|
BACKGROUND
TABERNACLE - Eaton
TABERNACLE - Davis
ALTAR
ALTAR
LAVER (WASHING BASIN)
(TABLE OF) SHEWBREAD
(TABLE OF) SHOWBREAD
CANDLESTICK (LAMPSTAND)
LAMPS, LAMPSTAND:
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
INCENSE
ARK
ARK OF THE COVENANT
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
Full Background Information on Moses Tabernacle here
|
Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| APPLICATION TO TODAY’S CHURCH (Continued) |
|
|
| THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH – Added the Furniture from the Holy Place |
|
 Entry to the Tent: The ‘Baptism’ or ‘Release’ of The Holy Spirit
As described in a previous study, entry into the tent containing both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, was restricted to the Priests in the case of the Holy Place, and the High Priest, then just once a year, in respect of the Holy of Holies. The tent was covered with sea cow skins, tinged blue and oily, a type or picture of the Holy Spirit. So to enter the Holy Place, the realm in which the Pentecostal Church operates, it is necessary for one to become the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament priest.
|
|
|
 How do we do this? That is the great debate between the non-charismatic evangelical church who say that we receive all of God at conversion and those of charismatic/pentecostal persuasion, who believe that a second baptism or release is required in order to enter into the Holy Spirit or Holy Place experience. This is not the place to debate the arguments (the book isn’t long enough!) but I would suggest that both theologically and from practical observation and experience, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the New Testament equivalent to the priesthood of the Old. This baptism or release enables us to participate in the revelations contained within the Holy Place.
It’s a lot like buying a ticket to see a movie. To understand the movie, you must see it. To get in, you have to buy a ticket (the baptism of the Holy Spirit). Otherwise you only receive a second hand account from others, with the inevitable misunderstandings that that involves. Been there, done that! That is why I urge you to buy the ticket and enter new realms of spiritual experience, if you haven’t done so already.
|
| Holy Place Furniture |
|
 There are 3 items of furniture in the Holy Place, each reflecting an aspect of the beliefs and practices of Pentecostal Churches. In fact, Pentecostal Churches can be divided into 3 types, as individual churches tend to major on one of the three items of furniture.
|
|
|
 a. Table of Showbread – The Revelatory Word of God (Word - Inwards)
The word of God can be read on different levels. The bible tells us that it won’t make sense at all to an unbeliever and I can relate to that. Before becoming a Christian the bible was the most boring book around. After finding Jesus it started to make more sense as I sought to find out more about my Lord and Saviour. I really appreciated the Evangelical exposition of the Word. But eventually I wanted even more. As I came into the Spirit I started to gain a level of understanding of the revelatory or underlying meaning of God’s word.
1 Corinthians 2:14
|
|
|
The depth of understanding available is infinite, yes it’s inexhaustible. This work therefore, is based on my limited understanding of the revelatory word of God. My understanding will grow as I grow in the Lord. So as I have mentioned previously, it is not the final word. Only God has that!
2 Corinthians 4:6
The Pentecostal movement has brought with it new insights and understanding into the word of God, to those who are in the spiritual place to understand them. So for one group of Pentecostal Churches, the intricacies of the word are all-important, their major emphasis being on teaching programmes and the preaching of the Word.
|
|
|
 b. The Golden Lampstand – Speaking of the Gifts of The Spirit (Works - Outwards)
The Lampstand, you will remember, burned oil, signifying among other things, the oil of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. With this anointing comes spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
|
|
|
 Yes, the access to spiritual giftings is an integral part of the Pentecostal Church, one that identifies and separates them from Traditional and Evangelical churches. So we find within the Pentecostal movement, churches that major on spiritual gifts. A service is not complete if it doesn’t involve tongues, interpretation, prophecy, words of knowledge, and sometimes healings. Praise and worship and the preaching of the word are likely included but the real success or failure of the meeting is judged by how well the gifts flowed.
|
|
|
 c. The Incense Altar – Speaking of Praise and Worship, and Prayer (Worship - Upwards)
An altar of course speaks of sacrifice. Since Jesus was the final sacrifice for all sin, our sacrifice must be something different. Our sacrifice is praise and worship.
Hebrews 13:15
|
|
|
 The incense that was offered on this altar speaks of prayer.
