Melchizedek, The Priest of the Most High God.
The High Priest Who is Within The God–Head.
No Beginning of Days So He was Never Born.
No End of Life and He has No Genealogy.
This Priesthood Always Was and IS Forever.
The Kingdom Is Linked Eternally to This Priesthood.
July 28, 2014
It is amazing to me that I have spent over 40 years studying and sharing on the Tabernacle of Moses but not really understood how intrinsically linked it is to the priesthood. In fact without the priesthood the Tabernacle would be irrelevant. Of course the priesthood would also be irrelevant without the Tabernacle. They were designed to function as ONE divine order. Both the Tabernacle of Moses AND the Priesthood after the order of Aaron were given together and were part of the one vision given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The former priesthood was inherently joined to the Tabernacle as ONE divine order with A UNITY of function. The two– the Priesthood and the Tabernacle– presents to us ONE divine pattern of spiritual and eternal things. For that reason it is foolish to study them as two separate things. Nevertheless, this ONE divine order is just a copy and shadow of the heavenly divine order to which we are assigned. The Tabernacle would have been irrelevant without the Priesthood and the priesthood would have no function without the Tabernacle.
This Divine Order must soon begin to function as an Absolute Government! NOT in some religious setting but deep with the Christian Community. Without the Government of this Divine Order the whole system collapses. This is obviously what has happened in the visible church system. The Law, the Tabernacle, the Sacrifices and the Priesthood were all given at the same time and created ONE Divine Oder. All this was a copy and shadow of Spiritual and Eternal things, the reality which is intrinsically linked to the Christian Life and the Kingdom of God.
This study will focus upon both the Tabernacle AND the priesthood were types of Eternal things given to Moses as one vision at the same time, when Moses was on the Mountain of Sinai. Even our study of the end time must include both the Tabernacle AND the priesthood which are shadows of spiritual and eternal things. The Tabernacle of Moses was a copy of the real Tabernacle that is in heaven. The real Tabernacle is called the Tabernacle of God.
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.
The Priesthood after the order of Aaron was a copy of the Priesthood after the Order of
Melchizedek. The Tabernacle of Moses was a copy and shadow of the Tabernacle of God. Even though this may seem strange that I repeat these things over and over, it is through these types, pictures, and shadows that we recognize the experiential nature and receive understanding of the spiritual and eternal mysteries and hidden Truth.
Heb 8:4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."
In other words we are stating that the Eternal Tabernacle of God MUST have an Eternal Priesthood that functions as ONE divine order. This Eternal Priesthood MUST be after the Order of Melchizedek. The Man, Christ Jesus, is the High Priest of this Divine Order to which we are assigned. Our High Priest will administrate the Tabernacle of God and the Kingdom of God will produce the Government of the world yet to come. This Eternal Government will be administrated by a Kingdom of Priests who are Priests of the Most High God.
My concern about this understanding of the Ultimate and Eternal Priesthood is that it could just become another doctrine like so many of the restorations since 1517. For example; Our doctrine of salvation may be scriptural and accurate but only a growing experience of salvation can be undisputed, genuine and authentic! Only a genuine Salvation can produce anything eternal. This popular "religious salvation" will prove to be a great disappointment. Why? That is because the "doctrinal salvation" just becomes a religious theory when it ignores the actual experience. The same is true with each of the foundational experiences. Why is this such a big problem? That is because too many groups only focus upon the accuracy of their doctrines rather than the actual experience.
It is for that reason my real concern for this document is that it could lead to producing many "messages" about priesthood without producing a functioning priesthood. This Royal Priesthood must be of one Divine Order with the Government of God.
In studying the Kingdom of God as a functioning government it is certainly apparent that
the Kingdom is inherently linked to the Eternal Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek as ONE divine order. Now it is obvious that the Eternal Purpose of God is to provide an Eternal Priesthood for the operation of the Kingdom Government of God. It is also obvious that the Kingdom of God is inherently linked to the Tabernacle of God as ONE divine order. We have stated many times that the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Priests as opposed to a kingdom of believers. We are continually asking; Does that mean that those participating in the Kingdom must be Priests of that Divine Order? Well, it is abundantly clear that it is NOT a Kingdom of pew sitters or church goers! It is NOT a Kingdom of casual Christians. Therefore, the PREPARATION of the priests in the Tabernacle of Moses MUST become the example for the PREPARATION of the Kingdom of Priests. Of course the preparation of the former priests was physical, ritualistic / religious, and outward while the preparation of the New Covenant Priesthood must be Spiritual, Experiential and Inward.
According to 1 Peter 2 everyone in the Kingdom will be Priests, therefore, it seems apparent that if the ministries are NOT preparing PRIESTS they could be wasting their time in the ministry. Even though these things are identified as "the mysteries," very many scriptures are associated with these truths and remove much of the mystery. It is these types and shadows that reveal the intrinsic nature of the mysteries.
