Entering the Realm of New Covenant Ministry (The Holy Place)

The Old Covenant Related to the Outer Man

The New Covenant Relates to The New Inner Man

The Outer Man is Temporal; The Inner Man is Eternal

The Priesthood and the New Inner Man!

February 25, 2015

While we have mentioned the New Inner Man in several studies, we have neglected the actual functioning of the New Inner Man in a Priesthood ministry. The Old Covenant Priesthood was limited to the restrictions and frailty of the Outer Man. Why? That priesthood after the order of Aaron was limited to the Natural Man of the genealogy of first Adam. The New Covenant Priesthood ministry is integrally related to the exclusive function of the New Inner Man. This New Man, after Christ, is created in the image of God!

It is because the outer man lives in and relates only to the visible realm that the ministry of the outer man just focuses upon the visible realms. This ministry” is easily recognized. Since the New Covenant Ministry is assigned to function within the church during the total church age, it is necessary that we understand something on the FUNCTIONING of the new inner man. Why? That is because the New Covenant Ministry can ONLY be accomplished by the New Inner Man who has been birthed into that Kingdom Realm. Since the Kingdom Realm is in the invisible dimension it cannot be seen by the natural man.

Ideally, the mature New Inner Man just lives a body that has just become A TENT. The TENT (our body) must stay on the earth so the NEW INNER MAN is all that escapes death to participate in the eternal realms. I am relating this current “function” of the New Inner Man to the HOLY PLACE realm in the Tabernacle (THE TENT). What happens there (IN THE HOLY PLACE) relates to what must take place in our HOLY PLACE (the NEW INNER MAN). This is the location of the LAMPSTAND, THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD, the SHOW BREAD (THE LIVING AND ABIDING WORD OF GOD) the ALTAR OF INCENSE and the Cherubim. This is the area that is the most difficult to understand because it is in the invisible realms. How could this “furniture” be related to our New Inner Man? This “furniture” is only a copy and shadow of the reality. Most people that I have shared this with have a difficult time making the application to the invisible realms, first, and then to the New inner Man. Maybe the easiest transition is related to the Incense Altar because we can perceive that function as within the invisible realm of cooperating with God to get the Will of God done on the earth as it is in heaven. This Burning Incense kind of prayer is directly related to the function of our New Inner Man. The “minister” running through the people with the smoke of a brass censorto stop the plague is the work of the outer man and is the most popular type of incense!

This is “crisis prayer.”

Numbers 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. 47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Our NEW INNER MAN must function as a PRIEST with the INNER ANOINTING (THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD) and WITH the REVELATION FROM THE SHOW BREAD (the LIVING AND ABIDING WORD OF GOD)! ALL the provision NECESSARY for this PRIESTHOOD FUNCTION has already been provided. THIS NEW INNER MAN IS "CLOTHED WITH CHRIST" so his first and basic garments are acceptable to stand before GOD. Why? The first garments of the priest should be in place!

Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Gal 3:27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. (AMP)

Another translation says; Have put on Christ as a GARMENT. It should be obvious that this “garment” does NOT apply to the outer man but exclusively to the new inner man.

2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet

our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Rom 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

The Outer Man (tent- body) is seen in the visible dimensions of the Outer Court which is designed for our preparation! The seven Foundations are to remove the dominion of the body ( the old man) from ruling over the New Inner Man. It is the EXPERIENCES of the Seven Foundations that systematically reduces the outer man’s control over the person and permits the New Inner Man to make the ministry decisions! Why is that essential? That is because it is the New Inner Man that is called to the New Covenant Ministry which we are identifying as the New Covenant Priesthood Ministry. The NEW INNER MAN functions in the UNSEEN and ETERNAL realms. (WITHIN THE TENT).

Brother Leo, please explain the function and ministry of the New Inner Man more clearly!

The Outer Man is seen AS THE TENT in its New Covenant function. We are NOT suggesting that the “tent” must be eliminated. No! The “tent” remains” as it did in Israel but the “tent” has a very limited function in the Tabernacle. ALL the hidden ministry was done “in the tent.” The “tent” provides movement and transportation but does not have an opinion, it does not debate, it does not insist upon having its own way nor does it set direction. The “TENT” is carried along as we serve the Living God. Removing the “TENT” exposes the New Inner Man and reveals the details of the Priesthood ministry.

