Triumph in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.
For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
To the one we are a savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 GNFMM “But thanks be to God, for in union with Christ we are always lead by God as prisoners in Christ’s Victory Procession; like a sweet smell that spreads everywhere, God uses us to make Christ known to all men.
For we are like the sweet smell of the incense that Christ burns to God which goes out to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost.
For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills, for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who then is capable for such a task?”

These verses speak about the triumph of Christ over us, so that He can use us to manifest the sweetness of His knowledge to everyone we come into contact with. To some it will give light and life. To others it will do nothing but leave them in the darkness and death that they choose.

These verses are pictured after the Roman General’s Victory Procession into Rome after a great conquest; where he brings many captives home to Rome.

Paul had seen these, and uses this picture here for Christ, to illustrate His own Victory Procession.
The verses in the Good News for Modern Man picture this as it would happen.

First along the march were incense bearers. This incense was the same smell for those who would live, or die.
Then the banners of the legions of His armies came next.
Then the General, on a big white horse. A long chain coming back to all those He has had the victory over. He is leading them in His Victory Procession.
1st, behind Him were the kings and generals, and the people of importance: wise people.
2nd, the chains would go right on down to the simple people and slaves.
All to be brought back for the glory of Rome.

Now Paul uses this to set forth Christ’s Victory Procession over us, His elect, His Church; and those who will in that day kneel and confess that He is Lord, but then be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This Victory Procession, Christ is making up now. Those who subject themselves to Him, as their King, are those He uses to manifest Himself to men, now.
It is a subjection of love, for those who are born again (given His eternal life: and become a sweet savor of life to others).

It is not us having the Victory over our circumstances or other people, presented here. But Christ having the Victory over us, and leading us in His Victory Procession, for God’s Glory.

Sometimes we forget that we are saved to shine forth His Light; to honor and glorify Him.
That He helps us in our circumstances, and comforts us in our troubles, by His Blessed Holy Spirit with us, is a certainty every Christian should know.

But here, Christ Jesus is the Victor; as Paul always liked to preach on.
Christ was Victor in His life; though He was “despised and rejected of men” (Isaiah 53:3).
Christ was Victor in the Garden when He said, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke22:42).
Christ was Victor, Who “before Pilate witnessed a good confession” (1 Timothy 6:13).
Christ was Victor on the cross, for He paid the full price of our salvation, that we might be fully redeemed. When He cried, “It is finished”, it was. (John 19:30)
Christ is Victor now; for He is calling out a people for His Name’s Sake.
He is having the victory over them: their rebellion, their fear, their addictions, their wills and ways. He is giving them Eternal Life, and leading them into the glory of His Victory Procession, for all the world to see.
We have the inestimable privilege to send forth the savor of life, to those who seek life.

We have a place in Christ’s Victory Procession. We will give out our sweet smell, to bring some to Christ. Or will we be only dragged on in the Procession, till the end. (How much we will have lost, that we could have been rewarded for?)
God’s glory should always be our goal. Where are we in the march? The chains which bind those who march to Christ’s glory behind him, are chains of love.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Have you felt His love constrain you lately? To move on, forward with Him? His love is the greatest motivator for our lives, if we will yield to Him.

The Valley of Dry Bones.

Ezekiel 37:1 “The hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,”

Ezekiel is a captive of Babylon, and called to prophesy to the captives of Israel there. He has done so faithfully; rebuking the pride of Israel, and warning them to repent of their sin.

But he also tells the people of hope, if they do repent. This is one of these “hopes”.
The valley of dry bones was Israel:
Ezekiel 37:11 “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, are bones are dry, and our hope is lost: we are cut off from our parts.”

That was their state under the chastening hand of their God, but God also promises:

Ezekiel 37:12-14. “Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves.
And shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”

Ezekiel was sent to see a valley of dry bones. Israel was in just such a state. Dry, so dry that there was no life in them.
But God was not going to leave them in this state. He was going to revive them, and commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to these dry bones; for that was the means God was going to use to bring them back to life.
(How often we think the ministry of the Word of God; or the preaching of His Word, is useless. We see no immediate results. But God has said:
1 Corinthians 1:21 ” For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”)

Ezekiel 37:4 “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”

So Ezekiel, who had been faithful to his call to the people of Israel in captivity, speaks to a valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:7-8 “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together; bone to his bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.”

