FAITH IS A FACT IV

FAITH IS A FACT, IV

“Through Faith and Patience Inherited the Promises”

“The More Excellent Ministry”

Hebrews 6:1 “Let us go on unto perfection”.    Our exhortation to go on to perfection challenges our Faith to better things.  (verse 9) “But beloved, We are persuaded better things of you.”  That each one show diligence, (verse 10) “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you ministered to the saints and do minister.”

The writer then gives an example of Abraham who “After he had patiently endured obtained the promise. (Verse 15)

Hebrews 6: 19-20:  “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entered within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

The Melchisedec Priesthood is the “More Excellent Ministry” of Hebrews 8:6:

“But now he has obtained a MORE EXCELLENT MINISTRY, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

There are several aspects of the More Excellent Ministry, all of which make up the word and ministry of reconciliation (11 Cor. 5:17-21)

Hebrews 1:3: “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.”

It is a ministry without condemnation, prejudice, walls, retaliation, profanity or idolatry.  It operates according to the power of the creative, spoken word and flows in two primary directions:

1. Forgiveness
2. Blessing

Before we can follow our forerunner, Jesus, behind the veil (Verses 6:19-20), we must first behold Him who operates a ministry without condemnation.  Some are going to follow Jesus all the way and sit down with Him in His throne.  “We have a high priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens.” (Hebrews 8:1) (rev. 3:21)  These will identify with His ministry of mercy and compassion, purity and love that gives.

This following of Jesus will be in Faith and Obedience.  They love not their lives unto death.  We must follow the lamb wherever He goes.  Where did He go?   He has entered behind the veil.

He has gone in and He hasn’t come out.  He won’t come out until His Body, the Church, goes in and stays in with Him.  Brides come into the Bridegroom’s chamber.

The Priesthood of Melchisedec has been a mystery to most of the church world.  Paul said this in Hebrews 5:8-11:  “Jesus learned obedience by the things which he suffered…having been perfected, He became the author of salvation to all who obey Him...call by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have much to say, and is hard to explain.”

In Hebrew, “Melchisedec means King of Righteousness, King of Justice, righteous rule, upright counselor, righteous judgment:..  Jesus Christ is the King of Righteousness.  The word Melchisedec is found two times in the Old Testament and nine times in the New Testament.  Hebrews provides the scriptural basis for the study of Melchisedec.  The word Hebrews means descendants of “Eber”.  Eber means passing over, come over, overcome, on the other side.  There is a people who will pass over into a new order of ministry.  This realm is beyond Pentecost in the Holy Place.  They are passing over into the rent veil in to the Holiest of all, a more excellent ministry.

This is the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ after the order of Melchisedec from the Most Holy Place.  The bible reveals the MORE EXCELLENT MINISTRY to be the same as:

1. The High priestly ministry (Hebrews 5:10)
2. The King-Priest Ministry (Revelation 1:6; 5:10)
3. The faithful priesthood (1 Samuel 1-4)
4. The Zadok priesthood (Ezekiel 44)
5. The royal priesthood (1 Peter 2)
6. The priesthood of Urim and Thummin (Ezra 2)
7. The priesthood of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5-7)

The subject of the Sixth chapter of Hebrews is the realm of perfection.  A brief analysis of Hebrews Seven reveals nine major principles concerning the Melchisedec priesthood.  We won’t take verse by verse, but the following are characteristics of the ministry of King Jesus and his brothers (Romans 8: 28-30; Hebrews 2:9-13; Isaiah 8:18)

1. Ministry of a prophet, priest and King.
2. Ministry is unlimited.
3. Ministry is energized by the source of an endless life.
4. Ministry is eternal.
5. Ministry is immutable or unchangeable.
6. Ministry is universal flowing unto all men.
7. Ministry springs from Judah, or praise (Hebrews 7:14)
8. Ministry brings perfection.
9. Ministry puts away the curse of the law, namely sin, sickness, poverty and death.

Jesus is a Prophet, Priest and King.  All three offices meet in Him.

1. The prophet speaks producing righteousness.
2. The Priest speaks producing peace.
3. The King speaks producing joy.

Earth fears no words from mere preachers, nor from self-styled prophets.  But earth fears when Ezekiel speaks and prays.  Kings feared when Elijah spoke and prayed.  Felix trembled when Paul spoke.

It is not enough that earth hear our teachings, our prophecies, and our expositions of scripture.  But as God’s servants respond to the Spirit, the voice from the throne will produce a response.  The voice that speaks through humble, insignificant, broken, but approved vessels of mercy will be a clear and powerful word.

  Those Holy Spirit led servants speak as God bids them to speak.  They remain dumb like Ezekiel as God bids them to be dumb.  They know they are not free to prophecy just because they are prophets.

All that the King is and does is in us.  “The riches of the mystery….which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory…that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Col. 1:27-29)

In the realm of the More Excellent Ministry, we will reveal the Glory of Jesus.  Did Jesus not say, “The glory you gave me, I have given them?”  God’s glory is inherent in His own being.  It is also revealed in the splendor and brightness of all creation.  Angels give Him Glory.  Celestial hosts bring Glory to His Name.  The inhabitants of earth when they enter beyond the veil give Him Glory.  The works of His hands reflect the Wisdom, knowledge, love and beauty of their creator.  We the created are to bring Glory to His Name.

The writer of Hebrews quote Psalm 110: 1-4: “the Lord said unto my Lord; sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.  The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the midst of your enemies.  Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning; you have the dew of your youth.  The Lord has sword, and will not repent, you are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

This is the place of His throne, Zion.  The Melchisedec Priesthood flows from this throne.  Here Zion is the place we are strengthened.  This is also stated in Psalm 20:2.  “David had to scale the craggy heights of Zion and drive out the enemy.  Zion, the place of weakness, the place of our battle, the place of struggle will become the place of our strength.  Zion is also the City of God, God’s habitation, the place of power, the joy of the whole earth, the mountain of Holiness, the perfection of Beauty and the mountain of praise; the day of your power; dew of your youth; drink by the brook of the wayside.” (George Warnock F.T.T.T. page 77)

Hebrews 7:25; 8: 1-6: describes the Greatness of this Melchisedec Priesthood.

1. He is able to save to the uttermost
2. He always lives to make intercession for us.
3. Holy
4. Harmless
5. Undefiled
6. Separate from sinners
7. Has become higher in the Heavens.
8. Offered up himself as a sacrifice for sin.
9. is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the Heavens (Zion)
10. A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle – not made by man.

When Abraham was “refreshed” after the first battle with the Mesopotamian Kings, and then readied for the second battle of Genesis 14, he was encouraged in meeting with Melchesedec, who gave him bread, beverage (wine) and blessing. (Jesus will strengthen us after a battle and prepare us for the next battle). 

These are the marks of the more excellent ministry after the order of Melchisedec:

1. State of royalty – powerful – a King who prophesied.
2. Sacred – priestly – first a king, then a priest (Hebrews 7: 1-2) Jesus cannot be our Priest until He is our Lord.
3. Steadfastness – permanent

“Melchisedec blessed both God and man.  This is the true nature of prayer, as we will see in both the Old and New Testaments.   Paul blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)  David walked in this pattern of ministry demonstrated so vividly by Melchisedec.   He did not attempt to minister to people before ministering to the Lord.  David, a man after God’s own heart, had his priorities in proper focus.  The Lord comes first: man is second!” (The Mystery of Melchisedec by Stephen Everett., Jr.)

I will continue this Epistle with Hope is a Certainty. 

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com