Category: Spirituality


In Jesus we are Prepared for Battle

Filed under: Jesus, Ministry, Spirituality, spirtual warfare — 2 Comments
August 17, 2009

In Jesus we are Prepared for Battle

We can achieve victory over evil when the power of God is supporting us.

Saint Peter Healing the Cripple - Raising Tabitha - Masolino

Saint Peter Healing the Cripple - Raising Tabitha - Masolino

This means that we must be following the lead of the Holy Spirit and this requires that we chose to remain pure in all that we do. We must eliminate all evil from our own actions because they seperate us from God.

This is particualrily difficult becasue evil choices are all around us and God has give us the ability to choose our own path. He gives us the ability to choose between good and evil, light or darkness, love or hate, to save a life or to kill. In fact, choice is the reason that we are here on this earth. Our choices will ultimately determine where we spend our eternity, with God or the devil.

This posting is directed at the people who choose to do God’s will. Your choices will require that you confront evil in ways similar to the way that Jesus did. It is certainly important for you to make your choices based on the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that your steps are ordered by the Lord will ensure that the support and empowerment of the Lord will be with you. Of course this all takes time in prayer as we discussed in our postings the Holy Place. Taking on the forces of evil without God’s direction is not recommended. I offer the following scripture as support for this statement:

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:13 – 16)

We need the power of God that comes by way of the Holy Spirit to successfully engage in spiritual warfare. The passage below identifies how Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit:

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11

John Baptizes Jesus - Making Straight The Way Of The Lord

John Baptizes Jesus - Making Straight The Way Of The Lord

In being baptized, the identity of Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, and as a result His mission is confirmed. He is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is fully prepared for the battle with Satan that He will enter into immediately.

In our next posting we will find that the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness where He will be tested for 40 days and nights.


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Jesus Gives His Life for Others

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August 14, 2009

Jesus Gives His Life for Others

Jesus did not come to be worshiped or exalted, but rather, to give His life in saving others.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

The Crucifixion of Jesus

His pathway led to everlasting life, glory and honor forever. Therefore, the life and actions of Jesus are our roadmap to finding everlasting life, glory and honor. The following scripture supports this proposition:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

Each one of us must ask ourselves: “What is our cross?” Going to the cross and sacrificing His life was the payment that Jesus made to redeem us from our sins. Ironically, giving up His life in this world guaranteed Him everlasting life in heaven. His death was required to achieve His mission. But death has no hold on anyone who gives up everything in achomplishing the will of the Father. As we know, Jesus was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven where He lives forevermore at the right hand of the Father.

The Ascension of Jesus

The Ascension of Jesus

This is exactly the way it will be with us if we take the same course and lay down our lives to achieve the will of the Father. While this cross may be different for each of us, one thing is certain. Our mission will be in the service of others, and will help to establish, maintain or mature a relationship between the Father and the people of this earth.

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Jesus is the Miracle Worker in Us

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August 11, 2009

Jesus is the Miracle Worker in Us

Jesus was asked if He was the “Coming One” by the disciples of John the Baptist. Here is how He responded:

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Matthew 11:4-6)

Jesus Heals the Leper

Jesus Heals the Leper

Jesus came into this world to deliver a series of messages from the Father, and He proclaimed these messages by the power of the Holy Spirit. In addition, His words were reinforced by miraculous actions that demonstrate the truth of what He spoke (we have demonstrated this repeatedly throughout in our postings.)

Jesus the Light of the World is Transfigured before His Disciples

Jesus the Light of the World is Transfigured before His Disciples

For example, Jesus’ statement, “I am the the Light of the World” is demonstrated in His Transfiguration that is pictured above. However, Jesus also charges us with being the light of the world as well.

Therefore in a like manner, we who follow in the footsteps of Jesus are also charged with the responsibility of communicating the words and thoughts that God places in our hearts and to do the things that He shows us to do. Therefore, when we do them we should also see our actions reinforced in miraculous ways by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit

This is what separates us from false doctrines, false profits, sham artists and all forms of false religions. Anyone can make a false claim or be seriously mistaken about the truth. Many intelligent people can study the Bible and preach the Word in front of thousands of people and move them emotionally. But Jesus empowers His followers with His Spirit. So then we should walk just like Jesus did.