To just look like you have life, without God’s Spirit, is still to be dead.
But God’s instruction to His prophet was not done:

Ezekiel 37:9 “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, Son of man, and say unto the wind, Thus saith the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”

God does not do things in halves. His Purpose for His people in every age, is life. A life with Him.
Israel refused such a life, therefore they were driven out of the land God gave them, and were in a state of death, spiritually.
But now, God was going to revive them; through His Words, and by His Spirit.

Christ Jesus said when He was here:
John 3:7-8 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
(You can see the results of the wind: leaves blowing, things blowing in the wind; but you can not see the wind. To be born again is the same: you can see the results of the new birth within the life of a true Christian, but you can not see the Holy Spirit tangibly)
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Again, Ezekiel obeyed God’s command:
Ezekiel 37:10 “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”

Real life comes through God’s Spirit coming within us, as He tells Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 37:13-14 “And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves.
And shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord hath spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”

God’s Purpose for His people in every age is life; His life, and a life with Him.

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

To have Spiritual Life, is to have His life, by the Spirit of God within you. He is there, and gives us a life full of peace, joy, strength, and purpose.
Even if you are as dry as this valley of dry bones, He can give you life, true life, in Christ Jesus.

Now Unto Him

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

“That is Able.” This is the first thing to consider.
But today it is so often changed into: “Who probably could if He really wanted to.”

This is the way we act, even if we say we believe He is Able.

But what does “Able” mean?
Able to give us just enough to squeak by? No! That is not what the Scriptures say.
Able enough to just get us to heaven? No!

“Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. God is not bound by anything, but His Will.
What is His Will for you?
He will not give you power to do anything that will eventually harm you or your relationship to Him.
He will do more than we can ask Him for, or even think about, when it comes to His Will for you, “according to the power that worketh in us.” According as we are allowing the Holy Spirit within us to work; according to that measure of yielding, He will give you power, and power above all that we ask or think.

Jesus said the same thing to His disciples when He was here:
Luke 11:11-13 “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

The Holy Spirit is the power within us, bringing about God’s Will in us. Enabling us by His grace to have the fruit of the Spirit within the circumstances of our individual lives, no matter the provocation. (Galatians 5:22-23)
And enabling us to make the changes in our lives that He wants.
But He won’t give us look alike answers to our prayers. And that is what the Lord Jesus was talking about. A stone for bread. A serpent for a eel. A rolled up scorpion for an egg. A father would not do this. And our Heavenly Father would not give us look alike answers, for the things we need.

How much of that Power is at work in us? Making us what we ought to be?
Is it enabling you to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow the Lord in your life? (Matthew 16:24)
How much of that Power is at work in us, saving you from yourself and sin, with His sanctifying graces?
For Christ came to save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
How much of that Power is at work within us, to give us subjection to His Will for our lives?
For it is God which worketh in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

There is a vast reservoir of Power by the Holy Spirit, open to all of us; if we follow His way to have it.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

God’s Name is glorified here, in us; only in the proportion in which His Kingdom comes to us, and His Will is done by us.
God can not be honored in us, until we submit to His Rule over us.
For nothing dishonors His Name more than self-will.
Rebels despise His Kingdom within, seeking to make it mean the kingdom which will come; and nothing for now. (Which is what they object to)
But it says “in earth”.
Yes, He will come and establish His Kingdom on earth one day; but here, in this prayer, it is His call to His disciples to pray for the things of our lives now:
We are to pray for His kingdom to come within us.
We are to pray for “daily bread”; for forgiveness, as we forgive.
We are to pray that we will be kept from temptation; and for deliverance from it, if we fall into it.
These are all things of here and now for each individual follower of Christ.

God is Able. And more, He is willing. What will we do?
Let us yield, and receive His kingdom and the power of the Holy Spirit for our lives.

If any man Will
Will is the determining factor of our lives. But it is influenced by our reasoning (our minds), or by our wants (our hearts).

