THE BRAZEN ALTAR/CALVARY'S CROSS (2022)
The Brazen Altar/Calvary’s Cross
Sunday, March 27, 2022, the Year of our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
The Brazen Altar or Altar of Burnt Offering is a type of The Cross – one way to God --- One altar for the entire nation, the only place of offering sacrifice.
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven give to mankind by which we must be saved.
The Cross is the only place where satisfaction was made in regard to the Holiness of God who justly demands that sin be judged and atoned for. The Brazen Altar is the first piece of furniture inside the gate of the Tabernacle. The beginning of our Christian walk is the Cross. We must keep growing and moving in Christ past the Brazen Altar into the Holy Place (Pentecost) and then the Holy of Holies (Glory/Tabernacles). We must never forget from whence the LORD has brought us or in that we miss the focal point of the Cross.
Heb. 13:10: We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
The continual fire of the Brazen Altar was the responsibility of the priest to keep the fire going. It is for the believer to keep on fire for God and to ever see that the Fire of Calvary’s message is kept alive. God lit this fire:
Lev. 9:24: The fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. It is now the responsibility of humans to keep it lit. Fire fell from Heaven many times in the Bible.
2 Chr. 7: 1-3: After Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple.
2 Ki. 18: 38-39: Elijah’s altar
Acts 2:3: On the day of Pentecost, there appeared to them divided tongues of fire which fell upon each one of them. Why the fire? It is the fire of God from Heaven’s Altar, lit by God, on the altar of His Temple of the New Covenant.
Heb. 9:23-24: Therefore, it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
The sinning Israelites could go no further than this Altar. It is tragic that many Christians stop at this point in God, thus missing the eternal purposes of the Cross, that we be saved, justified by the Spirit who takes us through the Holy Place and even beyond the Veil into the glory of God.
The basis of all approach unto God is by sacrifice. Jesus Christ, the last sacrifice was offered once (Heb. 7:27); (9:28).
Heb. 9:12-15: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh; How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this cause, he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
The Brazen Altar is a type of divine healing as part of the Atonement (1 Pet. 2:24) and our salvation, satisfaction and justification by Faith (Ro. 5:1). The Truth of Divine healing for the physical body (and for the whole man) was restored to the Church through men such as A. J. Gordon, F. B. Meyer, Andrew Murray, R. A. Torrey, and A. B. Simpson, a Presbyterian minister who was called to preach in 1865 and ministered for 10 years. Having overworked himself, Simpson became bedfast. He began to study and God revealed to him truth concerning Divine Healing. He healed and preached for another 35 years.
Simpson on Divine Healing: “If disease is a result of the Fall, then provision for Divine healing should be embraced in the provision of redemption. Redemption finds its center in the Cross (Brazen Altar) of Jesus the Christ ---look there for fundamental principles of Divine healing. There is, however, something higher than the Cross--- The Resurrection. The death of Christ destroys sin (the root of sickness), but it is the LIFE of Jesus which supplies the source of health and life. The agent for bringing this new life is the Holy Ghost. Life and Healing comes by Grace and is received by faith without sight. The Gospel of Salvation is commanded; therefore, Divine Healing is also commanded.”
Gal. 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Because of the glorious work of the Cross, we are told that God was declared and revealed to be “just” and the “justifier” of him which believes in Jesus Christ.
Ro. 3:25-27: Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the preset time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Hebrew root for “Altar” means “to slay or slaughter” and the Latin world “Alta” means “High” ---thus, the word ALTAR means “the high place of sacrifice” (Jesus was lifted UP at Calvary).
Psa. 43:4: Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy; yea upon the harp will I praise you, O God my God.
There were altars before the Brazen Altar:
After the flood – Gen. 8:20: Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.
Gen. 12:7: The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land” and there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Gen. 26:25: Isaac built an altar at the well in Beersheba.
Gen. 35:1: Jacob built an altar in Bethel.
There are several names in the Bible which refer to the Brazen Altar:
Shittim Wood (Ex. 27:1) – Christ’s humanity.
Altar of Burnt Offering – Ex. 38:30; 39:39).
The Altar of God. (Ps. 43: 3-4). – Christ’s divinity.
The Altar of the Door (Lev. 1:5; 4:7) – priority entrance unto God.
The Table of the Lord – (Mal. 1:7, 12) ---- A type of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Co. 10:21: You cannot drink the cup of the LORD and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the LORD’s table and of the table of demons.
The Brazen Altar in Solomon’s Temple measured (2 Chron. 4:1) 20x20x10 cu. Which equaled 4000 cu. (4000 years from Fall of Adam to Christ during which time all sacrificial blood was shed).
There was a restored altar (Ez. 3: 1-3). Through the ministry of Lucifer, Justification by Faith was restored to the Church doctrines.
There were some false altars in the bible.
We have the altar of God within us, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
The Brazen Altar was in a hollow box shape – Jesus emptied Himself.
