A table is a place of true connection that holds a place of great significance in our lives. This is where family comes together to eat and to share in each other’s lives. Studies have been conducted demonstrating that children from families who eat together four or more times a week do better academically and emotionally. There is something sacred about the table that activates our lives on many levels.
In the Tabernacle it is no different: the Table of Shewbread is the place where the priests were to gather together to eat the Bread of the Presence as one, in God’s presence. Remember the Table is in the Holy Place and the Holy Place is the place of Fellowship.
The Table was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. On the Table there was twelve loaves of fresh bread along with cups, bowls and pitchers that were made of pure gold. All of this continually speaks of Jesus.
The gold represents the deity of Jesus Christ and the wood His humanity. Because acacia wood is seemingly waterproof it is virtually resistant to decay or attack by insects, it depicts the incorruptible human nature of Jesus.
1. Acacia wood grows in dry lands -- Jesus came from a dry and barren land.
2. Acacia wood has thorns on its branches -- Jesus bore thorns upon his head.
3. Acacia wood gives a medicinal gum when struck -- as did Christ.
Jesus began His ministry after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness; he was hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry on the cross thirsting, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus became our sin so we could become God’s righteousness and have confident access into God’s presence. God’s plan is for us to spend time in God’s Word in an attitude of prayer as He enlightens and activates something deep within our lives.
There is an interesting story in Scripture about how a woman fought her way through a crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Luke describes how the crowd was so intense they “almost crushed him”, Luke 8:42. Jesus was bumping into masses of people trying to make his way through the crowd and then he says something I’m sure the disciples thought was totally ridiculous:
Mark 5:30-31 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'" (NIV)
A lot of people were bumping Jesus but one person touched him with expectation placing a demand on his attention and anointing. The Holy Spirit is taking us into deeper places of intimacy with him in His Word this week!
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Pray through the tabernacle, Turn The Page and memorize some verses from Psalm 84 this week asking God to spiritually activate your life.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
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DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. What was something that stood out to you from Sunday’s message?
The study of the Old Covenant priests reveals many interesting parallels to help us understand God’s plan for us today. These Old Covenant duties reflect our ministry as New Covenant believers as we are now the priesthood of God in the earth.
• We are to have fellowship with God
• We are to eat the bread of God’s Word daily. The bread was replaced regularly speaking of how we must come to the Word regularly for fresh revelation from God.
• We are to come to His table to have fellowship and communion with God and with each other.
Matt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” NIV
The oil in the Laver produces fire providing light in the Holy Place. God’s plan is for us to spend time in God’s Word in an attitude of prayer as He enlightens and activates something deep within our lives.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. In what way do you make God’s Word a priority in your life?
3. If somebody were asking your advice on how to spend time in God’s Word in a way that is meaningful what suggestions would you give?
Priests were commanded to offer a drink offering to the Lord from the Table as well. There were gold cups and pitchers containing wine on the table. As the priest would break the bread, eat the bread and pour out the wine in the presence of God it was all a picture of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood being poured out for us.
Luke 22:19-20 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
This would be a great time to receive communion together in your group if you would like to do so. A simple loaf of bread that is not sliced allows each person to break a small piece of bread off for themselves. Any kind of cups with juice would work to speak of the blood of Christ.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4 that his life is being poured out like a drink offering. We are now to be broken bread and poured out wine to a dying world.
Conclude with a prayerful commission that each person in your group would spend the next week exploring sacrificial opportunities in the lives of others to express the loving, serving, giving nature of Christ to their world.
GOING DEEPER
Jesus came and bypassed all order of religion that neglected relationship. Suddenly he’s having meals with sinners. The Last Supper is a famous meal Jesus had with his disciples. Obviously this was very common for Jesus to eat with his friends. After Jesus rose from the grave one of the first things he did was ate a meal with his friends. It is interesting that in the very beginning we see a meal that was eaten without God ruining everything. Then in the concluding chapters of the book of Revelation we find another meal, The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Jesus is all about inviting the world to the Table of the Lord where we all become friends with God. Only through Jesus does the altar give access to the table.
