “members” of this Body, He saves those who obey Him.
But why are you relating His body to the Garments of this Higher Priesthood? That is because Christ has become the Garments for the Body of our High Priest. The real question is this; Why is the “message” that is being preached just in reference to “the visible church” and referring to it a the body of Christ? Isn’t it time that we finally acknowledged Our Great High Priest that is mentioned so many times in the Book of Hebrews? Since God is just preparing ONE NEW MAN shouldn’t we acknowledge the Body of our High Priest as CENTRAL to this Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.
Then, is it correct to relate the Church He is building to the Body of the High Priest? Yes! That is correct but we must make some reference to the qualification of the believer. Why? Because the Lampstand Church still had members who could NOT participate in His Body. Why? Some were naked and had other problems that needed rectified.
Luke 12:35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. 36 “And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
To be dressed and in readiness and keep your lamps alight is another qualification for the coming of the Lord. It should be apparent that the five “unwise virgins” (Math 25) failed to keep their lamps and were unqualified to return with the Lord in the middle of the Great Tribulation. (The second watch). While this is NOT in reference to the Priest’s Garments it is a warning to have on at least some garments. Being “ready” in the second watch (instead of being “first fruits”) is hardly ever mentioned in the Sunday service so the people are unaware that He comes THREE times. One secret coming, like a thief, for the firsts fruits and later, in the middle of the Tribulation, in which “every eye shall see Him,” for a resurrection of the Main Harvest and then again at the end of the Tribulation for the resurrection of the gleanings! These three times represent the “first watch’ (9 PM), the second watch (12 Midnight) , and the third watch (3 AM until sunrise).
The “First- Fruits”- the “First Watch”- or the “high calling” is hardly ever mentioned in the regular church service. (The snatching away of the man-child or rapture- Revelation 12) Why do we refer to the Body of our High Priest? This is because the ONLY Garments for this Priesthood is associated with being CLOTHED with Christ. (Putting on Christ as a garment) “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is NOT complicated because our Priesthood is IN CHRIST! Since our function in the Priesthood is IN CHRIST we want to focus upon this “function” by looking at this “Maturity in Ministry.” Why? Because, when we refer to “ministry,” we are still referring to the “five fold ministry” in Ephesians 4:11 which He appoints for the perfection of the saints. My theory is that in the NEXT restoration we must recognize and seek for this “maturity in ministry?” Why?
It is apparent that people, ministries and religious organizations are working furiously to design and create “new programs” to meet the challenges of the “church” today. These are designed to develop the deep natural capacities of the believers in the economic, the personal, the cultural, the political and with social abilities to function in a corporate way. However, it constantly comes to my attention that most people with vision feel they are being marginalized by the religious systems, by ministries and by their leaders. People with true gifts and ministries and a “feeling” of a specific calling are being discouraged to participate. Why? They don’t fit into the “new program.”
Many of these “believers” are just feeling the need to “mature” but they are interpreting it as a need to function. The “preparation” that qualifies us to function has been nearly completely neglected because of the ignorance of the “ministries.” Since the current church systems are failing to produce “maturity” in any dimension, the believers feel neglected and many resent the lack of purpose or direction they feel for their lives.
Since there are many ways to view this maturity, we will focus upon just one viewpoint of the Priestly Garments. This will not follow the concepts of the recognized ministries!
“Maturity” in the next realm recognizes our own nakedness, our limitations and failures in the work assigned to us. New Covenant “Priesthood work” must be clothed in the proper garments or be rejected. These Garments are NOT great purple robes with gold chains and made with specific kinds of cloth. Without the real garments assigned to this Priesthood we are condemned as being unprepared, unqualified or even naked! Maturity recognizes our own roles in this failed attempt to build something eternal and to accept the consequences of our own immaturity. Immaturity will immediately blame someone else for their inability and limitations. However, each person must give an account for his own life! Since there is no real or qualified “five-fold ministry” that seems to be available for the perfecting the saints, God must raise up this ministry from among the new believers. Why? Most ministries today are satisfied with the status quo and just waiting for their pension.
Exo 28:2 “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 “And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
Since preparing these Priestly Garments requires special wisdom, I am guessing this work of total preparation is assigned to the Five Fold Ministry. Why? They are the ones God has chosen for the Perfecting of the Saints. The problem arises when we understand that the “five-fold” MUST have on all the Priest’s Garments and function in the Priesthood ministry BEFORE they are qualified to accomplish this work of preparing the Garments. Of course, it is our contention that this “current church system” is failing to meet the challenges of the “church in preparation” today! Therefore, God must stretch forth His hand to bring this level of Salvation to His people. The addition of proper Garments, along with the other foundations, must be part of the Next Restoration.
