The Sanctuary, Why?

Burst through door.

Pillow Case

“Put it in!”

Library

A bank robber in Los Angeles told the clerk not to give him cash, but to deposit the money to his checking account.

SDA’s have 28 Fundamental Beliefs

Among those

the doctrine that is

attacked most is

Sanctuary.

It is the only teaching

uniquely SDA.

Many offshoot SDA Groups

because of Sanctuary.

Most complex teaching.

Important we understand it.

Great Controversy Chapter 24—In the Holy of Holies

The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people.

Great Controversy Chapter 28—Facing Life’s Record

The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest.

Evangelism The Foundation of Our Faith

The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is the foundation of our faith.

We need to study it.

This is the first installment

in a series.

First sermon, obviously,

introductory...

God brought people

out of Egypt.

But was harder

to bring Egypt

out of the people.

Many people follow God

because they saw his power.

But they don’t really

know how to worship him.

So God has them stop

and live at Mount Sinai

for a year to educate them.

Part of this was

the 10 Commandments.

Be that was not all

that he received

at the top of mount Sinai.

He also received

a lot of instructions

about how to build

the sanctuary.

As part of the Israelites re-education

about what it means

to serve Him,

He showed himself

through the sanctuary.

Exodus 25:8–9 ESV

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Notice a few things

about this passage.

Why does he want

a sanctuary built?

So God can dwell

among His people.

The sanctuary achieves that

in some way.

He says to make it

according to the pattern.

Now, if something has

a pattern,

that must mean,

there is an original.

Hebrews 9:23–24 ESV

Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Rest of Exodus,

God gives instruction

about the sanctuary.

They are very precise.

Everything from

how to build the ark

to how to blend the anointing oil

for the High Priest.

What was God trying

to teach through the sanctuary?

Psalm 77:13 ESV

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?

The Bible says that God’s way

is in the sanctuary.

What does that mean?

A way is a

path,

journey,

direction,

or plan.

The sanctuary is

a series of symbols

that outlines God’s

plan of Salvation.

So let’s take that journey

together to see

what we can learn

from the sanctuary.

Layout

Framework of Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is broken up into 3 parts.

Courtyard

Holy Place

Most Holy Place

In the courtyard is:

Altar of Burnt Offering

Laver

In the Holy Place

Table of Show Bread

Seven Branch Candlestick

Altar of Incense

In the Most Holy Place:

Ark of the Covenant

Salvation Part 1

The Courtyard

first thing

Altar of Burnt Offering.

Sinner comes with Sacrifice

Places hands on head

cuts throat

leaves.

In the daily service,

that is all the sinner does.

Most Christians stop here!

On his first assignment for a Chicago newspaper, a rookie reporter drove a company car to a car-crushing plant, parked in the wrong spot, and returned from interviewing the manager just in time to see the vehicle being compacted into scrap metal.

Priest does everything else.

We are the sinner

Jesus is the priest

Priest

washes at laver

Takes bowl of blood

Puts on altar of burnt offering

Brings inside holy place

Puts on altar their

Throws at Curtain

This all represents

what Jesus does

in the process of

cleansing us from sin.

Most Christians

are only aware of,

what happens in courtyard.

They don't know

what happens next.

what Jesus does for us.

Other Christians Stop Here.

Salvation Part 2

What is Christ doing?

Holy Place explains...

Jesus doing a lot of work

in sanctuary each day.

Forgiveness of sins is not just

an accomplished fact,

it is a continual present.

Jesus is dealing

with sin every day

in the heavenly sanctuary.

Sanctuary teaches us

the plan of salvation.

In the sanctuary,

we see a plan of salvation.

First altar of burnt offering,

where we meet Jesus

desire forgiveness for sin.

Leads us to laver

When we see

what Jesus has done,

we want to commit

to him.

This is a symbol of baptism

a cleansing.

Next we enter the holy place

Greeted by Table of Show Bread

Represents God’s word

Jesus ministers to us

through Bible study.

Then you see,

seven-branch candlestick.

Powered by oil

= Holy Spirit

Light shining forth

= truth of Jesus

Next see,

Altar of Incense.

Rev Says:

Revelation 5:8 ESV

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Story does not end

in the courtyard.

As we see what Jesus

has done for us.

We say the sinners prayer,

we commit to Him.

The Holy Place explains

how to do that.

Through

Bible study

Prayer

indwelling of Holy Spirit

Other Christians Stop here.

When a drum major tossed his baton in Ventura, California, it hit two 4000-volt power lines, blacking out a ten-block area and putting a radio station off the air. The baton melted.

But even this

is not the end

of what it means

to be Christian

We still have to talk

about one more room.

Most Holy Place.

Here is where,

we find the pinnacle

of what it means

to be a Christian.

But we will have to save that

for the next sermon.

While visiting in West Berlin I stopped at Kennedy Platz, the site of President John F. Kennedy's famous speech. The tour guide was recalling the climax of that impassioned address -- the part when the President paused and then cried, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" The crowd that day in 1963 was swept up in the emotion of his words and ignored their meaning until later.

Kennedy had wanted to say, "Ich bin Berliner!"

"I am a Berliner!"

But what he actually said was,

"Ich bin ein Berliner!"

"I am a jelly doughnut!" 

Summary

For today,

main points:

Sanctuary explains

plan of salvation.

It outlines complete

Christian Journey.

Jesus is the lamb.

He died.

Jesus is the Priest.

He intercedes.

The historian Xenophon states, that when Cyrus had taken captives including a young prince of Armenia with his young and beautiful wife, of whom he was remarkably fond, they were brought before the tribunal of Cyrus to receive their sentence. The warrior inquired of the prince what he would give to be reinstated in his kingdom; and he replied, that he valued his crown and his liberty at a very low rate, but that if the noble conqueror would restore his beloved wife to her former dignity and possessions, he would willingly pay his life for the purchase. The prisoners were dismissed, to enjoy their freedom and former honors; and each was lavish in praises of the conqueror.

“And you,” said the prince, addressing his wife, “what did you think of Cyrus?”

“I did not observe him,” she replied.

“Not observe him!” exclaimed her husband, “upon whom, then, was your attention fixed?”

“Upon that dear and generous man,” she replied, “who declared his readiness to purchase my liberty at the expense of his life.”

When you see

depth of sacrifice

other steps

are natural!

You want

cleansing

study

prayer

indwelling

most holy place

Appeal

Don’t stop with the altar

experience cleansing

experience the word

experience indwelling

experience prayer

keep growing

relationship

Experience Most Holy Place