Jesus: The Tabernacle Revealed

This week we are in Hebrews 8 & 9. This tabernacle illustrates how Jesus is superior to the Old Covenant. (This is from a post I wrote over a month ago on Exodus on another blog)

Ex 25:8-9 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.”

The tabernacle is a type of Christ. It consists of the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

Salvation

Everything in the Outer Court is connected to salvation and the cleansing of sins. There is a single gate for its entrance, an altar for sacrifices, and a laver for washing.

The Outer Courtyard Entrance (not pictured) –The Way
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through me”
John 10:9 “I am the door (gate), whoever enters through me will be saved.”

The Bronze Altar of Burnt Offering – The Sacrifice
John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”

The Laver – The Forgiveness
John 13:8 “Unless, I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Sanctification

As we leave the courtyard and enter the Holy Place (we enter into a relationship with Jesus.) We can see a table, a lampstand, an altar, and a veil.

Table of Showbread –
John 6:35 “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

The Lampstand -
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Altar of Incense – The High Priest
John 17:9 “I pray for them.”
John 17:20 “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message

The Veil – The Blood and the Body
Hebrews 10:19-20 “ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, His body.”

Glorification

As we pass throught the veil and enter the Holy of Holies (we have access with God, the Father) and we behold the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat.

Ark of the Covenant

Golden Jar of Manna
John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”

Aaron’s budded Rod
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Tablets of the Covenant
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This week:
Thank God the Father that He sent His only son, Jesus, to dwell among us and fulfill all the roles in the real tabernacle in heaven.

Jesus: The Anchor of our Soul

Hebrews 6:19-20b
"We have this hope - like a sure and firm anchor of the soul - that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf."

HOPE should be one of those identifying characterics of a believer. It should be evident to everyone around us that we have a hope that does not change with the circumstances and seasons in our life.

HOPE should be like the anchor of a ship. It grounds the ship in place, makes it immovable from its position. Likewise, our hope that rests in Jesus should ground us in our fellowship with God. Our hope makes our belief in the sufficiency of God for all of life immovable.

Our hope is not anchored in anything this world has to offer. It is not connected to our job, our bank account, our hobbies, our homes, our possessions, or any person of this world.

Our HOPE lies in the person and work of Jesus as our "high priest - holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Our hope is that Jesus - our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior intercedes constantly on our behalf.

Our HOPE is anchored in the all powerful, unchangeable God; who promises our restoration for believing in His son Jesus.

Our HOPE is anchored in His grace and mercy; which He has promised based on who we are in Christ.

This week make sure people know and see the hope that is in you, that Jesus anchors your soul.

For Sale: Q-Tips and Hearing Aids!

This week's study is in Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12 and I would like to focus on verse 11.
NASB "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing."
HCSB "We have a great deal to say about this, and it's difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand."

I want to share two personal stories that might illustrate this "dull of hearing" and "slow to understand"

The first is a common problem that we all have tendency to fall into, but which frequently strikes the male half of the population. On more the one occasion, it has been revealed that I might be going a little deaf. While hearing tests have proved that I have a "small" loss of hearing in my left ear, it does not explain my inability to hear. The reason I am "dull of hearing" sometimes is because I have a lack of attention, or I get distracted.

It's is the same in our Christian walk, our "dullness of hearing" comes from the distractions in our lives and our inability to focus on what God has revealed. If we neglect to "Be still and know that I am God," we will miss many things God wants to share. If we don't start removing the distractions when we approach God in prayer, Bible Study, worship, and fellowship; then we can't hear what God wants to say.

The second story is about what happened to me after my back surgery. I have constant nerve pain, but after my surgery it was particulary intense for over a year. In order to function daily, the doctor prescribed a medication for nerve pain. However, the medication had several side effects. Besides reducing the nerve pain, it affected my ability to think. My thought processes became very slow, and it was difficult to mentally function. I literally became "slow to understand."

This is also true in our Christian walk, our "slow to understand" comes from sin in our lives. Sin acts as a barrier to the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts and reduces the full effects of the Word of God.

The word "dull" is translated from the Greek word "nothros", which literally means "no push", "sluggish", or "lazy." Our laziness is the reason why we get distracted, why we don't focus, and why we allow sin to remain unconfessed in our lives.

It is extremely important that we fully understand "the elementary teaching about the Christ" (6:1); so that we can teach them to others, show them the way of salvation, and allow God to bring us into maturity.

It's important that we see the Great Physician for regular hearing tests. Because "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." (2 Tim 4:3-4).

I have some Q-tips I can share (not ones that I have already used) and I admit that I might need a hearing aid (at least for my left ear.)