A Royal Priesthood

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated ‘king of righteousness,’ and then also king of Salem, meaning ‘king of peace,’ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither be­ginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” Heb. 7:1-3.

Melchizedek was made like the Son of God, so in the priesthood of Melchizedek, Jesus is the High Priest, and we are called to be priests in the same order. None of these are placed there by people according to a fleshly law the way the sons of Levi were. As long as a person is ordained by people, there will always be strife and competition. Everything re­volves around and leads to earthly honor and human gain. Therefore, you cannot study your way to becoming a priest according to the order of Melchizedek—you must be born again unto it.

Jesus did not come from the tribe of Levi, so that was not the reason He became a priest. He came from the tribe of Judah. He was a priest according to the power of an inde­structible life in which He offered Himself in the power of an eternal Spirit. “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priest­hood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but accord­ing to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” Heb. 7:14-17.

He took away the first—namely sacrifices outside of the body to which Levi was ordained—and established the sec­ond, the sacrifices in the body. Then He was able to say, “Here I am, O God, to do Your will.” “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God.’” Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offer­ing, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the sec­ond.” Heb. 10:5-9. We are called to follow Him in the same way. We are a royal priesthood called to proclaim His virtues.

In the old covenant, the king and the priest were two differ­ent people. They were in many ways bound together in their ministry to God and were dependent on one another. Jesus was not dependent on anyone. Because He offered Himself, He received royal power so that He was able to do God’s will. Here we have received the same calling. When we bring the thoughts and will of the flesh into the death of Christ, Jesus’ life will come forth from us so that we have royal power.

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Rom. 8:13. Those who live in this way become priests for God, and they have the power to carry out God’s will. They have become weapons of righteousness for God so that both the king and the priest are manifested in one and the same person. “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Rom. 6:13. The power of an indestruc­tible life comes from such people’s lives. This is the priest­hood of Melchizedek in the new covenant.

In many ways, I believe it is easier for the friends to be priests because in that ministry they take the sacrifices from their own life and are kept in goodness. It can be more diffi­cult to be a king and say the things that need to be said and do the things that need to be done. In many ways, enforcing righ­teousness does not seem to be such a Christian thing to do, but for the sake of our brothers and our friends, it has to be done. These priests are ordained of God. Therefore, they just appear and strengthen a person in their battle and struggle without drawing attention to themselves. David says, “I will never refuse such a ministry.” It is like the good oil that runs down the beard. There’s something fresh and blessed when such people appear—these priests according to the order of Melchizedek. They never hold long, theoretical, theological sermons from their own complicated thoughts and knowl­edge. No, they long ago had a thorough cleansing of the attic and let all their old collection of thoughts go down the stairs and out into the dumpster. They are able to hold short, Spirit­filled messages full of power and heavenly vitamins. They come out from eternity—simple, straightforward and able to bless a soul on the way to heaven in the same way that Melchizedek blessed Abraham and came to meet him with bread and wine after his victory over the king of Sodom.

When his name is interpreted, he is first the king of righ­teousness. It was righteous of Melchizedek to come out to meet Abraham, because Abraham had not fought for himself or for his own things. His heart was burning for his nephew, Lot. If Abraham had been envious or had nurtured evil thoughts in his heart against Lot because he had chosen the best portion, then Abraham would not have acted that way. Then he would have just turned away when he saw that Lot had come into difficulties. The blessing that Abraham had re­ceived from Melchizedek was so strong and so powerful that Abraham also understood to choose what was right when the kings wanted to give him the gold and silver and keep the people for themselves. “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Pos­sessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich . . . .”’” Gen. 14:22-23.

Those who are in this priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek believe absolutely and immovably in what God will do. He was not waiting for any inheritance, and he wasn’t bound to anything earthly. He had neither mother nor father in a human way, and therefore he was able to do God’s will. In this he is like the Son of God. By walking faithfully in the light, we too, must become free from all likes and dislikes (sympa­thy and antipathy) so that none of that stuff—being for one person and against another—comes into our ministry. We must follow the promptings of the Spirit and work where God has His interests. What God blesses, the priests according to the order of Melchizedek will also bless.

To be a king according to the order of Melchizedek does not only mean that you stand up for the gospel and defend the truths of the gospel. Of course, that is a part of it. The royal righteousness that comes from the power of an eternal life shines forth as Zion in its beauty in all the circumstances of life. For example, if such people love to be generous and to do good, and they have power and dignity when they carry out their goodness, God sees to it that they never become beg­gars. He gives them means precisely so that they can be a blessing in earthly situations. They look carefully to see that no one is overburdened—that the heights are brought low and the valleys lifted up. Because their hearts are completely pure of envy and seeking honor of man, they always have a bless­ing to give to all people. In the competition of giving honor to one another, they are among the leaders, and everyone recog­nizes that they bear a blessing according to the will of God and anoint the hearts of the brothers and sisters.