For example, we have at least five of these mysteries linked together. (1) The Kingdom of God (2) The Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek (3) the Tabernacle of God, (4) God's Eternal Purpose and (5) The Government of the world yet to come. It is clear that the "world yet to come" is integrally linked to the New Earth, the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem. It is my guess that a better understanding of each of these will help us solve some of these mysteries. Why? That is because they are all of the ONE divine Order.
It is for that reason that we feel free to divide the Kingdom into three divine Realms that are revealed by the Tabernacle of Moses. (1) The Outer Court (2) the Holy Place (3) The Most Holy Place is related and linked to (1) the New Earth (2) the New Heaven (3) the New Jerusalem. Even though Heaven is divided into these three places, heaven is still just One Divine Order functioning under ONE Sovereign Head, Our Great High Priest.
Since we cannot separate the Kingdom of God from the Government of God or from the Priesthood, it might make sense to divide the Priesthood into three divisions that govern the three areas of the Tabernacle of God. Of course this is just speculation because there is still a great mystery surrounding most of these eternal things. Nevertheless, David divided the priesthood in his time into 24 orders of priests. Many of the mysteries remain to be revealed to us but we have a guarantee that these mysteries WILL be revealed as part of God's Eternal Purpose.
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 theadministration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10in 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 whichHe carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
The Bible is a book of mysteries with little clues throughout all the various chapters of the 66 books. These clues to the mysteries are so subtle they cannot be discovered and assembled by human intelligence. These eternal things are so cleverly concealed that only the Holy Spirit can reveal them. All that human intelligence can discern in all these chapters is just history, stories, situations, human failures, various testimonies and religious accounts and some imagery that appears to be random. All this process of hiding the mysteries by using real people and events do not seem to have a specified purpose. Neither are these mysteries clearly identified in the scriptures. We are given certain accounts of past events, experiences, etc but without clear explanations of why, out of the thousands of stories which could have been used, these specific storylines were selected and recorded.
In Ephesians 3 God reveals His will is to reveal these mysteries through the church. We might wonder then why He made it so complicated and ambiguous. In God's unfolding purpose He has determined to only reveal these Mysteries by the Holy Spirit who has come in an entirely new way within the total provision of the New Covenant. Paul was certainly not shy about presenting this truth.
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 speakGod'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."
1Cor 2:10 For to us God revealed themthrough the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak,not in words taught by human wisdom, but in thosetaught 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. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.
However, Paul spoke God's Wisdom in a mystery and called that "the hidden wisdom" This "wisdom," which is part of the mysteries, is not easy to discover because God has deliberately hidden them for a specific reason. Still, Paul reveals the fact that God has determined to reveal these things through the Holy Spirit. It is this "ministry of the Holy Spirit" that we are connecting directly to the Priesthood of Melchizedek. The incarnation of the Holy Spirit, similar to the son of man, has the name "Melchizedek." The incarnation of the Word of God, in the Son of Man, has the name, Jesus.
Although I have written many studies on the Ministry of Melchizedek and related this understanding to the many scriptures related to the Holy Spirit, this study will focus upon this Eternal Priesthood as it relates to the Kingdom of Priests and God's Eternal Purpose.
This scriptural revelation of the Ministry of Melchizedek, which is revealed through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, reveals the source of the revelation and understanding of the "hidden Wisdom" or the mysteries that have been hidden from past generations. It is God's revealed will for us to understand and share these mysteries during the church age. I am speculating that this Eternal Priesthood is directly related to the Kingdom of Priests. Why? That is because there is no other priesthood that God recognizes.
This revelation of the Holy Spirit given in 1 Corinthians 2 is directly related to the Ministry of Melchizedek, who IS God but who appeared to Abraham as a man. For that reason–that He is God– He may accurately reveal the very depths of God. It is by HIS ministry that we may know the things freely given to us by God. This "revealing" is by direct revelation to us and does not need other men involved. How is that possible? That is because this Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God, Who is God, has agreed to come and live, teach, lead, and comfort us. Why does He comfort us? That is because He is the King of Peace. The Holy Spirit has chosen to functionin us during the church age! The New Covenant declares that we will not need man to teach us because we shall be taught by God. This is such a staggering proposal that most Christians will have great difficulty accepting this possibility. Why? Because this Melchizedek is the CREATIVE ARM OF GOD. When we reject the Holy Spirit or limit His Ministry we are left in darkness and remain ignorant of the mysteries. In exactly the same way this Priesthood was present in the first creation of Genesis one and two (the old creation) He has now come to carry out His Eternal Work of Perfecting the new Creation. Why are we relating this "Creative Priesthood" to the Holy Spirit in the first creation? That Is because this Melchizedek was always a Priest of the Most High God and holds His Priesthood forever. It was the Holy Spirit that moved upon the earth in the first creation, demonstrating the Ministry of Melchizedek to the Church Age.
