The Teaching Series Lesson One-The Blueprint: A …

1 25 The Teaching Series Lesson One-The blueprint : A dwelling Place for God TEXT: Exodus 25:8-9 - And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. [9] According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments, even so shall you make it. Never before had a people been so privileged and blessed as the nation of Israel under the wings of the Almighty. Before we get into the construction of the tabernacle let s consider just a few things the nation had experienced just prior to the construction of God s dwelling place. The Israelites had just been liberated, set free after 400 years of slavery. They were now free at last. Their nation was being born, the nation of Israel, They were soon to be given a homeland, their very own country, the land of Canaan that is known today as Palestine.

2 Moreover, and just as important as any of the above events, the Israelites had been chosen by God to be His followers, the people of God. They had been chosen to be God's witnesses to the other nations of the earth, testifying to the fact that there is only ONE TRUE and LIVING God. In fact, during the very days Moses had been up on Mount Sinai face to face with God, the Lord had given him the civil and religious laws that were to form Israel as a nation and govern them as a people. To be blunt, these civil and religious laws form the basis for all society today! The very fiber of governments throughout the entire globe is united by these principles. This is just one small way that shows how valuable the Jewish race has been to humanity.

3 We know from the record of Exodus chapters 19-31 that God had just completed giving Moses three things: The Ten Commandments The Civil and Religious Laws The Instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, the place where God's very own presence was to dwell in a very special way upon earth. 26 Moses had come down from the mountains and shared all with the people, forming them into a nation ruled by law, the laws that had actually been given by God Himself. Now, they were ready to begin their final march to the Promised Land. They were ready to begin their march except for one thing: building the house of God, the TABERNACLE. The Tabernacle was to be the place of God's presence where He would dwell and guide His people in a very special way during their wilderness journeys.

4 The building of the Tabernacle was to be one of the most joyful and momentous occasions in the history of Israel. The Tabernacle was the WORSHIP CENTER of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings and wilderness journeys. The wilderness wanderings lasted from the day of Israel's liberation from slavery over to the day Israel's entrance into the Promised Land. The Tabernacle was actually a large, beautiful, portable tent, built so it could be easily pitched and taken down. Some Key Facts About the Tabernacle: 1. The Tabernacle was the worship center of Israel for a long, long time: more than 500 years from MOSES to DAVID - until Solomon's TEMPLE was built 2. A Large Portion Of God's Holy Word Is Dedicated To The Tabernacle: a.

5 Some 37 entire chapters discuss the Tabernacle: 13 chapters in the book of Exodus discuss the Tabernacle and its priesthood. b. Some 18 chapters of Leviticus discuss the sacrificial system of the Tabernacle. c. Two chapters in Deuteronomy are set aside for the study of the Tabernacle. d. In the New Testament, the Tabernacle is discussed in detail in four of the 13 chapters in the book of Hebrews - 30% of the entire book. 3. The Tabernacle Of Moses Is A Powerful Teaching Tool Of God s Grace The Tabernacle was full of symbols, types, pictures, and shadows that point to spiritual truths for the believer. The symbolism of the Tabernacle is significant, very significant. However in looking at symbolic meanings, we must allow the Bible to speak for itself and allow "scripture to interpret scripture.

6 " The Holy Spirit is our guide, just as He was the guide in the construction of this magnificent building. 4. God's Holy Sprit Inspired Moses To Write Everything Down That God's People Would Need In Order To Know How God Wanted To Be Approached And Worshipped. 27 The Tabernacle and its priesthood were Teaching tools for more than 500 years. Israel had to settle for an imperfect Tabernacle that was made with human hands. The believer today has a much better perspective of our redemption that was spelled out in the Tabernacle. The spiritual has come to fulfill the natural. We are no longer limited to the mere shadow of the Tabernacle and its priesthood; we have the reality of the Tabernacle's message - the very Person to whom the Tabernacle pointed - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Redeemer of the World.

7 Col. 2:17 - Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Hebrews 8:5 - Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 9:23-24 - It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 9:28 - So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

8 Hebrews 10:1-5 - For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. [2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. [3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. [4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: Hebrews 10:9-12 - Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

9 He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 5. The Tabernacle Symbolizes Three Major Things: The Tabernacle symbolizes the ministry of JESUS CHRIST. (John 1:14) The Tabernacle symbolizes the ministry of the CHURCH. 28 The Tabernacle symbolizes or pictures the Christian believer, the person who TRULY follows God John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

10 The Tabernacle was a worship center in which God dwelt, and the Tabernacle stood as a witness to the world. So does the church. God's presence and witness dwell within the church in two ways: God's Spirit dwells within believers God's Spirit dwells among believers - within the presence of believers - when two or three of them gather together: Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 1 Cor. 3:16 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Ephes. 2:20 - And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 1 Cor. 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?