The second color we are shown is purple. Purple is universally accepted as the colour of royalty.
It is the colour of kings. Jesus is the King of kings He was the rightful heir ...even through His earthly genealogy to the throne of David. Man did not anoint Him King, not even with the oil of the sanctuary that Moses (through Bezaleel) made. Rather He was anointed to be King of kings and LORD of lords by God the Father with that Anointing of the Holy Ghost, the true Oil of the Spirit. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. We must have that same anointing oil applied to our hearts and lives in order to enter into the sanctuary and pass through the entrance that is marked by the riven veil, that is the Veil of His flesh.
The Jews rejected Him; John said, "He came unto His own and His own received Him not but as many as received Him, To them He gave the power to become the sons of God. Even to as many as call upon His name. He is our King, hallelujah!
About Me
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Colours of the veil
For those who have attended the Bible study at the church house, I must apologize for not keeping up with this blog during these summer months. So here is an attempt to correct this situation. And I will be continuing the study sometime this fall at the church, LORD willing.
I'm speaking of the colours of the veil and their significance today and the first colour that was mentioned was blue. But let us first read from Exodus 26:31-33 "31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
Also Exodus 36:35-38 35And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
36And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
37And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
38And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
I have already mentioned that the first colour was blue and it has been suggested that it is because He was and is from heaven. 1Cor. 15:47 calls Him the LORD from heaven."This colour is interwoven throughout the writings of John who is always presenting Him as God from heavenly origin....actually that word origin is probably the wrong word here since God has no origin...He always was, is and evermore shall be! John met Him, you know there on the Isle of Patmos.
Let's take a look at some verses in the book of the Revelation, chapter 1 and reading from verse 9-18 " 9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
To say that He was just a man is preposterous; He is God who came down from heaven and became a man. "In the beginnig, ....God" Genesis 1:1 He came from heaven...blue is the colour of heaven...Continued later
I'm speaking of the colours of the veil and their significance today and the first colour that was mentioned was blue. But let us first read from Exodus 26:31-33 "31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
Also Exodus 36:35-38 35And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
36And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
37And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
38And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
I have already mentioned that the first colour was blue and it has been suggested that it is because He was and is from heaven. 1Cor. 15:47 calls Him the LORD from heaven."This colour is interwoven throughout the writings of John who is always presenting Him as God from heavenly origin....actually that word origin is probably the wrong word here since God has no origin...He always was, is and evermore shall be! John met Him, you know there on the Isle of Patmos.
Let's take a look at some verses in the book of the Revelation, chapter 1 and reading from verse 9-18 " 9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
To say that He was just a man is preposterous; He is God who came down from heaven and became a man. "In the beginnig, ....God" Genesis 1:1 He came from heaven...blue is the colour of heaven...Continued later
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Veil…Lo He is the Mighty Conqueror since He rent the veil in Two
Oh behold the Man of Sorrows Oh behold Him in plain view, for He is the Mighty Conqueror, since He rent the veil in two. John 14:6, “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” This scripture verse that I have just read is depicted in type to show us that Jesus is the real truth and life and the way and we will see this fulfilled in typology in the construction of the Gate, the Door and the Veil, and tonight(being the last night until next fall) we will confine our study to the Veil and if time permits perhaps a little review might be good as well.…The reason that I am starting with the Veil is the same reason that I started with the Holy of Holies…God came to us, not the other way round. He searched for me. In tenderness He sought me….when I was lost without hope, without God …He came to me. Why did He love me so? Why does He love you so? I’m glad He did. I’m glad He does tonight.
The Veil was a veil of separation between a holy God and unholy man. It hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place that was called the Holy of Holies in which was the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat Let’s look at the scriptural setting, the background…tonight’s text if you will and it is found in Ex. Ch. 26 verses 31-33 Exodus 26:31-33 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
31 “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. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.
Also look at Ex.ch. 36:35-38 Exodus 36:35-38 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim. 36 He made for it four pillars of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four sockets of silver for them. 37 He also made a screen for the tabernacle door, of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze.
