Jesus Christ the true High Priest

What Are Your Ambitions

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Servant’s Mandate

Book of Mark Chapter 10

The time that the Lord Jesus had left upon this earth was growing short and He was making His last trip to Jerusalem.

What the Lord Jesus had come to do, to die for the sin of the entire world, was about to take place in a few short days and the world would never be the same.

We should understand that at this time, the Jews were praying for the coming of the Messiah.

They were tired of the dominance of Rome and the evil that had come to the Jews.

Under the Romans, the people felt that God could not wait much longer before He sent the Anointed One, the Messiah.

We have this same feeling today on the return of the Messiah.

The Messiah was the promised answer to all their problems!

Some men had come claiming to be the Messiah and many Jews had fallen into the trap believing them, when nothing in the Scriptures had said they were true.

These things had caused more problems with Rome.

Barabbas was one of those who had been an insurrectionist and was now in prison.

How did these Jews see the Messiah?

1) He would be the leader from the line of David who would free the Jewish state and establish Israel as an independent nation and lead Israel to become the greatest nation this world has ever known.

2) The Messiah would be the greatest military leader to have ever lived and would lead the armies of Israel to victory.

3) The Messiah would be that supernatural figure straight from Jehovah and bring righteousness to all the earth.

4) The Messiah would be the One who would bring peace to all of this world.

We can see that the Antichrist will have no problem convincing the people of the secular world that he is the true Messiah.

There should have been no doubt that this Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah because He had fulfilled the Scriptures associated with Him.

The name Jesus shows Him to be 100% man.
The name Christ (Messiah) shows Him to be 100% God.
In one person the anointed One of God the true Messiah.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Jesus Christ, is God’s very own Son.

The promised Prophet:

Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

The promised Priest:

Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

The priest that lives forever.
His priesthood cannot be transmitted nor interrupted by death.
His priesthood is unchangeable.

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The promised King:

2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

God said Jesus was His Son

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

All the Gospels say that the Heavens opened with this message to the Lord Jesus.

All these things being, true plus the fact that the Lord Jesus had told all His disciples what would happen during this time in Jerusalem, we would expect those twelve men to be more serious about the role they would play in God’s plan of salvation.

All these men could think of was that the Lord Jesus was about to free Israel and set up His kingdom upon this earth.

Two of the disciples, James, and John, with the help of their mother wanted to get the upper hand over the other disciples and they allowed their ambitions to take over good judgment.

Luk 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

We see that the love of the Lord came second to personal ambition.

The Lord Jesus Christ must be first in our lives!

*Mar 10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

The Lord Jesus Christ was just a few days from His death upon a nasty old cross, and He was faced with the foolish tactics of humans trying to outdo each other!

This is one of our greatest pitfalls.

We must understand that most of the time our desires will get in the way of our relationship with our Savior!

Desire means concupiscence and concupiscence means any improper or illicit desire; sensual appetite; especially, lustful desire or feeling; sensuality; lust.

We could also say that desire could mean our ambitions.

This sort of desire is sinful because our desire should be to be like the Lord Jesus Christ!

These two presented their desires to the Lord in secret because they thought they could get ahead of the others who they felt wanted the same thing, to be closest to the Lord Jesus when He was King of Israel.

Luk 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

They even tried to take advantage by using the relationship of their mother to the Lord.

James and John came from a rich family.

Remember there were certain women who provided funds and support of this ministry of Christ Jesus.

One of those was their mother!

Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

John and James came from a family that were financially able to help the Lord Jesus Christ.

The ambitions of these two disciples of the Lord were sinful, because it came from their heart and we know the heart is deceitful.

It also caused them to use other people to fulfill their ambitions.

Notice their words: “we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.”

They tried to get the Lord Jesus to commit to their requests before they revealed what their request was all about.

They knew their desire might be sinful!

They were blinded by their own lust to be honored above the other disciples.

Many a Preacher today will not preach some truths because it might cause some well-off persons to contribute to their ministry or it may lead them to cease to give their support.

When we have a great desire to fulfill some ambition that we should not have, but are determined anyway, then it is sin!

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Oba 1:3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Oba 1:4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

The Lord Jesus, even though He knew what was in their hearts asked “what are you asking of Me”.

*Mar 10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mar 10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

James and John fully believed that when Jesus reached Jerusalem, He was going to set up His promised Kingdom.