As wonderful and as essential as this manifestation of the Holy Spirit is for our instruction and guidance, it does not explain in detail how this New Covenant Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek– the Holy Spirit– is received and participated in to the degree that He can function AND reveal the mysteries in our actual experience. Even though Jesus gave specific examples of what the Holy Spirit would do when He came, this does give us specific clues to His work and the essential nature of His function and His great work of transformation within the believer during the Church Age. Still, for many Christians, in most places in the world, His actual function, His capacity to create and His Absolute authority within the church is seriously misunderstood or is just ignored. Some think of the Holy Spirit as just another mystery to be revealed, someday! However, the revelation about Him in the Book of Hebrews should remove all doubt about His essential function during the church age. He comes to us asTHE KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. As the "KING" within He insists upon "righteousness and obedience." The New Covenant is clear; "I will put My Spirit within youand I will cause to walk in My ways." We must always be cognizant that He is King and therefore absolutely Sovereign. Whether He will be Sovereign in our lives will depend upon our understanding of Him and His assigned ministry and how we respond to Him.
Jesus, before He was taken up, explained so many things about the Holy Spirit and what He would do when He came. When all this information that Jesus gave us is assembled and understood it is clear that THIS CHURCH AGE is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit who is the King of Righteousness. Jesus even instructed His disciples not to attempt to do ANY ministry until they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus obviously explained this total dependence upon the Holy Spirit more than once over a period of time during His ministry.
Act 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 "If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
Jesus explained the importance of having this dynamic encounter with this Divine
Representative of the Eternal Father BEFORE they could consider any ministry. He called that "encounter" the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Well, brother, can you give me just one verse that says that?
Act 1:1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, aboutall that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He hadby the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem,but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, butyou shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
The problem with those who deny this New Covenant experience today is that they must ignore the many verses that confirms this Truth. All these opposing doctrines should become very suspicious to every real Christian when evaluated against the light given in all these Scriptures.
Well, brother, if all this is so clear to you why don't you just clarify all these mysteries for the rest of us?
As we saw in 1 Corinthians 2 this is a really big problem. Each individual MUSTfirst be equipped to receive an understanding of the mysteries, personally, BEFORE they can understand. It is for that reason that these mysteries are NOT transferrable from one person to another EXCEPT by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. The fact is that if these mysteries were clarified and explained in an assembly of 100 believers, it is probable that only very few would receive any revelation. Why? This is because the Holy Spirit determines who it is that is fully prepared to receive this higher understanding. How do we know that? By reading 1 Corinthians 2.
This is the basic reason that we insist that ALL the foundations are absolutely necessary to be experiential for every committed Christian.
Jesus spent 40 days teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of God following His resurrection and before He was taken up to the Throne of God. He, obviously, revealed many of the mysteries during that time that are not recorded. Nevertheless, there are dozens of facts that Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit, during His ministry before Calvary, that is recorded for everybody to comprehend. There is no excuse for anyone to remain ignorant of these TRUTHS that are recorded in Scripture.
We are not given the details of what Jesus taught in those 40 days after His resurrection but Jesus did tell us that when the Holy Spirit came He would reveal ALL things. Administering this revelation is what we are referring to as the Ministry of the Priesthood of Melchizedek. Why? It wasthe priests that had the task of teaching Israel the law. This is the shadow. Now, in the reality, within the New Covenant AND the New Creation [a different species] the priesthood has changed from the natural to the spiritual. The Law also changed from just being outside us to being put inside us. This Law is administrated by the KING of Righteousness and the KING of Peace. It is for that reason that we must carefully reevaluate the seriousness of the Eternal Priesthood that administrates that Law. Why? That is because the internal/ invisible Law directly relates us to the King / Priest ; King / Holy Spirit; by obedience.
In other words our whole concept of Spiritual Priesthood must be rectified, modified and adjusted to conform to the New Covenant pattern. Why? This Priesthood involves TWO KINGS. We must no longer think of priesthood after the Old Covenant pattern of being just physical, natural and visible. We must no longer think about priesthood as a ritual with outward garments, robes, sashes, breastplates or think about incense as something natural to burn or as showbread as something made by hand and cooked in an oven. All the physical functions of the earthly priesthood are just a copy and shadow of the real New Covenant priesthood function.
In fact it might be quite helpful if we stopped thinking about "having church" in the Old Covenant way of attending synagogue. The New Covenant way of recognizing the "church" is by perceiving it as the Pure Gold Lampstand Church. Developing believers to become part of the Lampstand Church is the work of the Five Fold Ministry! Following that preparation, the discipline and the instruction to the Lampstand Church is assigned to the King, our Great High Priest, taken from among men. All this defines a tremendous change that took place when Jesus went away and the Holy Spirit came.
John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "Butwhen 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. 14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.
In trying to bring this understanding to the forefront we must remember that the HELPER is the King or Righteousness. The Guide is the KING, The Teacher is the KING. The One who convicts of righteousness is the King of Righteousness. Heb 7:2 was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness. Melchizedek means the King of Righteousness!
