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Category: Tabernacle

Jesus Casts Out Demons

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December 26, 2007

Jesus Casts Out Demons

We have been discussing the correlation between the Tabernacle of God and the life of Jesus. Recently we introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and the objects that are contained inside it. Our latest focus has been upon the Golden Altar of Incense, which we have introduced as a place of spiritual warfare. Our message today presents “the casting out of demons” by Jesus as yet another example of spiritual warfare. We start with a passage from the book of Luke:

For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. (Luke 8:29 -35)

In this case it is evident that the man is controlled by the demonic forces that lived inside of him. It is also evident that the demons knew Jesus as well as what their fate might be in the presence of His power (banishment to the abyss). For this reason they negotiated a more appealing punishment (living in pigs). Once again Jesus is victorious over the forces of evil as He demonstrated the Holy Spirit power of spiritual warfare. He left us this and the other examples so that we would know the types of victory possible when we aggressively seek Him at the Golden Altar of Incense. The Holy Spirit of Jesus is our Golden Altar of Incense who is with us when we live in the Holy Place.

Our next posting will present another example of the spiritual warfare that is possible to those who can enter into the Holy Place of the Tabernacle that is Christ Jesus.

May God bless you all.

Tags: christ, Christian Love, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, Love, religion, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Golden Altar, The Holy Place, The Truth

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Jesus Heals The Sick And The Lame

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December 14, 2007

Jesus Heals The Sick And The Lame

To put things in context we are discussing the Tabernacle and how the objects found in it are prophetic of Jesus Christ. To date we have covered the objects in the Tabernacle Courtyard as well as the objects found in the Holy Place of God. To summarize, the Courtyard is a place of grace. In it forgiveness of sin can be obtained. In addition, it is a place of cleansing ones self in preparation for a closer relationship with God. This closer relationship with God is achieved by entering into the Holy Place. The Holy Place is a place of enlightenment and empowerment. In it our pathway to the Father is illuminated and we are strengthened by the Spirit for spiritual warfare. All of this is achieved through prayer, as so the Holy Place is a place of prayer. We have previously discussed the Golden Lamp Stand that illuminates the Holy Place as well as the Table of Show Bread that signifies a personal relationship with God. In our prior two posting we initiated a discussion about the Golden Alter. In it we indicated that the things burned on the Altar were to produce sweet incense for the Lord, and that the smoke and incense were thought to be the prayers of the people going up into heaven. Therefore, the Golden Alter is the center of spiritual warfare through prayer. In today’s posting we will present some examples of the life of Jesus that support our thesis that His life was a continuous form spiritual warfare. These will in turn lead to a conclusion that Jesus is our Golden Alter of Incense. In other words, prayers that come through Him get to the Father and are effective in bringing down the forces of evil in this world. If you would like to get caught up to date on all of the above, the past ten postings will follow this one on this web page. In addition, most of these subjects can be found in the “Pages” section of the site, under the title “Seeking Jesus”. You can like directly to this section by clicking the following hyperlink: https://possessthevision.wordpress.com/seeking-jesus/ Now on to the subject of this posting, Jesus is our Golden Altar of Incense. Today we investigate the spiritual warfare that has to do with Healing.

Jesus Heals the Sick and the Lame

Throughout His ministry, Jesus is victorious over the power of evil. Many of these victories came in the form of healings. The scripture that follows is one example in which Jesus frees a man who is held in the paralysis of his own sin:

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’“ Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:2-14)

In this case, Jesus is very clear about the relationship between the man’s bondage and sin. This correlation signifies that the gratification of sin is outweighed by the bondage it imposes on our body, mind and spirit. The devil, who seeks to abort your purpose, your mission and your Godly identity, sets traps for you in an effort to destroy you. This is what the devil attempted with Jesus in the wilderness. The reason is that the devil hates all of God’s people and seeks to render them incapable of achieving the mission that God created them to accomplish.

When we look back at our example, we see an example of a man who is healed after being disabled for most of his adult life. The spiritual victory was manifest in the dramatic change of his physical abilities. But the physical condition of the man was only symptomatic of his spiritual condition. Jesus said to the man, sin no more less something worse come upon you. The implication is that the healing was a result of being forgiven of sin. Miraculous healing is a victory in spiritual warfare and spiritual warfare is fought at the Golden Altar of Incense, which is Jesus Christ. Only through Him can we have victory over evil.

Thank God for Jesus, who broke the bondage the devil once held over us. Jesus, who was the only sin free man, defeated the devil on the cross with His own blood. While on this earth, He defeated the devil in every encounter. These are the kinds of victories that result only from spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare means taking dominion and defeating the forces of evil through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit power that Jesus demonstrated here on this earth. Most importantly, the spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit and it is available to those who are able to enter into God’s Holy Place of prayer. It is manifest by the people who are illuminated by the light of the Golden Lamp Stand to see the truth about God, the steps that they must take in ministry and their purpose in life. It is manifest by people who can develop an intimate relationship with the Father at the table of Showbread. In addition, it is for those who are able to enter into spiritual warfare at the Golden Altar of Incense. Going to these objects in Jesus, who is our spiritual Tabernacle empowers our ministry. This is precisely the reason for this section; to demonstrate the nature of spiritual warfare. In the above example Jesus demonstrates spiritual power over sin and illness. He demonstrates the power to break the bonds of evil that block people from achieving their purpose in life.

Our next posting will explore the spiritual warfare of Casting Out Demons. Until then, may Gods blessings be upon you.

Tags: christ, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, religion, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Golden Altar, The Holy Place, The Truth

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Jesus Is The Golden Altar Of Incense

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December 12, 2007

Jesus Is The Golden Altar If Incense

To put things in context we are discussing the Tabernacle and how the objects found in it are prophetic of Jesus Christ.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

To date we have covered the objects in the Tabernacle Courtyard as well as the objects found in the Holy Place of God.

