JESUS IN THE TABERNACLE - The Holy Place

Pastor Carolyn Sissom (3511 views)

JESUS CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE – THE HOLY PLACE

(Lamp Stand and Anointing Oil)

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

October 2, 2018, the Year of Our Lord

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

 

The Feast of Pentecost is the Holy Spirit, the 60-fold, and the young men of 1 Jn. 2:13.  Jesus Christ is our light, our bread, and our High Priest. Today we will study the Holy Place,  Candlestick of the Holy Ghost Baptism, the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, the apostle’s doctrine, the Branch of the Lord and the anointing oil.    I was overly ambitious to think I could teach The Holy Place in one setting.  Next week we will study the Table of Showbread. 

 

The Tabernacle of Moses was made according to the pattern of heavenly things:

 

Heb. 5-6:  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle; for, See, says he, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mount.  But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which is established upon better promises.

 

Eze. 43:10:  Son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.

 

The Holy Place is the Spirit-Filled realm of Great Salvation:

 

Heb. 2_ 2-4:  If the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that hear him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

 

The realm of the Holy Place/the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience following conversion.  This experience can be received at any time, in any place, and posture.  This experience is a command, not an option (Eph. 5: 17-18).

 

The realm of the Baptism of the Holy Sprit, gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gift of the five-fold is also the realm of fallen angels, demons, powers and principalities, sin and iniquity.  It is misunderstood that people who are graced with powerful giftings and/or an Office of the five-fold are living as overcomers.  The overcomer is the one who has matured through the realm of the Holy Place, overcome and crossed the Golden Altar as overcomers.  The idol of jealousy and wicked abominations are in the entrance of the Holy Place.

 

Ez. 8:3-9:  he stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head.  The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood…Then he said to me, Son of man, look toward the north.”  So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy…See what they do, even the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here…turn and you shall see greater abominations…I looked, behold a hole in the wall…He said to me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.

 

When we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to overcome and continue our spiritual journey through the Holy Place to the realm of full maturity.

 

The priest before entering the Holy Place had to be “clothed upon” (Lk. 24:49) with a change of garments---this experience brought him into the light of the Word, the ministry of the Body, and the blessing of Sprit anointed prayer and praise. 

 

The study of the candlestick as a revelation of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost would take an entire book.   There was not a mold for the lamp stand.  The work of the candlestick was also made according to the pattern which the LORD showed Moses.  The entire lamp stand was created from one piece of gold – unity of Christ and His Church – Divinity.   

 

  Heb. 2:11: For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one.   According to the divine pattern, the will of God is to create one new corporate man in the image of Jesus.

 

Eph. 2:15:  By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the Cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

 

    The lamp stand reveals the Trinity in Light and Life (Vine and Branches of Jn. 15:5).  The Light was never to go out. 

 

1. Christ the light and life reveals the nature and ministry of God.
2. The Church, the Light and Life, reveals the nature of Christ for the collective body and for the individual believer.
3. The nature of Jesus is revealed through the Fruit of the Spirit.  The life and ministry of Jesus is revealed through the gifts of the Spirit which flow following the Holy Ghost Baptism (Acts 2:4).  The Gifts of the Spirit extend His ministry.

 

The Extended Nature of Jesus:

 

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Long Suffering
5. Gentleness
6. Goodness
7. Faith
8. Meekness
9. Temperance.

 

Tit 2:7 – In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity.

 

The Pattern Son Jesus in the Temple is the New Testament pattern for our lives and our worship.   You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

 

      4.  The anointed word revealed through the Apostle’s Doctrine is light and life:

 

Acts 2: 38-42:  Peter said to them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord call .  With many other words he testified and exhorted saying, save your selves from this untoward generation.  They gladly received his word, were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

Jesus Christ is the anointed Word.  The Spirit without measure rested upon Jesus according to Jn. 3:34.  The Scriptures teach that the same anointing shall rest upon a people known as the Branch (Jn. 15:5) of the LORD.  

