Half Qualified

The ministry of the word has been so perfecting as I pursue the Lord in the word in the ministry. These as I have been pursuing the life-study of Ezekiel I have been so much supplied by the Lord's speaking. What touched me deeply was the matter of the priest. I am a priest as His saved one, but am I a mere priest who is a "stranger" or a real priest who serves God as a priest should serve. According to the word of God, there is a need for circumcision to be a priest.

Ezekiel 44:9 Thus says the Lord Jehovah, No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of any of the foreigners who are among the children of Israel shall enter into My sanctuary.

Excerpt from the Liofe-study of Ezekiel Message Twenty Five

THE PRIESTS

Being Circumcised

If we would serve the Lord in His house, the church, we need to be circumcised (44:9). Uncircumcised persons are not qualified to serve in God’s house. Circumcision typifies dealing with the flesh, the natural man, and the old man by the cross. To us as believers in Christ, circumcision today is not something outward but an inward dealing by the cross with the flesh, the natural man, and the old man. If our flesh, natural man, and old man have not been dealt with by the cross, we are not qualified to serve in the church life. Rather, we are considered by the Lord to be a stranger. 

A stranger is an uncircumcised person, someone whose flesh, natural man, and old man have not been dealt with by the cross. We may be real believers, but if we have not dealt with our flesh, natural man, and old man by the cross, the Lord regards us as strangers, those who are not qualified to serve in the church life. We need to bring this matter to the Lord and ask Him about our flesh, natural man, and old man. These things must be dealt with through the working of the cross. Only then will we be circumcised and qualified to serve the Lord in the church life.

Being like the Sons of Zadok

When the majority of the people went astray, some of the circumcised ones also went astray (44:10). Although these ones were circumcised, they went astray from God to idols by following those who went astray. Because these circumcised ones went astray, we may say that they were only half qualified to serve the Lord. On the one hand, they were qualified because they were circumcised; on the other hand, they were not qualified because they had gone astray from God to idols. Their circumcision qualified them, but their going astray disqualified them.

What should the Lord do with them, and what was His attitude toward them? The Lord said that such persons could serve in the house, but they could not come near to the Lord or to the holy things (vv. 11-14). They could minister in the temple by helping the people to present their offerings, but they could not come near to the Lord and serve Him. Some of the saints in the church have followed the majority in going astray from the Lord. Because the majority of Christians have gone astray, they have lost their qualification and position to serve the Lord in a direct way. They may still have a part of the church service, but it is an indirect service to the Lord.

Perhaps, one may be spiritually circumcised, yet there is a possibility that he may go astray, deviating from the God-ordained way. Perhaps, such one may still serves as priest but not in a consecrated and absolute way. Qualification wise, one may still be qualified but in reality, the genuine spiritual function is already lost. There such one is only half qualified. 

This is an alarm and even alert to pay heed to, with utmost urgency and attention. My response to this message is such; "Lord, I do not want to be merely half qualified. If at all I serve, I want to serve as fully qualified one." The only Person who judges between qualification or disqualification or half qualification is the Lord himself who is being served. I thank the Lord for such a timely message.

Now, I simply look to the Lord for His mercy and grace that I can go on in my service of serving Him as a priest with full qualification; spiritually circumcised, and also being absolute to the Lord, for the Lord.

Lord, grace me to be fully qualified to serve You all the days of my life.