THE FOUR LEVELS OF PRIESTHOOD

"A people dedicated to Me alone, you will serve Me as Priests." Exodus 19:6 (Good News Translation)

BIBLE READING: EXODUS 28; ISAIAH 61:6; ACTS 6:1-7; 1 TIMOTHY 3:8-13

The Call to the Authentic Priesthood is the Most Noble and Highest Calling any Christian believer can ever have the privilege of answering. The Gospel Truth is that pursuing either economic empowerment or political prominence to the detriment of one's Priestly Duties is actually a demotion. The 20th president of the United States of America in the person of James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) once confided in a reporter on the day of his inauguration that he actually felt demoted since he was also a clergyman turned politician. It is, therefore, no surprise that the Holy Scriptures say, "And no man takes this Honour to himself BUT HE WHO IS CALLED BY GOD, just as Aaron was" Heb. 5:4 (NKJV).

As recorded in the Holy Scriptures, there are Four Levels of the Priesthood, which are clearly expressed in both the Old and the New Testaments:

(1.) The Episcopate: This talks about the office of the high priest or bishop (derived from the Greek word "Episkopos" which literally translated into the English Language means "overseer"). The Lord Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and the Bishop of our souls Who leads His Church through the Agency of various general overseers (Heb. 6:20; 1Pet. 2:25).

(2.) The Presbytery: This talks about the Body of Ordained Priests or Spiritual Elders (derived from the Greek word "Presbuteros" which literally translated into the English Language means "elder"). These were originally the sons of Aaron (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar) in the Old Testament then later priests or associate pastors who have been entrusted with the Multifaceted Duty of assisting the overseers in the Church (Ex. 30:30).

(3.) The Diaconate: This talks about the Levites in the Old Testament as well as the Deacons in the New Testament (derived from the Greek word "Diakonos" which literally translated into the English Language means "helper" or "minister"). These are those ministers whose Primary Responsibility is to help ease the burdens of the priests by taking care of the business related and Administrative side of the Church (Acts 6:2-4).

(4.) The Ecclessia: This speaks about the General Priesthood of all Christian believers (derived from the Greek word "Ekklessia" which literally means in the English Language "the called-out ones" or "the Church").

During the Old Testament Dispensation, particularly the Dispensation of the Law, the Levitical Tribe was the only Priestly Tribe but according to God's Divine Counsel, every single Israelite was called by Him to be a priest to every nation on the face of the Earth (Ex. 19:6). This same Principle applies to the Entire Church or the Body of Christ whereby every Christian believer is called to be an Authentic Priest, thereby authorizing us all to discharge all of our Priestly Responsibilities for His Glory (1Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6).

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we exalt Your Holy Name for considering us worthy to serve You as priests after the Order of Melchizedek. O Lord, please enable us with the Grace to faithfully discharge our Priestly Duties that we might not undermine this Holy Calling of ours in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.