Fall
1985
Ruling and Reigning with Christ
IQ Spenser
We often hear the term today of “being called into
the ministry.” But, in the fuller understanding of this
term, we are all called to be ministers of the Gospel.
In Ezekiel's vision, recorded in Chapter 44 of Ezekiel, two
realms of ministry are established. Concerning the first,
“And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when
Israel went astray, ... Yet they shall be ministers in my
sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering
to the house: ... Because they ministered unto them before
their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity:
... and they shall not come near unto me.” Ezek 44:10-13
Of the second order, He says this: “But the priests
the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept charge of my sanctuary
when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall
come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand
before me to offer unto me the fat and blood, saith the Lord
God: They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come
near to my table, to minister unto me and they shall keep
my charge.” Ezek 44:15-16
In the verses that follow, the Lord makes it very clear that
He has a very specific work and place for these Zadok priests
who have qualified by their obedience and pure heart towards
the Lord. These will be given the privilege and honor of entering
into the Holy of Holies and of coming into the very presence
of the Lord.
These also have a very special ministry that they are to
accomplish. Therefore, they are instructed to live a clean,
pure and separated life. “And they shall teach my people
the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause
them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
Ezek 44:23
We must now consider what it takes to qualify for this higher
realm of ministry in our day. We are not born into it, as
were the priests of old. But, we are given an opportunity
to live and walk thru life's journey in such a way that we
qualify as an overcomer and find ourselves in the place of
identification with our Lord in His throne. Then we will be
qualified to rule and reign with Him. See Rev 3:21 and Rev
5:10.
In these last days, many will
be found in the place of the first group of Levites and come
short of the Lord's calling and purpose. He is waiting for
those who will “hear” and come up into this higher
realm of ministry.