If you Google search the term “how to know if you are important” it will return 2.6 billion results. people act like they don’t care what others think, but in reality, it is on most of their minds every day.

Today, we are going to take a look and see how important you are to the ministry of the Lord.

Servanthood:

The state of being the servant of others, especially of God. Scripture stresses the privileges and responsibilities of being a servant of God and points to Jesus Christ as the model of servanthood.

Websters 1828

Different Duties in Ministry

Everyone has a duty to perform, but not all duties are the same; As demonstrated by the sons of Levi:

Aarons Duties

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar. And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar: And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it. And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 4:5-15

Aaron is a type of Jesus

Aaron was given the duty of High Priest

And take thou unto thee, Aaron, thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 28:1-3

Jesus is our High Priest

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:14-15

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Timothy 2:5

Only Aaron could complete the duties of the High Priest

a.  Nadab and Abihu stepped out of line and suffered the consequences

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

Numbers 3:1-4

No-one else could perform the duties of Aaron, if anyone else attempted to replace Aaron or participate in his duties, it would cost them their life. Koath could not get involved until AFTER Aaron completed his duties:

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 4:15

In like manner, No-one else can perform the duties of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can provide the free gift of salvation, we cannot work our way to salvation and we cannot participate by adding any additional benefit to our salvation. Salvation is only obtained by placing your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Our Spiritual relationship to the sons of Levi

1.   Koath represents the Pastors and Teachers mentioned by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians:

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ephesians 4:9-11

2.   Gershon & Merari both represent the congregation of believers, each with their own specific responsibilities and duties to perform, so that the work can move forward

Koath Ministered next to Aaron

Koath could not perform Aaron’s duties, Koath’s work didn’t begin until after Aaron’s were completed. Aaron did all of the covering, just as Jesus does all of the covering of our sins.

After Aaron’s work was finished, then Koath was permitted to bear the work forward. It is the Lord’s work, Pastors and teachers just carry the work forward.

No hierarchy of importance

Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

Numbers 4:18

The Kohathites were not better than the other sons, they just had a different set of duties to perform. The same holds true today, spiritually speaking the Kohathites are the pastors and teachers. Pastors are not elevated above any of the other members of the body of Christ. Pastors just have a different set of responsibilities and duties to perform.

The Gershonites and the Meari-ites also have their own set of responsibilities and duties to perform, and in like manner, so do all of the other members of the body of Christ. Or to be more specific to a local assembly, all of the members of any given congregation all have their own specific set of duties to perform to keep the work moving forward.

Next, we will take a look at these other duties

Gershon’s Duties

This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens: And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve. At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 4:24-28

The Gershonites were responsible for transporting all of the coverings. The covering of the Tabernacle, and the coverings of all the walls and gates that covered the structure all around the Tabernacle.

The coverings represent those ministries of the church that are plainly visible to all who enter. Everyone could see the coverings, they were in plain sight. The specific duties that are represented by these coverings would things like:

• 1.   Musicians
• 2.   Ushers
• 3.   Singers
• 4.   Children’s Workers

Merari’s Duties

As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 4:29-33

The Merari-ites were responsible for transporting all of the boards, pillars, and posts. The boards, pillars, and posts gave the Tabernacle the structure that was required to house the Holy things, and for which the coverings would drape over.

The boards, pillars, and posts of the Tabernacle represent those ministries of the church that are not visible to the eye. These items provide the structure of the church. Without the structure working behind the scene, the work can not stand. The specific duties that are represented by these coverings would things like:

• 1.   Maintenance
• 2.   Cleaning
• 3.   Plumbing
• 4.   Lawn Care
• 5.   Tuning Instruments
• 6.   Tract Procurement
• 7.   A.V. Ministry
• 8.   Financial Duties

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 corinthians 12:12-27

Everyone is involved in the work

All of these duties are critical to moving the work forward. Sometimes people may feel like the work that they do, is not as important as others, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Just think, what would happen if they had arrived at the new camp sit and did not have the posts, or the coverings, or the Altar?

The work would not be able to move forward and the work would not be able to accomplish the task it was designed to complete if all of the members did not do their part.

Regardless which group you belong

The Lord wants to put joy in your heart

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters. So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;

1 Chronicles 15:16-19

Notice that all three groups are involved in the singing:

• Heman = Koathite
• Asaph = Gershonite
• Merari = Merari-ite

The Lord has given you a song to sing and he has given you a duty to fulfill

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

• The work cannot move forward unless every member completes their duty
• That is how important you are to this ministry.
• Don’t discount how important you are to the work.

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.