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The Symbols of Priesthood

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THE SYMBOLS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

To understand more fully the meaning of "YOUR" priesthood--we must look to Jesus, "the Patternman;" "no one but Christ is given US as an example. He is our true Pattern and each should strive to excel in imitating Him. (1T, 126)."

And concerning "looking upon Christ"--one religious writer makes this very important suggestion;
"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ . . . (letting) the imagination grasp each scene, ESPECIALLY THE CLOSING ONES (DA, 83)."

Following that sound advice--let us look throingh the eyes of John, and behold Jesus hanging on the Cross of Calvary.

But before we go to Scripture--let us answer a simple question here:
Had there EVER been an attempt made on the life of Christ prior to Calvary? And the obvious answer is YES--from His birth on--there were attempts made.

Then the next question is: WERE ANY OF THOSE ATTEMPTS SUCCESSFUL prior to Calvary? And the obvious answer to that is no!

Now let's turn to John 19--and see if we can determine HOW THEY TOOK THE LIFE OF CHRIST--for it HAS EVERYTHING To DO WITH OUR PRIESTHOOD!

John 19:23, 24 tells us that His two garments are in the possession of the soldiers down in front of Him.
"Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, TOOK HIS GARMENTS, AND MADE FOUR PARTS, TO EVERY SOLDIER A PART (SOUVENIRS) . . .
"And also His coat (which . . . was WITHOUT SEAM, . . . They said . . . Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be. . . ."

There hangs Jesus--TOTALLY EXPOSED TO THOSE STANDING THERE--with not a garment to cover Him.
How do we know that? Heb. 6:6 tells us so:
"If they (that come to a knowledge at truth--and then) shall fall away, . . . renew then again unto repentance, SEEING they crucify TO THEMSELVES the Son of God afresh, AND put him to AN OPEN SHAME."

"OPEN" in the Greek carries the meaning: "To Show the public"--"Exhibit a Specimen" (All parts Exposed to those looking upon Him.)

But Jesus DID have something upon His body that He DID NOT come into this world with--A CROWN OF THORNS that was forced into the flesh.

To get our first insight into what all this means concerning HOW THE LIFE OF CHRIST WAS TAKEN, and what THAT means to my priesthood--we must go to a volume on the life of Christ entitled THE DESIRE OF AGES, and look at page 709;
"Everything worn by the priest . . . (beautiful official garments) represented the CHARACTER of . . . Jesus Christ."

CLOTHING REPRESENTS CHARACTER!

Rev. 19:8 "And to her (Church, cf. chapter. 12 which REALLY is speaking of "church members!) was granted that she should be arrayed (clothed) in fine linen, clean and white, FOR the fine linen IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS."

Matt. 22:11 "And when the king came in to see the guests (at the wedding), he saw there a man which had not on A WEDDING garment." (King = Christ, Wedding Garment = His name, meaning HIS CHARACTER).

And what about that "crown of thorns?"
2Cor. 12:18S "For this thing (v. 7--'a thorn in the flesh') I besought the Lord THRICE (3 TIMES) that it might depart from me."
Matt. 26:36, 39-44 "O my Father, it it be "possible, let this CUP pass from me. . . . He went away again the second time, and prayed . . . And prayed the third time, saying the same words."

Each time, Christ, then Paul, prayed 3 times that something UNDESIRABLE be removed from then. For Paul it was a "THORN"--for Christ it was a "CUP"--but unlike Paul, who must bear the results of his own sinful experience--Christ was taking something upon Himself of which He had no part--YOUR SINS AND MINE! But, represented by the "crown of thorns," our sins are forced INTO HIS BODY.

Ev. 347 "A man may seem to receive the truth, but if he does not overcome his UN-CIHRISTLIKE TRAITS OF CHARACTER, THESE THORNS GROW AND STRENGTHEN . . ."

Now lets put all the pieces together!

As Christ walked this earth--He was fully dressed, MEANING His character fully reflected that of His Father. As such--NO ATTEMPTS UPON HIS LIFE WERE SUCCESSFUL! Now He comes down to Golgatha's hill -and His clothing (representing His character) is STRIPPED from Him, a crown of thorns (representing YOUR CHARACTER AND MINE) is FORCED into His flesh - and Rom. 6:23 tells us that "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH."

