THE GLORY OF YOUR MISHKAN
Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission...
This is a year of many challenges for the people of God, corporately and individually. Added to that are the daily challenges, problems, and obstacles we deal with. In order to deal with all that is going on around you, the key is to strengthen your life on the inside - your inner life. The stronger you are on the inside, the more you'll be able to deal with everything going on, on the outside. How do you do that?
God gives us an amazing template that holds the key to a powerful inner life - one that's overflowing with spiritual truth and practical keys.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness, the Lord commanded them to set up a tent so that He could dwell with them: the Mishkan or the Tabernacle. The first key of the Tabernacle concerning a rich inner life is that God told the Hebrews they had to prepare it for Him to dwell. So a strong and rich inner life with God will not come of itself - you have to prepare it. You have to choose and commit to it and be in the presence of God each day. If you don't prepare it, everything else in your life will crowd it out. Prepare Him a place so He can meet with you.
Second, the Tabernacle or Mishkan was set up in the center of the camp. So your time with God, your communion with Him, can only be set up in the center. It has to be the center of your heart, the center of your life, and the center of your day - meaning, you don't fit it into your schedule, you fit your schedule and everything around it.
Third, the Mishkan and the garments of those who ministered within it, were made up of the valuable materials gold, bronze, and jewels. What does that tell us? Your inner life will become as valuable as the degree to which you treasure it. Your life and time with God is to be the most precious thing in your life. The more you treasure it, the more it will become so.
Fourth, the materials of the Mishkan came from the people of Israel themselves - they had to give to it, and freely. The people gave their gold, their jewelry, and their finest materials. What does that reveal? You have to give to your time with God, your communion and inner life. You have to sacrifice for it. You have to take what would be used for other things and give it instead to your time and communion with God. In other words, you have to take the time and energy you're spending on other things, on television, on the web, on your smart phone, and devote it instead to being with the Lord.
And lastly, (for now, as there's so much) the Tabernacle or Mishkan means, in Hebrew, the Dwelling. The word reveals that it's not enough to pray to God - you have to dwell with Him. It's about dwelling in His presence and letting Him dwell with you. Take time, take more time, to not just pray to Him but to get deeper in the joy and glory of dwelling with your Beloved, to actually dwell in the heavenly places!
This month build a holy Mishkan and God's presence and glory will fill it up. And may God greatly bless you as you do!
Your brother and co-laborer
See Message: The Tent of Glory
Scripture: Ephesians 3: 16-19
