TABERNACLE
The LORD spoke through the prophet Amos saying,
"On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,"
Says the Lord who does this thing.
Amos 9:11-12
This prophetic word was reinforced by the ‘Jerusalem Council’
to the early Church in Acts 15:16
GOD is speaking to us once again that He would Restore His
dwelling place among all people who are called by His name.
On the 29th of August 2019, I was studying and meditating on the
‘Tabernacle’ in the morning. Then as I walked to our dining area
overlooking our backyard, I couldn’t believe my eyes with what I
saw! Sitting there fairly and squarely on the lawn was a tent!!
A gust of strong wind had lifted it from the neighbouring backyard,
brought it over the fence and placed it neatly, right side up in our yard!
It was an indication to me from the LORD, “This is the right message
for this season to the Churches.”
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
According to the exhortation in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man
stood beside me. And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the
place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where
I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more
shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings,
by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high
places. When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their
doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me,
they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they
committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. Now
let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far
away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. "Son of man,
describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be
ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.
And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make
known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement,
its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances,
all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that
they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and
perform them.
Ezekiel 43:6-11
"On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down,
"And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood,
standing upright.
Exodus 26:15
The vertical beam of the cross points to our relationship with GOD.
This has to be stronger than our relationships with each other.
This emphasises our spiritual life. The faith of each believer
needs to be strengthened. We should ‘Look up’!
What should be upright has fallen down horizontal by 90 degrees!
By default we are not spiritual people. Carnality comes naturally,
but spirituality takes a decision, discipline and determination. It
is like playing with a balloon, constantly pushing it up so that it
doesn’t fall down. We have to keep pressing on upwards! Our
spirituality tends to drop gradually over a period of time. It is a
slow progress and the danger is that we become unaware of it.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of
the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that
you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the
Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18
We need to be diligent in seeking the LORD individually and
collectively as His people. We should love Him above all else,
know His will and please Him and obey Him. We need to learn
more of Him through the diligent study of His word. The vertical
connection of our spirit with GOD has to be stronger than
anything else. Loving the LORD with all our heart, mind and
strength is the first commandment.
The tabernacle was GOD’S idea. GOD gave clear detailed
instructions to Moses for the making of the tabernacle so that
He could dwell among His people.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of
the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so
you shall make it.
Exodus 25:8-9
The ‘Tabernacle’ therefore teaches us about divine
instruction and guidance from GOD and obedience on
our part.
It is GOD’S desire to dwell among His people. We need to
diligently seek Him and know His pattern for the tabernacle and
He will come and manifest His glory in our midst. We don’t need
to plead for Him to come, if we obey and do it His way.
GOD requires diligent obedience to His instruction. “I will do it
my way. I will serve GOD my way”; such disobedience is a
sign of rebellion. Saul was rejected from being the king of
Israel for such rebellion.
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from
above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which
are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will
give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:22
The ‘Tabernacle’ also emphasised the fear of GOD.
GOD meets with us and speaks with us on the basis of His
mercy. He is covered by the covering angels so that we are
protected from His consuming Presence.
He said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of
the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that
you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place
I have prepared for it. For because you did not do it the first time,
the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not
consult Him about the proper order."
1 Chronicles 15:12-13
GOD’S presence is a blessing when we respond correctly and
appropriately. If we take the presence of GOD callously, His
judgement comes on us. Uzza was instantaneously slain when
he reached out to steady the oxen-cart and touched the ark of
the covenant while it was being transported. That was a wrong
manner of carrying the ark which represented the presence of
GOD. “GOD needs my favour; I am helping GOD” - Such an
attitude causes us to cross the boundary lines in our relationship
with GOD. This leads to pride resulting in harsh judgement as in
the cases of Uzza, King Uzziah, Ananias and Sapphira.
1 Chron 13, 2 Kings 15, Acts 5
The ‘Tabernacle’ points to a journey of progression and
spiritual growth.
The tabernacle was a structure that could be moved. The
tabernacle moved ahead of the tents of the children of Israel,
indicating GOD’S presence leading the way. Our spiritual life is
a journey, coming out of Egypt, progressing towards the
promised land.