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

To summarize, the Courtyard is a place of grace. In it forgiveness of sin can be obtained. In addition, it is a place of cleansing ones self in preparation for a closer relationship with God. This closer relationship with God is achieved by entering into the Holy Place. The Holy Place is a place of enlightenment and empowerment. In it our pathway to the Father is illuminated and we are strengthened by the Spirit for spiritual warfare. All of this is achieved through prayer, as so the Holy Place is a place of prayer. We have previously discussed the Golden Lamp Stand that illuminates the Holy Place;

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

as well as the Table of Show Bread that signifies a personal relationship with God.

The Table of Showbread

In our previous posting we initiated a discussion about the Golden Alter.

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

In it we indicated that the things burned on the Altar were to produce sweet incense for the Lord, and that the smoke and incense were thought to be the prayers of the people going up into heaven. Therefore, the Golden Alter is the center of spiritual warfare through prayer. In today’s posting we will present some examples of the life of Jesus that support our thesis that His life was a continuous form spiritual warfare. These will in turn lead to a conclusion that Jesus is our Golden Alter of Incense. In other words, prayers that come through Him get to the Father and are effective in bringing down the forces of evil in this world.

If you would like to get caught up to date on all of the above, the past ten postings will follow this one on this web page. In addition, most of these subjects can be found in the “Pages” section of the site, under the title “Seeking Jesus”. You can like directly to this section by clicking the following hyperlink:

https://possessthevision.wordpress.com/seeking-jesus/

Now on to the subject of this posting, Jesus is our Golden Altar of Incense.

Jesus Resists the Devil’s Temptation

The devils temptation of Jesus in the desert is a classical example of spiritual warfare. The goal of the devil was persuade Jesus to renounce His identity (the Father said He was the Son of God) and His purpose on earth (His mission to save us all). Interestingly, the weapon that Jesus uses is the Word of God quoted from scripture. This is an interesting lesson because this is exactly what the devil will attempt to achieve with us all. He will try to get us to give up on the fact that we are sons of the living God and that we were all born with a unique purpose in life. More on this later, for now let’s drill down on some supporting material for the above statements.

Let us start with the identity of Jesus. If you remember Jesus received confirmation of His identity when the Father called Him, “My Beloved Son,” as He was baptized in the Jordan. There are other examples but they came after the temptation of Jesus, so we will forgo them for now.

In terms of His mission on earth we reference the words of John the Baptist, who when he saw Jesus proclaimed; “Behold the Lamb of God”. Based on our previous discussion about the Courtyard of the Tabernacle, we know that the Lamb was slain and its blood sprinkled on the Brazen Altar for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, His mission was well known as well.

Some very important point must be noted here. The spiritual warfare of the devil came immediately after Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit, just prior to His entering into ministry. Also, Jesus initiated the attack as the Spirit led Him into the desert for testing. This leading by the Holy Spirit suggests that victory over the devil is necessary for proceed into ministry. Another key point is that the attack came when Jesus was at His weakest from fasting:

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’“ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’“ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’“ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Matthew 3:16 – 4:11)

So, all who take up the cross of Jesus can expect that the Holy Spirit will lead us into spiritual warfare and that they must be victorious to proceed into ministry. We must overcome all temptation and the desires of this world like Jesus did. Our intelligence, hard work, capability and desire will not offset any lust for the world or the things in it. The weapons of this world, be they the power of persuasion or military might, are useless in spiritual battles. We must demonstrate the ability to resist the temptations of the world prior to moving on to addressing our mission.

The spiritual warfare initiated by Jesus characterized His entire ministry right up to His ultimate victory over Satan on the cross. We should expect our ministry to be the same.

In our next posting we will present even more examples of how Jesus is our Golden Alter of Incense. Until then, may God bless every one of you.

Tags: christ, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, religion, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Golden Altar, The Holy Place, The Truth

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Jesus And The Golden Alter Of Incense

Filed under: Jesus, Jesus the Golden Altar, Jesus the Holy Place, Jesus the Tabernacle, Tabernacle, The Golden Altar, The Holy Place, The Truth — Leave a comment

December 6, 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

The Book Cover

Jesus And The Golden Altar Of Incense

The Tabernacle Courtyard

So, now that we have studied the Table of Show Bread and the Golden Lamp Stand, we can start to see that the Holy place of God is a place of prayer. The Table of Showbread signifies communing with the Lord in a very personal way through prayer. It further signifies eating the Bread of Life that enables us to become more like Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It also signifies giving thanks to the Lord who provides our daily bread.

The Table of Showbread

The Golden Lamp Stand on the other hand, signifies the illumination of our steps toward the Kingdom of God. Again, this illumination comes through prayer that brings us communication from God that guide us in our direction and otherwise empowers us with the truth.

This being said, we turn our attention toward the Golden Altar of Incense where we will further reinforce this concept of the Holy Place being a place of prayer. In the case of the Golden Altar however, prayer takes the form of the spiritual warfare that leads us toward overcoming the forces of evil.

In this section our plan is to communicate scriptures that support the fact that Jesus is the living Golden Altar of Incense that came down from heaven. To support this proposition we will use His dieing on the cross, as the spiritual warfare that defeated the devil and regained the dominion that man lost over the earth. The result of this victory in the spirit world is that we are no longer under the bondage of the devil but rather have domination over the forces of evil. This is exactly where spiritual warfare comes into play. After all, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and will remain seated until His enemies are made His foot stool. This means that we must partake in spiritual warfare like Jesus did.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (Hebrews 10:12-13)

Prior to addressing the core issues however, we must first learn a bit more about the Golden Altar of Incense.

