KNOW THE WILL OF GOD - 2006 ARCHIVE

The House of Gold - the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Part 4) - PUBLISHED 1 DECEMBER 2006

The altar of burnt offerings (study 1)

THE APPROACH

An Israelite approaches the House of God carrying his offering, a lamb. The man is ill at ease and trembling, scared and afraid of Almighty God. Why? Because he has sinned and his conscience is troubled. So he must approach the Holy God with his sin offering but he wants to about turn and flee from His presence. Yet where can he run to? Where can he hide? As the Israelite considers this righteous God he breaks out in a cold sweat but determines in his heart to present his offering albeit hesitantly.

THE COURT

The man walks along the north side of the white curtain Wall. Its purity causes him to tremble. Eventually he comes to the east side of the Wall where his eyes behold the wide open Gate. Hesitating no longer he boldly strides through the Gate into the spacious Court. Before him rises the beautiful and impressively high House of Gold - the House of God. The sand burns beneath his feet as the glare from the bright, hot sun makes him feel as if he is indeed standing in the light of God. It feels as if He is searching his heart, seeing everything, good and bad, that is hidden there.

THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERINGS

A priest approaches the Israelite. “What can I do for you?” he asks gently. The man replies quietly, in awe of the situation he is in. “I have sinned and God must punish my sin. So I have brought my sacrifice.” And he holds out the lamb he’s been carrying. “Yes,” the priest answers, “you have done well to come here. God had this place prepared for people such as you, sinners who recognise their sin. Follow me.” The priest leads the man to the Altar of burnt offerings, the first object you come across in the House of God. It is a large brazier whose name, Altar, means ‘place of sacrifice’. How many animals have been offered there? Too numerous to mention.

Throughout the Bible the role of the Altar is explained time and again because it speaks of Christ and His atoning work on the Cross at Calvary. Through that sacrifice of Jesus we can be reconciled to God the Father. This is the focus of God’s thoughts toward us, and is the only way of Salvation for sinners. If you were to consider the thousands of offerings presented to God on the Altar, how impressive beyond words would that one sacrifice of Jesus Christ be? It is indeed the perfect sacrifice made once and for all - His finished work of redemption on the Cross. From eternity to eternity the Cross of the Redeemer is centred between Heaven and Earth.

GOD’S PLAN

God knew beforehand what would become of His creation. He knew of the plans of the devil; to ruin everything that is of God and to destroy the lives of those that He had created to worship Him through sin. For the devil seeks to kill, steal and destroy but God in His almighty wisdom had planned for this eventuality. Because of His holiness he cannot let sin go unpunished. God is Light (see 1 John chapter 1 verse 5) and His light reveals the sin hid in the darkness of your hearts. So God required a sacrifice because He had to judge man righteously. This is why the Israelite brought his lamb to the House of God. But the sacrifice of animals only went part way. He required yet a greater sacrifice. But if He did make such a demand how could His love be demonstrated for He is the God of love? (See 1 John chapter 4 verses 8 and 16).

DYING IN YOUR PLACE

Throughout the Old Testament each animal that was sacrificed on the Altar spoke of the perfect sacrifice to come - Jesus Christ upon the Cross at Calvary. The Israelite gave the lamb he had been carrying to the priest . “I know I must offer a sacrifice for my sins but must this animal really have to die?” “Certainly,” replied the priest, “for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness possible.” (See Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22). “But this lamb is innocent.” protested the man. “It hasn’t done anything wrong. And my children are so fond of it. What has the lamb done to deserve this?” The priest looked the Israelite square in the eye. “That is just the point,” he said, “He who is guilty can never take the place of another guilty person. You have forfeited your life by your sin. Now you must die, or allow a guiltless one to die in your place.” Then he said to the man, “Lay your hand on the head of this lamb, for in doing so you are admitting your guilt and God views this act as preparing the sacrifice and transferring your guilt on to the lamb. When the lamb dies your sins will be washed away in its blood.” Quietly the man lays his hand on the lamb’s head while the priest carries out the final preparations. Then he brings forth the knife and the blood of the lamb flows turning the desert floor a dark red. It is a solemn act the Israelite has undertaken and, as he looks heavenward, he feels a if a great burden has been removed from his shoulders. The lamb dies in his place. As it says in Leviticus chapter 4 verse 31, “...and it shall be forgiven thee.”

