Entering the Presence of God (2)

Welcome

God is real. God is great. God is good.

He loves you and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or imagine.

6th Open Air Service

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Text:

MV. 25.8

Exodus 25:8–9 ESV

8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

O taste and see

We are invited to enter the Presence of God, to experience God.

Eden

Israel - after deliverance from bondage, Moses instructed to build tabernacle

Tabernacle

-a tent in a courtyard, bordered by a fence. [2 slides]

Place where Israel went to worship.

the very centre of Israel [slide of T in centre]

all had access to outer court, priests to Holy Place but only HP to HOH.

As we follow the flow of the worshiper from the outer court to the HOH where the Shekinah glory of God dwelt, we understand the steps God has set for us to experience His Presence.

1. The Brazen Altar

a wooden box of acacia wood, covered with bronze where sacrifices were offered

sin, burnt, peace,

blood was shed

place of Atonement - sin is covered

without the shedding of blood

Jn 1.29

1 Jn. 1.7 the blood of Jesus cleanses

2. The Brazen Laver

A large basin made from metal mirrors, unknown dimensions

Filled with water. Priests will wash hands and feet before entering the Holy Place.

Speaks of sanctification - cleansing

After salvation, we enter into a lifelong process of sanctification = cooperating with the HS, the Word to become more holy.

The call of God is first to be holy, then you will be happy.

You cannot be happy, joyful if your soul is weighed down by sin and shame.

The pleasure of sin is only for a season.

then we go into the sanctuary

3. The Table of Shewbread

The table was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.

In the Holy Place, northside, before the curtain.

12 loaves of bread, replaced every Sabbath.

Fellowship

Jesus is the Bread of heaven.

We must have fellowship with God daily.

The great sin of the church is our lack of fellowship with God.

God is calling us to Step it up. Consecrate yourself to Me. Give Me your life!

Draw near to God.

4. The Golden Lampstand

described in Ex. 25.31-40

English Standard Version Chapter 25

31 “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold.

a lampstand with a base, a stem and three branches on either side.

Leviticus 24:1–4 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. 3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4 He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly.

What can we know about the Lampstand?

It was the only source of light in the Holy Place

Oil was necessary to keep it burning. Oil is symbolic of the HS.

The priests will be instructed to keep it burning regularly

What does it signify?

John 8:12 ESV

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.”

John 9:5 ESV

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

For us to enter the Presence of God, we not only have fellowship with Jesus, but follow Him as the Light of the World.

We need spiritual illumination, spiritual enlightenment.

Electricity

When night falls, our homes and city streets are lit up by electricity coming from a mix nuclear, hydroelectric, coal, natural gas and wind.

Things may be bright physically yet the world is in spiritual darkness.

People claim spirituality without realizing that what they have is spiritual deception.

That’s why John says “test the spirits.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Not all the words, phrases and statements about the non-material or non-physical are true.

I believe in ‘karma’: what happens to a person, happens because they caused it with their actions.

Implication is there is some impersonal force of the universe that imparts consequences for our actions.

actually - The God who created the universe is the Judge and Rewarder.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We need spiritual discernment - that comes from the HS and the Bible.

Ephesians 1:17–18 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

With so much lies and deception in the world today, we desperately need wisdom, enlightenment, discernment, revelation of truth.

spiritual leaders

political leaders

news media

social media

Truth is determined by popular vote.

Matthew 7:13 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

What does God say?

I can understand the world falling into the trap of Satan, with his lies and deception.

But the church? People who say they follow JC?

There are certain disputable matters - In Bible times - eating meat offered to idols etc.

However, there are many areas which are not open to our preferences.

Justice

Love for all mankind regardless of color, country, religion or political persuasion.

Abortion is not up for debate

God’s standard for sex is not up for debate.

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

Respect for each other is not up for debate.

Love, forgiveness - they are not up for debate.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

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

As a Christian, walk in the light of God’s Word.

5. The Golden Altar

Exodus 30:1 ESV

1 “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.

English Standard Version Chapter 30

3 You shall overlay it with pure gold,

Incense: An aromatic substance consisting of various gums, spices, and scented woods that produce a fragrant smoke when burned.

People of every age have loved fragrant odors.

The altar for burning incense is similar in construction to the altar for burnt offering but smaller

18 inches square and 3 ft high

overlaid with pure gold

placed in front of the veil

Exodus 30:6–8 ESV

6 And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, 8 and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.

What does this represent?

Burning incense represents intercessory prayer

Revelation 5:8 ESV

8 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.

Psalm 141:2 ESV

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Prayer and worship are vital to us.

It is the spiritual oxygen

Men ought always to pray.

Pray without ceasing

Be fervent in prayer

English Standard Version Chapter 6

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication

In the book of Acts

English Standard Version Chapter 1

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer

We are living in desperate times and it calls for a renewed emphasis in our lives on prayer.

In Acts 12 , we read a powerful story on prayer

Acts 12:1–8 ESV

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

Are you in prayer?

Conc.

You and I have this awesome privilege to come into the presence of God.

I encourage today to begin to Practice the Presence of God in your life.

Wait on Him in His Word, prayer, worship, fellowship.

It will empower your life life nothing other.

You will say like the Psalmist, “My help comes from the Lord.”