FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Acts 2:38, 39; John 10:10; John 3:1—12; 4:1-24; Acts 7:46-478; 17:22-31; Ephesians 2:18-22; II Timothy 3:16, Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 10:6, 11; [Hebrews 9:24; 8:5; 9:23; 9:9; 8:5; 10:10; Colossians 2:17; I Corinthians 10:6, 11; Hebrews 8:5; 9:23;]; Exodus 25:8, 9; Hebrews 8:1-10:23; [Hebrews 8:5; 9:24; Exodus 25:8]; Exodus 25:1-9; [Exodus 2:24; II Samuel 7:1]

TJesus Christ taught and prepared his disciples about the coming of spirit and what it would entail. He taught them how to walk as sons of God — first in a vertical fashion in relationship to God the Father, and second, in a horizontal fashion by teaching them how to utilize the gift.

The primary purpose in the giving of holy spirit is the worship of God in a love-relationship. The secondary purpose is for us to walk as sons of God in the utilization or manifestation of holy spirit. These two points are much like the first and second commandments. In the church, however, we often make the mistake of reversing the order of these two. As we seek the Creator first before seeking the power of the holy spirit, our hearts will be right before God and the rest will follow.

Jesus taught of the two births — The first being the natural birth, the second the spiritual birth. When Jesus taught the woman at the well, he said there was a time coming which would radically change the means whereby men and women would worship. The “place” of worship would no longer be critical. God would no longer be in a place but would be IN His people. God’s people would no longer need to have a mediator to atone for them but they would have direct access to God themselves. This became available when someone received the gift of holy spirit. The primary purpose for the giving of spirit is worship — a love-relationship with God.

Each individual with spirit in him makes up a piece of the new temple of God. God no longer dwells in temples made of hands but in the hearts and lives of His people. It is worthy of our time to study the Old Testament references to the Tabernacle and Temple in light of worship. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The things written in the Old Testament are called figures, examples, patterns, parables, shadows, and types of things to come. In studying God’s commandments to the Israelites regarding the means of worship required in the Tabernacle and the Temple including the shewbread and the candlesticks, we can learn more about how we are to worship today.

The Old Testament records many times when God’s people went into bondage and God delivered them. The result of the deliverance is man’s worship of God as set forth by the Word of God. When God’s people were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, God told Moses to construct the tabernacle and gave him the Levitical laws regarding sacrifice. When there was a time God’s people received rest from their enemies during David’s time, God told David how to build the temple, which was built by David’s son, Solomon, so God’s people could worship Him. God gave specific instruction on how to do so. God delivers, God builds and God is worshipped. Understanding these truths of worship in the Old Testament help us to understand the holy spirit today.