sanc-pray

Experiencing Sanctuary Prayer *

Preamble / Introduction:

The Purpose for a Sanctuary: " . . . that I will dwell among them."

The central fact is:

1. the manifest Presence of God and
2. that God wants to be with you!

" . . . and surely I will be with you always . . .
There am I with them." - Matthew 28:20

"For where two or three come together in my name, - Matthew 18:20

"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the light."
- Revelation 21:23

Preparation: "Let them make a sanctuary for me . . . " Exodus 25:8

What must be found with every soul that is God's dwelling place?
I. An Ark, a place where the Lord can meet with us.
II. A Table of Shewbread for the souls consegration.
   1. the bread is the emblem of God's people
   2. God's joy is to be found in us
   3. We are to be perfected in His presence, to be with Him forever.
III. A Candlestick, the emblem of God's people and their service
to the world
   1. The Candlestick is made of pure gold
   2. It was the only light of the holy place. The true Christian Church is
   the only light which in the world's darkness reveals the things of
   God and the pathway to His presence.

The Gate:

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you . . . " - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me" - Psalm 50:23

"I am the gate for the sheep" - John 10:7

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." - John 10:9

A neglegt of praise leads us to forgetfulness of God - Romans 1:21, 22

Personal Application:

thanksgiving prepares the way for God to show us His salvation

enter the Gates with Thanksgiving and Praise

praise God in song, Scripture, words of personal gratitude

"Enter his gates with thanskgiving and his courts with
praise . . . " - Psalm 100:4

" . . . I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him , as I rejoyce . . . "
- Psalm 104:33,34

"As they began to sing and praise . . . (the Lord began to bring victory
to them!)" - 2 Chronicles 20:22

Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, I come before you this morning, thanking you for your
protection over me through the night, and for your mercies which are
new every morning."

The Altar of Burnt Offering

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

" . . . if we confess, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins . . . "
- 1 John 1:9

" . . . our passover Lamb has been sacrificed . . . " - 1 Corinthains 5:7

Personal Application:

Here He offers us forgiveness for our sins when we confess and
turn from them.

This is the place where Jesus Christ gave Himself for us as the sin
offering (bull - goat - lamb - dove - etc.)

"For we know that your old self was crucified with him... that we should
no longer be slaves of sin"
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him . . . "
- Romans 6:6-8
it is your faith in
what Jesus is going to do for you.

" . . . in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices . . .
which is your spiritual act of worship." - Romans 12:1, 23

It was not the killing of these sacrifices that saved you - it is your faith in
what Jesus is going to do for you.

"Humble yourselves . . . that he may lift you up . . . he cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:5-7

Prayer:

"I humbly come before you, knowing the great sacrifice you have given in the
death of your Son, Jesus. I also want to die with Him as I give myself completely
to you. Forgive me my sins with the blood of Christ at Calvary."
"Grant me the assurance of forgiveness."
"Lord, I ask you now to make known to me any barriers between you and me
that prevent you from poring out your Holy Spirit upon me."

The Basin or Laver

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

The basin removes the guilt and restores innocence.

"Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance. . . and wash them with water."
- Exodus 40:12

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, . . .
and purify your hearts . . . " - James 4:8

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live in the old body,
but Christ lives in me." - Galatians 2:20

" . . . to make her (church) holy, cleansing her by washing with water
through the word." - Ephesians 5:26

Personal Application:

Memorize verses that deal with confessions and that deal with the
work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Remember that Baptism and the Lord's supper ( communion ) is a symbol
of becoming clean and so is foot washing.

"Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." - John 13:8

" . . . He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit . . . having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having
the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:5, 6

"For you have been born again . . . through the living and enduring word of
God." - 1 Peter 1:23

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
- Psalms 119:11

Prayer:
"Lord, cleanse and wash me from all unrighteousness."

