The Sanctuary Study Pt. 8
If there was one lesson above all others which the 40-day Covenant taught, it was that man is unable to keep his promises, or to do what God commands, no matter how sincere his intentions. Centuries later, Jeremiah the prophet would express it in these words - "0 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 23:10) However, there was a way, and that way, the way of God, was in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)
We talked yesterday about breaking promises to God. We can barely keep promises to each other, how often has someone asked you to keep something a secret, to promise and then you turn around and whisper it to someone *you* trust not to tell anyone? It's human nature we say and it a way...it is. Even in matters of life and death sometimes it's hard to keep promises. Not believing God, well, we want to say that's horrible, how could they. I've said it myself how could they when they had the advantage of so many miracles to witness? Yet, we do it all the time, we don't believe God and it is a matter of life and death for us too.
No one will be able to say they didn't know or have a chance and that's a scary prospect for those who want to be able to use that excuse. It's going to be even harder on those who believe they know God, are following Him and they are told they aren't known by Him.
We are told things! Do we listen to them?! Do we follow them?
Only Jesus can save us, and it's so true that God's way is in the sanctuary. It's the sanctuary that reveals Jesus fully.
Let's continue with our sanctuary study using William Grotheers Thought Papers to help us, but most important by using our Bibles.
The Covenants and the Sanctuaries -- Light from the Throne -- (Continued)
A Microcosm of the Reality -- The experience at Sinai reflected the experience of the human race. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, He said to them - "Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16-17)
It was a commanded covenant. It was obey and live; disobey and die.
There was no mercy revealed.
Our first parents chose to disobey, and had not One stepped in, as did Moses, they would have died.
A promise was given. (Gen. 3:15) In fulfilling this promise, Jesus, the Surety of a better covenant, suffered in reality what Moses offered to suffer.
Jesus experienced the meaning of having one's name blotted out, when from the darkened, clouded skies that hung mercifully about Calvary, He cried - "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Adam's transgression necessitated another covenant.
With a second Adam, God entered into a covenant. He would deal with humanity again, in and through Jesus.
Paul wrote that "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) The ancient prophet declared that "the counsel of peace shall be between the Two of Them." (Zech. 6:13, Heb.)
This Mediator between God and man ministers in the Heavenly Sanctuary, which is the sanctuary of the New Covenant
A Continual Service -- Before a single act of work had been performed on the sanctuary - it was merely in blueprint stage - God gave instruction concerning the morning and evening sacrifice.
The revelation of all other sacrifices - including the, sin offerings - did not come till after the sanctuary was completed and erected. The only thing that preceded the instruction for the morning-evening sacrifices was the provision for the priesthood.
Concerning this continual burnt offering, God commanded:
This is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening ...
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there will I meet with the children of Israel and [Israel (margin)] shall be sanctified by my glory. (Ex.. 29:38-39; 42-43)
Before instruction was given as to how sin could be confessed and forgiven, provision was made to continually cover Israel.
Even as the morning and evening sacrifices of a lamb formed the foundation of the whole typical system, so Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and on Him the whole redemptive process rests.
While we were yet in sin, Christ died for us. It must also be realized that this was a covering for a covenant people. Those outside of Israel could only realize this blessing, when, they too, joined "themselves to the Lord" and took "hold of [His] covenant." (Isa. 56:6)
{56:6} Also the sons of the stranger, that join
themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name
of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the
sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant
The place of meeting between God and His people, and where God would converse with Moses is defined as "the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Thus the meeting which would bring "sanctification" to Israel was focused on the first apartment of the sanctuary.
It was not the Shekinah glory of the Most Holy Place which Israel needed, but the glory of the revelation for which the symbols of the first apartment stood.
When Christ came, the glory He revealed was the fullness of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
{1:14} And the Word was made 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
It was this truth that sanctifies. (John 17:17)
{17:17} Sanctify them
through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Only once each year was Israel to appear before God' in the Most Holy Place, and then only through a representative.
Grace and truth were revealed at the Altar and at the entrance of the tabernacle the first apartment.
The Erecting of the Sanctuary --
One year following the Exodus, the sanctuary was ready for erection.
This became the responsibility of Moses in the first month of the second year "on the first day of the month." (Ex. 40:17)
When all things were in order, Moses annointed "the tabernacle, and all that is therein." He also annointed "the altar of burnt offering" as well as "the laver" at the base of the altar. (Ex. 40:9-11) Thus Moses entered into the Most Holy Place before any services were performed by Aaron, the high priest. (40:20-21)
Further, Moses set the bread in order on the Table of Shewbread; he lit the lamps of the Golden Candlesticks; he burnt incense upon the Golden Altar before the veil. Then upon the Altar of Burnt Offering, he offered sacrirfice. All of this was done before Aaron entered into his priestly ministry. (40:22-32)
The final act was the erecting of the curtain about the court and tabernacle. (40:33) Then the text reads -- "So Moses finished the work." "The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" and from that time on the priestly ministry began. Immediately from the tabernacle, the Lord, in conversation with Moses, started the instructions concerning the sacrifices and offerings to be performed by priests and people. (Lev. 1:1-2)
The significance of these typical acts dare not be overlooked.