 

 

5.  The branch of the Lord reveals the light and life of God in the earth.   Christ is the central shaft and has the greater adornment and His Body is the branches.  Christ is central to the Holy Ghost Baptism, for he is the Baptizer in Mt. 3:11.   The Branch of the LORD grows out of His roots.   We the branches sprang out of the loins of Jesus.   

 

John 15:5-8:  I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

 

Seven Spirits = ONE SPIRIT = Seven lamps (Candlestick) = Seven Horns = (Fullness of Power or all Power) = 7 eyes (all seeing) = Seven colors of the rainbow (about the Throne; the covenant; Joseph’s coat).   

 

There are no specific measurements given in scripture for the candlestick.  It is believed the candle stick and Table of Show Bread were carried off by Titus’ soldiers when he destroyed the temple in 70 A.D.  There are paintings and sculptures showing the carrying away of the Candlestick by the soldiers.  These records depict the lamp stand to be 5’ x 3-1/2’.  The lamp stand had a central shaft and six branches (3 on each side).

 

The ideas concerning the ornamentation of the lamp stand are varied, many describe it as a golden almond bush---the knop (bud), the flower, and the bowl like unto almonds (fruit) are three stages in the life of the almond plant; seven lamps on top hold the oil.  The Almond plant was the first to come to life in the spring.  The knop or bud could also be likened to a crown of a pillar.  The lamp stand had 66 ornaments.  There are 66 Books of the Bible.

 

 We can compare the 7 lamps with the 7 crowns of the overcomer.

 

1. Incorruptible crown. (1 Cor. 9:25)
2. Crown of Rejoicing   (1 Th. 2:19)
3. Crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)
4. Crown of life  (Js. 1:12)
5. Crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4)
6. Crown of Honor (Heb. 2:9)
7. Golden Crown.  (Rev. 14:14)

 

It is the resurrection life, power, and energy of the Risen Christ that flows in us enabling the Church to reveal the nature of Jesus in the fruit of the Spirit.  It is that same divine energy and anointing experienced in the Holy Ghost Baptism and the gifts of the Spirit; the Apostle’s doctrine is quickened to our spirit because of Christ’s resurrection life; the branch of the LORD will be energized by the power of Christ’s endless life.   This is not a conclusive study of the lamp stand which cannot be complete without a study of Rev. 2:5: Remember from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place---unless you repent.

 

The restoration to the Church of the foundation ministries of Apostle and Prophet as the leadership of the New Testament Church coincides with the church of the book of Acts.   The saints were taught to follow 10 points of normal Christianity:

 

1. Justification by Faith (Gal. 2:16) – The Brazen Altar
2. Water Baptism by Immersion (Ro. 6: 3-5) – The Brazen Laver
3. Sanctification (Heb. 12;14) – The Brazen Laver
4. Divine Healing (1 Pet. 2:24) – The Brazen Altar/Table of Showbread
5. Baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4) – The Golden Candlestick
6. Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit (Gal. 5; 1 Cor. 12) – Candlestick\
7. Five-Fold Ministry (Eph. 4:11) – Bars/Candlestick/Shewbread
8. Laying On of Hands – The Table of Shewbread
9. Body Ministry (Eph 4;16) – Boards/Showbread/The Altar of Incense
10. Full Maturity (Eph. 4:13) – The Ark of the Covenant.

 

Because of the length, depth, breadth and height of a teaching on the Table of Shewbread in the Holy Place, I will teach on it next week.

 

 

THE ANOINTING OIL OF THE LAMP

 

In January 2007, Jo Ann Carpenter and I attended a home meeting.  The guest minister was Michael O’Brien from England.  That was our first time to meet him. 

 

When Michael called me out to minister he said, “The little house on the prairie – Quality, Quality, Quality.  You minister fine steak.  You bring in other ministries to bring in the spice.  However, the spice you minister will be strong enough the people will not want you to bring in speakers but will want you to preach the steak and the spice.” (This may not be verbatim, but it is close to what he prophesied to me.)

