I think we often misunderstand Jesus when He said in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to do
away with the Old Testament.
Matthew 5:17
(AMP)
17 Do not think that I have come to do away with
or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to
complete and fulfill them.
He was not saying that we should put ourselves under the Old Testament
Law because in Galatians 3:10 it
says that doing so we are putting ourselves under a curse.
Galatians 3:10 (AMP)
10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking
to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and
doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures,
Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be
everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts
and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them.
What I believe Jesus was saying is that every new thing that came after
and because of His death, was foreshadowed in design through the Old Testament.
That is what He came to “fulfil” instead of “do away with”.
Easy examples are:
1. The Passover Lamb that
foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus also called “The Lamb”.
2. The crossing of the Jordan
River foreshadows our rebirth from our old sinful life (represented by
Egypt) into the Promised Land or God’s Kingdom (represented by Canaan).
3. The incident of the bronze
snake on the wooden stick that saved the Israelites in the dessert. They
where bitten by snakes and God’s plan for their salvation was for them to set
their eyes on the snake (that represents sin) on a stick (which represents the
cross). Interestingly this is still today the international sign for
medical institutions, just look at your medical-aid bracelet on your wrist.
There are literally thousands of these shadows that prophecy the coming
age of the rain of Christ but it also proves that God’s plan has always been in
the making to save us from our spiritual death through grace.
A while ago I got an amazing revelation on an Old Testament type or
shadow of the “Ark of the Covenant” also called the “Ark of the Testimony”. It
was when I heard this alternative name, “The Ark of the Testimony”, that I had
this revelation.
“The Ark of the Covenant” The
Hebrew word for it is: Aron Habrit, also known as the “Ark of the Testimony”. It
is a chest described in the Book of Exodus:
Exodus 37:1-5 (AMP)
1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two cubits
and a half was the length of it, a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a
cubit and a half the height of it.
2 He overlaid it with pure gold within and
without and made a molding or crown of gold to go around the top of
it.
3 He cast four rings of gold for its four
corners, two rings on either side.
4 He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them
with gold.
5 He put the poles through the rings at the sides
of the ark to carry it.
Now if you go and look at the Ark, it had images of two angels, also called
cherubim on its lid, both protecting the mercy seat on which God revealed
himself to the High priest once a year, in a cloud.
This is a bizarre piece of history…
No other man made object has ever housed such Godly Power. This is what
the New Testament says about it:
Hebrews 9:1-15 (AMP)
1 Now even the first covenant had its own rules and
regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world.
2 For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the
outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with
[its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy
Place.
3 But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil,
[there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies.
4 It had the golden altar of incense and the ark
(chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a
golden jar, which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the
[two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments].
5 Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy
seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the
symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.
6 These arrangements having thus been made, the
priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in
performance of their ritual acts of worship.
7 But into the second [division of the
tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never
without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and
for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have
committed.
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,
(In other words religious acts will keep you from gaining access to the
Holy of Holies, where the Glory resides.)
9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the]
tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present
age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of
perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the
worshiper.
10 For [the ceremonies] deal only with clean and
unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere] external rules and
regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of
setting things straight [of reformation, of the complete new order when Christ,
the Messiah, shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a
better covenant].
11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ
(the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and
are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made
with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,
12 He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies
[of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make
reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and
secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).
13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and
defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt
heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,
14 How much more surely shall the blood of
Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine
personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our
consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living
God?
15 [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the
Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant),
so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the
promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues
and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old]
first agreement.
Basically…
Without Jesus being your righteousness, you cannot come before God
unclean and not die…
Some of you might never have thought on this, but it explains why we
need righteousness to be able to become filled with the Holy Spirit. Some historians
say that the High Priest used to have a rope tied to his ankle when he went
into the Holy of Holies, because he would literally drop dead if he had
un-repented sin before God and nobody was allowed in there to remove his body
or they would also die.
Whether this be true or not, the fact is that without ritualistic
cleansing, “death” was a real option when appearing in an unrighteous state in
the presence of God.
Can you see how it would be life threatening for us to become Spirit
filled Christians without the right standing and un-blemished reputation of
Christ?
Leviticus 16:2 (AMP)
2 The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron your brother
he must not come at all times into the Holy of Holies within the veil before
the mercy seat upon the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the
mercy seat.