THAT'S how they took the life of Christ!

And TODAY, what is the message from the Cross that has to do with our "Priesthood?"
Luke 9:23 "And he (Jesus) said to THEM ALL, if ANY man (woman, or young person) will come after me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS daily, and follow me."

Followers of Jesus are called "Christians" today ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? What does the tern "Christian" embody or mean in a practical sense? "CHRIST-LIKE"--OR--"JUST LIKE CHRIST!"

So - if someone came up to you one day and pleaded with you to show them Jesus Christ--your response would be:
You want to see Jesus? And they would answer, Oh yes, I sure do? Then your next statement would go something like this; Look at ME! I am JUST LIKE CHRIST! I am a "Christian--CHRIST-LIKE!"

Sounds much more serious when put in that light, doesn't it! But that is no stretch of the truth! In fact that is one of the reasons why Christ has not come yet--HE IS WAITING FOR HIS CHARACTER TO BE REPRODUCED IN THE MAJORITY OF HIS PEOPLE!

SO--What is your message ABOUT JESUS CHRIST--to the world? What are you trying to tell them--by your life?
To be accurate in our description. we must first know and understand WHAT CHRIST IS LIKE! And Paul has given us a group of three "composite pictures" of Jesus, and by putting them all together--we have a full picture of Jesus--and thereby to be able to BE MORE LIKE HIM!

Picture
No.1

Heb. 4:14 "Seeing then that we have A GREAT HIGH PRIEST . . . . JESUS THE SON OF GOD. . . . "

Picture
No. 2

Heb. 7:25 "Wherefore he (Christ) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM."

Picture
No. 3

Heb. 9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US."

HERE IS THE PICTURE

Jesus is an INTERCEEDING HIGH PRIEST, STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR YOU!"

AND THOSE WHO ARE "CHRIST-LIKE"

To those desiring to get to know Jesus: YOUR MESSAGE IS TO BE: "I am an INTERCEEDING HIGH PRIEST, STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR YOU!"

Sound Serious? It is! Sound Exciting? It should be! Sound like a "fairy-tale?" It is NOT!

I Peter 2:9 the "affirmation" of our calling to be "High Priest"--or "Royal Priests!" But there is more to that text than meets the eye--and to understand our calling--we must first understand WHO WE ARE--AND WHO GOD IS IN RELATIONSHIP TO US!

So we will take this passage of Scripture thought by thought now--and let it bring us to an understanding that will empower us to live and work as God's high priests!

1.

 

"YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION" . . . (Paraphrased--You are a PICKED generation!)
Picked by whom? When was I picked? And for what purpose was I picked? And is God kind of STUCK with me--or did He have other choices when He picked me?

 

A.

 

 

Jer. 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. . . . " Before I WAS MATTER--I WAS KNOWN!
Of the 250 million sperm present at the moment of conception--God KNEW ME! God CHOSE ME (and YOU--OF COURSE)!
But why were WE so important to God? His choices were unlimited at that moment--for science clearly shows us that if all 250 million sperm (which are half human beings) were developed--there would be NO TWO ALIKE! Incredible! So God's selection was carefully made for some specific--and special purpose!

 

 

B.

 

 

Isa. 49:5 "and now, saith the Lord THAT FORMED ME FROM THE WOMB TO BE HIS SERVANT. . . " THERE IT IS--HIS PURPOSE FOR SELECTING YOU AND ME--"TO BE HIS SERVANT!" But "servant" is a rather "generic" term--and our God does not deal in generalities--so we must look for "specifics" in His purpose for us!

 

 

C.

 

 

Isa. 49:6 and here is God's plan for EACH OF OUR LIVES! So--if you are one of those persons who is wondering, and waiting to find out what YOUR purpose in this life is--follow this closely!

 

 

 

"THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE MY SERVANT TO:

 

a.

"RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB"--meaning "Church Planting" for "the tribes of Jacob" are today "Jews by Character"--rather than "Jews by birth" (cf. Gal. 3:28, 29; Rom. 2:28, 29).

 

 

b.

 

 

"TO RESORE THE PRESEVED OF ISRAEL"--meaning Working with the Jewish Community (cf. Rom. 11:11, 15-17, 20, 23).

 

 

c.

 

 

"I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES"--meaning anyone who does not profess the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

d.

 

 

"THAT THOU MAYEST BE MY SALVATION UTNO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH."--meaning "In God's great plan for the redemption of a lost race, He has placed Himself UNDER THE NECESSITY of using human agencies as His helping hand. HE MUST HAVE A HELPING HAND, IN ORDER TO REACH HUMANITY." (1SM, 99).

SO EVERY SINGLE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS THE EXACT SAME WORK To Do--BUT IT IS DONE THROUGH OUR UNIQUE PERSONALITIES! ONLY YOU CAN REACH CERTAIN OTHER PEOPLE ON PLANET EARTH--WHICH SAYS TWO THINGS ABOUT YOU AND ME:

1. WE ARE KEY PEOPLE TO GOD!
Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works vxry wxll xxcxpt for onx kxy. You would think that with all thx othxr kxys functioning propxrly, onx kxy not working would hardly bx noticxd; but just onx kxy out of whack sxxms to ruin thx wholx xffort.

You may say to yoursxlf--"wxll, I'm only onx pxrson. Pro onx will noticx if I don't do my bxst." But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx bxcausx to bx xffxctivx, an organization nxxds activx participation by xvxryonx to thx bxst of his or hxr ability.

So, thx nxxt time you think you arx nxt important, rxmxmbxr my old typxwritzr. YOU ARE A KXY PXRSON!

2. We need to make sure WHERE WE ARE AT, WHAT TYPE OF WORK WE ARE DOING, HOW WE UTILIZE THE TALENTS GOD HAS GIVEN US (TIME, MONEY, ETC.) TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION HERE ON EARTH is according to GOD'S PLAN, NOT OURS.

To be sure we ARE where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us doing--all we have to do is answer this question when considering a change:
Is THIS BY "DIVINE DESIGN OR MERE "HUMAN DEVISING?

And before we leave the subject of being "chosen by God"--there is another part of the picture that must be brought out--for Hosea 4:6 ("My people are DESTROYED for a lack of knowledge . . .") is truly fulfilled because it is not considered!

And the subject begins with the answer to a simple question:
What must I possess to be a "servant of God?"
1. Two perfect hands? NO!
2. Two legs the same length? NO!
3. A straight back? NO!
4. A sound mind? Do I hear you saying YES? Many, in fact MOST do!

But let us recap the PURPOSS for which God formed me, and, in fact, pre-knew me. Was not all that just simply so I could be His servant? If so--let me share with you a short scenario:
A young couple are preparing for the birth of their first child, and they are so excited! But during a series of tests they are informed that this child will be nothing more than a "human vegetable."

Options are offered this couple--among them ABORTION, Institutional care upon birth, or, if they so desired, they could care for it at home. They choose the later--which involved carrying this "human vegetable" full term.

Finally the family goes home--and a care plan is set up, and life, though different than planned, seems to be running fairly smoothly. But as this baby grows, so do the problems in caring for it.

One day, in utter desperation over the complexity of meeting the demands upon them by this situation--Mother and Father fall on their knees and cry out "Lord Help Us!"

Question: Has that little "human vegetable" accomplished it's purpose for being chosen by God? ABSOLUTELY! All ANY OF US are about is getting others to the Lord!

NOW--before you think that I am saying God makes "human vegetables"--I want you to know that that is EXACTLY what I am saying! But let me add quickly--I do not for a minute think that God takes pleasure in their very limited capacity--but it is a truth--God Is LIMITED to what mother and father provide Him with to FORM that baby in the womb!

But to say that that "human vegetable" is a mistake is saying GOD MAKES MISTAKES--or worse yet--THE BIBLE DOESN'T REALLY MEAN WHAT IT SAYS.

