Why Are You Not a Servant of the Lord?

Why Are You Not a Servant of the Lord?

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.” In the epistle to the Hebrews, the apostle compares the old to the new covenant. Israel had to bring many different kinds of offerings. They had to bring sacrifices when they committed various sins. The priests received their share of these sacrifices, and it is written that the priests lived off the people’s sins. Hos. 4:8. This ministry was the ministry of the tabernacle. We can compare the tabernacle to our body. “Every sin that a man does is outside the body . . . .” 1 Cor. 6:18. Sin in the flesh is manifested through works. Then it has passed through heart and mind. It has to be acknowledged so we can receive forgiveness for our sins and become pure. This is comparable to the ministry of the tabernacle. It is a ministry for the people. It is a tremendously glorious ministry, and it is the most common ministry. They continue with the forgiveness of sins. These are the first principles of the oracles of God. The Hebrews had not advanced any further even though, according to the time, they should have been teachers. Heb. 5:12.

Just keeping the tabernacle pure would be a great glory. However, a lot of sin flourishes among religious people in these days without any acknowledgment of it. The ministry of the tabernacle is also downtrodden, and the name “Christian” is mocked and despised among people.

Moreover, those who performed the ministry of the tabernacle for the people were not allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place. They were not allowed to stand before God’s face. Ezek. 44:11-16. The majority of those who serve God actually serve only the people. They never advance beyond performing the ministry of the tabernacle.

“For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

The flesh of these offerings was not to be eaten. Lev. 6:23. Their bodies were a complete sacrifice. Jesus, too, was a complete sacrifice. He was crucified outside the camp so He could sanctify the people by His blood. Jesus was never in need of the ministry of the tabernacle because sin never proceeded from His body. Sin was condemned outside the body by the ministry of the tabernacle. However, in Jesus, sin was condemned in the flesh. Rom. 8:3. His body was offered; therefore He could stand before God’s face and bless the people. Now we are exhorted to go out to Him and be one with Him in this one sacrifice, so that we, too, can stand in the sanctuary and bless people.

When a person sins, it is because his body has not been given as a sacrifice. He wants to enjoy the world. We can enjoy earthly things by means of the body, but then sin is also manifested, and the ministry of the tabernacle has to be performed. If a person has forsaken everything, he is also tempted; moreover, if the body is given as a sacrifice, sin is condemned in the flesh. This is the hidden life with Christ in God; then we do not serve before the face of man. We can bless our enemies, and do good to those who curse us if the body is a sacrifice. Then we are servants of the Lord. Very few people attain to this.

Most people are anxious for the things of this world. When they sit down to read God’s Word, they do not possess the required rest that is necessary for them to be able to hear the Spirit’s voice. They are reminded of their sin—their impatience, malice, etc., and they have demands on others. They cannot receive revelations of the Spirit. They are not allowed to come near the table of the Lord. They can acquire the doctrine and knowledge, but they are never allowed to bring spiritual food. If they acknowledge their state and are faithful in the ministry of the tabernacle, it is always good to hear them testify, but they are not ministers of the Word, even though they can be ever such gifted speakers.

For someone to be a servant of the Lord, he has to live as it is written in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31. If he is not sacrificed and seeks his own, he has difficulties with his wife. When he weeps, he weeps because things don’t go the way he wants them to go. When he rejoices, he rejoices because he was able to push his will through, and when he makes a purchase, he feels he owns it. He is interested in the world, and he cannot use it as someone who does not use it. Consequently, he is not at rest in his inner man so he can hear the voice of the Lord.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

The glory of the Lord is the virtues of Christ. Most people do not see the glory of the Lord when they hear God’s Word, but they are reminded of their sins. They are reminded of the fact that they are bad-tempered, anxious, and stingy, and that it is difficult for them to bear their fellow man. They become aware of it when they become serious through the preaching of the Word. The Word to them is only the ministry of the tabernacle.

However, we are meant to behold the glory of the Lord, but then we must be set free from sin. Then the eyes of our heart become anointed through the preaching of the Word so we can see a greater fullness of the virtues of Christ compared to what we have. This results in joy. We are apprehended of Christ. Then we have received something to reach for. This results in sacrifices of praise to God: “The fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” The body is sacrificed even more through this greater light and greater fullness of the virtues of Christ. The new and living way goes through the flesh. This is not the ministry of the tabernacle, but sin is condemned in the flesh. Then we become a servant of the Lord and can bring God’s Word in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.