Blessed to be a Blessing
(Genesis 12:1-3)

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LINK:  http://www.dashhouse.com/sermons/2005/AM/050501.htm

 

 

 

 

Who were the prayer warriors in the Bible?

Prayer warriors are people who are known for regularly interceding on behalf of others before God. To intercede means to come between, so prayer warriors are, in effect, coming between God and the trouble in another person's life.

Prayer warriors are like defense attorneys, appealing to the Higher Court on behalf of their defendants. We're all guilty before God, but God is merciful. Prayer warriors recognize that quality of God's personality and call on Him for intervention.

Let's study several prayer warriors in the Bible and see what we can learn from them:

• Jehoshaphat was King of Judah when he received word that his land was being invaded. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-24, we read how the king prayed fervently to the Lord: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?" (verses 6-8). Jehoshaphat acknowledged God's power and His help in previous circumstance, he was aware of his inability and lack of knowledge, and he proclaimed his trust in God!
  
  God answered his cry for help in a miraculous way! 2 Chronicles 20:15 reports God's message: "…Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." Early in the morning, Jehoshaphat gathered his army and urged them to have faith in God. When they arrived at the battlefield, they found that the Lord had already won the victory (2 Chronicles 20:20-30)!
  
  
• Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego were three men who refused to bow before anyone or anything but God! When they refused King Nebuchadnezzer's order to bow down, they told the king, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18). Because of their disobedience, the king threw them into a blazing furnace.
  
  The king immediately saw that they were not harmed. Daniel 3:26-27 says, "So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."
  
  
• Paul was perhaps the greatest example of a prayer warrior in the New Testament. He repeatedly prayed for others, especially the individual churches with whom he was working. In Ephesians 3:14-21, while Paul was in prison, he prays for the believers in the church at Ephesus: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Are your prayers filled with requests for others? You have been given this ministry of intercession and through prayer you can be used by God to touch lives of people - those you have never met and those who are very close to you. Are you a prayer warrior?

 

 

Jesus and the Tabernacle!

by: Bill Bratt

Email: bbratt@zoomnet.net

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"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was in the beginning with God. {3} All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3 NKJV).

These fascinating verses indicate that Jesus was the Word and that He has existed from all eternity. He was a real Person who lived with God and was part of the God family. He was the Word or spokesman for God. Jesus is the focus or center of the entire Bible.

(Request our free article: "Jesus is Your:". This article reveals the many jobs and functions of Jesus, such as: He is our Saviour, Lord, King, Friend, Apostle, High Priest, Shepherd, etc. )

Let’s continue in John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus became flesh when He was born of the virgin Mary as a baby in a manger at Bethlehem. He gave up His Godhead to become human and dwell with sinful man.

Jesus Tabernacled Among Us!

Now, let’s focus in on the phrase: Jesus "dwelt among us".

The following quotation comes from the Believer’s Bible Commentary: "The word "dwelt" means "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent." His body was the tent in which He lived among men for thirty-three years". (1)

Other sources agree that the word "dwelt" means "tabernacled". Under the verse John 1:14, see Adam Clarke’s Commentary, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary and The Companion Bible.

Jesus came down to the earth and "pitched His tent" and "tabernacled" among us. Jesus lived as a human being upon this earth and He suffered (1 Peter 4:1) and He died for us (John 3:16).

The Tabernacle!

God commanded that Moses build the Tabernacle. God gave Moses many instructions in how to build the Tabernacle. The intricate details that God gave to Moses in how to build this portable tent sanctuary are revealed in Exodus chapters 25-31 and 35-40.

The word "Tabernacle" occurs 328 times in the King James version of the Bible. "Fully fifty chapters in the Bible are devoted to the Tabernacle, showing its importance in God’s sight".... "Each part of the Tabernacle teaches us spiritual lessons concerning the Person and work of Christ and the way of approach to God". (2)

The Tabernacle was a place where God might dwell among His people. It played an important part in the life of Moses and the ancient Israelites.

