Worship... The Ark of the Covenant

Worship… The Ark of the Covenant Worship is an attitude that motivates every action of our life The Tabernacle is a journey of our growing relationship wth God “Worship is an attitude that motivates every action of our life. When I am a worshipper, my life becomes worship. That means if I live a life of praise and gratitude (the gate) I am able to life a life of submission and sacrifice because of His cross (altar of sacrifice). That prepares me to live a life that is constantly washed and beautified in the word of God (laver). And that prepares me to live a life of communion and intimacy with God (table of showbread)…. “…Out of that comes the filling and refilling of the Spirit, which enables me to have His character for life and His power for living (Lampstand). Out of that comes the inspiration, impetus, and passion to intercede for the world I live in—to connect this spiritually impoverished world with the God that has riches (altar of incense) .” Zach Neese The Tabernacle is more about becoming, than doing. Significance of the veil “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side. Exodus 26:31-35 No light, but the glory of God No one ever saw the ark uncovered! Entered only on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest, but first incense was burned to shield the priest Contents of the Ark Aaron’s rod that budded representing the firstfruits of life from the dead – Christ’s resurrection The manna representing God’s provision through Christ, the Bread of Life The Ten Commandments representing the character of God’s holiness What happened to the ark? “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Mal.3:1 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Mt. 27:50-51 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter qthe holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have such a great priest over the house of God, 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. Heb.10:19-22 What is the cross? • The pinnacle of God’s self disclosure- not of power, but of self giving • A God who would rather die, than destroy His enemies For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom.5:8 What is the cross? • Divine identity with human suffering Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same Heb.2:14a …with his wounds we are healed. Isa.53:5 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) Daniel 7 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Rev.21:1 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ Herod… “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; Mt.2:2-3 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ The Pharisees… Jn.11:47-53 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ Pilate…Are you the king of the Jews? …“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. ➢ Jn.19:33,36-37 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ The Priests… They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Jn.19:15 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ The People… “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:22-23 What is the cross? • The shaming and defeat of the principalities and powers ( a primary theme within the gospels) ➢ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jn.14:26-27 ➢ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me Jn.14:30 And when he (Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Jn.16:8-11 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Jn.27:41-43 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Luke 11-20-22 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Luke 4:5-7 The Cross And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Mt.28:18 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col.1:12-14 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Col.2:15 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. Heb.10:12-13 The mercy seat is not just the seat of God’s glory on earth; it is the seat of His government on earth Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb.2:14-15 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s. I Jn.2:1-2 (The Message) And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:15-20 Jesus launched A new movement A new covenant A new commandment