326. He Who Speaks From Heaven Trains Priests

“For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest.” Heb. 8:4. Before Jesus could become a priest, His body had to be sacrificed, and He Himself had to be taken away from the earth. The priests on the earth have become priests without an oath, but Jesus Christ was made a priest by oath. “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” Heb. 7:21.

This applies first of all to our High Priest, Jesus Christ, He who speaks from heaven. But we are also priests to the degree that we speak from heaven. The voice from the earth is no priest’s voice, neither is it confirmed with an oath. But the heavenly voice has come with its sacrifice, the body of Christ: Spirit, water, and blood. That is why it is confirmed with an oath.

What we need today is words from the Spirit from heaven. These words bring revival and growth in our inner life. The earthly priests are not actually priests, for in order to be so, they would have had to bring spiritual sacrifices and have a connection with Him who speaks from heaven.

Jesus Christ has an unchangeable priesthood because He continues forever. That is why He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to make intercession for them.

Every prophet had to be able to hear Him who speaks from heaven. From Him they heard the Word of faith, and it was by this faith that they overcame the world. To listen to clever people here on earth does not produce growth, nor does it lift us up above the earth. That is why we must never draw back from Him who speaks from heaven. Just think of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, etc.

Now we are alive. Now it is our time when we can work. If you have heard Him who speaks from heaven, then do not fear the jaws of the lion, for by this voice you will cause the armies of the enemy to flee. The earthly priesthood, which is nothing more than a figment of the imagination, will have to give way to the priesthood you receive from above. “Therefore honor belongs to you who believe.” [1 Pet. 2:7, Norw.]. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

There is no other kind of priest, and there is no other priesthood. No one who lacks this heavenly light and calling is competent, even if they have been educated as a priest.

So then we who by God’s grace have been brought from darkness into His marvelous light must confirm our calling and our priestly office so we cause the darkness to yield before God’s marvelous light.