The Veil was supported by four pillars consisting of acacia wood overlaid with gold and grounded in silver foundations. We won’t occupy our time tonight with the pillars but rather with the Veil which they support…that was their function, the meaning for their existence and we will see more as we study the Veil. However everything about this Tabernacle building has significance because every minute detail in one way or another points us to Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, so it is all significant, amen?
The Tabernacle was built after the pattern of the things in heaven That is why we look to Jesus Who is in heaven and came down from heaven to dwell among us.
There it is, in the book of Hebrews that we look for the interpretation of these truths regarding the Tabernacle. All other explanations have to line up with the one found in Hebrews.
The Veil was a veil of separation between a holy God and sinful man; it kept the O.T. saints of all ages from approaching God except for that once a year the high priest could go in to seek an atonement for the sins of the people and he would go there with the blood of an animal to offer upon the mercy seat in the hopes of having their sins covered up. That is what the word atonement means…it is an old testament word that means to “atone” or “cover up” After the Veil has been rent the word is “expiation” or “reconciliation” or “redemption” The blood of Jesus does not just “cover up” sin but rather takes it away. It fully reconciles a holy God with repentant sinners. David said in Psalm 32 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” That is Old Testament, however the truth is still the same because when Jesus came and went to the cross and made an atonement for sin it was not only covered but it was also washed away. Are you glad your sins are not only covered but they are washed away? They are gone!
The Old Testament saints were unable to have their sins removed before Calvary. That’s why Ephesians tells us He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men, speaking of course about Jesus after His crucifixion descending into the lowest parts of hell and leading them to freedom.
The Veil speaks of the flesh and the body and the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
O/T. saints looked ahead in faith as we see in Hebrews chapter 11.even as we look back to Calvary. They by faith saw what He was going to do whereas we look to what He has done. However in saying that we know that according to Rev. 13:8 , He was slain from before the foundation of the world, so that in the mind of the Father He was already crucified.
There are four groups or companies of saints in heaven and they are all represented by the four and twenty elders that we find in Rev. ch 4:4
They do not cease to worship God through out eternity. They made it in because
Of the Veil being rent or torn in two. They are people who are redeemed and clothed in gold and grounded in redemption. These four and twenty elders represent the redeemed of all the ages and the scene is the time when all the redeemed are gathered where the Lamb is the only One found worthy to open the Book…the Blood has been shared and the Veil has been rent.
I said that there were four companies of believers who will be gathered, and the first company will be the Old Testament Saints. Acts 7:38
The church in the wilderness refers to the Israelites who came out of Egypt. They were under the Mosaic covenant right up until the Veil was rent in two. Their salvation as well as ours was and is totally dependent on the Lamb of God. He shed His blood for all men of all ages. As I said previously the 11th. Chapter of Hebrews is testimony to what He did in their lives. Read Hebrews 12:1,2.
The second group is the New Testament church Saints and that includes you and me, can you shout amen? Matt 16:16-16 -18. Read Col. 1:18-22
The third group would be the 144,000 Jewish church saints who have been martyred for their testimony. Look at Rev. 7:2-4 Also Rev. 14:1-3.
The fourth group is the Great Tribulation Saints. Rev 7:9-14. Rev 15:2-5
All four groups benefit from the Veil that was rent. Hebrews10:19,20We know undoubtedly that the Veil represents our Lord .Hebrews 10:19,20
Oh behold the Man of Sorrows Oh behold Him in plain view, for He is the Mighty Conqueror, since He rent the veil in two. John 14:6, “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” This scripture verse that I have just read is depicted in type to show us that Jesus is the real truth and life and the way and we will see this fulfilled in typology in the construction of the Gate, the Door and the Veil, and tonight(being the last night until next fall) we will confine our study to the Veil and if time permits perhaps a little review might be good as well.…The reason that I am starting with the Veil is the same reason that I started with the Holy of Holies…God came to us, not the other way round. He searched for me. In tenderness He sought me….when I was lost without hope, without God …He came to me. Why did He love me so? Why does He love you so? I’m glad He did. I’m glad He does tonight.
The Veil was a veil of separation between a holy God and unholy man. It hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place that was called the Holy of Holies in which was the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat Let’s look at the scriptural setting, the background…tonight’s text if you will and it is found in Ex. Ch. 26 verses 31-33 Exodus 26:31-33 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
31 “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. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.