In past years, while we were being prepared but still standing naked and without proper garments, we did a research of past church history to see how the saints of other centuries functioned. All this was interesting but offered NO help in “building a church.” There are hundreds of worthless books we can read on this subject. What we discovered was that what seemed successful and appeared to work in other generations and other places hasn’t worked for me today. We suddenly discover that God is NOT past tense but that He functions today. Going back to anything, regardless of its success, is moving in the wrong direction. Christ is current and He leads daily as Sovereign Head of a body of Priests who do His will. Being led by the Holy Spirit does NOT involve history or what others say or by their past experiences! This experience is daily and it is personal.
Maturity recognizes this “mystery of failure” that plagues us daily and seeks God, only, for proper answers to this dilemma. We finally recognize the foolishness of the notion that God is waiting upon us to do something, even if it is wrong! Or that God is waiting for us to tell Him what to do. We finally rejected the notion that God gave us dominion over the earth and now we can advance our own programs and projects and God is anxious to see how cleaver we are and to congratulate us on our wonderful work.
Luke 17:7 “But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8 “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me until I have eaten and drunk; and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
It is within this context of work that we want to explain something about the “maturity” of repentance! In an earlier study, we made the supposition that repentance grows with the new inner man. We guessed that repentance added to each foundation and each foundation revealed more Truth that required a greater repentance! When we recognize that we attempted to minister without proper Garments demands another kind of Repentance.
But why do you associate repentance with maturity in the Priesthood?
When we get a glimpse of the Priestly Garments and the proper ministry associated with the New Covenant (which is NOT of the letter but of the Spirit) we realize that ONLY what is accomplished “in Christ” is eternal. Everything we did by our own zeal and cleverness was a waste of precious time. Not only did we waste our time but we wasted the time of all those who trusted us to lead them! The ministry that should be done within the body of our High Priest can ONLY be done under His Absolute Sovereignty. Because we failed miserably in our “ministry activity” we can only repent and turn from all this naked ministry that produced nothing eternal.
What is amazing is that there seems to be nearly a universal ignorance among the “ministries” we know about this Priesthood, about the New Man, which is Christian, about the ONLY acceptable Garments and the foundational requirements of the Kingdom of God.
We reject the idea that we will be judged someday by how much activity we were involved in or how industrious and cleaver we were. One day we realized that building a big assembly was not an authorized “work.” We wonder why it took so long to understand that it never was our privilege to do our own will or create our own work. Our ultimate privilege is to just do the will of our Sovereign Head. “Well done, good and faithful slave” is not related to work we created but to the work He predestined for us to do before the world was.
Today we feel embarrassed because we recognize that our past and present failures were based upon the fact that we assumed that our work should be original, new, cleaver, exciting and one that can be embraced by other ministers and acknowledged as relevant for our area. It should be something we could be proud of and a topic to discuss at the ministerial meeting of local pastors.
One day we recognized that ANY work that is unnecessary and irrelevant is a bad work regardless of how others see it. Currently we see the futility of creating a work that requires “a maximum effort just to achieve the minimum results.” God calls this “having on garments that cause us to sweat.”
Gen 3:19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Adam, the natural man, has been limited to working by the sweat of his body in a natural attempt to provide food for the family! Of course, the exact same Law is in effect today. The average trained minister is taught about ALL his duties and how the worker must be counted worthy of his pay. Even if he must neglect his family, he is called to work continuously for the church. He must be out winning souls that God is NOT drawing and assembling persons the Holy Spirit is NOT convicting. Any spare time he has must be used to get a good message for the next meeting!
Ezekiel 44:16 “They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge. 17 “And it shall be that when they enter at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and wool shall not be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house. 18 “Linen turbans shall be on their heads, and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.
Ezekiel 44:19 “And when they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers; then they shall put on other garments that they may not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.
As we examine these scriptures that have reference to the Garments of the Priests, it is clear that the Garments should be viewed from several different viewpoints. One viewpoint is related to the work the Priests were assigned to do and another viewpoint is that the Garments represent Holiness or Character and characteristics that reflect Christ. While Wool Garments may be acceptable to the natural man, and sweating is commendable when he works hard, these garments are rejected and condemned as offensive for the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.