The ‘Tabernacle of David’ speaks of our love for GOD
leading to free will offering, sacrifice and service.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter
of Your wings. Selah
Psalm 61:4
Tabernacle depicts an intimate relationship of GOD with His
people. GOD among us. GOD with us.
GOD with me. GOD in me. I in Him.
John 15:5
It was Moses who built the tabernacle according to GOD’S
instruction. But it is the tabernacle of David that has fallen
down and needs to be raised up! Both Moses and David are
known to have had a special relationship with the LORD.
So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to
his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant
Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the
tabernacle.
Exodus 33:11
David points to the heart attitude of a man.
But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought
for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has
commanded him to be commander over His people, because
you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
1 Samuel 13:14
David was a man after GOD’S own heart. He walked with a
humble and contrite heart. He inquired of the LORD so that he
could do His will. When he was convicted of sin, he was quick
to confess and repent. The LORD is looking for people with
such hearts.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children
of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who
gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. And
this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver,
and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and
goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia
wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for
the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the
ephod and in the breastplate.
Exodus 25:1-7
GOD dwells among His people who give of themselves to Him
willingly, that is - spirit, soul and body, time, strength, talent,
skills, anointing, position and possessions. We should live and
serve according to His instruction.
David loved the LORD and desired to please the LORD.
Because of his love for the LORD, he wanted to build a
house for the LORD.
GOD tests our hearts and tries our motives. Even obedience
could be with a wrong motive. The pharisees kept many laws in
such detail to show off to people and to justify themselves
before GOD. We have to check our motives for what we do.
We should ask ourselves, “Am I doing this so that I might gain
entry to heaven or am I doing this to escape hell? Am I seeking
the praise of men, in doing this? Am I living this way because I
care about the opinion of men and fear the insult of people? Do
I do these things because I love the LORD and my greatest
desire is to please Him?
One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I
may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To
behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He
shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:4-5
The Tabernacle was initiated by GOD. Its pattern was given
by GOD. When it was completed GOD manifested His
presence there because it was a work of Obedience. The
Temple was initiated by man. It was David’s idea and his
pattern. When it was completed and dedicated, GOD
manifested His presence there because it was a work of love
for GOD with a pure heart and clean motive.
"You shall not build Me a house to dwell in. For I have not
dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even
to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one
tabernacle to another. Wherever I have moved about with all
Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of
Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying,
'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' " ' Now
therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says
the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following
the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. And I have been
with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your
enemies from before you, and have made you a name like
the name of the great men who are on the earth. Moreover I will
appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that
they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor
shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as
previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over
My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies.
Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house. And
it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to
be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who
will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall
build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will
be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My
mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever;
and his throne shall be established forever." ' "
1 Chronicles 17:1-14
Whatever we do for GOD is minute compared to what He does
for us. What He does for us is far greater and of eternal value.
Even as David desired to build a temple for the LORD, the
LORD said He would build people from David’s descendants
who would be temples for Him. This was fulfilled through the
tribe of Judah and through the LORD JESUS Who was the
Temple during His life on earth and is the Temple together with
GOD the Father eternally in Heaven!
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left
your first love. Remember therefore from where you have
fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come
to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-
-unless you repent.
Revelation 2:4-5
And repair its damages;
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use
liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and
devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one
another!
Galatians 5:13-15
This points to the horizontal beam of the cross meaning
our relationship with each other.
A damaged tabernacle means broken boards and pillars of
acacia wood, broken clasps, tenons and sockets, torn curtains
and screens and so on. This depicts broken relationships
between people in the congregation.
The second commandment is to love your neighbour as
yourself.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you.
John 15:12
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
The LORD expects us to forgive one another as He has
forgiven us and put relationships right so that the tabernacle
might be repaired. Our chicklist is the list of all ‘One Another’
responsibilities mentioned in the epistles. Our LORD JESUS
set the example of loving with a selfless pure heart and has
commanded us to do so. Let us ask for the LORD’S strength
and for His sake love each other.
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak
truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on
your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal
no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands
what is good, that he may have something to give him who
has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but
what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace
to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by
whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away
from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ
forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25-32
I will raise up its ruins,
Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of
thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the
Lord.