 

This is really how I think and the reason I bring in a diversity of ministers from different streams.   In the past, I have been criticized and persecuted for preaching strong messages.    These are messages given to me by the Lord.  This is who the Spirit of God is in me.   Therefore, I have not felt to water them down or apologize for my messages even to my critics.    I have stayed true to the messages revealed to me by the Holy Spirit.   Even so, I have tried to keep a healthy balance by bringing in a variety of ministers with different anointings (spice).   I have felt this keeps our church healthy.  In 2007, I had never verbalized that out loud; but the Spirit of God in Michael called it out.   

 

Unbeknown to Brother O’Brien, I had planned for some weeks to preach the following Sunday on being “Crowned with Oil” or “Oil Compounded after the Art of the Apothecary.” 

 

Exodus 30: 22-25: ( KJV)

 

Moreover the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

 

Take thou also unto thee principal SPICES of pure myrrh give five hundred shekels and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifth shekels.  And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary and of oil olive a hin: And you shall make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be holy anointing oil.

 

The Lord gave Moses a very detailed recipe for the compound anointing oil.  Each of the four spices was a “head” spice.  Ps. 133: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:  that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

 

“These spices run down from the life of our Head, Jesus Christ, to flow on us, and then through us.  John 3:27: a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

 

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.  He is our great High Priest and the only true Vine, the source of all life.  All that we are and all that we have flows down from our Ascended Lord.  Each member of Christ’s Body is a principal spice, a necessary part, a vital ingredient!  Each of us has derived our ministry gift from Jesus, our glorious Head.  Apart from Him the Fountain of grace, we can do nothing.

 

The four principal spices –  Each of these spices in God’s holy compound were carefully chosen and set apart because of their unique quality, fragrance, or aroma.

 

The total measure of the four spices was 1,500 shekels.  Fifteen is the biblical number denoting Sabbath rest, relegating itself to the Most Holy Place.  Paul the apostle tells us that the mature end-time Church is to come to the fullness of His same “measure”. (Eph. 4:13)  This truth is exemplified by the 15 Songs of Degrees in the Psalms and by the 15 steps leading up into the inner sanctuary of Ezekiel’s Temple. (K.V. Corporate Anointing)

 

1.      “Pure Myrrh, a fragrant resin that would ooze from the myrrh shrub.  Myrrh means bitter.  This was one of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus at His birth; for He was to be a Man of Sorrows in His life and in His death.  His true joy would spring forth from His obedience to the heavenly Father and in His abiding relationship with Him.  He gloried not in His ministry, in His works, in His accomplishments-but gave all glory to the Father who was the One who performed all His mighty works through Him.

 

Have we not all wondered at times how men or women who have seemingly carried a lot of anointing have so often lacked the grace and beauty of the Holy Spirit in their lives?  It is because they have refused to allow the spice of myrrh to be mingled with the oil in the apothecaries of God.  Some teach because Jesus suffered, we do not have to suffer.  Jesus warned his disciples, Whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (G.W. Crowned with Oil)

 

The Gospel of Matthew is pure myrrh and reveals the King who suffered and died at the hands of His people; He came unto His own and His own receive Him not.

 

Myrrh was an embalming spice and used in the embalming of Jesus.

Myrrh was a preservative.

Myrrh has a beautifying quality.

Myrrh was used in healing.

Myrrh was a perfume.

Myrrh was a costly gift fit for the King.

Myrrh was mixed with wine and offered to Jesus on the Cross.

Pure myrrh was free-flowing.

 

All of us have experienced some bitter things, and the High Priest of our salvation will mix that into our lives.  All great men and women have been processed with myrrh.  This does not mean the consequences of lawlessness, of sowing to the wind and then reaping the whirlwind.  Why have some tasted more myrrh than others?  Ask the priest.  It’s tough to pastor during those times because you have no answers.  The last thing anyone needs is to hear a religious novice spouting off about a lack of faith.  Those who are destined for the heights of Zion will be taken to the depths and be plowed. 

 

The fellowship of His suffering is a vital ingredient of the compound anointing.

