Our God is truly Awesome!
Holy
IN SEARCH OF HIS BRIDE
If you were asked, “What are you looking for in a husband/wife?”, you would probably respond with a list of qualities that you think would be ideal in the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.
Do you know that Jesus has done the same thing? He has a list of qualities that He is looking for in His Bride. With this in mind let us look at a Scripture that may seem unusual for this topic at first.
You see, with God everything is “black and white” with no grey areas. The reality is that you and I will either spend eternity with Jesus or forever separated from Him. To live with Him forever means that you will be a part of His Bride. Those who spend eternity in hell, separated from Him and heaven, will have done so by the choices they had made.
Rev. 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
This verse lists those who will spend eternity apart from Jesus, having disqualified themselves from being a part of the Bride of Christ. We can therefore discern the characteristics that Jesus seeks in His Bride by identifying the opposite of each quality.
1. Fearful – Those who easily give in to intimidation from the enemy of the Gospel
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| The Warrior Bride of Christ |
Jesus’ Bride – FEARLESS
- knows that Jesus always protects His own
- courageously spreads the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- does not water down the Gospel because of pressure from detractors
2. Unbelieving – literally those who are unfaithful; cannot be trusted
Jesus’ Bride – TRUSTWORTHY
- Faithful to do the will of the Lord
- Can be trusted to obey His directions, even when they don’t seem to make sense
3. Abominable – those who do things that are disgusting, distasteful and loathsome in the eyes of God
Jesus’ Bride – DELIGHTFUL
- Lifestyle is pleasing to the Lord
- Practices Philippians 4:8 – thinks on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy
4. Murderers – those who kill physically and/or with their tongue – by speaking ill against brothers and sisters
Jesus’ Bride – HONORS OTHERS
- Forgives those who offend
- encourages those who are weak
- corrects those who have fallen – in a spirit of humility and love
5. Whoremongers – those who engage in illicit sexual behavior
Jesus’ Bride – PURE
- If married – faithful to his/her earthly spouse
- If unmarried – faithful to the Lord
6. Sorcerers – engaging in witchcraft and false prophecy; seeking answers from spirits other than the Holy Spirit
Jesus’ Bride – GUIDED BY HIS WORD
- in constant communication with Him
- spirit is sensitive to His voice
7. Idolaters – those who put people or things before God in order of importance
Jesus’ Bride – PUTS JESUS FIRST
- Jesus is the first love
- Everyone and everything else is secondary
8. Liars – those who practice deceit and hypocrisy; say one thing but do another
Jesus’ Bride – TRUTHFUL
- Consistently truthful in communicating with Him
- Not hiding anything from the Lord or pretending about anything
- Everything is out in the open before Him
Rev. 19:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]!
Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor,
for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come,
and His bride has prepared herself.
She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–
for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people).
Do you qualify to be part of the Bride of Christ?
THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER
Author Unknown
I cannot say “OUR” if I live only for myself
I cannot say “FATHER” if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child
I cannot say “IN HEAVEN” if I am laying up no treasure there
I cannot say “HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME” if I am not striving for holiness
I cannot say “YOUR KINGDOM COME” if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event
I cannot say “YOUR WILL BE DONE” if I am disobedient to His word
I cannot say “ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” if I’ll not serve Him here and now
I cannot say “GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD” if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge
I cannot say “FORGIVE US OUR SINS” if I harbour a grudge against anyone
I cannot say “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION” if I deliberately place myself in its path
I cannot say “DELIVER US FROM EVIL” if I do not put on the whole armour of God
I cannot say “YOURS IS THE KINGDOM” if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject
I cannot attribute to Him “THE POWER” if I fear what men may do
I cannot ascribe to Him “THE GLORY” if I’m seeking honour only for myself
AND
I cannot say “FOR EVER” if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.
MOSES’ TABERNACLE – A PATTERN FOR INTIMACY: PT. 10
THE HOLY OF HOLIES
God often works in three’s, and your journey of intimacy through Moses’ Tabernacle reflects this.
You enter through three portals
- The Gate to the Tabernacle shows that Jesus is the only Way to the Father
- The Door to the Holy Place leads you into the Truth of who Jesus is and who you are in Him
- The Veil that once separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies is now open for you to have true divine Life in Christ.
You have three different experiences
- In the outer court you present your body as a living sacrifice
- In the Holy Place your soul communes with Christ, and you learn of Him and grow in intimacy with Him.
- In the Holy of Holies it is no longer you who live, but your spirit is alive in Christ.
Three Lights
- In the outer court there was the light of the sun – signifying the emphasis on things that are natural
- In the Holy Place there is the light from the Lampstand – here your inner light is ignited by Jesus who is the Light of the world
- In the Holy of Holies the only light is the glory of the Father Himself
Your journey through Moses’ Tabernacle also symbolizes
- Death to self – outer court
- Burial in Christ. Your life, your thoughts exchanged for His – Holy Place
- Resurrection to new life in Christ– Holy of Holies
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
The Ark was the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. It was made of that now familiar acacia wood and overlaid with gold – signifying humanity overshadowed with Divinity.
Today many search for the Ark of old, not realizing that we are now the spiritual Ark of the Lord, carrying His presence and power in us as we rest, remain and abide in that secret place in Him.
Inside the Ark of old were three items. Each is symbolic of your life of intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each shows an attribute of Jesus the Christ.
