Intimacy with Christ

Unfortunately, I just finished the final day of the Beth Moore, Tabernacle study. It was bittersweet! While I am glad to have completed a task, I will miss my time in the tabernacle! That being said, tonight. . .this is the part that stuck with me.

When you study the tabernacle, you learn that there is the outer court (Altar of Sacrifice, Laver), then you move to the Holy Place (Table of Shewbread, Lampstand, and Altar of Incense just before entering the Holy of Holies), and then to the innermost place of intimacy with God, the place where He displays His glory, where we fall to our face in awe, The Holy of Holies (ark of the covenant, ark of testimony). It's interesting when you think about it that the altar of Sacrifice (which Christ is for us) is at the "beginning" of the tabernacle in the outer court. You have to "accept the sacrifice" before you can enter further. So, it makes sense that it would be just as you enter. However, it also "assumes" that salvation (acceptance of the sacrifice) is JUST the beginning. There is so much more! How intimate do you want to be with your God?

 

You might ask how do experience Christ deeply in the intermost sanctuary. . .

       This is how Beth Moore's study put it tonight

• "Be unafraid to let Him display the power of the resurrection before your eyes"
• "Shake off the grave clothes of former lives and enjoy freedom of the resurrection"
• "Do not be satisfied with this world and things in it"
• "Be willing to be stripped of ALL earthly perspective & allow your mind to be renewed"
• "Be willing to fellowship in His suffering"

"We can live our lives on the outer perimeters of our salvation, in Christ but not with Christ, or we can accept the challenge to enter and behold His glory." (Beth Moore, A Woman's Heart Study Guide, p.218)

Do you want to KNOW Him or are you satisfied with the outer court? If you are of the former thought, be excited by this scripture:

Revelation 21:3-5 (NASB) - "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.' And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.'"

A tabernacle among us?

So, at our church, we are quickly concluding the Beth Moore study, A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place. And, it has been FABULOUS! I haven't blogged as much as I want. The homework keeps me pretty busy. However, we are going to review the lessons again as a group, so maybe I can share more as we go.

Basically, the bible study took us through the Old Testament Tabernacle, and God's explicit instructions for its creation and use. One thing you learn quickly as you study this is that God was SERIOUS about His dwelling place. You see, it was created so that God could display His Glory! It had to be perfect. . .for many reasons, but one reason is that it was to reflect the Tabernacle to come, the one who would dwell among men. . .Jesus Christ. The earthly tabernacle was serious business because we are an unclean people with unclean lips. If steps were not followed, man could not survive in the presence of His Glory. The components had to be carried certain ways and by certain people. Although I would not do justice summarizing the entire study, I wanted to share this "bit" from our concluding week of lessons.

1st: God created the Garden of Eden but human sin cast us from His dwelling place.
2nd: God decided to create a tabernacle so that His Glory could dwell among men. And, He did.
3rd:  The True Tabernacle came in Jesus Christ, which was not just the glory of God, but God Himself. (John 1:14 Says that, "The Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us." The word dwelt, comes from the Greek word, "skenoo", and means "tabernacled". Jesus "tabernacled" among us. Wow!!! God once again being consistent even though we may take awhile to "catch on".)
4th:  Jesus took the True Tabernacle back to the heavens.
5th:  But because the cross COMPLETELY reconciled us to God, we were no longer separated so God's Tabernacle continues to dwell among men. . .AND. . .
6th: You see, the tabernacle. . .It's in You and me. If you have received Christ as Your Savior, then you are the current Tabernacle. Your body is it.

Now, consider the care with which God prepared and cared for the initial earthly Tabernacle. What does that mean for you and me today? I think we are a little too flippant about the Holy Spirit "dwelling" in us. We don't seriously consider what it means. . .like where do we take our tabernacle, how do we maintain our tabernacle. .. The tabernacle was meant to "reveal the Glory of God" in the Old Testament. Do you think the meaning is any less today? And, yes, I'm talking about more than the physical body. But 1 Thess. 5:23 refers to living beings in 3 components: spirit, soul, and body. So, it's the whole deal. Not to mean we should put too much emphasis on ourselves (extreme either way is not healthy; it's a balance), but that we should care for the tabernacle like God would direct. Demonstrating to Him reverence for His Glory, and so that others might see His Glory in us and desire to have a relationship with Him!!

