how do we gain access to presence of God, to the Most Holy Place?
through the entrance of the Tabernacle, the first feature in the courtyard was the bronze altar.
it is here that burnt, guilt, and sin offerings were made to God.
from this we can see that access to God begins with the shedding of blood--
"the laying down of life in substitutionary payment for the penalty of sin"
the altar directs us to the Cross of Christ,
the starting point to fellowship with God.
the Cross was a substitute for our sin and our death, paid in full by Christ
it was satisfactory. God required nothing more.
it is sufficient. to doubt the depth of complete forgiveness is to deny the effectiveness of the Cross.
without the confidence that we stand justified before God on the basis of His death alone,
we can neither know God nor enjoy his presence.
Have you been to the Cross,
to the altar where the fire never burns out
and is always available to liberate you from your sin and justify you before God?
at this altar grain offerings were also given
blood offerings dealt with sin, grain offerings dealt with the self
it represented offering yourself, in connection with being forgiven.
on the Cross Christ died for us, but we also died with Him
all that is in us that is apart from God must be crucified
yet not I, but Christ lives in me
for until we avail ourselves of the full measure of the Cross
we shall not experience the fullness of God's purposes for us and in us.
next, was the bronze basin, where priests washed their hands and feet
cleanliness was required before entering the presence of God
though we received justification at the Cross,
we need ongoing cleansing as we fall into sin
Who may ascend to the hill of the Lord?
who may stand in his holy place?
he who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false
The basin was constructed from the mirrors of women
an instrument originally for the purpose of turning attention to the self
was made to turn attention to God.
in a similar fashion, if we become introspective of our spiritual lives
we will get discouraged, disappointed and despair.
we ought to turn our attention to Christ, in whom alone our righteousness is found.
next, in the holy place, was the table of bread,
and the bread of the presence.
on top of justifying and cleansing us,
the Lord strengthens and sustains us as well.
Jesus is the bread of life.
it is not fellowship, good teaching, or even good doctrine that satisfies or nourishes us.
it is Christ alone.
Next, the Golden Lampstand.
* * *
Lord,
i am so guilty of looking inward
i see my wretchedness and i despair
instead of looking to you
to the Cross
and what you have already accomplished
I have yet to learn of your forgiveness
of meeting you at the cross
of being cleansed before you
there are so many places in my inmost being where you do not reside
that i have not crucified and surrendered
Holy Spirit,
guide my heart so that i may be led to true repentance
to turn from the idols i give over to
that i may obey your law
i want to have a pure heart
to walk in your ways
i want to know Christ.
i want you to be real in my life.
i want to be deeply transformed,
i want to genuinely proclaim
that to live is Christ
and to die is gain.
i want to live my life seeking you with all my heart, soul and my everything
but i keep losing sight of who you are
and that you are the one going before me
i keep trying to go up and take the land by force
without your approval
Lord make me humble
that i may be your servant
please show me your kindness
let me have faith in you
and not in me
free me from condemnation
from lies and burdens
help me to see your Truth
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