In shape, the Golden Altar of Incense is a smaller version of the Brazen Altar. They differ however in their purpose and how they are used. The objects that are burned on the Golden Altar are limited to the items that produce sweet incense to the Lord (considered to be prayer by the Jewish people). As a result, the items burned on the Brazen Altar are not burned on the Golden Altar nor are they even allowed in the Holy Place. The blood of the sin offering however is sprinkled on the Golden Altar once each year for atonement of the people. This sprinkling is prophetic of the blood of the Christ that was shed at His crucifixion to achieve atonement for the people and victory over the forces of evil. For more information on the Golden Alter please go to the following link: http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Golden_Altar_of_Incense.htm. To get an idea of where the Golden Alter is positioned inside the Holy Place please go to this link: http://www.tgm.org/URTheTempleOfHS.html.

In our next post we will look at examples of how Jesus is our Golden Alter of Incense. Until then, may God bless you all.

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Jesus Is The Light Of The World

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November 30, 2007

Jesus Is The Light Of The World

In our previous posting we introduced the Golden Lamp Stand as one of the objects found inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. We identified that the purpose of the Lamp Stand is to illuminate the bread found on the Table of Show Bread. We also demonstrated that this bread is symbolic of the Bread of Life, which in turn, is Jesus our Lord and Savior.

As in our postings about the Table of Show Bread, we will initiate our analysis by looking at what the words of Jesus have to say about His identity. We will then present a series of events that reveal how the truth of this statement was supported in the form of miracles.

Here are the words of Jesus declaring to be the Light of the World:

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

By claiming to be the Light of the World, Jesus is proclaiming that He is the living Lamp Stand that came down from heaven. After all, Jesus came to earth to help us see that He is the Bread of Life, the Christ and the Son of God.

Here is a scripture that supports the proposition that Jesus is the Light of the World:

Jesus is the Light of the World because He illuminates the pathway to the Father, which He did for His disciples in the above scripture.

The Principles of the Light of the World

In looking at the life of Jesus as the Light of the World, we find several key traits that can be used in molding our own lives to that of Christ Jesus. One such trait is to illuminate the pathway to the Father to others, just as Jesus did. Being a light to others means that our good works should be visible to others so that the goodness of God is clearly seen. Our lives should enable them to understand what we are and what we believe. Therefore, those around us will not be surprised that we are a Christian. We should be a light to others so that they will not stumble in the darkness, but rather, have the everlasting light of Jesus. Read the words of Jesus in regard to becoming a light for others:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-6)

In this scripture Jesus passes the purpose of the Lamp Stand on to His disciples who are to be held on high to dispense the light of Gods own Son to everyone in the world. The key principle is that it is the mission of every Christian to be light to those around us. We must illuminate the truth that God gives to our fellow man. Like the Golden Lamp Stand we must illuminate the Table of Showbread and the Holy Place of God. Therefore we must illuminate Jesus who is the light of the world, the bread of life, the only begotten Son of God. We must illuminate the fact that Jesus came to tell us the Fathers Truth, that He came to save us from our own sin and that He is the Savior of the world.

Another principle discovered at the Golden Lamp Stand is to become enlightened through prayer in the Holy Place of God. Jesus turned to prayer to seek guidance from the Father and we should do likewise. It is critical that we get our guidance in the Holy place. The following passage is a good example of Jesus getting His direction from the Father through prayer:

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:36-41)

This is what coming to the Golden Lamp Stand was all about. In this example Jesus is getting directions from the Father that seem counter intuitive and illogical to our earthly mind, yet they are very effective in achieving God’s purpose. As in Jesus’ case this guidance came through prayer. It is prayer that comes once we are inside the Holy Place that illuminates our pathway. In addition, remember that the seven globes of the Lamp Stand represent the perfect vision of the Father. It is this all knowing vision that enables the Father to guide us when we pray an enable us to setting our course as well as avoid obstacles. This guidance is essential to proceeding effectively toward our mission.

So, we as imitators of God seek to become more like Jesus who is the Golden Lamp Stand, in the following ways:

Enter into the Holy Place in your Prayer Life

We must move from the Outer Court and into the Holy Place of the inner courtyard. We need to get past our sinful nature that drives us back to the outer court yard begging for forgiveness. To enter into enlightened prayer in the Holy Place we must become a fundamentally changed people who can live with a pure heart, not desiring the world or anything in it.

Your prayers in the Holy Place fill the bowls of the Lamp Stand with the oil that illuminates Jesus, the Bread of Life and enables you to see the truth (after all you have passed through the door call the Truth). Your prayer will illuminate your walk with God and the anointing oil of the Lord will cover you such that you can be a light unto others.

Seek God for Direction

Our prayer time then becomes a time of communication. We seek closeness with God and God in turn illuminates our path.

Be Visible

Our actions and life need to be visible to others. The world must know that we follow in the steps directed by our Father. Do not be dismayed if the things that God shows you seem to be impossible. The best way to be visible is to set out and attempt the impossible and proclaim it to the world. After all, if we only attempt what we can achieve then where does God fit in? He certainly gets no glory from our independent actions. But if we undertake the impossible in the name of God, then God will support our actions with miracles that make the impossible possible. Others see what God has done and are impacted by their experience. Most importantly, God gets the glory that He justly deserves.

Be a Light to Others

Let your actions, words and life be an inspiration to others. When they see God’s favor in your life they will look to you for guidance. Point them toward Jesus. Disciple them and nurture them in the way of the Lord.

Expect Miracles to Follow the Truth from God

Speak the truth of your enlightenment to others and expect the power of God to support your action with His miraculous power through the Holy Spirit. Step out in faith, do what He puts in your heart and expect Him to do what you cannot:

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bringforth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”“ (Zec 4:6-7)

In our next posting we will introduce the Golden Altar of Incense. May God bless you all.

Tags: christ, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, religion, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Golden Lamp Stand, The Holy Place, The Truth

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The Golden Lamp Stand And Jesus

Filed under: Jesus, Tabernacle, The Golden Lamp Stand, The Holy Place, The Truth — 10 Comments

November 26, 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

Jesus And The Tabernacle Courtyard (A review)

In our most recent postings, we have introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. We identified the name of the passageway into the Holy Place as the “Truth,” and then correlated it to the “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life” statement made by Jesus.