Also look at Ex.ch. 36:35-38 Exodus 36:35-38 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim. 36 He made for it four pillars of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four sockets of silver for them. 37 He also made a screen for the tabernacle door, of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze.
The Veil was supported by four pillars consisting of acacia wood overlaid with gold and grounded in silver foundations. We won’t occupy our time tonight with the pillars but rather with the Veil which they support…that was their function, the meaning for their existence and we will see more as we study the Veil. However everything about this Tabernacle building has significance because every minute detail in one way or another points us to Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, so it is all significant, amen?
The Tabernacle was built after the pattern of the things in heaven That is why we look to Jesus Who is in heaven and came down from heaven to dwell among us.
There it is, in the book of Hebrews that we look for the interpretation of these truths regarding the Tabernacle. All other explanations have to line up with the one found in Hebrews.
The Veil was a veil of separation between a holy God and sinful man; it kept the O.T. saints of all ages from approaching God except for that once a year the high priest could go in to seek an atonement for the sins of the people and he would go there with the blood of an animal to offer upon the mercy seat in the hopes of having their sins covered up. That is what the word atonement means…it is an old testament word that means to “atone” or “cover up” After the Veil has been rent the word is “expiation” or “reconciliation” or “redemption” The blood of Jesus does not just “cover up” sin but rather takes it away. It fully reconciles a holy God with repentant sinners. David said in Psalm 32 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” That is Old Testament, however the truth is still the same because when Jesus came and went to the cross and made an atonement for sin it was not only covered but it was also washed away. Are you glad your sins are not only covered but they are washed away? They are gone!
The Old Testament saints were unable to have their sins removed before Calvary. That’s why Ephesians tells us He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men, speaking of course about Jesus after His crucifixion descending into the lowest parts of hell and leading them to freedom.
The Veil speaks of the flesh and the body and the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
O/T. saints looked ahead in faith as we see in Hebrews chapter 11.even as we look back to Calvary. They by faith saw what He was going to do whereas we look to what He has done. However in saying that we know that according to Rev. 13:8 , He was slain from before the foundation of the world, so that in the mind of the Father He was already crucified.
There are four groups or companies of saints in heaven and they are all represented by the four and twenty elders that we find in Rev. ch 4:4
They do not cease to worship God through out eternity. They made it in because
Of the Veil being rent or torn in two. They are people who are redeemed and clothed in gold and grounded in redemption. These four and twenty elders represent the redeemed of all the ages and the scene is the time when all the redeemed are gathered where the Lamb is the only One found worthy to open the Book…the Blood has been shared and the Veil has been rent.
I said that there were four companies of believers who will be gathered, and the first company will be the Old Testament Saints. Acts 7:38
The church in the wilderness refers to the Israelites who came out of Egypt. They were under the Mosaic covenant right up until the Veil was rent in two. Their salvation as well as ours was and is totally dependent on the Lamb of God. He shed His blood for all men of all ages. As I said previously the 11th. Chapter of Hebrews is testimony to what He did in their lives. Read Hebrews 12:1,2.
The second group is the New Testament church Saints and that includes you and me, can you shout amen? Matt 16:16-16 -18. Read Col. 1:18-22
The third group would be the 144,000 Jewish church saints who have been martyred for their testimony. Look at Rev. 7:2-4 Also Rev. 14:1-3.
The fourth group is the Great Tribulation Saints. Rev 7:9-14. Rev 15:2-5
All four groups benefit from the Veil that was rent. Hebrews10:19,20We know undoubtedly that the Veil represents our Lord .Hebrews 10:19,20
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Tabernacle Bars
The Tabernacle bars…Ex 26:26-29, May, 20, 2008
26 “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle,
27 “five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.
28 “The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end.
29 “You shall overlay the boards with gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold.
30 “ And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
Do you remember the little children’s chorus? :
“BUILDING UP THE TEMPLE?
That is what were talking about in these scriptures…building the tabernacle of God…and where does He abide today?
In the lives of His people, amen?
