The Brazen Altar where animal sacrifices were made would be the first thing encountered as one entered the tabernacle. Today, instead of the blood of bulls and goats we have the shed blood of the Lord J esus Christ as our sacrifice for sin.
Our Father in Heaven, thank you for the new covenant provided by the Blood of J esus Christ shed for many for the remission of our sins. (Matt. 26:28) Thank you Father for the new covenant by which You have put Your law in my mind and have written it on my heart. (J er. 31:33)
I thank You, Father God, that even though I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory, I am justified freely by Your grace through the redemption that is in Christ J esus, who bore Your wrath against my sin. (Rom. 3:23-24)
Dear J esus, I worship You. I thank you that by confessing my sin and through faith in the effectiveness of Your blood all of my sins are forgiven. All of the sins that I have committed and all of the sins which I am going to commit in the future, You have forgiven me eternally. (Rom. 3:25 & 1 J ohn 1:9)
Lord J esus, through faith I partake of Your flesh and Your blood that I might have eternal life. (J ohn 6: 53-58)
Father, I thank You, because You have delivered me from the power of darkness and conveyed me into the kingdom of the Son of Your love. (Col. 1:12-13) Lord God, I pray that I will walk in the light as You are in the light so that I will have fellowship with You and with man, and that the blood of J esus Christ Your Son will cleanse me from all sin. (1 J ohn 1:7, Heb. 9:22, Col. 1:13-14) I worship You because You have qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Col. 1:12) Now I am living in Your Sons Kingdom through the blood of J esus Christ.
J esus, through the stripes, which You received at the courtyard of Pilate 2,000 years ago, all my sickness and diseases have been taken away. (Is. 53:5) Lord J esus, thank You for bearing my sins in Your body on the tree that I can die to my sins and live for righteousness. Thank You that by Your stripes I was healed. (1 Pet. 2:24) I praise You for divine healing through the blood of J esus Christ. Oh God, You took my curse on the cross. Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles. Thank You that I can receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal. 3:13-14) Dear J esus, through Your blood I have been redeemed from the curse brought on the earth because of Adams sin. (Gen. 3:17) I thank You, Lord, that through Your shed blood You have provided the way for me to be reconciled to God. (Col. 1:20) Thank You that in Christ J esus I am brought near to God by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
Dear J esus, through Your blood I am delivered from death and hell. J esus You died and You were resurrected. You conquered death and hell. Through Your death, You destroyed the devil, the one who had the power of death. (Heb. 2:14) Thank You for releasing me from the bondage to which I was subject because of the fear of death. (Heb. 2:15)
The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17) I once was far from the kingdom of God but, in Christ J esus, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13) Now may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)
J esus, You have redeemed me to God by Your blood. (Rev. 5:9) I worship You, J esus, and praise You because You allowed Your blood to be shed for me. God, I praise You because I have confidence to enter Your presence by the blood of J esus. (Heb. 10:19)
THE LAVER
Then, one would approach the Laver which was full of water at which the high priest would confess his sins and wash himself clean before entering the Holy Place. Today, we would ask that God sanctify us (set us apart) for His purposes.
Lord God, I acknowledge that there is none righteous, no, not one; (Rom. 3:9-10) and that because of Adams offense death reigned. Therefore, I thank You for the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reigning in my life through J esus Christ. (Rom. 6:17) I thank You that by faith in Christ, righteousness, right standing with God, has come to me. (Rom. 10:4) Oh God, make me righteous through Your grace. Heavenly Father, help me speak the truth in love so that I may grow up in all things into Christ. (Eph. 4:15) I want to speak truth in my heart. (Ps. 15:2) I pray that Your loving-kindness and Your truth will continually preserve me. (Ps. 40:11) Make me valiant for the truth. (J er. 9:3) Lord J esus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thank You that I can come to the Father through You. (J ohn. 14:6) Help me to walk in Your truth. (3 J ohn 3-4)
I want to live and walk in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lust of my flesh. (Gal. 5:16, 24) Lead me by Your Spirit, Lord God, so that I will not practice the works of my flesh and so that the fruit of the Spirit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will be produced in me.(Gal. 5:18-23)
I choose to put to death sins of sensual self-indulgence, attitude, speech and prejudice of mind - not lying to others. (Col. 3: 5-9) As one of the elect of God, holy and beloved, I put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and love;
I choose to bear with and forgive others; as Christ forgave me. (Col. 3:12-13) I pray that the peace of God will rule in my heart and that I will be thankful. (Col. 3:14)
Heavenly Father, I want to be a faithful saint, for the Lord preserves the faithful. (Ps. 31:23) He who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter; dont let me be a tale-bearing gossip. (Prov. 11:13) Help me to be a faithful and responsible servant. (Matt. 24:45) Help me to be faithful over whatever things You give me to do. (Matt. 25:23) I want to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) May it be said of me, he has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and he has kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:7) Heavenly Father, make me a faithful person, loyal to God.
