THOSE WHO SERVE AT THE ALTAR

1. "Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they DISOBEYED the LORD by burning before Him the wrong kind of fire, different than He had commanded.
2. So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD.
3. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when he said, ‘I WILL DISPLAY MY HOLINESS THROUGH THOSE WHO COME NEAR ME. I WILL DISPLAY MY GLORY BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE.’ ” And Aaron remained silent.”
   Leviticus 10:1-3 (NLT)

• Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, disobeyed the LORD by burning before Him a different kind of fire than He had commanded (Leviticus 10:1).

• The higher you go on the ladder of leadership in God’s vineyard, the holier you must be (Hebrews 12:14).
• The punishment of those who serve at the altar is always severe (1 Peter 4:17,18; James 3:1).

1. "And that servant who knew his master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH MANY STRIPES.
2. "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. FOR EVERYONE TO WHOM MUCH is given, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED; and to whom MUCH has been COMMITTED, of him they will ASK the MORE."
   Luke 12:47,48 (NKJV)

• Do not take your leadership position, ministry office, for granted.

• Your ministerial office is a position of grave responsibility.
• God expects a standard, a level of behaviour that befits His servants, from those who serve at the altar.
  YOU cannot afford to live a carefree life.

1. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY."
2. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour.
3. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
   2 Timothy 2:19-21 (NKJV)

• If you fall short of God’s standards, there would be sanction.

"My brethren, LET NOT MANY OF YOU BECOME TEACHERS, KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE A STRICTER JUDGEMENT."
James 3:1 (NKJV)

• Holiness is of paramount importance when you serve at the altar.

1. “but as He who called you is HOLY, YOU ALSO BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT,
2. because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
   1 Peter 1:15,16 (NKJV)

• If you do not want to see the other side of God, you have to keep, abide, with the principles of ministry leadership.

• Instructions for those who serve at the altar:

• As God’s representative, His servant, you need to comport yourself with dignity—a sense of value and worth (2 Timothy 2:23-25).
  ~ Watch where you go and the people you associate or relate with.
• Let God lead you about where to live, where to operate your ministry, and the kind of relationship or friendship to cultivate.
• Do not introduce what God has not commanded you in your assignment.
• To avoid falling into a trap, build a strong communion, fellowship, with God the Father through the person of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you (1 Corinthians 14:2).
  DIALOGUE with Him and carry Him along in whatever you want to do.
  LET Him choose for you in the matters of life, His choice is always the best.
  DO not take instructions given you by Him for granted or trivialize it—every instruction is a command.
• Pray and fast often (2 Corinthians 11:27)
  PRAY before you take every step, whatever step you needed to take in the course of your assignment.
  BE disciplined in talking: “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).
• Take time to stay longer with God, that is, cultivate the habit of tarrying in the presence of God, in order to hear from Him.
  YOU have to be painstaking in order to hear from God, He is never in a hurry.
• Remember, God will do things a step at a time.
  IF you want to outsmart God, act in a clever way; He may allow you to have your way, but it will be to your detriment—disadvantage.

• Leadership is a responsibility, not a title.

• God will hold you responsible, if the assignment, the work, committed to your hands failed (1 Peter 5:2-4).
• God will discipline, sanction, any servant of His who does not honour His name.

“Therefore, the LORD God of Israel says: "I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: "FAR BE IT FROM ME; FOR THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE WHO DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED."
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)

• Always remember the greatness of WHOM you are representing on the earth.

• A minister of God must be well-behaved, disciplined, and live a holy life.

1. "AND A SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT QUARREL BUT BE GENTLE TO ALL, able to teach, patient,
2. in humility correcting those who are in OPPOSITION, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
3. and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
   2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!