God’s Design For the Church:: Uniting the Old Testament with the New Testament

By Apostle Sharon E. Harris

The Church of the Living God is the only organization in this world that will transcend to the next world and throughout all eternity. Everything else in this world will vanish away, but God’s Church will last for all eternity - now and forever. God has structured the Church and everyone must know what that stricture is. The information in this book has been divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, because Scripture is used to answer Scripture. It is based on what God says, with Scriptures that make it plain. The information in this timeless book will change a Church, a ministry, and also change a Believer’s personal walk with the Lord. It is group worthy, as well as individual worthy of study because God has His Blueprint for His Church, and it is all hidden in Scriptures, and being able to interpret the language of the Author, which is the Holy Spirit, will lead us in the wealth of Spiritual prosperity. The Holy Spirit is the Designer of God’s Blueprint for His Church and He wants us all to understand His way because no prophecy of the Scriptures is of private interpretation. He wants us to know how we are individually, and collectively designed, and knowing this will transform us into His glorious Church. This book will help you recognize your place in the Body of Christ, His Church, as He works on us individually and collectively, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13). This book is profitable for individual, Church, and group studies. It will help you see the spiritual construction from beginning to end, from start to finish, and we will stand in awe of this great Architect, the designer of our souls, God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Dec 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781489747464

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

Apostle Sharon E. Harris is an avid reader of the Bible and studies it relentlessly under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She finds that the Word of God is intriguing, captivating, and downright the most powerful Book Mankind could every come across. It is the mind of God. God told the prophet Habakkuk to write the vision, and make it plain, and Apostle Harris is one who backs up her writings with the Word of God. Her writings are not based on opinions, but She believes that, when it comes to speaking on behalf of the Lord, one must be Spirit-led and ensure that self has no part in anything that pertains to the Lord. She believes in seeking God to ensure that the Holy Spirit is breathing into the spirit of the person who is transcribing on behalf of the Lord. With much fasting and prayer, deep and inspired studying over many years, the Holy Spirit has released her with the torch of the Word, to light the path so that others may see the Way. All of her inspirational books are Spirit-breathed, and they bring inspiration, enlightenment, and spiritual direction so that the individual, as well as the Church on a whole, may be strengthened in the things that matter, the divine things of the Lord. Her writings are Scripture based and full of Scripture references so that readers may see for themselves what God is saying to His people. God is the center of her life, and the inspiration behind all her writings.

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GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE CHURCH

VOLUME 2 OF 6

Uniting the Old Testament

with the

New Testament

GOD’S ORIGINAL BLUEPRINT

A MANUAL FOR SEMINARIES, UNIVERSITIES,

COLLEGES, PASTORS, AND ALL MINISTRY LEADERS

FOR GROUP BIBLE STUDY, AND INDIVIDUAL STUDY

APOSTLE SHARON E. HARRIS

Copyright © 2023 Apostle Sharon E. Harris.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4745-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4744-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4746-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023908191

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 11/06/2023

God Has a Specific Design for the Church

The Designs of the Tabernacle and Temple

ARE THE DESIGNS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH

All Scripture references are from

the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. And these are the measures..." (Ezekiel 43:10-13).

How to Be Born Again

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). In order to be born again, a person must acknowledge that they are a sinner, and they must receive Christ’s righteousness by faith. He stands at the door of a person’s heart and seeks entrance into their life. Every human being is born a sinner, and every sinner must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God who came through the virgin birth, and that He was crucified on a cross to pay for the sins of Mankind. The sinner must believe and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on their behalf, and they must accept Him into their heart and life and live according to His Word, the Holy Bible. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). These are the steps to being born again.

A Model Prayer to Be Born Again

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge and confess that I am a sinner. I acknowledge that you are the Savior of the World, and that you died so that I may be reconciled to God. I thank you for shedding your blood on my behalf. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord God for sending your Son and for saving my soul, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Credits Due

Preface

CHAPTER 1: The Tabernacle (Part 2)

THE HOLY PLACE

The Table of Shewbread

The Shewbread

The Candlestick

The Altar of Incense

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

Pillar Number One - Repentance

Pillar Number Two - Justification

Pillar Number Three - Regeneration (the born-again experience)

