Consecration in Ministry: Embracing the Atonement and the Anointing
Ex 29:21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
Here, we shall liken the priest to what we know today as a pastor or preacher of the Gospel. I wish to make a couple of observations. Firstly, note that what was first mentioned was the necessity of blood and anointing oil! Blood, of course, speaks of the atoning work at Calvary, and the anointing oil is symbolic of the filling of the Holy Ghost! Fellow laborers in Christ, if we are to continue in the work of the Lord with dignity, character, and effectiveness, then it is necessary for us to keep our sin account short (that is, to be quick to repent and get it under the blood), and to be filled with the Spirit of God! Secondly, note that their garments, as well as their persons, were to be sprinkled with blood! This speaks symbolically of our duty as ministers of the Gospel to ensure that we’re not just cleansed inwardly, but outwardly as well! Our calling should set for us a higher standard of righteousness and holiness than that of others. We as shepherds of our flocks are to model for our sheep the kind of separation that is required in order to be fit for the Master’s use, thereby pleasing our Heavenly Father! However, it seems that in our day (at least on a larger scale), it is even as it was in Ezekiel’s day, who said, “[The priests] have put no difference between the holy and profane...” (see Ezekiel 22:26). It is a sad day when even the supposed ministers of the Gospel put no difference between that which is holy, and that which is sinful! God help those of us who are ministers to study and obey the Word of God, to preach what we read, and thereby practice what we preach! It DOES make a difference how we live our lives, as others are paying more attention to what we do many times than we ourselves! Let us endeavor therefore to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called (Eph 4:1)!
Pastor Gary Caudill
Here, we shall liken the priest to what we know today as a pastor or preacher of the Gospel. I wish to make a couple of observations. Firstly, note that what was first mentioned was the necessity of blood and anointing oil! Blood, of course, speaks of the atoning work at Calvary, and the anointing oil is symbolic of the filling of the Holy Ghost! Fellow laborers in Christ, if we are to continue in the work of the Lord with dignity, character, and effectiveness, then it is necessary for us to keep our sin account short (that is, to be quick to repent and get it under the blood), and to be filled with the Spirit of God! Secondly, note that their garments, as well as their persons, were to be sprinkled with blood! This speaks symbolically of our duty as ministers of the Gospel to ensure that we’re not just cleansed inwardly, but outwardly as well! Our calling should set for us a higher standard of righteousness and holiness than that of others. We as shepherds of our flocks are to model for our sheep the kind of separation that is required in order to be fit for the Master’s use, thereby pleasing our Heavenly Father! However, it seems that in our day (at least on a larger scale), it is even as it was in Ezekiel’s day, who said, “[The priests] have put no difference between the holy and profane...” (see Ezekiel 22:26). It is a sad day when even the supposed ministers of the Gospel put no difference between that which is holy, and that which is sinful! God help those of us who are ministers to study and obey the Word of God, to preach what we read, and thereby practice what we preach! It DOES make a difference how we live our lives, as others are paying more attention to what we do many times than we ourselves! Let us endeavor therefore to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called (Eph 4:1)!
Pastor Gary Caudill