What Jesus was really saying is this; If you do not receive these Truths from the Holy Spirit you will receive NO TRUTH at all. Why? Human intelligence is not sufficient to understand these things. The ultimate Truth and the Mysteries which were hidden from all past generations are ONLY revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spiritual Poverty, lack of Vision and insufficient Spiritual Insight in the visible church can be attributed to this obvious lack of TOTAL dependence upon the Holy Spirit for the revelation and understanding of EVERYTHING that is Spiritual and Eternal. Why has this happened? Simply stated it is because of a mis-understanding of the New Covenant and a rejection of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit by so many "Christians." This disregard and neglect is so common in the visible church that it has become a disgrace. The real disgrace is this is also evident in the Pentecostal and Charismatic "visible" churches.
Well, brother, isn't that just your Charismatic background speaking? Isn't this just more of the vain Charismatic repetition of Spirit, Spirit, Spirit.
This reveals another big problem facing the visible church. That is the error of rejecting truth because it came through a different group. In God's viewpoint there is only one united group and that is the Lampstand Church [ hammered out of one piece of Gold] that MUST exist and function under the sole illumination of the Seven Spirits of God which reveals His fullness. He, of course, is the King of Righteousness.
The significance of the Holy Spirit's function in the plan of God is revealed in the first two chapters of the Bible. Here it is clear that the Father designs, the Living Word of God speaks and the Holy Spirit DOES. It is here that God reveals that the Creative Arm of God is the Holy Spirit. The First Creation was assigned to the Power and the Presence of the Holy Spirit. The Genesis 1 creation is another subtle clue to the process involved in the New Creation Process in Christ Jesus. The New Covenant promises that "I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND I WILL CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY WAYS."
John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Why is Jesus' going away seen as to our great and eternal advantage? That is because the Creative Arm of God will not come and the New Creation is totally dependent upon Him. How do we know that? Just by reading Genesis 1 and 2.
What is the real significance of that First Genesis creation? Following Calvary the old creation man would be done away with and a totally different and New Creation Man would be introduced. He would NOT be created from the dirt of earth but he would be BORN OF GOD as a new species of man upon the earth. Each of us, being "Born of God," is beginning the process of the work of the Holy Spirit in our total redemption into Christ's Kingdom. The process of salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit in us creating a new species of mature man. This New Species of man would not be Jew or Gentile, poor or rich, sophisticated or unsophisticated, or even male or female. Why? This New Creation Man must be living and growing in a different realm in which the Holy Spirit is functioning, the Word of God is speaking and the Father is planning and designing. The Holy Spirit functions in this "OTHER," higher, New Covenant realm from which He is revealing Truth. He will make the things previously unknown (secrets and the mysteries) known and cause the New Creation Man to see into the eternal realms, IF HE IS WILLING TO SEE. However, seeing demands a response!
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again,he cannot see the kingdom of God."
It requires a New Creation just to see into that realm of the Kingdom. It is the Holy Spirit
who will take the things that belong to Christ Jesus and reveal them to us. This understanding must be clearly stated openly and in unambiguous terms. It is just "normal Christianity" for every believer to be functioning in this higher realm. (It is NOT a Kingdom of Pastors)
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind (Spirit) blows where it (He) wishes and you hear the sound of it (Him), but do not know where it (He) comes from and where it (He) is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The fact remains that NO ONE can experience these essential births without the intimate working of the Holy Spirit within us. This includes all "pastors."
The High Priest that created all things in the first creation in Genesis 1 has now arrived to complete a brand new creation. To accomplish that He has agreed to live in every true Christian that has become a participant in the New Covenant. Since the Total Sacrifice on Calvary and the re-purchase of individuals back to God and to His Eternal Purpose, a totally NEW CREATION has been ordained. This begins with being born again, being baptized in water and receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. However, since each of these experiences MUST produce a birth, the religious process without the Spiritual and Experiential reality remains entirely empty and fruitless.
The first creation was natural, visible, temporal and physical and was created out of nothing. This New Creation is spiritual, invisible, eternal and functions in another realm. This New Creation is created out of Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God. That {Christ} is what provides the Pure Gold for the Lampstand. This New Creation is related to a new species of man, a spiritual house not made by hands, a Holy Priesthood, and eventually a New Earth, a New Heaven and the New Jerusalem.
It is for that reason that we need to stop seeing "Christians" as just a group of physical and religious beings, like Israel, meeting together in synagogue for instructions in righteousness. It would be better to see Christians as New Creation Beings that are a different species from the first Adam who was created from the dirt of earth.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; {a new thing; a new original; a new creation} the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Some of these hidden things have already been revealed in the Epistles that anybody can read about. For example; we are already told that Jesus Christ has become Our Great High Priest taken from among men and has ascended to the right hand of God. This, alone, should alert us to the Higher Priesthood that is currently relevant, personally, when it is experienced within the New Covenant provision. Why? That is because; "And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Heb 9:15)
We already know that the Lampstand Church must function as a Royal Priesthood and as a Holy Nation and must become God's own possession. That means each believer must be fully consecrated in that Priesthood to do the whole will of God. Corporately, these New Creation Men are being built up into a Spiritual House. A "spiritual house" is not a group of " believers" going to a building of dead stones on Sunday.