The following excerpt will give us an overview of the Tabernacle: "Tabernacle (tab'er-nak-l, tent), portable sanctuary that served as a place of worship for the Israelites from the time of the wilderness wanderings until the building of the temple by Solomon; typified God dwelling with His people (Exod. 25:8); variously called (Exod. 25:9; 26:9; 33:7; 39:32; I Chron. 6:48; 9:23; 17:5; 2 Chron. 24:6); described in Exod. 25:10-27:19, 35-38; tabernacle stood in a court 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, the sides of which were covered with linen curtains, which were fastened to 60 supporting pillars of bronze. Within the court was the great altar of burnt offering (Exod. 27: 1-8) and the bronze laver used by the priests for ritual ablutions (Exod. 30: 17-21)". (3)

"The tabernacle, which stood at the west end of the court, was a wooden structure 45 by 15 feet, divided by a heavy veil into two parts, a holy place and a most holy place. This was covered on the inside with embroidered linen tapestry and on the outside with double blankets of skin. The holy place contained the table of showbread, a golden candlestick, and the altar of incense. The most holy place, or Holy of Holies, had in it only the ark of covenant, a small box-like structure of wood covered with gold in which therewere the tablets of the law, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod (Exod. 25:16, 22; Heb. 9:4). The tabernacle was set up at Sinai the beginning of the second year after leaving Egypt (Exod 40:2 17); for 35 years it stood at Kadesh, and always preceded the Israelites when on the march (Num. 10:33-36). Later it was stationed at Gilgal (Josh. 4:19), Shiloh (Josh. 18:1), Nob (I Sam. 21:1), Gibeon (I 16:39; 21:29). David moved it to Jerusalem. It was superseded by the building of the temple. The old tabernacle was but a shadow of the true ideal (Heb. 8:5; 10:1)". (4)

Jesus and the Tabernacle!

Let’s compare the Old Testament Tabernacle with Jesus in the New Testament who tabernacled "among us".

The writer of the book of Hebrews says that Jesus is a perfect tabernacle: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation" (Heb 9:11 NKJV).

Jesus is our Gate!

As we approach the Tabernacle we would head for the entrance or the Gate: "For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets" (Exod. 27:16 NKJV).

The Tabernacle stood in a court 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. The gate was in the 75 foot section which was on the east side and the gate measured 30 feet in length.

(Note: We will assume that a cubit is approximately 18 inches.)

Jesus is our gate, our entrance to the Father and to eternal life. He is our saviour and redeemer: "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me"" (John 14:6 NKJV).

Jesus is our Sacrifice and Atonement!

As we continue in the court of the Tabernacle we would first come to the bronze or brazen altar of burnt offering: ""You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square; and its height shall be three cubits. {2} "You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. {3} "Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. {4} "You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. {5} "You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. {6} "And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. {7} "The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. {8} "You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it" (Exod. 27:1-8 NKJV).

This bronze altar measured 7-1/2 feet square and 4-1/2 feet high. This was the great altar for the sacrifice of animals signifying the shedding of blood which is required for atonement which is basic to man’s approach to God. This would symbolize the death of Christ, as our burnt offering, who offered Himself without spot to God.

The Apostle Paul said that Jesus was sacrificed for us: "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Cor 5:7 NKJV). Blood must be shed for the remission of sin: "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb 9:22 NKJV). Jesus was sacrificed to bear the sins of all mankind: "so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Heb 9:28 NKJV).

Jesus is our Cleansing and Sanctification!

As we continue our journey in the court of the Tabernacle we would next come to the bronze laver.

"Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: {18} "You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, {19} "for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. {20} "When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die. {21} "So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them; to him and his descendants throughout their generations"" (Exod. 30:17-21 NKJV).

This bronze laver was made of bronze mirrors donated by the women: "He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting" (Exod. 38:8 NKJV).

This bronze laver was a basin in which the priests would wash their hands and feet before they entered the Tabernacle. The priests went barefoot during their ministrations of their duties.

The laver symbolizes that we are to be spiritually and morally clean before entering any service to God: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22 NKJV).