Pillar Number Four - Sanctification

BEYOND THE INNER VEIL

The Ark of the Covenant

The Tables of Stone

Aaron’s Rod That Budded

The Pot of Manna

The Mercy Seat

THE COURTYARD

The Courtyard Pillars

The Courtyard Curtains

The Courtyard Gate

The Laver of Brass

The Brass Altar

The Horns of the Altar

CHAPTER 2: The Aroma of Christ and the Holy Spirit

The Ingredients of the Anointing Oil:

How The Anointing Oil Was Used

Olive Oil

Pure Myrrh

Sweet Cinnamon

Sweet Calamus

Cassia

THE INCENSE

Stacte

Onycha

Galbanum

Pure Frankincense

THE OIL FOR THE LAMP

CHAPTER 3: The Levitical Priesthood

Rejected by Man, but Chosen by God

THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS

The High Priest’s Garments

The High Priest’s Garments Interpreted

The Linen Breeches

The White Linen Coat

The Robe of the Ephod

Pomegranates

Golden Bells

The Ephod

The Ephod’s Precious Stones

The All-White Linen Girdle

The Curious Girdle of the Ephod

The Breastplate of Judgment

The Urim and Thummim

The Precious Stones on the Breastplate of Judgment

The Holy Mitre (Turban)

The Golden Plate (The Holy Crown)

THE COMMON PRIESTS’ GARMENTS

The Common Priests’ Garments Interpreted

The Linen Breeches

The White Linen Coat

The White Linen Girdle (Sash)

The Bonnets (head dress)

THE INAUGURATION OF THE PRIESTS

Preparation for the Priests’ Consecration

The Tabernacle Is Anointed

Consecrating the Priests With Water

Gearing Up In Special Garments

The Sin Offering (Bullock): Consecrating With Blood

The Burnt Offering (Ram): Consecrating With a Sweet Savor

Consecration of the Priests and Their Garments

The Ordination Offering of All High Priests

The Once-Saved-Always-Saved Lie (False Doctrine)

The High Priest’s Sin Offering

The Priests’ Consecration Is Completed

SUMMARY OF THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES OF THE PRIESTS’ ORDINATION

The Bullock: The Priests’ Sin Offering

The First Ram: Burnt Offering for a Sweet Savor Unto the Lord

The Second Ram: The Priests’ Consecration Ram

AARON ATONES FOR HIS SINS

Aaron Offers His Sin Offering

Aaron Offers His Burnt Offering

AARON ATONES FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE

Aaron Offers the People’s Sin Offering

Aaron Offers the People’s Burnt Offering

Aaron Offers the People’s Meat Offering (Grain)

Aaron Offers the People’s Peace Offering

THE LORD ACCEPTS THE OFFERINGS

THE PRIESTS’ DAILY DUTIES

AARON’S HOLY GARMENTS ARE PASSED TO HIS SON

LAWS CONCERNING THE COMMON PRIESTS

LAWS CONCERNING THE HIGH PRIEST

AARON’S SEED WHO WERE PROHIBITED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD

Disqualifying Blemishes That Kept a Levite From Becoming a Priest:

Disqualifying Blemishes That Keep a Christian From Becoming a Minister

Disqualifying Blemishes That Kept a Levite From Becoming a Priest (A deeper look at each)

THE SIN OF NADAB AND ABIHU

CHAPTER 4: The Rearing Up of the Tabernacle

SETTING THE TABERNACLE IN ORDER

Anointing the Tabernacle

Anointing the Priests

Moses, the Epitome of a Great Leader

Tabernacle and Priests: Ready for Service

THE GLORY OF THE TABERNACLE

THE PILLAR OF CLOUD BY DAY AND THE PILLAR OF FIRE BY NIGHT

CREDITS DUE

All credits are given to God the Father, the Designer of the Church; God the Son, the embodiment of the Church; and God the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Sustainer of the Church. Without the Trinity, I would never have been able to write these inspiring volumes on the wonderful design of the Church of the Living God.

To my intercessors and armor bearers who are constantly lifting me up in prayer, and who offer words of encouragement so tha

t I may keep pressing forward in the important work of ministry, you are incredibly vital to my survival in this epic war against the forces of darkness. My intercessors and armor bearers were designed by God to hold up my hands as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’s hands until the battle was won. You make such a difference in my life that, in expressing my gratitude, words fail me. The blessings of the Lord be upon you all for all that you do for the servant of the Lord, and for the sake of His Kingdom. I cherish you all.

