Participants:
Series Code: SSOS
Program Code: SSOS190010A
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00:01 Music...
00:26 Welcome to another installment 00:27 in our Series that we've entitled: 00:29 "The Sanctuary, Salvation and our Savior" 00:33 and the focus of our study today is the Candlesticks 00:38 or the Menorah or otherwise known as the Lampstand 00:41 that was located in the Holy Place of the sanctuary. 00:45 Now, to my right, we have this beautiful LED 00:49 of the Menorah and it was covered in pure gold 00:53 made of wood 00:55 and it was to be in the shape of an almond tree, 00:59 there were seven lamps of fire that were burning there, 01:03 there was one central stand 01:06 with six stems going out from the central ones 01:09 and at the top of each one of these lamps 01:12 was an almond-shaped bowl that was to be filled with oil 01:17 daily by the priest 01:19 and also, there were wicks that were burning there as well 01:22 and the priest's responsibility was to insure 01:26 that these lamps were burning continually 01:29 in the Holy Place of the sanctuary. 01:32 It was the only source of light 01:35 in the Holy Place of the sanctuary 01:38 and it was the place from which light emanated 01:42 and there was a golden glow that would fill the room 01:46 of the Holy Place. 01:48 As we can see, there are three articles of furniture 01:52 in the Holy Place of the sanctuary... 01:55 the Candlesticks... the Altar of Incense... 01:57 and the Shewbread 01:59 and the focus of our study today is the Candlesticks 02:03 and when we talk about the sanctuary, 02:05 we're talking about God's plan of restoration... 02:07 it is to bring us back... 02:09 He wants to bring us into the Courtyard experience... 02:12 into the Holy Place... 02:14 and into the Most Holy Place Experience 02:17 and we noted that Adam and Eve before the fall... 02:21 were in a face-to-face encounter with God... 02:23 had that encounter... 02:25 that conversation with God as to a friend 02:27 but because of the fall, 02:29 the entire human race was placed outside the gate 02:32 and it's God's plan 02:34 through the illustration of the sanctuary, 02:36 to bring us all the way back 02:38 to that intimate face-to-face relationship with Him. 02:41 Now, when we look at the Lampstand, 02:44 we note that the reason why the fire is able to burn 02:50 is because of the oil that has been provided 02:54 and the oil represents the Holy Spirit 02:57 that is to fill us on a daily basis 03:01 and the only reason why we are able to shine for Jesus 03:05 is because of the indwelling spirit of God. 03:09 There are several different things 03:12 that the light from the lampstand illustrates 03:16 and first of all, this has Christological implications 03:19 meaning that it points to Jesus Christ. 03:22 The Menorah... the light emanating in the sanctuary 03:26 first and primarily points to Jesus 03:28 as Jesus said in John chapter 1 verse 9, 03:32 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. " 03:35 Jesus is our spiritual illumination. 03:39 Jesus is the One that gives us light, 03:42 Jesus is the source of light and truth 03:46 and so, first and foremost, 03:48 the light that burns in the Holy Place 03:52 represents Jesus Christ. 03:55 There is a secondary significance 03:57 and this has ecclesiological implications 04:01 talking about the church. 04:02 So, first and foremost, 04:04 this is talking about Jesus the light of the world 04:07 and secondarily this refers to the church... God's people... 04:11 you and I... 04:13 the Bible says, "You are the light of the world" 04:17 in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 14. 04:20 Now, we are not the source of light, 04:22 we are a reflection of the light of God 04:25 so, not only is Jesus the light of the world, 04:29 but the church as evidenced in the seven lamps of fire 04:34 that were burning before the throne in the book of Revelation 04:37 representing the seven churches... 04:38 the church is to be the reflection of God's light, 04:44 we are the light of the world, 04:47 we are to be the agents that disseminate truth 04:51 to a dying world. 