They wanted to be the top ministers of this new government of Christ.

What makes our ambitions to be good or bad?

It is the motive behind that ambition!

**They wanted Christ to prove that they were His favorite disciples.

We know that upon three occasions, the Lord had separated Peter, James, and John from the others so it seems they wanted to get ahead of Peter.

They felt like they were special, the inner circle of Christ’s ministry, therefore they were due some recognition.

This is sinful pride and a great lesson for us all to learn.

When we feel like the Lord owes us something great for the work we do in His ministry, we should realize that He has already given us the greatest gift of all and it is salvation and an eternal home in Heaven.

What is the truth of God?

God is no respecter of persons!

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

We also know that pride goes before destruction!

Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Coming from a wealthy family did carry some weight with the rulers of that day, but not with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Wealth can make a person to be self-centered.

It can cause selfishness.
It can cause some to seek more attention than others.
It can cause some to expect more honor.
It can cause some to expect more favor to be shown to them.

But it can also cause some to be selective in using the Word of God!

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

It would seem to others that they thought they were on the same level of importance as the Messiah.

These things are detrimental to the Church.

Church leaders who seek honor and recognition seldom help a church!

It is the same for anyone who wants to be on a level equal to Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church and we are the body of Christ.

What is the truth? Some will be the heart of the Church and some the mind of the Church, but some will also have to be the rear end of the church and most of us will be the feet of the Church, and the Lord honors them all exactly the same, except for the true Preacher.

The Lord Jesus informed James and John that they did not really understand what they were asking Him.

*Mar 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

The Lord Jesus pulled no punches and asked these two disciples, “can you go through the things and suffer through the things I am about to go through”?

Can you drink the cup of agony?

**That cup refers to what we can take and bear ourselves.

That cup means drinking the bitterness of agony of trials and the pain and the suffering of those trials, and the disappointment the Lord Jesus Christ has in us, if we have not been saved.

How much suffering can we take until we say, “that’s enough”?

This is more than just outward suffering and it includes inward suffering which is many times worst.

**That baptism Jesus refers to, is the suffering that Jesus felt that happened to Him on the outside of His body.

Isa_52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

When we truly live for Jesus Christ and witness for Him, we are saying we accept that we must go through these things and some of us may become martyrs.

Jesus Christ demands all that we have and all that we are, if we are to carry His message of salvation to this world!

We must live so differently from this world we live in, that this world sees us as different, even peculiar!

We must live for God rather than live for ourselves!

What do we know? James the brother John was the first Apostle to die just because he accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessed for Him.

His death had nothing to do with what he was doing with his brother on this day.

Over time, all the others but John, the brother of James, suffered their death just because they refused to stop preaching the Gospel!

John lived to be around one hundred years old and we do not know just how he died.

John suffered in ways the others did not.

John witnessed the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John lived through the murder and the deaths of all the other Apostles.
John lived a long life of banishment and exile.

The Lord Jesus warned them that these things could happen to them.

*Mar 10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mar 10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

Have you noticed that every time we elect a new president that when that person gets in office, the first thing he does is fire all those from the previous administration that he is able to and put in place those who have supported him, who have donated to him, and those who think the same as he thinks.

These are acts of favor!

The Lord Jesus firmly says that this is not the way His kingdom will be!

Jesus says, “it is not mine to give”.

Jesus did say that someone would sit on His right and on His left!

Jesus did say these things would be given to those for whom it is prepared.

The part of Jesus in the flesh could not know who these persons would be.

The Jesus part that is God certainly knew who these persons would be.

We can see that God is preparing to bestow such an honor on some persons that may seem to be above others!

Some say these points toward degrees of glory in Heaven.

Some say this will take place in the time of the Millennial Kingdom.

We should understand that there will be some places of agony in Hell much worse than other places in Hell.

Jesus Christ is the Giver of life and the Giver of eternal life, but He never gives by way of favoring one above another.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

How are we to run in this race for the prizes of Heaven?

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What I know is, that everyone who is saved from the wrath of God, has a mansion prepared for them in Heaven and I believe they all will be the same and will be covered with the beautifulness of Heaven.

These are things we are not to worry about, but as Paul says by the Holy Spirit, just get in the race and do what the Lord has called upon us to do.

