Goal:

To review the basic concepts related to the priesthood chronologically, and the symbolism that is involved in the text.

Objectives:

1. Children will be able to state what our calling is.

2. Children will know who our High Priest is.

3. Children will learn what it means to be a tree of righteousness.

4. Children will be able to name the five duties of a priest:

· Live by the Law of Eloah

· Explain the Law of Eloah

· Teach the Law of Eloah

· Keep or preserve the Law of Eloah

· Judge by the Law of Eloah

Resources:

Who is Jesus? (No. CB2)

Abraham and Sodom (No. 91)

Tithing (No. 161)

Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248)

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (No. CB6)

Cain and Abel: Sons of Adam (No. CB7)

Descendants of Abraham Part IV: Sons of Keturah (No. 212D)

Relevant Scriptures:

Exodus 19:5,6

Revelation 1:5, 6

Hebrews 10:10-14

Format:

Open with prayer.

Ask the children what they think it means to be a priest.

Review the Questions and Answers.

Activity on the priesthood.

Close with prayer.

Lesson:

Read: Introduction to the Priesthood of Eloah over time (No. CB115)

Questions are in bold text.

Q1. What are we called to be?

A. Kings and priests (Ex. 19:5, 6; Rev. 1:5, 6).

Q2. Who is our High Priest now?

A. Joshua, the Messiah, or Jesus the Christ (Heb. 4:14-16).

Q3. What did Jesus Christ offer as the sacrifice?

A. Himself. He was the perfect acceptable sacrifice for man and fallen Host to be restored back to the Father (Heb. 10: 10-14).

Q4. Are we to become living sacrifices also?

A. Yes, we are to follow the example of our elder brother, Joshua the Messiah (Rom. 12:1-2).

Q5. What type of sacrifices are we to offer?

A. We now offer spiritual offerings of prayers, praise and worship to Eloah, and we are to preach His Gospel to all nations.

Q6. Who or what are the Saints?

A. Saints are people who are called by God, who know their God (Jn. 17:3), been given God’s Spirit, and keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus (Rev. 14:12).

Q7. Are Saints the only people who have died for the Faith?

A. No. To be a saint, one does not necessarily have to be dead as is taught in Trinitarianism. All those who make up the Church are saints (Eph. 3:8; 4:12; Phil 1:1; 1Tim. 5:10).

Q8. What does Isaiah 61:1-7 also show that we are to be? What does this represent?

A. We are also to be of trees of justice, or righteousness. Trees can be representative of spirit beings.

Q9. List as many things that you can think of that Isaiah 61:1 tells us we are to be doing now.

1. Bring good news to the world.

2. Bind up or heal the broken-hearted.

3. Proclaim the good news or Gospel to the world.

4. Proclaim or tell the world of the Acceptable Year of the Lord, which means teaching people about God’s Calendar and why it is important to keep it.

5. Assist in the restoration of Jerusalem and the Government of God.

Q10. What are the five duties of a priest?

1. Live the Law of Eloah.

2. Explain the Law of Eloah: The priests are to explain the Law of God (Neh. 8:7).

3. Teach the Law of Eloah: The priests are to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord had given unto Moses (Lev. 10:11).

4. Judge the Law of Eloah: The priests are to judge and administer according to the Law, neither turning to the right or the left (Deut. 17:8-11; 21:5).

5. Keep the Law of Eloah.

Q11. Does the word “priest” only apply to special people in the Church or does it apply to everyone?

A. The term "priest" is applied to believers (1Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). All true believers are now “kings and priests unto God”.

Q12. Are there ways we can help assist Christ in reconciling or reuniting the creation back to the Father?

A. Yes, there are many ways we can assist: through prayers, getting the Gospel out, or in the participation of the Fast for the Simple and Erroneous which the prophet Ezekiel mentions (Ezek. 45:20) – just to mention some of the ways.

Q13. Some say the priesthood is a gift; is that a true statement?

A. Yes, scripture tells us it is a gift in Numbers 18:17.

Q14. Anciently, what did the priesthood focus on? What is the priesthood to focus on now?

A. When the priesthood was first instituted it focused on the physical sacrifices and the letter of the Law. The priestly system since Messiah focuses on the spiritual aspects of the Law, all the while keeping the physical requirements of the Law such as the food laws, Sabbaths, Feasts etc. By our actions we can sanctify or make the nations holy so they can know the truth and repent.

Q15. Has God’s Law and a priesthood always been on the planet?