It is almost amazing the way such people sense and recog­nize the things that are hidden in other people and how they live the hidden life with Christ in God. They are completely independent of outward ministries and the recognition or glory that people so often look up to. It is unspeakably won­derful to be together with people like this. Even though they can seem strict or hard, they are the best people to be together with. People like this will always be your friend and faithful helper. They will support you in your time of need. If you want good friends—and that is a tremendous treasure—then you must enter into this priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. Here God is able to have His way with you and is able to form you with His hand the way He desires. This is the royal way into the kingdom of God—the new and living way that has been the way the mighty men have gone right from the beginning. This is the way that Jesus Christ Himself has gone, and this is the way on which His followers walk. They have piled up heaps of heavenly treasure, which is the inheritance of the saints in the light. Here hearts are burning for everything that is pure and holy. You who are a joint heir—be along in this so that you enter into the eternal light and glory.

Personally, I received the grace to enter into this priest­hood right from my earliest youth. This is something that has given me fellowship with the best people alive, and I have been allowed to live an incredibly rich and glorious life.

A good king thinks about his people, and he has an upright desire to do what is best for the people. In the same way, the royal priesthood in the church has no personal need to be served, but they long to serve and be a blessing in the same way as the Master served. “But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever de­sires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:26-28. Their long­ing is to cause the hearts of the widows to rejoice and to strengthen one another so that everyone can grow and rejoice and find happiness in their own inheritance.

If the sheep that David was shepherding had been able to speak, they would have said, “David is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” He saved them from the mouth of the lion and the bear and offered himself for them. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13. When such kings reign, the people become happy be-cause they themselves grow up to be kings. It’s like it is said of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann: he answered the American president, Harry Truman, when President Truman said so enthusiastically: “I am the president of 150 million Americans, and you are only president of 1.5 million Israelis!” Weizmann answered: “You are wrong. I am the president for 1.5 million presidents!” A good king appreciates his entire kingdom, and even the most remote areas of his kingdom experience that he knows them and wants their very best. He sees the value in individual people and the situations that they live in matter to him. He labors to lead individuals so far into God that they are able to rejoice in their inheritance. It is the intention in God’s king­dom that all of us are actively involved in serving and giving our life as our example and High Priest Jesus Christ did.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint: but happy is he who keeps the law.” Prov. 29:18. Jesus is the true bread that comes down from heaven to give life to the world. The royal priests also have nourishment. When our self-life is put to death, we receive the bread which comes from heaven so we are able to nourish many. Just as the Mas­ter gave food to thousands on the sea of Galilee, these ser­vants are able to give nourishment to thousands through what is small and lowly but which has been blessed by the Master.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.” Is. 28:16. It’s often very important to take some time. As a king, we must be able to take action when it’s necessary, yet we must not go ahead of God. We have to wait until we hear the sound from the top of the mulberry trees. “And when David inquired of the Lord, He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. So it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall ad­vance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.’” 2 Sam. 5:23-24. When he heard God speak, he prepared himself for war and in that way won a great victory. If a person is too quick, he can destroy people instead of building them up.

In the kingdom of death, there is no longer any possibility for development. There is no longer any possibility to hear the voice of the “driver.” Job 3:18 (Norw.). Through a king, the driver also comes out. He wants his commandments to reach all of the provinces in his country. In the same way, we should be gripped of sanctifying Jesus as Lord in our hearts, and the gospel of salvation and deliverance is to reach all of the prov­inces. Our heart is like the capital city, and from there the life of Christ is to come into our entire body. As fully equipped servants of the Lord, we are not only to become good work­ers, but we are to carry it out as a work of art. Then the mes­sage of salvation and deliverance, figuratively speaking, has reached all the provinces of the land.

Such a king is a sacrificial priest of God. He has been faith­ful in his own life when the Spirit has chosen sacrifices. As a result, he has received something personally that he can bring forth for God. This is the spiritual sacrifice that is well pleas­ing to God. Here both priest and king are at work in the same person. “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” 1 John 5:6-8.

Jesus did not only bring an outward cleansing. Through the ministry of the High Priest, we are also driven into an in­ner cleansing so that we come with the testimony of the blood—our own self-life is being destroyed. Through these two testimonies, the Spirit that is the truth confirms that it is true. It is true that a person is a disciple and hates his life in this world. Then there are three who bear witness—the Spirit, water and blood. It is absolutely vital that these three wit­nesses are present in our life. Through these witnesses, the church is driven into the Spirit, water and blood, and in this way, the ship increases its speed, and you are sailing effi­ciently. A man like this is a driver, and he gets momentum in the church so that the sails are in the right position, and there is progress. The body of Christ is built up and grows. Cleans­ing or the washing of the flesh doesn’t give progress in and of itself, but through Jesus’ words and life, people are driven for­ward toward the light and judgment.

