01 God with Us in the Wilderness

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review: God now dwells in His people 

WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS MESSAGE IS BEING SHARED / WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THIS MESSAGE IS ANSWERING?…

BIG IDEA FOR TODAY: God designed the tabernacle to show His desire to dwell with His people.

Every piece of the tabernacle pointed forward to the fullness of God’s presence in Jesus.

WHAT IS THE PICTURE OR ILLUSTRATION FOR THIS BIG IDEA?

Opening Scripture:

The Deep Need: God’s People Lost Without Presence

Israel had deliverance but needed nearness.

The tabernacle is God’s answer to our longing: “I will dwell among them.”

The Elements of the Tabernacle Pointing Forward to Jesus:

1. The Bronze Altar: Atonement

Exodus 27:1–8 — Construction of the altar

Exodus 29:38–46 — Daily burnt offerings for atonement

John 1:29 “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Hebrews 9:12–14 — Jesus’ blood makes final atonement.

Ephesians 5:2 — Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice.

Connection: Entrance into God’s presence began with sacrifice → fulfilled perfectly in Christ.

2. The Bronze Basin: Cleansing

Exodus 30:17–21 — Priests must wash hands and feet before serving.

Exodus 38:8 — Basin constructed from the mirrors of the ministering women.

John 15:3 “3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”  

Ephesians 5:26 “26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”  

1 John 1:7, 9 — Cleansing through Christ.

Connection: Cleansing was required before worship/serving → Jesus cleanses us fully.

3. The Table of Bread: Provision

Exodus 25:23–30 — Instructions for the table and the Bread of the Presence.

Leviticus 24:5–9 — Bread continually before the Lord.

John 6:35 “35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

John 6:51 — The living bread that came down from heaven.

Connection: God provided bread before His face → Jesus becomes our living sustenance.

4. The Lampstand: Light

Exodus 25:31–40 — The golden lampstand.

Exodus 27:20–21 — Oil for continual light.

John 8:12 “12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

Revelation 1:12–13 — The risen Christ walks among the lampstands.

Connection: Light illuminated the Holy Place → Jesus is the light of the world and our lives.

5. The Altar of Incense: Intercession & Prayer

Exodus 30:1–10 — Instructions for incense and daily offerings.

Exodus 30:34–38 — Holy incense formula.

Hebrews 7:25 “25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Revelation 8:3–4 — Incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints.

Connection: Incense represents songs and prayer rising → Jesus is our Intercessor.

6. The Veil — Separation

Exodus 26:31–33 — Curtain separating Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 40:21 — Moses sets up the veil as commanded.

Matthew 27:50–51 — The veil torn from top to bottom when Jesus died.

Hebrews 10:19–22 “19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Connection: The veil kept sinful people from God → Jesus opens the way to God.

7. The Ark of the Covenant: Throne of God’s Presence

Exodus 25:10–22 — Ark, mercy seat, and the promise of God meeting with His people.

Numbers 7:89 — God speaks from above the mercy seat.

John 1:14 — The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.

Romans 3:25 “25 [Christ Jesus] whom God put forward as a propitiation [hilasterion] by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”  

Jesus is the “mercy seat” (hilasterion).

Colossians 2:9 — In Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily.

Connection: The ark was the meeting place → Jesus is now the ultimate meeting place.

The Glory Fills the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–38)

The cloud by day, fire by night.

God leads His people step by step.

God doesn’t stay still; His presence always moves toward His people.

Application:

We don’t serve a God who hides, we worship a God who moves toward us.

The tabernacle sets the stage for the greatest arrival in history.

Conclusion/Reflection:

The tabernacle is a whisper of Christmas — God choosing to dwell with us.

If God moved toward His people in the tabernacle, how is He calling me to move toward Him and toward others this week?

Talk It Over