The Courtyard

There are four very significant events in someones life. And usually we have no influence of that event occurring. The first one is that we’re born. The second is that we fall in love and get married. And the third one is when we die. The fourth one however is one that many people do not experience or choose to experience. And that is being reborn!

BUT There is good news!

What does Psalms

But here’s the Good News. Jesus Saves! , ,

In my last sermon, I demonstrated that the sanctuary reveals the success of a marriage relationship. But most importantly, the intimate relationship that Christ desires with each and every one of us.

Jesus died the death that we deserve, so that we can live the life that he deserves.

The Door

The first thing that one must do, is accept their need to enter into a saving relationship with Christ. In the Old Testament Sanctuary, people of ancient Israel would have the ability to see the individual enter the sanctuary. But everything that happened behind the curtains was not their business. From then on the Priest carried out the rest of the ritual.

Jesus said, “9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Entering through the door can be the most difficult decision to make.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Entering the door can be the most difficult decision to make.

Why is it that this can be the most difficult decision?

You would think that the shepherd lying at the entrance was a way to stop the sheep from escaping. But according to this passage in . It’s to stop thieves from stealing the sheep.

Entering into the courtyard is symbolic of putting on the robe of Righteousness that only Christ can offer us.

A lot of people have the idea that Salvation and the laws of God are going to suffocate us and deprive us from fun and fulfilment. However, it’s a way to protect us from being stolen by the chaos in the world.

The Spirit of Sacrifice Chapter 1—The Spirit of Sacrifice God’s Service Supreme

When Christ called His disciples to follow Him. He offered them no flattering prospects in this life. He gave them no promise of gain or worldly honor, nor did they make any stipulation as to what they should receive. To Matthew as he sat at the receipt of custom, the Saviour said, “Follow Me.” “And he left all, rose up, and followed Him.” Matthew did not, before rendering service, wait to demand a certain salary, equal to the amount received in his former occupation. Without question or hesitation he followed Jesus. It was enough for him that he was to be with the Saviour, that he might hear His words and unite with Him in His work.

Jesus died the death that we deserve, so that we may live the life that He deserves.

The altar of sacrifice.

Once the person enters through the door. Their role is to confess their sins by placing their hands over the animal and pressing down on the innocent animals head. They are to cut the throat of their sacrifice and observe as life leaves the body of the animal. The priest catches the some of the blood and burns the animal on the altar. The smoke from the sacrifice can be seen by the whole camp. But none can observe who it was and what the sacrifice was. But the sinner knows. The sinner understands what it cost to come before the altar of sacrifice.

It’s not easy to accept that you live because your guilt was passed onto someone else. We call this, denial.

English Standard Version Chapter 9

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me

The Spirit of Sacrifice Chapter 1—The Spirit of Sacrifice God’s Service Supreme

We don’t live in an agrarian culture like our ancestors. But just to make sure, is there anyone here that bred cattle or is currently breeding cattle?

*Share the story in Guyra*

Read - If the priest sins, he must bring the prized bull of the cattle.

Read - If Israel sins, they must bring the prized bull

Read - If a leader sins, they bring a male goat.

Read - Common people bring a female goat or lamb.

Do you think the people at this time understood the cost?

When we want food, or sustenance. We acquire our needs from the shops. We don’t put blood, sweat and tears into the toil like they did in the days of old. And so, we are unable to appreciate what it means to lose something that means so much!

: “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

Imagine for a minute how much would change if we woke up everyday with the understanding that we take the blood of Jesus with us everywhere we go? That when we worship with our spouse, parents or kids? That we understood that we have that privilege because of the blood of Jesus? How much would it change the environment of when we worship together if you were greeted by Kevin at the door to ensure that you enter this building with the blood of Jesus in your hands?

Take a moment to reflect right now, that the King of Heaven and Earth, gave up everything to make sure that we can enter His presence with confidence.

The New King James Version Chapter 9

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Jesus died the death that we deserve, so that we may live the life that He deserves.

The laver

There’s a misconception that when you accept that Jesus forgives you, then that’s that! Often phrased, “Once saved, always saved.” Not only is this not true, it undermines the power of the gospel.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The laver suggests a washing and purification process. Before entering into the Holy place, the washing first takes place. Where does the washing come from? The washing of the word! 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Not only does it suggest cleansing, it points to the crossing of the Red Sea and points forward to Baptism. Tell me do we still practice baptism today? WE SURE DO! This is an indication of the sinner that they wish to be in Jesus! They have come into this relationship, they have looked at the son of God hanging upon the cross and now they indicate their desire to give themselves to Jesus by entering into a life of discipleship to Jesus.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Well what happens to those who believe but are not baptised?

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), .

*Speak of the thief on the cross*

Conclusion

*Tell the story of the father and his son on the train bridge.”

Jesus died the death that we deserve, so that we may live the life that He deserves.

What is your response to Christ today? Do you accept your sinful state. But more importantly, do you accept the righteousness of Christ to take over your life?

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