By our will, we push ahead to the next step, in our walk through our lives.
In the Natural man, this is all for himself. The attitude of the Natural man is to see to Number one. Sad, because if they would but come to Christ, He would see to them.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In the Spiritual man(one who is born again, and yielding to the Holy Spirit within), our will is the power that helps us to do the Will of God in our lives.
We will with the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God comes to us, to do His will.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and do of his good pleasure.”

Every man will come to judgement before God.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:”
Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Every man will come to judgement before God. Every mouth will be stopped. There will be no excuses why God’s Will for their life, was not done by them.
They have a will, they could have exercised it for God. Did they?

Will God bring to mind the reasonings that they followed, rather than following God? What reasons have influenced your life?

Will He bring before them the emotions which lead them into the wrong paths, instead of following God’s ways? Who or what takes first place in your affections? And where do they lead you?

Paul says that God will work within us both to will and to do; and he exhorts them to “work out their own salvation”.
Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as he have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:”
(Salvation as we know, is four fold: Saved from the love of sin (conviction by the Holy Spirit). Saved from the guilt of sin (being born again. John 3:3). Saved from the power of sin (which is Sanctification [which is what Paul is talking about here]). And saved from the presence of sin (being taken to Heaven through death, or in the Rapture).
God does work within, as we want His will. He gives understanding to know His Will, and He gives power to do His Will; as we will with Him.
This is to “work out” what God “works” in.

Man (and of course, women) have three faculties of the soul. Reasonings or mind, Affections or heart, and will.
We all have placed within us that desire for the things of eternity. That is our God consciousness. That is the light that lighteth every man (John 1:9). It is placed within us by the true Light, Christ Jesus; for He would not leave Himself without a witness in man that He created.
But, it is what we do with that light that makes us responsible to God.
Yield to it, and follow it to Christ?
Or refuse it, and follow our own ways?
Romans 1:19-20 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

All are without excuse before God; for all we have to do, is come to Him and yield to Him.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this the whole duty of man.”

So you have a problem with God, and His ways? Then hear what He says about that:

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

“Talk to Me.” He says. “Give Me your reasons, lay them out before Me, and see if I will not forgive you from your sins, and make you clean.”
What will you will?

Are we enjoying a love relationship with The Lord Jesus?

Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.”

You can only kiss one person on the mouth at a time. This shows the personal relationship we should want, and have with our Lord Jesus.
Have you found His love so? Some have, and wanted more of the same sweetness of life, only this relationship can give.

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
Our first love should be the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and saved us from our sin.

These are two opposites. Which do you fit in to?

When we are in love with Jesus, we want to spend time with Him.
We come, not just with a list of wants (for us, or others); but to spend time in fellowship with the One who “loved me and gave Himself for me”(Galatians 2:20).

Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
This fellowship is strengthening, comforting, and most of all fulfilling.
This is that abundant life Jesus told of:
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The word love is used more in 1 John, in the New Testament; than any other book; so we will see about this relationship there:

First, our love relationship brings joy to our lives:
1 John 1:3-4 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

To have fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ brings joy. “Fellowship” in the Greek means the social relationship between close friends; and husband and wife.
In fellowship with Jesus, we spiritually lean our head upon His chest, and tell Him everything. He, in turn, uplifts us by the Arm of His strength; and gives us courage, the courage only the friend of Jesus can have.

Second, our love relationship helps us be obedient:
1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
(Jesus said this to John years earlier: John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”)
Obedience is absolutely necessary for our Christian walk; but it is not only a duty, when the love of Jesus calls us: It is a privilege.

Third, our love relationship purifies us from the world’s influence.
1 John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, (in God’s sight), and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: (we are not what we ought to be): but we know that , when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Pure is to be consecrated; or blameless. One speaks of our setting ourselves aside for God’s use. The other speaks of our attitude, of living peaceably with all men, and not rendering evil for evil.
Romans 12:17-18 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men.”
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, that “the pure in heart shall see God.” This means now. We shall “see” Him in every moment of our lives, He shall be there with us in a personal way.

Fourth, our love relationship keeps us from fear:
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Our love of God, and our knowledge of His love for us, brings with it such peace and joy, that we are unafraid of coming before Him with any confession, any petition, any need of help.
We know He will not only hear us, but desires to help us with all we ask.