God had told Moses that He would raise up a "Prophet" from the midst of Israel "like unto thee" and in His mouth would be the words of God. (Deut. 18:15, 18)
Thus Jesus Christ, that "Prophet," when He too, had "finished" His work (John 19:30) would go into "the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched" (Heb. 8:2) and "anoint" the Holy Places of Heaven prior to the beginning of His service as the great High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec.
All during His earthly ministry, Jesus was revealing what He would do and be. He lit the lamps. He was "that true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) He declared Himself to be "the light of the world." (John 8:12) He was the true "candle of Israel." (II Sam. 21:17, Heb)
He provided the bread for the table of the Lord. He said, "I am the living bread." (John 6:51) The symbolic bread of the communion service represents His body which He gave for the life of man.
He provided in that sacrifice,' the "incense" to be offered with the prayers of the saints on the Golden Altar before the throne. (Eph. 5:2; Dan. 9:24; Rev. 8:3)
Combining in Himself not only the typical role of Moses, but also He is an High Priest ministering according to "the example and shadow" of the Aaronic priesthood.
Yet much more, He is a Priest-King after the Order of Melchisedec.
The prophet declared that in building "the temple of the Lord," He would "be a priest upon His throne." (Zech. 6:12-13)
This throne, Paul tells us, is "the throne of grace" from whence we obtain "mercy and find grace ... in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16)
It is the ministry of the light and bread of Heaven in answer to the prayers of the saints made acceptable through the meritorious righteousness of the High Priest which meets the need. It is the ministry of the First Apartment, and there on "the Throne of Grace", Jesus and the Father have joined together. "The counsel of peace shall be between them Both." (Zech. 6:13)
It must not be forgotten that when the ministry moves to the second apartment, mankind faces the Throne of Judgment (Dan. 7:9-10), as preparation is made for Christ to take His "throne of glory." (Matt. 25:31; Rev. 11:15-17)
The sanctuary in type and shadow reveals how we can face the throne of judgment, and be included in the kingdom of glory.
We all need to know this don't we? We all need the revealation from the sanctuary that shows how we can face the throne and be included in heaven's glory.
All of us need this.
We study, we learn, we live, we pray and may God's great mercy bless us through the sacrifice of His only Son now and forever, with the Holy Spirit continuing to guide us in all things.
Amen.
12/21/09
We talk about works and a lot of people think they don't matter at all and in truth you don't get salvation by works, it is a gift, but that doesn't mean all works stop.
If you truly love someone you act certain ways towards them. I'm not saying all mushy and doe-eyed that equivalent of a new love not yet broken in. If you love someone fully you respect them and there are things you know they don't like and you don't do them, things you know they like and you do them out of that love. Many people say that loving someone is accepting them the way they are without trying to change them, learning to live with the faults that present themselves. However if someone loves someone and they see that loved one doing things that are harmful to themselves they want them to stop so they don't get hurt. Their love for them aches as they watch them hurt themselves. They might offer their loved one ways to stop harming themselves, out of love. There are degrees of this and if the loved one were involved in something extremely harmful, leaving them after you try to help them is one option. Watching a loved one hurt themselves over and over is hard. All this is on a HUMAN level. God is on a whole other level. God offers us salvation freely out of love and when we accept salvation we are accepting Him and all that entails. We join with Him and desire to live for Him. Our sinning nature will war against this, Satan will pull out all stops to get us to sin in one way or another. Temptations will become more frequent and stronger and when we slip and fall, sinning, we are led to despair that we'll ever be as God would have us be.
In Revelation the first few chapters we are told this over and over.
'I know thy works'
Jesus knows our works. If works are so unimportant why does it matter? Yet over and over Jesus speaks to the seven churches and to each church He tells them 'I know thy works.' He knows our hearts, He know our lives, He know how we work in all that we do and it does matter. We can't just say we love Him and that's all there is. We can't say we follow Him and in reality we follow our own lusts without any compunction. Jesus knows our works and to each church He reaffirms this. He knows their actions, He knows our actions. We can leave our first love, we can worship *others*, we can blasphemy, we can be seduced away by counterfeits, we can lose faith, we can become defiled, we can become immune, numb to truth, not caring to foster a true love of Christ but rather become content in the slipcover Christianity we profess. We can shout to the hilltops, shout in the streets, blog to the world that we believe in God but our actions speak louder than all the professing we do. To say our actions mean nothing is to be deceived. Accepting Christ, accepting forgiveness, showing true repentance and giving our lives to Christ result in our lives reflecting that love. If our lives do NOT reflect that love because we believe our *works* don't matter we are only allowing ourselves to be deceived.
God loves us and sees the dangers we are in. God loves us and knows the harm that will befall us when we let sin reign.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
WE HAVE NOT YET RESISTED UNTO BLOOD STRIVING AGAINST SIN!