This is going to be good tonight! When I was looking at this material; these scriptures and especially this verse that says “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain
My heart sort of said …pitter patter …so lets get at ‘er
Let us consider the purpose of the bars tonight and see their parallel reflected in the N.T. and what they mean to you and I.
The bars consolidated or kept the whole as one. The boards already had two tenons that fit into the silver sockets and sort of clung to the foundation…they were fitly framed together…The nkjv puts it thusly in Eph. 2:21 “in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” Notice the word “grows” here…we are His temple but we are not instantly perfected are we? We grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord, can you say amen? Hallelujah! The whole building fitted together…Bezaleel fitted everything together…he saw to it that it was properly fitted..the Spirit does that as we yield to His will in our lives..and the next verse says “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” We are the dwelling place of God tonight! Some of you are thinking …right! I know him and he isn’t all that great …who does he think he is anyway? I’m a slow learner and therefore He is still working on me…have patience cause I’m going to make it by His grace.
The boards were fitly framed together but they still required strengthening in their lateral support. They needed to be kept from falling sideways. They had a relationship to the boards beside each other but not to the whole.
The boards are of no value to the temple as long as they remain individual boards just as stones are of no value to a building as long as they stay individual stones or in a rock pile. They must be drawn out and chosen by the mason and placed where he wills…isn’t this good?? Look at what Peter describes us as in 1 Peter 2:3-5. We offer up sacrifices…
It took specialized workmanship, called of God like Bezaleel was to place these “lively” stones into a temple for the Living God…it takes the Holy Spirit to work this in our lives and He uses specific ministries to accomplish His goals. He gives “gifts unto men” and I’m not talking about material things but I’m speaking about certain specific ministries that He places within the true church of the Living God.
Notice what verse 1-3 says here in 1Peter 2, “Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” We, in order to be a living stone must lay aside all malice…and we must lay aside all deceit, we must lay aside all hypocrisy, we must lay aside envy….and all evil speaking…I must daily put off the “old man and his deeds” I must daily “put on Christ” You have to choose to love someone…love is a choice and it must be unconditional to really be love. That is why there are so many broken homes today and we need to be on guard always, amen?
We will see as we go on in the ministry of the bars…
There were five bars on three walls each facing in a specific direction…nothing was haphazard, five northward, five southward, and five westward…the front had pillars for the gates…we’ll talk about them later, but not tonight. The walls had one center bar that went the entire length of the wall, the other four went halfway two above the center bar and two below. They were made from the acacia wood covered with gold…today we would call them poles. Each board had three gold rings, one in the middle, one halfway to the bottom and one halfway to the top.The poles were slid through the rings.
This made one solid steadfast wall. And yet it was portable. It had to be portable. Can you imagine the work involved in setting up and tearing down? When God says it is time to move on we had better be ready. We’d better know what is required of each one of us.
All the bars including the center one were made of wood and gold ,…let’s detail this picture of the wall:
Each board was cut from one individual tree, to say that in another way…each board was once a tree;
Each tree had to have its own personal cutting down..each one had to be severed as an individual tree;
In order for this to happen each one of them had to submit to the craftsmen’s axe. . Each tree had to have its branches cut off and be hewn into a board. Each board had to be individually clothed in gold. Each board had to have its hand grasped to the foundation.
However there is still more to be done before Gods plan can be finalized…they must come together as one wall, as one building for Gods’ dwelling place. Read those two verses from Eph. 5:21,22 “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirir” Gods’ habitation is you and I tonight.
So what is the meaning of the bars and rings that we read about in Ex? The answer is found in the fourth chapter of Eph. Verses 4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”
The rings were gold speaking of Diety…no humanity in pure gold. And what is the specific purpose? To keep the bars in place so that the bars can keep all the boards together as one body. Notice what it says here in Eph.
One Body.
One Spirit. One Lord.
One God…there is only one God and we call Him Jesus.!!!
Look at verses 8-10 of Eph. 4
Over in Isaiah ch.11 vs. 1-10 speaks of Jesus coming in power and He is referred to the rod of Jesse
This center rod of Jesse, humanity clothed with Diety, reaches from Eternity to Eternity, from God to earth and to Hell and back to God. Rev. 22:13, John 1: 1-3, Micah 5:2,
Each wall only has one long bar, it is the longest bar in the whole tabernacle and holds all the boards and bars together
The entire wall is held together by this bar.