Mal 1:7 "{You} are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' NAS
Notice how the altar and the table are eternally connected. The sacrifices on the altar are unacceptable when the table is defiled. The sacrifice on the altar is only pleasing if the table is in proper order. If you’re disconnected from fellowship with God your offering is not acceptable. The table of the Lord also involves His family. Jesus said in Matt 5:23-24 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. NIV
Obviously we all need to make room for relationships as our highest priority! Expressing our love, our forgiveness and our time to connect over a meal all produce a demonstration of hospitality we find clearly revealed in Christ as our ultimate example.
Three phrases people love the most: I love you! You’re forgiven! Let’s eat! These phrases are all about relationship. Everybody needs love, forgiveness and connection to be healthy. Interestingly this is discovered first in Christ. John 3 and Revelation 3 communicate how God loved the world (I love you) that he gave his only Son (You’re forgiven) and Jesus stands at the door of our hearts knocking and if we open the door he comes in to eat with us and us with him (Let’s eat). We were created in the image of God who is a community within himself as The Trinity. God created us with a design of community giving us a deep sense of desire for community. Jesus invited us to his table so we would invite others to our table.
Rom 12:9-13 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them...get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner (NLT)
We live in a day where people live isolated and lonely lives. True Christianity introduces Jesus as the relational answer to this painful deficiency that exists in the lives of so many people. The pursuit of great influence in big platforms can cause us to miss the power of meaningful impact on personal levels.
God loved the world in big ways but it wasn’t until He embraced humanity in his smallest posture of intimate existence that the world could forever be changed. We tend to express grand statements of big love in the songs we sing and the sermons we celebrate. It’s not until we take a small posture of intimate connection with people on a personal level that lives will be changed. People ministering to people on a personal level will truly change the world.
Jesus spoke to masses of people very rarely and these large groups were remarkably fickle. The same crowd who wanted to celebrate him was the same crowd who later wanted to crucify him. It was the very few who he spent his most intimate time with who turned their world upside down.
After many years of serving his congregation Pastor Simon came to his final Sunday. He had given his life to ministry and was now entering into the next season of life. His words carried incredible weight and spoke of legacy after decades of sacrificial ministry. He skillfully used his words like an accomplished artist to paint a masterpiece as his concluding message that day. The church family responded by coming forward embracing, weeping and laughing offering their love and appreciation for his years of faithful service to their families. He fully expected to hear accolades of gratitude for all of the wonderful messages he’d preached. Something very interesting happened that day. Not one person thanked him for a sermon. Dozens and dozens of specific situations were voiced as this church family thanked him for being there personally in moments of crisis, helping in times of need and making a difference in the lives of individuals.
Pastor Simon experienced an ocean of comments thanking him for the hands and feet of his ministry. Not one person ever even mentioned the mouth of his ministry. It wasn’t that the mouth wasn’t important congregationally because it was. The simple truth of ministry is individual influence is more powerful than institutional influence. At the core of our faith in and love for Jesus Christ the most important objective is to love people personally just like Jesus does.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church saying in 1 Corinthians 4:20 “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk”. If we amputate the hands and feet from the Body of Christ and keep only a big mouth we settle for making a point when we’re called to make a difference. LAZY COMPLAINING IS MUCH MORE CONVENIENT THAN LOVING INFLUENCE. THIS IS A MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR VOICE AND OTHER RESOURCES. The enemy loves to trick us into squandering away our ability to effectively address injustice by giving ourselves to self-absorbed rants. Don’t just tell us what you’re against. Show us what you're about. Help us reimagine a better story.
People caring for people makes the world a better place. People complaining about people makes the world a bitter place. The oversimplification of life’s very complicated problems is very damaging and divisive. Nobody can have all the facts but somehow it’s very easy to feel completely confident we have all the answers in our passionate discussions. This shows up very clearly in America every four years when the right political candidate resonates with our ideas justifying the positions we have believed to be right all along.
One of the greatest contributors to angry religious arguments is that preaching has become the emphasis of our churches rather than the catalyst for personal ministry. Gathering to embrace the teaching of God’s Word has always been part of God’s plan for worship. The New Testament church was born as Peter preached to masses of people. Once the multitude was converted they didn’t indoctrinate the converts with talking points. Disciples invested in them helping them becoming disciples who cared for others sacrificially following the example of Jesus loving, serving and giving into the lives of other people. We must purpose to invest ourselves in the lives of others in a very intimate and intentional way. This is how we make the most of our eternal assignment in these temporal years.
