MELCHISEDEC PRIESTHOOD II - The Bread and the Wine.
THE MELCHISEDEC PRIESTHOOD II
The Bread and the Wine
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
June 12, 2018, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
One of the many confirmations which came forth in the conference, The True Law of Freedom, is the persuasion the LORD is releasing upon the earth a new administration of His Priesthood. It is not without consequence that we are led to do a study on the Melchisedec Priesthood.
NASB: Eph. 1:10: With a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is the summing up of all things in Christ…
Weymouth: Eph. 1:10: …For the government of the world when the times are ripe for it---the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ.
An administration is being born of God even now to participate in the gathering together a Church which the criterion for membership is not found in outward appearance, but in the state of the heart. Jesus gathered administrators, the twelve apostles, at His coming as the Lamb of God to administrate the Feast of Pentecost. We have been in the administration of the Feast of Pentecost since the Day of Pentecost. Even so, He is thoroughly equipping a new administration for the Feast of Glory. This administration is being created with a view to the gathering into one all things in Christ.
Time and the conditions characterizing time will never change this view. The priestly family after the Order of Melchisedec understands this view. They, like the noble men of Issachar (1 Chron. 12:32), have divine understanding of the times and are led by the Holy Spirit.
All of history is now ready to be fulfilled in Christ. History will be summed up in one Head who brings forth one bread. All nations of mankind will form the ingredients of this bread. The wholeness of one is the strength of all.
Matt. 12:25: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
That which stands divided will stand united together in the fullness of time.
The bread and the wine ministered to Abram by Melchisedec are the elements of the communion of Christ’s Life in the New Testament. This meal rejuvenates us for life. The course of history was altered shortly after this event in Abram’s life.
So then, what is this bread that Melchisedec ministered to Abram? Is it not the life of all nations of men who were to come out of him, “the father of nations?” This bread was more than mere barley cakes or wheat loaves. It was more than a common courtesy extended for selfish gain of a tired warrior. The giving and the partaking of this bread was a significant event for all ages of mankind.
Melchisedec ministered as a priest to Abram just prior to Abram’s encounter with the King of Sodom.
When Melchisedec brought forth wine, it typified for the believer two vital understandings concerning the New Covenant: The blood of the covenant, and the joy of covenantal life. I would like to give priority in this message to the blood because of its power to release the believer from sin. Joy is a result of righteousness, which is based on the justification which comes from faith in Christ’s Blood (Rom. 3:25).
From the first day that we recognized our forgiveness from sin, the Blood has never lost its power. The joy we experience is because Christ’s Blood is the precious Blood of the everlasting covenant (Heb. 13:20). Because the Blood has sanctified us unto God (Heb. 13:12), we can have joy unspeakable and full of glory. We can be excited about this reality!
The life of flesh is still in the Blood (Lev. 17:11). The great value of life as a gift from God prohibited the eating of flesh with blood in it (Gen. 9:4).
The Law Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus overcame the law of the spirit of sin and death in the Old Testament.
Mat. 16:28: For this is my Blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The more excellent sacrifice was fulfilled when Christ offered Himself without spot to God through the eternal Spirit. He entered once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. He now appears in heaven itself in the presence of God for us. The Levitical system was simply a pattern of things in the heavenlies, where Christ has entered. By His Blood we can, with boldness, enter into the holiest by…a new and living way, which (Christ) has consecrated for us, through the veil that is to say, His flesh (Heb. 1:19-20). He is beyond the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
When Melchisedec brought forth wine and bread, he brought to Abram the type of a new kind of wine and bread (flesh and blood) one that was “precious” or “rare.” We are redeemed from our vain lifestyles by this precious blood (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
The Blood of Christ is the only acceptable Blood beyond the heavenly veil. All earthly blood is contaminated by the sin of Adam’s high treason. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
This bread and wine (flesh and blood) brought forth by Melchisedec to Abram; bespeaks the indissoluble life of Christ. For this is His flesh, which is meat indeed; and His Blood which is drink indeed (Jn. 6:55).