Jesus is our cleansing and sanctification: "that He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse her (the Church) with the washing of water by the word, {27} that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:26-27 NKJV).

How does Jesus sanctify us and make us holy? By God’s word which is truth. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17 NKJV).

Jesus is the Door!

We now come to the Tabernacle, which stood at the west end of the court. It was a wooden structure 45 by 15 feet and was divided by a heavy veil into two parts, a holy place and a most holy place. On top it was covered with four coverings: a fine woven linen with artistic designs of cherubim, next was "the tent" made of goats’ hair, the third covering was made of ram’s skins and the fourth covering was made of badgers’ skins.

The tent door was made of fine woven linen: ""You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver" (Exod. 26:36 NKJV).

The linen curtains were made of different colors. The white color symbolized purity, blue the color of heaven, purple the color of royalty and scarlet the color of blood. These symbols represented the various aspects of the personal work of Christ.

Now let’s notice that Jesus is the door that we must go through to gain salvation: "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. {3} "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. {4} "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. {5} "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." {6} Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. {7} Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. {8} "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. {9} "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:2-9 NKJV).

Jesus is our shepherd and the door to the sheep (vs. 7). Once we go through the door it is Jesus’ job to care for and protect us, His sheep. It is our job to know our Shepherd’s voice and we can only do that by reading the Bible. Let’s notice another verse that says that Jesus is the 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" (Rev 3:20 NKJV) .

Jesus is the Light of the World!

We have entered the Holy Place through the door of the Tabernacle. On the left (south) side of this room we see the Golden Lampstand or Candlestick.

"You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. {32} "And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. {33} "Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower; and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. {34} "On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. {35} "And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. {36} "Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. {37} "You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. {38} "And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. {39} "It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils" (Exod. 25:31-39 NKJV).

The natural light was shut out of the tabernacle and the lampstand provided the light inside the tent.

The world is like the darkness inside the tabernacle. We need Jesus as a lampstand to give us light: ""And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19 NKJV).

Jesus is 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 NKJV).

Jesus is the Bread of Life!

We now look to the right (north) side of the Holy Place and see the Table for the Showbread: ""You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. {24} "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. {25} "You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. {26} "And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. {27} "The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. {28} "And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. {29} "You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold" (Exod. 25:23-29 NKJV).

This Table for the Showbread is about 3 feet long, 1-1/2 feet wide and 1-1/4 feet high made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. The showbread that was placed on the golden Table was made of fine wheat flour and baked into 12 loaves, which was renewed every Sabbath and was to be eaten only by the priests. This Bread looked forward to Jesus Christ, the Bread of life.

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. {34} Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." {35} 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 6:33-35 NKJV).

Jesus is Our Intercessor!

As we look straight toward the west side of the Holy Place we see the Altar of Incense.

"You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. {2} A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width; it shall be square; and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. {3} And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around. {4} Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. {5} You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. {6} And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. {7} Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. {8} And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations" (Exod. 30:1-8 NKJV).

This Altar of Incense is 18 inches square and 3 feet high and is made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Incense was to be burned on the altar every morning and every evening. The incense signifies prayer which is like a sweet smelling odor that ascends to heaven.

"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. {4} And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. {5} Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake" (Rev 8:3-5 NKJV).

"The incense altar pictures Christ as the believer’s intercessor through whom the believer’s prayer and praise rise up to God." (5)

Jesus is our intercessor before God the Father: "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Rom 8:34 NKJV). See also Heb 7:25.

The Flesh of Christ!

As we proceed beyond the Altar of Incense we come to the inner Veil.

"You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim" (Exo 26:31 NKJV).

This inner veil was made of the finest linen, blue, purple and scarlet, exquisitely embroidered with Cherubs. It separated the Holiest of Holies from the Holy place.

Now let’s notice what was going on when Jesus was dying on the cross.

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. {46} And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" {47} Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" {48} Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. {49} The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." {50} And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. {51} Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, {52} and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Mat 27:45-52 NKJV).

Notice what happened when Jesus died. Verse 51 says: "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom".

