Shut The Gates To A Dead Priesthood

Today’s Word Of Encouragement From Wayne:

“‘Oh that there were one among you who would  shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from you. For from the rising of the sun even to it’s setting, my name will be great among the nations. But you are profaning it.’”

Malachi 1:10, 11a, 12a

A true priest of God manifests and speaks the name of the Lord as great, greater than all else, on a regular, consistent, and faithful basis, “from the rising of the sun even to it’s setting,” every day, because this is what we truly believe, and this is also what we truly desire to do. 

We know and accept: God is in us, He loves us, we are His New Covenant blood atoned for people and kingdom of priests. 

We are blessed to know who God has made us to be! 

We are grateful,  humbled, joyful, and fully responsive to our priesthood in Christ. What a privilege, for in His presence is our fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11), to be God’s own “special treasure,” His kingdom of priests that we may genuinely “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

However, look at the sorry state of the priesthood at the end of the old covenant, in Malachi. God  actually expressed his desire that just one of these spiritually dead priests would have at least the sense to honor God’s name by shutting down the decrepit, dead, empty ritualized, meaningless priesthood, so at least they would stop lying about God and misrepresenting Him through their terrible behavior.              

When a priest of the Lord forgets God’s Lordship, and neglects God’s covenant priesthood call (see Malachi 2:1-9), then the priesthood is, in God’s sight, spiritually dead. 

Yes, let us make sure to shut the gates on dead and empty ritualism that we might, instead, live, walk, and be filled with God’s life and light, in His presence, as His faithful and grateful New Covenant priesthood (Revelation 1:5-6, 5: 9-10)!

In this day, empty religious ritualism and superficial confessions, which do not point to the light of our living resurrected Lord and High Priest of the New Covenant, Jesus our Christ, is perpetually missing the mark and coming up short of the full revelation of Christ, our “Lord” and “Priest forever” (Psalm 110: 1&4).

Kindling fire uselessly represents, I believe, the mere performing of a religious ritual, without any spiritual insight, understanding or quickening within, regarding truly being in God’s presence, glorifying Him and, in our case, recognizing and serving Jesus Christ, our New Covenant King and Priest forever, Who sits on the throne, in heaven AND in our hearts, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)!

In the last book of the old testament, it appears there was zero interest and understanding of God, Who had been reduced to superficial ritualism, while hearts and minds remained far from Him.

A Messiah was needed, One Who would cleanse the temple, through introducing a New, and eternal, Covenant in which Messiah would fulfill all promises in the old covenant, in Himself, so He might now be known and recognized as both our indwelling “Lord” and “Priest forever,”  “Thus He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices,” (Zechariah 6:13)!

This is the true God to Whom I am directed  and to Whom I joyfully serve, every day, to the praise and honor of my heavenly Abba Father, through the spirit of God within me, my eternal New Covenant “Lord” and “Priest forever,” Jesus Christ! Hallelujah forever to you Lord God!

Beloved child and priest of God, never stop interceding on behalf of our Lord and for the sake of His testimony, that all professing Christians will indeed come all the way into the New Covenant revelation light and truth of Christ, our very present King and High Priest! Yes, Lord, may Your light fill your temple in this day and may all of your children flock to you, in Spirit and in truth. Hallelujah!