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The Ark of the Covenant contained three important items that each testified to the ever active and life giving presence of God among His people. These three items are ever so critical to have spiritually in the life of every believer. 1. The Golden Pot of Manna: This symbolized God's daily provision of spiritual bread for His people. It symbolized man's urgent need to live by God's word. It symbolized food that came from fellowshipping with God. God's word is to be more important to our lives than physical food! (Ex. 16:12-19, 32, Jn. 6:32, 48-50) 2. Aaron's Staff that Budded: It symbolized the fruitful life by abiding in Christ and His word. This was ultimately fulfilled in Christ's resurrection from the dead. He was and is the only approved Human Being that was acceptable before a Holy God. (Num. 17:1-10, Isa. 11:1, 53:2, Jn. 15:1-8) 3. The 2 Tablets of Stone on which the 10 Commandments were written on: Symbolizing God's word, and laws which Israel was to live by in order to live holy before a Holy God (Ex. 25:16, 31:18, Dt. 10:2)
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The center of the Israeli camp was the Tabernacle of Meeting which hosted the Ark of the Covenant. Each of the 12 tribes were divided into four sections surrounding the Ark in the Tabernacle of Meeting. This picture deeply affected the nation of Israel signifying that God's presence was the center of all Jewish life. Without God's presence (The Ark) Israel was just like any other nation. We too must understand that God's presence it must be the very center of our life. This is what differentiates us from those who do not know Christ as their Savior. “And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.” (Numbers 1:51-53) God manifested Himself as being a God of relationship and has revealed this truth throughout all of human history by initiating communion and intimacy with mankind. The Lord made it clear to Moses and to the people of Israel that His purpose in having the Tabernacle of Meeting constructed and the Ark of the Covenant was to fellowship with man.
“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them... You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25:8, 21-22) Very little is known about the box covered in gold whose dimensions were about 3 feet 9 inches long, by 2 feet 3 inches wide and high. This box was the most important piece of furniture in all Jewish culture. It was the center of all Jewish living and apart from it the Jews were no different than any of the nations of Canaan. This box was known as the Ark of the Covenant. Understanding the significance of the Ark helps us to understand the role that God's presence played in the nation of Israel and how His presence can affect and transform our lives today. Today we don't gather around a box covered in gold to worship the Lord, for the Ark of the Covenant is no longer something that is to be sought after but is now living and breathing within the heart of every believer. For Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Ark of the Covenant in the flesh. “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table of incense, and the table of showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.” (Hebrews 9:1-5) God manifested Himself as being a God of relationship and has revealed this truth throughout all of human history by initiating communion and intimacy with mankind. The Lord made it clear to Moses and to the people of Israel that His purpose in having the Tabernacle of Meeting constructed and the Ark of the Covenant was to fellowship with man. “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them... You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25:8, 21-22) This is a prophetic the Lord gave me Saturday night regarding this September/October.
8/29/15 "This is a season of shifting and great change. I have blessed you with a great season of rain in the natural. Take this as my sign, of my willingness to outpour upon my people my overflowing blessings. For I desire to soak your ground, your Spirit, your life your heart (saw Spirit of God hovering over the face of the deep/earth as a storm) with my presence. Did I not say I would SATIATE the hearts/souls of my priests (Jer. 31:14). This is a season of un-precedented blessing if you are willing to receive it. The heavens are open, the heavens are saturated with my rain, the heavens are soaked with my presence. There is no need to fear for I am in control and I will lead you and guide you in the way that you should go; if you have an ear to hear and if you have eyes to see where I will lead and where I will guide. It's critical that you have a yielding and trusting heart. Obey the leadings of my Spirit; this will be urgent and a top priority for those who will be INSTEP with my Spirit. You must listen and you must obey. Things will shake but the ground that you stand on is secure for I Am your Rock, the Rock of your Salvation. Lift up your eyes, open your mouth for I will fill you with the floods of my Spirit. Walk in My Spirit for this is a season that I will grace My people to discern the leading of My spirit. Experience breakthroughs through My Spirit. I am thinning the veil between Me and you, between the spiritual and the natural. This is a season of grace to connect with My Spirit in ways you never have before; if you will simply believe, trust and obey. Many of you will begin to see and hear much clearly and much easier, many of you will begin to walk in obedience in a more yielding and submissive way, Many of you will begin to see miracles work through you as you open your mouth; as you speak and as you extend your hands upon those that need a touch. So do not focus your eyes on what you think or on what you may see in the natural; but understand and know that what you see in the natural is an INDICATION that I am moving and shifting things in the spirit for my people. I will strengthen My people, I will bless My people, I will guide My people through these changing and shifting times. So fear not because I am with you says your Lord. I care for you and I have good things in store for My church and for this nation." FMA is a group of Radical Forerunners who are intent on “Encountering God and Manifesting His Kingdom.” We envision End-Time Forerunners being raised up in these Prophetic Days who will operate in the Spirit and Anointing of Elijah (Mal. 4:1-6, Lk. 1:13-17) for the sole purpose of glorifying Jesus and preaching His Gospel with humility, boldness and power. FMA aims to raise up a “Different Kind of Messenger” in contrast to the self-willed proclaimed preachers that fill many of America’s pulpits today. FMA is for you if are you called to Full-Time or Part-Time Ministry, looking to be trained & equipped, or would you like to become an Ordained and Licensed Minister. Our online course with over 100 hours of teaching and over 500 pages of notes can be done from the convenience of any computer or smart device. We also offer intensive weekend training classes on our base for those who want more of a classroom setting. Email us if you are interested in being equipped and trained in these confusing days, yet very exciting for those who have a pulse in what God is saying in the earth today! FMA@OrlandoHop.org  Of the 33 years that that Jesus lived on the earth, 30 of those years was lived in hiddenness and obscurity, in the little town of Nazareth. Jesus, the God man, embraced a struggle greater than what we will ever experience. As a man He had to deal with the temptation of using His Divine Nature to get the people to do what He wanted them to do. Jesus had to manifest great meekness to keep Himself from manipulating the masses by using His anointing and authority. For this reason Jesus had to go through the same humility process man is destined for, in order that He could identify with sinful man's weakness and exalt redeemed humanity to His glory. His victory over sin's power and death's hold over the entire world is forever broken. “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews2:10) “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18) When Jesus really touches someone's life there is an automatic change that takes place. One cannot help but notice when reading the Gospels the lives that were drastically transformed by one simple touch of Christ's love and power. Today it is common to hear many say; "Yea, I'm a Christian, I believe in God" yet without exemplifying a true testimony of a transformed life. Many so called converts that confess Christ continue to live in much the same way before they're supposed conversion. They refuse to turn from their sin while at same time claiming to have encountered salvation. We must remember that God intends to produce holiness in the life of every child of God. Because He is a holy God He expects holiness from all of His children.
1. The Father’s disciplines His children partnering with the Spirit of God to produce Jesus' holiness in us. “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives... For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:5-6,10-11) 2. All who claim to be Christians are expected to live a holy life. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."” (2 Timothy 2:19) 3. We are to live holy because God says He is holy. “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” (I Peter 1:14-16) |