"The inner curtain which divided the Holy Place from the holiest of all in the Tabernacle; a technical term not applied to any other curtain. It was a symbol of God's unapproachability."(6)

Let’s notice Jesus’ role as our High Priest and His connection to the veil. Hebrews 9:11-12 ( NKJV) says: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation."
{12} "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once, for all, having obtained eternal redemption."
Let’s continue in Heb. 10:19-22: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, {21} and having a High Priest over the house of God, {22} let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible series relates: "The Temple veil was rent from top to bottom. That was the veil which covered the Holy of Holies; that was the veil beyond which no man could penetrate, save only the High Priest on the Day of Atonement; that was the veil behind which the Spirit of God dwelt. There is symbolism here. Up to this time God had been hidden and remote, and no man knew what he was like. But in the death of Jesus we see the hidden love of God, and the way to the presence of God once barred to all men is now opened to all men. The life and the death of Jesus show us what God is like and remove for ever the veil which hid him from men." (7)

Jesus made it possible for us to be able to go directly to God without going through a "middle man" or a "priesthood". Since the veil was torn God is now "approachable" by mankind and we can pray directly to God the Father.

The Holy of Holies!

After we have past through the Veil we are in the Most Holy Place, The Holy of Holies. This was a room on the west side of the Tabernacle. It was 15 feet wide, long and tall, a perfect cube. It represented God’s dwelling place. The only thing that it contained was the Ark of the Covenant also known as the Ark of the Testimony. Only one person was allowed to enter this room and only once a year. This one person was the High Priest and the only day he was allowed to enter was on the Day of Atonement.

"And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. {11} "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. {12} "You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. {13} "And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. {14} "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. {15} "The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it" (Exod. 25:10-15 NKJV).

The Ark was a chest 3 feet and 9 inches long, 2 feet and 3 inches wide and 2 feet and 3 inches high made of acacia wood and overlaid inside and out with pure gold. The Ark contained the two tables of the Ten Commandments, a pot of Manna and Aaron’s Rod that budded.

"Being small and provided with carrying poles, the ark was mobile. Thus the ark served two important purposes during the history of early Israel. During the wilderness wanderings, when the people of God were on the march, the Tabernacle was packed away and the Ark led the way, representing God’s leadership of the tribes (of Israel) as they made their way toward the land of promise (Num. 10:35-36). This use of the ark is closely tied with the second purpose. The ark was taken by the army as it engaged in battle with foreign foes. It represented the presence of the divine warrior with the army. The famous battle of Jericho is one of the more notable examples of the Ark symbolizing God’s presence and power with the army of Israel (Josh. 6)." (8)

The Ark contained the two tables of the Ten Commandments and envisions Jesus Christ as having God’s law in His Heart.

In the Tabernacle the Ark was understood to be the throne or the footstool to the throne of God. Above the Ark were placed two cherubim with outstretched wings. God was envisioned as enthroned between the wings of the Cherubim.

"Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim" (2 Kings 19:15 NKJV).

"The Mercy-Seat was the top of the Ark, a lid of solid gold. A Cherub at each end, of one piece with the lid, facing each other, their wings spread out, looking down toward the Mercy-Seat. The Mercy-Seat being just above the Two Tables of the Ten Commandments, represented the meeting place of Law and Mercy: thus, a "shadow" of Christ." (9)

In Revelation 11:15-19 the events surrounding the blowing of the seventh trumpet are given. Jesus will return at the seventh trumpet and will judge the living and the dead: "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom" (2 Tim 4:1 NKJV).

The Mercy Seat represents Christ’s judgment seat.

Jesus is the New Testament Tabernacle!

The writer of Hebrews gives us a beautiful description of Jesus being our Tabernacle: "Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. {2} For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; {3} and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, {4} which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; {5} and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. {6} Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. {7} But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; {8} the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. {9} It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; {10} concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. {11} But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. {12} Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb 9:1-12 NKJV) .

In Conclusion:

Jesus came in the flesh and tabernacled among men (John 1:14). Jesus is our High Priest and our perfect spiritual Tabernacle (Heb. 9:11-12). Each part of the Old Testament Tabernacle teaches us spiritual lessons concerning the Person and work of Christ and the way of approach to God.