It was foursquare, measuring 5 x 5 x 3 cu high (7-1/2’x7-1/2’x4-1/2’). – Christ’s sacrifice brought life to the world.
It was made of Shittim wood (or acacia wood) and then overlaid with brass (copper). Shittim wood is incorruptible wood. Jesus died on a wooden Cross. The Brass represents judgment and can also speak of enduring the Cross (Heb. 12:2). Jesus at the cross was made sin for us and became a curse for us. (2 Cr. 5:21). Jesus’ feet are brass (Rev. 1:15).
The feet of brass are the principal of Duet. 33:25: Your shoes shall be iron and brass; and as your days, so shall your strength be.
Mic. 4:13: Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs brass; and you shall beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Rev. 1:15: His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev. 2:18: to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, “These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.”
Jesus Christ became the Brazen fullness of the Brazen Altar.
It was the largest and highest piece of furniture. There were four horns on the four corners. Horns speak of power and strength. Jesus Christ is the horn of Salvation to the world. The horns were blood-stained – power in the Blood.
The fire on the Brazen Alter were never to go out. It was to burn continually.
The utensils used to serve the altar gives us a type and shadow of the work of the Cross. I will only mention today the shovels and the firepans. The shovels were used for collecting the ashes, or placing coals into the Censers for the Golden Altar (thus linking the two altars --- Crucifixion with the prayer and praise of Gethsemane). The firepans were the actual censers used to carry coals from the Brazen Altar to the Golden Altar (on the basis of these coals the incense was caused to ascend unto God).
Every member of the Godhead is seen in redemption, for the Father gave the sacrifice. Christ was the sacrifice, and the Holy Ghost reveals the sacrifice.
Those of us who have passed the brazen altar (The Cross), who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be marked with the three sealing’s' of the Holy Ghost:
- Baptism of Water – The Brazen Laver - - The water provided the means for cleansing – the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The Word and the Spirit are in total agreement and cannot be separated but rather work together for the purpose of cleansing. The water for the laver was obtained from the smitten rock, Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 10:4; Ex. 17:6; Ps. 78:20; Jn. 19:34).
- Baptism of the Holy Ghost- The Holy Place
- The Mind of Christ – The Holy of Holies
The beautiful work of Redemption has been accomplished, and the work of Christ is a “finished” work. But the work of the Mediator in the heavens continues until the Holy Spirit dwelling in the Body of Christ has fully declared, revealed and manifested the victory of the Cross to bring in the Harvest to all who are called; and justified in the name of the Lord by the Spirt of our God (1 Co. 6:11).
The outer court represents Passover and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The Holy Place represents Pentecost and is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit-filled realm of great salvation (Heb. 2: 3-4). The Feast of Pentecost, the 60-fold, and the young men of 1 Jn. 2:13. From a Christ-centered perspective, we know Christ our light, our bread, and our High Priest. In the realm of Pentecost, we receive the blessing of the Candlestick, Holy Ghost Baptism, the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, the apostle’s doctrine, and the Branch of the Lord. The Table of showbread is a type of the Lord’s Supper, and the concept of Body Ministry, and more truths concerning the five-fold ministry of Eph. 4:11.
There was no crown of gold for Christ at the Brazen Altar of Calvary, but at the Golden altar he is crowned with glory and honor as a King-Priest, after the order of Melchizedeck. The crown also functioned to keep the coals on the Altar.
Both the Brazen Altar and Golden Altar are foursquare (Christ died for the whole world.) Both rings and staves and were movable. Both had horns (power to save and power to answer).
God lit the fire on the Brazen Altar. The fire on the golden Altar was a divine fire and any other fire was “strange fire,” which is a type of all false worship; thus, the Blood and the Fire came from the Cross ---the sacrifice of Christ is the basis of all prayer and praise. God only accepts incense that He has prescribed and all approach to God in prayer and praise must come through Jesus Christ. The fire of the Holy Ghost kindles our devotions,
The Golden Altar was used exclusively for burning incense ---there was no blood sacrifice in the Holy Place because of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ’s Atonement. It was sprinkled annually on the day of Atonement with the Blood of the Sin offering seven times. The Seven times speaks of Jesus’ complete and perfect atonement which opened up His complete and perfect ministry of intercession.
The Golden altar was anointed with oil revealing the anointed High Priestly ministry of Jesus and the anointed incense of the saints.
Only Aaron (High Priest) and his Seed (the Priests) could minister at the Golden Altar. The offices of King and Priest are permanently united in Jesus Christ and believers become Kings and Priests after the same order of Melchizedeck of the tribe of Judah.
The incense was offered perpetually – Christ’s continual High priestly ministry and the continual sacrifice of prayer and praise of the saints.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
TAKE ME IN
By: Dave Browning
Take me pas the outer courts
And through the holy place
Past the golden altar
Lord, I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
The priests who sing their praise
I hunger and thirst
For your righteousness
And it’s only found one place.
