“He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross.” – Hebrews 7:26 -27 (NLT)
Just as every offering isn’t acceptable, not every “man of God” fits God’s work. There is a set pattern, a sure standard that is laid down in God’s Word that any man who wants to be useful in God’s hands must necessarily conform to.
This standard is JESUS.
God declared about Him…
“…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matt. 17:5b
So, just as Jesus perfectly fit God’s work, you and I ought to re-evaluate our lives.
Brother, Pastor, do you fit God’s work? Look at Jesus, The Bible declares about Him “…He is the kind of High Priest we need…”
Thus, any church leader, any spiritual head who is not living the type of life the Master lived will only spoil God’s work. His “kind” of life and leadership is our perfect standard and absolute pattern if we ever hope to please God.
What then was His “kind” of life and ministry while He was here? The Master was fully sanctified. He was separate and absolutely God-glorifying.
“He is the kind of High Priest we need because HE is holy and blameless…”
The heavens did not announce that the Lord Jesus fits God’s work because He is the “Son of God”. No. He was perfectly qualified for the task because of His sanctification. “He is the kind of High Priest we need because He is holy and blameless…”
Now, this is the crux of the matter: Pastor, are you holy?
I know that holiness is presently not a popular topic on several pulpits today but we cannot qualify to serve in the pattern The Lord served while dodging this question.
By holiness, we mean are you TOTALLY free from impurity in your thoughts, speech, and action? Does your life stand out amidst sinners even before you open your mouth to say you are Born Again?
The reason Jesus is the type of man we need to help us and lead us to God is because “…He is holy and blameless…”
Can you compromise and live in sin if you discover that no one will know about it? What is your quiet attitude to sin and sinfulness? Once sin is in your life, we don’t need you – because you need help, too!
Are you blameless? Can ten different people give a consistent testimony about you? Do you have a single or dual personality? Are you a fiery Preacher, an anointed song minister before brethren and you are something else at home, or on the bus or school or office?
If God looks at your life now (and you know NOTHING can be hidden from Him), what will He see? Will He see a genuine ear desiring obedience, faithfulness and a good report? Do you live and care only for what is recorded in heaven and not what is recorded here on earth?
“…He is holy and blameless, unstained by sin…” Look at that – He is “…unstained by sin…” I pray that God will open our eyes of understanding such that we will have a full import of this solemn charge.
To be “…unstained by sin…” means that the Master was not disqualified from the ministry because the virus of sin was detected in His life.
Pastor, since the day you have been secretly sinning, how far has sin led you? What have you gained? Every soul that sins in the secret will be disqualified by God in the open. This cannot be changed.
“You did this secretly, but I will do this to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” 2 Sam. 12:12 (NLT)
“…He has now been set apart from sinners…”
He has been set apart from their appetites, from their slangs, from their affections, from their desires and from their manner of life!
You will not fit God’s work if you are unwilling to be “set apart” from people who practice sinning.
“But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly…” Psalm 4:3 (NKJV)
Any man who will fit God’s work must understand that He doesn’t belong to himself again! He doesn’t live for his dreams or goals again. He does not live for the plans his SELF life has set. He only lives for what God wills.
Pastor, if this cannot be said about you, I’m afraid there is no way you will fit God’s work; except you repent and wholly turn back to God.
“So, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.” 1 Peter 4:1 – 2 (AMP)
When a man makes up his mind to become the type of man that is desperately needed in the Church of Jesus and completely consecrates his life to such a purpose as this, the natural result is that this man will be given “…the highest place of honor in heaven.”
Several of us preachers and leaders want to be popular here on earth – we don’t know that what the Master desires to say about each of us is “Welcome, you good and faithful (NOT FAMOUS) servant…”
To fit God’s work, to be useful to heaven and profitable to God, for the kingdom of light not to run at a loss while you are still active in ministry, you MUST be continually sanctified for God and into God alone.
TO BE CONTINUED
