The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (Fowey Fellowship)

We are on a journey through this dangerous worldly wilderness. We journey towards our Heavenly Home where God has prepared an incorruptible inheritance for each of us who trust Him. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to guide and comfort us as we journey on.

But this man, the Lord Jesus, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7v24/25)

On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand;

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.....for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23/24) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8/9) So often the worship of God in churches today bears as little resemblance to true worship as the worship of the Golden Calf in the wilderness did to the worship commanded and ordained by God, in the Tabernacle.

Moses.... the skin of his face shone. Exodus 34.30 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 Do people recognise, by our behaviour and actions, that we too have been with Jesus?

55 Times in Scripture we are reminded to ‘Take Heed’ - so we should sit up and take notice! On seven ocassions to ‘Take heed to thyself’. The words of Jesus in Luke 21.8 are particularly apposite in this age when churches are straying away from the Word of God: ‘Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Similarly Paul’s advice when writing to Timothy: ‘Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them’. We should all ‘take heed’! (This series was recorded a few years ago)

The Law was broken even before they had been given to the Children of Israel! Sinful man cannot keep the Law in order to please God and gain eternal life - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2.5/6

Exodus 33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. Hebrews 13. 1213 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Why do humans always want something visible to worship; something tangible and manmade? Nowhere in the Bible is God interested in such worship, in fact it is an abomination to Him. Yet churches are full of such graven images, icons, pictures, stained glass and the like depicting man’s ideas but sadly, all are abhorrent to a Holy God.

Are we as Christians producing the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives? As Aaron the High Priest ministered in the Most Holy Place the tinkling sound of the Golden Bells could be heard outside. As we move around daily are we producing an attractive sound, a message of hope and life to those with whom we live and work?

Surely there is nothing in Scripture that speaks more eloquently of the Lord Jesus than the dress of Israel’s High Priest? Every detail presents Christ and His Ministry on our behalf.

Give thanks unto the Lord.... for his mercy endureth forever. Psalm 106.1 With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove, And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love; I’ll bless the hand that guided, I’ll bless the heart that planned When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Christ is Central to all our worship and praise. God met with His people in the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was placed with the Mercy Seat. Psalm 85.9/10 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness (God’s righteous justice) and peace have kissed each other. All pointing to Calvary where Jesus bore the judgement of God so that we may obtain mercy through His death. Ephesians 2. 4/5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

But this man (the Lord Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 10.12; 13.15)

We look at the Table of Shew Bread. Only those who were Priests could eat of that bread. We see here in type that only those born again, true believers, should remember the Lord at His Table.

And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. (Exodus 36.5/6) No need here for begging letters, jumble sales, Banker's Orders or "click on Donation" links as is so common in churches today. If the work is of God - He will provide through His people. These appeals and a life of faith just do not go hand in hand!

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8.12) Ye are the light of the world....Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (John 5. 14-16)

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor. 6.19/20

The Tabernacle preeminently points to the Lord Jesus, all the detail of the structure, the furnishings, the colours in the curtains, the altars, in fact everything expresses aspects of our Lord. The daily sacrifices point to the supreme sacrifice of Calvary where Jesus gave “his life a ransom for many”.

Trust and obey. Many claim to follow Jesus but sadly endeavour to do so according to their own ideas and not according to the doctrines and pattern set out clearly in the Word of God. Moses had to follow exactly the pattern shown him by God, none of his ideas were incorporated into the building of the Tabernacle, in our Christian walk we should endeavour to do likewise.

Believers as planks standing side by side in the House of God. United by the Apostles Doctrine, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer, all bonded together by Love.

New Testament doctrine teaches clearly that in the Church all believers are priests in God's sight (Revelation 1.5; 5.10). Therefore, all believers now have access into God's Presence, not through an earthly, priestly class but through our Saviour, our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4.14-16). There is simply no separate, man appointed clerical class or office of priest within the New Testament Church.

Where are the chairs? There were no chairs in the Tabernacle! Of the priests in the Tabernacle it is said - “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins”: But this man (the Lord Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever (at Calvary), sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10. 11/12)

Only One way! There is One God and One Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.