The Most Holy Place & The Ark of the Covenant Pt. 2

Holy Place

 

Wednesday 04/11/18 

Message – The Most Holy Place & The Ark of the Covenant Pt. 2

Series: Thru the Bible – Exodus

***Video is HERE***

Arca da Aliança de Deus (3815219934)
[NOTE: This image of the Ark of the Covenant and the altered versions used in our featured image, albumart and below is called Arca da Aliança de Deus and is being used by the contribution and courtesy of Fernando Shoiti Schatzmann from Suzano, Brasil, a user and contributor to Wikimedia Commons. Use of this picture is by permission and DOES NOT imply agreement with this message and/or associated article.]

 

The Ark of the Covenant & the Most Holy Place

Spiritual Symbolisms:

God’s Holiness (otherness):

  • God is Holy
  • He MUST be regarded as Holy by anyone who draws near.
  • In God’s presence – His name is proclaimed.
  • The veil is removed. (He dwells in us in part and will in full)
  • We approach the Father directly, but in Jesus’ name (representing all that He is)

Isa. 6:1-4, “(1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  (2) Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. (3) And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”  (4) And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”

In commenting on this I have drawn heavily from what Guzik says on the passage with some exceptions.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: Why do they repeat “holy” three times? Wasn’t it enough to simply say that the LORD was “holy” once? It wasn’t enough. In the Hebrew language, intensity is communicated by repetition. To say the LORD is holy says something. To say the LORD is holy, holy, says far more. To say, holy, holy, holy is the LORD is to declare His holiness in the highest possible degree.

Remember that from the word of two or three testimonies every word is established. God is not JUST holy…or holy, holy…but HOLY HOLY HOLY!

And so it is in regard to the place where God dwells. Remember that this was the meaning of the words “Most Holy Place” – translated word for word it appears as the Holiest of Holies.

What does it mean that God is holy, and holy in the highest possible sense? Holiness, at its root, has the idea of apartness. Not in terms of separation in location – but in terms of being different.

An object can be holy if it is set apart for sacred service. Meaning it is used for something different or out of the ordinary. A person is called holy for the same reason!

In what way is the LORD set apart?

Again, this is not speaking about location – for even the Seraphims who are immediately around the Throne call Him set apart – holy-holy-holy.

The word holy is a reference of character and person. It is NOT an action or a choice as such, but a quality of being. God is entirely NOT common, entirely uncommon, other than and unique in every way. Even those attributes we share with Him, are ones we have as created beings patterned after the one and only original Who is in Himself the unique first and only source. God – the entire Godhead is HOLY!

God is set apart from His creation, in that the Lord GOD is not a creature, and He exists outside of and independent of all creation. If all creation were to dissolve, the Lord GOD would remain.

He is set apart from humanity, in that His “nature” or “essence” is the source and ours is derivative. God is not a super-man or the ultimate man. God is not merely smarter than any man, stronger than any man, older than any man, or better than any man. You can’t measure God on man’s chart at all, for while we are made in His image and likeness – God alone had no beginning, is reliant and dependent on NOTHING. The Godhead are the self-existent ones and there are no others like them.  

We are made in the image of God and therefore are also unique in all of creation. Humanity and Divinity are different, but they are not opposed to each other and in fact are complementary and compatible. This is how Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, could add humanity to His deity when He became a man. Unfallen humanity is not deity, but it is compatible with it.

God’s holiness is a part of everything He is and does. God’s power is a holy power. God’s love is a holy love. God’s wisdom is a holy wisdom.

Holiness is not an aspect of God’s personality; it is one characteristic of His entire Being.

The whole earth is full of His glory: Perhaps the Hebrew wording is far better here in that it says it this way – “the fulness of the whole earth is His glory”. Which are not entirely different meanings. Everything exists to the praise of His nobility, His integrity, His Holiness, His beauty, His faithfulness, His greatness, His endlessness, His power – HIS GLORY. These seraphim surrounding the throne of God, through eyes which are covered could see this probably more clearly than Isaiah could. We are often blind to the obvious glory of God which is all around us…all the time. If ever our eyes were fully opened we might find it impossible to do much of anything but what the Seraphim here say.

The posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out: The seraphim are majestic beings, and their voice carries weight. When they speak, the doorposts of God’s throne room shake! The idea may be that Isaiah was watching from the doorway, and when the seraphim cried out, he could feel the doorposts quake.

The house was filled with smoke: This smoke reminds us of the pillar of cloud that represented the presence of God as it traveled with the Israelites in their journeys (Exod. 13:21-22) and as it protected the entrance to the tabernacle as God and Moses spoke as friends face-to-face (Exod. 33:9,10) or as the smoke on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:18), and the cloud of God’s Shekinah glory that filled the temple (1Kings 8:10-12). It is consistent enough in scripture to call it a general rule that a cloud of glory often marks the presence of the LORD.

All that He is – is in His name

Psa. 148:1-14,  “(1) Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights.  (2) Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts. (3) Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.  (4) Praise Him, highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens. (5) Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded, and they were created.  (6) He set them in position forever and ever; He gave an order that will never pass away. (7) Praise the LORD from the earth, all sea monsters and ocean depths,  (8) lightning and hail, snow and cloud, powerful wind that executes His command, (9) mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, (10) wild animals and all cattle, creatures that crawl and flying birds,  (11) kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, (12) young men as well as young women, old and young together. (13) Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth.  (14) He has raised up a horn for His people, praise from all His godly ones, from the Israelites, the people close to Him. Hallelujah!”

Psa. 138:1-2, “(1) I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.  (2) I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For thou hast magnified above all the name of thy holiness.”

