• Ø Samuel Hue is at Scottish Rite Children’s hospital in Atlanta. He is Lisa’s 9 year old nephew. He has been found with an infection in his bone due to a rod put in when he was in Europe. Pray for this infectious name to leave his body and for him to be made whole.
• Ø Tim Gaines’ brother, Matt, who is a missionary in China, will be having surgery related to carpal tunnel. Please pray that the surgery will completely heal him and he will be pain free. He is home on furlough.
• Ø The Elders are seeking the Lord for an avenue to evangelize for our church body. Please pray and if you have any ideas (no soliciting is allowed in many apartment areas) write it down in the visitors’ slip in the back of the pews and sign it
• Ø Joelle’s sister, Maria, is living in horrible circumstances. Pray her eyes be opened and she will know the Truth of her situation and that the TRUTH will set her free.
• Ø Pam Grudel has a special unspoken request.
• Ø Pray for the peace of Jerusalem during this war atmosphere in the mid-east. GOD’S WILL BE DONE…AMEN
• Ø Many have lost jobs in our area, let us be compassionate and lift them up to the Lord for good jobs in the future, and be there should we be needed.
• Ø Thank you for praying for the finances of our church. Please pray for all of us to give faithfully. Our tithes are important and are a blessing in many areas.
• Ø Angie and Dave Barton ask prayer for the selling of their other home and that God will give them direction.
• Ø Please pray for Donnie & Addie’s home to sale. Pray for God’s perfect will to be done.

  You may also visit our web site at www.lifelongdisciples.comand enjoy the sermon you hear today and Bible studies.

  Let us pray every day for our Pastor as he serves our church and has a job to sustain him in his provision for his family.  Pray that God opens doors and gives him prosperity.  Let people come from the  North, South, East and West to seek his wisdom in providing for  their future needs and thereby bring monetary blessings by the work of his hands (Deut. 28).  Let us not take for grant our Pastor in his dedication to the Lord and our covenant community of believers here at St. Stephens.

  Military

• v Pray for those serving oversea: Matt Obsorne, Philip Johnson and Mike Black. Also remember their parents, wives and children’s every need to be met during their deployment. Let us also pray that they would come home WHOLE= physically, mentally, spiritually nd emotionally.
• v Pray for Caleb Hughes, as he continues at West Point. Pray God’s direction and steady hand on Caleb.
• v Please pray for one of Dave Barton’s friends, Daniel, who was wounded in the war. Pray his wounds heal quickly and he is drawn closer to the Lord due to this experience.

 Salvation

• v Please pray for the ministry of Global Ministries. May each volunteer relate the true hope in Christ.
• v We have been asked to pray for Jeff Keaton in his need for God’s grace in salvation.
• v Blaise Corbin asks that we pray for his dad, John to find Christ.
• Matt Irwin has asked prayer for his grandfather, Jack Irvin.  Lift him up in prayer and pray for God’s perfect will.

 Marriages

• v Ronnie’s brother, Donnie who has been separated from his wife, Tammy, are talking and their marriage is being restored! We give God the glory and we asked to continue to pray for complete restoration and salvation for their children and grandchildren. 

Prayer:  We thank you Lord God for the Elders You have placed here for our care.  We ask that You continue to bless their every decision as they guide this Your church, St. Stephens.  Protect them and give them Your heart and let them hear Your voice.  Give them everything they need for life and godliness.  Let Your miracles flow through them to the needs of Your people here, both in word and deed.

 June 6, 2010 (New in bold)

 Ø Pray for Pastor David and the family as they travel to Key West for a much needed vacation-plus they get to visit with Caleb.