Today we recognize that the natural man, functioning in the flesh, has sufficient talent and cleverness to start a work and maybe carry it on for years. However, the shock comes when we realize that EVERYTHING the natural man does is irrelevant because NOTHING he does is acceptable to God. Neither will ANYTHING that he does please God, even if EVERYONE else approves it. The main problem is working without proper garments.
Rom 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
This is certainly NOT complicated nor is it hidden in scriptures. This is no longer a mystery. The natural man is forbidden from participating in any “Christian ministry!” Why? He is incapable of functioning within the limitations of the New Covenant. In addition to that, everything that is spiritual appears to be foolishness to him and he can understand NOTHING from that realm.
1Cor 2:14 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.
If we removed all natural men from the church and from the pulpit, the visible churches could all fit into one building in each area. If we removed all “natural work” from the ministry today, the ministry would have little to do. They could, at last, enjoy a time for rest and relaxation. All those who have entered into His rest have ceased from their own labors. ( These “labors” are the ones that cause sweat). They must cease from their own labors BEFORE they can enter into His work. Working within the mixture of flesh and Spirit is unacceptable!
Heb 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.
It came as a shock when we learned that carrying on our own labors is directly related to working in disobedience! Not only is God not pleased with our own kind of work but He judges it as disobedience and He makes it clear that we are NOT doing these thing while hidden from His sight. Now, the Word of God comes to discipline us and judge the thoughts, intentions and the motives of WHY we did it. If it was ego driven it is judged. None of this makes any sense until we realize we are dealing with the Kingdom of God and His Absolute and Sovereign Government.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
This is a common misconception; Well, the God I know would never judge me for working by the sweat of my face. After all, He was the one that ordained it. I can show you the verse! He only requires that I do the best that I can do! If I just give someone a drink in His name I will receive a great reward. The Bible says that God loves me just like I am!
We should soon discover that what is true of first Adam is NOT true of the Last Adam and it is NOT true of those who are of His species who are called to the Eternal Priesthood.
John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
Speaking by the Living and the Abiding Word of God and ministering by the Power of the Holy Spirit and under His Anointing cannot be described as labor that sweats. We, like Paul, “may labor more than all of them”, and still not sweat, if we are ministering in the correct Garments. Repenting, for wasting our time doing our own work, is another dimension of repentance that is associated with some level of “priesthood” maturity!
It is amazing that this kind of “higher ministry” was designed for us within the New Covenant. This “ministry” is designed to enter into rest and be patient until He does His Work though us. That is IF we can stay out of the way and have enough sense to cease from our own labors in order to participate in His! This is one of the unique aspects of the “ministries” which are associated with Kingdom of God. They ONLY function within His Absolute Government!
Only a Divine Mind, using Divine Thoughts to establish a Divine and Eternal Purpose could design such a system as this. Only a Divine Person with a Pure Motive could lay out these Divine Conditions and Qualifications for a society that is called Christian or Kingdom. All this is Divinely Inspired and is of such a high order that it is beyond the scope of man to modify it, to question it or to substitute something different.
The are certain “questions” that the natural man is unqualified to ask! This is because he cannot understand how God could reject the Adam man from functioning in a Christian / Kingdom society. Upon closer examination it becomes clear that human nature is totally inadequate to participate in the Christian / Kingdom Life. Of course, this is profoundly true, but firmly rejected by the popular visible ministries. The error the church has made is to assume that God’s grace and mercy covers the natural man’s inability. God’s plan is to make man qualified and able to do His will. My theory is that this Plan involves these seven Foundations.
The Divine Plan is not to provide a “grace to accommodate the old man but a higher Grace to dismiss the old man from ANY activity in the Christian / Kingdom Life! The Divine Plan is to create a completely New Species of Man upon the earth that can fit perfectly into this High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. To reveal this Divine Plan, God set His only Begotten Son as the Prototype Son and through Him to expose the Christian / Kingdom Life. If we can see Him, we will be seeing the Father at work. If we see the Divine Father, we should recognize His Divine Plan to accomplish His Divine Purpose, by His Sovereign methods and by His Divine Right to insist upon us doing it His Way!
However, in order to see into this realm we MUST be born into this realm. It is these foundations that will enable us to enter into this Christian / Kingdom realm and to directly experience the Life and understanding that ONLY comes from that Divine Realm and in the Divine Person.
