According to the Order of Melchizedek . . .

According to the Order of Melchizedek . . .

or according to the manner of Melchizedek. Hebrews, Chapter 7. He was unique; he was in a special class designated as such by God. God had given it to him in a particular manner, in a manner that was inexplicable to other people.

This matter of Melchizedek, who was king of righteousness and king of peace and priest of the Most High God, is one of the most marvelous and most blessed things that is found in the Scriptures. As a matter of fact, Melchizedek was just as unique as Christ is unique. There was something special about him. God did something out of the ordinary so that there would be a pattern of the work of Christ, a pattern of Christ’s “appointment” as priest. Christ arose according to the order of Melchizedek.

All other priests were appointed according to the order of Aaron, i.e., according to the law of a fleshly commandment. They had to be from the tribe of Levi, and their genealogy and all their “documents” had to be in order. They were appointed according to the documents that proved who they were. However, Melchizedek arose suddenly without genealogy and without documents as evidence of his birth and who he was; he proved that he was greater than Abraham who had the promises, by blessing Abraham. For without contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the greater, and not the other way around.

So also with Christ. He arose outside the ranks of the priesthood. He arose from the tribe of Judah; yet all priests were to be of the tribe of Levi. It was not possible for Jesus to be a priest according to the law of a fleshly commandment. Nevertheless, it was evident that He was a priest in spirit and in truth according to the power of an endless life.

All appointments of priests, evangelists, shepherds, apostles, leaders, elder brethren, etc., from men or through man, in a human way, according to human abilities and ideas, are according to the order of Aaron. But hear what Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God . . . .” And in Galatians 1:1: “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man . . . .)”

A brother who came to a meeting of some believers was asked who had sent him. They meant to find out which faction or which mission society had sent him. He answered that they would discover that through his testimony. What he meant was that they would notice that it was God who had blessed him and sent him.

Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, and we are all priests according to the order of Melchizedek. Who and what are we? We are exactly what God has made us, according to the power of an endless life—precisely what we prove we are in reality. If anyone, without any further explanation, performs the ministry of a shepherd to an astounding degree, or instructs in God’s Word and commandments so that God-fearing and truth-loving souls really receive light, it is evident that that person is a shepherd or a teacher in the church according to the order of Melchizedek! No further explanation is needed. On the contrary!

Each member of the body of Christ is what he is, just as Melchizedek was what he was, and just as Jesus Christ was what He was. It is evident—especially on the day of trial—what each person is.

Everything and everyone in the church of the living God is to be, and is, according to the order of Melchizedek! Everything else is fleshly and human; it is the work of man. All denominations and priests, appointments, general elections, membership lists, membership cards, salaries for speaking God’s word, tithing, and human commandments and all human undertakings are, at best, according to the order of Aaron.

When it is written, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,” this liberty is according to the order of Melchizedek! And when it says, “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification,” then this is according to the order of Melchizedek in truth! Let everyone serve with what he has received from God, according to what God has made him, without any human interference or addition.

What a blessed priesthood this is! What a blessed ministry! What a blessed life! What a blessed way of doing it!!!