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Awesome Hands – part 99

“Brass Altar”

March 30, 2016

Being a part of the body of Christ is a very special calling. With all that we are called to endure it can seem like a burden at times.

Like Joseph, we are called to our Father at a young age to be told we will be rulers, kings and priests, who must put a coat of many colors on which represents all of the different stages we will endure as we are trained up. This coat always ends up covered in blood.

In our study today, we are going to attempt to identify, Lord willing, just how the Lord uses the bronze altar of the tabernacle to forgive the sins of His people and to draw them one step closer to His tabernacle and mercy seat within.

Brass

If we hearken back to the beginning of the mentioning of the tabernacle within this awesome hands series, we will notice that the first offering that the Lord required of His people includes brass/copper.

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3  And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

Here in Exodus 27 we now see one of the uses of the brass that was collected of the Israelites to make the tabernacle. Here are the verses for consideration today.

Exo 27:1  And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
Exo 27:2  And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
Exo 27:3  And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
Exo 27:4  And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
Exo 27:5  And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
Exo 27:6  And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
Exo 27:7  And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
Exo 27:8  Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

We see a lot of the mentioning of brass in these verses and we see that brass is overlaid on various objects representing the watchmen that are being talked about.

So, what do watchmen and brass have in common and how is brass used to show us the way to the mercy seat of God?

The pattern shown in the mount is Jesus Christ and we must follow this same pattern.

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

As we all strive to move toward the mercy seat of His glory, we must first come to the brass altar to make a sacrifice.

During the time of the Israelites, the first thing they saw when they came from outside to tabernacle and passed through the fine linen gate to the outer court, was a brass altar.

On this altar there must be shedding of blood to receive a pardon and forgiveness. The sinner would bring a sacrifice which would be killed and offered by placing your hand on the head of the animal being sacrificed.

Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Lev 1:4  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Lev 1:7  And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Lev 1:8  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:9  But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Often times it is hard to understand why the Lord would require such a brutal sacrifice for the atonement of sin. As a priest, and we are all kings and priests in the Lord, it is our job to do as the priests do and set fire to the altar after putting the wood in the proper place to be consumed.

We also must wash the INSIDE of the sacrifice and the LEGS of the sacrifice with water.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Anyone who is being worked with by the Lord will be brought to the priests of God. The first thing they are going to be told about, Lord willing, is the sacrifice that Jesus made for the sins of the entire world.

That is what this brass altar is all about. It is the power of God to bring all to salvation. The blood had to be spread on the horns of the altar, and the horns represent the power of the Lord.

Psa 89:15  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
Psa 89:17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

The horns are on 4 corners of this square altar and 4 is the whole of whatever is being talked about. So, the power of God covers the whole of humanity.

All of this sounds good and well, but what do we say or explain to someone who is suffering the wrath of God in their lives even if they do not understand it as such?

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Eph 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

The difference the “you who were dead in trespasses and sins” are form the words is the KNOELWEDGE of the WHY this these things happen to us. This is what BUILDS the obedience through suffering.

The Truth is that we would all much rather avoid the suffering part altogether if there was any other way that the Lord could work it out for us. Even Jesus Christ’s flesh reacted the same way!

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mat 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

The first thing you see as you go into the tabernacle, as a general Israelite, is the brazen alter so that SACRIFICE can take place. Jesus is our altar always. The altar is the cross.

This is the FIRST thing a sinner would see going into the tabernacle. The tabernacle is surrounded by linen walls so that there is only one entrance into the tabernacle outer court and then into the inner court. Death at the brass feet of Jesus is the requirement for sin, but that is as far as a sinner can be taken until they are moving into the spiritual understanding of the Word. This represents  the Christ and Him crucified that Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

However, there is a golden altar of incense in the “holies area” which was between the “holy of holies” and the “holies” area. This altar is different in that there was still blood placed on the horns of this GOLDEN altar, but this is where incense is offered day and night. Why is that significant compared to the brazen altar made of brass?

Psa 141:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
Psa 141:2  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psa 141:3  Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Our connection is significant to the Lord when we move beyond the first altar, which brings us to the feet of Christ, to where we have a direct connection to Him via the golden altar and the incense of our prayers. That is why the incense burns day and night and the prayers of the saints happen without ceasing.

Once an atonement for sin has been made by telling others why they have been dragged to the feet of Christ, the altar, then we can move on to telling and showing them the next parts of the tabernacle which are closer to the mercy seat.

Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak THESE THINGS.

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Why and how is Jesus the altar?

Lev 4:32  And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
Lev 4:33  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
Lev 4:34  And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Connecting the sacrifice on the altar, with the cross where the ultimate sacrifice of the spotless Lamb took place, what does this altar represent to those who KNOW what the altar is? It is all about renewing our minds to the KNOWLEDGE of what our lives NOW represent to God.

All of the world suffers in so many ways. The days of all of our lives are filled with suffering or the knowledge of the suffering of others and we all ask ourselves why this is and how the Lord could “allow” this to happen, but we have knowledge of the “why” because the Lord has brought us to the Light out of darkness.

This knowledge, of knowing Jesus Christ and God the Father, is ETERNAL LIFE!

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We are given the knowledge that this flesh is NOTHING and though we will all die due to the wages of sin, we will be with our Lord. Because we die daily NOW, we also live our lives NOW with a renewed mind to make our sufferings count for something and not just suffer as the world suffers. We desire to suffer for righteousness sake!

1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

In our suffering we have something to give to others and that is the SERVICE to them of showing them what the mind of Christ is.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have also been given His name and when we represent Jesus Christ as ambassadors we will be able to share His love and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit which we have been given to share WITH OTHERS.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.