• Ø Donna Hiller had knee surgery last week and is home healing. She will also have her eye surgery for the removal of cancer cells this week. Pray for her wounds to heal and for all the cancer cells to bow to the Name of Jesus.
• Ø The Elders are seeking the Lord for an avenue to evangelize for our church body. Please pray and if you have any ideas (no soliciting is allowed in many apartment areas) write it down in the visitors’ slip in the back of the pews and sign it
• Ø Betty & Ernie would like for us to pray for Rose, Ernie’s sister in law. She has been diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. She is like a sister to them. She also has congestive heart failure; so many tests are being made to know how to approach the present cancer. Pray for God’s perfect will for Rose and peace for the families as they wait.
• Ø Joelle’s sister, Maria, is living in horrible circumstances. Pray her eyes be opened and she will know the Truth of her situation and that the TRUTH will set her free.
• Ø Our recent Mission House plumbing (big project) has not been completely paid for nor the finishing of the ‘in’ road to the church. Pray for God to provide so our debt will be paid. God will provided.
• Ø Continue to pray for Ronnie Brooks as he goes to get his results this Thursday. Pray the pathway will be right in the center of God’s will and Ronnie will be given health and healing through this new journey.
• Ø Karolee’s is mending, but continue to pray for her complete healing and that the surgery accomplishes what we have prayed for in her body.
• Ø Pam Grudel has a special unspoken request.
• Ø Pray for the peace of Jerusalem during this war atmosphere in the mid-east. GOD’S WILL BE DONE…AMEN
• Ø Many have lost jobs in our area, let us be compassionate and lift them up to the Lord for good jobs in the future, and be there should we be needed.
• Ø Thank you for praying for the finances of our church. Please pray for all of us to give faithfully. Our tithes are important and are a blessing in many areas.
• Ø Angie and Dave Barton ask prayer for the selling of their other home and that God will give them direction.
• Ø Please pray for Donnie & Addie’s home to sale. Pray for God’s perfect will to be done.

         Thank you for  visiting our web site at www.lifelongdisciples.com

       and enjoy the sermon you hear today and Bible studies.:

• Matt Obsorne, Philip Johnson and Mike Black. Also remember their parents, wives and children’s every need to be met during their deployment. Let us also pray that they would come home WHOLE= physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
• v Pray for Caleb Hughes, as he continues at West Point. Pray God’s direction and steady hand on Caleb.

 Salvation

• v Please pray for the ministry of Global Ministries. May each volunteer relate the true hope in Christ.
• v We have been asked to pray for Jeff Keaton in his need for God’s grace in salvation.
• v Blaise Corbin asks that we pray for his dad, John to find Christ.
• Matt Irwin has asked prayer for his grandfather, Jack Irvin.  Lift him up in prayer and pray for God’s perfect will.

 Praises:  We thank you Lord God for the Elders You have placed here for our care.  We ask that You continue to bless their every decision as they guide this Your church, St. Stephens.  Protect them and give them Your heart and let them hear Your voice.  Give them everything they need for life and godliness.  Let Your miracles flow through them to the needs of Your people here, both in word and deed.

Your Invitation

If you are in need of prayer and desire to be anointed by our Elders please come down at the end of the service and you will be anointed for prayer.  You do not have to be a member of St. Stephen’s Church.

 Count your blessings this week and pray for others on your heart!

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This lesson from the Old Testament is on the Jewish Tabernacle during the time of Moses.

Inspired by God as a Type and Shadow of Christ & His Bride and Taught by Rhonda Brooks.    Written by Dr. James Modlish 

The study of the Tabernacle is a thrilling story: GOD’S DESIRE TO DWELL WITH MAN, and TO BRING REDEMPTION TO MAN.

The first in depth study God lead me into was the study of the Tabernacle.  I always thought it was interesting when I read the Bible, but never saw the depth of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness as it related to Christ our Lord, nor did I see the symbolism when it came to me as a Christian.  The study will give you and I great insight to who we are in Christ and give us focus on ourselves as the “temple of God not made by human hands…”  My goal and prayer is for everyone who joins us in study with this will see that every word in the Bible is there for a reason and may it challenge you to dig deep and find the MEAT of the word of God!!   

