The Tabernacle Experience: Spirit
THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD is to find your STRENGTH in God. You all face challenges – and God wants you to find your strength in Him, not in some-churchy artificial way, but in authenticity and pragmatic ways.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:16
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” Ephesians 3:16
‘glorious riches’ – God does not lack what you need!
‘strengthen you’ – Why? Because we are all weak and in need of strength!
‘with power’ – What does power represent? FREEDOM to do what is needed!
‘through His Spirit’ – Power comes from one true source: The Holy Spirit!
‘in your inner being…’ – The power of God that meets my need is found within the deepest
parts of me!
We are looking – last week and this – at how to use the Tabernacle of God as a tool that points us to the deeper realities of Christ – in order that we might move forward to experience the Presence of God and to receive revelation from Him.
Here’s my assumption: I am in the midst of a people who hunger for revelation and relationship with God. PRAYER OF HUNGER
LAST WEEK we looked how the Tabernacle was a picture, a symbol or a prophetic building that pointed to the GREATER THINGS God was going to do in Christ.
The Tabernacle consists of three major areas:
• The Courtyard = The physical body
• The Holy Place = The soul (will, mind and emotions)
• The Holy of Holies = The spirit
God created the tabernacle to point us to something greater – and that something greater is Christ – using the specifics of the tabernacle, we can break through the blockages in order to experience Christ more fully!
Let’s walk into the OUTER COURTYARD of the Tabernacle.
THE OUTER COURTYARD – PHYSICAL BODY.
1. BRAZEN ALTAR – THE CROSS OF CHRIST: Am I a LIVING SACRIFICE?
2. LAVER – THE WORD OF GOD: Have I APPLIED THE WORD OF GOD?
Then you move into the HOLY PLACE…
THE HOLY PLACE – THE SOUL (will, mind and emotion)
3. THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD - THE WILL: Is my will GROUND FINE before God?
4. SEVEN BRANCHED LAMPSTAND - THE MIND: Am I allowing God TO ILLUMINATE MY MIND AND GRANT ME REVELATION?
5. ALTAR OF INCENSE – BALANCED EMOTIONS: AM I OFFERING A CONTINUAL SACRIFICE OF PRAISE, WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING BEFORE THE LORD?
And, then – as we move into the Presence of God, the curtain between the Holy Place and the very Holy of Holies opens and we are welcomed in.
HOLY OF HOLIES – SPIRIT OF MAN
The High Priest of Israel was fully responsible for the Tabernacle. Only he could enter into the Holy of Holies – and that was only once a year on the day of atonement. He entered to present sacrifices to the Lord. The average Jew wouldn’t even dream of entering the Holy of Holies, no more than you would dream of sitting down at the President’s desk in the Oval Office of the White House. This was strictly forbidden – because by entering the Holy of Holies, you were entering into direct access to God Himself.
The Veil Of Separation – Exodus 26:31 (Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 27:46, Matthew 26:50, John 19:30)
There is a VEIL – A CURTAIN - separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Exodus 26 describes that veil:
“Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman.” Exodus 26:31
The Veil reminds us that we are excluded because "we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). However, just as the Passover lamb was slain for the redemption of the children of Israel in Egypt, and the goat was slain so that its blood could obtain God's forgiveness for the Israelites on the Day of Atonement, so Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). As Jesus was hanging there on the cross, God "laid on Him the iniquities (the wrongdoings) of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). The final pangs of death came as Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Seconds later "He cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit" (Matthew 26:50). He cried "It is finished!" (John 19:30). And then He died.
The effect of the death of Jesus was dramatic: the earth quaked, rocks were split "and the Veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51). "From top to bottom" indicates that God tore it, because the Veil in the Temple was some 80 feet high.
• When the Veil was torn – top to bottom – this was God declaring something extremely powerful: The separation between God and man is no longer!
• We can be reunited with our Creator!
• We can have direct access to the One who made us, loves us, knows us, can lead us home!
• We don’t need a human priest! We don’t need a Pope! We don’t need a Confession booth!
• We don’t need a blood sacrifice!