Instead we've soothed ourselves, stroked our weaknesses and mollify ourselves by saying God understands. Yes, God does understand. He has always been about love and out of love our actions are made. Turning from God has consequences, shunning the love of God, betraying the love of God all matters but we live in a world that wants to just ease our minds not trouble ourselves with anything. People stress God is love, and all the good things, while forgetting God wrote the Ten Commandments that Jesus reaffirmed. Commandments that tell us how to live. When we don't live in harmony with God's commands all the soothing and mollifying in the world is pure deception. Whole churches exist to mollify people. Whole churches are lukewarm and will be spewed out by Christ. People are going to cry out when Christ returns and rejects them that they knew Him! That they did many wonderful things in His name and He's going to say get away, He doesn't know them at all. They'll be deceived into believing they are Christ's and living as Christ would have them live. ALL BUT THE VERY ELECT will be deceived.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
We cry out with Paul, wanting God to hear us- Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Jesus Christ has to be everything to us. Our lives have to be filled with striving against sin...we haven't resisted unto blood in our striving have we? Have you? Have I? What true striving against sin do we do? We can't count the number of times we've succumbed to sin, but can we count the number we've strived against it? Resisted unto blood? We tell ourselves we aren't suppose to strive, that we aren't supposed to *WORK* because it will void Salvation being a gift, but that's not true at all.
Someone gives us a gift we don't deserve and we instantly feel as if we have to repay them in kind with a gift for them, but maybe it's completely IMPOSSIBLE for us to repay them. We are left feeling as if we don't deserve the gift but obviously the person giving it feels as though we do in some way warrant it, even if it's just out of their love for us. Part of us instantly wants to be nicer to that person, doesn't it? No, this can't compare to the gift of salvation, but we have to realize that out of love we must strive against sin because sin will separate us from God and to be separated from God is to no longer live in Him- now and forever- and the tragedy of that is unfathomable.
May God help us by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help us Lord to live as you would have us live in You. Knowing You and being known by You. Create in us clean hearts, renew right spirits within us. May we serve Christ, the law of God, knowing we are wretched in and of ourselves, our righteousness as filthy rags. Help us Lord to resist unto blood as we strive against sin.
In Your Love!
Amen.
12/21/10
Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
The Father of lights.
God created the light, remember?
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
God created the main source of our natural light- the sun. And He created the moon and the stars - all light sources or reflectors of light.
Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
God truly is the Father of lights. And NOT only is He the Father of- the Creator of lights, He is the Father of the LIGHT of the world- Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Every good thing comes from God, every truly good thing. Just because our perception is skewed from thousands of years of sin and so many call evil good, and good evil, doesn't mean that God is the Father of evil things. We call a lot of perverted, disgusting things good because we've had our senses so incredibly dulled by Satan. We need to fall before God on our knees and pray that we aren't duped by the evil one who has taken so many people's eternal lives through His perversions. This isn't a popular way to talk at all, this is frown upon by people because they simply do NOT want to hear truth, it goes against their comfortable existence living side by side with Satan's evil they've accepted as good. No one wants to be told that the majority of things they love, the things they like, the things they've embedded into their routine of life all are evil. No one likes it, no one. We come face to face with the evil in our lives and we make a choice whether to accept it or not. We can choose to continue on without changing a thing- this is the power of choice we have- and we can choose our own path. God offers us life- and He offers us ALL good gifts, ALL perfect gifts. Does this mean we'll have all things happy, happy, NO! We've talked about this a lot. The happiness we need to seek is ONLY found in our SAVIOR! If we seek for happiness elsewhere we are only setting ourselves up to fall over and over and over again! It'll be an endless rollercoaster- never ending torture and we'll put ourselves through it because we can find happiness, we can find incredible happiness called JOY in our Lord!
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
By the will of our LORD we all have come into existence. The apostles, the disciples that lived when our Savior walked the earth and for several years after He ascended to heaven were truly a kind of firstfruits- they were the first to live in a world after the promised Messiah's coming. No others had ever lived in that time, not one. And because these men and women lived in this time, this new existence they were cautioned…
'Be SWIFT to HEAR.'
'Be SLOW to SPEAK.'
'SLOW to WRATH.'
Is this EVER bad advice? Seriously, is it?
I know I am VERY guilty of jumping right in there to offer my thoughts, my opinions on things without taking any time to hear, truly hear. And as for being slow to wrath, I have to hang my head in shame over and over again because my wrath all too often seems to come instantaneously.
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
And that wrath of mine will NOT work the righteousness of God.
That instant wrath of mine goes against God.
Please Lord, please help me to be swift to hear- help me to learn to LISTEN so much more than I do. Please Lord, please help me be slow to speak- help me learn to be quiet, to learn that I don't have to be heard like I all too often believe I do.
Please Lord, please help me to be slow to wrath- help me keep my instant temper in check, please, help me Lord I don't want to work anything that isn't the righteousness of God.
By YOUR GRACE LORD!
In YOUR LOVE!
Amen.