04/06/12

Serving the Lord and offering Him fat and blood

Ezekiel 44:15 - But the priests, the Levites [Leviyiy instead of Leviy which is translated as Levi which means jointed to], the sons of Zadok [means righteous], that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister [serve] unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:


In today's scripture the Lord says He has called 3 categories of people to minister (serve) before Him and the 3 categories are the priest, the Levites and the sons of Zadok. Some translations have connected the first category to the second because it was the Levi who did the priestly duties.

The Hebrew word 'kohen' translated as priest does not necessary implies one who is called to do the duties of the sanctuary it is also translated as own (2), chief ruler (2), officer (1), princes(1). The word was first used for Melchizedek who was really a king. This term was also used people who dedicated themselves to the service of idols or pagan gods. Thus people whom the Lord calls kohen or priest are people who principally served serve Him or represent Him or have made Him their King. Therefore in Christ we all are called to a royal priesthood.

The Hebrew word written here is Leviyiy and not Leviy (Levi) which means jointed to. The term Levites was used for the sons of Levi (the Patriarch) whom the Lord separated unto Himself. They were not given any land (worldly procession) as inheritance but yet received from those given (the Levis dwelled on the skirts / suburbs of the land of the others). Although a tribe they were not counted in the 12 and represented people whom the Lord had saved unto Him by a substitute sacrifice when all the first-borns of Israel were to be killed for their sinful ways. All who are saved in Christ are like a Levi saved by a substitute sacrifice, but we are not called to serve God in the traditions of the Levites who followed the Law of Moses, but to serve Him like Melchizedek did in Christ.

Sons of righteousness refer to those who follow the path of righteousness. They are not righteous since the righteousness of man is like rags but these are those who imitate Christ the Righteous One. Like the features of the father are seen in his son so also, in those who are called sons of righteous Christ can be seen.

These 3 categories of people are called to serve God. What is interest and important in today's message is what they are called to offer the Lord in their service.

The 2 things they are called to serve are the fat and the blood. People who eat Pork would know the tasty part of eating pork is eating the meat with the fat. Since ages fat is an delicacy in many countries.

If one scientifically looks at fat, they are the extra that our body consumes which are stored as reserves for later use. But when a person keeps on consuming extra these reserves keep on increasing thus leading to obesity.

Blood symbolically represents righteousness. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost the righteousness that covered them and thus felt naked. It was the Lord who made a blood sacrifice to cover their nakedness and save them from His wrath. The Blood sacrifice of Christ was made to cover our sins and save us from the wrath of the Father eternally. It is His Righteousness that saves us by being a covering over us. Our blood sacrifice is the righteous life we live in Christ.

The Lord is telling us these 3 categories of people those who serve His Kingdom, those saved by His sacrifice and those who follow His righteousness are before Him and asked to serve Him. The 2 things which they are called to serve are the extras which the Lord has given them and the righteous life we live in Christ.

Tithing is just the start or the baby steps of being a Christian. A spiritually mature Christian does not tithe but offers the fat (extra or overflow) to the Lord. He or she also lives a life of righteousness which he or she offers to the Lord as a sacrifice. When we study a grape vine we see these two aspects in it and therefore Jesus calls us to be part of the grape vine to be grafted in Him.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have called us to live a worldly life that is not lost in pleasures and desires of things of this world. You have asked of us to be sober in our carnal nature controlling our inner man that was born in Adam and overcoming it by our being born-again and grafted in Christ the Vine. Lord, help us live a life that exhibits Christ. Lord, You do not desire money or things from us but yet ask them of us, they are what You have given us but yet You desire it from us, because You want us to overcome the sin nature in us. Help us Lord to overcome greed which brought down the greatly anointed Lucifer...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Hebrews 7:11 - If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

John 15:1-7
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.


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