1. The Ten Commandments. The law is now written on your heart.
– For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death – Romans 8:2
– And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us – John 1:14a
2. The Pot of Manna. God is your ever present Source and Supply
– “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you – Matthew 6:31, 33
– Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world – John 6:32
3. Aaron’s rod that budded. In a place of intimacy with Him the Father can resurrect the dead areas of your life.
– Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life – Romans 6:4
– Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” – John 11:25
The Mercy Seat
The Mercy Seat formed the cover of the Ark. Two cherubim of gold stood on each end, wings outstretched and touching and faces looking down toward the Mercy Seat.
It was there that God manifested Himself to Moses.
– And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony – Exodus 25:22
When the high priest came into the Holy of Holies he would cover the Mercy Seat with a cloud of incense. Incense, as we discussed earlier, represents your prayer and praise. So when you come into that secret place in the Lord, when you offer praise and worship to Him in spirit and in truth, He manifests Himself!
What a glorious picture of intimacy Moses’ Tabernacle is!
I pray that you will go deeper and higher as you continue on this exciting journey,
and that you will be determined to remain one with
The Father, Jesus the Son and The Precious Holy Spirit.
MOSES’ TABERNACLE – A PATTERN FOR INTIMACY: PART 6
ENTER THE HOLY PLACE
There are three portals in the Tabernacle of Moses. The first is the Gate – the only entrance into the enclosure. We have already discussed how beautifully the Gate portrays Jesus Himself. He is the only way in – the only way to the Father.
You have presented your body as a living sacrifice at the Brazen Altar. You have washed your hands and feet at the Brazen Laver, ridding yourself of the impurities and influences of the world. Now you stand before another portal – the door that separates the open-air Outer Court from the covered Tent of Meeting.
Note that only priests could enter through the Door of the Tabernacle and into the Holy Place – the first section of the Tent. The same is true today. It is a place reserved for those who have committed their lives to drawing ever closer to God by meeting with Him regularly and often, and by living a life of prayer, worship and service to Him and to others.
THE ENTRANCE
“You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.” Exodus 26:36,37
This door, like the Gate, is another encounter with the Lord Jesus Himself. Whereas in the first encounter at the Gate, you experienced Him as Saviour, now you are about to interact with Him in a more intimate manner.
This new transition is seen even in the materials used in the pillars that hold up the screen of the Door. Notice that they are made of acacia and overlaid with gold, and that they sit in bronze sockets. You have seen acacia before in the Bronze Altar. It is that durable wood that reminds us of Jesus’ indestructible body which was scourged, pierced and flogged for you and me. You have also seen the bronze fence posts, Bronze Altar and Bronze Laver. Bronze represents judgment.
For the first time, however, you see a new metal – gold. Gold represents divinity. Not only is Jesus represented in the blue, scarlet and purple screen, but in the supporting pillars we also see Him – perfectly human (acacia) yet perfectly Divine (gold), and taking upon Himself the judgment (bronze) that was due us all. Once more you are reminded that in order to get close to the Father, you must come through the Son.
From this point on all the furniture you will encounter will be made of gold. No bronze is allowed in the Holy Place or beyond. You see, there is no such thing as pure bronze. Bronze is an alloy – a mixture of copper, tin and other trace metals. As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. There can be no mixture in you as you enter the inner enclosure of your spiritual Holy Place. Do you see why it was important to wash first at the Brazen Laver?
As you look around you notice that the Holy Place is encased by several coverings. Let us examine them.
LINEN
The innermost coverings are linen curtains interwoven with cherubim. Linen represents rest. You may remember that the first time cherubim were mentioned in Scripture was in Genesis 3:23, 24.
“…therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Cherubim are guardians. They kept Adam and Eve from returning to the idyllic Garden of Eden where they had enjoyed sweet intimate fellowship with the Lord. I believe that these cherubim, being on the inside of the Holy Place where you are, symbolize how God wants you to guard the treasures that you receive in your spirit during your communion with Him; treasures that enable you to come into a deeper state of rest in Him.
GOATS’ HAIR
“You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle.” Exodus 26:7
In Moses’ day the goat was a sacrificial animal, used on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest would lay his hands on the goat’s head, after which it was led away out of the camp and into the wilderness. This scapegoat signified God’s taking away the sins of the Israelites. What a wonderful symbol of Jesus who is our Sacrificial Scapegoat!
RAM’S SKINS
“You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.” Exodus 26:14
The ram reminds us of a substitute sacrifice. After Abraham willingly took Isaac up to the mountain to sacrifice him as God ordered, the Lord provided Himself a ram caught in the thicket.
The red ram skins are a reminder that Jesus’ Blood was the Perfect Substitute given in sacrifice for our sin.
BADGER SKINS
Badger skins are tough and coarse, shielding the precious items in the Tabernacle from the onslaught of rain, wind and sand. Jesus is our Covering, shielding us from the onslaught of the enemy.
These badger skins were also unattractive. Again we see a picture of our Saviour whom Isaiah describes this way…
“He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2
Jesus commands you to come often to this secret place, The Holy Place, in Him – away from the noise and clatter of daily routine. It is here in this glorious seclusion that He meets with you and imparts His precious treasures into you.
Don’t rush. Stay a while, and walk with me to the first piece of furniture in the Holy Place – the Golden Lampstand.
….to be continued.
Wisdom From The Throne 