Well, brother, you seem to be very adamant about that "FACT" but where do you find a verse like that?
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 (continuing tense) as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
This understanding follows my original point. These things are clearly revealed in scripture when we can see the "clues" given to us in the Tabernacle of Moses and the priesthood after the order of Aaron. The "process of preparation" of the priests, both Aaron, the high priest and his sons, is the PATTERN we are given for the preparation of the Royal Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. The Royal reality is seen in this Eternal Priesthood of Christ Jesus, our Great King and High Priest. I am speculating that this Royal Priesthood includes Christ Jesus and His Mature Sons becoming One Divine Order. It is these "Foundations" that are the basis of our maturity which is essential to our becoming Priests of the Most High God.
However, this preparation of the Priesthood, which applies to us, is within this higher realm that is assigned to the Holy Spirit! He functions in the same realm as the current Kingdom of God. The Current Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit are inherently linked together. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the Kingdom of God and enforces its Eternal Laws within the Kingdom of Priests. He does this as the King of Righteousness. It is this Priesthood that teaches and demonstrates the Kingdom of God and prepares the new believers to take their place in the Pure Gold Lampstand Church. This ministry is NOT from the outside in but from the inside out. He puts HIS LAWS within us. These Laws are enforced by the King of Righteousness. Because God has appointed Him as King within the Lampstand Church His authority is ABSOLUTE!
In addition to that "absolute" there is also our Great High Priest, who is King taken from among men, that walks among the Lampstands instructing, warning and threatening the churches. In Revelation 2 and 3 Jesus is commanding as the King of Glory and sets boundaries, establishes demands, accepts NO excuse and clearly threatens those who disobey. Now He is the King who saves those who obey Him.
The Holy Spirit is the KING representing God during the church age and His function is not diminished by our doctrines. Christ Jesus is the King taken from among men and He saves those who obey Him. Our KING operates at the right hand of God, almighty! Our OTHER KING is the Priest of the Most High God.
Therefore, forgiveness of sins, faith toward God, escaping the former manner of life, water baptism and separation from first Adam, receiving the new priests garments, being baptized and being filled with the Holy Spirit– being anointed by God for service– and the consecration offering are ALL necessary preparations for this other higher order called New Covenant Priesthood kind of Christianity. Still, this is being built up in the invisible realm. These seven foundational experience are designed to develop or grow up our New Inner Man to experience this higher and invisible realm of revelation. It is because of this higher realm of personal growth that the Christian is capable of receiving this higher revelation. {the mysteries} Why is that important? That is because this higher realm is where the Holy Spirit is fulfilling ALL of Jesus' words about the Holy Spirit and His work within the church. It is in this realm where the Holy Spirit is revealing all things and illuminating the mysteries that have been hidden from former generations. This is the realm spoken of in 1 Corinthians 2.
The "picture" of this "corporate realm of developing and growing New Covenant Christians," which is given us in scripture, is the Lampstand [Church] which is in the Holy Place. The ONLY illumination in this location is by the Holy Spirit. It is illuminated by these seven flames of fire which are the Seven Spirits of God, which are the Seven Eyes of the Lord. The "Seven Spirits of God" speaks of the fulness of the Holy Spirit! The functioning Priesthood of Melchizedek IS the FULLNESS.
Recently there are, once again, other groups of individuals that are boldly declaring that they have entered into the Most Holy Realm of God's Glorious Presence. They base this on a verse they found in the Bible and assume that is their experience. While we know that Paul was caught up to the Third Heaven (the Most Holy Place) and his transformation was really radical, we fail to see that same experience in these fanciful testimonies.
The "popular condemnation of the Charismatic experience" is that we don't see any difference between those who speak in tongues and always talk about the Holy Spirit and those who reject this whole dimension of the Holy Spirit. Even though this might be offensive, this could certainly be a valid criticism. Many times I see no difference either! Therefore, this lack of any visible difference may be true and becomes a logically based argument against receiving the Holy Spirit. Still, the scriptures insist that every believer must receive the Holy Spirit before any ministry can be valid.
That is why we believe the contrast between these two groups is simply because the ones who "speak in tongues" have neglected to "go on to maturity" by experiencing ALL these foundational experiences so they can live and function in these high realms of Christian Life. Speaking in tongues is ONLY the "down payment" dimension and just one step toward this higher dimension within the True and Normal New Covenant Life. Even many "pastors" have failed in "righteousness" simply because they have failed to experience the King of Righteousness.
It is the "fullness" of this Higher Dimension that we are identifying as the Holy Place experience and current Realm of the Ministry of Melchizedek. It is He, Himself, ( the Seven Spirits of God) who becomes the exclusive illumination in that Holy Place Realm. The contrast between this illumination and the extreme illumination in the Most Holy Place (God's Mighty and Glorious Presence) will define how radical our actual experience is of that Exalted Realm.
Those who SAY they have entered that exclusive realm need to display their burn marks.