Preaching serves the purpose of empowering the church to perform the work of the ministry. Our city will be transformed by our Christian hospitality over tables long before it will be transformed by pastors preaching in their pulpits. The doctrine of Christian hospitality is something that is required of pastors in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We see this is required of Christians in Romans 16 where Paul commands the whole church there to practice hospitality. Hospitality is welcoming people into your life and into your home to sit together at your table, treating them in a gracious way expressing love through friendship.
Jesus came teaching in Matt 10:7 that the Kingdom of God is at hand revealing that life’s greatest treasures are within our reach. In a world that is overcommitted and under connected it is easy to miss out on the deeper more meaningful treasures of life. The essence of hospitality is something that comes very naturally from within our families rather than something we fabricate in efforts to evangelize.
Don’t underestimate or underuse the power of the kitchen table! My wife and I had our first date over a meal. Coming together for a meal has become a sacred place of common connection in our marriage and now for our family. The transforming power of hospitality has a profound influence on our children as we prepare food together, set the table together, have a meal with conversation on every level of life and then clean up together. Sometimes the conversation is deep and meaningful. Sometimes the conversation is light and humorous. Always the place of the table is a safe place where everybody can be themselves and we get to know each other through the seasons of life. It shouldn’t surprise us to discover that countries with strong food cultures typically have a strong family culture.
The Bible describes how Jesus prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. Perhaps the idea behind this is to sit with us and connect with us according to His ways protecting us from wrong ways of thinking represented as our enemies. Studies show that the more often families eat together the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, be depressed & consider suicide.[1]Also they are more likely to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their veggies, learn big words and know which fork to use. It’s this regularly shared meal, not holiday feasts, that anchors the family. Some nights it is a fast paced eat and run experience when everybody at the table is thinking about other places they truly need to be. However the pattern of the table produces something profound in our lives and sometimes provides a lingering experience where everybody gets caught up in the conversation and no one feels stupid, shy or ashamed as conversation erupts. This is where you get a glimpse of the power of a family at the table.
The table was in the Holy Place in the Temple of the Lord communicating the sacred value of that which might seem so common. It would serve us well to remember that Jesus was so common that it caused many to miss the sacred, powerful and profound revelation He was carrying for the world. Perhaps we’ve been having conversations with our world through a bullhorn that need to be happening around a coffee table. If we’re not careful we can easily revert to a bullhorn agenda even while sitting at the coffee table.
Everybody has a system of beliefs, which are born out of personal positions we have derived in our way of thinking. These beliefs are fortified with emotion and branded with experiences producing arguable conclusions from which we have made many of life’s decisions. Some people are more gracious and loving about their arguable conclusions than others. The application of Scripture introduces God’s point of view to our conclusions fortifying our positions as truly sacred. If we’re not careful we cultivate talking points more than we cultivate compassion. We must focus on the transforming love of Christ rather than the destructive power of religion.
Wisdom doesn’t attend every argument to which she is invited. We must learn to let love be our argument. It will leave our enemies speechless. When Christians get more interested in winning arguments than loving people they are simply no longer like Jesus. Having the right argument with the wrong attitude makes you dead right and nobody wants to be dead…right?
Love and compassion embraces people without feeling obligated to change their point of view. This allows us to discover the power of the table in a variety of relationships. Let your love be louder than your agenda! I love you. You’re forgiven. Let’s eat.
[1]8 reasons to make time for family dinner - Sarah Klein, Health.com http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/living/family-dinner-h/
TABERNACLE PRAYER - CHO
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Father I desire to pray today, so I come to your mountain right NOW -- seeking You. I cry out for your anointing today! Anoint me, Lord! Only through more anointing can I carry out my work according to your will for me and only by your anointing can I fulfill your plan for my life. It was you who commanded Moses to build the tabernacle in the wilderness. Lord, you dwelt there and met your people there. The Tabernacle is the only place the Israelites worshipped. It illustrates your pattern of worship. The Tabernacle holds the sequence of entering God’s presence and more effectively activating our anointing! I desire more today. I thank you for the tabernacle model through Moses, in Jesus, and in Heaven. I thank you for the Courtyard – where the Brazen Altar and the Laver are. I thank you for the Holy Place – where the Candlesticks are, as well as the Table of Showbread and the Altar of Incense. I thank you for the Holy of Holies – where the Arc of the Covenant and your Mercy Seat reside. Today – according to your Word – I am a priest in your temple, my body. My spirit is as the Holy of Holies. My mind is as the Holy Place. My physical body is as the Courtyard. Come, Lord Jesus! Work through my spirit, through my mind, through my body. I directly worship you, Lord, through the temple of my body, my mind and my spirit. I am a priest unto the Lord.