Col. 1:17 – He is before all things and by Him all things consist
The word consist in the original is really saying – in Him all things have been permanently framed together
Col. 2:9-10, Rom. 8:35
These four bars – wood overlay with gold are kept in place by the three golden rings and these too have a ministry to the boards.
The boards are standing on the foundation but are maintained and are effective because of the center bar which is supplemented by the other four.
This is the ministry found in Eph. 4:11-16
We need to do the following –
To come into the unity of the faith
And the knowledge of the Son of God
Unto a perfect man
Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
And if we do that we will –
henceforth be no more children
Won’t be tossed to and fro
Carried about with every wind of doctrine
But we will speak the Word in truth
Grow up in Him in all things and the end result will be the whole fittly framed together
If we are grounded in His redemption, we have a sure foundation
We are the boards bound to one another by the center bar which is our Lord Jesus Christ- a sure foundation
When we are supported and ministered to by the four bars we surely are fittly framed together………. A habitation of God through the Spirit
26 “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle,
27 “five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.
28 “The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end.
29 “You shall overlay the boards with gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold.
30 “ And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
Do you remember the little children’s chorus? :
“BUILDING UP THE TEMPLE?
That is what were talking about in these scriptures…building the tabernacle of God…and where does He abide today?
In the lives of His people, amen?
This is going to be good tonight! When I was looking at this material; these scriptures and especially this verse that says “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain
My heart sort of said …pitter patter …so lets get at ‘er
Let us consider the purpose of the bars tonight and see their parallel reflected in the N.T. and what they mean to you and I.
The bars consolidated or kept the whole as one. The boards already had two tenons that fit into the silver sockets and sort of clung to the foundation…they were fitly framed together…The nkjv puts it thusly in Eph. 2:21 “in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” Notice the word “grows” here…we are His temple but we are not instantly perfected are we? We grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord, can you say amen? Hallelujah! The whole building fitted together…Bezaleel fitted everything together…he saw to it that it was properly fitted..the Spirit does that as we yield to His will in our lives..and the next verse says “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” We are the dwelling place of God tonight! Some of you are thinking …right! I know him and he isn’t all that great …who does he think he is anyway? I’m a slow learner and therefore He is still working on me…have patience cause I’m going to make it by His grace.
The boards were fitly framed together but they still required strengthening in their lateral support. They needed to be kept from falling sideways. They had a relationship to the boards beside each other but not to the whole.
The boards are of no value to the temple as long as they remain individual boards just as stones are of no value to a building as long as they stay individual stones or in a rock pile. They must be drawn out and chosen by the mason and placed where he wills…isn’t this good?? Look at what Peter describes us as in 1 Peter 2:3-5. We offer up sacrifices…
It took specialized workmanship, called of God like Bezaleel was to place these “lively” stones into a temple for the Living God…it takes the Holy Spirit to work this in our lives and He uses specific ministries to accomplish His goals. He gives “gifts unto men” and I’m not talking about material things but I’m speaking about certain specific ministries that He places within the true church of the Living God.
Notice what verse 1-3 says here in 1Peter 2, “Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” We, in order to be a living stone must lay aside all malice…and we must lay aside all deceit, we must lay aside all hypocrisy, we must lay aside envy….and all evil speaking…I must daily put off the “old man and his deeds” I must daily “put on Christ” You have to choose to love someone…love is a choice and it must be unconditional to really be love. That is why there are so many broken homes today and we need to be on guard always, amen?
We will see as we go on in the ministry of the bars…
There were five bars on three walls each facing in a specific direction…nothing was haphazard, five northward, five southward, and five westward…the front had pillars for the gates…we’ll talk about them later, but not tonight. The walls had one center bar that went the entire length of the wall, the other four went halfway two above the center bar and two below. They were made from the acacia wood covered with gold…today we would call them poles. Each board had three gold rings, one in the middle, one halfway to the bottom and one halfway to the top.The poles were slid through the rings.
This made one solid steadfast wall. And yet it was portable. It had to be portable. Can you imagine the work involved in setting up and tearing down? When God says it is time to move on we had better be ready. We’d better know what is required of each one of us.