Dorothy Johnson, my mother, whose intercessory oil never runs dry because she remains constant in prayer and in the throne room of grace, making intercession for me, our family, and for the whole world - yes she is that kind of mother and intercessor. I thank God for you.

Lloyd Johnson is an incredible father-figure. A father is the leading man of a family. Not many men know how to lead a family, but there are many who lead and lead well. Dada, I am a witness that you have led your family in excellence of moral conduct and integrity. You raised your children well and I know that I can speak for all of us that you are among the best of the best fathers that God has ever made. I thank you so much for raising me the way you did. It is the reason why I am who I am today. I honor you with the blessings of heaven. May God Almighty continue to bless you abundantly with long life, health, and strength. May heaven continue to shine on you and that you will reap heaven’s best.

My four sons Dexter Harris, Corey Harris, Lovell Harris, and Malik Harris - I wouldn’t trade you for the world. What a difference you make in my life! You are my God-given treasures. I am truly blessed.

Dexter is the chosen one who brings laughter, which lightens the weight of life. Son, you are so funny without even trying to be funny. That is a gift from God because laughter relaxes the body, boosts the immune system, protects the heart, and releases endorphins, which is the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). The Lord wants us to be happy and, Dexter, you make that happen. Keep on loving Jesus. God bless you son.

My son, Corey Harris, so young and yet so powerful. He is a bishop indeed at a tender age because the Spirit of the Lord has filled him with heaven’s wisdom, and he is quick to share what God has poured into him. Son, you are a spiritual inspiration to Mommy, and I am eternally grateful for the spiritual support and support in all other areas of need. May God continue to catapult you into your divine destiny.

Lovell my twin. You are like Mommy in so many ways that it amazes me. Your passion for life and to excel is astounding. You think hard and dream big and because of that, you have been positioned on the road to great success. We share many God-given traits, so we do well together. You have a story to tell, and I know that one day you will tell it all, and the world will be blessed with all that you have to offer. Keep pressing forward, son.

Malik, maybe one day you will become a lawyer, or even the president of the United States. Many times over the years you’ve been told that a lawyer position would fit you well. I can see you in the courtroom defending others and leaving everyone stunned. From a very young age, I had admired how well spoken you were, and how much you spoke as if you were an adult with experience. Continue to dream big so that your business aspirations will reach their climax. I know that you will. It is imbedded in you as a gift from Jehovah. Greatness lies in you and will one day become an awesome explosion of great success.

A reminder to all: it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:38). Let us always be mindful that without Him we cannot accomplish anything. Stay focused, and stay on the course of victory.

