Temple Baptist Church - 3-9-2014
Exodus 37:17-24
Introduction:
A. The washing of the priest at the Laver of Brass opens the way to the Holy Place.
1. What a joy and privilege it is to be eternally saved and having heaven for you home. That is enough to praise the Lord about for the rest of our time here as well for an eternity over there.
2. But what a wonderful thing to have fellowship and communion with our wonderful Lord and Saviour as we walk through this wicked world of turmoil and trouble, disappointment and discouragement, pain and suffering.
3. Salvation is so much more than just going to heaven and missing hell. Salvation is a life filled with the realization of the marvelous love, amazing grace, and wondrous care of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. There are several things that we need to notice about the Holy Place.
1. It was a place of limited access. Not just anybody could enter. You may have been “saved” by looking forward to the promised Messiah but that in itself did not allow you to enter this holy place.
2. There were no windows through which one could see in. It could not be observed from without. Though the Israelites may have known what the furniture looked like, they could not observe the actual workings of those inside. Thus it is with our walk with Christ in the holy place of communion. It is a private place; it is a secret place.
3. There were no windows through which the priest could see out. I think of the song written by Alfred Henry Ackley titled “When I’m With Him” which says, “When I’m with Him, when I’m with Him, the fairest pleasures of the world grow dim; and in my heart I feel the thrill of glory; when I’m with Him, when I’m with Him!”
4. It was both a place of service and intimacy! I cannot imagine coming apart from the world into this prepared place and knowing the fullness of communion with the Lord! We also have that privilege!
C. Let us look at the Candlestick for a few minutes:
1. The Candlestick represents Christ as the only Light! The Holy Place’s only light was that which issued from the Golden Candlestick. There were no other artificial lights and the coverings of the Holy Place greatly restricted an outside light that might have shown in.
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.
2. The Candlestick had six branches that protruded out of the central stem. This represents the total dependence of man upon Christ.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
3. The Candlestick was made of one solid, beaten work! The Gold speaks of His deity. Other than the Candlestick and its utensils of service, only the Mercy Seat was made of pure Gold. This speaks of absolute unity!
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4. The Candlestick had no dimensions given! There are no limitations to how close that we can be to God. Not only can we be close to see His light, but we can be close enough to feel His warmth!
John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
D. Now, let us look at what God’s Light, Jesus Christ, does:
1. The Light shines unto you: Revelation! With revelation come realization, responsibility, and reaction.
John 1:7-9 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
2. The Light shines within you: Illumination!
Psalms 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
3. The Light shines through you: Observation!
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
a. We are observed by the saints in the church! The candle is not to be hidden but placed upon a candlestick which is a type of the local church. Our light then “giveth light unto all that are in the house.” We are to faithfully assemble in the local church to worship, fellowship, learn, and share. Church membership and faithfulness are a litmus test for obedience to God.
b. We are observed by the sinners in the community! Our light is “so shine” before men as to also give them light that are without the house. As the world observes us walking in the light of God, they are then convinced and convicted that our God is a wonder working God which brings Him glory.
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