Exodus 25:8-9
"I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them. You must make this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the plans I will show you."
Exodus 35:1-20
"Now Moses called a meeting of all the people and told them, "You must obey these instructions from the LORD. Each week, work for six days only. The seventh day is a day of total rest, a holy day that belongs to the LORD. Anyone who works on that day will die. Do not even light fires in your homes on that day."
Then Moses said to all the people, "This is what the LORD has commanded. Everyone is invited to bring these offerings to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen; goat hair for cloth; tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; onyx stones, and other stones to be set in the ephod and the chestpiece.
"Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the LORD has commanded: the entire Tabernacle, including the sacred tent and its coverings, the clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases; the Ark and its poles; the Ark's cover--the place of atonement; the inner curtain to enclose the Ark in the Most Holy Place; the table, its carrying poles, and all of its utensils; the Bread of the Presence; the lampstand and its accessories; the lamp cups and the oil for lighting; the incense altar and its carrying poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the Tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering; the bronze grating of the altar and its carrying poles and utensils; the large washbasin with its pedestal; the curtains for the walls of the courtyard; the posts and their bases; the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the tent pegs of the Tabernacle and courtyard and their cords; the beautifully stitched clothing for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place; the sacred garments for Aaron and his sons to wear while officiating as priests." So all the people left Moses and went to their tents to prepare their gifts.
Exodus 36:2-7
"So Moses told Bezalel and Oholiab to begin the work, along with all those who were specially gifted by the LORD. Moses gave them

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the materials donated by the people for the completion of the sanctuary. Additional gifts were brought each morning. But finally the craftsmen left their work to meet with Moses. "We have more than enough materials on hand now to complete the job the LORD has given us to do!" they exclaimed. So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: "Bring no more materials! You have already given more than enough." So the people stopped bringing their offerings. Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project."

During the last number of weeks, we have been studying the ancient structure that God commanded Moses to build for Him so that He might have a sacred residence among His people, the children of Israel. We have viewed this Old Testament place of worship, its furnishings and placement, as a beautiful picture of our spiritual journey of faith. The enclosure was seventy five feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet long. There was only one gate or entrance. Our New Testament faith begins with our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He is the one and only way to God! He is the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man can come to the Father but by Him. There is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved.
After entering the enclosure, our first object that confronts us is the brazen altar on which the sacrifices of the people were offered. In our New Testament faith, that place of offering and sacrifice is the cross upon which Jesus Christ gave His life in sacrifice for the sins of the world. Between the Brazen Altar and the tent in which contained the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, we noticed the Brazen Laver in which the ancient priests washed their hands and feet before entering the Holy Place to minister their daily priestly duties. We suggested that basin of water speaks in our New Testament faith of water baptism. We concluded that water baptism was extremely important in giving witness of one's faith in the Book of Acts which is a record and history of the first thirty-five years of the Christian Church.
We then studied the role and the activities of the ancient priest. In our New Testament faith, we learned that we are kings and priests unto god, we are a holy priesthood, and our spiritual role is to offer up spirit-

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ual sacrifices unto God which include our bodies, the fruit of our lips in praise, and the use of resources to bring blessing and help to those who are in need.
Now, it is time for us to proceed behind the curtain which formed the door into the Holy Place of that sacred tent-like structure. It was a room fifteen feet wide and thirty feet long and fifteen feet high. Into this room, the priests entered daily. Their task was to keep oil in the lampstand and fire burning on the Altar of Incense. "Every morning when Aaron trims the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. And each evening when he tends to the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord's presence. This must be done from generation to generation." (Exodus 30:7-8)
As we enter this Holy Place, we notice three items of furniture: the Lampstand, the Table of Shewbread and the Altar of Incense.
The golden candlestick or Lampstand stood on the south side of the Holy Place, opposite the Table of Shewbread with the Altar of Incense between. The light of the Lampstand was indispensable in the service of the priests. There was no other light in the Tabernacle. There were no windows provided in the pattern of this structure that God had told Moses to build. This, to the natural man, is a mistake and an oversight, but in the plan and purpose of God it had a definite design. Not a single ray of light was allowed to come from the outside by the light of nature. The oil in the light, representing the Holy Spirit, was the only source of light by which the priests were to serve in the Tabernacle.
Now let's draw the New Testament truth of which the Lampstand is a type. I suggest that the Holy Place with its three pieces of furniture is a beautiful picture of the Church, the Body of Christ, of which we become members when we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It was the Holy Spirit that birthed the New Testament Church and it was and is the power and spiritual source of truth that empowers and vitalizes the Church, the Body of Christ. The Table of Shewbread speaks of the fellowship and communion that we enjoy in the Body of Christ. The Altar of incense speaks of the glorious privilege and power of prayer that should be at the very heart of mission and ministry of the Church in our world.
Let's think about the Lampstand! In Exodus 37:17-24, we have the record of the making of this sacred piece of furniture.
"Then he [Bezalel] made the lampstand, again