It is by “putting on the Garments, Christ, and experiencing the full foundations that we are lifted into that Divine realm.”
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Only THE Divine Mind could conceive of anything like this. Just for man to record such a mind numbing concept as this is a miracle of the Divine Plan. The natural man reading this would immediately judge this as “fantasy” and the bewilderment of a dreamer. But aren’t these thoughts from another realm? Yes! These thoughts are only designed for the New Man who is living by a higher Life that is also from that higher realm.
1Cor 2:6 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; 9 but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 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.
1Cor 2:12 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.
The problem with sharing with casual Christians from this higher dimension in the visible church is this;
1Cor 2:14 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.
What has become apparent is that the real conflict within the visible church is between these two elements that Paul so clearly pointed out. The nature of the Kingdom is not complicated but is confused by the natural man who is incapable of understanding anything from that realm. This exact same problem of confusion exists when many other scriptures are read.
1Cor 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
If we interpolate this to mean that “We have the mind of Jesus” it just make no sense. However, if we say “But we have the SAME mind of Christ that Jesus had, that would be correct. The “Mind of Christ” in inherent within the Living and Abiding Word of God!
Being clothed with Christ is being Clothed with the Living and Abiding Word of God. Why? It is because the Living and Abiding Word of God is the Spirit of Christ. We are born again by the Living and Abiding Word of God OR by the Spirit of Christ because they are synonymous. Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, is Eternal and was with the Father before the world was. All things came into being by Him, ( the Word of God) and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being
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.
Why is this important? It is because we want to define the Priestly Garments from an eternal viewpoint! The Garments are defined as being clothed with Christ. Jesus, our Great High Priest was clothed with Christ. In fact He is now called the “Word of God.” This is NOT easy for the natural man to understand because these words originated in a higher realm where Christ is in full reality.
If the reason for all foundations to become experiential is clear it should magnify the fact that to be “Clothed with Christ” is the normal Christian Life! If we have on all the Priest’s Garments it changes EVERYTHING about our FUNCTION within the Christian / Kingdom life. Then, when we add the other foundations the realms of understanding that were closed to us suddenly open. Comprehending eternal things become normal. The picture that God has given us, which is the copy of eternal things, include the placing the Garments of the High Priest upon the sons of the High Priest.
In this study we are trying to be VERY bold and assign these priests garments to every believer that will experience the first four foundations. We are boldly emphasizing that the functioning within the Priests Garments are just the normal Christian / Kingdom Life. In other words; being “In Christ” should translate to being in the Priestly Garments and submitting to all the restrictions and the qualifications for the Priesthood. Why? Because, He is building His Church that will be functioning as a “Kingdom of Priests.”
Paul also becomes a functioning prototype within this Priesthood.
Rom 15:15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Peter is also very bold in assigning the priesthood to every believer.
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.
This “chosen race,” that participates in the Royal or Kingly Priesthood, is of the new species which is Christian. This Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is defined as a Kingly Priesthood. Why? Melchizedek was BOTH a King and a Priest of the Most High God. The Priesthood after this Order must also function as King / Priests. It is the Priests that must have on the specific Garments assigned to the Priesthood. The Garments of the King are not specified. However, the king must be able to govern his own life before he is qualified to govern in the world yet to come! This New Covenant Priesthood is NOT after the Law of physical requirement but according to the Power of an indestructible Life.
Heb 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
Heb 7:17 For it is witnessed of Him, “THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
The priesthood after the order of Aaron could bring no one to perfection, but thank God, this Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is fully equipped to bring the Church to Perfection.
If we are functioning now as a “royal Priesthood” then we should be equipped to bring the church to perfection.
Then it might be proper to ask why the church is in such a miserable condition? Could it be simply because the “ministries” have ignored their calling to become Priests after the Order of Melchizedek. The preparation for this Eternal Priesthood to function in this high calling is in the completion of these seven foundations that MUST be laid, experientially, BEFORE we can go on to Perfection.
It seems obvious that this current “ministry system” is based more upon the ministry of Aaron and his sons than upon the ministry of Christ and His sons. Aaron was NOT a regenerated man or a person of the new species. He ministered according to the pattern revealed to Moses. He did minister as a priest unto God but only in the natural and earth realm.
Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
This OTHER Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of a totally different kind of Priesthood ministry. It is no longer a mystery how the church is supposed to come to perfection/ maturity / or to be complete and NORMAL.
