Our Theme Verse for 2017 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, Rainbow Forest Mission Statement Connecting the Disconnected to Christ, Community and the Call Our Purpose To glorify God in everything we say and do 1
Connecting Through the Word Access to God s Presence The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant Exodus 25-40, Hebrews 8:1-7 Exodus 25:1-22 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats hair, 5 tanned rams skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 2
8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. 10 They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you. 17 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 3
19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Hebrews 8:1-7 1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 4
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain. 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. God Invites Us to Worship Him (Exodus 24:9-18) John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. 5
The Plan for the Tabernacle God Designs the Plan (Ex. 25:9, 40; 26:30) God Provides the Materials (Ex. 25:1-9; 30:11-16; 35:4-29) God Equips the Workers (Ex. 31:1-11; 35:30-36:7) God Must Be Put First In Everything (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9) The outer wall of the Tabernacle was of fine white linen curtains Was 150 feet long by 75 feet wide and 7 ½ feet high. The gate always faced East and was 30 wide. 6
The Tabernacle was 45 long and 15 wide and 15 high. Inside the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies which was 15 by 15 and 15 high. It was separated from the Holy Place with a heavy curtain call the Veil. Six special pieces of furniture Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies 45 long, 27 wide, and 27 high The golden mercy seat rested on it Held Tablets of Stone, Manna and Aaron s Rod 7
God Is Present To Nourish His People (Ex. 25:23-29; 37:10-16) Table of Shewbread in Holy Place 3 long, a 1 ½ wide and 27 high Twelve loaves of bread on top God Enlightens Our Worship and Service (Ex. 25:31-40; 27:20-21; 37:17-24; Lev. 24:1-3) The Candlestick or Menorah in Holy Place Hammered out of about seventy-five pounds of gold 8
God Hears the Prayers of His People (Ex. 30:1-10, 34-38; 37:25-29) The Altar Of Incense in Holy Place 1½ x 1½ x 3 high Placed directly in front of veil God Receives His People's Sacrifices (Ex. 27:1-8; 38:1-7) The Brazen Altar Just inside the gate of the court yard 7 ½ wide and 4 ½ high 9
God Wants His People to Be Clean (Ex. 30:17-21; 38:8) The Laver Between the brazen altar and the Tent Held clean water for washing God Wants His People to Appreciate And Enjoy His Blessings (Ex. 26:1-37; 27:9-19; 36:8-38; 38:9-20) "Honor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary" (Ps. 96:6) How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God... Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will be still praising You (Ps. 84:1-2, 4). 10
The Holy Priesthood Exodus 28-29; 30:22-33; 39 It was the task of the priests (Aaron's family) and the Levites (the families of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari; Num. 3-4) to serve in the tabernacle and represent the people before God. The priests were also to represent God to the people by teaching them the law and helping them to obey it (Lev. 10:8-11; Deut. 33:10.) Today, God wants His church to minister in this world as a "holy priesthood" and a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5, 9). If God's people are faithful in their priestly ministry, they will "proclaim the praises of Him who called [them] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). The Great Sin of the People (Ex. 32:1-33:11) Guilt: God's People Break The Law (Ex. 32:1-33:11 Grace: God's Servant Intercedes (Ex. 33:12-34:28) Glory: God's Presence Dwells With The People (Ex. 34:29-35; 39:32-40:38) 11
The Book of Exodus opens with Moses seeing God's glory in the burning bush (3:1-5), and it closes with the glory of God descending into the camp and filling the tabernacle. Where is God's glory today? The body of every true believer is the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20) The local church (1 Cor. 3:10-23) The church universal (Eph. 2:20-22). We can now come boldly into His Presence Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 12
Matthew 27:50-51 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a 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. 13