Revelation 8:3
|
|
|
 So, a further differentiation, a further truth revealed to the Pentecostal Church, is the power of praise, worship and prayer. I have commented earlier on my own experiences and difficulties, coming from an Evangelical background into a fellowship where praise, worship and prayer are full on. There is a major difference to older style churches here, a newer revelation. But some Pentecostal fellowships overly major on praise and worship and/or prayer, so lacking in balance. These truths are the prime reason for their existence. Always seeking to break through into the “third heaven”, to the very presence of God, through these activities, relegating the gifts and the Word to minor roles.
|
|
|
 The key for all those in the Pentecostal Church desiring to move on in God is to attain a balance between the three. To build inwardly through a deeper understanding of the Word, to build outwardly through works inspired by the Holy Spirit, and to build a deeper relationship upwardly with God, through praise and worship and prayer.
|
| THE CHARISMATIC CHURCH – The Revelations of the Holy Place into the Evangelical Church |
|
 Overall, there is little difference of revelation between the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. There are differences in application however, because of the differing backgrounds of the people, and the situations in which they are applied. The Charismatic movement grew out of the desires of those in the Evangelical Church who hungered for more of God, yet did not want to lose the traditions of their own heritage. As the truths of Pentecost have permeated Charismatic Churches, differences of application have become less and less noticeable, the essential truths of the Holy Place being the same for all.
|
| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> |
|
 We are going to have a look at how the ministry functions of Ephesians 4:11 have been restored to the church in accordance with the pattern of Moses Tabernacle.
Fascinating stuff, showing the glory of God's eternal plan.
|
| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
|
 There is even greater division amongst 'Spirit filled' churches than those operating along more traditional lines. I trust that today's study will explain part of the reason why.
But there is still hope! We will see this in the weeks ahead. Please keep reading for the good news! (Good News, God News!)
Sea of Galilee - Decapolis Area
Decapolis means “10 cities.” Though the number of cities changed from time to time, the Decapolis was a group of independent city-states that were thoroughly pagan and Hellenistic. Veterans of Alexander the Great’s army founded several of these city-states in the fourth century BC. And when Pompey and his Roman legions took control of the area in 63 BC, they kept it separate from the Jewish territory to the west.
Several of the Decapolis city-states are mentioned in the Bible, including Gerasa (Mark 5:1; (Luke 8:26), Beth Shean (then called Scythopolis—1 Sam. 31:10), and Gadara (Matt. 8:28). These towns typically had Hellenistic designs, with theaters where lewd plays were performed, temples where sacrifices were offered to pagan gods, and coliseums where nude athletic games and gladiatorial contests took place. Each city controlled the areas surrounding it, spreading their Hellenistic philosophy and religion.
The farmers of Galilee could see the sophisticated Gentile world barely eight miles away, and the steep cliffs of the Eastern Shore must have seemed evil and menacing to them. But the Gentiles’ culture was probably alluring to the faithful Jews as well. Some scholars believe the “far country” mentioned in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son referred to the Decapolis. It was barely a day’s walk from Galilee and the riotous lifestyle and pigs could certainly be found there.
Many people in New Testament times believed that the inhabitants of the Decapolis were those whom Joshua had driven from the Promised Land—the seven pagan nations (Josh. 3:10; Acts 13:19). They viewed the land as the place of the “expelled ones,” the worshipers of Baal.
In this context, Jesus’ ministry in the Decapolis is remarkable. His disciples probably hesitated when he suggested they row there (“the other side”— Mark 4:35). Once they arrived, they were greeted by a man possessed by a legion of demons, and there was a Roman legion stationed nearby (Mark 5:1—20).
Uncharacteristically, Jesus did not ask the man to be quiet after he was healed. Instead sent him to share the good news with the people of his town (possibly Susita, which was close by). Apparently, the man’s message was blessed before the next time Jesus visited, because there were new believers there by that time (Mark 7:31—37).
Source: http://www.followtherabbi.com
|
So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
|
A DAVID'S DOODLING
33. A man’s wisdom is based upon experience, but God’s wisdom comes through revelation.
David Tait
|
Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
Life's a Laugh: http://www.wwj.org.nz/lifelaugh.php
Links to other sites of interest: http://www.wwj.org.nz/links.php
Till Death do us Part!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/tddup.php
|