Jesus, you are the High Priest of Heaven. Teach me my priestly duties today. Teach me according to your ordained pattern of approaching God.
THE BRAZEN ALTAR
In my imagination I come to temple of the Holy Spirit. I see the Tabernacle Courtyard in my mind. I see the Brazen Altar. I remember the different offerings presented at the Brazen Altar: sin, trespass, burnt, thanks, reconciliation. These foretold the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary. I recognize the tremendous cost of sin.
CONFIDENCE - I believe the Cross of Jesus Christ replaces the Brazen Altar for me today. The blood of Jesus Christ replaces the blood of animals for me – one sacrifice for all time through Jesus Christ. My sin is forgiven – I am declared righteous through the cross. No guilt and shame for me today; I have a clean slate.
I will enjoy the Glory of God today. The Shekinah Glory is in me.
Lord, through your shed blood you conquered the world and the devil. Give me sanctification and fullness of the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus. Any hold that the world or the devil has on me is canceled and broken right now in Jesus’s name! Because of the blood, I am free!
You hung on the cross and took my infirmities – I am healed. Sickness is illegal in me. I am healed today! By the stripes Jesus endured in the courtyard of Pilate I am healed!
Through the Cross – through your blood – I am redeemed from the curse.
You hung on a cross so the Abrahamic blessing would be mine. I am a blessed person! I am no longer under the curse. I am under the blessing of Christ today – in my home, work, ministry and family. There is no poverty – no curse for me. You became poor for me so that I can be rich in Jesus Christ. In Christ I am redeemed completely from any negative thinking. No cloudy thinking for me today – only clarity on my freedom from the curse and freedom from poverty. This is a major blessing of the blood of Christ.
I am redeemed from death and hell. Through His death on the cross, resurrection and ascension, I am spiritually with Jesus according to Scripture. I see His redeeming grace flowing to me now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that my mind is renewed in you as I pray this way, claiming these truths, worshipping you. Thank you for renewing me from a mind that was clouded with lies and negative thoughts. I have nothing to do with the filthy things of the world. I reject the lie. I cut off every tie with the dark side in Jesus’ Name.
Lord, Clarify my vision of myself as an adopted child of God, a member of your family of priests. Make me aware of my new identity – a new person in you, a new creation through the blood of Jesus Christ. I have no more identity crisis. I have a clear identity in Jesus Christ!
I will not accept the devil’s messages sent to me today. My mind is no longer victimized by the devil’s lies. I am a NEW CREATURE, a NEW CREATION. I AM HOLY, I am SANCTIFIED, I am BLESSED; the GLORY OF GOD IS MINE! Everyday that I renew my mind, I confirm and affirm my new identity. I worship Jesus and His sacrifice for me.
SUMMARY
Through the Blood of Jesus I am:
• Adopted into your family as a child of God.
• Ordained as a priest in your royal priesthood.
The Blood has delivered me:
• From sin to RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• From the world and the devil to the HOLY SPIRIT & the THRONE OF GOD.
• From sickness to HEALTH & HEALING.
• From a cursed mindset of poverty to GOD’S BLESSINGS THE ABRAHAMIC BLESSING.
I get to experience GOD’S GLORY every day. I discard my cloudy identity of the past and receive a CLEAR IDENTITY in Jesus Christ today! All this happens through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ. I worship Jesus at the Brazen Altar in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle.
THE LAVER
Lord, I invite you, Expose Sin In Me
This is the place I clean my conscience daily like taking a bath or shower. The priests wash their hands, feet and face at the Laver. It is a mirror. Before going into the Holy Place, I look at myself in the Laver. I evaluate my heart as I reflect on the 10 commandments pursuing a clear conscience. I can’t drag my guilty conscience into your presence. You won’t allow it.