The Word of God is like a multiple layered revelation.  Some shallow Christians find studies like this one….Boring…because they don’t realize the importance of EVERY WORD in the Word of God, because it is our Lord Jesus!!  But if you are up for spiritual growth and depth in your walk with God then I urge you to come join our class or stay on line for this revelation into our Coming King and the joy of discovering yourselves and the place you have in God’s Kingdom.        Humbly His, Rhonda

THE TABERNACLE WAS:

[1]. The dwelling place of God in Israel (in the Wilderness and Canaan).
[2]. A picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God’s salvation in Him.

WHY STUDY?

There are 50 chapters in the Bible on The Tabernacle:

[1]. The TABERNACLE and the Tabernacle FORM OF WORSHIP are FIGURES of that which was to come (Heb 9:8,9,24; 10:1); God’s future plans.
[2]. The TABERNACLE and EXPERIENCES OF THE ISRAELITES were EXAMPLES and PATTERNS established by God for us (1 Cor 10:11; Heb 8:5).
[3]. The TABERNACLE pictures THE LORD JESUS CHRIST in such perfect detail that it thrills the believer as the study unfolds (Lk 24:27) Every detail of the Tabernacle points to some aspect of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

 I. THE TABERNACLE – The Dwelling Place of God.

The word ‘tabernacle’ means “temporary dwelling place”:

[1]. THE TABERNACLE OF THE O.T. was temporary – used only 400 years (Ex 25:8).
[2]. Then, THE TEMPLE (2 Chr 5:14) was for a time the dwelling place of God here on the earth, (will be restored for the Millennium).
[3]. While JESUS was on the earth during His ministry, He was the dwelling place of God, in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily (Col 2:9).
[4]. After which Christ took up abode in THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER (1 Cor 3:16). The word CHURCH means “that which is called out”, and does not apply to the building, but the BELIEVERS. Therefore, the Tabernacle is also a picture of the believer, the place where Christ dwells. The Believer (“in Christ”) is the dwelling place, the temple of God (Holy Spirit); the body is the outer court, the soul is the holy place, and the spirit is the holy of holies.
[5]. Finally, IN HEAVEN (He 8:1,2; 9:23, 24; Rev 11:19; 21:3).

 II. THE TABERNACLE TELLS MORE - THE COMPLETE PICTURE OF SALVATION

The Tabernacle is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a picture of the believer “in Christ”, and also a complete picture of the PLAN OF SALVATION. In

God’s redemption there are seven steps:

[1]. As sinners on the outside, we must first ENTER and STOP at the ALTAR (the cross).
[2]. Next comes SEPARATION and DAILY CLEANSING at the LAVER.
[3]. We enter into FELLOWSHIP of the Lord at the TABLE.
[4]. We learn to WALK in the LIGHT of the Golden CANDLESTICK.
[5]. Then, and only then, comes POWER in PRAYER at the TABLE OF INCENSE.
[6]. We are then ready to enter the HOLY OF HOLIES of HIGHEST SERVICE (the personal power and communion of the Holy Spirit).
[7]. Thus, we reach PERFECT REST and PEACE at the blood-sprinkled MERCY SEAT under the shadow of the cherubim.

THE SUBJECT OF THE TABERNACLE IS INEXHAUSTIBLE, and as we permit the Holy Spirit to help us to understand these truths, we are then to be drawn closer to the Lord Jesus, and by knowing more about Him from this study, we will love Him more, and in loving Him more we will serve Him more. STUDY THEN SHOULD RESULT IN LOVING SERVICE!!!!

 III. THE TABERNACLE PATTERN - Three fold Division – the number of divine perfection (John 14:6).

[1]. THE OUTER COURT – The fence, the brazen altar, the laver.
[2]. THE HOLY PLACE - The table of shewbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense.
[3]. THE HOLY OF HOLIES – The ark and the mercy seat.