• WE CAN HAVE HIM!
Dear friends: YOU can have EVERYTHING that God has to offer – He has removed the divider! He has prepared the way, truth and life that leads you to Him! He brings your SPIRIT to life!
Hebrews says:
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.” Hebrews 7:25-26 NLT
Christ is speaking to the Father on your behalf right now – and do you know what He is praying for? He is praying for you to have your spirit filled with His Holy Spirit!
Light Source For Life!
In the Holy of Holies there was NO LIGHT – except the light of the Glory of God! In our world, with many things competing with each other to ‘enlighten us’, the only true light we need is the glory of God!
Jesus said in John 8: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” John 8:12
He enlightens us by reconnecting our innermost spirit with Him. This is life! We come alive when the touch of God is upon us! Our human spirit is like a light bulb – it has all the capacity and capability for light, except it desperately needs electricity to flow in order to shine!
In the Holy of Holies there is but one item of furnishing:
The Ark Of Covenant: The Symbol of God’s Presence
(You’ve all seen RAIDER’S OF THE LOST ARK)
It is A GOLD CHEST containing three items: Hebrew 9:4 lists them—
“This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” Hebrews 9:4
• A Jar of Manna – Representing the Supernatural Provision of God. (Exodus 16:15 - John 6:51) As the people of God traveled in the wilderness, God met their need every day! Supernaturally! As we move into the presence of God, He gives us supernatural life and strength, we are able to conquer the unconquerable! We are able to have victory over certain defeat! We are empowered to do the impossible – for all things are possible with God! This supernatural provision only happens as we are moving in the Presence of Almighty God!
• Aaron’s Staff that Grew a Bud – Representing the Authority of God granted to His followers. (Numbers 17:8 – Romans 1:2-4) When we get face-to-face with Him, His Spirit speaks to our spirit, we then speak what He has said and our words have authority!
• The 10 Commandments – these are the Law of God. (Deuteronomy 10:4-5 - Matthew 5:17) The Standard of Holiness needed to meet with Him. If you are going to meet face-to-face with God you are going to do so on His terms. And His terms are this: Perfection! And faced with this impossibility we rejoice because Christ has become the fulfillment of the Law! He is the Perfect and He grants us His Righteousness!
The cover of the Ark was the “Mercy Seat” where Moses and Aaron would kneel and where God would speak to them. Aren’t you glad that the MERCY SEAT sits above the LAW?! God’s Mercy is greater than our sin! And because of His mercy – we are both able and welcome to enter into His Presence and enjoy Him!
CONCLUSION:
As we move – by faith – into the very presence of God, He speaks revelation to our spirits. We begin to increasingly have ‘ah-ha’ moments where He becomes real and personal like never before! Supernatural life begins to flow deep within us – like the ‘streams of living water’ Christ promised, providing us with strength to face victoriously the trials of life, providing us with courage to face the fearful moments of life, providing us with wisdom to face the confusion.
Paul wrote: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Whatever your need – Christ can and will meet it.
In the Courtyard of the Tabernacle we see that the Lord can speak to our natural senses through the clear commands of Scripture.
In the Holy Place of the Tabernacle the Holy Spirit can illumine our minds and thoughts, giving us supernatural wisdom and insight.
And in the Holy of Holies, our spirits come alive in the Presence of God as He speaks directly to our spirits.
All kinds of revelation is available to believers. When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts – in whatever way He chooses – it says nothing about how ‘spiritual’ we are, rather it is another demonstration of how much God loves us.
This Tabernacle experience is meant as yet another way for us as believers to interact in the realm of the Holy Spirit in order to move into deeper intimacy with our God and to receive needed revelation.
Are you having trouble receiving revelation from the Lord? Than present yourself to God through the Tabernacle:
TABERNACLE PRAYER:
• Altar: Am I a living sacrifice?
• Laver: Am I applying the Word?
• Shewbread: Am I submitting my will to His will?
• Lampstand: Am I allowing God to illuminate my mind?
• Incense: Am I worshipping?
• Ark: Am I standing in His immediate Presence?
FOR FURTHER STUDY: www.domini.org/tabern/tabhome.htm
Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:16
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” Ephesians 3:16
‘glorious riches’ – God does not lack what you need!
‘strengthen you’ – Why? Because we are all weak and in need of strength!
‘with power’ – What does power represent? FREEDOM to do what is needed!
‘through His Spirit’ – Power comes from one true source: The Holy Spirit!
‘in your inner being…’ – The power of God that meets my need is found within the deepest
parts of me!
We are looking – last week and this – at how to use the Tabernacle of God as a tool that points us to the deeper realities of Christ – in order that we might move forward to experience the Presence of God and to receive revelation from Him.
Here’s my assumption: I am in the midst of a people who hunger for revelation and relationship with God. PRAYER OF HUNGER
LAST WEEK we looked how the Tabernacle was a picture, a symbol or a prophetic building that pointed to the GREATER THINGS God was going to do in Christ.
The Tabernacle consists of three major areas:
• The Courtyard = The physical body
• The Holy Place = The soul (will, mind and emotions)
• The Holy of Holies = The spirit
God created the tabernacle to point us to something greater – and that something greater is Christ – using the specifics of the tabernacle, we can break through the blockages in order to experience Christ more fully!
Let’s walk into the OUTER COURTYARD of the Tabernacle.
THE OUTER COURTYARD – PHYSICAL BODY.
1. BRAZEN ALTAR – THE CROSS OF CHRIST: Am I a LIVING SACRIFICE?
2. LAVER – THE WORD OF GOD: Have I APPLIED THE WORD OF GOD?
Then you move into the HOLY PLACE…
THE HOLY PLACE – THE SOUL (will, mind and emotion)
3. THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD - THE WILL: Is my will GROUND FINE before God?
4. SEVEN BRANCHED LAMPSTAND - THE MIND: Am I allowing God TO ILLUMINATE MY MIND AND GRANT ME REVELATION?
5. ALTAR OF INCENSE – BALANCED EMOTIONS: AM I OFFERING A CONTINUAL SACRIFICE OF PRAISE, WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING BEFORE THE LORD?
And, then – as we move into the Presence of God, the curtain between the Holy Place and the very Holy of Holies opens and we are welcomed in.
HOLY OF HOLIES – SPIRIT OF MAN
The High Priest of Israel was fully responsible for the Tabernacle. Only he could enter into the Holy of Holies – and that was only once a year on the day of atonement. He entered to present sacrifices to the Lord. The average Jew wouldn’t even dream of entering the Holy of Holies, no more than you would dream of sitting down at the President’s desk in the Oval Office of the White House. This was strictly forbidden – because by entering the Holy of Holies, you were entering into direct access to God Himself.
The Veil Of Separation – Exodus 26:31 (Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 27:46, Matthew 26:50, John 19:30)
There is a VEIL – A CURTAIN - separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Exodus 26 describes that veil:
“Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman.” Exodus 26:31
The Veil reminds us that we are excluded because "we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). However, just as the Passover lamb was slain for the redemption of the children of Israel in Egypt, and the goat was slain so that its blood could obtain God's forgiveness for the Israelites on the Day of Atonement, so Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). As Jesus was hanging there on the cross, God "laid on Him the iniquities (the wrongdoings) of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). The final pangs of death came as Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Seconds later "He cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit" (Matthew 26:50). He cried "It is finished!" (John 19:30). And then He died.
The effect of the death of Jesus was dramatic: the earth quaked, rocks were split "and the Veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51). "From top to bottom" indicates that God tore it, because the Veil in the Temple was some 80 feet high.
• When the Veil was torn – top to bottom – this was God declaring something extremely powerful: The separation between God and man is no longer!
• We can be reunited with our Creator!
• We can have direct access to the One who made us, loves us, knows us, can lead us home!
• We don’t need a human priest! We don’t need a Pope! We don’t need a Confession booth!
• We don’t need a blood sacrifice!
• WE CAN HAVE HIM!
Dear friends: YOU can have EVERYTHING that God has to offer – He has removed the divider! He has prepared the way, truth and life that leads you to Him! He brings your SPIRIT to life!
Hebrews says:
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.” Hebrews 7:25-26 NLT
Christ is speaking to the Father on your behalf right now – and do you know what He is praying for? He is praying for you to have your spirit filled with His Holy Spirit!
Light Source For Life!
In the Holy of Holies there was NO LIGHT – except the light of the Glory of God! In our world, with many things competing with each other to ‘enlighten us’, the only true light we need is the glory of God!
Jesus said in John 8: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” John 8:12
He enlightens us by reconnecting our innermost spirit with Him. This is life! We come alive when the touch of God is upon us! Our human spirit is like a light bulb – it has all the capacity and capability for light, except it desperately needs electricity to flow in order to shine!
In the Holy of Holies there is but one item of furnishing:
The Ark Of Covenant: The Symbol of God’s Presence
(You’ve all seen RAIDER’S OF THE LOST ARK)
It is A GOLD CHEST containing three items: Hebrew 9:4 lists them—
“This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” Hebrews 9:4
• A Jar of Manna – Representing the Supernatural Provision of God. (Exodus 16:15 - John 6:51) As the people of God traveled in the wilderness, God met their need every day! Supernaturally! As we move into the presence of God, He gives us supernatural life and strength, we are able to conquer the unconquerable! We are able to have victory over certain defeat! We are empowered to do the impossible – for all things are possible with God! This supernatural provision only happens as we are moving in the Presence of Almighty God!
• Aaron’s Staff that Grew a Bud – Representing the Authority of God granted to His followers. (Numbers 17:8 – Romans 1:2-4) When we get face-to-face with Him, His Spirit speaks to our spirit, we then speak what He has said and our words have authority!
• The 10 Commandments – these are the Law of God. (Deuteronomy 10:4-5 - Matthew 5:17) The Standard of Holiness needed to meet with Him. If you are going to meet face-to-face with God you are going to do so on His terms. And His terms are this: Perfection! And faced with this impossibility we rejoice because Christ has become the fulfillment of the Law! He is the Perfect and He grants us His Righteousness!
The cover of the Ark was the “Mercy Seat” where Moses and Aaron would kneel and where God would speak to them. Aren’t you glad that the MERCY SEAT sits above the LAW?! God’s Mercy is greater than our sin! And because of His mercy – we are both able and welcome to enter into His Presence and enjoy Him!
CONCLUSION:
As we move – by faith – into the very presence of God, He speaks revelation to our spirits. We begin to increasingly have ‘ah-ha’ moments where He becomes real and personal like never before! Supernatural life begins to flow deep within us – like the ‘streams of living water’ Christ promised, providing us with strength to face victoriously the trials of life, providing us with courage to face the fearful moments of life, providing us with wisdom to face the confusion.
Paul wrote: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Whatever your need – Christ can and will meet it.
In the Courtyard of the Tabernacle we see that the Lord can speak to our natural senses through the clear commands of Scripture.
In the Holy Place of the Tabernacle the Holy Spirit can illumine our minds and thoughts, giving us supernatural wisdom and insight.
And in the Holy of Holies, our spirits come alive in the Presence of God as He speaks directly to our spirits.
All kinds of revelation is available to believers. When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts – in whatever way He chooses – it says nothing about how ‘spiritual’ we are, rather it is another demonstration of how much God loves us.
This Tabernacle experience is meant as yet another way for us as believers to interact in the realm of the Holy Spirit in order to move into deeper intimacy with our God and to receive needed revelation.
Are you having trouble receiving revelation from the Lord? Than present yourself to God through the Tabernacle:
TABERNACLE PRAYER:
• Altar: Am I a living sacrifice?
• Laver: Am I applying the Word?
• Shewbread: Am I submitting my will to His will?
• Lampstand: Am I allowing God to illuminate my mind?
• Incense: Am I worshipping?
• Ark: Am I standing in His immediate Presence?
FOR FURTHER STUDY: www.domini.org/tabern/tabhome.htm
posted by Doug Love at 9:09 AM
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