In the case of Jesus the bottom line was and always will be; does God support the words and actions of His ministry with miracles? So then it should be the same with His followers. It sure was true in the lives of Jesus’ apostles. Therefore, we must ask ourselves if people blessed by God after the delivery of our message? Are the hearts of the people changed to conform with God’s will? Has the impossible transpired? Are bodies healed, curses broken or the lost saved? Remember, those who believe in Jesus will do the things that He did, and greater that these will they do. So speak the things that God has given you in boldness and without fear, knowing that God will support the things that He has given you to do. Also realize that it is up to you to speak the Word and to demonstrate your faith by initiating action no matter how impossible the action may seem.

Saint Peter Healing the Cripple - Raising Tabitha - Masolino

Saint Peter Healing the Cripple - Raising Tabitha - Masolino

Also understand that God’s support often comes only when things are impossible for us or when we give up on doing them. When we initiate an activity that we know is impossible and it gets done then there can be no doubt that it is God doing the work and as a result, getting the glory. The actions of Moses provide a good example of what we are discussing here.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. (Exodus 14:21)

Crossing the Red Sea

Crossing the Red Sea

Moses stretched out his hand in faith over the Red Sea, knowing full well that the Lord would support his action and part the Red Sea. In fact, if we look at the books written by Moses, we find that he stretched out his hand quite often in expectation of God’s action. Interestingly, these actions were often in response to a request from God. It is also interesting that God never took unilateral action but required Moses to initiate the activity. Time after time, Moses had to demonstrate faith in God by taking action in faith so that God could do the impossible. So, Moses demonstrated faith with actions and God supported his actions with miracles.

This is exactly what we are to do. Set a direction that is based on God’s communication. Ignore the impossible and with absolute faith (without doubting) stretch out our arm and know with certainty that God will take action in support of what He has given us to do.

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Jesus is the True Vine

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August 4, 2009

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Read my story by ordering my book, “Possess the Vision”

Jesus is the True Vine

Jesus Multiplies the Loaves and Fish

Jesus Multiplies the Loaves and Fish

Jesus claimed to be the True Vine and as we will soon find out, this is a very important statement as He is our provider. The following passage taken from the book of John communicates Jesus’ words about being the True Vine:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:1-13)

Jesus laid down His life for us.

Jesus laid down His life for us.

Being the True Vine has several very substantial implications. First of all, the vine and the branches are one organism as they are both required to bear fruit. Secondly, the branches are empowered by the vine as it brings energy in the form of the nutrients necessary to accomplish the production of fruit. Thirdly, the branches are cared for by the Father who nurtures and protects them in the garden. Jesus demonstrated that He is the True Vine as His disciples went forth into the world and clearly bore fruit abundantly in the form of saved souls. In this regard the were also empowered by the Holy Spirit, cared for by the Father by way of answered prayers, and connected to Jesus by His example and commandments. One great example during of Jesus being the True Vine occurred when Jesus sent out seventy of His disciples to all of the places that He would eventually visit. The interesting part of this scripture is that Jesus sends the disciples without provisions. Here is the passage according to Luke:

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:1-9)

Although it may not be obvious, the disciples in this passage were pruned back to enable them to bear more fruit. More specifically, Jesus removes the things of this world that they would have normally regarded as necessary to be successful in such a venture. By eliminating the things of this world they became dependent upon God, and when others witnessed the provisions of God being delivered, then great glory and honor besowed upon God. This dependence is akin to Moses and the nation of Israel wondering in the desert for almost forty years depending totally on God to deliver them into the Promised Land.

The Falling of the Manna, Moses Drawing Water from the Rock - from Túrócbéla, 1480 - 1490

The Falling of the Manna, Moses Drawing Water from the Rock - from Túrócbéla, 1480 - 1490

The lesson here is that total dependence on God is more profitable than depending on the things of this world, as Jesus will provide everything you need when He sends you. The proof of this is found in the following scripture that describes what happened when the seventy, who were sent out with nothing returned:

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:17-20)

So, we see the disciples producing fruit in the name of Jesus who empowered them over the evil spirits in this world. He therefore is the True Vine and they are the branches that produce fruit. In turn, Christians seeking to become like Jesus should seek to become the true vine for others. Jesus’ ministry focused on discipleship and teaching, preaching, demonstrating power and in general, changing the lives of people for the better. In addition, our True Vine Jesus empowers His branches even today with the same Holy Spirit power that His disciples received on the day of Pentecost.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Therefore, if you seek to be like Jesus, disciple others and by teaching, preaching, demonstrating and changing the lives of others, knowing full well that Jesus the True Vine empowers His branches.

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime.


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Jesus Ascends into Heaven

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July 15, 2009

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Jesus Ascends into Heaven

To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

The Ascension of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:3-14)

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Jesus Appears to His Disciples after His Resurrection

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July 14, 2009

Jesus Appears to His Disciples after His Resurrection

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

Jesus shows Thomas His wounds

Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:19-28)

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Jesus Dies and Rises from the Dead

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July 12, 2009

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:45-46)

crucifixion1

Jesus is Buried in a Tomb

Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. (Matthew 27:57-60)

jesus is taken down from the cross

Jesus Rises from the Dead

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Jesus rises from the grave
Jesus rises from the grave

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you”. (Matthew 28:1-7)


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Jesus Prepares Us to Enter Into His Spirit

Filed under: Jesus, Jesus is the Most Holy Place, Jesus is the Most Holy Place, Jesus the Tabernacle, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Holy Of Holies, The Most Holy Place — 2 Comments
June 20, 2009

cropped-possessthevisionfront013.jpg

Jesus Prepares Us to Enter Into His Spirit

Jesus came to earth to prepare the world for entry into the spiritual Promised Land. He did this by giving us His life. The words that He spoke, the miracles that He performed and His promise of a helper that came in the form of the Holy Spirit, set the foundation for our entry into the promise of God.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus that lives in us and we live in Him. His spirit empowers us. We will now present a few scriptures that support this proposition. The first scripture provides an example of Jesus preparing His disciples to continue His mission after He is gone. He leaves them the promise of the Holy Spirit who will be sent to them by the Father in His name:

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. (John 14:14-21)

The next scripture communicates the story of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon the disciples:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”  So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, Whatever could this mean? Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. (Acts 2:1-19)

From that day forward they were empowered through the Holy Spirit of God.

In addition, everything about Jesus’ preparation of the people was better that in the time of Moses. Jesus gave us a perfected law that was written on our hearts and that changed our character (see the section on Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver). We no longer blindly follow rules without understanding but rather change our hearts to become more like Jesus. He gave us a perfected priesthood that came with a perfect sacrifice and a perfect offering. Most importantly, He gave us more than a Pot of Manna to eat; He gave us His body to eat and his blood to drink in the new spiritual covenant (see Jesus-the-Table-of-Showbread and Applying-the-Attributes-of-Jesus-our-Table-of-Showbread).


Read my book entitled, “Possess the Vision.”


cropped-possessthevisionfront013.jpg

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime. They start in his youth when amazingly he has a series of dreams that warn of impending danger that come true. In a mind gripping account he tells what happened when he turned away from God and suffered demonic attacks that took him into spiritual Golgotha, the place of death. There he is confronted by Satin and is brought before the judgment seat of Christ. Fortunately, judgment is not dispensed. He awakes in the hospital the next day disbelieving what he perceives as a very bad dream. He is then pummeled by a series of physical attacks and teeters near death for months. Out of desperation he picks up a bible and later gives his life back to God.

Immediately God responds by leading him through a series of spiritual and prophetic experiences, that when melded together, communicate God’s desire. Possess the Vision weaves these experiences into a proposal to unite Christians in a common ministry to improve the life and living standards of the world’s people — in support of the command of Jesus Christ that we love one another.

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Entering The Truth Of The Tabernacle

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November 14, 2007

Read my amazing true life story about how the forces of good and evil battle for my life and the vision that God has given me. My book, “Possess the Vision,” communicates my supernatural experiences and as a result, provides insight into the realm of the spiritual warfare that is raging for our souls and our purpose. This is a must read for all Christians. Learn more by following this link: Possess-the-Vision-at-Amazon

Entering The Truth Of The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Tabernacle Courtyard


In our previous postings we have communicated how the Tabernacle Courtyard is prophetic of Jesus Christ. The Courtyard foretells the blood sacrifice required of Jesus as payment for our sins on the cross. It also communicates that we must look at ourselves in light of the prefect model of Jesus. We must compare our actions and words to His since He is the Son of God and led a perfect life. In doing these things we enter into a relationship of grace with God. This fundamental relationship with God prepares us for a closer and more intimate relationship with Him. It prepares us for a relationship of empowerment, which is presented below in the section entitled “Jesus is the Truth.”