 IV. THE FOURTEEN MATERIALS

Fourteen is the number of TESTIMONY. The Tabernacle is a place of fellowship, communion, and TESTIMONY. Each material has a typical meaning, the meanings are the same wherever they are found in the Tabernacle. Christ is seen in them all:

[1]. GOLD – Deity (Ex. 25:3).
[2]. SILVER – Redemption (Ex 25:3).
[3]. BRASS – Judgment (Ex 25:3; Num 21:6-9).
[4]. BLUE – Heavenly nature and origin (Ex. 25:4).
[5]. PURPLE – Royalty (Ex 25:4).
[6]. SCARLET – Sacrificed blood (Ex 25:4).
[7]. FINE LINEN – Spotless righteousness (Ex 25:4; Rev 19:8).
[8]. GOAT’S HAIR – The sinbearer (Ex 25:4; Lev 16:20-22).
[9]. RAM’S SKINS DYED RED – The suffering of Christ, the depth and devotion of Christ (Ex 25:5 Luke 22:44).
[10]. BADGER’S SKINS – Humility of Christ (Ex 25:5; Isa 53:2), a common, ordinary-looking skin.
[11]. SHITTIM WOOD (Acacia) – Humanity of Christ (Ex. 25:5).
[12]. OIL for the LIGHT – The Holy Spirit (Ex 25:5).
[13]. SPICES for Anointing, OIL – Sweetness and preciousness of Christ (Ex 25:6).
[14]. ONXY STONES – Speaks of the Glory of Christ (Ex 25:7; John 17:5).

 V. SEVEN ARTICLES OF FURNITURE -

Seven is the number of perfection: ARK, MERCY SEAT, ALTAR OF INCENSE, TABLE OF SHEWBREAD, CANDLESTICK, LAVER, BRAZEN ALTAR

 VI. “THE HOUSE OF BLOOD“ -

THE TABERNACLE has been called “THE HOUSE OF BLOOD” (Lesson 4), because of the blood of the sacrifices required by God. But, all of this blood was merely prophetic, typical, and a shadow of the blood of the coming Lamb of God, His Son:

[1]. We have redemption through the blood (Eph 1:7).
[2]. We have forgiveness through the blood (Eph 1:7).
[3]. We have justification through the blood (Rom 5:9).
[4]. We have sanctification through the blood (Heb 10:10).
[5]. We have cleansing through the blood (I John 1:7).
[6]. We have peace through the blood (Col 1:20).
[7]. We have victory through the blood (Rev 12:11).

There are two hand-outs that go with this lesson.  If you would like these please request one by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to St. Stephens’ Church, 2601  Double Churches Road, Columbus, GA 31906–or you may come by and pick one up on Sunday Mornings at 10:00 at St. Stephens Church.  Please feel free to leave you comments and let Mrs. Brooks know you are studying on line.

A lady once showed the famous artist Buskin a costly handkerchief on which a blot of ink had been dropped. The handkerchief, she complained, was ruined. Nothing was left but to throw it away. Buskin said nothing, but took the handkerchief away from her. Shortly afterward the lady received it back, but so changed that she could hardly belief it was the original. Using the ink blot as the basis, he had worked around it a beautiful and artistic design, changing what was valueless into a thing of beauty and joy.1

So it is with Christ. He takes the blots and failures of our lives and transforms them into valuable assets. Those hurts, disappointments and failures that appear to us as obstacles and threaten to ruin us become perfect opportunities for the Son of God to make new, if only we will let Him.

• 1. What is different from us, as Godly women and other women of the world who are morally good? From your heart tell us what you think is the difference.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 2. Where is the words of our Lord Jesus found stating He will give us beauty for ashes?

_________________________________________

Understanding God’s Way

Why does He allow us to experience this kind of pain? All life is the result of some form of brokenness. The earth must be broken before the seed can be planted. The seed must be broken before the plant can grow. And the earth must once again be broken before new plant life can emerge upon it. Brokenness then is a life birthing process that must precede every area of growth in our lives. This is especially true as God develops our spiritual lives. Any spiritual fruitfulness will require the breaking of the outer person so the spirit can commune with the Spirit of Christ in us.