Take me in
To the Holy of Holies
Take me in
By the blood of the Lamb
Take me in
To the Holy of Holies
Take the coal, touch my lips
Here I am
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Table of Shewbread in the Holy Place is a type and shadow of the LORD’S SUPPER:
- Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life (Jn. 6:48).
- The Body of Christ is one bread (1 Cor. 10:17).
- The Communion Table of the LORD’S SUPPER (1 Cor. 11: 23-30).
- Fellowship (1 Jn. 1: 1-4) and the concept of the COVENANT.
- Divine Healing is the Children’s bread.
- The cup of wine is the Blood of Jesus of the New Covenant.
- The Five-Fold ministry of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher.
The New Testament (Covenant) brought a New Bread, New Wine and New Priesthood. Jesus Christ is the everlasting Bread. Jesus Christ is ever giving us fresh bread for this new day of visitation. The Blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit outpoured are the New Wine.
1. Old Testament Types of the Lord’s Supper:
(a) Melchizedek ministers to Abraham.
(b) The flesh and blood of the Passover Lamb.
(c) The bread and wine of the Table of Shewbread.
(d) Boaz ministering to Ruth at mealtime (Ruth 2:14).
2. Instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Practiced by the early church.
4. Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor. 11: 23-32 for the Lord’s Supper:
I received from the LORD that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
(a) The revelation of the Table of the Lord.
(b) The memorial of the Table or Christ’s finished work.
(c) Observed the Table of the Lord often.
(d) The life-style of the saints proclaim His death as we lay down our lives for one another in Covenant relationship.
(e) The Table of the LORD can be abused.
(f) The Table of the LORD demands self-examination.
(g) We must discern the Body of the LORD in two ways:
(1) The Word was made flesh, and the flesh was made stripe, and by His stripes we are healed. The Lord comes to meet with us at His table. This is a time when He especially desires to bring healing; and we must discern this.
(2) The BODY is also CHRIST (Mt. 25:40). We must discern that anything said or done unto the Body of Christ is done unto the Head; thus, we could come to the table with broken relationships and partake in ignorance resulting in condemnation.
(h) To partake of the Table in ignorance and unworthily can result in sickness and death; to partake of the Table in understanding and worthily can result in healing and life.
(i) The Table requires discipline.
The Lord’s Supper is primarily a LOVE-feast (To God and the brethren). Water Baptism is the initiation into the New Covenant; the Lord’s Supper is the renewal.
The Covenant with the Lord is biding and permanent (Ps. 89:34).
The Lord’s supper is the celebration of the Covenant that Jesus cut.
We are in Covenant relationship with all brethren but are knit to only some (1 Sa.18: 1-4). God wants every Christian in a local church. To partake of Christ is to be actively involved in the ministry of his body, the church, on a local level.
The many-membered Body of Christ is responsible for each other. We are learning to share our strengths and our weaknesses.
The Covenant principal hinges upon response; the key is obedience; man will walk in full Covenant blessing when he walks in full obedience.
I entered into the labors of Principles of Present Truth by Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. Varner.
PROPHETIC WORD FOR EASTGATE CHURCH
March 21, 2022 #69
Word for Pastor Roxanne Sissom through Roxanne Alexander @ River Oaks Houston Aglow Lighthouse
~~~~~
“There’s a crowd coming.
There’s a crowd coming because they want the truth. They want the truth.
There’s a crowd coming.
I (ah ah) see like every seat filled, every seat filled, and (ah) like ushers are – having to help get people to-to sit. They’re helping people get seated because they are going to come. Because they’re going – “we need, we need what you have. WE NEED WHAT YOU HAVE!” And so that’s opening up.
(ah) There’s an angelic assistance concerning your ministry right now.
There’s a sweeping.
There’s a sweeping.
(ah) There’s some that left and there’s a few that really need to come back. And then some that never need to come back, in Jesus’ Name. But you are going to have (a) those that come back. They’re to going get in the right place this time. They’re going to see. They couldn’t see before but they are going to get in the right place. But mostly new, mostly new people moving in, moving in. And I see they are shoulder to shoulder, just shoulder to shoulder. And I see a, a ball of flames going in your…going down your isles. (whew) In Jesus’ Name, thank you for it. Thank you for it Lord.
I hear the Lord. I’m not seeing now, I’m hearing now. The Lord says, Daughter every dream you’ve ever had I’m on your side and I will fulfill (hmm), I will fulfill in Jesus’ Name. Thank you for it Lord. Thank you for it.
There is a river running through your ministry and its Loud, it has sound. It’s a LOUD RIVER and it’s a very clear river and it’s calling to people who want the truth. The whole world is crying right now. But they are going to hear the truth. They’re hearing truth from you and they will be compelled to come in.
There are people who will be driving by and then will turn in there. They will just turn in there…I don’t even know why I am here…and I like it …and they will stay, in Jesus’ Name.
Thank you for it Lord. Thank you for it. Thank you for it Lord. Thank you for it Lord.”