2Cor 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a

building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

The explanation is this; Anyone functioning in the Outer Court realm can see the “tent” but NOT the invisible “priesthood” ministry that goes on behind the second veil because that

“ministry” is within the “tent” and functions in the invisible realm.

The exposure of the content of the Holy Place, exposes the function of the Inner Man. The New Covenant Ministry is the exclusive function of the New Inner Man. Within the “area” that houses the New Inner Man is the Pure Gold Lampstand (the Church He is Building). This is the dwelling place of the INNER ANOINTING supplied by the Seven Spirits of God who also supply the Inner Illumination (Revelation) for the New Inner Man. This Illumination exposes the Show Bread (the Living and Abiding Word of God). The Holy Spirit takes from the Word and reveals it to us (our New Inner Man). That is what we are calling the New Covenant Ministry!

Since this “Holy Place” has the Altar of Incense it reveals that INCENSE rises from the New Inner Man and is activated by the PRIESTHOOD MINISTRY. Therefore, since this is, also, the location of the Cherubim, we know these things take place in the “next dimension” of the invisible realm. I am not speaking about the next life but the next dimension. The Cherubim stand at the Second Curtain and guard the Most Holy Place. It is this Third Veil Division that was “torn” when Jesus was Crucified. There are 58 references to the Cherubim in the Bible so the presence of the Cherubim on this veil is significant. However, in this study we are just interested in the location of the New Inner Man, in the Presence of the Cherubim, who are first seen in the Tabernacle of Moses in the Holy Place, as we see above.

Exodus 26:31 "And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 32 "And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33 "And you shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies.

The New Covenant provides for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It, also, provides for

the Living and Abiding Word of God to dwell within us. It is for THAT reason that we have established the Holy Place as the REALM of the New Inner Man who not only is hammered into the Lampstand Church but is also called to the Priesthood Ministry after the Order of Melchizedek.

[In the next study we will focus upon the “wood and the Gold” and the Corporate Christ]

Our New Covenant Priesthood Ministry must function as “SONS OF THE HIGH PRIEST!” Why? The Position of the Head High Priest is already taken. Our theory and speculation now includes the Body of the High Priest. There is no controversy that Christ Jesus is the HEAD of this corporate body of priests. The HEAD and body functioning together make up the Kingdom of Priests. Since this is a new thought for many seekers we will try to explain more clearly.

Since we want to focus quickly upon the Priesthood Ministry that functions in the Holy Place, we will begin with the very FIRST and original Priesthood ministry. This Priesthood is unique to the Eternal Realm and is exclusive. Why? That is because He, Melchizedek, holds His Priesthood Permanently!

Heb 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually. 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

Heb 7:8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case

[Melchizedek] one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

We discover that Melchizedek was NOT a mortal man and was never born and never died. He had no human genealogy. He always was a Priest and He will always BE a Priest. Just for this description to qualify for these ethereal qualities it should be clear that this can only refer to one of the God Head. He was a “priest of the Most High God” so He is not the Father. He was made LIKE the son of God so He was not Christ Jesus so this ONLY leaves us with the Holy Spirit.

With this understanding we are aware that the Holy Spirit, among other things, has come as The priest of the Most High God! His purpose is to make very sure that both God’s will and God’s Purpose is carried out. His PRIMARY ministry is towards God, the almighty. In other words “don’t mess with Him because God’s name and His authority is in and on the Holy Spirit!”

Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, "THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

This Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is not related in any way to “carnal Commandments” OR “physical requirements” but is directly related to the power of an indestructible life. “Physical requirements” (male and female- Jew or Gentile) are related to the outer man. It is just the new inner man that escapes the “physical requirements” because he is of a different species! Even circumcision is NOT outward in the flesh. Circumcision is now related to the New Inner Man.

First we saw that MELCHIZEDEK is the Priest of the Most High God who always was and always will be a Priest and HE fully serves the Most High God. Then we saw “ANOTHER” priest rise up within or after this Eternal Priesthood order. Now, there are two High Priests! One is the Priest of God Most High and is not mortal. However, this last High Priest was taken FROM AMONG MEN so that He could become the mediator of the New Covenant.

