Tabernacle Prayer Guide

Building a Tabernacle of PrayerThe order of worship for the Israelites as they traveled in the wilderness was built around the Tabernacle plan. In this prayer guide, we will look at the Tabernacle plan and how to apply this scripturally to our daily prayer time with the Lord.

Hebrews 8:5. “who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." (NKJV)

In the Old Testament, if you sinned, you were to go to your herd and bring an animal to the Tabernacle to be offered up as a sacrifice in your place. The punishment for sin was banishment from the presence of God or death.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)

So when you approached God and came to His Tabernacle, there was a certain way to approach.

Psalm 100:4-5 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is

everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (NKJV)

When we pray and we present ourselves before the Lord, we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, for He has provided Himself a sacrifice for us in our place. We would be cut off from His presence and judged with the devil and his angels for our sins if it had not been for Jesus Christ dying in our place.

Brazen Altar: We look to the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ as the sacrifice in our place. We then confess our sins unto God and repent by turning away from them. Practice brokenness by listing each sin and asking God to offer full forgiveness with the recognition that we will turn AWAY from the sins we have confessed.

1 John 1:5-9. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and

the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”It is here that we MUST die to our self and our sinful nature. We realize that we cannot live like we want—we must live by the pattern of the Word of God. Read Psalm 51 for a pattern of a repentant heart.

Brazen LaverWe need to wash ourselves in the Word of God by reading different passages that deal with the problem that we have and through this let the Word wash us. It is so important to remember that after looking into the mirror of God’s Word we need to keep it in our hearts so that we will not sin in this area again.

Ephesians 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)

James 1:21-25 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJV)

After the priest offers the sin offering for you, he then goes to the laver to wash himself. The laver was not simply a bowl of water, but within the bowl itself were mirrors. This is so you can see yourself and make sure that you are clean before entering into the Holy Place. If we do not wash, we will die in our sins. The laver is a type of our baptism in the name of Jesus. Every morning, the Lord’s mercies are new simply because we have been baptized in His saving name! Lamentations 3:22-23. We CANNOT experience true worship until our sin has been taken care of!

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)

FIVE Pillars: Leaving the outer court and entering the Holy Place, one had to pass through the pillars. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NKJVReferences: Wonderful—Judges 13:8; Psalm 78:4 Counselor—Isaiah 11:2; Proverbs 15:22Mighty God—Deuteronomy 10:17; Joshua 4:24; Job 36:5Everlasting Father—orphans, incarcerated, widowed, handicapped, homebound, divorced, emotionally wounded, abused, neglected, etc. II Thessalonians 2:16 Prince of Peace—Zechariah 8:19; Isaiah 55:12; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13Pray for the peace of God to fill the lives of VWC families and members—pray against a spirit of confusion and false doctrine that seeks to divide, bring doubt and unrest.

Table of Shewbread As we leave the courtyard, we enter into the Holy Place. There was a loaf of bread for each tribe of Israel (12). This was a place of fellowship and getting to know God. This is where we gather sustenance. It was showing Israel that man does not eat bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Jesus said that He is the Bread of Life. He was the Word made flesh. John 1:1-3 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

Open the scriptures and read different passages that you feel would be good in order to strengthen you and encourage you in the Lord. Read in the book of Psalms while in the presence of the Lord or God may move on you to read in another passage. This is where God gives revelation by His Light/Spirit into His Word and

He strengthens us. The Word is an unlimited resource of bread to our lives. It becomes our bread of maintenance, gives us strength and makes us overcomers. We must believe in the power of the Word—we cannot exist on the Spirit alone. If you need a word from God—He sent 66 books. There’s your word.

The Word KEEPS us from sinning. The Word is the ONLY sustaining bread for us. The Priests had to stand and eat—it wasn’t convenient for them. The only way to live an overcoming life is to pray AND read the Word—PRAY the Word to have REAL power in your life. Jesus is the living Bread of Truth.

Reference scriptures on Shewbread: I Samuel 21:4-6; Leviticus 24:8; II Timothy 2:15-16; II Peter 1:16-21; I Kings 19:4-8; I John 1:1-7

John 6:32-35 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (NKJV)

While at the Table of Shewbread, pray for these groups who minister the Word:

Teachers of the Word in every church around VWC and the world Local ministry, Sunday school teachers, youth team, Pastor & Sis. Hughes, students Jail ministry at Kay County Detention Center and OK DOC (prison) groups Officials in the UPCI North American missionaries in the U.S and Oklahoma, Canada and Mexico Global Missionaries—those who hold ‘the BOOK’ and to strengthen and bless them Bible Schools around the globe: teachers & students & missionaries Denominal pastors to see the revelation of the Mighty God in Christ GATS: Global Advancement of Theological Studies—Bible schools’ curriculum Regions of the Globe: get the atlas and pray the 6 different regions of the world Country of Israel: City of David, Jerusalem for peace Persecuted Christians in China and other countries—Turkey, Syria, Indonesia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia,

Nigeria, Somalia and many others….

Golden Candlestick

To our left we see the Golden Candlestick. The priest had to make sure that the Candlestick was full of pure oil, and that its wicks were trimmed so that it was smokeless. The Candlestick was the only light in the Holy Place. This light enabled the priest to complete his duties there.