PREFACE

Curiosity in the natural is a wonderful trait. If a person does not seek to know more, chances are, that person will not know anything more than what they already know. A young child’s curiosity drives him to ask questions, to probe into things, to reach for that shiny object because being curious causes him to concentrate with purpose on the things that beckon his attention. We must never stop learning. Not wanting to know more is like ceasing to live. Why did I venture out to write this book on God’s Design for the Church? Because I was very curious about spiritual things from God’s perspective. I was never satisfied with where I was in my knowledge of God and His will for the Church. I unceasingly wanted to know more. As much as I received from the Lord, it only opened up my appetite for desiring to know even more. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:7-11). The more we seek after God, the more He increases our appetite for Him. There is great reward in loving God with every fiber of our being. In studying the Bible for many years, I came to realize that what I have witnessed in the body of Christ, in our day and time, is simply not all that the Bible says that the Church should be. So I went on a quest. I questioned God on many subject matters and sought Him vehemently for wisdom on spiritual matters. I had many questions such as, Why are God’s people sickly? Where are the signs, wonders, and miracles that He has promised in His Word? Why does the Church appear to be weak and powerless? What is God’s design for the Church? My thirst for spiritual knowledge led me to seek answers through the wisdom of God. It is good to have a spiritual thirst after God’s wisdom. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15). As I sought God’s wisdom on the body of Christ, on how the Church is designed to function, I became relentless in my pursuit until the Father caused me to fully understand the Scripture that says, …for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6b). I have personally proven that for myself. You have to diligently seek after Him without wavering. I had an intense, spiritual appetite to know the design that Christ has laid out for His Church. There has to be more than what we are currently experiencing. I believe that the early Church gave us a glimpse on how God wants to move among His people; He confirmed His Word with signs following the Believers. I know that our Father wants to release so much more into the body of Christ so that the world will be impacted by the presence of the Church here on Earth. When that is done, souls will be won for the Kingdom of God. Every leader needs to know the design of the Church if he or she wants to display the glory of the Bride of Christ. When you delve into these life-changing and ministry-changing six-volume books of God’s Design for the Church, and apply the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ has imparted and inspired me to write, neither you nor your ministry will be the same. Through the lens of Scripture, you will see God’s design for the Church from the onset of Moses’s Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, and the establishment of the Church by Jesus Christ. In the types and shadows of Moses’s wilderness Tabernacle, to David’s blueprint for the construction of the Temple, to Solomon’s great wisdom in bringing to life David’s blueprint, and through the Blueprint (the Holy Bible) of the Church that Christ has designed and established, you will see the complete picture of how the Church should function today. Until we get back to the original Blueprint of the Church, the Church will only function at just a step above a secular organization. "And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof. And write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them" (Ezekiel 43:11). God has a design for His Church, and He wants us to know the design and follow His orders. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been established from before the foundation of the world. The terms Church of God and the Church of Jesus Christ are used interchangeably in these volumes because they are one and the same, seeing that Jesus Christ is God. All that we see in Scripture is a graduation of the full disclosure of the Church of God. From the Edenic Covenant, to the Adamic Covenant, to the Noahic Covenant, to the Abrahamic Covenant, to the Mosaic Covenant, to the Palestinian Covenant, to the Davidic Covenant, to the New Covenant, and from the wilderness Tabernacle, to Solomon’s Temple, all the way through history to the culmination of the establishment of the Church of the Living God, I have connected the pieces together, and have shown you the wonderful Bride of Christ in all her glorious splendor. I have established this through the proof of Scripture. All six volumes together of God’s Design for the Church will make the design clear so that you will be better able to understand how the Church was designed, and how it must function in order for us to see the mighty flow of the power of God. When we go back to the original Blueprint, we will begin to see the signs, wonders, and miracles that we have so longed for. When you connect the types and shadows of the Mosaic Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon, you will uncover the truths surrounding the establishment of the Church, whose foundation is rooted upon the solid Rock of Christ, then you will see how our modern-day Church ought to function, which is according to the divine will of God. All the Old Testament types and shadows pointed to the living, breathing, Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the explicit design of Christ Himself, and hence, the Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the Church in the wilderness. We can seen the transition of the Church of the Living God throughout the history of Man.

Do you know the design of the Church? All six volumes of God’s Design for the Church will serve either as an educator, an inspiration, or a refresher of the wonderful design of the Body of Christ. Once we get back to the original design, we will begin to see a flow of the power of God in the midst of His Church. This will then spill over into our personal lives. The volumes of God’s Design for the Church are a life-changer. The revelations in these volumes have changed my life. In the midst of writing them, the Holy Spirit continuously breathed into me inspiration after inspiration, revelation after revelation, and I have put them all together in these volumes, leaving nothing out, so all could see what thus saith the Lord unto the churches. The seven churches of Asia Minor each had a personal message from the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord has a message for each Church today. For the Church at Ephesus, the Lord had said that they had labored and had not fainted; the message to Smyrna was that the Lord knew their works, tribulations, and poverty, but they were rich and must not fear the wicked, but be faithful unto death and He would give them the crown of life; the Lord told the Church at Pergamos that He knew their works, and that they had held fast to His name and had not denied the faith, but He had a few things against them because they condoned those who taught false doctrine. The Lord told them to repent before He came and fought against the false teachers with the Sword of His mouth; for the Church at Thyatira, He first complimented them then scolded them because they had allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce the Lord’s servants; His message to Sardis was that He had not found their work to be perfect, and they must be watchful and strengthen the things that were about to die; He told the Church at Philadelphia that He had set before them an open door that no man could shut because they had a little strength and had kept His Word and had not denied His name; for the Church at Laodicea, their message from the Lord was that He knew their works, and that they were neither hot nor cold, and because they were lukewarm, He would spew them out of His mouth. If you are a leader of a Church or ministry, what is Christ saying about His Church that He has entrusted into your hands? What is the condition of the work He has placed you over? These volumes will get you on the right track on how to operate the Church, or your ministry, which must be according to God’s Blueprint.