And because of this dilema--people don't understand what is involved when abortion is completed. ABORTION IS INTERFERRING WITH GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION (again read Isa. 49:6), and if no life is in eminant danger of being lost--how dare man take God's work into his own hands.

And One last thought--when abortion is performed--how many lives are affected? Mother, Father, the doctor and nurses--yes. But what about the ones that God sees who would have been influenced at some point in their lives by this person?

Hosea 4:6 And that is why God said "MY PEOPLE are destroyed for a lack of knowledge . . . !"

Now let us return to 1 Peter 2:9 and continue looking at this VERY IMPORTANT TEXT!
"You are a royal priesthood . . . " Meaning you are a "high priest"--or a "king priest." You are the one who bears the names of all the children of Israel before Him on the "Breastplate of Judgment"--and interceeds for them!

"You are . . . an holy nation!" And how do I belong to a "holy nation?" Here's how!
ALL GOD WANTS . . . IS ALL THERE IS . . . OF ALL OF US . . . ALL THE TIME!

God wants us to bring everything we ARE, and everything we OWN to Him, and as we do so--He assures us that HE WILL MAKE US HOLY TO HIMSELF!
"You are . . . a peculiar people," meaning, you are a SPECIAL PEOPLE--FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE--
"That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

"SHEW FORTH PRAISES"--HOW? There are two (2) ways to do that, and ONLY two!
1. Verbally--Singing, Praying, Testimonies;
2. "Nonverbal Communication"--"BODY LANGUAGE!"

But before we pursue that--I want to go back to our original call--Luke 9:23--and clarify a work in that text that seems to be a real problem for Christians!
"Take up your cross (HOW OFTEN?)
D A I L Y! That's the word---"daily"--so we must identify what it means!
Daily = 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily the hours of "work!" Do I bear you disagreeing? Your saying it means 24 hours a day!
But that being the case--it's only for 5 days a week--we get the weekend off--right!
Do I hear you disagreeing again? Are you saying seven--as in 7--days a week!

Well then, you must mean for us to wait and take our vacations at the end of the year! Maybe a 2 or three week vacation--right!
What did I hear you say--"NO VACATIONS!"
WELL--IF THAT Is "REALLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING--"NO TIME OFF FROM BEING A PRIEST"--THEN THIS IS OUR SITUATION!

"If I am NEVER OFF DUTY as a priest--THAN I am NEVER OUT OF UNIFORM as a Priest!"
And that means--what ever you wear when you are home--that is your high priest uniform! what ever you wear in to town--that is your high priest uniform! what ever you wear to church--that is your high priest uniform! AND--when you DO take a vacation (and Christians do!)--YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR HIGH PRIEST UNIFORM.

The sad fact is though-- when folks plan their vacations--they usually plan them around bodies of water. And when you come to the water's edge--folks are TAKING OFF their uniforms--NOT putting them on-- AND EVEN CHRISTIANS DON'T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

But there is something about "Biblical Priesthoods" we should know:
1. There are two (2) of them (cf. Hosea 4:6),
2. And the difference between the two has to do with the uniform.

1 Peter 2:9 is "God's Priesthood"--
Isa. 4: 1 is Satan's priesthood, and we need to look at it closely:
Isa. 4:1 "And in that day SEVEN WOMEN shall take hold of ONE MAN . . . ."
1. Seven Women = Church (cf. Rev. 1:1, 13),
2. One Man = Christ (cf. Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23).

Now let's listen to what WE (CHURCH MEMBERS) ARE "SAYING" to CHRIST! (AND LET US NOT FORGET THAT "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS--AND THE SECRET THOUGHTS ARE ALL OPEN TO GOD (cf. Num. 14:28).

1. "We will eat our own bread"

A.John 6:51--Jesus said He is the "Living Bread"--so . . .
B. The living Bread is being replaced with "common bread" (TV, Print, Trivial conversations, Etc.).

2. "We will wear our own apparel"

A. Isa. 64:6 "Filthy rags" because it is apart from Christ.
B. Matt. 10:33 "Silent witness"--(removing the ringers from the bells on the hem of the priest's uniform).