We need to make sure that we are pure and holy before God so that His Holy Anointing flows through us freely. We need to lay aside all filthiness of the flesh and

of the mind and serve God in the power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He is the Light of the World and now His Light is in us, and we have become the light of the world. We need to be full of His Spirit thereby enabling us to become effective ministers and priests unto the Lord. We become full of His Spirit through praising Him, singing to Him, and praying in the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18-19 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (NKJV)

The Candlestick was the only light in the Holy Place. The Lord refers to the candlestick 30 times in the Word. There were NO scriptural dimensions about the candlestick which means we cannot measure the size of the Holy Ghost and the LIMITLESS power of the Holy Spirit!The center shaft represents Jesus Christ and without Him we can do NOTHING. The other six branches represented the church and the Word. The candlestick was lit from the brazen altar. The priests cleaned the wicks twice a day and put in oil twice a day. We cannot be here and ACT like we know Jesus on Sunday mornings only—we must shine JESUS everyday! We must pray that people can see a light coming out of us at work, in the community, at church, at home, at school, etc. We must WALK Jesus, TALK Jesus, LIVE Jesus! Get our joy back! Let the oil of the Holy Ghost work in our lives!

Matthew 25—we find the parable of the wise and foolish virgins and their oil. The WISE gals took care of their oil and the foolish ones neglected their oil. Also, commands us to be the LIGHT of the world. John 4:24 commands us to worship in sprit and in truth. The candlesticks give us instruction and the brazen altar brings the destruction to our selfishness and sinful lives. Exodus 27:20 "And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. (NKJV)

Altar of Incense This is the place where a sweet smelling savor went up before the Lord. Outside of the Tabernacle there was the smell of death. However, when the incense was burning, it filled the Holy Place with a beautiful aroma.

It is the place of intercession for church, family, marriages, etc. At this time we are in a place of worship. This is that Incense that is offered unto the Lord that causes a beautiful aroma to fill the air. During this time of worship we can make supplication and Intercession for situations in our lives and in the lives of others. This is beautiful to God.Psalm 141:1-2 1 A Psalm of David. Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (NKJV) Revelation 8:3-4 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. (NKJV)

Veil for Holy of HoliesRepresents our testimony; what we say and what we are in reality. As we approach the shekinah-presence of God, we must change our spiritual garment. We are moving to the most important place of the Tabernacle. We now come to the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holies of Holies. This was not an easy feat for the Priest to get through the veil with the blood that was to be sprinkled upon the mercy seat.Hebrews 10:19-22. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Sometimes we find it very difficult to get into the very presence of God. One of these reasons is our flesh. We need to break through this barrier and get into the presence of God through our praise and worship. Sometimes we simply need to shout, jump and dance. This helps us to get past our flesh and into the presence of Almighty God.

Ark of the CovenantWithin the Holy of Holies we find the Ark of the Covenant. Within the Ark are the Ten Commandments, a bowl of Manna, and the Rod of Aaron that budded proving his authority as the High Priest. Upon the Ark is the Mercy Seat where the blood was sprinkled. Facing the Mercy Seat of either side are the Cherubim (protectors of God’s Holiness). As we press through into the Holies of Holies through worship, we find ourselves on our knees before His throne of grace. It is here that we find the manifestation of the power of God. This is where His miraculous provision is. This is where we find true fellowship with God. This is the unveiling of His glorious presence,

and we feel Him as we never felt Him before and our lives are forever changed.Hebrews 4:14-16. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the

feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

This was the most important piece of furniture in the tabernacle. The Tabernacle without the Ark would have been dead and useless. Exodus 25:22 says “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. (NKJV)

So far, you’ve died in the Outer Court. You’ve worked in the Inner Court. But here in the Holy of Holies, you strip yourself of titles and go beyond the veil and God said He would meet you here. You must get to a place here you see past your religion—where you find His presence. Religion cannot end at noon on Sunday. Your time in the presence, the Shekinah, has to be everyday!

My prayer has to be that when people see me, they see and feel the Ark of the Covenant. The Mercy seat was sprinkled with the blood of the animal—the supreme sacrifice was Jesus Christ. We must apply His blood to our lives every day. The pot of Manna has to become our Word—the supplier of our needs. The Ten Commandments were covered by the blood—no condemnation. We are FREE because of the blood of the

sacrificial Lamb. Aaron’s rod that budded proves to us that there must be authority in our lives. We have the Name of Jesus, The Word, and Jesus’ Blood applied to our lives. We have Apostolic authority and we must exercise it as we pray and live our lives today!

The plan of the tabernacle begins at the altar and ends with the authority of the Word of God. The angels on the ceiling of the Old Testament tabernacle let us know that we must ask God to summons angelic protection. Ask God to dispatch angels to “break something lose in this city and to break something lose in this world!”

Pray the Tabernacle plan everyday and it will forever change your life!

Sources: Plan was written from notes from DVD series of Tabernacle Prayer by Pastor Anthony Mangun of Alexandria, LA as well as the lesson notes from the Revival by Design lesson about Tabernacle Prayer ©, written by Missionary Mark Shutes.