04:52 The oil, as we mentioned, is the Holy Spirit 04:56 according to Luke chapter 4 verse 18 04:57 and Zachariah chapter 4 verse 6, 04:59 the oil that is poured into the lamps is the Holy Spirit 05:04 and as we noted earlier, 05:06 we don't burn because of ourselves, 05:08 we don't give light because of ourselves, 05:11 we give light because of the Holy Spirit 05:14 that dwells in each one of us. 05:16 When the Spirit comes in, 05:18 we manifest the fruit of the Spirit, 05:21 we manifest love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, 05:27 goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance... 05:29 the graces of Jesus Christ are a light to the world 05:34 and when we talk about our witness... 05:36 talk about light... talk about sharing Jesus... 05:39 many times we talk about the proclamation of the Word, 05:43 but in reality, it's also talking about 05:47 the proclamation of the life. 05:49 The strongest evidence of the reality of Christ... 05:53 of the living Christ... 05:55 is a loving and lovable Christian 05:58 so, as the Spirit is poured into our lives, 06:01 we are able to be a light... 06:03 be a witness to those that are around us. 06:07 The priest that put oil into the lamps 06:11 represents Jesus our High Priest in heaven 06:13 so, how fitting an illustration it is. 06:16 Jesus our High Priest in heaven, we are the vessel... 06:20 He pours in the Holy Spirit into us 06:22 which enables to be a light to... to emanate the... 06:26 the character of Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit to others 06:29 and this is an important part of our Christian experience. 06:33 You see, being a Christian 06:35 is not just about living in our own community 06:37 and having people that believe all the same that we do... 06:40 the same things that we do 06:41 and just living in our little club 06:43 and talking theology amongst ourselves, 06:46 no, the Christian experience is about being a light 06:50 to the world as well. 06:51 It's about sharing your faith. 06:53 It's about sharing the gospel. 06:55 It's about sharing the good news of a crucified and risen Lord. 06:59 Another thing about the elements in the Holy Place 07:04 was this word in the Hebrew, "Tamid" 07:07 which literally means "continually. " 07:09 Each one of the elements in the Holy Place 07:13 was to be continually before the Lord. 07:15 The priest was to tend to the bread 07:18 and keep it continually before the Lord, 07:21 the word "Tamid" here is used again 07:24 and then, we have these three elements: 07:27 Bread, Incense, and Candlesticks 07:30 representing Bible Study, Prayer and Witnessing 07:35 and each one of these was to be continually before the Lord, 07:39 the bread was to be a continual presence. 07:42 The light was to be continually burning 07:44 and the incense was to be continually ascending to God. 07:48 In other words, each one of these elements 07:52 of Bible Study... of Prayer and Ministry 07:56 are not just a one-time thing, 07:58 but it is to be Tamid... continually something 08:02 that the Christian by the grace of God 08:05 practices to sustain their spiritual life. 08:09 The word "Prayer" and "Witnessing" 08:11 is to be continually a part of our Christian experience. 08:16 Here's a quotation from "Steps to Christ" page 79, 08:20 "God might have committed the message of the gospel, 08:24 and all the work of loving ministry, 08:26 to the heavenly angels. 08:28 But in His infinite love 08:29 He chose to make us co-workers with Himself, 08:33 with Christ and the angels, 08:35 that we might share the blessing, 08:38 the joy, the spiritual uplifting, 08:40 which results from this unselfish ministry. " 08:44 You think about the implications of what this is saying, 08:48 who would you rather give a Bible Study... 08:52 me or the Angel Gabriel? 08:55 Now, that's a no-brainer... 08:57 the Angel Gabriel... 08:59 and the question is, 09:00 why would God choose frail human beings like myself 09:05 to be given this... just wonderful task... 09:10 this awesome responsibility of taking the good news to others 09:14 when He has far more capable entities and individuals 09:18 like the Angel Gabriel? 09:20 Why would He choose individuals like us? 09:23 Well, one of the reasons according to this quotation 09:26 from the book "Steps to Christ" 09:27 is this element of joy. 09:30 Now, I remember when I was a Bible Worker 09:33 in South Central Los Angeles, 09:34 we pitched a tent there on Florence and Figueroa 09:37 those of you that are from that area of the country, 09:40 you know that it's a tough part of town 09:42 and we went out door-to-door and canvassed the people 09:46 and we would ask them, a very simple question, 09:48 "Do you have a prayer request?" 09:50 and we'd write them down and we'd go back to our rooms, 09:51 we'd pray for those individuals 09:53 and it was a miracle of miracle that summer... 09:54 changed my life forever. 09:55 We would have these people come into our tent 10:00 and from night to night, 700 to a 1,000 people 10:04 gathered together in that tent 10:05 and there were miracles that summer. 10:08 At the end of that summer, I saw an individual 10:11 that I had been the first contact, 10:14 I had knocked on their door... 10:16 I brought them to the meeting, 10:18 they came to the meeting... 10:21 they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior... 10:24 they accepted the truths in Scripture... 10:27 they fell in love with Jesus the Way the Truth and the Life, 10:30 and I saw that man getting into the water and being baptized, 10:33 and I remember to this day, standing by the pool... 10:37 standing as that man was being baptized... 10:40 with tears of joy streaming down my face 10:43 as I saw that person that I had been so... 10:47 so just... just humbled to be used 10:50 to lead that person to Jesus Christ, 10:53 giving their life over to God in the waters of baptism 10:56 and I wanted to... there was a feeling of joy 10:59 and elation that I cannot describe 11:03 and if you've never led someone to Jesus Christ, 11:05 I want to ask... I want to encourage... 11:07 to pray to God and say, 11:08 "Lord, give me an individual to share my faith with... " 11:10 and here I was by the side of that pool 11:13 and that man was getting into that water 11:14 and it was an experience of joy and I'm so thankful to God 11:19 that He has given us the privilege 11:22 of being a light to the world. 11:25 He doesn't need us... 11:26 are you kidding me? 11:28 He doesn't need me... 11:30 He could do this Himself with His angels 11:33 but He doesn't want us to miss out on the joy 11:37 and the return that we have 11:39 and the thing is, when you get to heaven, 11:43 do you know, you can't take anything. 11:47 You can't take your house, you can't take your car, 11:50 you can't take your 401K, 11:52 you can't even take your body... 11:53 praise God for that, 11:56 you could only take your character and people. 11:59 Now, think about the implications of that. 12:02 Have you ever gone to a place and you went by yourself 12:07 and you're seeing this beautiful waterfall... 12:10 picturesque sunset... 12:12 and you're there by yourself. 12:14 Have you ever thought to yourself, 12:16 "Oh, I wish so-and-so could be there... 12:18 I wish this individual was there 12:20 so he could experience this with me... 12:22 I wish they could experience the joy 12:24 of what this time and this place really is... " 12:28 but you are by yourself 12:30 and I believe that one of the reasons 12:31 that God called us to be a light and a witness for Him 12:34 is that when we get to heaven, 12:36 He knows we can't take any material possession with us, 12:39 no investment... 12:40 no 401K... 12:42 but when you get there, you can bring people with you 12:45 and how much greater return and joy it is 12:50 to know that when you lead someone to Jesus Christ, 12:53 you allow God to shine through you 12:55 through the fruit of the Spirit, 12:56 you allow God to use you in a Bible Study 12:59 or to lead someone to Jesus Christ, 13:00 that throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, 13:03 that that person will be there. 13:06 What a joy it will be as you see them 13:10 criss-crossing the universe in eternity 13:14 after a billion or trillion years, 13:17 what a return... you can look at that person... 13:20 "I'm so glad I shared my faith with them, praise God... " 13:23 and God knows that the return of that investment 13:28 of our time and resources will give eternal returns 13:33 in the new heavens and the new earth. 13:35 I want to encourage you to stay with us as we study 13:39 how God has called us to be a light for Him 13:43 to burn for Him... to shine for Him... 13:46 to give the character of Christ for Him, 13:48 we're going to take a short break right now 13:49 and stay with us as we return to study 13:52 how Christ wants to shine through us 13:55 as evidenced in the Menorah and the Lampstand. |
Revised 2019-10-15