God appoints His ministers to stand at the breach for His people. Likewise, Aaron stood at the breach. Aaron took the censer (filled with incense) as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; the plague had already begun among the people. So he put in the incense and making atonement for the people, stood in the midst of the dead and the living (Num 16:46-47).

In the same manner, God chooses a few among the people to be His representatives, ministers and leaders over them to intercede with God on behalf of the people, to teach them about God and guide them and contend with people for God. God readily hears and accepts the prayers of those who are appointed by Him in this manner and grants their supplication. "He is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live' (Gen 20:7)(NKJV). This is an important ordinance found in the scriptures, though not properly understood or realized by many people of God.

Since a few ministers who were not appointed by God have fallen from faith, some people disregard the position and value of the status of the true ministers of God and count themselves equal with them. Their general argument is that all believers are equal and there is none great or small; none should be called a pastor and need not be honored as such; anybody can do anything; anyone can conduct service, lay hands on the head and pray, baptize and administer Lord's supper. This is the pathetic state of the fallen church. A person pastoring his congregation has to be called a pastor. An apostle has to be called an apostle; a prophet has to be called a prophet; the one who teaches has to be called a teacher and the one who evangelizes has to be called an evangelist. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" (Eph 4:11)(NKJV).

When people committed sins intolerable to God and God told Moses that He was going to destroy them. Moses pleaded with God for the people. Then God relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. Another time, the Israelites rebelled against God and God wanted to kill them all. Even at that time, Moses, the chosen man of God, interceded with God on their behalf praying God ," Pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your mercy; just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now". Then the Lord said : "I have pardoned, according to your word" (Num 14:19-20)(NKJV).

The prophet Samuel called unto the Lord to make the Israelites realize their error in demanding a king against God's will. Lord sent thunder and rain the same day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel (I Sam 12:18). When the people ate the Passover without sanctification, King Hezekiah prayed and beseeched God to forgive them saying " May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers , though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary". And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people (2 Chron. 30:18-20).

God took exception to the words of Job's friends who thought they were speaking for God. God told Eliphaz "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therfore , take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly" (Job 42:7-8)(NKJV). Yes, He told them that His servant Job shall pray for their good. When God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He listened to Abraham's intercession and spared Lot and Lot's family from destruction (Gen 18-19). "Abraham prayed to God; and God healed

Abimelech, his wife, and his maidservants. Then they bore children" (Gen 20:17). Likewise God listened to the prayers of prophets, priests, kings and leaders. God works miracles, wonders, divine healings and grants blessings by hearing the prayers of His representatives and leaders appointed by Himself and not according to the prayers of the people. In the New Testament, the apostles come in the line of priests. Though all New Testament believers can pray to God, the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, elders and ministers are especially designated for this purpose. Their prayers are of utmost importance . God said " He is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live " (Gen 20:7). The twelve apostles gathered all the disciples together and said "... we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word "(Acts 6:2-4). Yes. "Epaphras, who is one of you , greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Col 4:12) (NKJV).

In several places of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit writes of the ministers of God: "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake" (I Thes 5:12-13)(NKJV). "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Heb 13:17)(NKJV). "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct" (Heb 13:7) (NKJV).

"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders" (I Pet 5:5)(NKJV). Also the Holy Spirit writes of the true ministers of God thus "...take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you" (Phil 3:17)(NIV).

The ministers of God stand on one side and the people stand on the other. There is no use in people praying against the ministers of God, for God shall listen to the prayers of His ministers alone. People, though godly, are likely to turn back and deny their faith. They don't have godly zeal. The prophets of God, on the other hand, with zeal for God, serve God in the face of opposition, trials, travails, sorrow and loss and struggle for God till their death. They stand on the side of God and not on the side of the people.

Therefore the people of God should be in communion with ministers of God, ministers with apostles, apostles with the chief apostle, the chief apostle with Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ with God the father. God revealed that this is the golden rule to be followed.

Praise be to God for the ordinance that He has written in the Bible. The likes of Korah and his company may rise against this saying "... Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" (Num 16:13)(KJV). And the likes of the proud Miriam and Aarons may talk against this and say " Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also ?" (Num 12:12). We declare to you only what has been revealed and declared to us by God. New Jerusalem Church has been entrusted with the task of revealing hidden doctrines, setting right the fallen church and building it again to its perfection. Praise be to the holy name of God. Alleluia !

"And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not" (I Sam 12:19)(KJV).