The Candlestick

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

Light = Jesus Christ - " . . . I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

Light = Christians - "You are the light of the world. . . " - Matthew 5:14

7 Branches = 7 Churches - Revelation 2 & 3

lambs = are the gift of wisdom and holiness

Oil = which feeds the light = Holy Spirit

Personal Application:

As the Candlestick provides a continual light - so does the Holy Spirit
appropriate for your needs today.

In order to be a light:

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit . . . " - Romans 14:17

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:20

"But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth."
- John 16:13

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty."
- Zecheriah 4:6

Prayer:
"Since I have become your new vessel, grant me the outporing of the Holy Spirit.
Please endow me with the gift of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentelness,
goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance according to my needs for today."

The Table of Shewbread

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

"Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times. "
- Exodus 25:30

" . . . I am the bread of life . . . " - John 6:35

" . . . there I will meet you and speak to you . . . " - Exodus 29:42

"You are awsom, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power
and strength to his people." - Psalm 68:35

Terms to remember: the Lord's Supper

Personal Application:

bread - wine - frankincense = constitutes a perpetual thank offering

The bread represents the body of Christ "eaten" for strength.

It was an acknowledgement of man's dependence upon God for both
temporal and spiritual food.

Ask for strength and sustenance for your physical, mental,
emotional, spiritual, and financial needs.

Claim God's promises.

Prayer:
"I come before you as your (son or daughter), troubled with the cares of
this world. Please protect me from the thorns that can choke me from
seeing your guidance and experiencing your presence. Strengthen me with
wisdom to do my work well & bless me with good health. Let me be wise as
a serpant and be honest as a dove with the money you have given me.
May your Will be done today.
I would like to claim Psalm 32 verse 8 for today:

I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you."

The Altar of Incense

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

"Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony -
before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony - where I will meet
with you." - Exodus 30:6

"And Moses said to Aaron, 'Take your censer and put incense in it, along
with the fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonment
for them . . . and Aaron made atonment for them . . . , and the plague
stopped. . . "- Numbers 16:46, 47

"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.
He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, . . . "
- Revelation 8:3, 4

Personal Application:

The altar of incense was the place where the priest interceeded for the
people.

Offer here special prayer(s) for those whom the Lord has layed upon your
heart today.

You may walk those for whom you are praying through the sanctuary also.

DEMO:

"May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my
hands be like the evening sacrifice." - Psalm 141:2

"As for me, . . . I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you."
- 1 Samuel 22, 23

"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed." - James 5:16

Prayer:

"I would like to claim the atoning sacrifice on Calvary for my child today.
I thank you with all my heart, that you are the author and perfector of my
child's faith (Hebrew 12:2); and that he who began a good work in him / her
will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Grant my dear friend
to accept you as his/her personal Savior. Provide circumstance, which will
bring this about."

The Ark of the Covenant

Remember: that God wants to be and is with you!

Biblical Significance:

This is the throne room of God. Significant are its funishings.

The 10 Commandments, the law of God (Deuteronomy 10:4) = God's justice
in our lives

Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 17:10) = God's leadership and guidance
in our lives

Pot of manna ( ) = God's provisions for our needs

Angel's wings over the ark (Exodus 25:19) = God's protection

The Atonment Cover = Mercy seat = God's mercy
Gnadenstuhl = zudecken - to cover
" . . . because I appeared in the cloud over the atonment cover" - Leviticus 16:2

The Shekinah = God's presence and where we commune with Him
" . . . and the glory of the Lord appeared to all people . . . " - Leviticus 9:23

Personal Application:

Total commitment to God for the day.

Prayer:
"Father, I ask you to take me into your presence through the blood of Jesus.
Seal me in with you for the day. Cover me with the shadows of your wings. Never
leave me or forsake me, just as you have promised. May I hear your voice every
moment of the day. Use me according of your will and for your glory. I ask you this
in the name of Jesus. Amen."

* based on the seminar by Lynn Eisele

Wolfhard Touchard, M.L.S. Retired Reference & Database Librarian
Andrews University - December 2015