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I. THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES
A. “AND LET THEM MAKE ME A SANCTUARY; THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM.”
1. God wants a Tabernacle where He can dwell to be with His people. His desire has always been to have intimate union and fellowship with man.
2. Three Sections of the Tabernacle: Outer Court, Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies
3. Spiritually, each one of us is called to enter within the veil to the Holy of Holies – into the literal presence of God. This is the ultimate call of every Christian.
B. THREE DEGREES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND MATURITY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Little Children, Young Men, Fathers (1 Jn 2:12-14)
1. The Outer Court is spiritually the place where people are birthed into the kingdom of God as Little Children.
2. The Holy Place is where we grow and progress as Young Men who have victory over Satan, are strong and in whom the Word of God abides. This is a greater level of maturity from being little children in the kingdom of God.
3. Then we must progress on into our ultimate destination, the Holy of Holies where a Father’s heart is produced within us by the Lord as we allow Him to deal with our lives. We know the Lord in a deeper and very intimate way, where we begin to have His heart, mind, ways and Spirit. It is from this place that we REIGN in life by Christ Jesus.
C. SEVEN ARTICLES OF FURNITURE IN THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES:
The Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver in the Outer Court; the Candlestick, Table of Showbread and the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place; and the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. These seven articles of furniture are very important for our lives, as they speak of spiritual experiences that we must undergo in order to know the fullness of God’s glory and presence. THE LORD WANTS TO PRODUCE MATURE SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO SHALL BE KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO THE LORD. (Rev. 5:10)
II. OUTER COURT
A. MEASUREMENTS, COLORS IN THE WORD OF GOD HAVE SIGNIFICANCE.
Ex. (1) The Outer Court was 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 5 cubits high.
100 speaks of fruitfulness. God’s desire for His people is to be fruitful in every area of their lives.
50 represents liberty, because Christ came to set us free from the bondages of sin.
5 speaks of grace. We live by the grace of God alone.
(2) Linen speaks of the righteousness of Christ; Blue speaks of the Word God. Purple speaks of Royalty (King of kings, Lord of lords); Scarlet speaks of Priesthood (Jesus is a priest).
B. THE TABERNACLE REPRESENTS HEAVENLY THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF GOD
1. 4 Pillars (4 – John 3:16 WHOSOEVER, from North, South, East, West, all are
welcome. No one to perish but that all BE SAVED.)
2. Outer Court has one door. There is only one door towards the East.
John 10:1 “Enter by the DOOR (Jesus) and you will be saved.”John 14:6 “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE No one comes to the Father EXCEPT BY ME.”Eph. 2:8 “By the GRACE OF GOD, we are SAVED. It is a GIFT OF GOD, through faith in Jesus.” Therefore, what manner of man should you be?
C. TWO PIECES OF FURNITURE IN OUTER COURT
1. Altar of Burnt Offering. Where the Passover Lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people. We need to appropriate the blood of the Passover Lamb (believe that Jesus died for our sins) in order to be saved. Otherwise, people will go to hell. Jesus spoke more of the TERRORS OF HELL than the BLESSINGS of heaven.
2. Brazen Laver
a. There is water here, representing the Word of God.
James 1:22 “Be not hearers only, deceiving yourself, but BE DOERS OF THE WORD.” People hear the Word of God, but forget the message. This, sadly, is true of the large majority of the congregation. Heb. 5:12 “You ought to be teachers, but you have been unskillful (therefore, open to the WILES of the devil).”
b. GO ON TO PERFECTION, leaving elementary principles of the Word of God
(Heb. 6:1). Foundations need to be strong, not brass (representing the flesh, Gal. 5:19) or else little children will fall. There are enemies who will try to harm them. They need FATHERS & MOTHERS who can nurse them (through discipleship and cell group) so that they will not die.
D. OUTER COURT (full of perils)
1. Outer Court – place of “Little Children”
a. Outer Court has no covering; Eph. 4:14 “…little children being TOSSED TO and FRO by every wind of doctrine.”
b. Full of perils (immorality, greed, temptations, etc.) Many started in Christ, but seduced by Satan and the world. Little Children are defenseless, there are many enemies to seduce them back to the world. [*Prophet Brian Bailey saw a vision of hell with many “Little Children”.]
c. How can a Christian be seduced by Satan? When his heart for God is not right, NOTROOTED AND GROUNDED in the Word of God. Need to progress, mature, go on to perfection, be brought into the Holy of Holies. [Ex. story of 10,000 congregation on froth, entertainment, prosperity and Lord said to pastor, “I have only 7 people in this church and you are not one of them.”
2. Next TIDE IS COMING IN, but with many CONFLICTS, BATTLES. How many will stand the test? God is looking for fruit that abides, for MATURED MEN and WOMEN and it is preaching and teaching that will determine that. People must have the Word of God as sword against the wiles, temptations and attacks of the enemy. The Church of God will arise as a MIGHTY ARMY, but we need to train SOLDIERS. We can’t send BABES to war. The “Little Children” need a GOOD MEAL, the meat of the Word.
II. TABERNACLE OF MOSES: THE HOLY PLACE
A. THE HOLY PLACE: (1 Jn. 2:12-14) Place of Young Men
1. Young Men are STRONG. Many churches are very weak, feeding on milk. Milk will not make you strong, but MEAT (of the Word of God).
2. Abundance of Grace can only be experienced in the Abundance of TRIALS.
The Church is facing a time of GREAT GLORY, and we are going to see A MIGHTY ARMY arising. Army has no boys, but YOUNG MEN, who are strong because the Word of God abides in them. It is your responsibility to eat the MEAT of the Word of God.
3. Young Men have OVERCOME the evil one. Young Men are OVERCOMERS (over problems, temptations of the enemy), inheriting the promises of God in His Word. STUDY and USE the Word of God.
4. Let us present our bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE to the Lord. (Rom. 12:2)
B. 5 PILLARS
Speak of VIRTUES of Christ (Exo. 24:6) - Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, Abundant in Goodness & Truth. God desires that these same virtues be developed in our lives.
1. Merciful. Heb. 2:17 Jesus tempted in all parts…to become a MERCIFUL High Priest. Through many trials after trials, temptation after temptation – you can understand others because you have gone through the same temptations and problems and overcame only by the grace of God. “I am what I am by the GRACE OF GOD.”
2. Gracious. Grace is divine strength in times of need.
3. Longsuffering. Enables us to suffer for a long time. God suffers long, even towards those in rebellion (ex. Manasseh).
4. Goodness. Incapable of doing evil to anyone.
5. Truth. Unfolded revelation of the Word of God.
C. GO ON TO PERFECTION
Heb. 6:1-3 Leave elementary principles and GO ON TO PERFECTION, and perfection is in the Holy of Holies. GO ON – equivalent of BEING CHOSEN. “Many are called (salvation), but few are chosen (because others remain in the Outer Court).”
--- TO BE CONTINUED ---
GUIDE QUESTIONS :
- What are the 3 degrees of spiritual growth or maturity in the believer’s life? In what stage do you feel are you in now?
- What steps can you take to move on to the next stage?
- What dangers/ perils do you see in your world that can take you away from Christ? How can you overcome them?
- Are you willing to offer your life as a living sacrifice to the Lord now? Why or why not?
Source:
Christ, the Living Stone Fellowship
MINISTRY TRAINING SCHOOL – INTERMEDIATE
School of Worker Module 2