All the bars including the center one were made of wood and gold ,…let’s detail this picture of the wall:
Each board was cut from one individual tree, to say that in another way…each board was once a tree;
Each tree had to have its own personal cutting down..each one had to be severed as an individual tree;
In order for this to happen each one of them had to submit to the craftsmen’s axe. . Each tree had to have its branches cut off and be hewn into a board. Each board had to be individually clothed in gold. Each board had to have its hand grasped to the foundation.
However there is still more to be done before Gods plan can be finalized…they must come together as one wall, as one building for Gods’ dwelling place. Read those two verses from Eph. 5:21,22 “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirir” Gods’ habitation is you and I tonight.
So what is the meaning of the bars and rings that we read about in Ex? The answer is found in the fourth chapter of Eph. Verses 4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”
The rings were gold speaking of Diety…no humanity in pure gold. And what is the specific purpose? To keep the bars in place so that the bars can keep all the boards together as one body. Notice what it says here in Eph.
One Body.
One Spirit. One Lord.
One God…there is only one God and we call Him Jesus.!!!
Look at verses 8-10 of Eph. 4
Over in Isaiah ch.11 vs. 1-10 speaks of Jesus coming in power and He is referred to the rod of Jesse
This center rod of Jesse, humanity clothed with Diety, reaches from Eternity to Eternity, from God to earth and to Hell and back to God. Rev. 22:13, John 1: 1-3, Micah 5:2,
Each wall only has one long bar, it is the longest bar in the whole tabernacle and holds all the boards and bars together
The entire wall is held together by this bar.
Col. 1:17 – He is before all things and by Him all things consist
The word consist in the original is really saying – in Him all things have been permanently framed together
Col. 2:9-10, Rom. 8:35
These four bars – wood overlay with gold are kept in place by the three golden rings and these too have a ministry to the boards.
The boards are standing on the foundation but are maintained and are effective because of the center bar which is supplemented by the other four.
This is the ministry found in Eph. 4:11-16
We need to do the following –
To come into the unity of the faith
And the knowledge of the Son of God
Unto a perfect man
Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
And if we do that we will –
henceforth be no more children
Won’t be tossed to and fro
Carried about with every wind of doctrine
But we will speak the Word in truth
Grow up in Him in all things and the end result will be the whole fittly framed together
If we are grounded in His redemption, we have a sure foundation
We are the boards bound to one another by the center bar which is our Lord Jesus Christ- a sure foundation
When we are supported and ministered to by the four bars we surely are fittly framed together………. A habitation of God through the Spirit
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Tabernacle Boards/ part two
Boards part two
Yes the angels desire to look into this glorious gospel of salvation (read 1 Peter 1:12 “things which angels desire to look into” in fact read the entire chapter. We see also that the Old Testament prophets who prophesied these things also searched diligently and carefully concerning the grace of God and all the things that pertained to salvation. Isn’t this a great truth? Getting back to the boards; #1 they were cut from the acacia wood trees. #2 they were clothed or covered, overlaid if you will with gold, indicating the presenc e of Diety. This is the Church.
These trees had to be cut down. In Ex. Chapter 35 verses 30 through 35 we see the call of God on a man by the name of Bezaleel, (and we will have one lesson at least at a later date devoted to him, Lord willing). He was called by God for this great work, and I only mention him to bring forth a point that is pertinent to our study tonight. As we shall see later in our study on the Tabernacle, Bezaleel was a type of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit at work in our lives that makes us and molds us into the vessels that God wants us to be, molded and shapen in His image.. It was Bezaleel who went out and found the trees and looked them over and tapped them for soundness and measured them to see if they came up to the specific measure that God said they were to be: remember what He said to Moses? “See that you make it according to all that I show you.” Everything had to be like the pattern God had given Moses when he was on the mountain. Every size and every detail no exceptions…no substitutes. And Bezaleel represents the Holy Spirit as He tests the hearts of men and calls them unto Himself. Do you believe this Word tonight?