 

2.      SWEET CINNAMON

 

Cinnamon was the spice from the bark of the cinnamon small evergreen tree, and had a certain fragrant sweetness.  The root meaning of the word is “to erect” “to stand upright”.  The holy oil if truly compounded by the apothecary will cause the anointed people of God to stand erect, to walk in truth.  It is said of Jesus that he loved righteousness and hated iniquity.  We glory in justification-in the imputed righteousness of Christ which we received by faith.  If we truly received this righteousness and walk in it we are going to hate iniquity.  These two things are mutually exclusive.  Truth and deception cannot co-exist.  Righteousness and iniquity cannot co-exist.  The one will overshadow the other and eventually exclude it. 

 

This represents sweet things, the sweetness of grace.  The essence of cinnamon as the sweetness of grace was fulfilled in the life, ministry and finished work of Christ Jesus.  The law came through Moses, but sweet grace and truth came through sweet Jesus, who was sealed and anointed by the Father.  Like the sweet psalmist of Israel, Jesus was the anointed of God, Messiah the Prince.  The Shulamite bride in the Song of Songs prophetically described Jesus Christ, the One who is altogether lovely, the Husband of the Church:  “His cheeks are a bed of spices, as sweet flowers.  His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh...His mouth is most sweet.  (Song 5:13, 16)  Jesus’ love for us, the gift of Himself for us as a sacrificial offering to the Father, is like a sweet smelling saver.

 

Cinnamon was one of the nine spices found in the garden of the Shulamite.  In contrast, man-made religion has perfumed the bed of Babylon with natural sweetness, a cheap imitation.  The psalmist declared, “My meditation of Him shall be sweet:  I will be glad in the Lord. (Ps. 14:34)  How sweet are your words unto my tastes! Yea – sweeter than honey to my mouth.

 

God sends happy days just when you need them, the High Priest never neglects to put some sweet cinnamon in your pot.  The more pressure we have to deal with, the more cinnamon we need.  The Lord uses the sweet cinnamon of grace to balance the myrrh of suffering.

 

Sweet Cinnamon is the Gospel Mark and shows the sweetness of the Servant of Jehovah, ever willing to minister to others.

 

3.      SWEET CALAMUS

 

The third required principal spice, “sweet calamus,” represents government and divine order, the extended rule of divine anointing.  It is a reedy stalk not seemingly of any particular value, but the life-flows through it, and causes the fruit to grown and mature.  There is nothing pretentious about it.  It seeks not its own.  It merely wants to be a channel for the oil, the stalk through which the life can flow to produce the fruit of the Spirit and to bring forth the life of Christ in others.  Paul carried with him a treasure in an earthen vessel.  The reason was that the “Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2Cor.4:7)

 

A stick in the hand of Moses as he tended the sheep in Midiam becomes the “rod of God” when he stands before Pharaoh.  The shepherd’s staff becomes a scepter of power and authority.  A reed shaken in the wind strikes fear into the heart of a wicked powerful Herod.  A man manacled with fetters causes another governor to tremble.  Jesus’ life is the extension of the Father’s rule and reign.  The scepter of His kingdom is righteousness.  This Man is the divine Measure, the anointed Rod or Reed.”  Jesus purchased or procured the Church with His own blood, having given Himself for us an offering to God for a sweet-smelling savor. 

 

Calamus is also one of the nine fruits found in the life of the Shulamite, the type and shadow of the Bride of Christ, the garden of the Lord.  Through the promises of the Word, believers have been made partakers of the divine kingly nature.

 

Calamus scents the air while growing, and then is cut down, dried and powdered to make its rich perfume.  Christians bear the sweet savor of Christ even in the crushing times.”

 

Sweet Calamus which means branch is the Gospel of Luke and tells of the Man Christ Jesus, the extension and express image of the Father

 

4.      CASSIA

 

The fourth and final required principal spice was cassia which represents the true humility of anointed worship.  Cassia is a fragrant tree resembling the cinnamon tree, though its bark is less delicate in taste and perfume.  This plant has purple flowers and grows at a very high altitude.  In addition to its use in the holy anointing oil, cassia was used to scent garments with its perfume.

