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IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES – about entering the presence of God – presented by KEN CHANT

The Israelite Camp with its Tabernacle –

Israelite Camp & Tabernacle Tabernacle Judah East South West Issachar Zebulun Rueben Simeon Gad Levites Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin Dan Asher Naphtali North

The Layout of the Tabernacle –

The Tabernacle, Holy Place, Holy of Holies –

Schematic Tabernacle Most Holy Place Holy Place Laver Altar Entrance The people could bring their sacrifices to the Entrance, but they had to remain outside the perimeter fence... The Outer Fence 

Bringing a Sacrifice to the Tabernacle – Leviticus 1:3

The Outer Court –

The Layout of the Tabernacle –

The main sanctuary –

The two rooms in the sanctuary –

MostHolyPlace HolyPlace Table of Showbread Menorah Altar of Incense The Holy Place – The Veil

The Holy Place –

The Holy of Holies –

 The “cherubim” were not cuddly small angels, but were either winged oxen or lions, with the head of a king. The Cherubim (see Ezekiel 1:5-14; 10:4-15) –

 They each had two wings, one facing inward and the other outward.  Their faces were turned inward, gazing down upon the “mercy seat”. The Cherubim –

The High Priest –

The High Priest –

What it all meant – (Hebrews 9:1-8)... “(A) tabernacle was set up. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence. This was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was the part of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, in which reposed the golden censer and the ark of the covenant completely covered with gold.... Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement....

“... When everything had been arranged like this, the priests went daily into the first part of the tabernacle to perform their duties. But only the high priest went into the second part, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins committed by the people in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was indicating by this that the way into the Holy of Holies had not yet been made open as long as the first part of the tabernacle was still standing.” What it all meant –

OOOObserve how the apostle sums up the entire Tabernacle in one magnificent concept – “The Holy Spirit was showing us that the way into the Holiest was not yet open.”

 But if so, then now the converse must also be true –  The Holy Spirit is now signifying that...  Through the blood of the everlasting covenant the way is always open to everyone who believes!  Yet many Christians are cheated of this access by wrong teaching!... The Way into the Holiest is Now Open !

 They hear from the pulpit or read in a book that nearness to God is a high privilege attained by only a few remarkable people.

 Or else some method of getting close to God is presented –  Perhaps to get perfectly “still”  Or to reach a certain quality of worship  Or to arrive at an intensity in prayer  Or to achieve some astonishing level of personal piety or holiness.

 This is all deeply tragic, because sincere believers do yearn to get into the presence of God, to dwell close to him.  Their very eagerness makes them susceptible to delusion!  Yet our text opens an uncloseable door!

The three-fold gift of God !  Notice three things about our right of access to the nearest presence of God – 1)There is no place closer to God than to stand in the Holy of Holies  Beyond it there is only a bleak desert!

2)Aaron entered by right of birth, without any reference to character  Moral issues might be dealt with on other grounds, but until they were acted on, and he was removed from office, the High Priest could not be denied.

Children and Guests do not “break in” ! 3)We not only have access by right of birth, but by right of personal invitation!  Does a child need to “break into” its own home?  Should an invited guest “break through” your front window?

 When you have an invitation to enter, and an unassailable right to be there, you simply walk in !

SO THEN, MARCH IN! – HHHHere is a passage that splendidly summarises the privilege we have – “God did all these things in agreement with his eternal purpose, which he has achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord, so that because of our union with Christ and through our faith in him, we may now go boldly into God's presence with all confidence!” (Ephesians 3:11-12)

The Way is Open! “God did all these things in agreement with his eternal purpose, which he has achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord, so that bbbbecause of our union with Christ and tttthrough our faith in him, wwwwe may now go boldly into God's presence wwwwith all confidence!” (Ephesians 3:11-12)

SSSSo let us do as scripture admonishes, and enter the holiest with boldness, as God’s own dear children, and with an unquenchable expectation of richly answered prayer !!