 

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Tabernacle Courtyard

 

 

Our immediate objective is to present a review of the material that covers the Tabernacle as it pertains to the prophesy of Jesus Christ. We start with one of the most famous statements of Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  

The Way the Truth and the Life

 

The foundation for all of the work we will present on this subject is based upon the, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” statement made by Jesus. What we have discovered is that these names, (the way, the truth and the life), are the names used to identify the entry ways into the Tabernacle chambers. “The Way,” for example is the name of the gate that leads into the Tabernacle Courtyard. “The Truth” is the name of the door into the Holy Place, and in like manner, “the Life,” is the passage into the Most Holy place of God. For a more detailed explanation of all of this please follow this link Jesus-is-the-Way-the-Truth-and-the-Life.

 

The Tabernacle Gate

The Tabernacle Gate

 

 

Another part of the work covered to date is that the Tabernacle is the place where God promised to dwell with His people in accordance with the covenant He made with them. Given that the chambers of the Tabernacle must be entered in sequence, what we have uncovered is that a progressively closer relationship with God is achieved as each new chamber is entered. So for example, the Tabernacle Courtyard is the chamber where a relationship of grace (forgiveness of sin) is achieved. The Holy Place brings us to a relationship of enlightenment (purpose and path) and empowerment (spiritual warfare), while the Most Holy place offers a relationship of covenant (dwelling under the protection of God).

 

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

 

 

To date our investigation of the Tabernacle has been limited to looking at the Courtyard, the first of the three chambers of the Tabernacle. As a part of this investigation we have presented the objects found in the Courtyard, identified their purpose and attributes and then correlated them to the words and deeds of Jesus. So, for example, we found that grace is achieved in the Courtyard by way of blood sacrifice, in which a Lamb is slaughtered and then burned on the Brazen Alter (see details at Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver.) We can then associate Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” to this object by correlating it to the sacrifice and death of Jesus on the cross. This sacrifice of Jesus was required for the forgiveness of our sins. We conclude form all of this that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Brazen Altars prophesy and the entire Courtyard of the Tabernacle for that matter. This association between Jesus and the Tabernacle Courtyard should also help us to better understand what Jesus meant when He said “I am The Way.” Jesus meant that He is the way toward a relationship of grace. For more information about this please click on the following links to Jesus-is-the-Way and Becoming-like-Jesus-the-Way.

 

Jesus on the Cross

Jesus on the Cross

 

 

Our investigation of the Courtyard is also presented an examination of the Brazen Laver, which is the other object found in the Tabernacle Courtyard (for more details go to Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver.) The Laver is a water basin used for purification prior to entering the next chamber (the Holy Place), which represented a much closer relationship with God. The process of washing at the Laver required the priest to bend over it and as he did, he would be able to see his own reflection in its polished surface. The priests believed that when they looked into the Laver, that they saw themselves as God saw them. As a result their hidden faults were uncovered and they earnestly contemplated their worthiness to enter into a closer relationship with God in the Holy Place. This reflection resulted in a change in heart, which is necessary to enter into the Holy Place.

 

The Brazen Laver In Front Of The Holy Place

 

We then connected the function and attributes of the Laver with the life and words of Jesus. We used the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan as a fulfillment of prophesy of the Laver (for more information go to the-Laver-and-the-Holy-Spirit-of-Jesus.) We also saw how the washing of His disciple’s feet became a reflection of their readiness to enter into His ministry. In general we conclude that all of the words and deeds of Jesus are occasions for reflection and opportunities for change in preparation for ministry. Therefore our reading of scriptures that contain the words and deeds of Jesus are opportunities for reflection about our nature and how we stack up to in comparison to Jesus, our model of perfection. These occasions are opportunities to conform our heart and mind to Him as we pursue a more intimate relationship with God. For more detailed information about this click on the following link Applying-the-attributes-of-Jesus-our-Laver. 

 

So, by passing through “the Way” and into the Tabernacle Courtyard we find that our sins are forgiven and that our nature is changed as we seek to move into a deeper relationship with the Lord in the Holy Place. In a like manner we find that by passing through Jesus that our sins are forgiven and our nature is changed as we read His word and seek to become like Him. When this metamorphosis is complete we become ready to move to the next level by entering the passageway called “The Truth.”

 

The Truth leads us into the Holy Place of God where our pathway with the Lord is enlightened, our relationship with the Father is established and we become empowered for spiritual warfare. We are ready to provide a deeper assessment of, “Jesus the Truth.”  