Can you picture in your mind’s eye Bezaleel walking through the groves of acacia wood trees looking for those trees that could provide a board destined or predestined if you will for a board fit for the Master’s use…fit for a place in the Tabernacle? They all looked knotty and crooked and from the outward appearance not fit for the building of the Tabernacle. But Bezaleel, like only the Spirit can see, could see a board that would fit in the Tabernacle wall. The Spirit tests us for soundness, He measures us for size, He looks at our inner man and says, “cut that one down .” Much work will be required with the axe and saw and adze or whatever they used back there, yes much work before these trees could become logs and further work before they would become boards covered with gold to be fitly framed together in the construction of the Tabernacle. The house of God…today God does not dwell in a temple made with hands but He dwells within those who have been washed in the Blood of the precious Lamb of God.
Continued later
Yes the angels desire to look into this glorious gospel of salvation (read 1 Peter 1:12 “things which angels desire to look into” in fact read the entire chapter. We see also that the Old Testament prophets who prophesied these things also searched diligently and carefully concerning the grace of God and all the things that pertained to salvation. Isn’t this a great truth? Getting back to the boards; #1 they were cut from the acacia wood trees. #2 they were clothed or covered, overlaid if you will with gold, indicating the presenc e of Diety. This is the Church.
These trees had to be cut down. In Ex. Chapter 35 verses 30 through 35 we see the call of God on a man by the name of Bezaleel, (and we will have one lesson at least at a later date devoted to him, Lord willing). He was called by God for this great work, and I only mention him to bring forth a point that is pertinent to our study tonight. As we shall see later in our study on the Tabernacle, Bezaleel was a type of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit at work in our lives that makes us and molds us into the vessels that God wants us to be, molded and shapen in His image.. It was Bezaleel who went out and found the trees and looked them over and tapped them for soundness and measured them to see if they came up to the specific measure that God said they were to be: remember what He said to Moses? “See that you make it according to all that I show you.” Everything had to be like the pattern God had given Moses when he was on the mountain. Every size and every detail no exceptions…no substitutes. And Bezaleel represents the Holy Spirit as He tests the hearts of men and calls them unto Himself. Do you believe this Word tonight?
Can you picture in your mind’s eye Bezaleel walking through the groves of acacia wood trees looking for those trees that could provide a board destined or predestined if you will for a board fit for the Master’s use…fit for a place in the Tabernacle? They all looked knotty and crooked and from the outward appearance not fit for the building of the Tabernacle. But Bezaleel, like only the Spirit can see, could see a board that would fit in the Tabernacle wall. The Spirit tests us for soundness, He measures us for size, He looks at our inner man and says, “cut that one down .” Much work will be required with the axe and saw and adze or whatever they used back there, yes much work before these trees could become logs and further work before they would become boards covered with gold to be fitly framed together in the construction of the Tabernacle. The house of God…today God does not dwell in a temple made with hands but He dwells within those who have been washed in the Blood of the precious Lamb of God.
Continued later
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Tabernacle Boards/ part 1
The scripture text is found in Ex. 23 vs 15: “ And for the Tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood. “ Also you should read vvs. 16-25 of this same chapter.
In the study of the Tabernacle in the wilderness we need to look at the construction and the first part after we have examined the sockets of silver which are the foundation (and we have already done so) are the boards.
As we have seen in these verses (you need to read the scripture text verses that I gave you, if you haven’t already done so) we see here a clear picture , a type if you will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and His church. Refer to my blog at www.moreaboutHisWord.blogspot.com for a series on the Church. Also in that blog there is one by Naida called “The Hand of God.” Well worth checking out as well. We can see the mighty Hand of God revealed in these scripture verses that I have just referred you to. So it’s important that you read all of them…and there is more. So we will take a look at the Church that is represented in these gold covered boards.
The boards were set in the silver foundations and while some may say that this is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ…that the church is not overlaid with gold, and we have proven that gold represents Deity, yet we have seen in our last study that the silver foundation represents the Blood of Christ and the church is built on this foundation…the Blood of Christ, amen? Paul says in 1 Cor. 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
So I am saying that these boards at least in this context represent the church which shows forth the glory of God which in turn is represented by the gold covering on the boards. “Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle…washed in the Blood of the Lamb.” What makes the Church glorious? Is it not from Him who loved us and gave Himself for us? Christ was not forced to give His life…He gave Himself willingly and gladly. What do we do willingly and gladly for Him? The glory in the Church certainly does not originate with you or I now, does it? The Church is clothed in His glory…in His righteousness, His and His alone.