We must be sure to be in the will of God for our lives!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Jesus also said that some of those who came first will be last and some of those who came last would be first.

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

The main thing is, let us not let our ambitions get in the way of our serving the Lord!

By this time, the other ten disciples found out what was going on with James and John.

*Mar 10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

We may not know how these others found out how this thing was going, but when they did, it certainly caused problems with the disciples.

We do know that James and John came from a family that lived in a better social position than most of the rest and they were well aware of how things worked in government and religious circles, so rightly so these men were upset.

Anger was aroused.
Tempers flared.
Arguments became inflamed.

The Church of Jesus Christ was in jeopardy because of petty issues that should not have taken place, but we are all humans with our sin nature intact.

What did the Lord Jesus do? He gathered them all together to settle this issue at once.

*Mar 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mar 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

First, the Lord Jesus did not find fault with ambition and He does not today.

We need some part of ambition in our service to the Lord.

Jesus did not find fault with power or authority.

What Jesus condemned, is the way leaders and tyrants use this power today, such as we see in our own government.

The way judges are selected, the way officers of government are selected, is what caused the Lord Jesus to condemn this practice.

Let us call this the principles of lordship.

These things are done simply to show that they have the power to do this to us.

It really came out in the period of Covid 19.

This government would take all our freedoms away, if we allowed these things to continue.

They do not have this freedom according to our Constitution and we must stand against them.

The truth is, if people are left to themselves, the systems that they will construct will be centralized and monarchical.

There will be those who think of themselves as lords over the people.
There will be those who think they are dukes or equivalent.
There will be that one who thinks of himself as king.

We see this every day in our own nation!

The Lord Jesus says the Church, the people of God, will not operate this way.

Jesus said ambition is good when it does not seek to rule and exercise authority.

Jesus says that true ambition is not desiring the chief positions.

It is not self-centered.
It is not selfish.
It is not worldly minded.

The closer we are to be like our Lord Jesus, the greater a witness we can become.

The better we are at being obedient to the Word of God, the greater we will become.

The more we look for people who need help to be saved, the greater we will become.

The greatest, are those who witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The chieftest, are those who are the servants of God!

To be the greatest person is to be the greatest servant.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

To be the greatest, is to walk in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The greatest example of ambition in the Bible for the Church is the Lord Jesus Christ, who would not rest until He faced the cross for us.

Isa_50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Jesus faced humiliation far above what we can understand.

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Lord Jesus secured His kingdom by becoming a servant to those who would follow Him.

The Lord Jesus became the ransom that God required for our sin!

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If we have a great ambition, then let that ambition to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in His ways.

Besides for me, I am like the Psalmist.

Psa_84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Amen

Jesus Christ Offers to us A Better Priesthood

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

A Better Priesthood

Book of Hebrews Chapter 7

Melchizedek is a character in the Bible we know truly little about.

The name Melchizedek (in the Old testament) has the meaning of “the righteous king”.

Melchizedek, the same person, but spelled differently (in the New Testament) has the meaning “priest of the Most-High God”.

He claimed to be the king of Salem when he went forth to meet Abraham.

Remember Abraham had gone forth to save Lot who had been kidnapped by King Chedorlaomer and his band of kings.

He met Abraham in the “valley of kings” and brought to him and his men “bread and wine” and blessed Abraham and his men and Abraham paid this royal priest a tenth of the spoils of that war.

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

The Bible in the Book of Psalams, but especially this Book of Hebrews, tells us the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, would be a Priest after the order of this man Melchizedek.

Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psa 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Psa 110:5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Notice this Melchizedek would have a priesthood higher than that of the priesthood of Aaron!

Notice also, that this Melchizedek is recognized as higher than Abraham who was the “friend of God”.

He brought bread and wine which reminds us of the Lord’s Supper.

Melchizedek is not mentioned again in the in the Old Testament until about one thousand years later when David who would be king writes about the coming Messiah here in this Book of Psalms.

David understood by the Holy Spirit, that the Messiah would be both High Priest and King of Jerusalem, King of all kings.

After another thousand years we, have the writer of the Book of Hebrews again by the Holy Spirit referring to this Melchizedek.

For this to happen, then the Levitical priesthood would be abolished with the coming of the Messiah.