Commandment 1 – Do I worship any other Gods? Do I put myself (self worship) ahead of (worship of Jesus)?
There is only one God, in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Forgive me, Lord, for dishonoring you by entertaining other gods.
Commandment 2 – Do I bow to any idols? Have I placed my role as husband, father, career person ahead of my role as a priest unto the Lord? Am I giving the first fruits of my day to something else? Am I worshiping graven images of money or power?
Forgive me for dishonoring you by worshipping idols.
Commandment 3 – Do I call God’s name in vain – any of God’s names?
Forgive me for dishonoring you by taking any of your names in vain.
Commandment 4 – Do I honor God by keeping the Sabbath Holy? Am I paying tithes and keeping the Sabbath before expecting blessing from Lord?
Forgive me for dishonoring your Sabbath commandment. Teach me your ways!
Commandment 5 - Do I honor my parents or blame my parents for my problems? Do I dishonor those you put in authority over me – pastors, government leaders, school board, etc.? Do I gossip about them?
Forgive us, Father, for our negative cultural influence that disrespects our parents and dishonors you. May I be free from that influence! Forgive me for dishonoring my parents and any in authority over me. I bring honor to you today. Forgive me for dishonoring you, my Father in heaven.
Commandment 6 - Do I kill by hating? In what ways am I programming my mind or the minds of my children to hate or be angry or hold prejudice against anyone?
I forgive others right now. I release all offenses. I repent of any angry words spoken. Forgive me for dishonoring you through angry words and hatred. O Lord, deliver me from an angry, bitter heart. Only you can do this. I have failed in controlling anger that rises up in me. Only you can give me the grace to have victory over this.
Commandment 7 - Do I commit adultery or entertain lustful thoughts?
Forgive me for dishonoring you by being sexually impure. Cleanse me and make me holy! Give me the fear of the Lord. Help me to walk softly before you. Deliver me from the idolatry of the female form. Deliver me from unhealthy appetites.
Commandment 8 - Am I stealing -- from You, Lord, or anyone? Am I squandering or misusing your gifts to me? Am I dishonest in my work, taking anything without paying for it or without permission?
Forgive me for poor stewardship, for stealing or squandering time, talents, treasures from you, Lord. Forgive me for my dishonest gains and give me grace to return or restore what I have taken wrongly. Make me a good steward of your temple, my body, and all these things you’ve given me to manage as a priest in your temple.
Commandment 9 - Am I witnessing falsely?
Forgive me for lying. Forgive me for being a false witness of Jesus. Forgive me for believing false ideas and vain philosophies. I want to be a true witness of Jesus Christ. Forgive me for dishonoring you by trusting false things. Give me the way, the truth, and the life in Jesus Christ!
Commandment 10 – Am I coveting? Am I coveting things you don’t want me to have –my neighbor’s house, car, reputation, wife, children, lifestyle? Covetousness is the first sin – the downfall of Eve and Adam that caused their disobedience. Am I coveting anything? Am I coveting my lifestyle?
All blessings are from the Lord. I am grateful for my (spouse), my children, my home, my career.
All abundance is from you, Lord. You are the source of all blessings and abundance. Forgive me for dishonoring you by wanting anything outside of your will for me. God, you are a good God – an abundant God. You have a desire to bless me more than I do! I release my time; I release my money so you can make open space in my life. I want to receive your abundance and blessing! Your will be done. Make open spaces in my life.
All this happens through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ.
I worship Jesus at the Laver in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle.
THE HOLY PLACE
Candlesticks
I open the curtain and walk into the Holy Place. There I see the candlesticks, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, the sevenfold Spirit of God: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, holiness.
Holy Spirit, I welcome a deeper more intimate relationship with you today. Through your anointing give me your wisdom. Help me to solve all the problems I face through your wisdom.
Give me your understanding so that I may understand the deep truths of God, and I may live those truths and pass them on to my children.
Give me counsel so that I will follow your narrow path. If it pleases you, allow me to advise others how to solve their problems.