 

 

To my surprise, over the past few years it's been revealed to me that speaking in tongues aren't talked about in church very often. A lot of churches don't believe its real, or they question, "Are tongues for today?" Let me assure you that speaking in tongues is real, it is for today, and you can have the gift if you ask and receive it. I'm not worried about what anyone says or debates, tongues are real, period.

I am going to share verses from the New Testament, and I will quote Jesus as well. I'm not only admitting this as fact, but I am a witness to this unknown language. If you do not believe in the supernatural than it isn't possible to believe in God. This is not a scary gift, it's not something frightening, it's a language from heaven that you do not understand because it's the speaking of the Spirit. You may say it's mumble, but if you receive the gift you will see that you have a familiar vocabulary and accent that doesn't change. Maybe some of the verses below will clear some things up!

Read that again, Jesus is telling the Apostles to go into all the world to preach the gospel and those signs will happen for those who believe. If speaking in tongues was not ment for today, why did Jesus say that? There is no special interpretation, this is not a parable. Lets look a bit further in the New Testament:

What is the purpose of tongues? Read below! I ask you to read it over again so you have a full understanding, even look it up in your Bible. I used ESV translation because I found it easier to understand.

You utter mysteries in the Spirit before God. I believe through the Spirit you pray for things that you would not think of in your mind. Below is how you should pray in tongues:

To receive the gift of tongues you must believe in Jesus Christ, and you must have a spirit of faithfulness. Meaning you can not use this gift to go in the streets and show off, it's between you and God. If Christ is your Lord, ask for the gift of speaking in tongues and receive it, instantly. All you do from now is just start speaking in it. A mistake some people make is they believe that they will suddenly speak in tongues out of nowhere or God will force it out of them. It's up to you, you can speak in tongues as long as you want at any moment, just speak out because once you ask - you have the gift, you only need to ask once.

 

God loves each and every one of us so much. He loves us beyond comprehension. He offers us the most beautiful gift. It is the gift of salvation. He offers us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Why does man need Salvation?

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have all broken God's commandments and for that reason, mankind is lost spiritually. The Bible says that the "wages of sin is death". What is a wage? It is what you earn. We have all sinned and therefore we all have earned death. The Bible says in Ezekiel 18:20, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Man has broken God's commandments. Sin separates man from God. The Lord God is
holy and cannot have sin in His presence. The Bible tells us that even if a person breaks just one commandment, it is like breaking them all. James 2:10 tells us: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." This means that even if you break one commandment, it is as if
you broke them all for you stand guilty before the Holy God. That is God's Holy standard. None of us have kept every commandment. We have broken God's
Law. We are all sinners. God’s justice requires that sin receive its full penalty.
The suffering and sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross satisfied the requirements of God’s justice. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He suffered the penalty of the Law we had broken. Jesus suffered our punishment-- He took our place.

1John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to
be the Saviour of the world.

God loves us and He desires to have a close relationship with us but sin separates us from God. The Bible tells us that ALL on this earth have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden,
they brought sin upon all mankind and the close fellowship that they had with God was no longer possible because of their sin.

The Lord instructed man to make unblemished animal sacrifices for their sin. The Bible tells us that "For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission
for sin." The blood of these animals covered man's sins but the blood of animals could not actually take sins away. God had a wonderful plan to restore mankind unto Himself. This plan would take away the sins of the world. God sent His only Begotten Son to become a man and to shed His blood and to die for our sins.
The Lord Jesus never sinned and therefore willingly died for us -- being the perfect and holy sacrifice for our sins. Our sins were laid upon Him as He died for us.

It was prophesied in the Old Testament, hundreds of years before Christ Jesus came, that Messiah would die a terrible death and would save His people from
their sins and be raised from the dead.

