Spiritual Pattern part 5

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire.

INTRODUCTION

Good evening, Southpointe!!! We are still in our study on the Spiritual pattern which we have been looking at the wilderness Tabernacle.

Last week, we ended and we just started getting into the Pillar.

I was talk about how The pillar was the visible evidence of the invisible God.

And How the Pillar Now to us as Christian, is how Jesus Christ is to us what the pillar was to Israel, the visible expression of the invisible God.

The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

This is what I want you to think about: The Wilderness Tabernacle was what concealed God’s Presence, then the temple came along, and then Christ came into the picture.

The glory was hid until the veil was rent, being the veil of His flesh, then the glory shone forth in the coming of the Holy Ghost.

Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released His spirit.

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,

and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.

They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

Then we became the temple for the Spirit of God to live in.

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

The Pillar was the guarantee of abundant supply.

The Israelite as long as that were abiding with the Pillar all their needs were met.

Think about the manna fell daily from heaven. The waters from the smitten rock followed the guiding pillar.

I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.

All of them ate the same spiritual food,

and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

God promises are there to those who abide in Him.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Presence of the Pillar meant protection.

At the red Sea the Pillar came between the Israelites and the Egyptians.

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

The Pillar delivered the children of Israel and brought destruction on the Egyptians.

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

The Lord looked through the Pillar and cause trouble for the Egyptians.

Just like God the Father looked through Christ and saved us. And God the Father is still looking Christ to protect and keep us.

Think about this the coming of Christ to the cross was like the pillar stand between us and our great enemy, sin.

The Pillar was a Shelter to Israel.

The Pillar was like one big umbrella overshadowing the whole camp.

The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

This pillar was a perfect example of the presence of Christ with the believers because we have this wonderful shade and comfort when the heat on, and the adversity trying to burn us out.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

The Lord is our shade, our shelter,. He shelters us sin and wrath by Jesus Blood.

We abide under the shadow of God.

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa_17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Psa_63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The Pillar was their guide.

In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD's command wherever He told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle

When the pillar moved they moved, when it rested they rested, if it was for a day or month or year, they just simply followed.

For them to go without the pillar was to go without God.

If they chose to do that then they would go without light, shelter, protection or provision and without the promise.

Without Christ we are without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I want you to understand that many people stop be glad and useful because they allow the pillar to go out of their sight. Christ is not in their vision anymore.

You see, to walk in the light is to keep in personal touch with Christ the Living God.

John writes in the book of John about Christ being the word.

So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

Now if we understand that Christ is the Living Word. Then we will have the knowledge about this:

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

The Word of God is a guiding lamp to our feet. A sure word.

When I say sure that means a lot.

Sure is Certain; unfailing; infallible.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Christ is the living Word and He is sure.

He is the One who becomes responsible for another. Christ is the surety of the better covenant.

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

In him we have the assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out

(Heb_7:22). In him we have the assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out

This bring me to the pins and cords in Tabernacle.

E All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,

The court and the Tabernacle were made secure by means of pins of brass and cords of linen. The same root word which is translated "pin" here, is translated "nail" in other places in the scripture.

These brass pins, or nails, are a symbol of Christ, for He was called a Nail.

And then I will call My servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah to replace you.

I will dress him in your royal robes and will give him your title and your authority. And he will be a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.

I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.

He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.

They will give him great responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family. "

But the LORD of Heaven's Armies also says: "The time will come when I will pull out the nail that seemed so firm. It will come out and fall to the ground. Everything it supports will fall with it. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Here Christ is spoken of as "a nail in a sure p1ace." He is reference to here as made to Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. The nature of this prophecy shows that it is made concerning Jesus.

Here Christ is spoken of as "a nail in a sure p1ace." The particular reference here is made to Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. The nature of the prophecy shows that it is made concerning Jesus. The name "Eliakim? means "raised up by God."

The name "Eliakim? means "raised up by God."

Now listen to this: let’s try to get a clear understanding: The key to the house of David is to be laid upon his shoulder.

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open:

Here the same statement is made concerning Jesus: "He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth."

This should be proof enough that Jesus is Eliakim, the One who was raised up by God to set upon His Father's throne.

The sure place where the Nail is to be fastened is the throne of David in Jerusalem, and all the glory of the Father's house will be hung upon Him.

Now look at

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

What I see here is that God Himself removed the sure nail. Which is Jesus Christ.

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.

God’s plan was not for them to take Christ’s life, but the Son of God would lay down His life.

Now, let’s look back at the pins, the nail. The pins were partly in the earth and partly out.

They drove the nail into the earth, half way, the other other half was in the air.

The cords were fastened to that part which was above the earth, but the ability of the pin to bear the weight of the house depended on its connection with the earth.

Do you see it? It signifies death and resurrection.

On Resurrection of Christ hangs all the glory of the Church. But this is the question: What would have been the value of His life if He had not been driven into the place of death, the earth?

Now we know Jesus died for our sins but He rose for our justification.

these pins were made of brass, they would not rust in rain or storm. They would stand any test. They show Christ to be One who was tested and tried. He suffered a three-fold temptation, but stood the test and overcame Satan. He was tested in the garden and on the cross, but fulfilled in every detail His glorious mission. Therefore, we can hang all our hopes upon Him. . As perfect as the pins were, if they had been left lying on top of the ground, they would have been useless. The fact that they were buried deep in the earth, made the structure secure. The sinlessness of Christ alone could never make the believer secure, but the fact that Christ died and was buried three days in the earth, and rose again causes our hopes of heaven to remain secure.

These pins were made of brass, they would not rust in rain or storm. They would stand any test. They show Christ to be One who was tested and tried. He suffered temptation, but stood the test and overcame Satan.

In verse 25 we read, "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off, for the Lord hath spoken it." Here we find pictured the Anti-Christ who will set himself up as God on Mount Zion, but being false, will be cut off. The true and abiding Nail will then occupy the sure place. Since these pins were made of brass, they would not rust in rain or storm. They would stand any test. They show Christ to be One who was tested and tried. He suffered a three-fold temptation, but stood the test and overcame Satan. He was tested in the garden and on the cross, but fulfilled in every detail His glorious mission. Therefore, we can hang all our hopes upon Him. . As perfect as the pins were, if they had been left lying on top of the ground, they would have been useless. The fact that they were buried deep in the earth, made the structure secure. The sinlessness of Christ alone could never make the believer secure, but the fact that Christ died and was buried three days in the earth, and rose again causes our hopes of heaven to remain secure.

He was tested in the garden and on the cross, but fulfilled in every detail His mission.

So we can hang all our hopes upon Him.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

As perfect as the pins were, if they had been left lying on top of the ground, they would have been useless. The fact that they were buried deep in the earth, made the structure secure.

The sinlessness of Christ alone could never make the believer secure, but the fact that Christ died and was buried three days in the earth, and rose again causes our hopes of heaven to remain secure.