Since this "Ministry of Melchizedek" is absolutely necessary for the "members" who are growing into the Body of our Great High Priest, it is essential that we understand how this Priesthood functions. Why? That is because this IS the dispensation of the Holy Spirit who has come as the King / Priest of God Most High.
Gen 14:17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedekking of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tenth of all.
Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." 2The LORD will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies."3 Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee as the dew. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." 5 The Lord is at Thy right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. 7 He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.
These are the ONLY two references to Melchizedek in the Old Testament. The first says that Melchizedek was the King in Salem and a Priest of God Most High. (Or of the Most High God) Melchizedek blessed the Most High God (vertically) and Abraham (horizontally). His blessing is in two dimensions. It should be noted that Melchizedek CAME OUT TO MEET ABRAHAM. It should also be noted that the king of Sodom also came out to meet Abraham. This tells us something about the Holy Spirit AND about the devil, the king of burning or perversion because of what happened there.
All this would just be more "information" EXCEPT in this Messianic Psalm it clearly reveals that the Messiah will be a Priest after this Divine and Eternal Order of Melchizedek. This Psalm 110 is the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament and obviously is speaking of Christ Jesus, the King/ Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. We might, along with others, only understand this Royal Priesthood as belonging exclusively to Christ Jesus except that Peter assigns this Royal/ Kingly Priesthood to the believers also. Then we are told there will be a whole Kingdom of Priests [King/ Priests] which can only be of this Higher Priesthood Order. Any other kind of priesthood is no longer valid and should only be considered as counterfeit, being identified as worthless and not capable of bringing the church to perfection.
The significance of this New Creation Corporate Priesthood, therefore, is that it can ONLY be after the Order of Melchizedek. This Eternal FACT cannot be over emphasized. After Calvary and the redemption of believers, this Priesthood is the MOST significant addition to the Church that we could ever hope for or experience. Why? This means that the Priest of the Most High God– the Holy Spirit– the King of Righteousness– has chosen the Church Age to continue His Eternal Priesthood. He not only is functioning within the God Head but now He has begun His Ministry WITHIN man and not just among men!
Even if the Father designs and plans and even if the Living Word of God speaks, without the Holy Spirit working NOTHING happens. How do we know that? By simply reading the scriptures. Man has created many cliches that use the term "GOD as the Eternal Person" but fail to recognize there are three distinct persons with 3 diverse functions within the ONE GODHEAD. That is NOT three God's but three manifestations of the ONE GOD! One of these exclusive functions is given to the Holy Spirit . To leave Him out of the whole equation can be fatal to our destiny and to our function in the purpose of God, Almighty. This is so common in the visible church that most ministry is done in the flesh. Even among those who speak in tongues most of the work is done in the flesh. How do I know that? This is how I did it for nearly 30 years.
Ever since Calvary this transition of the believer to becoming a member of this Eternal Priesthood is even more significant because it is our entrance into the Eternal Purpose of God. We must be clear that this Eternal Priesthood must begin now during the church age! For that reason its requirements and its demands must be much more severe than the preparation of the priests after the order of Aaron . Why? This is because at Pentecost this Eternal High Priest– the King of Righteousness– the Holy Spirit– came to dwell IN MAN. He has come Not just to be an influence (not as some say He is like a vapor) but He has come as the King of Righteousness. For that reason He always insists upon righteousness even though He is the Spirit of Grace. Grace has not affected His Absolute Righteousness. Nevertheless, it is the Spirit of Grace, the King of Salem, that permits us to live in that realm of righteousness.
The amazing thing is that this Eternal High Priest will do nothing on His own initiative. He will carry out the instruction of Our Great High Priest– Christ Jesus– who was taken from among men.
In Revelation 2 and 3 it is obvious that Christ Jesus is walking among the Lampstand Churches as THE KING and is instructing and warning them. Still, He says to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church. Why? That is because the Holy Spirit does nothing on His own initiative. He speaks what He hears. Therefore, obeying Christ Jesus is by obeying the Holy Spirit.
Our High Priest is in a unique position because He came to perfection as a man and now can lead and instruct us in this wonderful process. Why? Because we also must come to that same perfection. When the five fold "Ministries" come to this maturity / perfection as man they will be able to help us.
Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 beingdesignated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
We may loose the tremendous significance of John 14 - 15 and 16 and the many other scriptures relating to the Holy Spirit unless we can discern our New Covenant relationship with the Priesthood of Melchizedek. Why? He has come as the Sovereign King. As we have shown and proven so many times before, Melchizedek was and Is the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 14, like the Living and the Abiding Word of God, He took on the body of a man and appeared to Abraham.