Grace and peace.

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

CHAPTER 1

THE TABERNACLE (PART 2)

The Holy Place

The priests were the only ones who were allowed into the Holy Place. If you entered into the Holy Place (the entrance is on the east), which was the first room after leaving the Courtyard, you would see the Table of Shewbread on your right (north side of the Tabernacle), and the Golden Candlestick on your left (south side of the Tabernacle), and the Altar of Incense would be straight ahead of you, right next to the Inner Veil that was hanging on the four gold-covered pillars that represented the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospel takes you into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of the living God. The Inner Veil represented Jesus’s flesh, His human side; it represented His regular, ordinary, like-one-of-us, side. The Inner Veil was made of fine woven linen, with colors of blue, purple, and scarlet. The Holy Place was 30 ft. long (20 cubits), 15 ft. high (10 cubits), and 15 ft. wide (10 cubits). The presence of the Lord God rested in the Holy Place. The person who stood in the Holy Place would have been surrounded by pure gold and sharp, beautiful colors of blue, purple, and scarlet, which was the splendid deity of Christ displayed in natural, earthly symbolisms. The Tabernacle’s roof was an open space that Yahweh covered with a linen curtain, a goats’ hair curtain, a rams’ skins dyed red covering, and a badgers’ skins covering. The linen curtain was made of fine linen with colors of blue, purple and scarlet; it was identical to the Inner Veil curtain. Because the curtains and coverings were placed over an open roof, they also became the ceiling of the Tabernacle. When a priest looked up towards the ceiling, they saw only the linen curtain (Christ’s righteousness) with its array of colors that represented heaven (blue), His royalty (purple), and His sacrificial blood (scarlet). Designs of cherubim were embroidered throughout the linen curtain and on the Inner Veil as well, which reminded them of the holy presence of God, because cherubim represented the presence of God. Cherubim cover the throne of God in heaven, and the symbol of cherubim on the curtains was evidence that God was there in the Tabernacle with the priests. No one died in the Tabernacle (the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) because death had already occurred in the Courtyard when a substitutionary animal had given its life to redeem the priest. Its death allowed the priest to enter into the presence of God without dread, except on one recorded occasion where two priests, Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, died in the presence of the Lord because they had presumptuously defied God’s command and had offered up strange fire (unwarranted fire) unto Him. His presence must be respected.

The Table of Shewbread

(Exodus 25:23-30; 37:10-16)

The only item that was on the golden Table of Shewbread was the Shewbread, which was bread that was made with fine flour. The Table of Shewbread represented the Lord’s provision. God had commanded that this Table must never be empty; that there must always be Shewbread on the Table of Shewbread in the presence of the Lord. This Table was Christ our Lord. It was symbolic of His presence and His willingness to supply our need. He is the giver and sustainer of life. It is through Him that we are sustained because He is the source of our supplies.

The Shewbread

(Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9)

There were to be twelve loaves of Shewbread sitting in two rows of six on the golden Table of Shewbread, and each row of bread must be sprinkled with pure frankincense. The loaves were baked with finely ground flour. The Lord had told Moses that there must be fresh Shewbread on the Table of Shewbread, placed there every Sabbath. Aaron and his sons were to eat it in the Holy Place (the Courtyard) because they were most holy unto them, for they were offerings of the Lord made by fire. This symbolized the Bread of Life (Jesus). He said that the Shewbread must be placed before Him always, and this showed that He is always willing to supply our need. There must never be a lack of bread. This holy bread was for the priests only. How could we come into His presence and He doesn’t have meat for our soul? He feeds our souls with His Bread of Life from heaven. We will never be disappointed because He will always be able to supply our need. We must never leave His presence empty. We will only be empty if we fail to receive from His hand of provision. The Shewbread represented our spiritual Bread, Jesus Christ our Lord. Eat and be filled. Receive from Him all that He desires to pour into you. As you remain in the Holy Place, in His presence, you will find that His provision and presence is satisfying to your soul.

