Gtcotr/ss010426
Over and over again the New Testament confirms that our bodies are the temple of the tabernacle of God. In other words, God has chosen to live on earth in us and accomplish His will on earth through us. We are His body: His hands, His feet, and His voice in the earth. He lives in us.
John 2:21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” He meant His own body.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that when this earthly tabernacle we live in is taken down, we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.
You are the Tabernacle of God.
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was everything. The Bible provides details as to how God led the Children of Israel during the Exodus and the instructions He gave them concerning the Tabernacle. These accounts are pillars of truth meant to guide us on our journey through the wilderness of this world.
Jesus came down from heaven to deliver us from the devil’s clutches just like God sent Moses down into Egypt to make Pharoah let His people go. And we are on our way to the Promise Land. Every day we are being guided by the Holy Spirit and protected by angels as we follow Jesus. The stories of the Old Testament are natural snapshots of our spiritual lives.
No account and not one set of instructions given by God in the Old Testament is without parallel in our lives today. God said nothing and did nothing in the Bible without purpose. There are no coincidences in the Word of God. The Bible is not meant to be just an historical record but also The Bible is a blueprint for our lives.
The written record of God is a roadmap for us so that we might make life applications through the spiritual truths we find. With this in mind, let’s read from our text today found in the book of Exodus, chapter 40. Remember: You are the Tabernacle …
Exodus 40 NLT
1 ¶ Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.”
One of the truths we learn from reading the Bible is that God is a God of special days and special seasons. God likes and chooses special days to begin something; special days to end something; special days to remember something; and special days to celebrate something. God is very particular about setting aside specific days. As I said, there are no coincidences in the Word of God. Every facet and each detail carry special meanings.
The fact that God instructed Moses to set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year has a parallel purpose in our life. We are all familiar with the concept of “New Year’s Resolutions.” They are quiet common and offer a chance to drive a stake in the ground, make a declaration, and change our lives from that moment forward. People use them for good.
I’ve made some New Year commitments and some New Year re-commitments this year myself. In Exodus 40, God chose the first day of the New Year that year as a new beginning for His Children. He told Moses: “Set up the Tabernacle …”
- · To “set up” means to “set in order” so that everything is in its place and working together in concert as He intended.
Has your life ever gotten out of order? Perhaps priorities got mixed up or maybe you had too many commitments or slipped into undisciplined habits … life out of order can leave you living out of the pile? (You know, that’s when you go to the pile of clothes on the floor to find something to wear instead of going to the closet. You have to smell them to see if you can wear them; maybe throw them in the dryer to soften the wrinkles.)
It doesn’t just happen with clothes and coffee cups … it happens with life - prayer, Bible reading, family time, work, and building a future. Out of order is out of order. Today is your chance to set your life in order.
When God told Moses to set the Tabernacle in order, He was very specific. Let’s continue reading … the next verse says:
Exodus 40 NLT
3 Place the Ark of the Covenant inside …
- · Remember: You are the New Testament Tabernacle …
- · The Ark contained the presence, the power, and the glory of God.
- · Placing the Ark in your heart is the first priority …
- · There were three things in the Ark of the Covenant: (Hebrews 9:4)
- o God’s Word – The 10 Commandments
- o God’s Provision – Manna from heaven
- o God’s Authority – Aaron’s staff
- · You have an opportunity today to make sure God is where He should be and what He should be in your life.
3 Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place.
- · Each one of us needs a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. (Enclosing; receiving; accepting; protecting; embracing)
- · There is no substitute for having that secret place where you can go with your own private thoughts and prayers to be with Jesus.
- · God wants you to have a Most Holy Place in your life where you meet with Him. A place where you can talk with God about everything and a place where His mercy covers and His grace forgives.
- · This can begin a new year for you … it’s how you start your new day.
4 Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it. And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps.
God continued detailing all the furnishings that would be used to accomplish the ministry in the Tabernacle. Then He told Moses:
Exodus 40:9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy.”
God wants to anoint us and all the instruments of ministry in our lives for His use.
- · Our hands; our feet; our voices …
- · Our thoughts; our hopes; our prayers …
- · Our relationships; our character; our influence
Exodus 40:13 Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest.
Wouldn’t you prefer a God anointed pastor to serve you and your family?
God also told Moses to anoint all of the ministers who serve in the House of the Lord. Dedication, consecration, and sanctification are all powerful.
So what is today about? Your Dedication and Consecration to God. Today I am asking for the sake of:
- · Your Family
- · Our Church
- · The Nation
Set your life in order and begin 2026 as a new day. Dedicate your thoughts, words, hands, feet, job, home, family, finances, and future to the Lord. Anoint yourself as dwelling place of the Lord. I believe we will see miracles this year … miracles that will astound us.
The earth is ripe for signs, wonders, and miracles. I want to be a part of what God wants to do in this season and make every day a special day.
I am asking you to join me each First Monday and fast one meal that day. Take the few minutes you would have spent eating and pray for your family, our church and the nation. Then at 6:30pm, meet together with me for 30 minutes of corporate praise, worship, and prayer.
Let’s set our lives, our families, our Church, and the nation in order and let it begin today.
Now, let’s pray for our Church staff and elders together. Pray with me now.