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

May I ask, dear reader, have you ever thought about the Cross of Christ in this way? He is the holy One, the guiltless One who suffered a painful death , substituting Himself for you and taking the punishment you deserved. But not all men will see this sacrifice as I hope you do. They are indifferent to that finished work on the cross. They continue to live in their sin oblivious to the fate that awaits them. Then they die and are lost forever. Still others have looked at and considered this act and then undertook a ‘religious’ act and have gone away thinking they are clean. But they never came to the cross as did that Israelite - as sinners!

Christ dies for all who have laid their hand on the Lamb of God. You can do this too. You can do it with your hands clasped or unclasped, with your eyes open or shut. It doesn’t matter how you come to Him but come you must. Then as you stand before Him confess your sins and give thanks to Jesus for taking your place on the Cross. Then you can lift holy hands to God the Father, thanking Him and believing in Him, trusting in the work of His Son that was accomplished on the Cross. And if you haven’t already done so, invite Jesus into your life to be your Lord forever. At that moment you will find God has atoned for your sin through the blood of Christ and you are free for all eternity!

Read, consider and rejoice in the words of this great old hymn.

“In the Cross I glory ever,
Can the law condemn me? Never!
Christ became a curse for me,
Christ has died on Calvary,
From both sin and death I am free,
Christ has purchased life for me.”

The House of Gold - the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Part 3) - PUBLISHED 31 OCTOBER 2006

The gate

As you gaze upon the gate in scripture (see Exodus chapter 27 verse 16) you cannot help but be struck by its size and beauty. But there is something more you should behold - and that is that God put a gate there in the first place. Surely God could have said that because of your sins no one should gain access to the Tabernacle, all should be left outside to perish in the darkness. Yet God, in His wonderful grace, made this entrance so that all who turn to Him may enter. This is the wonderful news of the gospel. God has provided a way back for you into His presence through the gate which is His Son.

THE OPEN GATE

The gate was twenty cubits wide and five cubits high, which is about forty feet. God made it wide so all who desire to enter may freely do so. For God is the Saviour and desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (see 1 Timothy chapter 2 verses 3 and 4). God is calling all men to come (see Revelation chapter 22 verse 17), so there can be no excuse in the day of judgment.

The gate is a beautiful entrance made up of woven colours - blue, purple and scarlet. It speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the gate is made from material and not wood or metal everyone can enter through it, both young and old alike. All are welcome.

Notice that there is only one door. The Lord Jesus Himself explained the meaning of this when He said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved...” (see John chapter 10 verse 9). Through Him we have access to the Father (see Ephesians chapter 2 verse 18 and chapter 3 verse 12). There are those who say that everyone can be saved in his own way but as we see in 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 5, Jesus alone is your Saviour, He alone gives access to God’s dwelling place.

THE CLOSED GATE

However, one day the gate will closed forever and then it will be too late. It could be at the point of death or when the Lord returns. Just as in Noah’s day those outside the ark perished because they were shut out (see Genesis chapter 7 verses 16 to 23), and the five foolish bridesmaids were shut out of the wedding (see Matthew chapter 25 verses 1 to 10), so anyone who does not enter through the gate before it is shut will perish. You are either inside and saved for all eternity, living in His light; or you are outside and lost forever, living in an endless night. Who knows when the gate will be shut forever?

Inside there will be joy unspeakable but outside there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Where are you inside or outside? Are you sure you are inside? As this is written the gate is still open. Christ still waits with open arms to welcome you in to His presence (see Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 and John chapter 7 verse 37). Will you come to Him or will allow yourself to be shut out of His presence forever? Only you can decide.

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The House of Gold - the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Part 2) - PUBLISHED 2 OCTOBER 2006

A view of the Tabernacle

If we look at the Tabernacle from a distance we will see only the linen fence, 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide, hung between two sturdy pillars [see Exodus chapter 27]. Using today’s measurements that would be approximately 180 feet long by 90 feet wide. The dull coloured roof of the Tabernacle rises above the fenced enclosures to a height of 10 cubits. The enclosure had within it several items which are listed below and will be explained over the course of this series.

- The wide gate.

- The Brazen Altar (the place of sacrifice).

- The laver (the washing of the priest).

- The Holy Place a) The Candlestick b) the Table of Showbread c) the Golden Altar of Incense.

- The Holy of Holies (The Ark and its contents) a) The Law b) Manna c) The Almond rod of Aaron that budded [see Numbers 17].

Seen from this external prospective, the Tabernacle is not a very attractive structure at all. But that is the way it is with the things of God. One who has not entered does not understand the things of God. To such a person these things are but nonsense. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 18 and 23 we are told why. Indeed when God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ walked on this Earth the people did not think He was very special. The reason was everything was hidden from them. They even thought He was unattractive. “He has no form or comeliness... And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him...He was despised and we did not esteem Him” [see Isaiah chapter 53 verses 2 and 3]. Every Christian knows this through his own experience. At first there was nothing in Christ that attracted you, but when you come to know Him, He becomes even greater and more precious to you than you could ever realise.

