TODD LEVIN MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL A monthly teaching publication to our partners and friends JESUS OUR HIGH PRIEST JUNE Dear Partners and Friends, As a young person, I had the privilege of being brought up in a Christian home. I realize that not every child has been given that opportunity in life and it's a real shame, especially when you consider that most Americans would view the United States as being a Christian nation. That being said, my father on the other hand was raised in the Jewish faith. His grandparents came from Vilna, Lithuania and landed here in the United States in 1900. Being the first-born son in his family, and a descendant from the tribe of Levi, he held special privileges and responsibility from an early age. It wasn't until later on in life as an adult that He came to know the Lord after Jesus appeared to him in 1973. Having the experience that He did, He would later have a great appreciation and understanding our Jesus, our high priest, who sacrificed for us in our behalf. It s interesting to note the way, in which God set things up under the Old Covenant. From all the 12 tribes of Israel, the priests were to come out of the tribe of Levi. Furthermore, the office of the high priest was to come through one family in particular from among the tribe of Levi, and that being the family of Aaron. (Exodus 27:21; 28:43; 9:9) Aaron, the brother of Moses was the first one appointed by God to this office making him "high priest." (Exodus 28:1,2; 29:4,5) The successor was to come through one of his own sons. (Leviticus 6:22; 16:32) Keep in mind that to the Jews, the high priest was the highest religious figure in the land. He would be the one who went into the Holy of Holies once a year to atone for the sins of the people. As a priest there were various duties that you had carry out, but the one thing that stood out above all else was the fact that the priest was the one who represented the people and went to God on behalf of them, as well as offered gifts and the various sacrifices which the Law prescribed. (Hebrews 5:1; 8:3) In fact the Hebrew word for priest is the word, "kohen." It is used in the Old Testament about 650 times. The entire priestly system was a type and shadow of Christ and the church at large. What I'd like to do in this teaching is to take a closer look with you at our high priest and His role and see how this affects each of us today. I'll highlight as we go, what I believe to be significant facts and how it relates to us right now. You'll soon realize that the Old Testament priesthood was a type of our great high priest Jesus, who one day would come and offer the ultimate sacrifice for sin once and for all. 1
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14 (KJV) OUR HIGH PRIEST IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP I am so glad that I live under the New Covenant. As you'll see, the benefits far outweigh what was available under the Old Covenant, and one of them being that our high priest, who never changes, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He truly understands what we go through and can relate to us because He was tempted in every way just as we are. It's in the midst of temptation that we often need a lifeline or a helping hand; someone who is willing to come to our rescue and deliver us. Well the good news is this: Our high priest is here to help us! Our lifeline is His word of promise AND the ever-present Holy Spirit who stands by our side. As we draw near to Him, we will find help and strength in our time of need. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well- timed help, coming just when we need it]. Hebrews 4:15,16 (AMP) OUR HIGH PRIEST IS OUR SALVATION No matter how significant or respected the position of high priest was under the Old Covenant, one selected by man and appointed by God, still at the end of the day, He was only a man who also needed forgiveness and saving too. Jesus on the other hand, though being a man, was God s very own son. He didn t require forgiveness for himself or saving too. His high priestly hood was on an entirely different plane. He was and is the savior of the world. This title if you will, did not come at a small price. Redemption was only possible because our high priest was obedient. He chose to obey God and suffer humiliation, pain and death in an effort to obey His Father. There will come times in your life and mine where the road ahead may be rough at times, but as we remain faithful to obey Him, we will always come out on top! Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Hebrews 5:8,9 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST REMAINS FOREVER Under the Old Covenant, the priesthood was always changing. People didn't live forever, so there was always a need for a successor. You might have 'hit it off' with 'Father so-and-so', the current high priest, but his shoes would eventually need to be filled once he passed over to the other side. This may not be an issue with some people who never seemed to connect with their 2
priest, but for others, it would take some getting used to before they may warm up to the new guy in town. However, with Jesus, this would never be a problem. He isn't planning on going anywhere. His priesthood is eternal and because of this, He is the guarantee of a better covenant. In order for it to be better, it would have to include all the benefits of the Old, and then some. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Hebrews 7:20-24 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST INTERCEDES FOR US This is extremely comforting to know. Under the Old Covenant, the high priest could only go before God once a year, whereas Jesus, our high priest is seated at the right hand of God where He ever lives to make intercession for us. When you have someone who is praying for you all the time, it really does make a difference. Only eternity will reveal how many pitfalls and accidents were awaiting up ahead of us, but because someone was interceding for you, the enemies scheme or device was thwarted. One thing we know for sure the Lord prays for is that, "our faith would not fail." (Luke 22:32; 18:8) This is the one ingredient that pleases Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Be encouraged and remember that whatever it is that you re going through right now, you are not alone. There is One who is voting for you and praying for your success. He is your advocate and mediator between God and man. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST NOT ONLY SACRIFICED BUT HE BECAME THE SACRIFICE The one thing, which sets Jesus priesthood apart from any of the other high priests that ever existed, was the fact that He was both priest and sacrifice. He actually became the sacrifice for us. He willingly laid down his life so that others might live. Though he was tempted in all points, yet still remained without sin. This is what qualified him to take our place. Whereas the other high priests had to first offer up a sacrifice on behalf of their own sins (Leviticus 16:6), before they offered one up for the people, Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God, and needed not to offer a sacrifice for himself because He was sinless. Such a high priest meets our need one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:26,27 (NIV) 3