The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, whose work brings Him to be Prophet, Priest, and King and we desperately need Him in each of those functions because of the terrible ignorance that results from sin, we need someone to teach us, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author of our salvation!

This is where we pick up this great prophecy in Chapter 7 of the Book of Hebrews.

*Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

We might ask ourselves, “what is so important with Jesus Christ being High Priest after the order of Melchizedek”?

The real importance of this passage is prophecy that will be fulfilled and is partially fulfilled right now.

Our Lord Jesus has not failed to accomplish what He has set out to do, He is just much more patient than we are!

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If we look back to the 110th Psalm, we see King David writing a song celebrating the complete victory of the Messiah over the entire power of evil.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the true Messiah, will hold every office of God, including that of High Priest and King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the right hand of God, the right hand of Power and will remain there until it is time to be our Redeemer.

Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The Apostles clearly understood, and this is the message they have given to us, a message of “Victory”.

The Apostle John wrote:

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We must understand that the Lord Jesus will remain at the right hand of God until the purposes of God have been fulfilled in this age, the Church Age!

He is still our High Priest and our Advocate and our soon coming King!

We should utterly understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches!

The Lord Jesus will remain at the right hand of the Throne in Heaven only until His enemies have been made the footstool for His feet!

This is not a prophecy of the world turning toward the Church, this is a prophecy that says our Heavenly Father will make the enemies the footstool of our Lord Jesus.

When might we ask?

We know the Lord Jesus will not deal with His enemies during this time of “Grace” or it would not be Grace!

We also know there will be a time of great vengeance from the Lord!

But when Apostacy has reached its peak throughout the world.

When the political world has caused lawlessness and the manifestation of the man of sin.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

It amazes me that we have more government and yet we have more lawlessness, and it has always been this way!

Politicians never learn because it threatens their job and their means to get rich!

No doubt the King of kings will one day rule his world from Jerusalem!

Abraham recognized the importance of all these things!

*Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

The Bible describes the typology of Melchizedek.

Abraham saw the King of Righteousness.
Abraham saw the King of Peace and they were in the same person.

So, in the Lord Jesus Christ, righteousness and peace will be joined together!

So, it will also be in all those who believe in Him!

It is a fact, that there can be no peace until there is a world of righteousness!

Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Abraham saw the Priest of the Most-High God who was also King!

The Bible does not say that Abraham was the only one who worshipped God during this era, but he certainly would have shown great joy in meeting someone else who did worship the Most-High God as did he.

We already know that Jehovah is never without those who love Him.

What did He teach Elijah?

1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

We also know that “Job” may have lived at near the same time of Abraham.

The importance of Abraham ties into the importance of Israel as a nation!

Notice that this Melchizedek showed up unexpectedly.

We are shown nothing about his life except that he worshipped the Most-God, and this is the most important thing that can be said about any of us who love the Lord Jesus.

There is nothing about his life, his birth, his death, or his descent and all these things can be said about Jehovah.

He just simply arrives just as Jehovah appeared to Abraham and Moses.

He brings bread and wine the ingredients of the Lord’s Supper.

He blessed Abraham and then vanished just as quickly as He came.

Abraham considered this Melchizedek to be a great man.

*Heb 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

This Melchizedek was greater than Abraham because Abraham paid tithes to him.

Abraham realized his greatness and we should realize the greatness of our Savior and Our God who is the Most-High God!

Abraham understood how great where the blessings of this Priest who was also King of Peace.

What do we learn from these things?

1) We do not have to approach God through some priest or an earthly priesthood such as a Pope or any other such person.
2) We know there is a much greater priesthood than earthly priests.
3) To show us earthy religion and earthly priests are inadequate to represent man before God.
4) To show that God has provided a much better priesthood.
5) To teach us that there is now the perfect and an eternal priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What does this mean to the believer?

*Heb 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal because He is God!

Jesus Christ lives forever.
Jesus Christ has an endless life.
Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal Priest who lives forever and willing to share His life with us!

Jesus Christ makes us acceptable to the Most-High God because He is the Most-High God!

It is because of all these things that Jesus Christ is able and also willing to save us if we have faith in His work and repent of our old lifestyle!

The Lord Jesus Christ offers to us a complete and a perfect salvation!

He has a perfect forgiveness!
He has the perfect power to accomplish these things!