While Jesus is the High Priest taken from among men, Melchizedek – the Holy Spirit– is the High Priest who is ONE with the God Head. Since the God Head is Father, the Living Word of God and Holy Spirit this means there is an Eternal Priesthood WITHIN the God Head. The Holy Spirit– Melchizedek as He appeared to man– is the Creative Arm of God but now has agreed to come to live IN MAN and lead and direct man's Life. Does this mean that 1/3 of God, Almighty, has left heaven to dwell in man. Not at all because God is ONE GOD and cannot be divided. Because of this fact we must see the great significance of "SPIRIT" because the Seven Spirits of God travel throughout the whole earth and are the Seven Eyes of the Lord. The "Spirit of God" is not limited to one location but can be everywhere at the same time. He can also be IN that multitude of believers who will permit and welcome Him. However, He comes in full Authority to complete His Full Work AND fulfill His Priesthood duties as Priest of the Most High God.
The Holy Spirit did NOT come as some abstract "influence" for good, as is erroneously taught, but IS the High Priest of the Most High God. Since He IS the Spirit of Life, whatever He does ministers LIFE. When we recognize this rather obvious Truth it becomes clear why if anyone blasphemes Him it will never be forgiven. While this is not stated in scripture, it is evident that this is a sin that is unto death. We are instructed to not even pray for someone that sins a sin unto death.
There is an obvious disregard of the Holy Spirit among many "church" groups and some groups even insult the Spirit of Grace and reject any mention of Him. Some even say He is Jesus in another form that is Spirit and confuse the Spirit of Christ with the Holy Spirit. We are experientially born again when we receive the Spirit of Christ. However, we are being introduced to the Eternal Priesthood when we experientially receive the Priest of the Most High God to live in us. This "transition" is only by birth in the Spirit.
The Evangelical doctrine that there is NO SIN that cannot be forgiven is certainly not scriptural when it comes to blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:10 "And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.
1John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask
and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. Thereis a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
When we finally understand that the Holy Spirit is not just an influence but the Functioning Priest of the Most High God and holds this King / Priesthood within the God Head for eternity, He should receive the total respect, obedience and authority He deserves. We may be criticized when we say that this High Priest has more authority on earth than the Man, Christ Jesus. Why? That is because the Holy Spirit is God and functions on earth among men as the Most High God's High Priest. Even though Jesus is the High Priest, taken from among men, His Priesthood can ONLY be within the Universal and Eternal Order of Melchizedek. Why? That is because there is NO OTHER Priesthood that exists. Melchizedek is the first High Priest and Jesus is the second High Priest. There will be NO MORE High Priests but there will be a Kingdom of Priests after the Order of Melchizedek. Jesus, our Great High Priest, will be Head and those lessor Priests will be functioning members within the body of our Great High Priest. It is for that reason that every member of the body of our Great High Priest MUST be a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek.
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. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
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.
When these scriptures are casually read it is assumed that these verses declare that EVERY new Covenant believer is a certified member of this Kingdom of Priests or a Royal (Kingly) Priesthood. It should be noted that we are IN THE PROCESS of being built up into a Spiritual HouseFOR a Holy Priesthood. I am assuming, by experience, that not all believers will submit themselves to this "process" of being built up INTO a Spiritual House. This "Spiritual House" is the body of our Great High Priest and is functioning as a Royal (Kingly) Priesthood under our One Sovereign Head. {These become a nation of Holy People who are TOTALLY given to God as His own possession. That means they are fully consecrated and they are No Longer their own, they have been bought with a price.}
Even though it is God's plan and part of His Eternal Purpose for ALL believers to grow into a Royal Priesthood, it is also clear that this is NOT universally happening in the visible church. In fact, we might ask "Where is this 'Royal Priesthood' actually functioning, experientially, in the modern day church?" This suddenly becomes a big problem when we, like Hezekiah, understand that we are not observing God's Revealed Plan correctly.
2Chron 29:5 Then he said to them, "Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6 "For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and have turned their backs. 7 "They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
At the time Hezekiah became the king in Israel, the priesthood was non-existent. No priest ministered in the temple at all. Every priest had to seek secular work because nothing in the temple ordinance was functioning according to God's revealed will and both the priesthood and the Temple had been abandoned. It may be argued that the modern church has not departed from God's Plan as far as Israel. However, it cannot be argued that the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is presently functioning according to God's Divine Order.
The great disappointment comes when we sincerely look for the evidence of ANY Priesthood, anywhere, functioning after the Order of Melchizedek. If we observe the pitiful condition of the visible church and understand that NO New Covenant Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is functioning in the current church system, shouldn't someone ask, WHY? Even a casual reading of the Book of Hebrews should reveal that the assumption that "the Book of Hebrews was only written for Israel and not written for the church" is a serious error.
It is my understanding that those who receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit SHOULD grow up, mature, become a part of the Lampstand Church, operate as a Priest and begin functioning in the Royal Priesthood established by the Holy Spirit. If the gift of tongues is the valid evidence of entrance, then Priesthood is the valid goal of arriving. Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit without an established goal of functioning within that Eternal Priesthood is absurd and is the evidence of ignorance of God's Plan and His Eternal Purpose. In other words the goal of the "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD" is to function within the Kingdom of Priests. To attempt to identify that Kingdom of Priests outside of the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is just as absurd. Why? That is because there is NO OTHER POSSIBILITY because EVERY other priesthood has been done away with. Why? The Bible declares that is because the first priesthood were worthless for the perfection of the church!