Let us examine these boards more thoroughly and firstly we see that they were cut from the same kind of trees that the Ark, the Table of Shewbread, the Alter of Incense and the Brazen Alter were. They came from the acacia wood tree…like Jesus, they typify humanity. Some might ask, “was Jesus typical of humanity…isn’t He God? The answer in both cases of course is YES!! He is both God and Man…the Bible says “the Man Christ Jesus.” Thomas after seeing Him in the room where He invited him to touch Him, declared “my Lord and my God”
Yes He is a perfect man and He is the perfect God, however His salvation that He offers us and we receive by faith is not to any avail based on His perfect life, but rather on His shed Blood.
How can you say such a thing, you might ask? If Jesus had not died and shed His own blood on the cross…if He had just come down to earth and lived the good, holy life that He did and then went back to heaven and the Father, then we would not be saved tonight. There would be no remission of sin had He not shed His blood. The Apostle Peter tells us in chapter 1 and verse 12 that the angels of heaven desire to look into these truths. One writer puts it …”they desire to stretch their necks to look in to salvation’s redemptive plan. It was not designed for them but rather for a sinner like me; one who can’t even live for God in my own strength; one who deserved hell in all of its horror…angels would like to know what it feels like to be forgiven!
To be continued…
In the study of the Tabernacle in the wilderness we need to look at the construction and the first part after we have examined the sockets of silver which are the foundation (and we have already done so) are the boards.
As we have seen in these verses (you need to read the scripture text verses that I gave you, if you haven’t already done so) we see here a clear picture , a type if you will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and His church. Refer to my blog at www.moreaboutHisWord.blogspot.com for a series on the Church. Also in that blog there is one by Naida called “The Hand of God.” Well worth checking out as well. We can see the mighty Hand of God revealed in these scripture verses that I have just referred you to. So it’s important that you read all of them…and there is more. So we will take a look at the Church that is represented in these gold covered boards.
The boards were set in the silver foundations and while some may say that this is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ…that the church is not overlaid with gold, and we have proven that gold represents Deity, yet we have seen in our last study that the silver foundation represents the Blood of Christ and the church is built on this foundation…the Blood of Christ, amen? Paul says in 1 Cor. 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
So I am saying that these boards at least in this context represent the church which shows forth the glory of God which in turn is represented by the gold covering on the boards. “Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle…washed in the Blood of the Lamb.” What makes the Church glorious? Is it not from Him who loved us and gave Himself for us? Christ was not forced to give His life…He gave Himself willingly and gladly. What do we do willingly and gladly for Him? The glory in the Church certainly does not originate with you or I now, does it? The Church is clothed in His glory…in His righteousness, His and His alone.
Let us examine these boards more thoroughly and firstly we see that they were cut from the same kind of trees that the Ark, the Table of Shewbread, the Alter of Incense and the Brazen Alter were. They came from the acacia wood tree…like Jesus, they typify humanity. Some might ask, “was Jesus typical of humanity…isn’t He God? The answer in both cases of course is YES!! He is both God and Man…the Bible says “the Man Christ Jesus.” Thomas after seeing Him in the room where He invited him to touch Him, declared “my Lord and my God”
Yes He is a perfect man and He is the perfect God, however His salvation that He offers us and we receive by faith is not to any avail based on His perfect life, but rather on His shed Blood.
How can you say such a thing, you might ask? If Jesus had not died and shed His own blood on the cross…if He had just come down to earth and lived the good, holy life that He did and then went back to heaven and the Father, then we would not be saved tonight. There would be no remission of sin had He not shed His blood. The Apostle Peter tells us in chapter 1 and verse 12 that the angels of heaven desire to look into these truths. One writer puts it …”they desire to stretch their necks to look in to salvation’s redemptive plan. It was not designed for them but rather for a sinner like me; one who can’t even live for God in my own strength; one who deserved hell in all of its horror…angels would like to know what it feels like to be forgiven!
To be continued…
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