Prayer does not move God toward us. Prayer moves us toward God.
God is in a place, and we are approaching Him. It is a process to intimacy.
Prayer is the process into the presence of God.
Let's use the pattern of the Tabernacle that God
gave to Moses in the Old Testament to illustrate the process of entering into God's presence.
1. The Tabernacle had an exterior court.
It was open with no ceiling. The Bible says that we are to enter God's presence with praise and thanksgiving.
We thank God for what He has done. We praise Him for
who He is.
Psalm 100:4
English
Standard Version
4 Enter his
gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
We can't
approach God with unconfessed sin. The blood of Jesus takes away our
sin.
2. The Brazen altar was next. The Brazen altar's purpose was to sacrifice a substitute for our sins.
The substitute dies, so that we can live.
Jesus is our sacrifice for our sins. The cross represents the brazen altar.
1 John 2:2
He (Jesus) is God’s
way of dealing with our sins, not only ours but the sins of the whole world.
He (Jesus) is God’s
way of dealing with our sins, not only ours but the sins of the whole world.
Isaiah 53:5
English Standard Version
5 But he was pierced for our
transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
5 But he was pierced for our
transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Transgression is to go too far. We all have gone too far. Jesus
was pierced with a spear in His side. He gives us freedom in our
hearts from going too far.
Iniquity refers to the wayward condition of our
hearts. Jesus's body was whipped for us. He changes the
wayward condition of our hearts.
Peace refers to the restoration of our thoughts.
Jesus wore a crown of thorns for us. He gives us freedom in our
thoughts and thus provides peace.
Wounds refers to the healing of our past. Jesus's
hands were wounded by nails. He gives us freedom from our past.
3. The next piece of furniture in the Tabernacle was the Laver.
It is were the worshipper was cleansed. We are to offer up
every part of ourselves to God.
1 John 1:9
English
Standard Version
If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
4. Next in the Tabernacle was the
Candlestick. It represents the Holy Spirit. We are to invite the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
Zechariah 4:6
English
Standard Version
Then he said to me,
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 11:2
English
Standard Version
And the Spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon him,
the
Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the
Spirit of counsel and might,
the
Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2
English
Standard Version
And the Spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon him,
the
Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the
Spirit of counsel and might,
the
Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
1 Corinthians
14:1
English
Standard Version
Pursue love,
and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you
may prophesy.
5. Next, came
the Table of Shewbread. It represents God's Word. We are to claim the promises of God.
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with
manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make
you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man
lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
6. Next, was
the Altar of Incense which represents worship.
Psalm
29:2
English
Standard Version
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness
7. Finally, was the
Holy of Holies. It was where the Ark was. It represents the
intimate presence of God where we pray for other people.
1 Timothy 2:1
English
Standard Version
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people....
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