In the Book of Isaiah, we read that Messiah would die for our iniquities:

Isaiah 53:5,6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Lord Jesus said:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is no other way to Heaven except through the Lord Jesus Christ. We all
have sinned but He, being sinless, paid the price for our sins. He died in our place.
Notice in the above passage of Isaiah 53:6 that the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Hebrews 9:26 says, "he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

The Lord Jesus was the sinner's substitute on the cross. Because He died for sinners, those who receive Him as their Savior, are NOT indebted to pay the penalty for their sin. The wages of sin is death-- but He died for our sin-- and
paid our penalty. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ Jesus paid it all! He has made the way for fellowship back to God. In order to be saved, one must have complete faith in the Savior. Faith in the Lord Jesus is most necessary for we are justified by faith:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus said in John 3:3: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Because we are all descendents of Adam and are sinners, we must be born again
of God's Spirit-- a spiritual birth-- in order to be saved. And this new birth is only possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man has been granted a free will by God and because of this, God will not force Himself on anyone. But He wants His creation to come to Him and be saved.. God's plan of salvation is so wonderful but it is only wonderful to those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Those who do not believe on Him will not have everlasting life. He told us in John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Because Jesus never sinned, His sacrifice of His own life paid the price for our
sins. That is why He is called the Lamb of God. The prophet, John the Baptist, called Jesus the Lamb of God:

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Christ Jesus died on the Preparation of Passover. He took upon Himself all the
sins of the world and He shed His own blood that we might be saved. He died willingly for us:

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Christ Jesus rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion. By conquering death, all those who receive Him will live forever with Him and death shall have
no power over them. Because of His Resurrection, Christians can walk a
victorious life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The true meaning of life
begins upon this earth when one receives Christ because all sins are forgiven and the fellowship that man had in the Garden with God is restored once again in the life of the Believer. And when the Christian physically dies, they go to live with Christ Jesus forever. God the Father sent His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world to save the world because God loves us so much.

The Lord Jesus said in John 11:25-26:

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Salvation is a FREE gift. This means that you cannot earn your way into Heaven. Your good works will not get you to Heaven. Being a good person
cannot get you into Heaven. You can never be good enough to get into Heaven because even one sin will keep you out of Heaven. Jesus already paid the price
for your sins. To say that you can save yourself is an insult to Him who gave His life for you. The Bible says that our righteousness is like filthy rags and there is no way that we can make it into Heaven by our own works. The Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith and NOT of our own works. Salvation is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

You can accept God's wonderful free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ or you can reject His gift. God created you with a free will to choose. God will not force Himself on anyone. Those who receive Jesus receive the gift of eternal life and their sins are forgiven. Those who reject Him will die physically and spiritually -- lost in their sins and will have to face the wrath of God at the Judgment.

Every person will face the Lord Jesus Christ someday. He will either be
your Savior or He will be your Judge.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Unbelief in Him is a grievous sin against the Savior and will be punished as
such. As we read before, the Lord Jesus said, "He that believeth not, is condemned already." The Bible says that those who die in their sins, apart
from the Lord Jesus Christ, will go to the Lake of Fire for all eternity:

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.

But one does not have to go there...

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." What does it mean to believe?

Believe what the Bible says.
Believe that Jesus is God-- The Second Person of the Trinity.
Believe that He became flesh and was born of a virgin.
Believe that He lived a pure and sinless life.

Believe that God the Father loves you and He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for your sins so that you would not have to go to hell. Believe that the wrath of God abides on the sinner but that eternal life is provided through Jesus Christ. Believe that you cannot save yourself by your own good works.

1John 4:9-10 says, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because
that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that He is seated at the Right Hand of God the Father.

Romans 8:34 ... It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Believe the words that Jesus said in the Bible. He said in John 14:6:
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.

Believe that by receiving Him, you too will have eternal life. John 3:15 says:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

You must BELIEVE that Jesus died for you and acknowledge that your own merits and good works CANNOT save you. You cannot add anything to your salvation. His sacrifice of Himself at the cross is all-sufficient. There is nothing
that you can add.

