Leviticus 8-9 | Our Preparation for Ministry

To be used of God in His service is an honor and great privilege. But there is a preparation that God takes us through to equip us for ministry.

God chose Aaron and his sons to minister in the tabernacle on behalf of the people. But the first people that needed help and cleansing were the priests themselves.

Moses was instructed to do the following:

ANOINTING

The priests were to be set apart and dedicated to their ministry. To "consecrate" means to "remove from common use." They were no longer to do the merely normal but were dedicated to God's use in ministry.

Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him. (Leviticus 8:12)

CLEANSING

Moses prepared the "bull of the sin offering" and "Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering" (Leviticus 8:14). This symbolized the coming Christ on whom our sins would be placed, and then He would be sacrificed in our place for sin.

We are unable to minister as we should without the cleansing that only Christ can give.

FILLING

This was a step to prepare these ministers by ordaining them to this ministry. The word in Hebrew literally means "filling" and indicates that they could not do their tasks without God's power.

Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination (filling), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. Moses slaughtered it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. (Leviticus 8:22-23)

If we are to minister, we need to be consecrated (set apart and dedicated to the task), cleansed through the blood of Christ, and filled with the power of God. These are what equip us for ministry. And because of Christ, this is available to anyone who longs to be used by God!

Father, thank You for the privilege of serving You and others. Prepare me today with all I need to do Your will.