One night I was at a friend's having homemade tacos.  He showed me his Grandfather's sermon notes.  One had this title. Then I had this dream – I was at a church -- God gave me a word for the body – Push in, push in to the Holy of Holies. This has been one of the easiest sermon I have ever done because I simply woke up and wrote the notes! I will leave it up to you to determine if it was Holy Spirit or spicy tacos!

A basic principle of this study – we’re all priests -- 1 Pet. 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. 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. As such, our primary job is tending the tabernacle -- Heb. 9.6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.

Ex. 25.9, 40, 26.30, Num. 8.4 -- 4 times God said – see that you build it according to the pattern that you saw on the mountain. Moses saw the heavenly version on the mountain, and was to build it accordingly. Heb. 8.5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Outer Court

Speaks of Jesus

The Way

Enter Gates with Thanksgiving Ps. 100.4

Body

Brazen altar – speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus.  This is where it starts,-- how we become Christians.  It pays to meditate on it often – it helps purify us – especially those who have known Jesus for a while.  Our Catholic brothers have an advantage here.  As Evangelicals we often think of ourselves as superior because we see Jesus as resurrected, not hanging on a cross.  However, we need to see both. Ex. 29.38“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Ex. 40.29 And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. That's one reason why we celebrate communion -- to focus on Jesus' broken body and poured out blood on our behalf. 1 Cor. 11.23-28 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is £broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.  Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  When I saw the move, "The Passion of the Christ" I had 3 main thoughts that I think should be part of what we think about at the brazen altar. One was thanks for what You did for me, You didn't have to go through so much. Two -- I am such a wimp, I cry out over the littlest suffering. Help me persevere and obey more. Three -- I am so sorry for my sin which caused You this intense pain.

Brazen laver – made of mirrors and filled with water.  Utilized by the priests for cleansing – could see the all the dirt. Ex. 30.17-21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die. So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them—to him and his descendants throughout their generations.” Ex. 29.38“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Ex. 40.29 And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. That's one reason why we celebrate communion -- to focus on Jesus' broken body and poured out blood on our behalf. 1 Cor. 11.23-28 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is £broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.  Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  This is a picture of the Word as in James 1.23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Eph. 5.25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  And of Holy Spirit Spirit Is. 44.3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; Jn. 7.37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Tit. 3.5-6 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Jer. 17.9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Ps. 139.23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Jn. 14.7-8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: When we see the dirt, we need to clean it off - 1 Jn. 1.7-10 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Outer court is very busy with lots of noise, and activity. The whole nation of Israel could bring their many sacrifices here so there were animals and people everywhere.  The source of light is the sun, moon and stars – natural.  The two articles of furniture were wood (type of the flesh) covered with brass (type of -judgment).

Holy Place

Speaks Of

The

Holy Spirit

The Truth

Enter Courts with Praise

Ps. 100.4

Table of showbread – or fellowship or presence.  This is where we hang out with God where we commune with Him.  We break bread. Ex. 25.30 And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always. 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Golden lamp stand – speaks of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. The lamp stand and gifts/fruit give light. Pure gold (which never tarnishes) speaks of God’s divine nature – the fruits, and pure oil speaks of the anointing – the gifts. This was the only source of light in the Holy Place and it was never to go out. Light gives direction, warmth, etc.  Ex. 27.20 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. Lev. 24.2“Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. Mt. 5. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Rom 13.12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Altar of incense speaks of worship and intercession (spiritual warfare).  This altar and the burning of this incense was to be morning and evening.  The scent of the incense wafted into the Holy of Holies. Ex. 30.7 “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. On the day of atonement the priest was to.,.. Lev. 16.12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. 13 And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. Ps. 141.2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Rev. 5.8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Only the priests were allowed into the Holy Place.  The articles of furniture were either wood, covered on the outside with gold (representing the nature of God) or were pure gold. Ex. 37.25-28 The Holy place was only lit by the lamp stand. No natural light was inside. It had much less activity and was much quieter. We often stop here, satisfied that we have ‘arrived’.  We are in the presence of God – but this is the time to push on in. 

Holy of Holies

Speaks Of The Father

The Life

Worship

at His Footstool

Ps. 99.5

The Mercy seat was on top of the ark. Ex. 30.6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. This is where the blood was applied once a year on the Day of Atonement when Israel was declared not guilty.  The word propitiation, meaning God is satisfied, is derived from the Hebrew word ‘Mercy Seat’. 1 Jn. 2.1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Ark of the covenant contained Aaron’s rod that budded, pot of manna, tablets of the law. Heb. 9.3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.

The only source of light was the glory of God (there was no lamp-stand inside the Holy of Holies).  There were many curtains, animal skins and planks of wood for the walls, so there was no natural light, little noise, and activity only once a year.

Unlike the priests of old – we should be entering daily, not yearly.  In fact, we can, and should live here. The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was split in two, top to bottom, when Jesus was on the cross.  At this time, the curtain was reported to be ten inches thick.  Do you think God was trying to tell us something? Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

40.33-38 And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

As Moses followed the pattern that God set out, the glory fell. The same will happen with us. As we follow this pattern, as we PUSH IN, we will see the glory. It is easy to ‘camp’ on any one of these truths.  They are all so rich and full of meaning.  We must, however, push in, push on until we have all God has for us.  At the same time, we must not look down on others who don’t have our degree of ‘revelation’.