Most of the vehicle accidents, we see today are because of driving so fast we run up on and into others and most of the wrecks of our lives is because of being in such a hurry we run over the Word of God or just plain ignore it.
The only thing that will help you is what is received from the Word of God. Spiritual help is received from the Word of God. It is the truth of God's Word that makes you free. Jesus is the Man of His Word (Title of the message I preached the day Jim Stubblefield was saved). Joh 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. Anything else is works seeking to earn favor from the LORD. That which you receive from the LORD is Grace alone through Christ alone.
In The Word of God we see His Way, and what He has done for us, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2Ti 1:9
The Word gives us life from above, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever 1Pe 1:23
Rom 4:8 -11 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised:( many years before Isaac was born) that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
What is the seal of our righteousness? It is the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit, Eph. 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Also see Col. 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
His Word is Truth. Psa_138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
The thought I want you to have is what He did to His Word: He amplified, He increased the importance of His Word in our minds. He intensified the significance of His Word in our lives.
The best illustration I can think of is Heb 6: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. "slothful"= Lazy, idle, inactive, apathetic take your pick but each is very descripted of modern day Christianity. And I believe the greatest cause is because we do not know the Word of God.
When we take an oath we swear by someone greater but there is none greater than our God, v13) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Because there is none or nothing above Him and none or nothing equal with Him – He just swear by Himself. He gave us something that you can visualize in your mind. Why would He do this? For us to see the value He puts on His Word and for us to receive His Word. V 14-18). V-15 ) points back to v12) "promises" verses "promise" in v15). He only received seed of the promise, Roman 4:18. The complete fulfillment is yet to come.
Go to Hebrews 11:17-19. Because of Abraham's faith in God's power and truthfulness Abraham completed the test before the sacrifice was made = one reason God stayed his hand with the knife. His faith in what God had said in the promise of a son he obeyed God in the offering of Isaac, v 19) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Isaac is Abraham's son by promise and so is Christ our Saviour by promise, Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
In Hebrews 10:19 -22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
"The veil" , By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Go to Exodus 26:31 , 36:35 – Made of one material "fine twined linen" and it had these colors displayed: blue and purple and scarlet. The beauty of blue, the depth of purple and brilliancy of the scarlet. Think about His Flesh as the veil according to Heb.10:20 and this great truth, Joh 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.
Around the Tabernacle there was a fence and was high enough so as to prevent one from walking up and looking in, one had to come in by the sin offering and the burnt offering and so one cannot know what Christ is like from the outside but only by believing in Christ for salvation. He is precious to them that believe, "1Pe_2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:…" You had to enter by the door, Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The closer you get to Him the more you love Him. He is the treasure we possess. 2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
It is when you know Him you love Him, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
The Beauty of Christ is what He did for you and me: Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
Isaiah 53:2 he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
It is His suffering and work of Redemption that gives Him His Beauty, Isaiah 53: 3-7,
When the instruction were given by God unto to Moses for the tabernacle, it was from the inside out: Ark, the shewbread table, and Candlesticks were first described and then the Vail and Door etc. But in the construction it was from the outside in. Salvation is from the LORD and through God's provision. None of the building was left up to Moses decisions.
When we approach God, we start at the burnt offering and sin offering and go in. In the Holy of Holies you find: Go to Hebrews 9: 2-13, 23-25.
What is in the Ark? 1 ) The golden pot that had manna, 2) Aaron's rod that budded, 3) And the table of the covenant.
The Vail Exodus 26:31 and 36:35 and Heb. 6:19-20 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The things of the LORD are for glory and beauty, Exodus 28:2 , 28:40 Joh 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 Door has the same colors as the veil and the same fine linen but it says needlework verses cunning work 26:36-37 "[1]The screen, to cover the entrance to the Dwelling. This was of the same materials as the veil (v. 31), but, as it was further from the shrine, of less elaborate workmanship, the 'work of the variegator,' or 'embroiderer' (not of the 'designer' or pattern-weaver see on v. 1), and without cherubim.". All who are saved, believe God about Christ, see the beauty of Him but it is only as you get closer to Him that you see the details of His beauty.
There is manna in the ark – see what God says about manna in John chapter 6: e.g. 45-51. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Not only is He the Bread of Life for Salvation, John 6:47, He is the Bread of Life for your daily needs. He saves, delivers and keeps us. But always remember manna was sent by God, for God so loved the World He gave His only begotten Son (Christ is the bread of life). And look at what is involved: He came as perfect and to be the perfect Lamb of God, John 19:30, (that means He died perfect) and died as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World.
What does it mean: "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son,……"
For God so Loved….Christ suffered at the Hands of God, Isa. 53: 4 -5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Act_2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
When the Children of Israel were brought out of Egypt God dwelt among them by the Tabernacle. The Tabernacles was the only way of access to God. And it was His way of dwelling among His people. In the furnishing of the Tabernacle and it's construction and instruction to the Israelites rest The whole of salvation for them. By which it pictured the Person of Christ who is both God and Man (Son of God / Son of Man) eternal and unchangeable,
- Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Heb. 13:8
Through the Word of God we can see the Love, mercy and Grace of God given to us in the Person of Christ and His Finished Work accomplished at the Cross. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb.9:12.
Think upon our High Priest. ( Think = as to meditate as the cow making milk) That is what receiving the Word of God means. We need to think upon His Word. We should ask the LORD for understanding Neh_10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
Psa_32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psa_49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. Psa_119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false wayPro_5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: Jer_5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Luk_24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 1Co_14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Eph_1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Eph_5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
The Tabernacle had many parts that pictures a work of Christ:
- The Gate = the Seeker,
- The Brazen Altar = The Saved, Eph. 2:8
- Laver = Daily Sanctification , Eph 5:26
- The Holy Place = Service, Heb.9:6
- The Table of Shewbread
- The Candlestick
- The Golden Altar
- The Holy of Holies =Satisfaction : Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10: 19-22
- God is satisfied with Christ are you satisfied with Christ
Each part of the divisions of the Tabernacle represents a ministry or office or work of Christ but let us remember we have an undivided Christ who fulfill it all. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb.9:24-26
Every office of Him, every work of Him, every ministry of Him is before us that we might know Him. Not in statements about Him but as one who believes on Him for eternal life. John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (He that taketh the Son into his own being). You believe on Christ by the Word, through the Word, being convinced by the Holy Spirit that the testimony of the Word about Christ is true. The record of the Word of God is that He gave you Eternal Life, 1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
[1] Cambridge Bible, e sword Exodus 26:36,37
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