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 foranother 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.
Jesus is referred to as "ANOTHER PRIEST" so He is not Melchizedek as is often assumed. This means now there are two High Priests. One is within the God head– Melchizedek– and the other– Jesus– whom was taken from among men.
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."
It is for this reason that we connect SONSHIP with the Priesthood. The type or example of Priesthood in the Old Testament picture was Aaron, the high priest, and his sons. There were no other priests. This is why we refer to our High Priest and His Sons as the Royal Priesthood. Since most believers are just babes or children, without proper foundations or growth into the priesthood ministry, this priesthood function is practically unknown in the visible church. This growth into sonship is not optional when we speak about the Kingdom of Priests. ANY other priesthood is just a counterfeit of the Royal Priesthood!
Heb 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
G3516 νήπιος nēpios nay'-pee-os implying negation and G2031; not speaking, that is, an infant (minor); figuratively a simple minded person, an immature Christian: - babe, child (+ -ish).
This word in the Greek is translated as INFANT who is not speaking.
The Greek word for Children is G5040teknoin tek-nee'-on means darlings or (Christian converts): - little children.
The Greek translated as Son is G5207υιʽός uihos hwee-os' Apparently a primary word; a "son" Example; Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
The Christian growth cycle begins as "infant who is not speaking, to a "child" who are just little Christians, to "son" who is mature enough to learn obedience and suffer for the gospel.
These "sons" are also called "young men".
1John 2:13 I am writing to you,fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you,children, because you know the Father.
These three levels of Christian Growth are quite significant because they define the Christians by their actual growth into Christ. This is quite disturbing because there are three levels of growth defined by the THREE levels in heaven. The New Earth, the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Our Eternal destiny will be determined by our growing up in all things into Christ! Of course we may be content to just being born again as an infant that doesn't speak. According to these verses there is another possibility! It may be determined that we have grown a little and are classified as "children."
Our recommendation is to never be satisfied but to continue to seek God and continue to grow up in ALL things into Christ and be conformed to His Image.
Nevertheless, the Ultimate goal is to become Priests after the Order of Melchizedek and begin to participate in that Kingdom of Priests or Kings that are functioning as Priests.
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.
Rev 5:10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
However, it must be remembered that all this is BEFORE this present earth and this present heaven passes away and the Eternal Tabernacle of God appears. It is at the Judgement Seat of Christ that we will be assigned to one of these three dimensions. That is the day of reckoning! Why? That is because at that event is when we will be assigned to our function for eternity. The best place to be is on Zion, at the Throne of God, functioning as a Kingdom of Priests. How can that be true? When we take our place within the Body of our Great High Priest who sits at the right hand of God.
Rev 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him tosit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Only Christians who OVERCOME as He Overcame will be qualified to sit with Him, IN HIS BODY. Beware of the Gospel of the half–priced sale! Be bold to reject any modified salvation where we believe something or just say something religious. We MUST be born of God and advance to full growth because this is NOT optional within the Kingdom dimension.
Heb 6:17 In the same way God, desiring even more toshow to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 whereJesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
It is our HOPE that enters within the last veil and into the Most Holy Place. However, that place is a consuming fire.
Isa 33:14 Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless.
"Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?" 15 He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain, And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; 16 He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him; His water will be sure. 17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land. 18 Your heart will meditate on terror: "Where is he who counts? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?"
If people would just read the scriptures it would be obvious that God dwells in a VERY high and lofty place and to just walk into His Glorious Presence would be quite dangerous for an ordinary Christian. The reason this foolishness is promoted is because some assume that we now have "access" so that means there is no preparation to live within that continual burning. For that reason they make silly statements about entering into that Most Holy Place and sit down to have a conversation with God Almighty. Since ignorance is bliss, they should be quite happy with their fantasy visit.
God told Moses that no can see His face and live. Moses just saw His back and his face began to shine but even Moses could not see His Face and live.
Psalm 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
ONLY the high priest could enter into the Most Holy Place and THAT only once a year. It seems that entrance into that High and Holy Place is limited to the High Priest and His Body. To assume that any Christian can enter into that Most Holy Place simply because he believes something about Jesus is foolishness.
Abraham honored Melchizedek and gave Him a Tithe of all. THEN Abraham rejected the king of Sodom and refused to accept ANYTHING from him. These two spirits are still active today. Because Abraham honored Melchizedek and rejected any monetary gain from the king of Sodom, God made a promise!" Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great."
Making proclamations about receiving rewards when we are not following God's Plan and Purpose is just another exercise in futility. Much of the Charismatic and Pentecostal hype has misdirected the church into many fantasies and false hope of entering into dimensions that we have no preparation for or growth to proceed. Why? That is because the STATUS QUO has become king and the Gospel of the Kingdom has just become "THE HYPE OF THE KINGDOM!" Nice words but no reality or life of the Kingdom. Becoming a Kingdom of Priests MUST be our goal.