Jeremiah 7:11
When something is used for purposes other than what it is
made for, or used not according to the manufacturer’s
instructions, over a period of time it is ruined.
It is dirtied and soiled and its original beauty cannot be seen. It
is broken and cannot be effectively used for the purpose it was
made. Isn’t it important to follow the manufacturer’s handbook
while using electrical items? How much more important it is
then, to follow our Creator’s instruction and pattern for our
individual lives and for our assemblies!
Is the temple like the convenient store ‘seven eleven’, a
place of merchandise, to make money, to buy and sell?
The tabernacle should be a house of prayer. We should
dedicate more time for prayer in our personal lives and in our
assemblies. It is important that we pray for one another, pray
for our brethren who are persecuted, for the leaders of our
nation and the nations, the needs and situations in the world
and so on.
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all
those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the
tables of the money changers and the seats of those who
sold doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house
shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den
of thieves.' " Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the
temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and
scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children
crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear
what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have
you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise'?"
Matthew 21:12-16
When the temple was defiled by worldly business, GOD
Himself walked in in Human form, openly showed His
displeasure and demanded it to be cleansed. When it is rid of
such impurities, its ruins will be raised up. It will once again
become a place where the blind and the lame are healed. Signs
and wonders and miracles will take place. Children will cry out
praises to GOD, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”.
Is the spirit of the world insidiously seeping into our
assemblies, ruining the tabernacle?
The right environment in the ‘Temple’ facilitates spiritual
thinking of our minds. A carnal environment can distract our
minds. As much as possible, we should keep worldly
distractions out of our places of worship. Although any place in
the world can become a place of worship when a child of GOD
connects there with Him, the spirit of the world should be kept
out of a dedicated place of worship.
The ancient world was corrupted as the spirit of worldliness
prevailed. The LORD GOD was displeased and He brought a
great flood to destroy every living thing on earth. GOD
instructed righteous Noah to build an ark so that his family and
living creatures of every kind could be saved.
"Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark,
and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
Genesis 6:14
The pitch kept the ark from being ruined by the water of the
flood outside. If the water got inside, the ark would have
drowned! The gold that overlaid the ark of the covenant inside
and outside preserved it from being ruined by the atmospheric
elements. Similarly, the Holy Spirit within us and the oil of
anointing upon us is able to preserve us from being corrupted
by the flood of worldliness that is around us. If we allowed
ourselves to live according to the principles and traditions of
this world, we would be drowned and our spiritual life would be
in ruins!
Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half
cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit
and a half its height. He overlaid it with pure gold inside and
outside, and made a molding of gold all around it.
Exodus 37:1-2
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the
word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: "Speak
now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to
the remnant of the people, saying: 'Who is left among you who
saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now?
In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet
now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord; 'and be strong,
Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all
you people of the land,' says the Lord, 'and work; for I am with
you,' says the Lord of hosts. 'According to the word that I
covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit
remains among you; do not fear!' "For thus says the Lord of
hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and
earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and
they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this
temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 'The silver is Mine,
and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts. The glory of this
latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of
hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the Lord of hosts."
Haggai 2:1-9
The old has to be brought down for the new to be built.
It is hard to let go of the old to which we get attached
emotionally. We are secure in the familiar.
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to
Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings
are here!" And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see
these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another,
that shall not be thrown down."
Mark 13:1-2
The old temple in Jerusalem was brought down during the
Babylonian invasion. Babylon depicts worldliness and carnality.
In subtle ways worldliness has seeped into our assemblies and
drowned the spiritual life of the Church. Carnal businesses have
taken priority and the focus on GOD has shifted. The LORD is
not centre stage anymore in many Churches and assemblies.
Such situations have to be changed so that the new spiritual
temple may be built.
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM." Then they took up stones to throw at Him;
but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going
through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 8:58-59
Is the LORD even welcome in our assemblies, leave alone being
comfortable? Is He able to make it a place of His rest and take
His rightful place of authority?
His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our
son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees
we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is
of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." His parents said
these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had
agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ,
he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents
said, "He is of age; ask him."