What is love?
1 John 4:9-10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Love is Agape. And it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit within us.(Galatians 5:22). He works that love within our hearts and lives, as we yield ourselves to Him.
God’s love for us sent His only begotten Son to die for us.
Our love to God will lead us in the paths of righteousness, forsaking the world, and self, for His companionship.

The Picture of Christ found in the Tabernacle

Exodus 29:43, 45-46 “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God.”

The Tabernacle was the dwelling place of God, among His people after He had brought them out of bondage, across the Red Sea. They needed a dwelling place to come and meet with Him as they crossed the wilderness, to go to the land of Canaan. (The Promised Land). This was the Tabernacle.

It was erected according to the pattern God gave Moses in the mount of God, or Sinai (Exodus 25:8-9). The Ten Commandments had been spoken to Israel, and they had made a covenant with Him to do what He said.

Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.”

The Tabernacle was divided into three stations.
The first was the court of the Tabernacle. Here there was Natural Light to shine for the work to be done by the priests.
The first piece of furniture to meet the petitioner when they came was the Brazen Altar.
Exodus 27:1-2 “And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four square: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. ”
(Brass speaks of judgement. Judgement for sin must be made. Either on the sinner, or upon a substitute.)
Here was the sacrifice made. And the blood pour out by it. (Exodus 29:11-12). There was to be a continual burnt offering.
Exodus 29:42 “This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak there unto thee.”

Here God would meet the sinner, or petitioner, and speak peace by the blood. So we who believe, have peace with God through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:24-25, 5:1. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
The next piece of furniture was the Laver. It is also of brass, symbolizing judgement. Our judging ourself, that we might maintain fellowship with Christ.
Exodus 30:18 “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.”

The priests hands would be bloody after working at the Brazen Altar, and their feet dirty from the bare ground; so they were to wash their hands and their feet before going into the Holy Place.(Everything in the Holy Place symbolized fellowship with God, for the sin question was dealt with outside.)
As Christians, we too, should “wash” our hands and feet, so we can maintain fellowship with our Lord.
We do this by confessing our failures: the failures of our service (our hands); and the failures of our walk (our feet).
We are to be in the world but not of it, and we are defiled by walking around in this world. (How much filthy language, hatred, rage, etc. we come into contact with every day!)
We confess our sins, so we can come before the Lord, in fellowship, and prayer.
Peter learned this when, at the last supper, Jesus washed his feet.
John 13: 8-10 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, But is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”
Jesus did not say, If I don’t wash you, you’ll have no part in Me. But He said, You’ll have no part with Me.
Peter was clean, just needed the washing which would show his fellowship with Jesus. That Jesus did.
We do the same when we come to Him to get “washed, and cleansed” from our sins, so we can have fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The second section of the Tabernacle was the Holy Place. Everything here was covered with gold, which speaks of God.
Everything here spoke of fellowship. Only the priests could enter here, and minister.

There were three pieces of furniture:
The Table of Shewbread.
The Lampstand.
The Golden Altar of Incense.

Exodus 25:23-24,30 “Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown to the border thereof round about.
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always.”

The Table of Shewbread spoke of Christ, The Son of God manifesting Himself as the bread of life. He sustains us, as we have that fellowship with Him we need. He manifests Himself in His glory, and Kingship for us, as we fellowship with Him. (the breads were sprinkled with frankincense, which is the spice of Kings. One of the wise men presented Christ with it at His birth.)
Exodus 25:31 “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knobs and his flowers, shall be of the same.”
Exodus 27:20 “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”

The Lampstand or Candlestick is of one piece of gold, beaten into the seven lamps atop one candlestick. The bowls were filled with pure olive oil and burned.
They were to be continually burning, and had to be filled and seen to morning and night.
This speaks of The Spirit of Christ, who in the time after Christ has ascended to heaven, Lights the darkness, that we, as priests, may minister before the Lord.
He shows us the things of Christ for our lives, and work.
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Exodus 30:1,3 “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.”