Prayer is the key! As we collapse into the arms of God, the outer person sloughs off like grave clothes. In prayer we see:

The absolute holiness of God (see Rev. 15:4)
Taste the joy of heaven (see John 16:7)
Understand the reality of His Word (see Ps. 119:103)

Recognizing how Christ works in our lives is vitally important. Unless we understand the process, the journey can be quite discouraging. As a matter of fact, if we fail to understand the process, at the point where the Lord Jesus wants to draw us into a deeper experience with Himself, we will struggle against the journey toward intimacy, not realizing that we are actually being freed from the domination of our souls. We are being delivered daily from our carnal minds, our self-determined wills and the earthly emotions that enslave us. When we realize how very much unlike Jesus we are, our spirit cries out for His overcoming power.

We can experience this overcoming power if we are willing to yield to Him. Our human nature, however, resists surrendering to the will of another. And because of our stubborn, carnal love for self, the Father must break us so we may follow Jesus’ example of becoming “broken bread” and “poured out wine” for His sake (see 1 Cor. 11: 23-27). Broken bread is needful for life-giving service and poured out wine is needful to bring comfort to those who are hurting and perishing. Notice that the bread must be broken and the wine must be poured out.

As we reach the end of soul strength and begin to surrender to the process of spiritual maturity, we experience a freedom, a peace and a power yet unknown to us. This process can take a few years, even a lifetime. The stages of this spiritual journey usually occur gradually and are often a combination of many crises.

We must reach the end of our _______________  _________________ and __________________to the ______________________ of spiritual maturity.

The dynamics of being drawn into intimacy are much like those of a midwife during the birth process. When the crises heightens by nature’s demands, the breaking of the water bag reassures us that one phase of life is ending to produce greater life. God’s promise is that out of what has been broken will come greater life if we do not abort His process. Though it is difficult to understand why we need such agony, God proves the inner strength needed to take us through the labor to complete the work.

The BREAKING of the water bag reassures us that one phase of life is __________________ to produce _____________________  ____________________.  Our ______________________inner strength is needed to take us through the labor to complete the ___________________________.

In every stage of our spiritual growth, new opportunities can strip away our soul’s domination. The primary way of dealing with the “soul man” (commonly called flesh) is to deny it. We deny it any authority in our lives. The soul tries to rationalize, reason, figure and conclude what God is doing. But the Christian life is not to be a life of reasoning; it is to be a life of faith. And because it is a faith walk, any attempt to exercise willpower against the plan of God will only bring frustration.

Every stage of our spiritual growth or new _________________ can strip away our soul’s domination. 

What if we decided the pain of labor would be too hard, so we aborted our baby?  We would lose the gift of giving LIFE.  We can’t afford to _______________________ but rather we must walk by _______________________.

Seeking the opinions of others will often delay the Spirit’s work, as well. The heavenly Bridegroom is wooing His Bride by destroying all her other lovers, with self being the biggest of all.

What is the danger or going to others to get their opinion?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God’s plan begins as we elect to die to ourselves so the Lord can bring resurrection. I am not referring to the “new birth” of salvation. I am describing a metamorphosis in the life of a believer that precedes Christ’s life flowing freely through that person.

Salvation is the entrance to the tabernacle but there is a journey from the entrance to the veil which God desires us to step behind.  Is God flowing freely through us? _________ Have you ever given this much thought? ____

What could be holding us back?  List some possibilities: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Psalm 42:8 says, “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.” Nothing can disturb the peace of lessen the passion that is present in the person who is walking in resurrection life because resurrection life produces the fruit of deepest love and intimacy with the Lord.

Resurrection from what?   How?______________________________________________________________________________

What do you think “by day the Lord directs his love” means?________________________________________________________________________

And “at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life” mean?  ______________________________________________________________________________
Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said, “Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward
together in the same direction.”

 Which direction are we looking? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Soulish Approaches to God

If only believers would gaze upward instead of inward, we would understand God’s way and we would not seek intimacy with Him in our own soulish ways. However, God says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). The following are three ways that we believers often approach God:

1. Volitionally
2. Emotionally
3. Intellectually

Come back for more next week!!  Same place—Same TRUTH coming your way!

Lovingly, Rhonda

An excerpt from Beyond the Veil published by Regal Books (October 1997).