As you draw near the enclosure becomes more impressive. Its white curtains, vividly contrasting with the grey of the surrounding tents surrounding the Tabernacle, give an immediate impression of the purity and holiness inside. Because of its height, five cubits or approximately nine feet, no one can see over it. God does not show Himself. There is no obvious welcome. The curtains seem to say ‘No admittance’. This is very serious as normally access to God is forbidden to every man.

There was but one Man who was as white and spotless as these curtains. He was Christ the pure one, the perfect Man. When you look at these curtains are you as pure? Do you belong in His presence?

Many want to follow Christ. It seems the right thing to do. But the first lesson God the Father wants to teach you through the enclosure is that you, the people from the grey tents surrounding the Tabernacle, the people from a grey and dirty world that contrasts drastically with His purity, He wants to teach you that you cannot simply come to Him; you cannot just go and stand next to Him; you cannot just start following Him. Why not? Because His purity and sinless life reveals how dirty we are on the inside. Everyone is dirty and sinful before a holy God. There is none that do good no not one, and out of their mouths comes deceit. The whole world is guilty before God because all have sinned and come short of His glory [see Romans chapter 3 verses 10 to 23].

Do you want to be honest enough to acknowledge your guilt, to come before God just as you are? If you do He will admit you into His presence.

In part 3 we will look at the gate on the east side of the Tabernacle, which is an open door for the repentant sinner.

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The House of Gold - the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Part 1) - PUBLISHED 30 AUGUST 2006

Over the next few months we will be looking at ‘The House of Gold’ a series of studies on the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The story of the Tabernacle is often glossed over by many Christians. Yet it is such a pictorial representation of much that we find in the Bible that if we ignore it we lose out on the fullness and richness a study on this subject can bring. We hope these studies will help to redress that balance as you get a clearer picture of God’s way of salvation and the Christian life.

INTRODUCTION

It wasn’t a campsite, yet there were thousands of tents. They were not brightly coloured, in fact they were very grey in colour. Yet in their midst stood the House of Gold, the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

The tents were homes for a nomadic people. Not a small tribe but a nation of twelve tribes comprising of millions of people. They were the nation Israel! Actually those grey tents and that beautiful Tabernacle were a complete contrast as were the people and God. There did not appear to be any harmony between them.

In each tent dwelt a family who suffered sorrow, sadness, fighting and trouble. If we could look into each tent, if we could look into the hearts of those who occupied those tents, we would see the same things that fill our own hearts and homes - selfishness, pride, unclean thoughts, hostility and even hatred.

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Why is the House of Gold, the Tabernacle, the House of God standing among those people? In fact why does God want anything to do with such people? Why doesn’t He leave them to their own devices? Why doesn’t He stay in Heaven? God came down to His house He set up on earth because He wanted to dwell in the midst of His people and He wanted people to live close to Him [see John chapter 14 verse 23]. But that wasn’t just for then. It applies to you today and to those who will follow you tomorrow right up to the time of the new heaven and new earth. You see God wants to dwell with you for all eternity [see Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 to 3]. God loves you so much that He wants you in His presence.

THE WONDERFUL HOUSE

This House of Gold, the Tabernacle, this house of God speaks of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. It also speaks of God and of heaven. The description of the Tabernacle in the wilderness does not merely give the details of a sanctuary, but suggests that greater significance is attached to it. After all what would be the point of using up so much of the Bible merely to list measurements, weights and materials?

The Tabernacle reflects in its plans the thoughts of God. It speaks of the glory of heaven, of the golden city, of the new Jerusalem. In Hebrews chapter 9 verses 23 and 24 we read that the things of the Tabernacle are patterns of the things in heaven. And who is in the centre of heaven? It is the wonderful Son of God the Lord Jesus Christ in whom are combined all riches and glory. He is the centre of God’s thoughts from eternity to eternity. This we can see throughout scripture. He is revealed time and again both in part and as a whole in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Every detail of the Tabernacle is filled with meaning and these meanings are revealed in the word of God.

THE ASSIGNMENT

The Tabernacle was not to be built according to man’s design but according to God’s plan. In Exodus chapter 25 and verse 8 we read God’s words, “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” That was His desire. He showed Moses His plan when Mosses was on mount Sinai for forty days [see Exodus chapter 24 verse 18.] During the making of the Tabernacle it was repeated time and again that it must be constructed as the Lord had commanded Mosses [see Exodus chapter 39 verse 42.] It would be a building of such magnificence that no man could ever imagine what it would be like!