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Using pure hammered gold. Its base, center stem, lamp cups, blossoms, and buds were all of one piece. The lampstand had six branches, three going out from each side of the center stem. Each of the six branches had a cup shaped like an almond blossom, complete with buds and petals. The center stem of the lampstand was also decorated with four almond blossoms. One blossom was set beneath each pair of branches, where they extended from the center stem. The decorations and branches were all one piece with the stem, and they were hammered from pure gold. He also made the seven lamps, the lamp snuffers, and the trays, all of pure gold. The entire lampstand, along with its accessories, was made from seventy-five pounds of pure gold."
There are a number of details which enable us to understand the typical meaning of the lampstand. First, the fact that is was made of beaten gold and was ornamented with almond blossoms shows that it is the suffering Christ now risen and glorified which is here foreshadowed. The almond is the emblem of resurrection. The seven lamps of oil tell of the sufficiency of the Spirit as Christ’s gift to His people.
The lampstand was the only vessel or portion of the Tabernacle which was made of "beaten or hammered" work. It is a striking contrast from the "golden calf" which Aaron made for that was cast in a mould (Exodus 32:4). What is idolatrous or according to man’s mind, can be quickly and easily cast into shape; but that which has most of all glorified God and secured the redemption for His people was bought at a great cost.
The "beaten gold" here speaks of the suffering Christ, crucified, beaten, and mistreated. The "pure gold" speaks of the divine nature of Christ.
That which was most prominent in connection with the lampstand was its seven branches, supporting the lighted "lamps". These foreshadowed the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
In our New Testament faith, that ancient Lampstand now speaks of Christ who is the One who predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit. The oil burning in the seven cups of the lampstand speak of the Holy Spirit within the life of the believer and ministry of the Church.
Just before going to the cross, Jesus made this prediction: "If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large

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cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you do, because He lives with you now and later will be in you." (John 14:15-17)
That prophecy was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost! "On the Day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." (Acts 2:1-4)
As we read through the Book of Acts which is the historical record of the first few years of the Christian Church, we are constantly reminded that it was the Holy Spirit dynamically at work in the life of the new believers and the Church which caused the Roman Empire to ultimately accept Christianity as the official religion of the empire.
When Peter finished his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, "Peter’s words convicted them so deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. " (Acts 2:37-38)
"Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer." (Acts 2:41-42)
A few days later, Peter and John were preaching in the Temple. They were arrested and put in prison, tried and released, with a strong warning not to preach in Jesus’ name. Returning to the other believers, they held a prayer meeting to rejoice and ask God to give new boldness. "After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God’s message with boldness." (Acts 4:31)
On almost every page of the Book of Acts, we find the Holy Spirit at work in the life and ministry of the apostles, doing great miracles and wonders. Multitudes were drawn into the Church.

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It is therefore of paramount importance that every church should not only understand the person and work of the Spirit, but be open wide to His invigorating power. All our activities in the church become empty and meaningless without the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit. The foremost task of the church is to worship God. But real worship is never easy; in fact it is impossible without the anointing of the Spirit. ‘God is spirit,’ said Jesus, ‘and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.’
Another important task of the church is to witness to Jesus Christ. Again, no one finds this easy; and therefore Jesus promised His disciples the power of the Spirit in order to be His effective and fruitful witnesses. "But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about Me everywhere--in Jerusalem, through-out Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Jesus promised His disciples that ‘when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.’ (John 16:13)
We have considered briefly the fulfillment of Christ's promise that He would send the Holy Spirit when He ascended back into heaven, a promise fulfilled at Pentecost.
As we noted earlier, the ancient Lampstand had seven branches with cups of oil that gave illumination in the Holy Place. It was the daily task of the priest to keep these cups of oil burning day and night.
The seven branches of the Lampstand are referenced in other places of Scripture. John, in the Revelation, writes: "I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that are sent out into every part of the earth. (Revelation 5:6)
Isaiah, the ancient prophet, wrote a prophecy concerning the coming Christ. Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. He will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked and destroy them with the breath of His mouth." (Isaiah 11:1-4)

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Throughout Scripture, the number seven is representative of completion. Therefore, we may conclude that when the Spirit of God is spoken of sevenfold, it is speaking of the complete and all-sufficient power and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the believer.
Of course, the Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of believers, is made up of persons...men and women, boys and girls. So let's think for a moment concerning the work of the Spirit within the life of the individual believer. We are born into the family of God, the Church, through the work of the Spirit. "The wind blows where it will and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes, so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
"Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. (Romans 8:10-11)
"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6)
"Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"...when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." (Galatians 5:22-23)
The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a sinner is to draw that person to Christ, reveal the plan of salvation and give faith to believe. That is the work of regeneration. The Holy Spirit's presence and fullness in our hearts as believers provides the power to overcome sin and live a godly and righteous life that pleases God.
Paul warns: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin)."
Another translation has it..."It is the Holy Spirit that will mark you present on that eternal day when you arrive in the presence of Christ." (Ephesians 4:30)

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Jesus gave another solemn warning:
"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven" (Matthew 12:31).
Observation!
Please know that all born-again Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them and they need not seek for the coming of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Some teach that we do not have the Holy Spirit even if we are Christians unless we have experienced the "baptism of the Holy Ghost." Some say that we must speak in tongues before we are filled with the Holy Spirit. This is error and heresy! "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]." (Romans 8:9)
Paul writes: "...all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subject to God’s curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as His children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will." (Romans 8:19-27)
So as believers in the Family of God, we have be drawn to God by the Spirit, born again by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, pray through the Spirit and will be marked present by the Spirit on that eternal day in heaven!