You must trust Him 100% for He saves completely. You must RECEIVE Christ Jesus as your personal Savior-- believing with all of your heart-- that He paid the price for your sins. Give up your pride and your own efforts to make yourself "a better person" and commit your guilty soul and all of its interests into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ -- asking Him to save you. From your heart, call upon Him. As a helpless sinner, who cannot save yourself, you must receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He has given you His word that He will save you. Believe that He paid the price for your sins upon the Cross and that He rose again from the dead. Remember there is absolutely nothing that you can do to make yourself righteous. Jesus suffered the penalty of the Law we had broken.

When you receive Christ, you receive His forgiveness and you receive eternal life
in Him for He is the ONLY Savior. The price of salvation was already PAID in
full but you can only be saved by receiving the Savior. He is the Only way to Heaven.

Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

God says in Jeremiah 29:13: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

   Strong Tower

"The Name of the LORD" is a "Strong  Tower from the enemy" (Psalm 61:3). We need not fear his breath nor his shadow. For there is a place in God that we can run to for safety. It's called "The Name Of The LORD."

Proverbs 18:10 says - "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

The Lord Jesus is addressed by so many different names throughout the Scriptures. Each one of them represents an answer to a need that we will face throughout our lifetime.

"The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower" - The word "Strong" implies force, security, majesty, boldness, might, and power. There is only one group that is welcome in this "Tower" - "The righteous." These "sanctified ones" are not nonchalant about their entrance. The Scriptures tell us that "The righteous runneth into it." That means that they run swiftly, move quickly, hurry, and dart about.

Could it be that they are running from danger, evil, harm, temptation, wickedness, etc. - seeking a refuge for their souls? Could it also be that the Scriptures are informing us that their walk is a battleground, and that they are constantly on the move against the forces of evil?

Once they arrive at this "Tower," they know that they are "safe."

How is that?

Simply because the "Tower" is too high for capture, inaccessibly high, and safely set on high. No enemy can penetrate this fortress because of its elevated position - "in heavenly places"(Ephesians 2:6). That is what the word "safe" implies. Also, no enemy can penetrate this fortress because of Whose Name it represents - "in Christ Jesus"(Ephesians 2:6).

The Scriptures instruct us that, by "The Name of the LORD," we are enabled to fight the devil, receive Salvation and Victory, and be kept from all harm and evil.

2 Chronicles 14:11 says - "...in Thy Name we go against this multitude..."

Psalm 54:1 says - "Save me, O my God, by Thy Name..."

John 17:11 adds - "...keep through Thine own Name..."

It is in "The Name of the LORD" that we battle the enemy of our soul. For instance, when temptations of all manner assail us, it is then that we combat the forces of darkness with the Scriptures exemplifying God's Name as Holy and Righteous.

Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name alone is Holy..."

Jeremiah 236 - "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

When we are feeling afraid, alone, helpless, depressed, and abandoned, we can counteract Satan's lies of defeat and hopelessness with "The Name of the LORD" that assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us, as found in Matthew 12:3 - "...AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, God with us."

We are also informed throughout the Scriptures that, by "The Name of the LORD," we are saved.

When everything around us is being shaken, we can run into it as our "Rock," the "God of my Rock," our "Fortress," our"Strong Tower from the enemy," and "The Strength of my life."

When the battle is raging about us, we can run into it as our "Shield," "Buckler," and "Deliverer."

When the way seems dark and is filled with confusion, we can run into it as our "Light."

When man is attacking us, lying about us, mistreating, using, and manipulating us, we can run into it as our "Refuge for the Oppressed."

When everything seems to be going wrong and nothing seems right, we can run into it as our "Refuge in times of trouble."

When we cannot figure out our way or the direction in which our lives are headed, we can run into it as our "Alpha and Omega" - our "Beginning" and "Ending."

Finally, by "The Name of the LORD," we are kept by God's Almighty Power. That which protects us from all harm and evil is exemplified by the Name - "God." Within that Name lies the Omnipotent Power that no foe can ever challenge or thwart.

"The Name of the LORD" is a "Strong Tower from the enemy"(Psalm 61:3). We need not fear his breath nor his shadow. For there is a place in God that we can run to for safety. It's called "The Name of the LORD."

Run into it and be safe.