You may ask, “how do I hear from God?” or “how do I know it is really God?” or “what is Gods will for me?”
NOTE: Your motivation should always be to know God in such an intimate way, that you can take Him, the power of the Gospel and the Glory of His salvation, to the lost and dying world, and the way into such intimate relationship can
best be illustrated from the typology of the Old Testament Tabernacle.
1. A LIVING SACRIFICE:
The Tabernacle was entered from the East through an open gate. The high priest, on his way into the holiest of all to talk to God on behalf of the people, stopped first at the brazen alter. There sacrifice had to be made, not only for his own sin, but for the
sins of the people. The blood of slain animals was offered on that altar. Before you come into the Shekina Glory of God, before you enter the holiest of all, you must allow the shed blood of Jesus to break the power of sin, cleanse your conscience, purge you from dead works and remove your guilt, condemnation, or inferiority (Rom 3:2) Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom 12:1)
SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY
The Tabernacle with its three compartments, is a symbolic representation of the triune nature of man.
THE OUTER COURT – The Body
THE HOLY PLACE – The Soul
THE HOLY OF HOLIES – The Spirit.
2. THE WASHING OF THE WORD
From the brazen altar he moved to the brazen laver, the place where the priest washed his hand and feet before he made his way into the Holy Place. The brazen laver was made of brass from the mirrors of the woman of Ismail. Glass did not exist at that time, so the ladies used polished brass to see dim image of themselves. The word of God is like a mirror (James 1:23) and is typified by the brazen laver. On our way to the Holy of Holies, we must accept the cleansing of the word in every area of our lives.At the brazen laver through the washing of the word we are sanctified and cleansed. (Eph 5:26)
NB!! This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy was prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Josh 1:8)
3. THE SUBMITTED WILL:
The high priest would leave the brazen laver and enter the Holy Place. We move from our body to our soul. There was no light in the Holy Place except for the golden candlestick, or lampstand.
THERE ARE 3 PIECES OF FURNITURE:
1. THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD – human will
2. THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND – the illuminated spiritual mind
3. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE – emotions of the soul.
THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
The table held 12 loaves of bread which ere baked once weekly. There was a filigree crown around the edge of the table which made it impossible for the loaves of bread to fall off.
NOTE: The wheat is ground in order to make bread and it is baked.
At the table of shewbread you submit your will to God and allow Him through the Holy Spirit to polish off all the rough edges, even as the wheat is crushed to become flour for bread.
NOTE: that it is put through the fire for testing
NB!! Until your will is submitted to God by your recognizing His Lordship. God honors the human will, the fire will moral agency of man. He will not force your will. Until He has your will He does not have you. The fire of testing must purify the will, then the yielded will of man becomes Gods will. Jesus said that His food is to do the will of my Father that sent me. Gods will becomes your food. It becomes part of your life. In that process, Gods Spirit and strength and power begin to permeate your body. Your will then becomes Gods food on the table of shewbread.
THE ILLUMINATED MIND
The Golden Lampstand represents the human mind. The seven branches in the lampstand represent the seven fold Spirit of God. (Rev 4:5 5:6) (Isa 11:2,3) The Holy Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding , Counsel, might power and ability, knowledge of God,
fear of the Lord and delight in fear of the Lord. The more educated your mind, the more difficult it may be to submit to the Lordship and control of the Holy Spirit. Until the Holy Spirit is Lord, He will not take you into the Holy of Holies.
NB!! This is one good reason for praying in tongues. Your mind is brought into submission to your spirit so that Gods Spirit can take you into the Shechinah Glory of God. (Eph 4:23) Be renewed in the Spirit of your mind. (Rom 12:2) Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.
THE INCENSE OF WORSHIP
The Altar of incense was immediately in front of the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On that Altar was a special incense which was used only in the Holy Place, and no other incense could be affected. John 4:23 (God wants from your life pure, spiritual worship, “in Spirit and in truth.”
NOTE: Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord, and they were judged by God. (Lev 10:1)
On the “Day of Atonement” it was the function of the priest to take the blood from the brazen altar and the incense in a censer that he waved before the Lord and entered the Holy of Holies.
4. THE HOLY OF HOLIES
As a cloud of sweet fragrance rose up before the presence of God on the mercy seat, the Shechinah Glory of God engulfed the priest. Thus our way into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God, is through the blood of Jesus and worship.
(Psa 22:3) God inhabits, or is enthroned in, the sweet smelling incense of praise and worship.
WORSHIP, THE SWEET SMELLING SAVOR:
1. Thanksgiving leads into praise, which takes you within the veil.
2. Through praise and worship and faith in the blood of Jesus, we walk into the Holy of Holies.
NOTE: We move into the very presence of God Himself. We move from the body and soul into the Spirit. God the Spirit dwells in the human Spirit and that is where we communicate with Him.
IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES IS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
A box of acacia wood, symbolic of Christ’s humanity, covered in gold which symbolizes His divinity. On the mercy seat of the ark the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled. Two identical cherubim’s on the top face each other with their wings touching. They typify fellowship and worship. A picture of the fellowship of man with man, looking at each other face to face, being completely honest with each other.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SPIRIT IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES
1. Worship
2. Fellowship
3. Revelation
Your natural mind can not hold the things in the Holy of Holies. This is where you begin to comprehend the power of giving unto God and God giving unto you.
HOW DO WE HEAR GOD SPEAK TO US?
1. We are cleansed at the brazen altar by the blood.
2. Washed by the word at the laver.
3. Submit our will at the table of Shewbread.
4. Accept the anointing power of the Holy Spirit at the Golden Candlestick
5. and with the incense of worship and praise walk through the veil into the Holy of Holies, to fellowship with God receiving revelation and authority