Clarke says about these verses – You have proved that You possess all power in heaven and in earth, and that You are true in all Your words. And by giving the word of prophecy, and fulfilling those words, You have magnified Your holy name above all things – You have proved Yourself to be ineffably great.

The original language could be translated: “For You have magnified Your name and Your word over all,” or, “on every occasion.”

Our relation to the Most Holy Place:

As we know, when Jesus cried out “It is Finished”, He surrendered His spirit into the hands of His Father and physically died. At this very same moment in an act of Holy passion God tore the veil within the temple dividing the holy place from the most holy place – which represented the separation between man and God. That separation which had been the only relationship God had with man since their fall from Him 3,000 year prior had come to an end!

Let’s read about it…

John 19:28-30, “(28) After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”  (29) Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  (30) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

Matt. 27:45-51, “(45) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.  (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”  (47) Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” (48) Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.  (49) The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” (50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (51) Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,”

As redeemed human beings – who are compatible with Him…our bodies are His temple and we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

1Cor. 6:19-20, “(19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

But we are still in the process of being prepared to be the dwelling place of God the Father.

Rev. 21:1-8, “(1) Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.  (2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.  (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (5) Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”  (6) And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. (7) He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (8) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

2Cor. 5:1-5, “(1) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, (3) if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.  (4) For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. (5) Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”

This may be the Mansion to which Jesus was referring in John 14. Behold I go to prepare you a place. Which may mean, to prepare a place FOR you, or prepare you as a place for God to dwell. Perhaps both.

But, for now we have received only the first down payment of our eternal inheritance – the indescribable, incorruptible, glorious and precious spirit of God and it is He Who is preparing us as a dwelling place for God in the spirit.

Eph. 2:11-22, “(11) Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— (12)  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  (17) And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. (18) For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (19) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The fact that we are “under construction” shows that we are not yet that dwelling place for the Father – but we will be.

This is why Jesus is said to be the forerunner. Our relationship to the Most Holy Place is that God torn open the veil through the flesh of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Righteous and the Holy Spirit of God has come out of the Most Holy Place to dwell with us and in us and prepare us for habitation by and with God the Father…That precious Spirit was sent into our hearts from the Most Holy Place when Jesus entered – even as He said, “If I do not go, I cannot send the Holy Spirit of Truth to you – but it is to your advantage that I go – that I might send HIM!”

Of course some of this may be somewhat symbolic…for example the Holy Spirit is at least to some degree omnipresent or He could not be in all believers at once and convicting all sinners all over the world of sin, righteousness and judgement if He were limited to one location – so it is quite likely that He never left the Most Holy Place but that He was finally permitted entrance into the now sanctified temple of our bodies since the tearing of the veil.

We are NOT yet in the Most Holy Place – at least not physically. Our prayers ascend there, and our names are spoken there with regularity off the lips of our high Priest Jesus. Our Father knows us and bids us come to His throne of grace – but to what point this is metaphorical and to what part literal – I do not claim to know. What I do know is that our relation to the Father and the Most Holy Place is the person of Jesus Who has entered it before us and on behalf OF us.

We are in a preparatory period, cleansing us of all filth of the flesh that we might be made ready for the Father. Let’s read about this,

Heb. 6:1-20,  “(1) Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,  (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (7) For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;  (8) but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (9) But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. (10) For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11) And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (13) For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, (14) saying, “SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS YOU, AND MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY YOU.”  (15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (16) For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. (17) Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, (18) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  (19) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (20) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

We HAVE a high priest over the house of God Who has entered the Most Holy Place where our HOPE (our expectation) goes with Him – entering not a PLACE behind the veil…. But a Presence behind the veil. But, it will not always be this way. Notice the words FORERUNNER and HOPE.

A forerunner is one who goes before NOT one who goes INSTEAD!

HOPE is not unfulfilled desire – but a 100% guaranteed expectation of a future fulfillment.

In Exod. 33:11, it says the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. In Exodus 33, face to face is a figurative expression, meaning free and open fellowship. Moses had not – and could not – see the actual face of God the Father in His glory. This is the sense in which John says No one has seen God at any time (1Jn. 4:12). In the spiritual sense in which Moses had a face to face relationship with God, we have a free and open relationship with God. But in the ultimate sense, it will wait until then, when we are united with Jesus in glory.

So, in a passage like Num. 12:8, where the Lord says of Moses, I speak with him face to face, the phrase face to face is a figure of speech, telling of great and unhindered intimacy. Moses’ face was not literally beholding the literal face of God, but he did enjoy direct, intimate, conversation with the Lord.

One day we will – like Christ…physically enter the Most Holy Place and like the Holy Seraphim cry out Holy – Holy – Holy but unlike them and unlike now as we are looking through a glass darkly – then we will behold Him with unveiled faces – unveiled eyes.

1Cor. 13:9-12, “(9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  (10) But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  (11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  (12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I SHALL KNOW JUST AS I AM KNOWN.”

 

The words Face to face: Paul is using here describe a complete, unhindered fellowship with God. 1Jn. 3:2 tells us that when we arrive, we shall see Him as He is. The face to face Paul speaks of here is the “real” deal – face to face.

These words mean, toward the eye or toward the face. It means countenance to countenance – presence to presence – person to person.

There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God the Father ever again!

What a glorious future we have!!!
No wonder Peter told us in 1Peter 1:13-25,  

“(13) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16) because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (17) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;  (18) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  (20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (21) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (22) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,  (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, (24) because “ALL FLESH IS AS GRASS, AND ALL THE GLORY OF MAN AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND ITS FLOWER FALLS AWAY, (25) BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

We will continue to discuss the symbolisms of the Holies of Holies with the Ark of the Testimony and some ways in which it serves as a type and shadow of today under the New Covenant…next week!

There is more information in the audio/video of the actual message. I hope you listen, learn and enjoy!

Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

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Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!