Prov. 4:18 says: But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
The Christian walk is a glorious walk that shows an increasing measure of brightness day after day. If you find that your spiritual awakening is stagnant, it is time now to rise up. Just as in the secular job, one has the ambition to be better- to rise up higher; even so in our spiritual life we must never be satisfied with mediocrity, else, we remain in the past memories of great ‘experiences’ and fail to progress into God designed destiny.
Today I want to share from the Old Testament example-the typology of that tabernacle of Moses, which consisted of three distinct parts.
- The Outer Court – meant for Israelites only; the gentiles had no place here.
- The Holy Place – meant for ministering priests, serving daily, only from the tribe of Levi (and prohibited for other tribes of Israel);
- The Holy of Holies – meant for only the high priest, and that too once a year for atonement of the sins of the entire nation
Exodus 40: 3-7 describes the things that were kept in these 3 distinct parts of the tabernacle: In the Holy of Holies was kept the Ark of the Testimony (containing a golden pot of manna, the laws on tablets of stone and Aaron’s rod that budded), and above it the mercy seat of God’s very presence with cherubim on either side. A veil (thick and strong) separated this Holy of Holies from the other parts of the tabernacle. In the holy place was kept a table with the (daily fresh) show-bread on one side, and a lamp-stand with seven lights on the other side, and an altar of gold for incense in front of the veil right before the Ark of the Testimony. A screen (serving as the door) separated the Holy place from the outer court-where as they enter a laver of water was kept, and the brazen altar for sacrifices of animals, whose blood was used for atonement of sins.
The Outer Court
If you want to progress in the spiritual walk God has called you to, one must proceed to be drawn into the outer courts, then enter the Holy place and go on towards the Most Holy Place. As you enter the outer court (the general assembly of meeting), you have the laver and the brazen altar before you. Heb. 13: 11-13 says: We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
If you are looking for salvation, or have never experienced your sins being forgiven, I ask you, to go to Jesus who suffered and shed His blood for your sins. With what little faith is given to you, lay hold of Jesus, confess and repent of your sins; you can have a new-life in Jesus. If you trust Him and accept the forgiveness He offers, you are be born-again. This is the simple gospel of salvation-salvation is free. Yes, the best gift available on earth is free; Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
As priests who accept sacrifice of animals, go and wash themselves in the laver of water, when your sins are forgiven, go and be baptized. If you do not know what ‘baptism’ means ask your local church Pastor or Christian worker, he/she is sure to help you. In the Book of Acts of the Apostles, we find Paul searching for someone to show him the way. There Ananias met him, and said to Paul, ‘Brother Paul, receive your sight… And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ (Acts 22: 13, 16) Remember, this is Paul who Jesus Himself met while on his way to Damascus, and there Paul received the truth; yet, he had to go and be baptized! Baptism-the passing through of waters, is a simple act of obedience to what you believe happened in your spirit when you were born-again, that your sins were forgiven. Baptism is a fundamental, but important, step of open confession to your belief in Jesus Christ-Call on His name!
Holy Place
But today, I want to encourage all believers to progress further into the Holy Place. A table is prepared before you, with fresh loaves of bread-symbolizing the word of God. There is a new word from God for you today; Jesus quoting from the Old Testament said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4: 4). If you are looking for the word of God every Sunday, I say, it is a sorry state; just as the man who eats bread once a week! Also, as you see Jesus-the bread of heaven, you can have something new of Him.(I, for one, have a dislike for eating stale food-even if it is the best dish cooked yesterday!) There is some word new today from Jesus; else we will be living on what God told me yesterday, or last month… or last year… or several years ago.
In the Holy Place is also the lamp-stand with the seven lights… ’which are the seven Spirits of God’ (Rev. 4: 5). The light signified the Holy Spirit, helping us shine everyday with the gifts and talents endowed to us. Let keep the oil full and the lamps trimmed, that the continual anointing of the Holy Spirit may rest upon our lives. Remember, this is apart from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, when we first believed in Jesus (John 1:33); this is the daily walking in light experience and being continually filled with the Spirit mentioned in Eph. 5: 18, and speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
And in the Holy Place, is also the golden altar of incense which, are the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8: 3). Prayer is a precious way to commune with God; it signifies our relationship and our dependency on God our Father. We are guided day by day through our communion of prayer. In fact, if you see, all the activities in the Holy Place were done on a daily basis-the fresh loaves of show bread on the table, the filling of oil and the continual burning of lamps, and then the incense on the gold altar. In the Old Covenant, the Levitical priests performed these duties; in the New Covenant, we-believers, have entered into the Holy Place because of the sacrifice of Jesus and have been made priests unto God (Rev. 1: 6). Therefore, let us have a daily fellowship with our God.
Most Holy Place
Even from the Holy Place, the priests were kept away from the presence of God (Ark of the Testimony) by a thick veil separating the Most Holy Place. But would you go further now, dearly beloved, for the veil was torn from top to bottom, when Jesus died on the cross and paid the ransom for many. The Most Holy Place is now accessible for you and me! ‘All shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.’ (Heb. 8: 11) says the Lord. This is the New Covenant privilege! Not just the Jews, but also Gentiles; not just priests in the Holy Place, but together with Christ- our High Priest.
In the Ark of the Testimony were kept the laws engraved on the tablets of stone; this signifies the commandments of God and our obedience to them. This is a way of loving our God-keep His commands (John 15:1); this is a way of knowing our God-keep His commands (1 John 2: 3); this is a way of growing in God-follow His commands (John 14:21).
It is really left to us to leave- elementary knowledge (Heb. 6:1), put away childish things (1 Cor. 13:11), and press towards the goal of being conformed to the image of Jesus (Phil. 3: 14, 15); that we may know Him and the hope of His calling.
Let us proceed into the Most Holy Place; In Jesus name, Amen.
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