We also acknowledged that there are prerequisites for entering the Holy Place. One prerequisite is first passing through the Tabernacle Courtyard seeking God’s forgiveness and a restored relationship with Him. Entering the Courtyard with such a heart also required the support of a priest who burns a blood sacrifice on the Brazen Altar for the forgiveness of the sins. A second prerequisite is that only a purified priest is allowed to enter the Holy Place. This purification occurred as the priests washed at the Brazen Laver. As they did so the priests were able to see their own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the Laver. It is reported that the priests could see themselves as God saw them as they washed. This reflection enabled the priest to contemplate their worthiness to enter into the very holy and special ministry in the Holy Place. This contemplation often brought about the change necessary to enable service as a priest and to move into a much closer relationship with God than was possible in the Courtyard.

Jesus and Moses at the Transfiguration Discuss the Fulfillment of the Tabernacle’s Prophesy

The major revelation of this work is that we successfully demonstrated that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Tabernacle Courtyard. It is through Him that we can develop a closer relationship with the Father. He is the high priest that we come to for the forgiveness of our sins. He is the blood sacrifice that is the payment for our sins and His cross is the Brazen Altar upon which His perfect sacrifice was offered. More than this, He is the Brazen Laver that we look into to see ourselves as God does. It is by looking into His words and His actions (as found in scripture) that we can see the truth about how God sees us. Through this reflection, our hearts are changed and our character becomes more like that of Jesus. These actions are necessary for us to move into a closer relationship with God that is found in the Holy Place (that is also found in Jesus.) This association comes with a relationship, enlightenment, and empowerment for spiritual warfare.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

Therefore, if our focus is to become more like Jesus then the preparation in the Courtyard is necessary to obtain entry into the Holy Place. A crucial component of our preparation is the acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. A second component is our genuine desire to become more like our savior Jesus.

The Table of Show Bread (A review)

We have also introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and more specifically, have presented the Table of Show Bread, which is one of the objects found in the Holy Place. We have identified the entryway into the Holy Place as “the Truth” and correlated this name to the “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” statement made by Jesus. In addition, we have correlated the Table of Show Bread to the “I Am the Bread of Life” proclamation made by Jesus. We validated this statement by presenting the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish to the multitude. We also communicated the words of Jesus, who said that those who eat the Bread of Life will never hunger or thirst. Our conclusion of all of this is that Jesus is the Bread of Life and that the Table of Showbread is prophetic of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is our Table of Showbread, which is symbolic of achieving a familial relationship with the Father.

The Table of Showbread

The Golden Lamp Stand

In this section, we will show that the Golden Lamp Stand is also prophetic of the coming of Jesus. We will accomplish this by presenting scriptures that support this proposition. We conclude that Jesus is the living Lamp Stand that came down from heaven to illuminate the world with God’s Truth. So now, let’s start by learning a bit more about the Golden Lamp Stand.

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

The Golden Lamp Stand is found on the south wall of the Holy place, opposite the Table of Showbread. A diagram that maps the position of the Golden Lamp Stand is presented below:

The purpose of the Lamp Stand is to illuminate the Holy place, and more specifically, the Table of Showbread and the twelve loaves which were placed on it. Its purpose therefore, is to enable us to clearly see the Bread of Life.

The Golden Lamp Stand is made of pure gold that has been hammered into shape. The shape of the Lamp Stand is based on a single main shaft, upon which six arms protrude, three on each side. The base also forms an arm in the center of the Lampstand, therefore, there are seven (seven represents perfection or completeness) arms in all. Each arm carried a lamp (or bowl) at its top. Each lamp was filled with oil (symbolic of the anointing of the Lord) that was burned to provide illumination. The body and arms of the lamp are covered with engraved flowers that resemble lilies, large knobs that represent pomegranates, and smaller knobs that represent almonds. These things are thought to represent the bounty of the Lord. The seven lamps at the top were also in the shape of almonds flowers. A photo of what the Lampstand likely looked like is presented above:

The light of the Lamp Stand burned perpetually in the Holy place. This was achieved by the service of the priests who refilled the lamps each evening and morning. This morning and evening process is often thought to be symbolic of our prayer life. Morning and evening prayer can keep our lamps full so that the pathway to Jesus may be illuminated.

Some believe that the Lamp Stand is modeled after the things in heaven and that the seven lamps represent the all-seeing eyes of the Lord. The following passage from Zechariah communicates these beliefs:

And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of Grace, grace to it! Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. (Zec 4:2-10)

The Golden Lamp Stand, therefore, is symbolic of the eyes of the Lord who knows all things. By coming through “the Truth” and into the Holy place we commune with God. This communion enlightens us with the Truth from God. The burning Lamp Stand is symbolic of prayer that provides the illumination of God.

In our next post, we will look at the life and attributes of Jesus to determine if He is the living Lamp Stand that came down from heaven to enlighten us with the truth from heaven.

Tags: Christianity, church, God, Jesus, religion, Spirtuality, the golden lampstand, The Holy Place, The Tabernacle, The Truth

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Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Table Of Showbread

Filed under: Jesus, Tabernacle, Table of Showbread, The Holy Place, The Truth, The Way — 1 Comment

November 21, 2007

Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Table Of Showbread

In our previous posting we presented the correlation between the attributes of the Table of Showbread and the words and actions of Christ Jesus.

To summarize, the bread placed on the Table of Showbread represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and symbolically represented an offering of God’s people to God. The bread on the table suggested an intimate relationship with God, one in which the people would commune with God just as they did with their family over a meal. The Showbread would be displayed for seven days after which it would be replaced with fresh loaves. The removed bread would then be eaten by the priests who perceived it to be spiritual food.