The Incense Altar was gold. It was to have the fire from off the Brazen Altar put into it, and special incense burned upon it every morning and every evening, when the Lamps were filled and see to.
Also on the day of Atonement, blood was to be brought in and touched on the horns of the Golden Altar.
This speaks of the Intercession of our Risen Lord. He is our Mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5)
His prayers for us are always effectual.
Hebrews 9:24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, when Christ are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
(Everything speaks of Christ; but to the glory of Christ Jesus, we are to pray for all men to be saved; and especially pray for the household of faith. 1 Timothy 2:1, 8.
Colossians 4:2)

This is the Holy Place, and this, for Israel was as far as any could go, except on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest would crawl under the Veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies with blood for the sins of the people.

In the Holy of Holies, the third section of the Tabernacle was only one piece of furniture:
The Ark of God, covered with the mercy seat. This speaks of the Presence of God, for over it the glory of the Lord dwelt.
The Ark was a wooden box covered in and out with gold. In it the Ten Commandments, and the testimony of their journeys was kept.
On it, rested the Mercy Seat, made of pure gold, with cherubim of gold looking inward where the blood would be poured.
Exodus 25:10-11, 17-18 “And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.”

The Veil was between these two sections, separating Israel and God. But when Christ died on the Cross the Veil was rent from top to bottom, showing the way to God was open by His sacrifice.
Matthew 27:50-51 ” Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Access to God by faith in Christ Jesus is now possible. The Atonement was made, and we can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Hebrews 10:10-14 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

The Tabernacle showed forth Christ. Yes, it was not a clear picture; but for all who believed God, they looked forward to Christ’s coming salvation with joy.

The Walk of a Christian should be “Onward”.

1 John 2:12-14 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

Here, the Apostle John is writing to the Church; and to the different spiritual ages of believers in the Church.
Some are little children in the faith. They know the Father through Jesus Christ their Lord, and their sins are forgiven.

Some are young men in the faith. Overcoming by the Name of the Lord, and becoming stronger in the faith; leading others on in it.

Some are fathers in the faith. They have experienced the life of faith through trial and joys, and can show forth the knowledge of God; Who He is and what He will do for a believer.

These are the stages of the Christian walk:
The child stage, the servant stage, the warrior stage, and the elder’s stage of union and communion.

Genesis 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
Though Abram was ninety-nine, he was still a babe in walking with God. He had much to learn, so God comforts him with His Name.
“I am the Almighty God”, what a comfort to Abram, who was living with his family among the unbelieving nations of Canaan.

“Walk before me”, is as a child before his Father, would walk and run ahead, playing in the presence of his Father; conscious of his safety and security, because his Father is just behind him. This is the child stage of our walk.

Then he tells him to “walk before me, and be thou perfect.” In the scriptures, when perfection is mentioned it means complete, or to be finished. Perfection, then for Abram, meant that he was to walk before God, and complete the purpose God had for him.
(Of course, perfection for God, is His completeness in Holiness, Power, Grace, and every attribute! He is Sinless, and Complete in Himself….Perfect.)

As children of God, we are to grow in grace, and the knowledge of God. This Abram was called to do, and so is everyone who believes.
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

We are to walk before as children, and grow.
But some never leave this stage. They want to remain children, taken care of, never having any responsibilities: just seen to.
This, God never intends. He want us to walk through life with Him.
Yes, it is step by step. And the steps may be small; but it should always be forward.

The Next stage is covered by “young men, who are strong and overcoming”.
This does not just happen. We grow in grace (the unmerited favor of power), and by the knowledge we gain, and apply to our own lives, we become strong in faith.

But it happens in two stages: first, there is the servant stage.
This begins as we realize our calling, or He calls us to follow Him. (Usually this is in some specific thing, where He calls us to obey Him, and come after Him, and not the world.)
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
To learn to deny ourselves is the servant stage.
We “walk after”, as a servant following his Master, being told to do; and yes, at times, to our shame, being made to do.

We must learn this, or we do not grow up into Him and have more of His light of life.
John 8:12 “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.”