A. There has always been a continuous priesthood that God has had on this planet, up to and including Abraham. There was never any time when this planet was without the Law of God or without a priest or priesthood from the creation of Adam onwards.

Q16. Who were the first two sons of Adam and Eve? How did the brothers treat each other?

A. Cain was the first-born and Abel was the second. Cain became so angry/jealous of his brother he actually murdered him (Gen. 4:5 ff.).

Q17. From Genesis 4:3-5, did God accept Cain’s and Abel’s offerings?

A. Abel’s offering was accepted because he brought of the firstlings of the flock and of their fat portions, which simply means he offered up the best that he had. Cain’s offering was not accepted because he presented an offering in vain (Isa. 1:13). Cain’s heart and thinking was wrong. By not offering the best he had was in part a reflection of his level of commitment and devotion towards God and how he viewed living according to God’s way.

Q18. After Abel was killed, did Adam and Eve have any more children? If so, who was the third born? Did he or she follow Eloah’s Laws?

A. Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve. The generations of Adam under the line of Seth “called on the name of the Lord” (Gen. 4:25-26). This line of Adam did have men and woman that obeyed God.

Q19. How many children did Noah have? What were their names?

A. After Noah was 500 years old he became the father of three sons called Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Q20. Which of Noah’s sons was the youngest and functioned as a priest of God in the order of Mechisedek?

A. The birthright was passed to Shem, the youngest of Noah’s three sons, as priest of God in the order of Melchisedek.

Q21. After Shem died, who took over the priesthood?

A. On the death of Shem, the priesthood passed to the sons of Isaac from Abraham. There was a priest of the Most High God without genealogy. That priesthood was through the sons of Noah and Abraham who qualified to take over from that priesthood.

Q22. Who is Melchisedek? Why was he important?

A. Abram met Melchisedek, king of Salem. Melchisedek’s servants brought out bread and wine to Abram and his weary men (Gen. 14:13-16). Melchisedek blessed Abram for rescuing the people who had been taken captive. Melchisedek was not only a king but also a priest of God Most High (Heb. 7:1).

Q23. Who is a priest forever after the Order of Melchisedek? Are we to be part of that same priesthood?

A. Messiah is a priest forever after the Order of Melchisedek. He is a High Priest forever, but he was not that Melchisedek who met Abraham. He was another priest after that Order (Heb. 7:11, RSV). We too are to be of the Order of Melchisedek: Jesus went on before us as a forerunner for us. This means that we also are to become priests of that Order, with Jesus Christ as our High Priest. The priesthood of Melchisedek is part of a promise of God (Heb. 6:17-20).

Q24. Did Abram tithe? How much is a tithe?

A. Yes, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods that had been left behind by the attackers who had fled, even though Abram kept none of it for himself (Gen. 14:20-24). This was to show us that Abraham’s descendants would give tithes to the priests. A tithe is 1/10 of the profits one earns. God's tithing law states that anyone who fails to give a tenth of his earnings to God's priests is robbing God (Mal. 3:8). All possessions are God's. Giving back a tenth is one of the right ways to honour Him.

Q25. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, was there anyone on the planet that knew the One True God besides the Israelites?

A. Yes, there was. At the time of Moses we know there was a priest of Midian that knew the One True God. He is referred to as Jethro or Hobab. He became Moses’ father-in-law.

Q26. Who was Jethro descended from?

A. Jethro was one of the sons of Keturah. Keturah was a concubine and later a wife of Abraham. Abraham would have taught all his sons the laws. Though Jacob/Israel went into Egypt, Keturah’s sons did not; therefore some of her sons did not learn the false systems of worship and other sons of Abraham did. Jethro was the priest of Midian who sacrificed to the Lord and knew the Lord was greater than all. Jethro remained loyal to the One True God (Ex. 18:12).

Q27. What book do the Arab people use to learn about God?

A. The Qur’an is the book that the Arabs use to learn about God. The Qur’an is a commentary on the Old and New Testaments. In the Bible the information is grouped in verses and chapters. The Qur’an is set out in similar manner, but instead of calling them Chapters they are known as Surahs.

Q28. Are the people of Midian mentioned in the Qur’an? What about Jethro, is he also mentioned in the Qur’an?

A. Yes, the people of Midian are mentioned many times in the Qur’an. The person Shu’eyb is Jethro, priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law. Midian is mentioned in the following Surahs: 9:70, 71; 11:84; cf. 26:175; 15:78; 28:45; 50:14; et al.

Q29. Did Israel keep the Laws of God in Egypt? If not, how did they again learn about Eloah and His Laws?