We then correlated the above attributes of the Table of Showbread to the words and actions of Jesus. We used Jesus’ statement, “I Am the Bread of Life” as a key connection to the Table of Showbread. We then introduced the scriptures of the multiplication of the loaves and fish as a validation to His claim to be the Bread of Life. Next we introduced the scripture in which Jesus proclaimed that anyone who ate the Bread of Life would live forever. This statement was later validated when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. Therefore, the Bread of Life has the power to overcome death and live with God forever. Consequently, is it certainly a spiritual food, just like the loaves eaten by the Tabernacle priests were.

Applying the Principles of Jesus the Bread of Life

In the Lords prayer, it states that the Lord’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven[i]. Therefore, lets do as our Lord Jesus has commanded us to do by eating His body and drinking His blood symbolically by partaking in the bread and wine as they did at the last supper.

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

We should honor Jesus by doing as He requested in remembrance of Him. We should take His real body and real blood in the communion as He prescribed, eating the bread and drinking the wine of the new covenant, knowing that we are eating spiritual food, and knowing that we are taking Jesus into ourselves in the process.

More that this however, through this physical act we must seek to develop the spiritual body and blood of Jesus in ourselves. This is because our spiritual body needs both nutrition and exercise to properly develop, just as our physical bodies do. We can accomplish this by reading the words of Jesus, and making them a part of us. We can then use His words by asking the Holy Sprit to make them live in our hearts, so that the Word of God becomes a part of us. By doing this we will have achieved the communion with the Lord that was prophesized at the Table of Showbread. The body and blood of Jesus will have set us free[ii] and shown us the “Way” to God, the “Truth” about God and the path to “Life” with God forevermore. Lets us therefore seek Him will all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our mind, with all of our strength, and with all that we are.

In doing these things we come to Jesus, the Truth, who sets us free from the bondage of our sinful ways. Our journey through the Truth brings change into our lives:

till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” (Ephesians 4:13, 5-1)

So, we as imitators of God seek to become more like Jesus who is the Bread of Life, our Table of Showbread, in the following ways:

Eat the Body and Blood of Jesus

Eat the body and blood of Jesus in the way that our Lord prescribed at the last supper. Remember that His body is food indeed and His blood is blood in deed. Also eat the body and blood of Jesus spiritually, by absorbing the scriptures about Jesus into you heart.

Seek a Spiritual Relationship with Jesus

Seek Jesus in your prayer time and He will be manifest to you through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will enlighten you in all things so take the time to listen for His voice. Also remember to listen for the Lord’s voice and His knocking at your door.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

It is only when we open the door called “The Truth” that we can honestly eat the Bread of Life.

Become the Bread of Life for Others

As we eat the Bread of Life and grow in the Lord we will be led to say and do the things that Jesus did. As our overall behavior changes, others will be able to see the goodness of Life that is in us. By the power of the Holy Spirit the intent of the Father will come through us and be deposited in others around us. We therefore are agents of Jesus who are carrying on His mission until His return at the second coming.

In our next post we will introduce the Golden Lampstand. If you have any questions please make a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be will all of you.

Joe Gordon

[i] Matthew6:9-11 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

[ii] John 8:35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Tags: christ, Christianity, God, Jesus, Ministry, religion, Religious, Spirituality, Tabernacle, the Holy Spirit, the table of show bread, The Truth

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Jesus The Table Of Showbread

Filed under: Jesus, Tabernacle, Table of Showbread, The Holy Place, The Truth — 4 Comments

November 16, 2007

Jesus The Table Of Showbread

In our last few post we introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and proclaimed that it is prophetic of Christ Jesus. Today we are going to investigate one of the objects found in the Holy Place, namely the Table of Showbread. We are going to look at the attributes and functionality of this Tabernacle object and then compare them to the attributes and functionality demonstrated in the life of Jesus. By making these comparisons we hope to demonstrate that Jesus is our Table of Showbread. In addition, we hope that each of you will gain a better understanding of who Jesus is, so that we may be able to better imitate our Lord and Savior.

Showbread means, “Bread of face” as it was to be continually presented before God as a meal offering from the twelve tribes of Israel. The table is made of pure gold and is covered by a blue cloth upon which the loaves rested. In addition, the bread is arrayed on the top of the table in the form of two rows of six loves, each loaf representing one of the tribes of Israel. Each of the loaves is also covered with Frankincense, which was considered a precious perfume.

God did not eat the bread but rather, it remained before the Lord (or shown) for one week. On each Sabbath the priests would replace the loves with fresh ones. Once removed, the bread would be eaten by the priests and their families who perceived it to be spiritual food.

The table of Showbread is symbolic of man communing with God in a way that is similar to the way that a family communes over the dinner table. It therefore represents the establishment of a close and personal relationship with the Father. In addition, the bread is also symbolic of Gods provision, of which we are forever grateful.

In the following sections, we will proceed to make the scriptural correlations between Jesus and the Table of Showbread. We will demonstrate that the Table of Showbread prophetically points to Jesus as the Christ. We plan to demonstrate that He is our Bread of Life, our daily provision of whom we are forever grateful.

Jesus is The Bread of Life

Support for the proposition that Jesus is the Table of Showbread can be found by examining the statements and actions of His life. In the following scripture Jesus proclaimed to be the Bread of Life which is a parallel to the loaves of showbread. This proclamation is then followed with supporting signs and miracles that reinforce His statement. These signs and miracles do not simply display the power and mercy of God, but rather directly support Jesus’ claim to be the Bread of Life. The following passage taken from the book of John captures Jesus proclamation of being the Bread of Life:

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” and Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:30-35)

In this statement Jesus claims that He is everything necessary to sustain life for those who come to Him. Shortly after His proclamations signs and miracles followed. Examine the following scripture for an example:

Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:34-38)

This miracle substantiates Jesus’ claim of being the Bread of Life. Those who came to Him that day did not hunger or thirst. Jesus demonstrated that He is the Bread of Life by feeding the multitude with vastly insufficient resources. The power of God reinforced Jesus’ claim precisely.