And how do we know that that is what's on their minds? Listen to their closing request (remembering this represents us TODAY!);
"Only let us be CALLED BY THY NAME, to take away our reproach." Meaning--they are not into religion for "committment"--but rather for "appearance!"

So--how do you tell the difference between the two priesthoods? By the UNIFORM primarily!

NO. ONE . . . . . . "FOUNDATION" OF UNIFORM--WHITE ROBE
A. Rev. 19:8--It represents the righteousness of Christ,
B. Isa. 64:6--Versus man's righteousness without Christ!
C. John 15:5--"Without Me--ye can do nothing!"
D. Phil. 4:13--BUT--"I CAN DO ALL THINGS, through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

And--as the white robe is the foundation garment of the priest's uniform--and the foundation is what gives strength to what follows--so we will build upon the "righteousness of Christ" As REPRESENTED by the white robe!

NO. TWO . . . . . . "BLUE ROBE OF THE EPHOD"
A. Num. 15:38, 39--Blue represents "OBEDIENCE" to God's Laws.
B. James 2:20--Faith WITHOUT Works is DEAD!
C. 1 John 2:3--"And hereby do we KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM--IF we keep His commandments (wear the Blue Robe of the Ephod!).

And that brings us to a name that in given to those Christians who follow the directions of God--
"L E G A L I S T S!" But --if the uniform is worn properly--it is IMPOSSIBLE to be a "legalist"--and here is why.
A "true" legalist is one who will put on the "Blue Robe of the Ephod FIRST--to prove he is worthy to wear the White Robe of Christ's Righteousness--and thus worthy to receive the benefits offered to such.

In contrast--a "true" Christian is one who will put on the "Blue Robe of Obedience" BECAUSE HE (OR SHE) ALREADY ENJOYS the righteousness of Christ, and the benefits His fellowship offers.
John 15:7 "IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU (WEARING THAT WHITE ROBE THEN) YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL, AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU."

NO. THREE . . . . . . BELLS AND POMEGRANATES

A. Ezk. 3:17-19 "I have called you to be watchmen. . . hear the words at my mouth, and warn them FROM ME."
B. Luke 17:26, 28, 30 HIS WORD OF WARNING:
"And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), SO SHALL IT BE ALSO IN THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN. Likewise ALSO as it was in the days of Lot; . . . EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED."

And Just what WAS it like in the days of Noah--and now TODAY--that would bring an end to all things?
Gen. 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (Heb. Seat of mind, Intellect, Purpose) was only evil continually."

Rom. 1:22, 23 "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And CHANGED the glory of the uncorruptible God into an IMAGE MADE LIKE TO CORRUPTIBLE MAN, AND TO BIRDS, AND FOUR-FOOTED BEASTS, AND CREEPING THINGS."

3SG, 63,64 "The transgressing and fall of Adam and Eve brought sin and wretchedness upon the human race, and man followed his own carnal desires, and CHANGED GOD'S ORDER. . . . They loved to destroy the lives of animals. They used them for food, and this increased their ferocity and violence, and caused then to look upon the blood of hunan beings with astonishing indifference.

"BUT if there was ONE SIN ABOVE ANOTHER which called for the destruction or the race by the flood, It WAS THE BASE CRIME OF AMALGAMATION OF MAN AND BEAST which DEFACED THE IMAGE OF GOD, and canned confusion everywhere."

ibid. 67 "The ark was finished exactly as God had directed. He had laid in store immense quantities of food for man and beast. And after this was accomplished, God commanded the faithful Noah, 'Come thou, and all thy house, into the ark, for thee have I seen righteous before me.' Angels went before these animals, . . . These beasts, from the most ferocious, down to the most gentle and harmless, peacefully and solemnly marched into the ark."

ibid, 75 "Every species of animal which God had created were preserved in the ark. THE CONFUSED SPECIES WHICH GOD DID NOT CREATE, WHICH WERE THE RESULT OF AMALGAMATION, WERE DESTROYED BY TRE FLOOD. Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men."

4SG, 121 "There were a class of very large animals which perished at the flood. God knew that the strength of man would decrease, and these mammoth animals could not be controlled by feeble man."

