April 13, 2025 - The Levites (Leviticus 21:10-12)

The Levites (Leviticus 21:10-12)

Rev. Kwang-Su Ryu

He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes; 11 nor shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself for his father or his mother; 12 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the Lord.

Introduction

When you look in America and Europe, they are closing their doors. Even in Korea, more than 50% are dependent churches. I think it exceeds 70%. There are more seminary schools rising but churches are closing their doors. This is a serious problem but why is this taking place? It is because we don’t know how to receive answers. How do you need to live your walk of faith? When you go overseas, you need to survive on your own. But how can you do that? There are successful elites but if these elites don’t know their way, then they will suffer. Some friends that I know, they studied well and became judges but they are suffering now. They are suffering so much that they have no one to consult with. People who are diseased, it is very difficult for them. Today, we must remember one word, the Levites. Originally, Levi was one of the sons of Jacob. Only the Levites, they didn’t receive plots of land. They gave land to the other 11 tribes but not to the Levites. Why? So they can serve the church and pray. What did they live with? The 11 tribes would manage the land and they would live 10% of that profit to the Levites. They were managing the land of the Levites. The Levites had to keep the lamp burning. What does this have to do with us? When Jesus Christ died on the cross, what happened?

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” - After Jesus’ victory on the cross, we all became Levites. Theologically, we are all considered holy priesthood. What did the Levites do? 

They had to keep the lamp stands burning for 24 hours and they saw three things. They saw the stream of 24 hours of prayer that gave them the greatest joy. The stream of 24 hours, the word of God that is our greatest source of strength. The stream of evidence of 24 hours because in the wilderness, they saw miracles. God is continuing the work of salvation then we need to confirm where we are and where our church is at. If we can’t confirm this, then there is no purpose of God’s covenant within our lives. The gospel has life and it also has a stream to it. If you don’t match with it, then you cannot receive answers. You must not lose hold of this. We are all Levites. We are all priests. After the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross. Why did God give us this blessing? God gave us the five things in the wilderness. All problems have a core answer; that is Genesis. He gave them in the path of the wilderness. The book of Exodus, we need to come out of darkness. The stream of word, prayer, and evangelism; that is the flow of Leviticus. When the 12 tribes confirmed the regions in Canaan, that is Numbers. God began His work when the elders decided on this land. Before they entered Canaan, they changed their import, root, and nature. That is the book of Deuteronomy. Even now, the word, prayer, and evidence is being fulfilled right now. Where are you? You need to see the accurate covenant being fulfilled. When I was young, I realized that prayer was not taking place in my life. I wasn’t praying because I couldn’t pray. That is the answer too. Because I realized that. But a miracle arose. When I confirmed that, God gave me an answer and let me pray. In the past, I was very poor and didn’t give any offering. But one day, I realized that if there are people like me, the churches will close down. I realized that I am a terrible person. You need to confirm this. Then great works will arise. God will work when you examine. I lived a long life within my assistant pastoral ministry but if you are not careful, you won’t be able to give worship properly. I told my pastor that I was struggling with worship so the pastor told me to focus on just giving worship. You must confirm this. 

1. The Start of the Three Flows - The Levite Family (Exodus 2:1-2)

1) Jochebed saw the three flows correctly

Exodus 2:1-2 “And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.” - Moses’ mother saw the three flows. This is important. The three streams, the word, prayer, and evidence is taking place. But where are you? Our children are on the brink of death. What did Jochebed do? She sent her son to the palace. That was the only way for him to live. 

2) She planted the covenant, prayer, and the gospel deeply into her son

She imprinted the covenant and gospel into him, and a miracle arose. Miracles took place in the wilderness. This is the covenant that we must hold onto. If someone is bad at studies, you need to have a correct start. You shouldn’t start with the hard subjects first. If you have the basics first, then you will have a better start. Moses’ mother saw the situation and saw that death was coming to the children. That is why she placed her son in the palace. When Moses entered the palace, he studied in the palace and graduated college there. 

3) Miracles in the palace, Egypt, and the wilderness

The 10 miracles took place through Moses later on. Through Moses, he received great answers like the 3 feasts and the Tabernacle. 

2. The 24 Hours of the Three Flows - The Position of the Levites (anointing in v. 12)

1) 24-hour prayer for the 12 tribes

God has ordained you with the anointing one to be a Levite. They did 24 hour prayer with each tribe. They could not leave the holy place. There were no chairs and the priests had no chairs. 

2) 24-hour prayer as watchmen

This meant watchmen 24 hours. This was an amazing prayer. 

3) 24-hour prayer for the three courtyards

They had to keep the lamp stands burning, the three courtyards. Don’t lose hold of this. 

3. The 25-Hour and Eternal Answer For the Three Flows - The Power of the Levites (Numbers 17:8)

1) The pulpit message

Numbers 17:8 “Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.” - Only Aaron’s bud budded. Aaron was a Levite and a priest. When you give worship to God, through the word of God, God allows the spoutless bud to sprout. This was not about Aaron but when you give worship, God gives life. Don’t lose hold of the power of the word of God. When you give worship on Sundays, through prayer, imprint the word. Miracles will arise. Just imprint the word of God with the power of God and grace of God. The remnants read the Bible a lot but you can’t read it constantly. Imprint what you hear during worship. During your personal prayer time, you will imprint it. When life fills you, then that becomes your nature. That has the power for world evangelism to take place. Never lose hold of this. God continues to fulfill His word even now. God is answering prayers even now. He is continuing to fulfill the work of salvation. Where am I? It doesn’t matter if you are doing well or not. Where are you? God didn’t ask Adam why he did that but asked Adam where he was? Even with Cain, God asked him where he was instead of why he did that. Adam was deceived by Eve but God asked Adam where he was. If you hold onto word, prayer, and evidence and find where you are, then you will see the stream. Every week, you will see answers. 

2) Answers can be seen every week if you hold onto the flow of the Word, prayer, and salvation 

This is so simple but we are losing hold of this. You need to hold onto the living word of God but this has nothing to do with us. God is answering your prayers right now but you need to know where you are. You need to confirm where you are and where the church is. Then the word of God will be fulfilled. When this happens, things you can’t imagine will take place. 

3) What happens when you take hold of the covenant correctly

All Jochebed did was hold onto God’s covenant but this allowed all Israelites to be saved. Moses didn’t see that at first. Since he lost hold of this, he didn’t receive answers until he was 80 years old. God allowed Moses to confirm this on Mount Horeb when he saw the burning bush. At that time, God called Moses forward and told him to take off his scandals. And commanded Moses to go before Pharaoh and free His people for a blood sacrifice. When Moses heard this from God, he told God that he couldn’t go. He gave many excuses to God because of his age and he had a status of a fugitive. But God said that He is the Lord, and that He is I am. God told Moses that He was the Creator God. Moses finally saw who he was. At one moment, he saw great miracles with his rod. The Israelites saw all of the works through Moses, they had unbelief when they were before the land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb had a confession of faith and through that, God assured Joshua that He will be with him as He was with Moses. He told him not to be afraid. Through that process, the Jordan River split and the walls of Jericho broke down. Keep the lamp stands burning and you are the watchman to protect the three streams. Then answers will come. People ask the same question on how to pray. I wonder if they are not listening to the message. I told them endlessly, the method is simple. 24 hours. Just do it. Then 25 hours will come. Then the eternal masterpiece will come to us. This is a sure fact. You will be witnesses to do world evangelism and do the 3 courtyards. Be imprinted. Be imprinted with the power of God. Then, healing and all things will follow. May today be the greatest day.