This is a powerful and indestructible life. Its energy goes beyond the reach of death. The power of this life flows from a life that cannot end. It fulfills that quality of spiritual, moral and physical excellence that expresses the Father’s divine standard of virtue
This life is not limited by time or space. In the fullness of time, the Lord will raise up sons who will be in the image of Christ and have the description of the Melchisedec Order, those who live not by carnal commandment, but by the power of an endless life.
In order to receive this “heavenly” life, we must submit to this great king-priest ministry which reveals our Lord Jesus Christ.
Abram, who was later called Abraham, no longer lives bu his SEED DOES. We are members of that seed which must receive God’s high priestly order---Melchisedec.
Jesus is the first Priest after the Order of Melchisedec. I believe Melchisedec is a divine visitation of the Son of God Himself. This appearing of Christ before He was manifested on the earth is known as a Christophany. In the same way Melchisedec strengthened Abram for faith, Christ is preparing all the sons of faith for something beyond our present experiences.
He is eternal, without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abiding a priest continually (Heb. 7:3).
This bears witness to the truth, this great King-Priest lives; and that He continues as a Priest interceding for us at the right-hand of God the Father. He is spoken of as our Lord who sprang forth out of Judah (Heb. 7:14).
Abraham was God’s man in the earth. Who could be greater than Abraham on earth?
In Strong’s Concordance there are two words that create the name Melchisedec. The first word part is melek, which means “king or royal.” The second word is tsedeq, “right (natural, morally or legally), equity, prosperity, righteousness and justice.” This is why the writer to the Hebrews interprets his name as being the King of Righteousness. (Heb. 7:2).
Jesus Christ is made unto us wisdom and righteousness; and sanctification and redemption. (1 Cor. 1:30).
This name contains the foundation for the “in Christ” understanding. This realm includes both male and female. It includes all men; every race, kindred, and tongue. It is a priesthood that reigns and rules over creation in righteousness, peace and joy. This priesthood forms the administrative body that reigns with King Jesus in the new heavens and the new earth.
Because of Christ, the Head of the order, this priesthood abides continually. There is no need to ever again change the priesthood, as often occurred under the Levitical system. The order is built upon a High Priest and a priestly family who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. (Heb. 7:26). The life of the High Priest (King Jesus) is the key to the whole order. Without Him, there is no order.
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity….no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.....Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but He said unto him, “you are my Son, to day have I begotten you. …You are a priest for ever after the ORDER of Melchisedec.
The structure of this “ORDER” is first the Son is revealed (i.e. Jesus Christ, the Overcomer, the man-child, the Bride of Christ, Heavenly Jerusalem, Mt. Zion, the City of our God), and then the priesthood is anointed. No man can change this “ORDER” nor can he take this honor to himself, but he must be called of God as Aaron was.
You cannot volunteer your way into this; the Holy Spirit must birth the revelation of this “ORDER”. The decree of the ORDER is in Psalm 2:7: ‘I WILL DECLARE THE DECREE; YOU ARE MY SON; THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE.’ This decree determines the day and the ORDER OF MINISTRY.
Ps. 110:4 “The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” This is prophetic of the Son of God, the firstborn among many brethren. (If Christ is firstborn, then there will be others who are begotten.) The Lord determines the priesthood. Both the decree and the oath of God in this matter are irreversible. They have been staked out in eternity for a witness forever.
May we yield ourselves into the hands of Heaven’s Sculptor, that He may form the Son in us. It is for son-ship that the whole Creation groans.
The mind of perfect Knowledge has ordained that Sonship be the hope of all creation.
The unveiling of the Son of God just before Christ began His earthly ministry demonstrates a pattern that is the same in many other prophetic voices.
First there is a vision; secondly a voice and third authority.
Moses had his burning bush and rod. (Exod. 3: 2-4; 5).
Joshua saw the Captain of the Hosts and the sword of the Lord. (Josh 5: 13-15).
Isaiah saw the Temple filled with the glory of the Lord and a vision of the Lord filling the temple He also had a new commissioning. (Isa. 6: 1-6)
Ezekiel saw the four living creatures and was commissioned as a spokesman to a rebellious house. (Ezek. 1: 1-5)
Paul experienced a light brighter than the noonday sun and a commissioning as a special chosen vessel. (Acts 9: 1-7, 15-16).