Give me tremendous might so that I might be used by you to heal the hearts and lives of others and defeat the devil. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Holy Spirit, increase my knowledge of the Bible. Give me a keen fear of the Lord so that I walk very softly before you and not commit any sin. Give me holiness though your presence, O Lord!
Holy Spirit you are a person, not a genie. The Father worked in the forefront during the Old Testament and Jesus worked in the New; I live in the Age of the Holy Spirit.
I don’t want to catch quail with my bare hands. I want your wind to blow the quail into my camp. I want to depend on you, Holy Spirit, not my own strength.
You are a Holy Person with a will and emotions. Forgive me for treating you impersonally. You should be welcomed, loved, caressed, adored, worshipped. You are my senior partner. You are my Lord. I depend upon you. Let’s go Holy Spirit. Thank you for your anointing. Let’s work together. I will follow you.
THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD
The Showbread is the symbol of the Word of God.
Thank you for your Logos word and your Rhema word. Thank you for the written word and the inspired Word of God. All the 7,000+ promises of God are written in the scriptures. The Logos written word is potentially mine. Rhema is inspired word made alive in my heart today for a specific application.
Give me Lord, your specific word – your Rhema Word – for my life today. Give me this day my daily bread. I must wait on you, Lord, today – if I want to get your inspired Word.
Knowledge can become a kind of false faith. I want true faith from you today, Lord! Operating on knowledge alone can be disobeying you. I want to obey you in all things today.
Naming and claiming promises my finger lands on in scripture is a dangerous business. Waiting on you, Lord, for Rhema is the way of the mature disciple.
Jesus, you spoke of this truth when you said: Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the MOUTH of God. (Matt. 4:4)
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
Father, you are omnipotent. You can do anything and I will believe you. Give me perfect faith in Jesus Christ.
I CHOOSE by exercising my free will today. I choose to believe YOU! I reject fear and doubt. I will never choose either of them.
I trust you. I trust your Word. I trust you, Holy Spirit. You are always with me. You will never leave me or forsake me. John 14:20 says, you are in me! That’s where you live. Make yourself very real to me today! (When you come to this place pause for a few moments to simply praise God, singing in the Spirit or praying as the Lord leads you.)
John 14:20 At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.
John 14:21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
THE HOLY OF HOLIES – ARK OF THE COVENANT
I enter with faith and confidence into the Holy of Holies. I see the blood of Jesus Christ sprinkled on the Mercy seat. It is finished! All my debts have been paid off – paid in full. I am free, free from bondage to sin of any kind.
Through the Blood I have the impartation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ! I am God’s righteousness in Christ. I come into the presence of God without feeling any condemnation because of what Christ has already accomplished for me.
The blood is the answer – it is the final solution for me.
I praise you, Father, for the wonderful, incredible blessing of righteousness imparted to me, your servant, through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Lord, that the devil is my defeated enemy through the Blood of Christ. I will not bow to the fear of the roaring lion. He is bluffing and he is defeated.
The Commandments in the Ark
Christ’s blood annuls the power of the law that would make me work for righteousness. The law is my mirror now, not my master. It helps me to clean my face, my conscience. The law does not condemn me.
Christ is my Lord. His blood is the final, finished work that redeems me. The law shows me how to please God and helps me understand when I have grieved and disobeyed God – but it is not my condemner. The blood has changed that forever for me as a New Testament Christian.
No works, no achievements are required for my salvation: only to believe – only faith in the finished work of the Cross.
Thank you, Father, that the blood of Jesus is my deliverance from sin. The blood is my impartation of Christ’s righteousness. The blood brings freedom from fear of Satan. The blood is my freedom from the law of the Old Testament. The blood is my freedom from human works to achieve right standing with you, O Lord!
Eph 2:8-10 For it is by free grace [God’s unmerited favor] that you are saved through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God; it is not because of works [the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. For we are God’s own workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus that we may do those good works which God planned beforehand for us, that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Prayer In The Holy of Holies:
As you are standing in God’s presence begin to pray personal requests. Pray for those closest to you and work out from there.
It is in God’s presence that our hearts have been prepared to have our prayers answered and our petitions heart. Bring them humbly before the Lord with faith and confidence that he hears you and will answer your prayers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpAUjNmuRzg&feature=youtu.be