Here is another example: Jesus is the living Table of Showbread that came from heaven to earth. If we eat of Him who is the Bread of Life we will live forever:

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. (John 6:54-58)

Some say that we are what we eat. By eating the Bread of Life we become the bread of life for others, just like Jesus did for us. We eat the Bread of Life by reading the Word of God, and in doing so we take Jesus into ourselves. In this way we become more like Him. We also eat the Bread of Life when we partake in the communion sacrament as Jesus commanded us to do in remembrance of Him.

Of course Jesus’ claim that we should eat His flesh is a spiritual statement proclaiming everlasting life by becoming one with Him in the sprit. Think about the story of how God created the world. God spoke, his Word went out, and His Word accomplished God’s desire. Here is a passage from Genesis that proves the point:

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

The same principle is true of the words spoken by Jesus. After all, Jesus only spoke about the things that He saw and herd from the Father. So, it works the same way in our example. Jesus spoke the words the Father gave Him and those things came to pass. Jesus said He was the Bread of Life and His spoken Word accomplished God’s desire. In this case it was manifest in the feeding of the multitude and communicating His own identity.

Jesus is the Bread of Life. This statement is true both physically and spiritually. It is true that we who come to Jesus will not hunger or thirst in the flesh. It is also true that Jesus is the spiritual Bread of Life and those who follow Him will not hunger or thirst in the spirit but will have life everlasting. We eat the Bread of Life when we read about Jesus’ words and actions in scripture. When we read the words that He spoke we are literally taking the Bread of Life into ourselves and it becomes a part of us. When we receive the words that Jesus spoke they accomplish their desire in us. We eat the Bread of Life and we become what we eat. God’s Word is planted in us and we begin to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. The more we take into ourselves, the words of the Father and the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, the more we are transformed into God’s purpose for our lives.

Once this has transpired, we obtain the ability to speak God’s Word into the lives of others. We speak to others of what God has placed into our hearts by way of the Holy Spirit. We speak the things that we hear Him speak and we do the things that we see Him do, and in the process, others come to eat the bread of life also. They take the Bread of Life from us and integrated it into themselves, and God’s Word is achieved in them.

Jesus left all things in our hands until His return. He said the things that I do, my followers will also do, and even greater that these things will they do. We become the Way and the Truth through our actions and words.

In our next posting we will look at the ways in which we can become the bread of life to others. If you have any comments I would love to hear from you. Until next time, may the love of God be with you.

Tags: bread of life, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, ministry religious, religion, Spirituality, The Tabernacle, the table of showbread, The Truth

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Entering The Truth Of The Tabernacle

Filed under: Spirituality, spirtual warfare, Tabernacle, The Truth — Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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 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.

and the Altar of Incense on the west side.

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.

Tags: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Ministry, religion, Religious, Spirituality, The Holy Place, The Tabernacle, The Truth, theology. Christ

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Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Laver

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Way — 1 Comment

November 6, 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

Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Laver

So, based on our previous postings regarding the Laver, we have uncovered a number of key attributes of Christ Jesus. Our intention is to use them as the model of perfection that we are called to become. As we progress in this section, we plan on using these key attributes to help us better understand how our own actions and decisions compare to the pure light of Jesus’ life, hoping that they will reveal our hidden faults. As with any scripture that teaches us about Jesus, we have the opportunity to meditate on these stories and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to the truth. When we find similar circumstances in our own life we should ask ourselves, “What actions did I take (or not take) and what needs to change for me to be more like Jesus?”

As mentioned in our previous posts, cleansing at the Brazen Laver was a prerequisite for entering into the Holy place of God. In addition, the Holy place of God is a place of enlightenment, relationship with the Father and success in spiritual warfare. Therefore, it is necessary for us to focus on Jesus our Laver, for the purification necessary achieve a closer relationship with God. A loving relationship that will enlighten our pathway and empower us in the ministry He has chosen for us. This purification can come only through Christ Jesus because He is the one living Tabernacle that came down from heaven[i].

In our last posting we spent quite a bit of time looking at the scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. It may be a good idea to review this posting prior to proceeding as it is referenced substantially in this document.

So now we can proceed with our list of the attributes of Jesus that have been introduced in our section entitled “Jesus the Brazen Laver”. I hope that you will be able to use this list to better understand who Jesus is, so that you can apply the model of Jesus the Laver to your life.

Be Of Service To Others

One of the strongest messages from the material presented so far is that disciples must possess a servant’s heart and that true greatness comes only from serving others in ministry. This message was forgotten by Jesus’ disciples, who had been contending with each other over who would be the greatest after Jesus was gone. Apparently, Jesus’ prior teaching on service to others had not changed their hearts or their behavior. It is for this reason that Jesus had to address this flaw with them again. The following scripture is Jesus’ teaching on the subject:

But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:34-35)

Do What Ever It Takes

A second key point is to do whatever it takes to get the message across. In the case of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus gets their attention by performing an activity (the washing of feet) that was assigned to the lowest of servants in their culture[ii]. The message here is to disregard social norms concerning status in society when serving God. With Jesus, God leveled the social status playing field.

Lead By Example

Another teaching is to do more than just preach the Word, but rather, lead by example in the things that the word instructs as well[iii]. Jesus spoke to His disciples about who would be the greatest with no apparent effect. Therefore, it took a personal demonstration to drive home the point (in washing their feet). His disciples must have been humbled by how radically He lowered Himself to serve them. They must have been personally touched as He personally ministered to each and every one of them. Just think about what they must have been thinking while He washed their feet. They would have had to realize at that moment, just how far they had fallen short of the will of God in their behavior. The message from Jesus is clear, He did not come to be served but to serve83, and He wants His disciples to do the same. His actions demonstrated the will of God. He spoke the truth and He did what He told others He would do. He came to serve others, which was exemplified not only in the washing of feet but in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross as well.