Letter 83, 1901 "The curse was pronounced upon the human family . . . God permitted man to eat flesh meat. This He did that life night be shortened. The punishment of death had been pronounced upon the human race, and the permission to eat flesh was one of the means used by God to inflict the punishment."

4S0, 122 "The curse did not come all at once. It was first felt at Adam's fall, and increased at the murder of Abel, and greatly increased at the flood. Since the flood, as the human family have forgotten God, and have followed in a course of disobedience, and have transgressed his commandments, the curse has rested heavier and heavier upon men and upon the beasts. The trees and all vegetation also have felt the effects of the curse."

TIME Magazine, November 6, 1995: "An Early Tale" gives us a pictorial example of what is being portrayed in Scripture and by other research articles!

NEXT, what was going on in the days of Lot that are being repeated TODAY?
Rom. 1:21, 25-28 "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Who changed the truth of God into a lie . . . . For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, AND RECEIVING IN THEMSESLVES THAT RECOMPENCE (REWARD) OF THEIR ERROR WHICH WAS MEET. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave then over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient."

REPRINTED FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD "Gay Revolutionary," Michael Swift--(See attached page for more.)
"HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST OUTLINES GOALS OF HOMOSEXUAL MOVEMENT (In part) The family unit--spawning ground of lies, betrayals, mediocrity, hypocrisy and violence--will be abolished . . . . All laws banning homosexual activity will be revoked. Instead, legislation shall be passed which engenders love between men. . . . All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods are handsome young men. . . . We shall be victorious because we are fueled with the ferocious bitterness of the oppressed . . . . We too are capable of firing guns and manning the barricades of the ultimate revolution. Tremble, hetro swine, when we appear before you without our masks."

THE CHURCH WITH AIDS, (written by Gay and Lesbian Pastors and/or Counselors) and used as a teaching manual at Harvard University, School of Divinity. pp. 62, 119 "Until the Church can love us as Christ does, BECAUSE we are Gay, and affirm that our sexuality is PART OF GOD'S PERFECT WILL FOR OUR LIVES - it will continue to participate in a culture that keeps us in un-freedom. . . . Furthermore, sinning is not tied up with one's sexuality, but with the failure to love, stemming from the desire for the ill-being of the other. Therefore, it is the CHURCH, NOT THE DIFFERENTLY ORIENTED PERSON WHO Is SINS, and the CHURCH IS CALLED FIRST TO CONFESSION."

Do those sound like "Bells Ringing" to you! IF THEY DO--then, as a priest of Jesus--you will warn the world.
As a priest to Satan--you will remain silent!

NOW THE POMIGRANATES--which are fruit about the size of an apple, but containing lots of seeds. And the seeds are capsulated in a "pod" with a sweet juice which is "wine colored." MEANING:
2 Peter 1:4 "Whereby are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these ye might become partakers of the divine nature. . . . "
a. There are over 3,000 Bible Promises!
b. Every promise is sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, AS the seeds are sealed in the red fluid! c. John 6:54 "Whoso eateth my flesh, and DRINKETH MY BLOOD, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

But then comes the big question: Why are "Promises" which are supposed to be "gifts" on the "Blue Robe of Obedience?"
Heb. 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, AFTER YE HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD, ye might receive the promise." MEANING:
FOR EVERY BIBLE PROMISE--THERE IS A BIBLICAL "CONDITION" TO ITS FULFILLMENT!

Example: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins (condition for receiving the promise), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Gift!)."

No. FOUR . . . . . . . . EPHOD ("DOUBLE APRON")
A. Mark 9:35--To be first in the Kingdom of God--you must be last with your fellow man!
B. Phil. 2:5, 6, 8 FOUR COLORS: . . . RED, BLUE, PURPLE, AND GOLD:
"Let this mind be in you which was also in CHRIST JESUS, Who . . . thought it not robbery to be [PURPLE] equal with God . . . Made himself of no reputation, and because [BLUE] obedient unto death, even [GOLD] the death of the Cross."