HE, Christ Jesus, IS ONE OF US (mankind) but of a different species. We should emphasize that the man, Christ Jesus, has become the High Priest who sits at the right hand of God and serves the most high God in behalf of men. One Priest is of God and the other One is of MAN. The Two Spirits are in different realms of ministry but stand together within us to serve God’s Ultimate Purpose! The TWO are the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

We must fully understand that BOTH have been given absolute Sovereignty over their function and calling. That is why the Kingdom Government begins in this realm. The Holy Spirit is King Priest (of the Most High God) over one realm and Christ Jesus is the King Priest (taken from among men) and is over another realm. Both are Sovereign over their realm. This is not difficult to understand if we know that the Man, Christ Jesus, sits at the right hand of the Almighty God. The Almighty God is the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, the ONE GOD.

The Priesthood is made up of the High Priest and His Sons. Even though the Third Veil has been torn and now we have access to the Most Holy Place (someday when it is called the New Jerusalem), our High Priest has continual access to the Most Holy Place and to sit at the right hand of God. He can also enter into the Holy Place to walk around and inspect the Lampstand Church and point out its defects. Since He is Sovereign over the Church He is Building, He is free to warn, threaten, teach and correct ANYTHING He wants. Why? That is because we must OVERCOME at the Lampstand Level to be advanced to the Next Level. The “next level” refers to the next realms of function. These “realms” are exclusively for the overcomers and certainly do not apply to casual believers.

To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in

the Paradise of God. This is an Eternal Place and it identifies those who developed, grew up in all things, were perfected and overcame to become worthy of being in the Most Holy Place. While “overcoming” is in different dimensions, “overcoming” is NOT optional!

To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.' This is obviously a place of reward but maybe less that what was anticipated. Still, the hidden manna is stored in the Ark of the Covenant and the recipient may taste it!

'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. This is a place of authority and responsibility over the Nations of the earth dimension. To qualify for this assignment each one who will be prepared to function in this realm must also be broken into small pieces. Why? These must have the character and fortitude to administer the ROD OF IRON and break all rebellion but without becoming proud, cruel, oppressive or despotic.

He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. This is obviously a much lower realm of overcoming that can be identified by the much lower dimension of this realm and with the lack of function. This is still much higher than being a casual Christian. To ERASE our name from the Book of Life is a very serious thing.

'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. These who overcome at this level will be given tremendous things and they will be permanent residents within the Temple of God because they will not go out from it anymore. A Pillar is a permanent support.

'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. This may or may not be the highest reward or a higher position in the Eternal Kingdom but it is the PLACE of God’s purpose that was revealed to first Adam when he was chosen to rule over the works of God’s Hands.

While this study falls far short of revealing the full measure of God’s Purpose or the details of the Priesthood Ministry, it opens up more vistas to investigate and certainly more questions! For example; Why should we now be focusing upon the Priesthood Ministry?

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The Kingdom of God incorporates a Priesthood. Since there is only one Priesthood that is acceptable to God, it is only the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek which we will present.

It is this Priesthood ministry that must function in the next dimension during the next restoration. When will we have to prepare these Priests to take their place in this “ministry?” During the church age. Why? That is because we see they must be prepared BEFORE Revelation 1:6. However, we also see that this Priesthood must be prepared to Reign with Christ for one thousand years during the Millennial Reign of Christ. The “church age” finishes when the Earthly Kingdom age begins. Therefore, the priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek must be prepared during the church age, in my opinion.

The question always comes up; Since this ministry of preparing priests does NOT seem to exist today, HOW will we be prepared to function as Priests? This question has always had an ambiguous answer. The frustration which surrounds us today may be solved in Revelation 2 and 3 where we see our Great High Priest, over the house of God, preparing the OVERCOMERS to advance to the next dimension beyond the Lampstand Church.

I would like to believe that He is preparing the SONS OF THE HIGH PRIEST to begin to function during the Church Age. Why? That is because we see the type in the Tabernacle of Moses, which is a picture, type and shadow of spiritual and eternal things!