So, maybe this New Year, we can commit to take care of our body, NOT for what it will do for us but because we are the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, and we want to glorify Him in all things!

Just thinking. . .

So, I have to say that I am a bit nervous when I think of my kids going to our high school. Not b/c it's bad, but b/c it's big. . .and I wasn't sure how much "Christian thought and speech" would be allowed. Not because there aren't Christians there, not because I think my child should not be in public school. . .It's just that I grew up in the Bible belt. All our Christmas programs were about, well, Christ. (Imagine that!)
However, tonight, I went to hear our god-daughter sing in the Christmas program in her school. And, guess what? Jesus name was sung. Christmas hymns were sung. And, as God has reminded me lately, where His name is spoken, it does not go out void. Because Jesus Christ, Savior, Emmanuel. . .are all-powerful words, names of the most High! So, tonight, in public school, His name resonated within four walls! It will change hearts, it will cause questioning, HE will be glorified in ALL places at ALL times! That is one reason I think it's so important to say, "Merry Christmas". . .Not b/c I think it's bad to say, "Happy Holidays!", but because I want the NAME, "Hashem", to be spoken! Creation cries out daily. . .well, the creation that obeys His voice! The human part of creation. . .we could improve! So, cry out His name today, tomorrow, and each day after! Let the earth be filled with His praise!!

Merry CHRISTmas to you!

From the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness"

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
      Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

From the hymn, "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

When Jesus is my portion?
A constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches over me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Funny how God works. Speaking in the moment. Making everything come together. Making you shake your head, thinking, "He did it again! He still hears me! He knows when to bring lessons to me to stabilize my faith." He is faithful.

So, the lyrics that I opened with were no accident (nothing is). He brought these songs to me from the music group Selah this afternoon as we were driving all over the countryside following church.

The lyrics penned. . .exactly the thoughts I was gathering to blog about. . . .

Our Sunday School session as well as our homework this week from the Beth Moore study (A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place) focused on "manna". So, you may say, "Really, manna? There's a lesson in that?" Yes, there is, and a great one at that!
Exodus 16:14-18 NASB

"When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, " What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 'This is what the LORD has commanded, 'Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.'" The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little.
When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat."

The focus of our study was on the underlined portion. We are given what we need for the time. Not excessive. . .not too little. Grace for the moment. Mercy for the moment.

Recently, in reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, she tells this story that her dad gave when she asked about the topic of sex, but she was too young to understand the answer. (Corrie speaking):

“And so seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, "Father, what is sex sin?"
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor.
Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said.
I stood up and tugged at it.

It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.
It's too heavy," I said.
Yes," he said, "and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.”
(Later she restates it this way)
“Some knowledge is too heavy...you cannot bear it...your Father will carry it until you are able.”

When we think about situations "before" we are in them, we think that we could not do that, we could not survive it. . .but that's what is amazing about God (his grace and his mercy), HE CAN! He gives us just enough "manna" for the moment. Oh, it's always there, miraculously given by God, but we have to gather it. It's not up to us to make sure we don't have too much or too little. If we do one or the other, HE will give us what we need in that moment.

When Jesus came down to earth, He said that He was the bread (manna) of life.

John 6:32-35
"Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 'For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.' Then they said to Him, 'Lord, always give us this bread.'
 Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.'"

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread".

Then, when teaching us how to pray, He says "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11). Not bread for tomorrow, not bread to store up, but bread TODAY! And, guess what? It will be enough b/c it's the bread of life. (If you read more in Exodus, you will find that manna stored for the next day was full of maggots. . .a death of sorts).