OUR HIGH PRIEST OFFERED HIS OWN BLOOD If you had lived under the Old Covenant and sinned, then the best that was available back then was to go the priest. He then would offer up an animal sacrifice such as a goat or calve, in return for forgiveness of sins. In fact sacrifices were offered daily on the altar in behalf of the sins of the people. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (Hebrews 10:11) These sacrifices had to be repeated because they were only temporary and could never take away sin. However when Jesus came, he offered up his very own blood, and being that His blood was precious, unstained, and not contaminated with sin, it had the power to forgive sin, past, present and future. Never again would a sacrifice be required on behalf of humanity, for our high priest has secured an eternal redemption once and for all! No one can ever add to what Jesus did in order to redeem humanity. His blood has paid for it all! When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man- made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11,12 (NIV) But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26,28 (NIV) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18,19 (KJV) OUR HIGH PRIESTS SACRIFICE CLEANSES OUR CONSCIENCE I ve never met anyone that likes to be reminded of their past failures and mistakes. In fact many people live in bondage to their past. They never seem to be able to forgive themselves for things that they have done or failed to do, and as a result they struggle each day as the enemy of their soul continues to remind them of their past. Though animal sacrifices were continually being offered up for the sins of the people, still none of the sacrifices could ever quiet the conscience of a man or take away sin. Even though God permitted the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices to satisfy the courts of Heaven temporarily, still there was an ongoing reminder in the hearts of the people that they were sinners. Their conscience never let them forget this. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings external regulations applying until the time of 4
the new order. Hebrews 9:9,10 (NIV) The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:1-4 (NIV) However, when Jesus came, and offered up His blood as our high priest, something changed. Never again do we as a believer have to live under condemnation to our past failures and shortcomings. There is forgiveness in Jesus. His blood cleanses our conscience and clears our record. In fact the bible declares in Hebrews 8:12, For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (also Hebrews 10:17) Since God doesn t remember our sins, why do we continue to dwell on them? Let s not give space to the enemy but remember that whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. (John 8:36) How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:14 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST IS THE MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT Remember if the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant was, then it would have to at least include all of the benefits of the Old and then some. One of the reasons why the New Covenant is better is that since our high priest not only sacrificed but also became the sacrifice, he brought an end to the Levitical priesthood and all the sacrifices that were involved. We don t ever have to look for another way in which to appease God and be forgiven. Our high priest was the final sacrifice! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15 (NIV) But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Hebrews 10:12,18 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST ENTERED INTO HEAVEN ON OUR BEHALF When Jesus secured our salvation, it was not into a manmade temple that he entered in order to do so. It was into Heaven itself to appear for us in front of God. 5
For Christ did not enter a man- made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in Gods presence. Hebrews 9:24 (NIV) OUR HIGH PRIEST MAKES US HOLY- SANCTIFIED IN THE SIGHT OF GOD Because of the blood of Jesus, we have been made clean down on the inside. God promised a New Covenant and part of that would include a new heart or spirit in man. (Hebrews 8:8-12; Ezekiel 36:26,27) The end result is that we have been made holy or sanctified i.e., set apart to do His will; delivered from the power of sin and raised up together with Christ and seated in Heavenly places i.e., a place of authority over the devil and over sin. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10 (NIV) I don t know about you, but after going through all these scriptures and learning about Jesus my high priest, I m so glad that I live under the New Covenant and that no more sacrifice for sin is required. My final thought that I would like to leave with you is this: under the New Covenant, God has made believers both kings and priests unto God. Because of our position in Christ, we can enter into the very presence of God at any time and when we come, we don t have to hang our heads down either. He has invited us to come in boldly! (Hebrews 4:16) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Revelation 1:6 (KJV) What s concerning sacrifices, the kind that He is looking for, they are the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, as well as a heart that is willing to sacrifice in order to obey Him in whatever it is that He s asking you to do. Be encouraged right now friend. Remember that Jesus your high priest ever lives to make intercession for you. In fact He s been praying for you all day! Your Friends and Partners in ministry, MIRACLE AND HEALING SERVICE 6:00PM June 30, July 28, August 25 St. Martin s Episcopal Church 285 St. Martin s Drive, Monroeville, Pa 6
June PRAISE REPORTS AND PRAYER REQUEST: Please let us know how we can pray for you. Take a few moments and write down your prayer requests and praise reports. We really enjoy hearing from you! We will lift up your requests to the Lord. Tell us how God has blessed you and let s rejoice together! ( ) Todd, enclosed is my monthly partner gift of: $ ( ) Todd, I ve prayerfully decided to become your faithful monthly partner, an armor-bearer. I am enclosing my first monthly support gift of: $ ( ) Todd, enclosed is a special gift of: $ If you would like to schedule Todd Levin in your Church, Conference or Bible School, please contact us at: 724-872-0347 or email toddlevinministries@hotmail.com NOTE: Donations can now be made online. Please visit our website at: www.toddlevinministries.com for more information. In the USA: P.O. Box 826 Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania 15012 Tel/Fax 724-872-0347 www.toddlevinministries.com 7