Set Apart

Set Apart
Words of Faith 2-14-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 29
[1] "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. [2] And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. [3] Put them in a basket and present them in it--along with the bull and the two rams. [4] Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. [5] Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. [6] Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. [7] Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. [8] Bring his sons and dress them in tunics [9] and put headbands on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. In this way, you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

Chapter 28 of Exodus tells us about the garments to be worn by the High Priest and the Priests who served in the Tabernacle. But the priesthood was about much more than fancy robes. Chapter 29 tells us about some things that are much more important. How are the priests to be set apart for their service?
This original priesthood included Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his sons. This priesthood was passed down by blood inheritance from this original family. They would later become the tribe of Levites.
Much of what we find in Chapter 28 could be called ceremonial. We see the great formality called for installing the new priesthood that would serve the generations ahead. The keyword used is "consecrate." To consecrate means to set apart as holy.
The consecration of Aaron and his sons-- not the clothing that they wore-- set them apart for service in the Tabernacle. The word is different from "dedication," which is broader and commonly used for secular objects and structures. When we consecrate buildings, vessels, or people, we are making a declaration that they are to serve wholly to glorify God and nothing else.
Chapter 29 is about the consecration of people. We hear intricate detail regarding the consecration of the priests that will go on into future generations. The Hebrew word used here is kaw-dash. It means to sanctify or make clean. It is used to describe rituals of purification and preparation.
This type of ceremony is sometimes called "investiture." Remember, to be "vested" means to have covering and full rights. The consecration and investiture of priests involved three actions: washing with water, sacrificing for sin, and applying the blood of sacrifice.
The consecration service for Aaron and his sons started with washing with water at the tent's entrance. The verb form says to "wash them." This is not a self-washing or a quick shower before the service. The ceremonial washing took place at the bronze basin near the entrance to the Tabernacle. Washing with water symbolizes the removal of uncleanness resulting from sin. Aaron and his sons were then dressed in the clothing described in chapter 28 and anointed with oil.
The sanctification and purification of the priests would require sacrifices. This washing was followed by three sacrifices: a bull that was a sin offering, a ram as a burnt offering (v.18), and another ram with blood applied in a specific way to the priests and altar (v.20-21).
Today, consecration does not involve rituals with water or animal sacrifice. Christian services of consecration are made entirely of words. What words? Words of commitment and sacrifice-- charges for commitment and vows. In some traditions, the consecration for priests includes vows of poverty and celibacy. While these vows can be helpful to focus on Christ, they are not directed by Scripture. Most of all, consecration sets oneself apart to be holy before God and to wholly serve Christ.
We use the word ordination to describe the act of setting apart one who will minister in the Body of Christ. No special clothing is called for, and no animal sacrifice takes place. Ordination involves a period of observation among leaders, discipleship over time, and the laying on of hands. Vows will often be administered to those ordained that they will be faithful to Christ, adhere to the Bible's Teaching, and faithfully serve among the people of God. There are several qualities that the apostle Paul called for in choosing leaders, but the most important was the commitment to "rightly divide the Word of Truth."
It is probably good to note that serving as a leader-- pastor, teacher, missionary, preacher, or evangelist-- within the Body of Christ is a big deal. Preaching, Teaching, and leading calls for much more than having good hair, popular music, cool clothes, and slick phrases. Self-proclaimed and self-ordained leaders with no accountability are not serving the Body of Christ but instead serving themselves. This is really part of a religious business model, not the Body of Christ.
So what about this priesthood of all believers? That is you! As a born-again believer, you are called to this priesthood. It is not a matter of self-ordination. This consecration is a matter of the heart. It is the beginning point of finding your call.
Your priesthood consecration begins with washing. The apostle Paul wrote: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4). Baptism does not save us and does not wash away our sins. But Baptism is an act of obedience by which we identify with Christ and his sacrifice for us. We celebrate the fact that His blood is applied to us.
The sacrifice has already been made on your behalf. Our commitments and vows are to serve Him to the best of our ability as He leads us. We are all called to walk in holiness according to his Word. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22)

Father God, I desire to walk as a consecrated creature before You. Make me clean by the blood of Your sacrifice in Jesus. I choose to identify with his death so that I might be raised in His resurrection. Set me apart for the purposes you have planned and designed for my life. Consecrate me for your use. In Jesus' Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.