The veil separating us
From the moment of Jesus’ death, when the veil separating us from the
Holy Spirit was torn, we became the Arks of the Testimony in the place of or
instead of the wooden man made box called the Ark. We became the official
carriers of God’s Spirit. We became the Arks of His Testimony, we became
the Body of Christ.
In Revelation 12:11, it says
that in the last days we will overcome Satan with the blood of the Lamb and our
testimony.
Revelation
12:11 (AMP)
11 And
they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the
utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when
faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their
witnessing].
What was carried in the Ark of the Testimony?
(1)
Manna
(2)
Aarons budding
staff
(3)
The 10
Commandments.
What is the testimony that we should be carrying?
Lets look at the symbolism of the 3 items?
1. Manna
Manna is bread and bread represents the Word of God.
If you read Exodus 16:9-20 the Israelites had to pick up new manna every
day (except for the day before the Sabbath where they had to pick up enough for
two days) otherwise it became rotten. Hording Word without consuming it will
lead to decay.
• In other words: Manna represents Fresh Word not accumulated but
rather, digested Word.
2. Aaron's budding staff
The 12 tribes each brought an almond staff carved to represent their
tribe head. Only Aaron’s became alive over-night and produced Almonds and
flowers. This was done to stop people form rebelling (as can be seen in Numbers
17:4-10).
• “The budding staff,” is a foreshadowing of Jesus being nailed to dead
wood and sprouting life from that wood. The budding-staff also represents the signs and wonders that will follow
those who believe in the resurrected Christ as well as the authority they
possess to overcome those who are rebellious. This can also be seen in the book
of Mark.
Mark
16:17-20 (AMP)
17 And
these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will
drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18 They
will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not
hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
19 So
then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and
He sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And
they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them
and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely
accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).
3. The 10 commandments
2 Chronicles 6:11 (AMP)
11 In it (the temple) have I put the ark [the
symbol of His presence], in which is the covenant of the Lord [the Ten
Commandments] which He made with the people of Israel.
These are the 10 basic things God asks of us as part of the covenant
agreement, which will inevitably lead to a successful society:
1. I am your God
2. You cannot serve any other gods
3. You cannot use the name of God in
vain
4. Keep the Sabbath holy
5. Honour you father and mother
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not bear false witness against
people
10. Do not covet what others have
10. Do not covet what others have
Jesus simplified it even more by summing it up as just one word – “LOVE”, love for one another and love
for God, yet we still fail at it…
There are no “conditions” per se,
other than believing that Jesus is Lord and Saviour, but there are
“requirements” to the covenant relationship with God.
• In other words, The 10 Commandments represents the Heart of God
THE BODY OF CHRIST
God calls us, the righteous believers, THE BODY OF CHRIST we are the earthly holders of an unworldly Spiritual
Being. The “Ark of the Testimony” is the closest foreshadowing of the “Body of
Christ” to be found in the Old Testament - an ungodly vessel, carrying the
testimony, and power of an All-Mighty God.
1 Samuel 6:1-11 (AMP) – Uzzah’s story
1 Again David gathered together all the chosen men of
Israel, 30,000.
2 And [he] arose and went with all the people who
were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim] to bring up from there the ark of
God,
which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, Who
sits enthroned above the cherubim.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and
brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and
Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of
Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God; and Ahio went before the
ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played
before the Lord with all their might, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines,
castanets, and cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor,
Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled
and shook it.
7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against
Uzzah; and God smote him there for touching the ark, and he died there by the ark of God.
Uzzah’s story is proof that we would have died being filled with the
Holy Spirit if we where not worthy by the righteousness of Jesus to be able to
“touch God”.
What happens when people come into touch with you?
Does that which has its root in evil, like illness and depression, leave
on contact with you “The Ark” that carries the Glory and Testimony of God?
It is told that John G. Lake (the famous healing preacher) was taken
into a laboratory where a scientist put germs on his skin under a microscope
and it would just instantly die because of the healing anointing lingering on
his skin.
The Ark’s presence in an ungodly environment…
1 Samuel 5:1-4 (AMP) – Dagon’ story
1 The Philistines brought the ark of God from Ebenezer
to Ashdod.
2 They took the ark of God into the house of
Dagon and set it beside Dagon [their idol].
3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow,
behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the
Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.
4 But when they arose early the next morning,
behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the
Lord, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the
threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him.