 

Jesus Christ, Heaven’s Bridegroom came out of the ivory palaces smelling of cassia (Ps. 45:8) He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death of the cross. And the anointing oil was poured on Him as the heavenly Aaron.

 

Purple speaks of royalty.  Christ’s regal character is manifested in us as kings and priests unto God.  Genuine humility enabled by the divine anointing brings promotion in God.  The same anointing that scented the garments (ministry) of the Bridegroom will descend upon His Body.  We are to have the mind of Christ, the mind of humility.

 

The flesh can produce a legalistic, mock humility.  But this spice is compounded in to the apothecary through a reverential fear and worship.  True worship is primarily a state of being, and not an act to perform.  Jesus talks about true worshippers, and not merely about the act of worship.  Let us seek to minister Christ, that men might become worshippers, rather than trying to stimulate worship in a religious service.

 

True worship leads to total commitment to His will.  True worship softens the heart so we may hear His voice and conditions us to walk in step with God.

 

The cassia is the Gospel of John and illustrates Jesus as the high-flying eagle, the Pattern Son who soared up to the Father in consummate worship.

 

All four blended spices are required to produce the genuine anointing.  All four spices are to be at work in every Christian.  

 

5.      OIL OLIVE

 

Olive oil is consistently used in the scriptures as a type of the Holy Spirit.  The anointing oil is mingled with all these spices to more clearly portray the attributes of the Spirit of God, whose presence in our lives will give forth the fragrance of Christ.  He comes into our lives to make the Lord Jesus real to us, and to shine forth from our lives in the beauty of holiness.

 

The oil was produced by beating the olive berries.  Gethsemane means oil press.  It was in the Garden that Jesus took the cup of bitterness and total self-sacrifice.  It was on the cross that He drank it to the dregs until all was finished.

 

These different ingredients of the anointing oil should remind us of our various ministries.  Not everybody is like you, nor has everyone been through what you have experienced.  If we understand this, then we won’t be so quick to judge others.

 

Now we can understand why men can be anointed of God, and still lack the grace, the holiness, the beauty of Christ?  It is because they have not known the processing’s of God in His divine apothecaries.   How we have tried to take the ingredients of His grace and mingle them together in our lives that the virtues of His own character and excellence might flow forth!  How hopelessly we have failed.

 

We haven’t been willing to undergo the mingling together of the virtues of Christ according to the “art of the apothecary”.  Only God knows the secret of this wonderful art, The bitterness of the myrrh removes the bitterness of past circumstances, disappointments and many wounds inflicted upon us in the battles of life. 

 

There is a fragrance and sweetness from our lives that we could not have known except as we find ourselves ground and pulverized in the mortars of God’s apothecary.  We discover that the bruised reed of our Calamus is never really broken; and the smoking flax is not quenched.  Rather, God has led us this way to prepare us for a richer anointing, a more pure anointing, a holy oil that would crown our heads with priestly virtue and priestly ministry in the house of God.

 

So we continue to pray, Lord compound us together in your Divine apothecary.  Add all the graces and virtues of your Spirit to our lives and mingle us together in your holy oil according to your own art and wisdom.

 

Then we may know your nature and discover the crown of priestly ministry.  Give us not the power the rulers of the Gentiles exercise to lord it over others.  But rather give us true spiritual power with man and with God.  Then we can rule over the restless hearts of men by a ministration of your grace, peace, truth and love.

 

“For the Crown of the Anointing Oil is Upon Him”

(Lev. 21:12)

 

 Next week at the Table of Showbread in the Holy Place we shall study the Lord’s supper, and the concept of Body Ministry, and more truths concerning the five-fold ministry of Eph. 4:11.

 

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

In entered into the labors of Kelly Varner, The Corporate Anointing; Principles of Present Truth

And George W. Warnock, Crowned With Oil.  Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.

 

2Ti 1:13 - Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Heb 9:1 -2:  Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.

 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lamp stand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;

1Ti 1:16 - Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.