Jesus is “The Truth”

 

We are now about to pass through the second door of the Tabernacle, the one called “the Truth”, that leads us into the Holy Place of God. To see a diagram of the Tabernacle chambers we encourage you to go to the following web page now and then return once you have viewed it (or open it in a separate browser so that you can read along while also looking at the picture): 

 

Diagram of the Tabernacle, Basic Layout of the Moses tabernacle  

 

In order to get a big picture view of where we are headed in the over all scheme of things we start with a review: 

 

When we look into the structure of the Tabernacle (like in the diagram above) we find that it has three major chambers. As we pass through the door of each successive chamber we find that God is presenting us with an expanded, more intimate relationship with Him.  

 

We have already discussed the Way and the Courtyard above. We have identified that it presents us with a relationship of grace and is a place of reflection and change. When Jesus claimed to be the Way, He is claiming to be the door that we must pass through to achieve to a relationship of grace.  

 

Our presentation of, “Jesus the Truth,” address the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and we plan to demonstrate that it is a place to achieve a relationship of empowerment. The passageway to the Holy Place is called “the Truth,” and so when Jesus claims to be “the Truth,” He is claiming to be the passageway to a relationship of empowerment.  

 

In subsequent postings we will plan to present the Most Holy place and in doing so, we plan to present a case that proves that a relationship of covenant is possible for us there. The veil to the Most Holy place is called “the Life”, so when Jesus claims to be the Life, He is claiming to be the veil to the Most Holy Place and a relationship of covenant with God.

 

The Priest in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle

The Priest in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle

 

The relationship between the Tabernacle and Jesus is that Jesus claimed to be “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and the doors of the Tabernacle chambers are called, “the way, the truth and the life.” Therefore, if Jesus is the Christ, we will find the same attributes and functions in the life of Jesus as we do in the Tabernacle. We will find that understanding the Tabernacle will also help us to better understand the nature of Jesus such that we can better emulate His life. All of this will help us to move into a closer relationship with God and do the work that He gave us to do on this earth. So, with this brief review in place let up proceed by looking at the physical properties of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. 

Describing the Holy Place

 

The Holy Place is found inside the sanctuary tent that is found in the center of the Courtyard. The door to the tent is a curtain that is called, “The Truth.” By passing through the Truth one enters a room called, “The Holy Place.”  

 

Prior to entering into the Holy Place it is necessary to first pass through the Courtyard and the Way (reference the diagram). The reason for this is that purity must be achieved prior to entering into ministry in God’s Holy place. Entry into the Holy Place is the exclusive privilege of the priest, as no others are allowed inside. Therefore, God expects our purity to be achieved in the Courtyard. Our sins must be forgiven and our sinful nature addressed.  

 

Like the other compartments of the Tabernacle, the sanctuary was designed by God who passed the specifications directly to His servant Moses:  

 

And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. (Exodus 25:8-9)

 

As a result the sanctuary is both very practical and at the same time, very prophetic of the coming Christ.  

 

The Holy Place uses the east 30 feet of the sanctuary tent and contains three significant objects. It contains the Table of Showbread on the north side;

The Table of Showbread

The Table of Showbread

the Golden Lampstand on the south side;

The Golden Lampstand which was present in old temple but damaged, was restored to its original form, kept outside the temple area.

The Golden Lampstand which was present in old temple but damaged, was restored to its original form, kept outside the temple area.

and the Altar of Incense on the west side.

The Golden Altar is directly in front of the Most Holy Place

The Golden Altar is directly in front of the Most Holy Place

It should also be noted that the Golden Altar of Incense is placed directly in front of the vale (entrance) to the Most Holy Place. From this location a priest ministering at the Golden Altar can view the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat by simply looking through the semi-transparent vale. We will cover all of this later when we present the section called The Life. For now we will proceed to address the objects found in the Holy Place. 

 

One major difference between the objects found in the Holy Place and Courtyard is that all the objects in the Holy place are made of gold, while all the objects in the Courtyard are made of brass. This is significant because one who stands in the Holy Place is in a more favored relationship with God than one who is in the Courtyard. The gold used in the Holy Place signifies the special presence of God. When we look at the uses of the word “gold” in the bible we find that gold was used to symbolize God’s Word, the wisdom of God, the knowledge that emanates from God, the living favor of God, and truth. All of these attributes are to be associated with the Holy Place and with Christ Jesus as well. 

Our next posting will address the details of the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand and the Alter of Burnt Offerings.

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