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The only way - PUBLISHED 4 JUNE 2006

Jesus is recorded as saying in Mathew chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, “Enter by the narrow
gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Throughout life man is continually confronted by choices. And the most dramatic and fundamental decision he is faced with, which he can never evade, is the choice between eternal life and eternal death. Therefore, because it is certain that he must face it, great spiritual men in history have confronted him with that one inevitable choice.

As the end of Moses life drew near he spoke to the people and said, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish: you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” [Deuteronomy chapter 30 verses 15 to 20.]

When Joshua was laying down the leadership of the nation at the close of his life, he presented them with the same choice. “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” [Joshua chapter 24 verse 15.]

And Jeremiah heard the voice of God which instructed him to speak to the people. “Now you shall say to this people, Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold , I set before you the way of life and death.’” [Jeremiah chapter 21 verse 8.]

And it is the same choice with which Jesus is confronting man in Matthew chapter 7. There is a broad and easy way. Many take this way only to find it is the way of ruin. Then there is the narrow and hard way and there are few who take it. Yet this is the way of eternal life! So why is the Lord’s way hard?

There was once a man who was unhappy with how his life had turned out. The way of Jesus was explained to him but he could not accept the simplicity of the gospel. He went away still unhappy unable to enter into newness of life and experience the peace of God. God’s way of salvation is simplicity itself but if you want to complicate the way, if you want to intellectualise it you are wasting your time.

And this is man’s great problem because for whatever reason he wants God his way. This is why we have so many religions, sects, cults and even Christian denominations. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” [see John chapter 14 verse 6.] There is no other way.

The simplicity of God’s way can be found in that beautiful story of Bartimaeus [see Mark chapter 10 verses 46 to 52.] He was a blind beggar rejected by society but he believed Jesus could meet his need. He called out to Him unafraid of the ridicule he would suffer at the hands of the crowd. At that moment Jesus met his need , restored his sight and Bartimaeus saw the way because he believed. The Bible says many times, “Fear not only believe”, but belief of itself is not enough. The devil believes and trembles.

Bartimaeus put more than belief into action, he exercised faith. He could have just sat outside that gate and believed that Jesus could meet his need, but he didn’t, he took action by going after the Lord. You may say ‘I have little faith.’ The Bible’s response is that if you have faith as a mustard seed you will move mountains! Ask God to help your faith.

Romans chapter 10 verse 10 says, “For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” Your confession is action. Jesus is the way, the only way to eternal life. What do you do if you are looking for somewhere but find you’re lost? You ask someone for directions. If you ask Jesus He will show you the way to the ultimate destination and will lovingly lead you there. He did not produce a set of rules and regulations to follow. He simply paid the price for your sin on the cross at Calvary. In John chapter 13 verse 34 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

How do you come to Christ? As you are realising your need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. You can’t have a simpler way than that. As it says in 1 John chapter 5 verses 11 and 12, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life.” May your eyes be open to the simplicity of the only way.

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The mind’ a battleground - PUBLISHED 12 APRIL 2006

Have you ever thought of your mind as a battle ground? King David certainly did. In Psalm chapter 13 verse 2 he writes, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts ...?” (New International Version). The truth is whatever controls a man’s thoughts controls the man. As it says in Proverbs chapter 23 verse 7, “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.

The battle for the mind continues unabated night and day as we are bombarded with information calculated to condition us and shape us into the world’s mould. When we use the phrase ‘the world’ we refer to mankind in opposition to God. The apostle Paul exhorts us to resist the world’s attempts to mould us and let God mould our minds through His word and the Holy Spirit [see Romans chapter 12 verse 2].

If you look around at the Christian scene today you will see plenty of evidence where the world is effectively shaping both the church and individual Christians to it’s mould. For example, there is a school of thought that one can effectively preach the gospel by demonstrating God’s love through social action. For instance, by providing financial and material aid to third world countries. But in many cases the aid would not be accompanied by a clear declaration of the gospel, neither would those providing the aid share their faith in Christ.

Of course it is true that Christians can demonstrate God’s love in this way. What social action alone cannot do is present the message of God’s love in sending His Son the Lord Jesus to redeem mankind from the consequences of sin.

The Bible makes it clear that you are to proclaim the gospel through the preaching of His word and through the example of your lives. As the apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians in his letter to them, 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 5 to 7, “For our gospel did not come to you