INTRODUCTION:
The Mercy Seat was on top of the lid of the Ark of Covenant. It was described by
Martin Luther in his German Bible as the mercy seat because the Lord “sat” enthroned
over it in mercy, invisibly present where the wingtips of two cherubim met above it,
guarding the divine presence.
So the Ark represented for Israel the localized presence of God in judgment,
mercy, forgiveness, and love; and because it contained the Ten Commandments, it was
a visible reminder that their life was to be lived in obedience to the expressed will of
God.
The Showbread table (which we talked about last week) was in the Holy Place.
The Ark along with Mercy Seat was in the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place.
I. THE VEIL
The manifest presence of God is beyond the veil which separates the Holy Place
from the Most Holy Place. Only the High Priest could go into the Most Holy Place once
a year AND only with the blood.
Mark 15:38 ~ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
We have access to the Manifest Presence of God because the power of Jesus’ death,
BUT only with and through the power of Jesus’ Blood.
Jesus is our High Priest now.
**Hebrews 6:19,20 ~ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. I
enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us,
has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in order of
Melchizedek.
II. DANCING IN FRONT OF THE VEIL
Sometimes we get into the Holy Place and get to the Veil, BUT we are satisfied
with this. We don’t want to go any further. WHY? Several reasons come to my mind:
1. We are ONLY want the emotional high, not the life changing experience of God, 2.
We are AFRAID of going beyond where the veil was - we’re not sure what is in store
for us OR better yet was what God has in store for us.
Occasionally somebody accidentally falls past the veil and then comes back
with a wide-eyed stare. We get so overwhelmed with His Manifest Presence we can’t
handle it. One of the reasons is sin.
I believe we can go into the Holy Place (a little bit of His Manifest Presence) with
sin in our lives, BUT not into the Holy of Holies. The High Priest had to prepare
himself for a period of time with ceremonial washing. He, and what he wore, had to
pure before entering.
One reason we like to linger in the anointing is that it makes the flesh feel
good. On the other hand, when the glory of God comes, the flesh doesn’t feel very
comfortable.
III. THE ANOINTING
**Isaiah 6**
The Purpose of the anointing is to help us make the transition from flesh into
glory - the transition from the Holy Place to the Holy of Holies. When the glory of God
comes, we become like Isaiah. Our flesh is so weakened by God’s presence that it is
unnecessary for man to do anything other than behold Him in His glory.
When we come into His Presence, we are: 1. convinced of His Holiness, 2. At
the same time we are convinced of our unholiness and our need to repent and live holy
before Him, 3. We are aware of His worthiness to receive praise and worship, AND
4. we are seized by a driving desire to dive deeper and lead others into His presence!
The Manifest Presence of God makes changes in our lives - to live holy lives
before Him.
Jacob prayed and wrestled for a blessing, by what he received was a
“changing.” His name, his walk, and his demeanor were changed.
Isaiah received the hot coals on his lips, we receive the hot bread of His
presence and are forever changed. When more of our flesh dies, more of our spirit
lives.
There is a cost of receiving God’s Presence. Jacob received the blessing,
BUT he also received a bum hip. Isaiah received hot coals to his lips.
They had to tie a rope around the High Priest’s ankle before he passed through
the veil. They knew that if he entered God’s presence in sin, then he wouldn’t be
walking out of there.
CONCLUSION:
Exodus 25:22 ~ There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are
over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for
the Israelites.
Mark 15:38 ~ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
We have access to the Manifest Presence of God because the power of Jesus’ death,
BUT only with and through the power of Jesus’ Blood.
Are we going to be satisfied with the Holy Place and the occasion blessing from
the Presence of God? OR Do we want the Manifest Presence of God?
If the Manifest Presence of God is what we truly want, then we NEED to
remember that we can’t go into this Presence with sin.