John 9:20-23
Have we as Church leaders, knowingly or unknowingly,
hijacked the dwelling place of GOD, having nailed CHRIST to
the cross?
Have we become legalistically bound to tradition like those
religious leaders?
Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity
eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise
herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and
said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And
He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made
straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue
answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the
Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on
which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on
them, and not on the Sabbath day." The Lord then answered
him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the
Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away
to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen
years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" And when He
said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all
the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done
by Him.
Luke 13:10-17
Is tradition and structure preventing us from seeing people set
free in the Churches?
Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth,
and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in
your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations
and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To
destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant."
Jeremiah 1:9-10
Let us rebuild with foundation, focus, attitudes and priorities
corrected.
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are
you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this
to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that
you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the
gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:16-18
The foundation of the Church is built with individuals who have
a personal spiritual revelation of the LORD JESUS CHRIST
Who Himself is the Chief Cornerstone.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but
chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are
being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in
Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes
on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you
who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief
cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense."
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they
also were appointed.
1 Peter 2:4-8
Just as the chief cornerstone sets the standard for the whole
building, JESUS sets the standard for the whole Church. If we
are not doing it His way, we are not building His Church!
The temple was rebuilt with the return of the exiles, Ezra
heading the project.
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the
Lord: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward
Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when
they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of
the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and
heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first
temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this
temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud
for joy,
Ezra 3:11-12
There is sadness when the old is destroyed. Before the new is
accepted, it is compared to the old. Even in the new, we tend
to look for the familiar old. We need to be set free from our
attachment to old structures and traditions in our religious life.
If these have been brought down, are you intently looking into
the rubble to pick up and hold on to something that is familiar?
When you release these in obedience to the LORD, you will
feel insecure as though your life is crumbling! Don’t look back!
You are on the right path in the right direction. Proceed forward
towards the new. The new which is yet to come is better!
Welcome and receive the new!
"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of
old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall
you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Let us press towards the new in our living, serving, preaching
and so on. Let us depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit. The
new is better than the old. It is longer lasting and eternal unlike
the old that will pass away. It is more spiritually glorious and
powerful! The old brings strife and death but the new is life and
peace!!
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
It is like pressing the button in the lift that carries you upward!
Imagine the kind of lift that needs the button to be pressed
constantly if you need it to go up!
The new is better in the spiritual sense which may not be seen
by the natural eye but only through the eyes of faith. You can
only move ahead if you take the step. You will take the step
only by lifting your foot off the ground where you are currently
standing. You will only lift your foot if you know the new spot to
place it. Do you see that spot by faith? If we are willing to take
that step, the LORD will help us. Revelation brings about
renewal.
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you,
'Fear not, I will help you.'
Isaiah 41:13
With each step of faith, we gain spiritual territory!
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given
you, as I said to Moses.
Joshua 1:3
Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken
forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in
three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
John 2:19-21
This will be real also for those of us who follow the LORD
JESUS. Our physical bodies will become more glorious like
the resurrected body of JESUS.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man
is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we
do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
But here and now we should live such Spirit-filled, Spirit-
led lives.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells
in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to
your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
The LORD JESUS read a Scripture portion in the synagogue
and we should do the same. As He often entered the
synagogues and taught, our assemblies are places where the
word of GOD should be taught and learnt.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart,
Acts 2:46
Thus was the early Church alive and active, rich in their spiritual
fellowship and practical support for each other. Let us
revisit the purpose for our personal lives and assemblies so
that the ruins of the tabernacle might be raised up again.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell
together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down
on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord
commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3
Believers dwelling together in unity, putting aside petty
differences, united in CHRIST, brings down GOD’S eternal
blessing. The early Church is proof of this in Acts 2:1-4 It was
not the fancy building, it was not the music and singing, but it
was the humility, love and unity that brought down the Holy
Spirit on the Church.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound
from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:1-2
Thus the early Church was born. This spiritual power is the
greater glory of the ‘Latter Temple’.
..But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,
with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with
hands, that is, not of this creation.
