Let The Work Begin

After the ordination ceremony, on the eighth day, Moses called together Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without defects, and present them to the LORD. Then tell the Israelites, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and take a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defects, for a burnt offering. Also take a bull and a ram for a peace offering and flour moistened with olive oil for a grain offering. Present all these offerings to the LORD because the LORD will appear to you today.’” [Leviticus 9.1-4]

Let the work begin!

Here we see the beginning of the work - the priests begin the task of consecrating the people through sacrifices. 

This work is the work of the Kingdom.

As discussed in days past, we are to see Jesus through the painstaking detail of these priestly Tabernacle procedures. And, if we see Jesus in proper discernment in this, we also see ourselves because Jesus commissioned His followers to all the ministry He Himself engaged in.

So, here's the deal: let's look at the end result of the "work" that began here in chapter 9 of Leviticus:

After that, Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. Then, after presenting the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down from the altar. Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community. Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground. [Leviticus 9.22-24]

Think about this... Fire manifested from God's presence when the priests effectively represented the people. Fire also manifested on the Day of Pentecost when the people gathered together. Could it be that this was what the Tabernacle procedures pointed to?

Remember that Christ followers are "Christ on earth" - His representatives fully endued with authority and power to do the exact same works as Jesus (and greater). The fire that came from God's presence in the Tabernacle and the tongues of fire that rested upon the people both represent the same thing: God's power on the obedience of His people in the forgiveness of sins! The separating veil in the Temple (the upgraded Tabernacle) was torn at Jesus' death and the transition was made from "Temple" to "people" where God's fire - His power - would manifest. Oh man!

So why do we not see these flames of fire today?

Well now, that is a good question. The answer however does not lie in God, but in us. God's fire has not changed, so, man's pleasing of God that results in the manifestation of His fire is the only possible difference. 

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. [Acts 2.1-4]

The early believers in Christ were gathered together as recorded in Acts chapter 2. What do you suppose they were doing? Just sitting there? Maybe having coffee and donuts? I don't think so! I am convinced they were praying with an intensity most today are clueless about. I believe they were engaging in God's new way of forgiveness - Jesus. And in likeness to Jesus they were practicing forgiving and they were therefore being forgiven. To be clear, this is precisely what all the priestly duty of Tabernacle sacrifices was all about!

The effective priestly work of believers today should yield the same result as the effective work of the priests in the Tabernacle. The manifestation of the fire of God - the demonstration of miracles and power. Walking on water if necessary. Raising the dead.

Let the work begin!

Father, help us to simply stop reading and understanding the Bible through our religious eyes. Help us instead take a candid look at what Your pleasure upon Your people looked like in Tabernacle days and soberly evaluate our own situation in light of it. Help us to ask ourselves, "Where is the fire?" "Where is the power?"