Sermon Central
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The Lampstand Series
Contributed by Stephen Sheane on May 12, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: This series of 6 messages looks at the design of the tabernacle as a template for drawing near to God. The thrid step in the lampstand which represents the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the light of God's presence, the light in our prayers and the light of
TABERNACLE – THE LAMPSTAND
A few years ago we moved into our new house here in Leamington. Because we were coming from Kuwait we had to buy all new appliances for the house. I purchased a big new refrigerator from Sears and had it delivered, along with all the other appliances. Imagine my first night in our new home. I went out for groceries to fill up the fridge. I wake up the next morning and open it only to find that the vegetables are wilting, the ice cream has melted and the milk is sour. I get on the phone and call Sears to complain that they sold me a lemon - the refrigerator they sold us does not work. The serviceman asks “is the light on”. No I reply, it must be broken as well. “Is there any noise from the motor” – “no I say, nothing”. “Check the plug” he says. The problem is that it was never plugged in.
Appliances are pieces of engineering wonder. They are built to do what the manufacturer designed them to do. They are however, useless without a power source. They were created to run on external power. When we give our lives to Christ it is like moving into a new house. God gives us a new mind, heart, and conscience. We have a whole new nature inside our existing body. But sometimes it looks like this new thing just doesn’t work properly. Some see coming to Christ was like buying a lemon – things just did not seem to work the way that you were led to believe they would. The problem is not with God but with us. You were not recreated in Christ to run on your own power. We need help from above. We need an enabling from another source in order to work and function properly.
In our homes we have different appliances and each one was designed differently to accomplish a different task. While each is different, all run on the same power source. Likewise in the church each of us is designed for a slightly different role. There are refrigerator Christians and microwave Christians and toaster Christians and can opener Christians. Each of us is different but each of us was designed to run off an external power source. If you are not operating properly, if you are always saying to yourself “there must be more to Christianity than this” than maybe the problem is not the refrigerator. Maybe you are not plugged in to the power source.
Ex 25:31 "Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand--three on one side and three on the other.
As you entered the tent or Holy Place on the left side was a golden 7 branched candlestick. It is the only light that was shining in the tent. Through the Bible we see that the number 7 means FULL or COMPLETE. In Revelations we see that the candlestick represented the Holy Spirit.
Rev 3:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
When we receive Jesus we each receive a light within us. As the temple of God we have the Holy Spirit shining within us to reveal truth and to lead us forward into righteousness. As we come into the presence of God it is important to remember and acknowledge the importance of the Holy Spirit in this process. How does the Spirit help us?
1. Light of God’s Presence – making God known to us
It is the Holy Spirit which draws us to Christ for our salvation. Once saved, the Holy Spirit continues to play a role in our coming into God’s presence. The Holy Spirit acts as our counselor and comforter and makes known to us God’s love and God’s plan.
In University I had a roommate called Mike (picture) who liked a girl called Pam that I went on a missions trip to Bolivia with (picture). During the time we were together I used every opportunity to talk about my roommate. I was acting as a go between or advocate for Mike to remind Pam of his love. They ended up getting married and I was in the wedding party (picture). Jesus said it this way:
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