The Candlestick

(Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24)

There were no windows in the Holy Place (nor the Holy of Holies), therefore, there was no natural light that flowed from the outside to the inside. Because it was a windowless enclosure, the Candlestick was the Tabernacle’s only source of light, but only in the Holy Place (there was no light in the Holy of Holies). "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always" (Exodus 27:20). Jesus Christ is the Light that came into the world. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matthew 4:16). "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" (John 8:12). Aaron and his sons were mandated to tend to the Candlestick every morning and every evening. The light must never go out, but must burn perpetually. Jesus Christ is our only source of Light in this dark world, and we are His representatives: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14). The seven-branch Candlestick was every bit of the character of our Savior Jesus Christ. Seven is the number of perfection. He is the perfect source of Light.

The Altar of Incense

(Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-28)

The Altar of Incense was located in the Holy Place. God gave Moses the ingredients to make the Sweet Incense that the priests would burn on the Altar of Incense. "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord" (Exodus 30:7-10). Only the combination of special ingredients, made exactly the way that God had commanded, could be offered upon this Altar. Any other combination of ingredients would be strange incense. At no other times must incense be burned upon the Altar of Incense, except in the morning and evening as was commanded by the Lord, or else that would have warranted a destructive response from the Lord even if it was the incense that He had created. The priests did their duties and burned sweet smelling incense every morning and every evening on the Altar of Incense as God had ordered, but Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord because they deviated from His commandment. Their incense was not accepted by the Lord and He showed them quick, fast, and in a hurry that it was not accepted. He was not pleased with the stench of their odious worship. It was odious because it was a deviation from what He had instructed, even if they had offered up the exact incense that He had created. We do not know exactly what they had done wrong, but the slightest deviation warranted death because they were in the presence of the holy Lord God (God’s presence rested in the Tabernacle), and they were guilty of sin, and sin cannot remain in His presence without meeting His righteous judgment. This Altar could not be used for any other purpose than to offer up God’s Sweet Incense, and the blood of certain offerings were placed upon its horns. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation (Leviticus 4:7). Also, services that were performed upon this Altar were accomplished only at the times He has appointed for them to be offered up unto Him. The Incense was a symbolism of the prayers of the saints. It was an invitation that we must constantly offer up Sweet Incense of prayers, worship, praise. We make our petitions to Him and they ascend unto Him as a sweet aroma. We must approach Him in true worship by first forgiving anyone who has offended us, and by worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, not with lip-service. He loves the sound of our voice because He created our voice. Whether audibly or silently within our spirit, come and let us pray, let us praise, let us worship, let us make our petitions known unto Him with a true heart of worship. Today, we should be grateful for the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice allows us to approach God without dread because all our sins are paid in full with His atoning blood. Because of that, we can approach Him and be cleansed from all sin and shame, and be able to make all our petitions known unto Him so that we can rest in His divine peace.

The Holy Place had plain furniture that were transformed and made befitting of the King of kings. They were plain, yet prestigious because, though they were made from wood, they displayed the golden exterior that encased their wooden nature. Everything in this God-dedicated room was appealing to the natural senses. The sense of smell: one could not help but enjoy the sweet aroma of the sweet-smelling Incense that permeated the atmosphere of the Holy Place; it ascended from the hot coals that were on the pure Golden Altar of Incense. The sense of sight: the gift of sight was appreciated when the eyes beheld the soft, glowing light that lit the holy room; the beautiful, multicolored ceiling of fine woven linen, combined with the wall-to-wall beauty of the gold-covered boards that were all around the Tabernacle, was pleasant to the eyes. It was stunning to see the replicas of heaven giving a glimpse into the beauty of heavenly truths. The sense of taste: the delicious taste of the Shewbread that was made of fine flour and sprinkled with frankincense reminded them of God’s Sovereign sustenance by His divine provision. The sense of sound: the soothing, crackling sound of hot, burning coals of fire on the Altar of Incense, and the soothing sounds coming from the movements of the priests as they ministered, gave a calm assurance of the love of God. The sense of touch: the smoothness of the touch of the golden boards, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Altar of Incense, and the Candlestick reminded them of the tenderness of God. The Holy Place was a special place to be; the experience quickened the senses and brought warmth and glow to the soul. What a place to find God! The experience was privy to the person who was curious about God, and who had energized themself to go and seek after Him. Then they became awestruck by the heavenly experience on Earth. This is a divine place that Christians find in Christ. If only the world knew what beauty lies at their fingertips. All they have to do is believe on Him, call on His name in faith, and He will be right there in their midst. What a Savior! What a Savior indeed! "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him" (Psalm 34:8). "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is