It is also clear why this humanly appointed “five fold ministry” is a sham of great proportions and has demonstrated a deception that is monumental. We wonder how any of this can be blessed by God or why He puts up with it. I also did the same things.
2Cor 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
Jude 1:12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
To understand that these “ministries” are received into the church by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ seems incredible. Why wouldn’t they be immediately recognized and rejected.
2Pe 2:17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. 18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
To say that these men were never saved is to close our eyes to the facts. These appear to be “ministers” who are promising them freedom and speaking out arrogant words of vanity. However, these are “false ministers” who had already surfaced in the early church. For that reason we should not be surprised that the same condition exists today. These would probably be confronted by Jesus as those who are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, but who could still stand in the pulpit and preach.
Eze 44:10 “But the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. 11 “Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house and ministering in the house; they shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. 12 “Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have sworn against them,” declares the Lord GOD, “that they shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. 13 “And they shall not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. 14 “Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the house, of all its service, and of all that shall be done in it.
It is amazing what God will put up with in these Outer Court ministries and that He will permit totally unqualified and rebellious “priests” to continue to “minister” in these natural realms. However, God will not permit them to come near to Him or minister to Him. They are already under judgement but are still doing their thing and “ministering” to the people.
Ezekiel 44:15 “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,” declares the Lord GOD. 16 “They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.
Ezekiel 44:17 “And it shall be that when they enter at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and wool shall not be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house. 18 “Linen turbans shall be on their heads, and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.
When we examine how God regards these that He permits to come near to Him, we understand why the Priests Garments are so important. There seems to be specific Garments, made of linen, that are requisite to minister in this dimension. Anything that requires human effort is rejected from that “sanctuary” (Holy Place) dimension. Only that which is accomplished “in Christ” is acceptable. Only the fully clothed Priesthood Ministry can function in that realm.
The message here seems to be clear; “Either conform to the standards that HE DETERMINES and are Absolute or be rejected.”
God’s grace permits these “ministries,” which are under judgement, to continue to “minister” to those who have already gone astray. We might speculate that to mean “all the casual and lukewarm Christians who are satisfied with the religious rituals and irrelevant messages in the visible assemblies.” The false assurance that everything is acceptable and good among these fallen ministries is that they understand that God’s Grace is upon them. This is terrifying in its ignorance. In this case God’s grace is NOT the indication of God’s approval but is just the “grace” to withhold His hand of judgement until another time.
Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel I have sworn against them,” declares the Lord GOD, “that they shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.
It seems clear that how God views these things, and especially the “ministries,” is quite different from the popular viewpoint and the way ministries view themselves. For example; Grace that covers iniquity might be a big stretch. If you commit adultery just be sure to ask God for forgiveness and everything will be OK. God’s grace covers that! Even though this ignorance is widely accepted, this is a very slippery slope and can lead to a total rejection.
Rev 21:8 “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.”
Misinterpreting God’s Grace, when it comes to ministering in the Priests Garments, could be disastrous in the time of judgement. Be careful about the Garments “Lest you die” sounds some sort of warning. Could it be that Life and death are in the Garments? Yes!
However, the Garments is just one very important foundation but the other six foundations are also essential and each contributes to our preparation. This Total Preparation is mandatory if we are going to go on to perfection. Why is this important? It is because our transition to the Holy Place and the Lampstand Church is the way we participate in the Church He is building. Within the Church He is Building there is a Priesthood Ministry after the Order of Melchizedek. This is the basis of the “five-fold ministry” that is designed to bring the Outer Court saints to the perfection necessary to participate in the Pure Gold Lampstand Church which He is building.
This is certainly NOT COMPLICATED and should be clear to anyone who has been born into the Christian / Kingdom realms.
Numbers 20:23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. 25 “Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be gathered to his people, and will die there.” 27 So Moses did just as the LORD had commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And after Moses had stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on the mountain top.
Both Miriam and Aaron rose up against Moses at the same time and Miriam broke out with leprosy for seven days but Aaron was unaffected. What was the difference between these two? Aaron had on the garments so he was protected. Miriam didn’t have on the Priest’s Garments. However, when Moses removed Aaron’s Garments, Aaron immediately died.
His judgement was not swift but it was certain to come. Rebelling against the Plan and Purpose of God is VERY DANGEROUS and to minister without proper garments will eventually bring death. THAT YOU MAY NOT DIE is not a shallow warning!