GOD'S GILT EDGED INVITIATION
Let me start by reminding you that the whole Bible is the WORD OF GOD. There is much of the Old Testament that seems irrelevant or we simply don’t understand it, unless we pass it through the Cross and apply New Covenant principles to it. So much of the Old Testament is an awesome progressive revelation of truth that has its fulfilment in the New Testament and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God told Moses to build a Tabernacle, but it must be according to the pattern that God would show him. Moses followed all the instructions that God gave him, and when the Tabernacle was complete the Glory Cloud (symbol of God’s presence) settled above it. There is an important principle here,
IF YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORD OF GOD YOU ARE GUARANTEED THE GLORY OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE.
IF WE BUILD THE LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORD OF GOD WE ARE GUARANTEED THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE CHURCH.
This is a fantastic principle which we may develop further in the future, I just want to highlight one important truth in this blog, which is relevant to both the individual believer as well as the local church. Exodus 25:22 (Amplified)
THERE I WILL MEET YOU AND,FROM ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT, FROM BETWEEN THE TWO CHHERUBIM THAT ARE UPUN THE ARK OF THE TETESTIMONY, I WILL SPEAK INTIMATELY WITH YOU OF ALL WHICH I WILL GIVE YOU IN COMMANDMENT TO THE ISRAELITES.
This is God’s gilt edged invitation He extends to every born again believer, may this truth come as a fresh revelation to you as you read this blog today.
King David visualised the Tabernacle when he said in Psalm 100:4 I will enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts of praise. He walked past the Brazen Laver and thanked God for forgiveness and cleansing, he looked at the Brazen Laver and thanked God for His Word, especially God’s words to him. He entered the Holy Place and praise rose up in his heart, and he considered the illumination (revelation) of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the Golden Candlestick. He would have looked at Manna, and praised God for His provision, then Aaron’s Rod that budded and then the 2 tablets containing the 10 Commands, and praised God for these things. Then he would have stood before the Golden Altar of Incense and worshipped God as only David could. But that was as far as David could go, are you glad you live on this side of the Cross, and know the veil before the Ark was ripped from top to bottom so that every believer can accept God’s gilt edged invitation and stand and bow before the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Often in my Quiet Time I take this journey with David and then step into the Holy of Holies and see the Shekinah glory and worship wells up in my heart.
We will probably never ever receive and invitation to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London, but we have been invited to come (boldly and confidently) into o the very throne room of God at any time.
Did you notice in our Exodus verse in the Amplified translation IT suggests God is looking for INTIMACY.
As Lent is a time of heart searching, let us meditate on God’s gilt edged invitation, have we always made prayer the priority it should be, I know I haven’t and I want to change that. The late Samuel Chadwick former principal of Cliff College in the U.K. stated often he had no desire to pray, but pressed into God anyway, and he goes in and says there was times he simply did not want to stop.
Can you hear the Holy Spirit’s voice in your heart this morning ? I also pray God’s Church will hear His voice, for we desperately need to seek God like never before, only prayer changes things.
I WANT TO MEET WITH YOU TODAY BETWEEN THE WINGS OF THE CHERUBIM, LET US DEVELOP AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WHICH WILL BE A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN.
I pray this blog is a challenge and a blessing to you, let me hear your response.