If we will not obey Him, we do not love Him.
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
No, we can not walk with Jesus, if we will not agree with Him.
So, as a servant, we learn these “agreements”, for our lives.
If He rules within our hearts, then we will agree with His paths, and ways for our lives.
If we like stubborn children, do not agree, we stop all progress forward, and can, in some cases, go backward.
Jeremiah 3:14 “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord;…”
Or as in the case of the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

The Corinthians Church was “behind in no gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7); but refused to grow up. “Carnal” means fleshly, or childish behavior.

The servant stage is a time of learning we are completely dependent upon God, while using everything He gives us to His glory, and not our own.
These are hard lessons for proud men and women, but necessary, for God to trust us with His power.
He will not empower rebels, or children.
He will empower those who continue to grow up into Him, and continue to obey (despite many failures), and continue to follow Him(despite the trials, and temptations of their way).

Which leads us to the second half of the “young men who are strong and overcome” stage:
Becoming soldiers, and walking with as friends.
To do this we need to “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
“Quench” means to put out the fire of the Holy Spirit within you. To choke Him when He impresses you to do something.
(Oh, that can’t be for me. No, I don’t think I should do that now.). These, and other thoughts or attitudes, “quench” or “stifle” the Holy Spirit.
(When the Lord showed me that I was quenching the Holy Spirit, I said, Yes, I was doing it; but what was I to do about it?
Then He showed me that the answer was in the verse up above. It is right up there, He said.)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
To give thanks for everything; to accept, as from the Father’s Hand all that comes to you. This is to quench not the Spirit.

To become friends, we need to know what God wants us to do, by His Holy Spirit within. (Whether He uses Scripture, Preachings, or an internal Voice; He speaks, and we need to obey.)
John 15:14-15 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends, for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

To become soldiers, we need to stand. For this is how we overcome. We hold the ground won for us by Christ Jesus. We hold; not go out and take territory; But hold on to what Christ, by His Victory, on the Cross, has won for us (individually, and as a Church).
Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
We stand, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, against the tricks and temptations of the devil, the world system, and the weakness of the flesh. (That is why we need His might, and His armor)
2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Then there is the father stage, or the elders of the faith: Those who have known Him that is from the beginning.

These have come through many battles, and are still standing. They know–and this is the word that is stressed for them–they know Him.
They have been born again, and as children of God, sought to grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ.
They have learned to know His Will for themselves, and obeyed.
They have learned to stand, leaning heavily on the Lord’s Arm of Strength, and fight the good fight of faith.
And they continue to know Him, Whom to know aright(in all the circumstances of life) is to have Eternal Life. Eternal Life is a condition of Life, now and for eternity. God’s Life within your life.

Here are the stages of our walk onward. And it is a Progressive Walk, with Christ.
Onward! “Hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25)

Wisdom from Above

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Wisdom is from God and of God. Man gains knowledge, and can get very smart; but wisdom is only from God.

God says that if you don’t have the wisdom for this situation; you can ask Him. He will not rebuke you for not knowing, but will give you the wisdom you need.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

God gives light, which is knowledge, and understanding. He shines His light on a situation, and the truth is seen. The way it really is; and how it really affects us.
Wisdom is that light so we know what to do, and wisdom also empowers us to do, as we yield to Him.
(I remember a situation where I was getting worked up about what I thought was going to happen. I imagined all sorts of scenarios in my head about what I would say in return, and what would ultimately happen. [Not good, I can tell you that].
“Ask the Lord!” It seemed like it was shouted in my ear. When I asked, He simply told me to stop worrying; that I was to stay out of any retaliation; in word, or action! That, in fact, I was to keep my big mouth shut, no matter what the other person said.
It worked! [should I have been surprised?]. God gave me wisdom: to know, and yes, to do.)
Wisdom for that situation is what we are to do about it, and the power to do it.
This He gives liberally, or generously. He is not a miser. He wants us to know His Will, and gives us what we need to find it out, and to do it.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
Remember this comes from God, to you.
Wisdom is first, pure. There is no mixture of many opinions, but truth, plain and simple.

It is peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It seeks the good of all.

Full of mercy and good fruits. Forgives other people’s mistakes, and would help them set them right.

Without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Does not argue to win; or defraud another.

Proverbs 3:21-23, 26 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

This is wisdom; and God gives it to any who want it, abundantly.