Within the structure of the "Church in the Wilderness" all the levels of authority are not clear; there are not only different ranks, but there are various horizontal operations and administrations--civil, military, and spiritual.
It is interesting that--while the priests had physical oil placed on them (only representing the Spirit), on the other hand, the 70 elders had the actual prophetic anointing, the Spirit of God, that was upon Moses. These 70 elders are significant, in view of the 70 "sent ones" in Lk. 10:1-3, &9.
Within certain categories there is a distinct token of a vertical ascending authority structure as evidenced by the appointment of leaders over 10's, 50's, 100's, and 1,000's. A leader over 1,000 certainly has more authority than a leader over 10. ---Not more importance, but more authority. ---Not more worth, but more responsibility.
One thing is clear---Moses and God had the final say, and everybody knew it. In the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, God has a chain of command amongst His people who serve as warriors in His Kingdom. Theocratic government is never "one man = one vote". Since we see through a glass, darkly, we may not perceive this power structure as God does, but it surely exists.
46 minutes ago
Prayer Revivalist Antonio Toriaga
Apostolic Signs and Wonders
The Power of Generosity
(Deuteronomy 14:22-15:11) (Numbers 18:21-32)
Every three years, the Jewish people were commanded to give 10% of their annul income to the Levites; to provide for their needs as full time ministry personnel. The Levites in turn, gave a tithe of what they received; to Aaron the high priest, and to his sons for their service in the temple.
This was all part of the law that God gave to them through Moses. Under this law; obedience brought blessing, and disobedience brought a curse; and in many cases, the death penalty.
The average person could not go near the tent of meeting (God’s presence), or they would die for their sins. So, the Levites ministered to the Lord on behalf of the people. This was a full time job, thus they received a tithe of the general populations income; once every three years.
However; the Levites were also sinners, and needed sacrifice made for their sins. So, once a year, Aaron went into the Holy of Holies; to make a sacrifice for the whole Nation. Aaron, and his sons, received a tenth of what the Levites were given; to support them in their ministry to the Lord.
The law of giving tithes and offerings; had a three fold purpose:
1- To provide for a great feast of celebration; for God’s blessing and provision.
2- To provide for the Levites, and priests; who ministered to the Lord, on behalf of the Nation.
3- To provide for the poor, widows, and aliens living in the land, so that all might be blessed by God’s abundance.
So; as they people walked in obedience, the land was blessed, and all their needs were met in abundance!
Prayer Revivalist Antonio Toriaga
If we desire to see the Kingdom of God come, and His will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, then we must begin to live with the same spirit of generosity that he has shown us!
(1st John 3:16-20) (James 2:14-17)
** Generosity, celebration, and abandoned worship; are central to the Final Harvest on earth!
God gave us His very best: Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us His very best: His own life.
What is the best that I can give; that will honor my Father?
We have been set free from the “Old Testament Law of Sin and Death”, which forced people to give 10% of their annual income, and celebrate a few required feasts. None of which, could force their hearts to be generous!
WE now live under the “Law of the Spirit of Life and Liberty”; administrated by Holy Spirit! (Romans 8:1-2)
How much generosity can Holy Spirit generate in my heart; if I allow Him?
Attention: Calling All Apostles: Will You Please Stand Up?!!
ReplyDeleteProphetic topic: Apostolic Authority:
Are the five-fold ministers equal and complementary, or are the prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher supplemental to the apostle?
The Issue of "first" in command under Jesus:
In the 1980's a wind of doctrine blew through a rebellious sector of the church, saying that there were no five-fold ministers at all. A premature house-church movement was ignited by this spurious whim of "no pastors", not considering the simple fact that the arbitrator of the home meeting (usually the homeowner) becomes by default the pastor. The international coordinators of the house-church movement stood in the stead of the apostle while denying the office, and often opposing the true apostle. So the house movement, contrary to its own axioms, was not directionless or guideless; it proved that the emergence of leaders is a logical outgrowth in the progressive sequence of church-planting.
Leadership is necessary and unavoidable.
Somebody has to act first. Somebody has to make the ultimate decision. Anything less is confusion.
Leadership in a crisis becomes spontaneous.
70% of people call themselves followers. In an emergency the leader takes his role automatically, often in spite of his own private interests.
God is organized:
The N.T. Church under the authority of Jesus:
Jesus chose and trained the 12 and sent them out.
Then He sent out the 70 after He sent out the 12.
Jesus fed the multitudes in groups of 50's and 100's.
Jesus set some in the Church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
The O.T. "Church in the Wilderness" under the authority of Moses:
MOSES was directly under the headship of God.
The LORD said to Moses, regarding Aaron, "... thou [Moses] shalt be to him [Aaron] instead of God." [Ex. 4:16]
Then there were 70 elders who prophesied, partakers of the anointing that was upon Moses. [Num. 11:16, 17, 24-30]
There was the high priest, Aaron (perhaps equivalent to the "pastor")
Next the other priests who taught the people the law (may pertain to the N.T. office of "teacher" [Ez. 7:6])
And then the Levites, porters or assistants to the priests (analogous to "deacons"). (The Levites were also teachers. [2 Chron. 35:3])
There was a "military" leader over each tribe totaling 12. [Num. 10:13-28]
The LORD told Moses to appoint "civil" leaders over 10's, 50's, 100's, and 1000's. [Ex. 18:19-26; Deut. 1:13-15; Deut. 16:18] to judge disputes. The unresolvable disputes reached the top level, Moses, who sought God's face on the matter.
Master Builder..
Ben Burke
ReplyDeleteWhy did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now, if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because........... The folded napkin meant,
'I'm coming back!'
HALLELUJAH! HE'S COMING BACK!!!!