Hebrews 9:1-5,11
Conformity to GOD
Once a good friend of mine brought a gift for me. She had
spent much time shopping to pick the best outfit that she
thought would suit me. She placed it in my hand so lovingly
and I received it with thanks. My heart was touched that she
spent so much time, effort and money to purchase such a gift.
It was an expression of her love for me and I greatly
appreciated her gesture. After she left, I eagerly opened the
parcel and found a very expensive outfit. Although it was
beautiful, it was unfortunately not to my taste! I was
disappointed. Then when I tried it on, I realised it wasn’t the
right size and it did not fit me well! My heart became heavy
because I knew I wouldn’t be able to effectively use this gift of
love! She was pleased with herself that she had done her part
in giving me a good expensive gift that cost her money and time.
She assumed that I liked it and it fitted me well and besides,
how can one not like such an expensive branded outfit, so she
thought!! If only she knew me better and understood that my
tastes were different to hers! My heart’s cry was, “If she only
took the time to ask me what I would like”. She was unaware
of my disappointment. Although her intent was good, the time,
energy, effort and money spent on me was not profitable to
me!!!
Wouldn’t that be the cry of GOD’S heart about our service for
Him if we don’t ask Him? Will my work for Him suit Him and be
profitable for His Kingdom? Will my efforts and my projects
contribute towards a worthy dwelling place or a fitting outfit that
would manifest His glory?
And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and
hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you;
for you were brought here so that I might show them to
you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see."
Ezekiel 40:4
Around the time that the temple in Jerusalem was brought down,
Ezekiel was given a vision of a temple with detailed
specifications. This vision was GOD’S pattern for the perfect
spiritual temple that would please Him and fit Him. The
Measuring Rod was the LORD JESUS!
Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In
the man's hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each
being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width
of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod.
Ezekiel 40:5
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a
Branch shall grow out of his roots.
Isaiah 11:1
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who,
being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal
with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of
a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the
cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given
Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those
on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
GOD conformed to human flesh in JESUS to dwell among men.
He has conformed to men in the form of the Holy Spirit to dwell
in us. Now it is for us to conform to His will and His image as we
prepare for eternity with Him. We need to change individually,
in our lifestyle as families and in the running of our churches,
making adjustments.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven
and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more
sea.
Revelation 21:1
That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners,
but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, having been built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you
also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in
the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the
world to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
The tabernacle will be raised up so that the gentiles may be
drawn to the LORD. GOD’S glory is revealed when we lift Him
high in our lives and obey Him and love one another as He
loves us.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another."
John 13:35
Most of us, as gentiles have been brought to the knowledge
of GOD by His grace. It is now our responsibility to bring
others into the Kingdom of GOD. The LORD works in us and
through us to draw people to Himself.
The Church is in the world, but not of the world. Walking under
His grace, GOD expects His people to be interceding for the
world. Are we willing to consecrate our lives, homes and
Churches as a tabernacle of meeting where GOD is pleased
to dwell? Are we standing in the gap on behalf of others and
taking time to diligently make intercession?
Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from
the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came
to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the
tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.
Exodus 33:7
May we so live as witnesses for the LORD, interceding, loving,
witnessing and bringing people to the LORD. May we be diligent
to ‘Possess the remnant of Edom and all the gentiles who are
called by His name’.
..Says the Lord who does this thing.
..I will raise up..
It is the LORD Who does this thing. He does His work through
His people. Therefore it is necessary for us to know what GOD
is doing so that we can cooperate with the precious Holy
Spirit and be His instruments in this work of restoration.
The disciples with whom our Risen LORD walked to
Emmaus, constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He
went in to stay with them. Luke 24:29
Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go
up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the
God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall
walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the
law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:3
Let us allow the Holy Spirit to raise us up as
tabernacles of David individually and collectively.
Bible prophecies are being fulfilled and this is the time
of preparation because the end is near. Let us therefore
diligently seek the LORD'S pattern for our personal lives,
families, Church gatherings and assemblies, make the
necessary changes and be willing to do His will. Then
the LORD will tabernacle with us and His glory will be
manifested in us and through us.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell
with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself
will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no
more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no
more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make
all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these
words are true and faithful."
Revelation 21:3-5
