#391 The Jesus Trip, His Dwelling Place

391 The Jesus Trip, His Dwelling Place
By: D. Karl Thomas

(See download links at the bottom of the page for the Sermon Notes, PowerPoint Slides & Group Discussion Questions)

The Bible was not given to man so that he could fix his story.
The Bible is His story and how you can find your place in it.
You don’t find 10 steps to a better life in the Bible. You get to read about a God who through His Son took 10,000 steps to get to you.

Hebrews 1:1-3“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,… ; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Colossians 1:15 NKJV “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
AMP “[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible];”

John 5:39-40 (Message)“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.”

The Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.
You can think too highly of your interpretations of Scripture, you cannot think too highly of Scripture’s view of itself.

It is a book about Jesus. Get a revelation of how much He loves you and realize who you are in Him.
“Everything in the Bible is helpful, but not everything is helpful to you.” Paul Ellis

John 1:38 (NLT) “Jesus looked around and saw them following. ‘What do you want?’ he asked them.
They replied, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’” (Where dwellest thou?) KJV

Exodus 19:4-6 “You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Exodus 25:8-9“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.”

Exodus 31:1-5, 35:34 “I have specifically chosen Bezalel … I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts … He is a master craftsman, He is a master at every craft!” “…the ability to teach their skills to others.”

PICTURE OF …. PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WILDERNESS Pictures OF TABERNACLE 1 2 3

Exodus 39:1, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 43“…just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

Exodus 40:16, 19, 21,23, 27, 29“Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him.”

Exodus 40:33-35 “So at last Mosesfinished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”

John 14:1-3“Don’t let your hearts be troubled…There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

John 14:23“Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”
room :— (mone) KJV (mansions) dwelling place, residence, fixed abode

John 17:4, 21“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do … I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

The fire prepares and identifies God’s dwelling place on earth.
Fire fell on the tabernacle. Numbers 9:15 Fire fell on the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1
Fire fell on the church. Acts 2:1-4

Luke 3:16“John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Summary of Jesus whole ministry!

1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you realize that all of you togetherare the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
1 Peter 2:5“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.”

PICTURE OF ARK OF COVENANT …. Acacia and God … Mercy Seat …. Rod manna 10 Command

Hebrews 9:5-7“Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. (Mercy seat) But we cannot explain these things in detail now.
… entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people…”

Hebrews 9:8 “By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,” New Is Better!!!

Hebrews 9:12 “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Romans 3 :21-25“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; …
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation (mercy seat) by His blood, through faith,…”

Amos 9:11“IN THAT DAY will I raise up the TABERNACLE OF DAVID that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will BUILD it as in the days of old.”

Acts 15:16 “After this I WILL RETURN, and will BUILD AGAIN the TABERNACLE OF DAVID, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.”

1 Kings 3:4-5 “The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!’”

1 Kings 3:9 “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

1 Kings 3:15 “Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.”

God wants to be with you.
He has fulfilled every requirement for this relationship.
You were created to be filled with His presence and to manifest to the whole cosmos that you are a child of God.

Extra Notes:

The Bronze Altar
The bronze altar was placed in the outer court of the tabernacle. God’s people came to offer animal sacrifices for their sins on this altar (see Lev. 1:1–17).

In the Word of God, bronze represents judgment. So the bronze altar symbolizes the finished work of Jesus, who became the sacrifice for our sins and took all of God’s judgment for us. He bore every curse upon Himself—all condemnation, sickness, and poverty—so that today, we can have peace, health, and provision!

The Brazen Laver
The brazen laver was placed between the altar and the Holy Place. The Priest must wash before he can enter into acts of service. (see Exodus 38:8) “…from the bronze mirrors of the serving women.” See your need for His act of separation.

It symbolizes the finished work of Christ in sanctification. Sanctification is more an act of being set apart to something rather than being set apart from. Abiding in Him, the living Word, and the water of His word abiding in you separates you for service. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

The Menorah
The Menorah was a lampstand with seven branches—three on each side of the center shaft. All the lamps on the branches were made to face the center shaft (see Num. 8:1–3).

The menorah gives us a picture of Jesus at the center of our lives. As we live for His glory, shining the light that He first gave us back to Him, He gives us true meaning and fulfillment in life!

The Golden Boards
The holy place of the tabernacle was structurally lined with golden boards. The boards were made of wood overlaid with gold and were fixed in silver sockets (see Exod. 26:15–30).

The golden boards symbolize us in Christ. In the Word of God, wood speaks of humanity, gold of righteousness, and silver of redemption. As believers, our human frailty is covered by Christ’s righteousness and we are rooted in the foundation of redemption! Although we fail and make mistakes, God still sees us righteous, redeemed, and extremely precious. Just like gold and silver.

The Table of Showbread
On the table of showbread, the priests would place twelve fresh loaves of bread—representing the twelve tribes of Israel—before the Lord every Sabbath (see Lev. 24:5–9). The Lord commanded that the showbread be placed before Him “always” (see Exod. 25:30).

The table of showbread that is always before the Lord tells us that He desires to be with His people at all times! He delights in having us in His presence!

The Altar of Incense
This was an altar on which incense was burned as a pleasing aroma to God. Every morning and night, the high priest would burn a perpetual incense to God as intercession for His people (see Exod. 30:1–10).

The incense that went up to God speaks of the loveliness and perfection of Jesus, who is always pleasing to God. Today, because we are in Christ, God feels the same delight for us as He does for His Son (see 2 Cor. 2:15). Knowing that we are pleasing to God, we can come boldly to Him and be assured that He will hear our prayers!

The Ark of the Covenant
The ark of the covenant was the heart of the tabernacle—it represented the very presence of God. Only the high priest could come before the ark and he could only do this once a year. He would approach the ark with blood from the animal sacrifice and offer the blood as atonement for his sins and the people’s sins (see Heb. 9:7).

Sin represents man’s independence from God. But today, because Jesus’ blood has made atonement for our sins once and for all, there is no more separation between God and us. In fact, He no longer dwells in an inaccessible holy place…He dwells in us! Because the Lord is always with us, we never have to go through life alone!

Mercy Seat— Jesus put His own blood on the mercy seat.

Hebrews 9:5 “Mercy seat”:–(hil-as-tay’-ree-on)
Propitiate:–to make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate.

Hebrews 9:12
“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

The Jesus Trip, His Dwelling Place, Sermon notes to print, PDF

The Jesus Trip, His Dwelling Place, PowerPoint Slides, PDF

The Jesus Trip, His Dwelling Place Week 6 Group Discussion Questions, to print, PDF