John knew the pattern as the revealing of the ever-coming One, the voice of many waters, and a new command to write what he had seen. (Rev. 1: 10-20)
Each of these men except Jesus were overwhelmed by what they saw. Each was introduced to an open heaven and over-awed by its contents, and were called to declare what he had seen. The effect of the vision was not to be puffed up with religious pride. The effect was brokenness, humility, and reverential fear.
This vision consumes any consciousness of self and its array of idols. It magnifies the Lord of glory, our heavenly Melchisedec, who is the First and the Last.
It was the rending of their veil.
Hebrews 10:19-21: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God.
When the veil is removed, there remains One, and only One. When the veil is shredded, the LORD of Glory, our heavenly Melchisedec, fills the whole Temple. He shines as Light out of darkness (2 Cor. 4:6).
“You bear the Name of Him who is un-nameable.
A Name that transcends every name that is named.
You are the dawning of a light that has no genesis.
You are the One creation’s waiting for.”
Who and what is a Priest? The Hebrew word is kohen meaning to “mediate in religious services; to officiate as a priest.” Webster’s Dictionary defines a priest as “one consecrated to the service of a divinity, and serving as mediator between the divinity and his worshipers.” The priestly ministry touches God and man. It represents God to man, man to God. Jesus Christ is our great high priest.
The beauty of the Melchisedec Order is that it answers the demands of a battered and bruised creation. This is a true priesthood. Not once will you find the hypocrisies and villainies of the Levitical Priesthood of the Old Testament in this group. They are pure in heart, never possessed of self-interest, not looking for the unrighteous mammon of the earth as a means of ministry motivation; not seeking ease; they always look to find and identify the sincere, God-fearing remnant. Written in the heart of this priestly company is the desire to bring unity and oneness between God and man. Christ Jesus is our heavenly Melchisedec. He is that Mediator who finally unifies God and man. (1 Tim. 3:5-6; Gal. 3:20).
Some will say we are just trying to make it; and we are. But, through Christ, God made a way for man to attain to God’s high calling in Christ. Let us not say, “We are just trying to make it.” Let us say we are going up to the high calling.
The “high calling” is also a heavenly calling. “Heavenly” is an adjective that tells what kind of calling ours is. These are great words! This reference is not to an invitation to go to some far-off place somewhere, but to a present heavenly state of being. The citizenship of the new creation man is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and God has raised him up together with Christ Jesus, and made him sit together with Him in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph. 2:6).
The heavenly calling is the priesthood of Christ, which is after the order of Melchisedec. Again, the book of Hebrews is clear on this calling. It is heavenly, not earthly; celestial, not terrestrial. Hallelujah!
Heb. 3: 1-2: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all His (the Father’s) house.
The new priestly order about to be revealed from beyond the heavenly veil has a heavenly calling. We must be faithful to our calling. Anyone committed a stewardship---a chief responsibility---must be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2).
We are to function in the realm of the Spirit, in the power of God. The Father appointed Christ, Moses and you. You were not voted into this priesthood or selected by a special interest group. This calling is the voice of God declaring a heavenly mandate, not the carnal agreement of a board of directors.
We learn to serve humanity by learning to respond to God in His times of dealing with us. We were born out of the heavens. We are a soaring eagle. We are now bound for the heavenlies (the realm of God), not the earth.
If you feel this pull to come up hither to the high calling, prepare to separate yourself from the carnal programs of man’s traditions. Come away into the secret chambers of the Father’s will and allow him to absorb and prepare you.
This process often feels like we are again passing through a birth canal.
Heb. 4: 14-15: Seeing that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God; let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4: 14-15).
God will have a people capable of receiving the perfecting of their consciences and the cleansing and renewing of their inner man. The grace of God will be the reason for this, not some earned legalism. The first to partake of this will be those who are the firstfruits of the order of Melchisedec.
Ps. 104:15: …and wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. unless otherwise noted. I entered into the labors of The Mystery of Melchisedec by Stephen Everett, Jr. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Bro. Everett.