19. Are you an Ark to the systems of the world? Can
your mere presence, bring down false gods - face down? The Ark was never God.
We are not allowed to build things made of earthly matter and call it God, yet
the so-called “god” Dagon had to bow.
Why did Dagon have to bow?
It was because of the authority the Ark represented and carried, the
testimony it bore.
• Do you carry fresh, “one day old manna” or Word in you?
• Do you carry the testimony of dead wood that produced life?
• Do you bare testimony of the heart of God, the Great I AM?
• Do you bare testimony of how God saved you?
The power that resided in the Ark
Joshua 3:8-17 (AMP) - Parting the Jordan River
8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark
of the covenant, When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you
shall stand still in the Jordan.
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, Come near, hear
the words of the Lord your God.
10 Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the
living God is among you and that He will surely drive out from before you the Canaanites,
Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of
all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan!
12 So now take twelve men from the tribes of
Israel, one from each tribe.
13 When the soles of the feet of the priests who
bear the ark of the Lord of all the earth shall rest in the Jordan, the waters
of the Jordan coming down from above shall be cut off and they shall stand in
one heap.
14 So when the people set out from their tents to
pass over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before
the people,
15 And when those who bore the ark had come to
the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were in the brink of the
water—for the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest—
16 Then the waters which came down from
above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside
Zarethan; and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead]
Sea, were wholly cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.
17 And while all Israel passed over on dry
ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on
dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing
over the Jordan.
We are the Arks of the Testimony!
If we are the New Covenant Arks of the Testimony, then it is our divine
duty to place ourselves in the Jordan River of every other person that has not
yet crossed over from death to life in Christ. From the wilderness to Canaan,
no matter how wide or rough anybody’s river “of things that hold them back from
a life in Christ” may be, you can stop that river, you can break through that
barrier with your testimony.
You do not have to try and stop the river’s flow in your own strength,
all you have to do, is carry the testimony of a living God in 3 ways:
1. Through His Word
(Which is represented by the manna)
2. By the authority of His Resurrection - Power and Miracles (Which is represented by the
budding staff)
3. Whilst being carriers of His heart
(Which is represented by The 10 Commandments)
His Word, His Power, His Heart! That is when you get to walk into the
Jordan River of a potential new believer, knowing that you can part that river
for a moment in time, just enough so that they can cross from death to life,
from the wilderness to Canaan.
Saving a Satanist…
My sister in law went on a tent crusade in the eighties. She wasn’t
anybody of real importance she just assisted as an usher. They had travelled to
Namibia and she was walking outside the tent when she passed a lady dressed in
a long skirt and flip-flops. She had a sudden urge to stop this lady and she
put her hand on the woman’s shoulder. All she felt led to say was: “Jesus loves
you”, and went on her merry way.
That night, the pastor phoned my sister-in-law and told her to urgently
come and help them pray for a lady, who was a top level Satanic Priestess who
had come to them for deliverance. The Satanist said that someone had placed
their hand on her shoulder earlier that day and told her that “Jesus
loves her”, at that same instance she felt the supernatural love of God flow
through her body and it led her to instantly repent. She became a formidable
preacher in Namibia after her salvation.
What advantage do we have above every other religion
on earth?
They have to save people by persuasion and empty promises. We can
supernaturally lead them to salvation on dry ground, through His Word, by the
authority of His resurrection power and Miracles, whilst being a carrier of His
heart.
1. If Jesus is called “the Word” and is represented by the Manna,
2. The budding staff represents God’s miraculous power on earth –
associated with the Holy Spirit,
3. And the 10 Commandments represents God’s heart - God calls Himself "Love"
Looking at all 3 types or shadows: The “Ark of the testimony” ultimately testifies of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father…
Looking at all 3 types or shadows: The “Ark of the testimony” ultimately testifies of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father…
1. Manna = the Word = Jesus
2. Budding staff = the Power = Holy
Spirit
3. The 10 Commandments = Love = God the
Father
Fathers and leaders as Arks of His Testimony
As fathers of households, and leaders as well as potential leaders of
congregations, we are supposed to be the fire at night and the cloud by day
that keeps our families and our congregations guarded against the heat and
darkness of this world. You should be walking in front as true Arks of the
Testimony of Who God is.
You should cover your families and congregation in prayer and lead them
by the comforting love of the Holy Spirit. Never be too busy to pray for your
members and never neglect the move of the Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment