Get a Spiritual Covering
Everybody needs a priest. In general terms, there were Old Testament priests that interceded to God on behalf of the people, through sacrifices and offerings. The New Testament priests ministers to the people on behalf of God. The calling of Christian leadership is as follows, in Ephesians 4:11-13,
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
The titles may vary, even calling some leaders, elders. But, the sense of the matter is this, that they are the leaders that God has set up in the body of believers. Not everyone is called to leadership in the body of Christ, but we are all to be together, working together with one another. Most people do not have a true calling from God to publicly be a minister. A priest chosen by God to lead others, is first and foremost, a truth teller. Ezekiel 44:23,
“Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
He or she must be able to tell the difference, between truth and error, and have the skills to teach the truth well. Today, a spiritual leader cannot do this effectively without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The second aspect of being a good priest, is to be a protector of the people that have you as their pastor or minister, as seen in Acts 20:28-30,
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
If your priest, your pastor, or spiritual leader does not have this drive to protect the flock from error, then they may not be the right leader for you. An honest spiritual leader, with the visible skills to protect you from deception, is an intended covering that God provides for His people. Everyone needs a spiritual covering, everyone needs a priest. Notice this instruction in Titus 1:5,
“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,…”
The KJV, uses the words, “ordain elders”, which carries with it, the concept of an anointing to preach and lead others. Ordination is a spiritually powerful act.
Further, we see that elders carry a role, as in Acts 14:23,
“When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Finally, we can see the responsibility of elders here in 1 Peter 5:1-5,
“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Our prayer for today;
Father, show me my place in the body of Christ, and keep me under those who have a true concern for my eternal soul, in Jesus’ name, amen!
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