The Lord Jesus Christ lives to make intercession for those who love Him!

In Jesus Christ we see the perfect “love of God”, but also the perfect “justice” of God!

It is in the Lord Jesus Christ that we see God’s willingness to provide a means of salvation for all those under the curse of Adam

The Lord Jesus Christ the perfect “God-Man” now stands before the throne of God having born the “Justice” and the “Judgment of God” for all those who failed because of sin, but still willing to believe and accept the truth of God!

The Lord Jesus has saved us to the uttermost!

He has saved us from sin, death, and condemnation!

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

He has saved us to live with God forever!

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He saves us to be the citizens of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

You know, if we step back and look at our world today, we could say we are on the verge of this happening.

He saves us to rule and reign with Him throughout eternity.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

You cannot be any of these things unless you come to God by the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no other way nor other means to get to God’s New Heaven!

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest who lived a perfect life!

There is no other who meets these qualifications in any religion!

When we think, we can get to Heaven by the work of some imperfect man we have ignored the Word of God that says this is impossible.

Only God makes salvation possible for sinful men and sinful women and sinful children!

Jesus Christ is Holy, set apart and separated to God!

He is separated from sin and from all evil, and from all immoral, wicked, and lawless behavior, the things we see prevalent in our world today.

Jesus Christ is harmless! Meaning not evil, free from guile, deception, envy, and malice against anyone, but the very things that we see in all our world today.

Jesus Christ is undefiled! He is unstained by sin as is the New Heaven. As will be the New Earth. As will be the New Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ is separate from sinners. He is different from sinners. Jesus Christ has never sinned.

Jesus Christ has never yielded to temptation!

Jesus Christ is “Higher than the Heavens!

Jesus Christ raised Himself from the dead never to die again!
Jesus Christ went back to Heaven in a bodily form.
Jesus Christ alone is exalted to the right hand of God as the Supreme Lord of all His creation!

1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

*Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

It is only Jesus Christ who could offer the perfect sacrifice for our sin, which was Himself.

The High Priest of the Jews could only offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people once a year and then only after they had offered a sacrifice for their own sin.

The regular priests offered sins daily for those who came to confess their sin.

That one day the High Priests offered was the “Day of Atonement”.

I can honestly tell you that my “Day of Atonement” was the day I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior because It is He who offered the perfect sacrifice for my sin!

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

*Heb 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Jesus Christ is the High Priest with a perfect appointment.

No mere man can say this or if they do, they are deceiving themselves and all those who follow them!

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can fulfill the Word of God because He is the Word of God in the flesh.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the One sent down from Heaven for the purpose of saving created man.

You see if you believe there is a God and there is just One, then you have better believe this God has a plan to save His greatest creation, the human, and this plan is centered around the Lord Jesus Christ.

God, Jehovah, sent His own Son to perfect us and to give us eternal life and the glorious privilege to live with Him throughout eternity!

Sounds impossible but it is Biblical Truth!

Amen

Becoming One of God’s Priests

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Priests of Israel

Book of Leviticus Chapters 8 and 9

We should understand that God calls and also ordains every true preacher, or pastor, or priest or whatever the leaders of the Church are called today, just as He calls every Christian.

Rom_1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, “called to be an apostle”, “separated unto the gospel of God”,
Rom_1:6 Among whom are “ye also the called of Jesus Christ”:

We must be called and that first calling comes by the Holy Spirit for our salvation.

We may at that time, or some other time be called into a special ministry, but all the ministries of the Church must point to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

If they are not called of God and ordained of God, they will never know how to lead the Church and are subject to damnation!

God does not take kindly to imposters!

No one can understand the truth of the Word of God without being filled with the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in every Christian!

Ordination means to be appointed by the Lord to serve in the ministry of God.
Ordination means to be called, set apart (sanctified) and consecrated to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have not been called of God, you should not be leading a ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father “I have made known unto you”.
Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, “but I have chosen you”, and “ordained you”, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father “in my name”, he may give it you.

Aaron and his sons were called of God.

Every true Christian has been called of God!

Not every true Christian has been called into a special ministry.

In fact if we are not already busy about the work that the Lord Jesus gave us to do, God will never call us into a special ministry!

*Lev 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 8:2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
Lev 8:3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Aaron and his sons had been called and appointed by God to the priesthood.

A priest, a pastor, or any such others are called to minister to God’s people.

The goal of these ministries is to bring us all into one accord and not to cause division in the Church.

That ministering must be of the Lord Jesus Christ, or it is not a true ministry of the Church!

The ordination of these men should make a lasting impression on God’s people.

Just as these things were completed at the entrance into the Tabernacle, every Christian should make a public profession of faith.

All such as a pastor or evangelist, are to never forget their calling and appointment.

When such a man of God is called and show it, they will have the respect of the Church as Aaron did have with the Children of Israel.

When a Church needs a new Pastor, then the selection of that person should be visible and not done behind closed doors!

Here, in the Book of John, we see that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who does the calling so at this time Moses would be considered to be a “type” of Christ Jesus.

It is of critical importance that our Church leaders be called by the Lord.

One of the problems in the modern Church is that the leader of that Church was not called of God and are not God’s chosen!

They will only cause havoc in the Church!

*Lev 8:4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 8:5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.

Why would someone enter the ministry?

1) Some like the idea of serving and ministering to people.
2) Some like the professionalism of the being the pastor, the idea of leadership and being recognized in the community.
3) Some like the idea of teaching and speaking on a regular basis.
4) Some like the prestige and the image of respect shown to the men of God.
5) Some just like the money in a big church.
6) There may be many other reasons.

The truth is, no one should serve in the ministry unless they are called and ordained of God to serve God’s people!

Every Church should verify the calling of their church leaders and teachers.

That person should spend a lot of time in the Word of God and in prayer.

1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Just because someone went to a Seminary does not mean they are taught of God.

In fact, many seminaries ruin what would have been a good Pastor.

Let us look at the calling of the Apostle Paul:

Act 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The Apostle Paul was a Jewish Pharisee and knew most of the Word of God by heart, but even Paul had to spend some time with the Holy Spirit.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

It could be said that no man of God should be leading a Church until, that man of God has been trained by the Holy Spirit for at least three years.

The Holy Spirit will only teach the things of Jesus Christ.

All those who lead people away from Jesus Christ are not called of God and should be removed until they repent and get saved and then trained in the works of Christ!

Obviously, the Holy Spirit is in charge of every called man of God!

A man called of God will teach the things of Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Holy Spirit will never lead that ordained man of God away from the Lord Jesus Christ nor the Blood of Jesus Christ!

2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

A Church is not a Church unless it teaches the truth of Jesus Christ!
A Preacher is not a man of God unless, he teaches the truth of Jesus Christ, The Gospel.

2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Any works doctrine or any way of man cannot reconcile you to God!

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

It is only by the “Blood” of Jesus Christ that we can be cleansed of our sins.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

It is only by the water of regeneration of the Holy Spirit that we become the chosen of God!

Tit_3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

*Lev 8:6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

Remember Moses is a “type” of Jesus Christ.

No one can be cleansed without the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Psalmist wrote:

Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Moses, God’s mediator, took those to be ordained and washed them in water.

You see, it is only God’s mediator who can do the washing and the cleansing.

Jesus Christ is God’s true Mediator!

This washing with water is a “type” of being Spiritually cleansed!

No one can cleanse themselves and no one can be cleansed but by God’s Mediator!

This is the truth of the Scriptures!

God can only cleanse us of our sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ, He is God!

Joh_10:30 I and my Father are one.
Joh_17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

We should notice that this washing and cleansing with water took place right before the putting on of those white linen priestly clothes.

These clothes in type represent the righteousness of God.

As sinners we must be cleansed from that sin before we can put on the righteousness of God!

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It is only after this cleansing and this ordination that the true man of God can be a servant of God!

*Lev 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
Lev 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

God met these children of Israel in this unique way, only because they had sought Him through the substitute sacrifice.

They had prepared themselves for the presence of God.

God has not ever changed!

That substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be called, we must be chosen, and we must be cleansed, to ever be in the presence of God and the Holy Spirit does these things.

The Church has the truth for this ungodly world!

These children of Israel are still blind to this truth!

2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

There is no other way to be saved but by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ our substitute.
There is no other way to be cleansed and regenerated, but by the Holy Spirit.
There is no other way to meet God our Heavenly Father, but by obedience to his Word and His Son.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Won’t you look to Christ today and be cleansed from all your sin?

Amen