Become A Model For Others

Jesus was a model for His disciples and for each and every one of us as well. Should we not be the same for others as well? This means that our lives are to be a Godly example for others. The things we do and say must demonstrate the love of Jesus to others. We cannot hide our God given light under a basket, but rather place it in the center of the house where all can see, as adequately communicated by Jesus in the following passage:

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:15 – 16)

Be Careful With Whom You Walk In Ministry

My belief is that one of the reasons that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples could have been that they had walked in ministry with Judas who betrayed Jesus. In washing their feet they were once again cleansed for the ministry of Christ Jesus.

Also note that Jesus did not join the ministries of the Pharisees, Sadducees or any other sect of their religion. He knew that they loved the status and power that their positions brought much more than they loved doing the will of God. One must consider that if evil had entered into the leadership positions of the church during the time of Jesus, then why would we believe that it cannot happen today? It is precisely for this reason that we must seek to have an even closer relationship with God than can be achieved in the Outer Courtyard of the Tabernacle (relationship of grace) alone. We must move into the Holy Place of God (relationship of empowerment) where our pathway will be illuminated, we eat the Bread of Life and we will enter into spiritual warfare to defeat the enemies of God and of our ministry. All of this starts with cleansing at the Brazen Alter that is life of Jesus. We must have discernment about others that we walk with in ministry.

Disregard Status, Rank And Position

Peter did not want Jesus to wash His feet because he believed that it was beneath the dignity of His Lord and Savior to perform the task of the lowest of slaves. But this is precisely the reason that the message was delivered! Jesus is teaching them that they should disregard status, rank and position in service to one another. These things are things of the world and unimportant in the kingdom of God. Therefore, the leader of a ministry is a servant to the workers and followers of that ministry. A Pastor is a servant to the congregation. An evangelist is a servant to the newly converted to Christ. A teacher of God’s Word is a servant to the pupils who seek to do the will of God. And, while each of these positions come with some level of status or rank in the world, the true Christian abandons rank, status and position in favor of service in ministry to others. We all should serve our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This means that if we are members of a ministry that we also need to serve our pastors and ministers that God has given to us as they in turn serve us. In addition, we need to do all things as a service unto the Lord:

…and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.” (Luke 9:48)

Personally Touch People

In washing His disciple’s feet, Jesus touched each disciple. In fact, the disciples were being touched continuously by the teaching and demonstration of spiritual truth in the ministry of Jesus. They were with Him constantly as He ministered to others. They listened as He taught others, and they witnessed the miracles He performed. In addition, they received the benefit of His personal explanations, teachings, and warnings regarding the Scribes and the Pharisees. They witnessed Jesus’ special relationship with the Father in the Transfiguration on the mountain and in the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. The disciples had to be touched by these events as they witnessed the glory of God demonstrated on earth.

The Bible asks us to follow in Jesus’ foot steps. We must touch people personally. Not just in the laying on of hands, but in stepping out in faith and expecting to witness the glory of God demonstrated by the power of the Holy Spirit right here on earth. There should be healing of the sick, the resurrection of the dead, miraculous provisions for the poor, and miracles of all kinds demonstrated for all to see God’s love for His people. God’s heartfelt desire is to wipe away every tear and provide every good thing for His people. After all, the Father gave His own Son. Why would He spare anything else from those who love Him130?

Be Humble

Jesus used His own life as an ideal demonstration of how we are to act. Jesus did not have a home. He did not build a church of stone. He did not study as a Scribe or Pharisee but, rather, challenged the religious leaders of His day with the truth. In doing so, He was subjected to their scorn and the persecution that followed.

Jesus asked those who were healed not to identify Him as their healer. He did not come to brag about what He could do. His concern was for the people.

Be ready and willing to take on any task you are led toward by the power of the Holy Spirit. Disregard how you will appear to others, what they may think or even your own level of dignity. God wants to see how much you are willing to give up of this world to do His will. He wants to see how much you love Him.

Eliminate Worldly Desires

Jesus had a desire for us to know the truth and spiritually return to the loving arms of the Father. He had no desire for anything of this earth. He had no desire for honor, dignity, riches or glory. He only did the things that He saw the Father do62. Therefore, we also must eliminate all desire for worldly honor, dignity, riches and glory. The disciples contended with each other over who got the most glory and honor. This type of behavior, if left unchecked, could have destroyed the foundation of the church. It is the same principle today as it was 2000 years ago. Disagreement between the leaders of a ministry can destroy the foundation of that ministry. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Seek Him with all of your heart, mind and soul.

Eliminate Self-Exaltation

Self-exaltation is a specific demonstration of worldly desire and is an indication of our old nature to seek worldly gratification. This human tendency means that we should examine our motives for doing everything. We must continuously ask ourselves; am I doing this for myself, or am I doing this for the Lord? Am I looking for power, control or recognition by taking these actions? Self-exaltation has no place among Christians. We must eliminate it from our behavior. We must avoid the spirit of domination of others and of seeking personal glory.

Be Baptized In Watter And Spirit

John baptized in water to make straight the pathway[iv] for the Lord’s ministry. Jesus was also baptized in water, and as a result received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the process. The disciples of Jesus baptized others as a part of their ministry. In addition, Jesus commanded them to baptize others in the grand commission. Be baptized and repent of your sins. Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and make the baptism of others a part of you ministry.

Know That You Will Be Tested

Immediately after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness and tested by Satan for forty days. Satan tempted Jesus with everything that he had in an effort to get Him to deny his purpose and his ministry. In denying the temptations of Satan, Jesus proved that He was a worthy of ministry. He defeated Satan by resisting all of the temptations of this world and remaining true to His Father’s mission for Him. He successfully resisted the temptations of the flesh, of power, of riches and fame. He chose the path of the Spirit of God in favor of the path of the spirit of this world.