In the old covenant, they offered animal sacrifices. In the new covenant, the voice of the driver comes in the ministry and that drives us into the testimony of the blood. “For con­sider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Heb. 12:3-4.

There are many good preachers and speakers who are able to say many things about God that are good and edifying, but there are few prophets who are sacrificial priests among us.

May God strengthen and preserve His prophets. Without these, the church is hopelessly lost. There are few who are able to serve in such a way that the church is driven into a deeper fellowship with our Forerunner, He who was mani­fested in the flesh.

Once a person has a good conscience, he has the testimony of water, but the intention is that each person individually is to receive more light and enter into growth and development so that a deeper cleansing takes place from our own sin (ego­tism). Different friends’ consciences vary greatly. The con­science is those things that we know together with God. Here we cannot judge one another, but we must keep to Jesus’ word. “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guilt­less.” Matt. 12:7. One person can do something with a good conscience that would be utter darkness for another person. Here the intention is that everyone experiences growth so that God can be honored through our bodies.

The sacrificial priest has a ministry before God’s face where it is impossible to stand before the face of men and seek their honor. In this ministry, you must go the way of the grain of wheat where you yourself die so that others can live. Then you are able to rejoice over those who boast in their vic­tory, even though they are babes in Christ. Such people have the mind of a father. They rejoice over other people’s growth and ministry in the same way Paul did regarding the Corinthians. When they acted like a wheat field that was blowing in the wind, he knew that the time would come when they themselves would fall into the ground and die in order to bear much fruit. In the same way as wheat naturally matures in the ear, we too, must rejoice over young people who thrive in the church even though they have not become mature enough to fall into the ground and die.

May no one go astray from this ministry because of honor and arrogance. God’s prophets must sit down at God’s table and listen to the voice from His mouth, because there they receive a clear message about things that are lacking in the church. Then they are able to serve and give light and under­standing in a way that makes it possible for people to see more of their own self-life and come to such a hatred of their own life that they put to death the things they get light over. A tremendous godly fear is required to carry out such a minis­try!

It is the mystery of godliness that keeps the spirit of antichrist away from the church. If a person is a sacrificial priest of Jesus Christ, he cannot avoid having people who are against him. Therefore you must first be a sacrificial priest in your own flesh. This is a tremendous battle to stand in. We have to hate everything that has a taste of our self. We don’t have anything that we haven’t received. To think that you are a man who enjoys great confidence is the beginning of the way of apostasy. Reject every such thought as a lie.

“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Rom. 15:15-19.

There is another spirit over a sacrificial priest than is over a person who has merely been educated in the knowledge of God. The latter doesn’t have a sword that is able to separate and divide. What a prophet speaks is not always so eloquent or well formed, but nevertheless it is the Word of God, which is mighty to accomplish a work within us. If a person contin­ues in humiliation and is obedient, he comes to this life. Even if a person is not much of a speaker, his life will nevertheless give him something to say.

The battle takes place in the hidden. Our work is also in the hidden place, and the honor belongs to God. Johan O. Smith demonstrated that he knew the revelations he had received from God would remain immovable. He didn’t occupy himself with anything except those things that God had given to him.

It is Christ manifested in the flesh which is the essence of the mystery—it is Christ Himself who is the mystery—He who partook of flesh and blood like the children, He who with loud cries and tears cried out. It is the Son of Man—the Man Christ Jesus. Therefore He had to be crucified. If Jesus had not borne His cross, God’s wisdom would not have come forth from His body. Then His own self would have come forth in­stead.

Religious people usually preach another Jesus, one who did not have to humble Himself, one who was not tempted. You cannot preach the life of Christ with power unless you have continued in humiliation. This is the way of suffering, and Jesus suffered when He was tempted. “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1 Pet. 4:1. We are also tempted. As we con­tinue to suffer through things until the end, we receive a greater and greater area where we are not tempted. God leads us constantly to our own limitations so that a growth and de­velopment can take place within us.

We cannot just take action according to our own human tendencies—everything must be done in the spirit of fellow­ship. The calling of the church is to nurture and bring forth the bride of Christ, and that Spirit which brings forth the bride of Christ must always be in our meetings. The outer court must also respect that Spirit. We cannot give in to all manner of things. Be good and firm and guide everything toward the goal that God has given to the church. God Himself has raised up a body and hidden within it are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So it is wisdom to seek counsel in the body so that you stand together as one solid block.