Gloria Phifer
Ladies, we are in the Tabernacle Courtyard. Last week we
looked at the Burnt Altar. It is a picture of the cross…where the sacrifice was
made for our sins. Jesus was our sacrifice. He was The Pure Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world. In Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that
the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” Vs. 5 “Wherefore when He
cometh into the world, He saith, “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but
a body You have prepared me:” vs 6 “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
Thou has had no pleasure.” Vs 7 “Then said I, “Lo, I come (in the volume of The
Book it is written of Me,) to do Your will O God.”
In the volume of The Book. As we have been seeing in our
studies…all of The Bible is showing us God’s plan for salvation…revealing to us
our Savior.
Jesus said to the religious leaders of the day… John 5:39
“Search The Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of Me.”
Last week we saw that Jesus is The Cornerstone…the Capstone
that holds everything together. He is The One! But the builders, religious
leaders rejected Him. They rejected and stumbled over The Cornerstone.
There is only One Way to God and that is through His Son
Jesus Christ.
Exodus 30:17-21. Exodus 38:8 The laver was of brass. Brass is
for “judgment.” It was made from the looking glasses (mirrors) of the women.”
The mirrors that they used to see themselves.
The priests were to wash in this bronze (brass) laver before
ministering before The lord…and as they went about their duties. Notice, no one
washed there but the priests. As they
washed what would they see? This
was a place of cleansing. They washed their hands and feet. Thoughts?
The Rose Guide: “Between the bronze altar and The Tabernacle
stood a large, shallow basin of water, gleaming as brightly as a mirror.
Priests had to bathe their hands and feet in it before offering sacrifices and
before entering the 15 foot tall Tabernacle and Holy Place. Washing hands and feet stood for
sanctification, or becoming holy and pure. Serving God requires not just
cleansing from sin but striving for holiness.” Thoughts?
The Brass Laver is a picture of The Word. John 15:1-3 “Now,
you are clean through The Word which I have spoken to you.” John 17:17 “Sanctify them through Thy Truth,
Thy Word is Truth.”
1 Cor. 6:11. Washed and sanctified and justified in The Name
of The Lord Jesus and by The Spirit of God.
When you look into the Word of God
how does it judge you and cleanse and set you apart? The Word of God is
revealing…it is the discerner of hearts, sharper than a two edged sword. Hebrews
4:12. What are your thoughts? What about the discerner of the heart? What
does the Word do to you when you read it?
Ephesians 5:25-26. What
did Christ do? Sanctified in
Greek is “hagiazo”. “To make holy…purify or consecrate. Be holy. To separate
from profane things and dedicate to God. To cleanse externally. To purify by
expiation: free from the guilt of sin. To purify internally by renewing of
the soul.” The renewing of the mind.
The Word renews our mind. Eph. 4:17-24. Col. 3:10.
Here is the battle: 2 Cor. 10:3-5 what is the knowledge of God? It is The Word. Bringing every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ. What is
the obedience of Christ? Abiding
in Him…abiding in His Word. Thoughts?
John 15:1-16. “You are clean through The Word which I have spoken unto you. Vs. 7 “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” What are the promises concerning abiding in Jesus and His Words? Why is it important that we get into The Word and know The Word? 2 Timothy 2:15 what are we to study? What are we a workmanship of? What are we to rightly divide?
John 15:1-16. “You are clean through The Word which I have spoken unto you. Vs. 7 “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” What are the promises concerning abiding in Jesus and His Words? Why is it important that we get into The Word and know The Word? 2 Timothy 2:15 what are we to study? What are we a workmanship of? What are we to rightly divide?
2 Timothy 3:14-17. What
will the scripture do? Where has all scripture come from? What does scripture
do? What will it do for us?
The Word of God is also our greatest offensive weapon.
Ephesians 6:17. This Word is The Sword of The Holy Spirit. How awesome is that!
The Word discerns our hearts. Teaches us truth. Is a weapon. Thoughts?
Washing in Greek “loutron”. “A bath, baptism: washing.” From
another word “louo”. “To bathe the whole person. To wash, cleanse garments.”
The “Word” in Greek is “Rhema.” “An utterance. That which is
or has been uttered by The Living voice, thing spoken, Word. As far as it is a matter of command. “Thoughts?
What happens when we read or hear The Word of God? Did you
every think of it as cleansing and washing you? Or sanctifying you? Making you
holy?
John 13:1-17. Jesus washed their feet. What do you think of vs.10? Cleansing…1 John 1:5-10. 1 John 2:1-6. The
blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He is our Advocate.