NO. FIVE . . . . . . . . ONYX STONES ON SHOULDER
A. Isa. 9:6 Government (of people) are upon Christ's shoulder,
B. Gal. 6:1, 2 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, YE WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, CONSIDERING THYSELF, LEST THOU ALSO BE TEMPTED. BEAR YE one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

NO. SIX . . . . . . . . . BREASTPLATE
A. Ex. 28:29 Also known as the "Breastplate of Judgment" as the priest always bore the names of all the tribes in the presence of God, for it REVEALED, or spoke of God's judgments or decisions concerning Israel.
B. Lev. 8:8 God told Moses to "put IN the Breastplate the Urim and the Thummim,
C. Ex. 28:15, 17 JUST AS HE WAS TOLD TO "make the breastplate of Judgment . . . and . . . SET IN it settings of stones. . . . "
D. "Urim" (Located on the right side) MEANS "Oracular (or Mysterious) Brilliancy"--and was the most beautiful stone on the Breastplate.
E. "Thurim" (Located on the left side) MEANS "Emblem of COMPLETE TRUTH." (For application TODAY--see Isa. 30:21!)
F. Luke 22:31, 32 The Breastplate represents "Intercessory Prayer (that's where the saints PRAY FOR--NOT PREY ON) their brothers and sisters!

NO. SEVEN . . . . . . . . MITRE (HOLY CROWN)
A. Ex. 28:26-28 On it were written the words "Holiness to the Lord,"
B. Rom. 6:13 Because of its location over the Brain (specifically the "Frontal Lobe"--the "Will") it was a reminder to not to "yield (theirs, and) your members (mind faculties) as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but (to) yield yourselves unto God . . . and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
BECAUSE . . .
C. Matt. 6:24 "NO MAN can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON."
D. 1 Cor. 2:14 And by yielding my "Mind Faculties" "Holy To The Lord" I will have "spiritual" discernment:

 

1.

 

 

Prov. 22:6 I will discern that HOW I CONDUCT MY OWN PRIESTHOOD WILL HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF GOD'S FAMILY (BE IT BY YEARS--OR BY EXPERIENCE, TRULY THEY ARE YOUTH!) So--I will watch MY OWN ways--that I might "train up a child in the WAY HE SHOULD GO. . . . "

 

 

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Prov. 20:11 Because even children of younger YEARS have a judgment to face just like adults! "Even a CHILD is known by his doings, whether his work be PURE, and whether it be RIGHT."

 

 

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Prov. 20:11 is the "Investigative Judgment" for Children,

 

 

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Ez. 9:6 is the "Executive Judgment" for Children:
"Slay utterly old and young, BOTH maids AND LITTLE CHILDREN . . . but come not near any man (woman, or child) upon whom is the MARK; and BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY . . . "

E. Psa. 101:2-7 IF MY MIND IS "HOLY TO THE LORD" then:
1. "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. . . ."
2. "I will set no wicked THING before mine eyes:
3. "He that worketh deceit shall NOT dwell within my house,"
4. "He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."
Could it be that David knew all about Television when he wrote this! He certainly did describe it fully and honestly!

F. 1 Cor. 10:31 IF MY MIND IS "HOLY TO THE LORD" then IN WHAT I EAT, WHAT I DRINK, IN ALL THAT I DO, I WILL "DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD!"

Let me summarize our whole priesthood in a poem entitled:

"TWAS A SHEEP"

Twas a sheep--not a lamb--that went astray
In that parable Jesus told,
Twas a grown-up sheep that wandered away
From the ninety and nine in the fold!

And out on the hilltops, and out in the cold,
Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd sought,
And back to the sheep, and back to the fold--
Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd brought.

But--why should the sheep be so carefully fed,
And cared for still today?
Because there is danger--if they go wrong--
They will lead the lambs astray.

For lambs will follow the sheep you know!
Wherever they wander, wherever they go,
If the sheep go wrong--
It will not be long,
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So--STILL WITH THE SHEEP we must earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today.
For if the lambs are lost,
What a TERRIBLE COST--
SOME SHEEP WILL HAVE TO PAY.
Florence Fitzpatrick

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Last updated: August 01, 2004.