The Tabernacle: Coming into God’s Presence

The Tabernacle: Coming into God’s Presence

Pic of Tab.

“Tabernacle” = Mishkan= dwelling place. IT was the worship center. It was a pattern of actual things in heaven. 37 chapters about it. All during the wilderness journey it was a large portable tent that could be dismantled and moved as God moved with pillar fire/cloud.

God gave Moses the detailed blueprint.

It had 3 parts that represent the ultimate tabernacle:

Outer court – our body

Holy place – our soul

Holy of Holies – our spirit

God decided that there should be a place on earth that teaches people about how to experience the glory of God. Remember the Shekinah glory of God would come down upon the tabernacle.

Pic of pillar fire by night:

Holy means separated from the common and unto God. God is holy or set apart or distinct from man. There is no one like Him. His Holiness separates Him from everything else.  

          There are things that become holy because they are connected to God. “Holy ground”-Moses. God came down upon Mount Sinai and it burned with fire and smoke. God warned that no one but Moses and Aaron could come up on the mtn or even touch it. His holiness provoked fear of the Lord. How were Moses and Aaron able?

When God tells us imperfect creatures to “Be holy for I am Holy”, we have to ask how?

This wilderness tabernacle is a teaching tool. It teaches us about the Messiah Jesus and how we are to worship God.

From a distance you see 150 ft white linen fence with a tent inside. It’s a barrier to us. The things of God are holy too. Sabbath – now Lord’s day. Tithe is holy. Serving Lord and His people is holy.

Pic of white linen walls:

This white linen wall was teaching separation from the world. There are some things out here in the world that do not belong in here with God.

When you come to worship God you should be making sure you are not bringing in with you some things that need to stay outside.

If were walking around this fence starting from North to South to the West you would see no entrance until you come to the East side. Only the East side has the entrance:

East – represents new things: Sun rise = new day, a new start. Christ will return in the Eastern sky representing a new time in history.

Outside around white linen wall Israel lived in tents of tribes of Israel were strategically ordered by God.

Tribe of Judah camped in front the only gate. The name Judah means praise. Teaching us we enter His manifested Presence through praise.

Praise is not just songs sung from empty hearts. The praise of God comes because we realize the truth about Him!

-        God is holy and w/o sin and yet He invites us to come in and commune with Him! We are not holy in ourselves!

-        Even Moses as great as he, still murdered a man! Aaron led the people into idolatry and drunken party.

-        Even King David as great as he was, was both an adulterer and murderer! How could they be given the blessing to build a place to worship God who is holy?

“Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.”  Psalm 15

-        Seems like we would all be doomed to live outside the tabernacle of Presence of God! What about Moses, Aaron, elders?

It’s wide making it easy to find.

It’s easy to find the only gate because it is so colorful you can’t miss it. It is closed but you find yourself staring at the colors. It all represents the Messiah who would one day come to save us.

Pic of gate of wilderness tab. :

Made from 4 colors: Blue = heaven – sky – God in heaven.

Purple = royalty is present. The King of the universe is through this gate.

Scarlet = arterial blood. He will come to earth and shed his blood so we can be the last color – White= holy.

The colorful gate represents the 4 gospels:

Matthew – Purple = Jesus is King.

Mark – Scarlet = Jesus’ blood.

Luke – Blue = Jesus from heaven.            Lk’s acct birth/ascension

John – White = Jesus is Holy.

         Lamb of God who takes away sin of the world. This was all a type and picture of Christ that people in that day had to look forward by faith. Today we have to look back in time by faith.

The screen door would lift open. God opens our heart and compels us to come into Him through Jesus. There is only one gate, one entrance, one way.

This gate is like a screen door it lifts from the bottom to the top. You would have to bow down to enter under it.

I’ve said all this so far to get to this point today. How we come to God.

How was Moses, Aaron, and later David able to come to God, even though there was murder, idolatry, and adultery on their record?

3 necessary things to enter this one and only gate to God:

1.   Repentance – Moses obviously repented of murder. It never happened again. The bible declares the Moses was the most humble man on earth. HE was humbled and repented of his pride thinking he could deliver Israel in how own strength. As he became humble, he became useful for God.

-        Obviously, Aaron repented of leading Israel into idolatry and was restored.

-        David repented and wrote psalm 51.

Compared to God – everyone has something to repent of.

Repentance = a change of mind with a determined will not to go back. Turning from something and turning to Someone (Jesus).

2.   Faith towards God to give you grace to change.

“Now is the time for us to progress beyond the basic teachings of Christ: The foundation was laid to repentance from dead works (self-help), and then faith towards God.

The first sermon Jesus preached was, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent AND believe (faith) in the gospel.”

Mark 1:15

Once inside the gate it closes behind you. You look around and notice the linen barrier wall that use to keep you from God, now keeps with Him. The white linen wall encircles us and becomes a white linen robe of righteousness.

What will our response be? “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his courts with praise!”

I am awestruck at being inside instead of outside. I wonder, who am I that I should be on such holy ground? I am in God’s Presence by grace through faith.

First thing we see facing us on the inside is a big bronze altar for animals’ sacrifices.

PIC Bronze altar:

Bronze = judgment

Fire on altar -  originally started by God (Lev. 9:24) but man responsible to never let fire go out. God starts it but we keep it going.

Male animals w/o blemish – type of Jesus

Blood poured out at base – Jesus’ blood bottom of cross.

Daily sacrifices offered.

Even though Jesus is our one sacrifice we are called to make some daily sacrifices too – not for salvation but to learn to let Him lead us.

Sacrifices tied to the horns on altar daily. Ill. Maybe some tried to resist and buck and pull  away. Had to be tied to this altar just like your soul and body fight and resist the promptings of HS.

Daily we should visit the altar. We begin to see God has a higher purpose for trials and everything that happens to us. The more we surrender and submit to Him the more grace we find.

“For the love of God constrains us . . . we who live should not live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:14-15

          Love of God constrains us = a tight grip that prevents escape.

Even though you may willfully sin as a Xn – you will discern HS whispering – that’s not the real you. That’s not what satisfies you. It’s not what you were made for. Let me show you a better way. I’ve got better things for you.

The life of following Jesus is a life of sacrifice. It is giving up your life so He can live His life through us. IT is losing my life for His sake so I can find true life in Him.

Concl: Even if you are saved you still have some ongoing issues in your life that are competing with the Lord. You can be saved but living a lost life. When this happens you are stuck spiritually. IT is because you are allowing some animal instincts to run wild in your life. You don’t lose your salvation – you just need to daily go to the altar of the cross and bring these untamed issues to Jesus. Humble yourself and agree with God and keep bring them to the cross and asking His help to repent.

Ill. Ropes at the altar. Prophetically come and tie a piece of rope into a loop like around the neck of an animal sacrifice and lay in on the altar asking God’s help.

          Bring whatever it is God shows you. Tie it and leave it at the altar with Jesus, Your High Priest.

If you are not saved – never entered the gate called Jesus then God wants you to answer His call today. Prayer and come.