Pastor's Message - June 2014

UNVEILING GOD'S HEART

Matthew 27:50-54 ESV And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  (51)  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.  (52)  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, (53) and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  (54)  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

What a scene that must have been there that day at Calvary! The earth shook, the rocks split [in our day people use dynamite to split rocks or very large machines] and the veil was torn in two. The power of almighty God was being showcased.

Since the beginning of time, God has always worked to reveal Himself to man. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  (2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV, and God wants to be found by men and women. He told Solomon, "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever”                1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV  

God's purpose has always been that men and women would find Him. In Paul's speech to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of Athens he said,  “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,  (27)  that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us” Acts 17:26-27 ESV 

What is the significance of the veil being torn from top to bottom in the Temple? This veil is what separated the holy place from the holy of holies. God had strict regulations for worship and the way He was to be approached under the Law of Moses. Throughout the Old Testament and the ministry of the tabernacle, God was ultimately pointing mankind to Him through Jesus Christ. Christ can be seen throughout the Old Testament tabernacle by types and shadows. “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.  (2) Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?” Hebrews 10:1-2 ESV 

The symbolism of approaching the tabernacle and the steps are: 1). Outside the Tabernacle in the wilderness as sinners. 2). the tabernacle was enclosed by a white linen fence symbolizing the perfect humanity of Christ. 3). Entering the gate the person would come face to face with the Brazen Altar on which was a bleeding, slain animal, symbolizing the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ who was slain for the remission of our sins. (Christ at Calvary).  4). Next would be a cleansing at the Laver before the priests could enter the Holy Place. We must be cleansed before we can enter into fellowship with God. That cleansing takes place when we surrender to Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness of our sins. 5). the priests would then, after the ceremonial cleansing enter the Holy Place representing being in fellowship with God.

Think of is this way, the Outer Court was the Place of Sacrifice, the Inner Room, or holy place was the Place of Worship, and the Holy of Holies was where there was Spiritual Communion with God and where our victory is in Christ.

The significance of the Holy of Holies was that this place represented God's presence. There was where the Ark of the        Covenant was placed and in the Ark of the Covenant was the Ten Commandments representing the throne of God, the Mercy seat, representing Christ as Mediator.

The High Priest was only allowed to enter once a year into the holy of holies, on the Day of Atonement, with the blood of a sacrificial animal and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of Israel.

So what’s the point of all of this? What is the life application? Our mediator is Jesus Christ and He is at the right hand of God the Father, as we speak, pleading our case or interceding for us. “ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh” Hebrews 10:19-20 ESV. Just as an attorney that we would hire would advocate for us. We are throwing ourselves on the mercy of Jesus Christ and through Christ we have direct access to God 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

There was a great sacrifice made to save us from our sins and to bring us into a right relationship with the Father and that is through the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary. The Scripture says, “he [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12 ESV

There is great misunderstanding by the world about Jesus and His ways and the way to God the Father. We have to come to God on His terms. If we learn anything from the tabernacle we learn that God was strict about how people were to approach Him. The consistency goes on with Jesus. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6 ESV. Notice that a buffet is not offered, only one way and it’s not complicated. Salvation is only possible through the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.

 “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12 ESV The Scripture also says, “…..and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22 ESV 

What we see here is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are His witnesses here at the Liberty Street Church of God, soon to be the Trinity Point Church of God. We have to allow Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives and we must also deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Christ daily. It is worth our personal sacrifices of time, talent, and treasure. We have been called to a monumental task of building this new facility to better proclaim the Good News. We have been given a great responsibility and we need to continue to forge ahead with the        sacrifices God is calling us to make.

When the veil at the temple was torn that day and that moment Jesus gave up the Spirit, it not only allowed folks like us to enter into the holy of holies, it was God revealing Himself to us and to mankind.

We have our work cut out for us, the fields are ripe for the harvest, so we need to labor on. This is, for most of us, probably one of the most significant opportunities we will ever have in our lives to make a God honoring sacrifice for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. I hope you will continue on the journey of a life time.

God bless you all,

Pastor Bruce