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Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.HEB 4:16

What is our understanding of drawing near to the throne of grace? This requires an understanding of the nature of the True Tabernacle and our access to it through ‘’priestly service’’.

Tabernacle of Moses

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain." Heb 8:5

For the Law had a shadow of the coming good things, not the image itself of those things. Heb 10:1

The ‘Substance’or RealityThe True Temple

The Temple of His Body

A Shadow of the True

These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Col 2:17

Fulfilled in ChristOld now obsolete Heb 8:13

Raised up the temple of His

Body

Temple of His Body

We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. Heb 8:1-2

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant… Heb 12:22-24

ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet 2:5

The True Tabernacle

When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:8;11-13

Christ the Head

… has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Eph 1:22-23

The True Tabernacle, Christ Head & Body We note that John described Christ in the midst of the

lampstands as ‘one like a Son of Man’ in priestly garments. Rev 1:13.

Also, Jacob’s dream of the ladder, with its feet on the earth and its top in heaven, revealed the vertical orientation of the true temple of God. Gen 28.

In this dream, the priesthood of Christ was portrayed as angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

These descriptions convey the corporate nature of Christ’s priesthood.

The furniture of the true tabernacle The throne itself is the headship of His priesthood. Christ

is the Head of His body and He is in heavenly places. Eph 4:15-16. Eph 2:6.

His right hand is the lampstand. John saw Christ in the lampstand, having the seven stars, which are the lamps, in His right hand. Rev 1:20.

The reference to His right hand also speaks of the fivefold ministry graces that adjust the saints for the work of the ministry. Eph 4:12. In this instance, they are adjusting the petals of the lampstand so that the light of seven Spirits, which is the Spirit of God, is effectively focused.

The furniture of the true tabernacle (cont.)

The left hand is in the table of shewbread. This is referring to the order of twelve and

twenty-four, by which the word of life is broken open and ministered to the covenant people. We note in the book of Acts that the twelve apostles dedicated themselves to the word of God and its teaching. Act 2:42. Act 6:2.

The furniture of the true tabernacle (cont.)

The thighs of Christ’s priesthood are represented by the laver. This is the place of the washing of water with the word. Eph 5:26.

The feet are the altar of burnt offering, identified as feet of burnished bronze in the revelation of Jesus Christ. Rev 1:15.

We are called to enter the true tabernacle‘Outside the camp’ - We receive the waters of regeneration and are

renewed by the Holy Spirit. We are receiving the life of God and a new spirit. We desire to enter the heavenly city because the

love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Rom 5:5.

Entering the True Tabernacle We firstly present ourselves at the doorway of the

true tabernacle. We are baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ. In Him, we are clothed with His priesthood.

We are able then to join in fellowship with Him in eating His flesh and drinking His blood, at the altar.

By this means, we become members of His body and of His royal priesthood.

Coming to the Throne of Grace

As body members who are eating and drinking of the daily Lamb, we are at the altar of burnt offering in the true tabernacle.

Through Christ our High Priest, we are able to proceed from the altar of burnt offering to the throne of grace.

We must take in our hands both incense, and the fire of the Spirit of God that is burning on the altar.

We can only come to the throne of grace by joining our prayer to His prayer as ones who have received the Spirit of God.

Mercy & Grace

We draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to pray. Heb 4:16.

At the throne, we receive mercy and grace.

Mercy is His life given to us as our life. We are now to live by the life of God.

Grace is God’s ability or capacity in us and through us, to do His will.

The throne of grace contains the name and works of every son of God, written in the Lamb’s book of life. This is the testimony of Yahweh that proceeds from His Everlasting Covenant.

The Fellowship of Prayer in the Spirit As we begin to pray at the throne of grace, the Holy

Spirit helps our weaknesses by making intercession for us according to the will of God. Rom 8:26.

Jesus Christ searches our hearts and, likewise, makes intercession for us. Rom 8:27.

By this means, He adds incense to our prayer so that it ascends as a memorial before the Father.

The Father responds by bearing witness to our name, through Christ, and giving us grace to do the works that belong to our name.

Receiving our Priesthood We receive, or appropriate, our name as a

garment. This is our personal, priestly garment that we wear as ‘fellow workers whose names are in the book of life’. Phil 4:3.

Having received these garments, we are able to walk with Christ in white robes. Rev 3:4-5. These are called the garments that are white (bright, light) and clean. Rev 19:14.

Equipped for Priestly Service Having received mercy and found grace through prayer in

the holy place, we are then able to proceed back out to the altar of burnt offering and, by the mercies of God, present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Heb 4:16. Rom 12:1-3.

This means we are able to live a life of offering.

This is our priestly service by which we prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives.

We can also go outside the camp, bearing His reproach, as Christ’s priestly messengers to the world. Heb 13:13.

Our Priestly Service

As members of the corporate Christ, we are part of His priesthood.

Our participation in the corporate priesthood of Christ is represented by the pieces of temple furniture.

Each piece of furniture in the true tabernacle in heaven is an extension of the throne of grace.

Grace for Service

Grace is made available as we serve in each of these specific aspects of priesthood (at each item of furniture).

Altar of incense - grace is available through prayer, at the altar of incense.

Lampstand - there is a ministry of ‘the Spirit of grace’ through the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Table of shewbread - the word of grace brings us all the capacity of the new covenant promises.

Laver - washing our priestly garments so that we can stand in the grace to minister our priestly service.

Altar - having received our personal, priestly garments we receive grace each day as we present ourselves firstfruits in the morning and evening sacrifice. This gives us the capacity to priest ourselves as sons in the obedience of faith. Rom 1:5.