The Sons of the High Priest will fulfill their calling by accomplishing the work of PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS SO THE saints CAN DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. Eph 4:10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping {perfecting} of the saints for the work of service {ministry} , to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the {full} knowledge of the Son of God, to a {one} mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.

But, brother, why do you insist this ministry is not functioning today? That is because this five fold ministry should have a VISIBLE EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM THE WORK. That “confirmation” is the perfect, mature and complete church that has grown up into Christ and is being manifested as the Glorious Church, without spot of wrinkle and is holy and blameless.

This may just be my fantasy but that is what I assume must happen during the church age! Do these ministries function today? I have not discovered them yet. If they do exist and manifest the evidence, where are they? Surly that “Perfected Church” would be recorded in every Christian magazine today! Don’t tell me these perfecting ministries are on the radio or on TV, unless they have the evidence. Is that too radical? Yes, for most people in the visible church it sounds ridiculous! Should we ever expect any church to exist like the one revealed in Joel 2?

Joel 2:1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, 2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations. 3 A fire consumes before them, And behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, But a desolate wilderness behind them, And nothing at all escapes them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run. 5 With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle. 6 Before them the people are in anguish; All faces turn pale. 7 They run like mighty men; They climb the wall like soldiers; And they each march in line, Nor do they deviate from their paths.

Joel 2:8 They do not crowd each other; They march everyone in his path. When they burst through the defenses, They do not break ranks. 9 They rush on the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief. 10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness. 11 And the LORD utters His voice before His army; Surely His camp is very great, For strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?

This sounds like the GLORIOUS CHURCH finishing up its work during the church age.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

Rev 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid-heaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God; 18 in order that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat upon the horse, and against His army. 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

Is THIS the time the Lord Utter His Voice Before His Great Army?

Joe 2:9 They rush on the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief. 10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness. 11 And the LORD utters His voice before His army; Surely His camp is very great, For strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?

Since Revelation 19 takes place BEFORE the Millennial Reign, it tells us this great army was prepared during the church age. Will the casual believers and the visible church be offended by this? That offense has been normal in the recent past! Revelation 19 precedes this “coming”which is NOT about the last harvest! Why? That is because the multitudes (the total harvest) are already in heaven. This “Coming of Jesus with His saints” is NOT about harvest but about judgement and the last battle before the Millennial Reign begins.

1Cor 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Presenting our Great High Priest as ONE BODY is a recent application and not without some controversy. The abstract term”the body of Christ” is well received while the Body of our High Priest is not understood. Functioning “members” of the body of Christ is fully vetted in 1 Corinthians 12. Nevertheless, the functioning Body of the High Priest is objected to as unscriptural. Our recent understanding is that it is the Functioning Body of our High Priest that is called the Kingdom of Priests. Why? The “body of Christ” is generally accepted as being eternal but still held as an abstract term. The “body of Christ” is generally accepted as functioning on earth. Our theory is that the Body of our High Priest is designed to function in the heavenly, the eternal and the Invisible dimension. Is that really important? Some of us think it will be in the next restoration!

2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our theory is that focusing upon this OTHER dimension of the Inner Man, the unseen realms

and that which is eternal is not so strange. This is really the focus of the New Covenant ministry that can ONLY be administered by the New Inner Man. It is the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek that functions in this higher realm. Therefore, the Kingly Priesthood that began in the invisible and eternal realms is continuing in that same realm. The difference is that now we have a Great High Priest that sits at the right hand of God who is continuously functioning in the invisible realm. The “body of Christ” is being developed and is functioning in the visible realm. That is good but that is not our ultimate purpose! Christ Jesus is not just Savior but now our High Priest functioning as HEAD OVER ALL THINGS. Our speculation is that God will raise up SONS OF OUR HIGH PRIEST to fulfill the copy and shadow of the priesthood. It was this {the High Priest and His Sons} function of the priesthood that had access to the Holy Place ministry. We are guessing that the NEXT Restoration MUST include and provide access for that Priesthood.

It is clear that THE KINGDOM OF PRIESTS is not a kingdom of casual believers!