Notes and message preached on the tabernacle. Takes a journey through the tabernacle.
Note: Thanks to Doug Small and Pastor Chuck from New Hope at newhope-ag.com
Title: Taking His Presence into all the World
Theme:
Text: Exodus 19:4-6 , Deuteronomy 10:8
Introduction - Review
Well we are in our last message on the tabernacle. God has taken us on a wonderful journey as we have seen the worship and grace of God. It all began when we entered into the sanctuary through the gates of praise. In this we recognized who he is. Praise and worship allows us to get our mind on Christ.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4.
From there we come into the courts. Here we saw the brazen altar. The picture of sacrifce. This sacrifice is of Christ.
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
From there we see the brazen laver where we make this definite decision not to be ruled by sin. It was on thing to be forgiven of sin but now we are not to be ruled by or given into sin.
This prepares us for the next step. In this step is our growth. Inside the Holy Place we see symbolisms of light (the lampstand) and food (the bread) and aroma (the altar of incense). We are reminded of how God works in us after we have received him. The Holy Spirit illumines our lives. He shows us and teaches us. From salvation to the filling of His Spirit. We learn of the fruit and the gifts of the spirit. In His word we learn of sustenance and long term. The balance of spirit and truth. Then we learn of fellowship with God by the incense of prayer. We are in this all the way. We are connected.
Now as we walk in his way and purpose we get to join in true fellowship and relationship with God. We go into the Holy of Holies. Here is the presence, the power of the altar. We learn of leadership (rod), provision (manna) and trust (10 commandments). Most of all we see the glory of God, He rests in us.
So what do we do now? For many (I may even say most) they are satisfied "just to arrive". They get so caught up in the journey they miss what God is trying to get for them.
The church has been hypnotized by hundreds of years second hand regurgitated food. Years of been spoon fed and under nourished. it is time we beat our spoons into swords and be the army that God has called us to be.
Most of you don't need another Bible Study. You don't need another sermon. You need a call to action to take what you have learned into all the world.
There is an interesting piece of scripture found in Exodus 19:4-6
Exodus 19:4-6 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. (5) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. (6) And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
This is the true identity and purpose of Israel. Never to be a nation who had priests but to be the priests.
If we don't know who we are and what our purpose is then will give in to every little truth.
You are not who the devil tells you you are.
God's original intention. What stopped the nation from being priests, God's representatives? Idolatry - the golden calf.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you--
Who are you? I AM A PRIEST
"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple" (Ps. 27:4, NKJV).
3 Purposes of the Priest
Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.
I. Carry the Presence of God - Deut 10
Only the priests could carry the ark of the covenant.
David did it the wrong way by carrying the presence on the cart not the priests.
Ark of the covenant represented the manifested presence of the God. The beauty.
Blessing. Power. Authority of God.
Today God has sent his spirit upon us that we might carry the spirit wherever we go. We get to host his presence.
You don't' come to church to meet with God. He is in you.
II. Minister to God - Deut 10:8
Stood before the Lord to minister.
"lutreo" to minister to God.
Worship was never meant for the entertainment of man. It was for God.
He inhabits the praises of His people. It is about God.
If God is not here then things don't happen. Healings don't happen, the captives is not set free. We want God to be here. His presence and His power.
David listened to God, Saul disobeyed God. I had to do something, they were getting restless.
Priests work for God not for others.
To "minister to the Lord" is to worship him alone in all that you do. So, in essence, any ministry that is directed towards others without first being directed towards God is idolatry. There is a passage in Ezekiel 44 that describes two types of Levites (those who were in charge of taking care of the Jewish Temple - the place of worship). One group was ministering to the temple - that is, they were upholding religious practices while worshiping idols in their hearts. The other group was ministering directly to the Lord, honoring him as holy and obeying him with their hearts. Concerning the first group, God says, "[Y]ou brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant" (v. 7, NIV). Even though they made offerings to God, he didn't accept them, because they were being hypocritical by not glorifying God with their whole lives.
Concerning the latter, God says, "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood," declares the Lord GOD." (v. 15, NASB)
III. Take the Presence to the World - bless baw-rak
Bless - God bless you
Bless him Lord
Biblical blessings catalyzed destiny in peoples life. Catalyst sets forth something. Sets forth destiny.
authentic word of blessing never leaves someone where they found them.
Numbers 6 Blessing
Numbers 6 Blessing
Numbers 6:23-26 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: (24) "The Lord bless you and keep you; (25) The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; (26) The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '
In this we see: destiny, protection, glory, unmerited favor, peace that passes understanding no matter what we face.
Identity will determine function.
Until you know who you are you don't know what to do.
Heart of worship, Jesus proved that I am of value to God. I serve because he is also value to me. Religion teaches that our function determines our worth and identity. I do so I am.
Identity says I am a follower of God.
Identifiers
1. How God sees us (we are righteous by Christ)He values us, we can serve his heart.
2.
Exodus 19:4-6
Deuteronomy 11:13-15 'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, (14) then I [14] will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. (15) And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.'
TAKING HIS PRESENCE INTO THE WORLD
We have made our trip from the outer gate, into the most holy place. When we started our journey, we were sinners, aliens from his presence. Now, we are sons.
In the most holy place, we found "home." Now, we can never be comfortable in our tents, no matter how lavish - not after we have sat with God in his tent. In his presence, we were earthbound in body, but our spirit touched heaven. We realize, that deep inside us, we have a longing now for another world. Only our bodies are at home here! Yet, he has chosen to leave us here. So, we will live in transit between his tent and our tent, between heaven and earth, between the most holy place of his presence and the most unholy world.
Taking the holy place into an Unholy World!
As we leave the most holy place, we do so conscious of the fact that we are missionaries to our world. As we were touched by each piece of furniture in preparation for his presence, we are now touched by each piece of furniture in preparation for his service.
We take with us,
- The GLOW OF HIS GLORY out of the most holy place.
- The CONCEPTS of his COVENANTS from the ark: the ROD of spiritual authority; the TABLETS of liberty through righteousness; the BREAD of provision by faith.
- The FRAGRANCE of his PRESENCE from the altar of incense, evidence that we have been with him.
- FRUIT and FIRE - the Ministry of the Spirit.
- FRESH BREAD for a hungry world from the table.
- CLEAN HANDS and a PURE HEART from the laver.
- A Sacrificial commitment to be his agents in the earth from the altar!
He has called us to be burden bearers of his glory! May he touch through our touching, speak through our speaking, love through our loving, and care through our caring.
