Sanctuary

When one finds oneself in the depths of a temptation that is almost overpowering. And the enemy assails you, you ask Jesus for help. However when you ask Jesus for help you do it with a few things firmly in mind. First you ask for help knowing that Jesus Understands the plight of your soul for Jesus decided to place himself in the depths of human woe. It would have been an infinite humiliation for Jesus to come as Adam in the garden, but Jesus decided to take on the seed of Abraham so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest. (Hebrews 2:16-17).

Second you ask for help knowing that Jesus can help you in the problem you are dealing with. But more than taking on the seed of Abraham, Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). We can say with all assurance that Jesus Understand not just by omniscience, but by experience the depths of temptation for he was tempted and therefore he can be merciful and faithful (Hebrews 2:18).

So when temptation assails us, we can go to Jesus and call out to him. And when we call on Jesus, we can know we have a faithful and merciful High Priest listening. And that High Priest knows exactly how much strength is needed to overcome the temptation. That High Priest knows exactly how much grace we need. And thus we can boldy come to the throne of grace to obtain the mercy (Hebrews 4:16) that our brother (Jesus is not ashamed to call us Brethren Hebrews 2:11) will give us. And then after God gives us the grace that is needed to overcome, then Jesus puts on a little more extra grace for where sin abounds, grace much more abounds (Romans 5:20). And then we can sing the song with James Cleveland "Victory Shall be Mine."

May God send you help from the sanctuary...Psalm 20:2

Psalm 20 is a prayer for God to help someone else. The writer states many petitions for the hearer like: May God answer you in your trouble, May God protect you, May God remember all of your offerings, and here, may God help you from the sanctuary. As I think about this the startling conclusion comes that the sanctuary is not normally thought of much at all,and when it is through of, it is not seen in the context of Help coming from there.

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I probably spend too much time wondering about what's behind many closed doors. I wonder if the closed door hides something that would be a blessing to me. You know what I'm talking bout. What is the closed door? It may be the school that hasn't accepted you for admission but you still want to apply for the fifth time. What is the closed door? It may be that special someone who has made it clear that there is no future between the two of you. What is the closed door? It may be on the job where the promotion that you desperately wanted eludes you.

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This is Chapter 12 of the book Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection by A. T. Jones. The chapter is entitled, "Perfection."

The chapter is read by Sherman Haywood Cox II.

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In too many cases we think about sin and forgiveness as being a thing only between ourselves and God. We may lie on someone and think that our asking forgiveness from God is our only responsibility. We praise God for the blood and the damage that we have done stay unaddressed. We may steal from someone and we feel happy about the forgiveness that God has given to us without ever going to the one we have wronged asking for forgiveness and providing recompense for the wrong. In some cases I have known one to steal from someone and then condemn the one they have stolen from when they desired the stolen money back. They argue that "If God has accepted my apology why can't you?"

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We have killed the Sanctuary Message. We all have contributed to its demise. From the local elder who drones on and on about the color of the tassel the priest was wearing to the pastor who oftentimes just ignores the whole message. From the Bible Teacher who made it merely a mathematical calculation to the lay person who goes to sleep every time it comes up. We have Killed the Sanctuary Message!

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I was talking to a friend about the presentation of Adventist fundamentals by some. It appears that often these teachings are ignored by many of our pastors and preachers, but when they actually do preach or teach them, the sermon turns into a theological lecture to enlighten the mind but not inspire the soul.

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The Burnt Offering provides many lessons for our perusal. First of all, the burnt offering was a voluntary offering. (Leviticus 1:3) It was not necessarily done in response to sin, although it could be added to the sin or trespass offering. It was something that demonstrates complete consecration. The whole of the offering was consumed. Interestingly enough the sacrifice was washed in water and set in order on the alter before it was consumed. (Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17) Here God was teaching us both that God is a God of order, but also that Cleanliness is important.

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Sacrifice was an important component of the Ancient Hebrew System. It was through that symbol that the people gained a glimpse at the great cost to the well being of the community that sin played. Sin hurt the one who is sinned against. Sin hurt everyone connected to that one sinned against. Sin hurt the community. In addition, sin hurt the sacrifice. Sin presumably hurt the sinner who felt the pain of killing the sacrifice and making amends to the one sinned against.

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Chapter 3 of M. L. Andreasen's book The Sanctuary Service provides a look at the priesthood in the early Jewish tabernacle services. In that chapter, Andreasen provides three prominent features of the work of the priesthood.

Mediation

The first of these features is mediation. The priesthood interceded for the sinner. The sinner must slay the animal, but the sinner could not place the blood on the horns of the alter of burnt offering or pour it out at the base of the same alter. The sinner could not go into the holy place and do the work there. The sinner needed someone to do something for the sinner in the Most Holy Place once a year. The sinner needed someone to mediate.

The lesson taught to Israel was that one would come who would intercede for humanity. That one would stand between humanity and the broken law and ultimately bring peace.

Reconciliation

The next feature is reconciliation. The sinner has had some distance placed between the sinner and God. However reconciliation was offered to Israel through the work of the priesthood. An atonement for forgiveness was offered to Israel every time they offered a sacrifice. (Leviticus 4:13, 20). Something about that work of the priesthood brought the gift of reconciliation to humanity.

Sanctification

The work of the priesthood also brought sanctification to humanity. We are able to be cleansed as a result of the work of the priesthood. Humanity may have sinned and been separated, but God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

Especially shown in the work of the day of atonement, the priesthood (High Priest) brought cleansing to the sinner as well as the tabernacle itself.

The priesthood brought to Israel mediation, reconciliation, and sanctification. Today our great High Priest in heaven seeks to provide these benefits to us in his great work for the salvation of humanity.