Golden Candlestick

Hello Again:

Last month we entered through the second doorway of the Tabernacle which brought us into the Holy Place. We began the study of the Golden Candlestick and what it represents to us in our journey through God�s kingdom here on earth.

One of the most significant meanings for the Golden Candlestick is the Holy Spirit. It is very important to understand what the Bible has to say about receiving the Holy Spirit, so we will continue our study of the Golden Candlestick again this month.

As we began our journey, we entered through the first gate or doorway and encountered the Brazen Altar where we repented of our sins and received the forgiveness of God. Then we went to the Laver and got baptized signifying that we were cleansed of our past sin and washed by the water of the Word of God.

We discovered that there is more to living in the kingdom of God than just the outer court experience. So we entered the Holy Place and discovered the only light in this place was from the Golden Candlestick. In order to see or understand what the Bible has to say to us, we must have the light of the Holy Spirit shining on the scriptures to reveal the truth that God wants us to learn.

When we received Jesus as our Savior by repenting and being water baptized, our spirits were born again. God sees us as His children through the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross. Our spirits are no longer dead. They are pure and holy now. We are like new born babies. We need to have light shed upon the word of God in order to learn His ways and how His kingdom runs. We need to mature and grow up in the things of God now. That is where the Golden Candlestick comes in. It illumines the word of God for us.

There is more to the Golden Candlestick, however. It also represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I have had a question almost ever since I have been born again. �If our spirit is born again, does that mean the Holy Spirit lives in me now?� �If so, what does it mean and why do I need the baptism of the Holy Spirit?� I have heard so many different theories on this subject and it was confusing to me.

As I was meditating on that question a few days ago, I had the thought come to me that our spirit is born again when we accept Jesus, but we need the Holy Spirit too. That didn�t make sense to me; and I am sure I am not the only one in the body of Christ that doesn�t understand it. As I was thinking about it just this morning, I believe God gave me the answer.

He showed me that Adam and Eve were created with pure and holy spirits. They had to learn from God as He walked and talked with them in the Garden of Eden just like we do. God wasn�t in them. He was with them. When they sinned their spirits died. Their bodies lived for another 900 years or so, but their spirits died.

When we are born again, God reverses the process. Our spirits become brand new. He made our spirits alive to God and His word again. Just like God was with Adam and Eve in the garden, He is with us when we are born again. However, just as He, Himself was not in Adam and Eve, He is not in us until we are baptized with His Holy Spirit. That is when He comes and lives inside us. We still have to learn His word, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a very necessary step in our journey here on earth.

Jesus set the example for us to follow. When He began His ministry, He went to John the Baptist to be baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3: 21-22) Jesus was God in the flesh. (John 1:1-5 & 14) He was the word of God and took on a human body so He could take the penalty for our sin and free us to fellowship with God once again. I don�t believe His spirit had to be born again. (It may have had to do with the human part of Him. I don�t know.) But, He showed us how to follow Him.

After He was baptized, two important things happened. First of all, the Holy Spirit came down upon Him in the form of a dove; and second, the voice of the Father came out of heaven saying, �Thou art My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.� So, after Jesus was baptized in water, the Holy Spirit came down upon Him (not during or before).

That is very significant for us today. Jesus was the Way the Truth and the Life. He set the example for us to follow. He showed us the way. He gave us the truth that would bring us life. All of the disciples were baptized in water (John 4:1) and 40 days after He went into heaven, 120 of His disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in another language.

I know many of you don�t believe in speaking in tongues. I know many of you think it is unnecessary to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I also know many of you think this gift was done away with when the disciples died. Well, I can tell you this! It is necessary, and it has not been done away with. It is for real!!! It is also very necessary to be an over-comer here on earth.

The New Testament is full of scriptures that verify the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. So let�s look at some of them. John 14:26 �But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.�

Acts 1:3-5 Just before Jesus ascended into heaven He appeared to the disciples He had chosen and told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit that the Father was to send to them.

Acts 2:1-4 �And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a mighty, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues, as the (Holy) Spirit was giving them utterance.�

Acts 8:14-17 Tells us that Phillip was preaching to the people of Samaria (verse 5) and proclaiming Christ to them and the people were receiving what was being preached to them with joy (verse 8). So Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. The believers in that city had been baptized in water. So, Peter and John began laying hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. That was a separate act performed days AFTER they had been baptized in water.

Acts 10:44-46 gives another account of the Holy Spirit being poured out on people who spoke in tongues after He came upon them. In this case, they had not been baptized in water yet, but were ordered to be baptized after they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God�s gift to us.

Acts 19:1-6 is another account of people who had been baptized in water and when asked if they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, they replied, �No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.� Once they had heard there was such a gift, they all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues too.

So, we see several accounts of what happened to people in the New Testament. You will notice that they were all different examples of how the Holy Spirit was given out. Some were baptized in water first. Others were baptized in the Holy Spirit first. There really should be no controversy as to having to follow a certain ritual. The Father will give His Holy Spirit to anyone who asks Him for it.

Another thing you will notice in those passages: they all worshipped God when they received the Holy Spirit. That is sometimes the key to receiving Him. The Holy Spirit is a part of the God head. He has been sent to this earth from the Father to live in us and help us while we are here. He is a free gift for us to receive just as much as our salvation.

So, why do we need the gift of the Holy Spirit? If our spirits have been born again, isn�t that enough? There are many reasons. I will give some scriptures for a few of them.

Acts 1:8 �but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.� The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the power of God sent to us to overcome all the obstacles the devil throws at us. It is the power of God to walk out our salvation. The Holy Spirit is God, Himself who comes to live in you. He gives you the power to stand and witness for Jesus.

John 14:26 He is our teacher. He also brings to our remembrance the word of God that we have planted in our hearts.

John 16:13 �But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.� He reveals the truth of God�s word to us in a deeper way than we can get on our own. It is that truth that sets us free.

John 14: 16-18 �And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (or Comforter), that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abide with you, and will be in you.� I can�t make it much plainer than that!!

Romans 8: 26-27. �And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for us according to the will of God.� The baptism of the Holy Spirit enables us to pray according to the will of God rather than our own wills and minds.

One more scripture that is important to understand is found in I Corinthians 16:4 �One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself�� In other words, speaking in tongues will build you up and give you revelation of the word of God. Sometimes, you can feel the presence of God when you are speaking in tongues and it is a wonderful feeling.

So how do you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Just ask Him. The answer is found in Luke 11:9-13. �Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened to you�If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

Sometimes, it is hard to receive what God has for us because our minds have been programmed against the word of God. So, if you want the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, you will have to renew your mind with the word of God. Follow the scriptures I have given you and the references in your Bible, and let Him show you the gift of His Spirit. You can also receive Him by praising Him and loving Him for what He has done for you. He inhabits the praises of His people. As you draw closer to Him in your heart and with praise and worship, He will just pour His Spirit into your heart and you will literally feel Him inside of you. It is an awesome experience.

I have run out of room. If you want more information or help in understanding this gift from God, write to me and I will be glad to answer any questions I can.

Next month we study the Table of Showbread. That is an exciting study too.

See you then,
Mom


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