Or, another way to pray that prayer, "Give me this day. . You, Jesus. . enought grace and mercy to make it through today! Because I also know that "Your mercies are new every morning. And, Your faithfulness is Great!" (paraphrased from Lamentations 3:19-24). I love the last verse of this section, which goes so well with the lesson today, "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."

So, imagine that as this lesson came into my life, I have been given the opportunity to pray for those around me who need more "manna". . .more of the Bread.. ..more of Jesus. A relative just buried her 38-year-old son, who died suddenly. A loss that came, not long enough, after the death of her husband. A family friend from childhood lost her husband last night to a tragic accident at the age of 31. A family with 4 young children, and they were in the process of adopting a 5th.

There are rarely good answers in this world, but prayer. So, would you pray? Pray that they would receive the size "omer of manna" that they need for today. And, each day pray this as His mercies are new every morning?

I hope you have been blessed by God's Word as I am. It is alive!
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
When Jesus is my portion?
A constant Friend is He:
 "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

Don't forget to look around! The lesson He has for you today is FOR today! He will bring it. . .not too early, and NEVER late!

A thorn in our side. . .Healed by thorns in His crown

Because our Sunday School class is doing "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place", a Bible study by Beth Moore, many of my posts will be a reflection of that study.

So far, this is a thought that has intrigued me. Try to follow my scattered thoughts for a moment.

Genesis 3:18 "It (the land) will produce thorns and thistles for you."

Genesis 22:13 "Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket (thorns) by his horns."

Mark 15:17 "They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him."

Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Before sin, no thorns. After sin, thorns. After sin, a need for salvation. Abraham's son about to be sacrificied and Yahweh provides the ram. . .stuck by his horns in the very object that resulted from our sin. . . thorns. Christ referred to as "the HORN of our salvation". As he becomes our sacrifice because of our sin, the horn (Jesus) is caught in the thicket (crown). . .which is only their because of our sin. What a reminder. . .it was ever-present in the mind of Christ as the thorns pressed into his skin, "This is why you are here. . .to remove their SIN to bear it yourself." Always present, always reminding Him. And, it reminded the faithful around that their sin was being "worn" by their King.

Wow! Talk about a God of detail. I really believe everything means something. We don't always see it. When time is no more, I look forward to Him whispering to me. . ."Look back, see what I was showing you there!" Even then, He will be glorified for His presence in my life even when I was too blind to see it! What a day when I will receive sight! Can't wait for the clouds to clear!

God Reminds Us

So, sometimes the lesson we learn from God is not always a comfortable one! But, I want to try to praise Him during the good and the bad.
When I was reading The Hiding Place a few weeks ago it struck me that anytime something horrible happened to the character that God would use it to remind her that He suffered in all things too. That He understood our sufferings. . .to an even greater degree. That He suffered more than we can imagine in our own worldly sufferings. That He knows how we feel.
He reminded me recently that He has felt all alone, rejected by those around Him, left by those who were supposed to be closest to Him. The Father even had to forsake Him on the cross.
Praise God that although we feel times of loneliness on this earth that we will never be fully alone. Even if others don't stand by, HE ALWAYS stands with us, carries us, befriends us, encourages us! I'm sooooooooooo grateful that He took on my suffering. . my loneliness! I love you Jesus!

Hebrews 13:5: He will never leave you or forsake you!!

Behind. . .Again

So, once again, I have neglected my duties! I will try to do better.

I am currently in a new Beth Moore study, A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place, so many of my posts will center around what I am learning from her. I hope you don't mind, but there is a lot of homework so I'm not doing a lot of "extra" stuff.

For tonight, this is simple. I call it a "Bethism", but I loved the phrase she used after talking about Adam and Eve in the garden. . .once they knew they were naked and were ashamed. It's not that they were ashamed of being naked but they were ashamed b/c of their sin. . and God had to "make a covering" for the shame like He did for us on the cross! The phrase she used was "The enemy says, 'cover up.' God says, 'I got you covered!'"

I hope in each moment that you realize, if you've accepted the gift of Jesus, that He's got you covered!