Know The Scriptures

Get an understanding of what Jesus did, what He valued, what He said, what He prophesied, and who He proclaimed Himself to be. Memorize the words of Jesus that you find uplifting. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the scriptures so that Jesus is revealed to you.

Take Time To Meditate And Reflect

Reflect on the state of your heart and your life. Bring to mind the actions and words of Jesus and ask how does this compare to the actions of my own life? How could I have done things differently?

Ask The Holy Spirit For Help

We need God’s help to achieve the kind of change we are looking for. We simply cannot achieve this kind of change on our own. Seek the Holy Spirit and bring the issues you are dealing with to Him. Pray for positive change in the name of Jesus.

Jesus the Model of What We Can Become

It is at the laver where we take the time necessary to reflect upon our shortcomings and the things that we must do to become more like our Savior. One thing is certain and it is that we are not likely to achieve the perfection that Jesus did on this earth, and yet, the reality is that God wants us to become like Him[v]. As we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and choose to change at His leading, we become more like Jesus, one step at a time. Slowly we are transformed back toward the image and likeness of God, knowing that one day we will be united with Jesus and shine as brightly as He demonstrated in the transfiguration. Here is the truth according to Mathew:

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light and behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:1-9)

So, when Jesus claimed to be the Way, He used His own life as example of what we can become. In the example above Jesus gives us a glimpse into the bright and shining spiritual being that we can become. Certainly, the reflection at the Laver calls us to examine the state of our lives in comparison to the perfect model which is Jesus. In addition, we have to ask the question; are we ready to move into a closer and more intimate relationship with God or is there something that is holding us back?

Being able to answer this question requires an in-depth understanding of Jesus, and we often find ourselves studying Bible to get that understanding. In understanding the words and actions of Jesus we are much better prepared to identify our improvement areas. In addition, as in all things, we seek the help of the Holy Spirit in identifying and achieving change. Jesus is, “The Way” to effective change because when we become more like Him, we do the things that He did, we speak the words that He spoke, we conform our heart to His compassion level and we earnestly seek to please the Father in all that we do, just like He did.

Based on the life of Jesus we chose to change to be like Him. We read the scripture like the, “Washing of feet” passage above, and we are convicted in our hearts by our own sad life style. We seek the Holy Spirit to help us change our lives such that we serve other Christians and cast aside any focus we may have on our own importance or self interests. In implementing these changes we move closer to God. We become more like Jesus, the Son of God, continuously seeking to conform to the perfect image of Jesus. After all, we are the Bride of Christ46.

“The Way” Leads to the Courtyard of Grace

“The Way” is a name that is sometimes used for the gate that leads to the Tabernacles Outer Court where a relationship of grace is established with God. It is here in the Outer Court that the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and compels us to ask for forgiveness of our sins.

We are led to the Outer Court when we become so desperate for help that all we can do is give up and search for God for an answer. We call out to Him and He draws us in. He enables us to reflect upon who we are, how we have failed, and most importantly, how He is the only Way. Eventually, we break down, repent and ask forgiveness.

As we dwell in the Outer Court, we are also persuaded to look at Jesus, His life and His deeds. By looking at Him, we can see in our hidden imperfections in the pure light of God. We are led to reexamine our actions and life choices based upon the purity of His. We are humbled by our discoveries and know that we owe a debit that we cannot pay. Fortunately, the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb, has already earned our forgiveness and His body has been burned upon the Alter of God in payment. It is in the Outer Court that He took the punishment that we deserved for our sin upon Himself, therein, setting us free from sin. The result is that our nature is changed. Our hearts and minds are conformed to the heart and mind of Jesus.

In the Outer Court we enter into a cycle of reflection, self discovery, repentance and forgiveness that continues until God determines that we are ready to enter into an even closer relationship with Him. A relationship that requires that we pass through the passageway called, “The Truth” and enter into His Holy Place which is the topic of our next major section.

[i] Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

[ii] Spirit Filled Life Bible, p 1600, note 13-5

[iii] James 1:23 – 24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

[iv] John 1:23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said.

[v] Mat 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Tags: Christianity, God, Jesus, religion, Spirituality, Tabernacle, The Courtyard, the Holy Spirit, the Laver, The Way

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Category: Tabernacle

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Jesus Heals The Sick And The Lame

Jesus Heals the Sick and the Lame

Jesus Is The Golden Altar If Incense

Jesus Resists the Devil’s Temptation

Jesus And The Golden Altar Of Incense

Jesus Is The Light Of The World

The Principles of the Light of the World

Enter into the Holy Place in your Prayer Life

Seek God for Direction

Be Visible

Be a Light to Others

Jesus And The Tabernacle Courtyard (A review)

The Table of Show Bread (A review)

Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Table Of Showbread

Applying the Principles of Jesus the Bread of Life

Eat the Body and Blood of Jesus

Seek a Spiritual Relationship with Jesus

Become the Bread of Life for Others

Jesus The Table Of Showbread

Jesus is The Bread of Life

Entering The Truth Of The Tabernacle

The Way the Truth and the Life

Jesus is “The Truth”

Describing the Holy Place

Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Laver

Be Of Service To Others

Do What Ever It Takes

Lead By Example

Become A Model For Others

Be Careful With Whom You Walk In Ministry

Disregard Status, Rank And Position

Personally Touch People

Be Humble

Eliminate Worldly Desires

Eliminate Self-Exaltation

Be Baptized In Watter And Spirit

Know That You Will Be Tested

Know The Scriptures

Take Time To Meditate And Reflect

Ask The Holy Spirit For Help

Jesus the Model of What We Can Become

“The Way” Leads to the Courtyard of Grace

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