A. Israel went into Egypt at the time of the famine. While in Egypt they “lost the laws of God” and had to be re-taught the laws their forefathers knew. This is what God did through the Angel of Yahovah or the Angel of the Presence. This Angel later became Jesus Christ. With time, God explained how Levi would be the priestly line of Israel.

Q30. To whom did the Angel of the Presence communicate the plans for the Tabernacle and priesthood?

A. After the Exodus, Moses was told the plans for the Tabernacle and the organization of the priesthood when he was on the mountain fasting for 40 days the first time. He learned more of the laws of God on his second fast also.

Activity Options:

Tree of Righteousness:

Supplies: Large white or brown paper or tag board, coloured construction paper, markers or words typed out that included the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, Righteous, Holy, Truth, Good, Perfect, Righteousness, Holiness, Goodness, Truthfulness, Perfection, Eloah and His Law, Messiah, Spiritual Creation, Adamic creation, scissors, glue stick or tape.

Directions: On a large paper on the wall draw a large tree with five roots. It is through the One True God that all things came into being. (For a more detailed study or reinforce concepts the tree can that contain the lineages through Cain, Abel, Seth for much more detail see Lesson: Rebellion Against God’s Laws (CB41_2)). Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Fruits of the Holy Spirit can also be drawn and traced on coloured construction paper that children can cut out. When the corresponding Bible verse is read the child finds the correct word that matches the gift or fruit and places the word on the gift or tree and then mounts the gift or fruit on the tree. The five traits of God/Law in the five spiritual roots: righteous, holy, goodness, perfect and truth can also be done on single piece of paper that the children can mount or they can be drawn on the tree (there is a colouring sheet included in the lesson to use as a model when making the large drawing and other relevant pieces to the lesson).

3-D tree

Supplies: Base for each child’s tree; this may include a piece of cardboard, heavy paper plate etc., something that you will be able to assist the child with anchoring the roots/pipe cleaners to so his tree is able to stand up and not tip over. Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls with 5 holes poked in the bottom of the roll, one per child participating, pipe cleaners. Quantity will vary depending on how many pipe cleaners children wind together to form a root – minimum number of pipe cleaners is five per child. One balloon per child, masking tape, newspaper ripped into strips, glue, water, disposable pan to make the paper-mache in, garage bags to protect the floor and table when children are actually doing the paper-mache. Once the projects are dry you will also need paint and paint brushes. Have the children wear old clothes or work outdoors or on a covered surface, as this can be a very messy project.

Directions: Assist the children with getting five pipe cleaners into the roll and secure. Assist the child with attaching the roll with its roots to the base. Ensure at this point the tree is firmly attached to the base.

Have each child blow up his/her balloon with air. Tie it closed with a knot. Concepts that tie to the symbolism that air / Holy Spirit can not be seen; air / the Holy Spirit is powerful and all things come from God can be reinforced. Once the balloon is inflated tape it to the top of the roll.

Have the children rip the newspaper in strips about 1½ inches by 3-4 inches. Dip the strip of newspaper in water then in a mixture of ½ part water and ½ part school glue to form a paste and apply to all surfaces of the balloon. Put on 2-3 coats and allow drying time between coats – this works better than one heavy coat. Once the first coat or two is on the balloon the children can add crumbled newspaper on the balloon and paper mache over the crumbled paper to give it a more tree-like appearance.

Once the project is dry and has a hard coat of paper-mache on it, it is ready to be painted.

Next the children will either draw their own fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit or use the items from the colouring sheet to place the appropriate gift or fruit on or by the tree. (This lesson could also be tied to Pentecost, and each Sabbath do a lesson on one of the gifts or the fruits and have the child make that fruit out of salt dough and place it on or by the tree.)

When the trees are completed ask the child to state which fruit of the Spirit they want to ask God to bless them with and why.

Colouring sheets

Supplies: colours, markers, glue sticks, glitter glue if you like, photocopies of the “Tree of Righteousness” and cut and paste “Tree of Righteousness”.

Directions:

Children can work individually or the cut-and-paste tree can be done as a group activity where the gifts and fruits are cut out and divided into two piles. Children are divided into 2 teams then a relay race is done with the group members getting the various gifts and fruits. Once the items have been attained, Galatians 5 and 1Corinthians 12 are read. Whenever one of the gifts or fruits is read the child attaches the item to the main drawing

Supplemental activities could tie the activities in the Garden of Eden with the Tree of Righteous and Justice. The story of Garden of Eden could be read and looked at in relation to when Adam and Eve were using the fruits of Spirit or not.

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