Welcome to the TAB! #1 – Only One Way
I.
Introduction
a.
Welcome to the TAB! We have been known as the TAB since January 1st,
2003, when the youth at that time picked it as the name. There were other choices like:
i.
Anchors, Anti-Cats, Alex is Cool, The Ax Youth
Group, Hoi Hagiazoi, Kitty Cat Lovers, More than Conquerors, NLH (Ne Life
Hunters), The Rampaging Mad Men, Ravenous Crusaders, Rock Solid, S.C.H.O.O.L
(Solid Christians Holy Organized Outfitted Loving *motto: School Rocks!*)
b.
Tonight we are starting our summer series
called: Welcome to the TAB! Tonight I
want to talk about the thing we are named after, the Tabernacle.
c.
The Tabernacle was a tent structure that the
Israelites kept with them in order to meet with God and worship Him. So let’s go and explore it outside!
II.
Body
a.
The Outside (Anyone Jewish Could Enter)
i.
The Court (150’x75’x7’6”)
1.
The Entrance (30’x7’6”) to the east
a.
Made of purple, red, blue linen with angels
embroidered into it
b.
Only way in or out of the Tabernacle, access was
limited
2.
The Bronze Altar (7’6”x7’6”x4’6”)
a.
This is where all the sacrifices were made,
whether grain, oil, or animal.
b.
It was to stay burning continually, even when it
was being cleaned.
3.
The Basin
a.
Made of bronze mirrors and filled with water
b.
Priests would wash their hands and feet before
sacrificing or entering the tabernacle.
ii.
The Tent (45’x13’6”x15’)
1.
It was called the tent of meeting. During their travels with the Tabernacle, the
presence of God travelled with them in the form of a pillar of cloud during the
day and a pillar of fire by night
2.
The first cover was linen that was blue, purple,
and red with angels embroidered into them
3.
There was three other covers one that was
similar to the first, just without the embroidery. The second was made rams skins dyed red, then
manatee skins.
b.
The Inside (only priest could enter)
i.
Odds and Ends
1.
Entrance curtain made of blue, purple, and red
linen, connected to 5 posts
2.
The tabernacle contained 1 ton of Gold, 3 ¼ tons
of Silver, and 2 ¼ tons of Bronze.
ii.
Table of the Bread of the Presence/Showbread
(3’x1’6”x2’3”) (North)
1.
Fresh bread was put on it every Sabbath
(Saturday)
2.
Bread was placed on gold plates, there was
frankincense in a gold bowls, gold cups and a pitcher of wine were placed there
as well.
iii.
Lampstand (south)
1.
Made of 75lbs of pure gold
2.
It was the only source of light in the
tabernacle
3.
Stayed burning continually
4.
Had 3 branches on each side, on each branch were
3 cups that looked like almond flowers.
There were 4 cups under each branch
iv.
Incense Altar (1’6”x1’6”x3’) (in front of
curtain)
1.
Burned incense there morning and evening, as a
symbol of prayer.
2.
The incense was a recipe that could only be used
for the tabernacle
v.
Dividing Curtain (only high priest, once a year
could enter)
1.
Made of blue, purple, and red linen with an
angel design embroidered into it
vi.
Ark of the Covenant (3’9”x2’3”x2’3”) (in Most
Holy Place)
1.
Wood box with gold over it
2.
Contained, Aaron’s budded staff (showed God had
picked Aaron and his family has high priests); Stone tablets of the Covenant;
Jar of Manna
3.
On top of it was placed the Mercy Seat/Atonement
Cover
a.
A gold lid that had blood sprinkled on it on the
day of atonement
b.
Above it were 2 cherubim (angels) facing each
other with wings overshadowing the cover
c.
This was where the pillar of cloud/fire hovered
over
III.
Application
a.
Ever since sin entered the world man has longed
to be near God again, but not allowed.
Sin makes it so we cannot go near God, yet both us and He want a relationship
again, we want to be near each other again.
But sin has put up a wall between us and God. (like the outer curtains)
b.
We are still allowed to see glimpses of God, but
our access has been cut off. And because
our access has been cut off for this life, it means that our access has been
cut off for eternity, when we die.
c.
Is there a way into the tabernacle? Yes, through the east entrance, it is the
only way in.
d.
What about in real life, how can we have a
restored relationship with God and again be in his presence? How can the sin be removed so there is no
longer curtains standing in the way?
e. John 14:1-6 says, ““Do not let your hearts
be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am
going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you
also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I
am going.” 5 Thomas
said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the
way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
f.
In the tabernacle there was only one entrance at
the front of the tabernacle, only one way to God. There is still only one way to God, only one
way to salvation, only one way to forgiveness, only one way to peace, only one
way to contentment, only one way to heaven, and only one way to hope.
g.
No person can approach God unless it is through
Jesus. What do I mean by that?
h.
Jesus died on a cross, taking our sin upon
himself, because of that he offers us the opportunity to have our sins
removed/forgiven if we ask and repent.
i.
Romans
10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is
Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.”
j.
So tonight if you are wanting those curtains
removed so you can have access to God, to freedom, to peace, to heaven, you
have to go through Jesus, and that is by both confession of Him being your God
and Leader, and believing that He came back to life, giving you forgiveness of
sins, confessing them to God and turning away from them, and instead choosing
to follow him.
k.
Is that you tonight? Do you want to be back in relationship with
God?
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