Lord God, I acknowledge that You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son, and that by believing in Him I will not perish but have everlasting life. (J ohn 3:16) J esus, I pray that I will keep Your commandments so that I will abide in Your love, just as You have kept Gods commandments and abide in His love. (J ohn 15:9-10) May the world know that You sent J esus and that You love them as You have loved J esus. (J ohn 17:21)
Lord, Your law is perfect, dependable, right, pure, clean, true and righteous. I pray that I will desire Your law more than gold. I believe there is great reward for keeping Your law. (Ps. 19:7-11) Oh God, dont let me break Your law! God, help me to place and keep Your law in my heart. (Ps. 37:31) I want to delight in Your law. (Ps. 119:70) I want to love Your law. (Ps. 119: 97) The law is fulfilled in the commandment, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Gal. 5:14) Help me fulfil Your law by loving others.
Lord God, help me to be faithful and loyal to You, especially by keeping the Ten Commandments. I want to: have no other gods before You, worship no idol, not take Your Name in vain, observe and keep the Sabbath day holy, honour my father and my mother, not murder, not commit adultery, not steal, not bear false witness against another, not covet anything belonging to another. (Deut. 5:6-21; Ex. 20: 1-17)
Father, sanctify me by Your truth. Your word is truth. (J ohn 17:17) Sanctify me by the Holy Spirit so that I might be acceptable to You. (Rom. 15:16) Lord, I thank you that I am called to be a saint, sanctified in Christ J esus, that I might grow progressively in holiness. (1 Cor. 1:2) Lord God, I choose today to purify myself from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for You. (2 Cor. 7:1)
Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. (Matt. 6:13) Forgive me my debts, as I have forgiven my debtors. (Matt. 6:12) The greater the forgiveness the greater the love. (Luke 7:41-43) Father, give me grace to forgive and love others. I pray that I will be kind to others, tender-hearted, forgiving them, even as God in Christ forgave me. (Eph. 4:32)
If I say I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me. (1 J ohn 1:8)
Father, I want to be quick to confess my sins because You are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1 J ohn 1:9)
Father, I pray that I will have a contrite and humble spirit. Thank You for promising to revive my spirit and my heart as I humble myself. (Is. 57:15) Lord, make me meek and humble, trusting in Your Name. (Zeph. 3:12) Lord, I choose to bless and not curse those who persecute me, to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, not setting my mind on high things, but associating with the humble. (Rom. 12:16) Lord, I thank You that you resist the proud, but give grace to the humble. (J ames 4:6)
Lord, I pray that I will not think of myself more highly than I ought, but to think soberly. I ask for the measure of faith needed to receive and exercise the gifts You have apportioned to me. (Rom. 12:3) Help me to live according to the measure of faith that You give me.
GOLDEN CANDLESTICK
In the Holy Place is the Golden Candlestick that provides the only light. Today, the light is the light of the Holy Spirit.
Father, thank You that all I have to do to receive the Holy Spirit is to ask! Right now, I ask for and welcome the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13) Lord, You are the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor. 3:17) Lord, I thank You that I am sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. (Eph. 1:13) Dont let me grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:30)
Father God, thank You that I have righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17) Dear Holy Spirit, I recognize You. I adore You. You are the eternal Spirit through whom Christ offered Himself without spot to God, to cleanse my conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Heb. 9:14) You are the Spirit of Truth and You are my guide to all truth. Holy Spirit, guide me into truth today. (J ohn 16:13)
You teach me what to say when challenged by those hostile to the gospel. (Luke 12:12) You teach me not with worldly wisdom but Your Spirit teaches my spirit spiritual things. (1 Cor. 2:13) Lord, make me teachable so that I will learn from the Holy Spirit today. Help me to preach the gospel to others by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. (1 Pet. 1:12)
Help me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me in my weakness. For I do not know how to pray as I ought, but You make intercession for me with groanings that cannot be uttered. (Rom. 8:26)
Lord God, I ask for an anointing from the Holy Spirit so that I will understand spiritual realities. (1 J ohn 2:20) You are the Spirit of Power. (Acts 1:8) I cannot do anything without Your anointing. I depend on You. I need You to help me with the situations of life. I worship You. I thank You. I love You.
THE SHEWBREAD
Also in the Holy Place is the table of The Shewbread. This is where fresh bread was placed daily before the Lord. Today, this represents the Word of God.
Lord J esus, You are the Word of life. (1 J ohn 1:1) I want to fellowship with You today. I want to love You with all my being.
Father God, I want to hide more of Your word in my heart today, that I might not sin against You. (Ps. 119:11) Your word has given me life. (Ps. 119:50) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105) Every word of God is pure. (Prov. 30:5) Let me not add to Your words let me not be found a liar. (Prov. 30:6) Lord, Your word stands forever. (Is.40:8)
Lord, I bow my knee before You today because Your word has gone out of Your mouth in righteousness. (Is. 45:23) I thank You that Your word does not return to You void; it shall prosper in the thing for which You sent it. (Is. 55:11)
J esus, I want to love You, therefore I pray that I will keep Your word. (J ohn 8:51 & J ohn 14:23) I pray that my actions, attitudes and words will glorify Your word. (Acts 13:48) Lord, I pray that Your word will be like a burning fire in my heart and that I will be unable to hold back in speaking it. (J er. 20:9)
God, the glorious Father of our Lord J esus Christ, give me spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that I might grow in my knowledge of God. I pray that my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the wonderful future You have promised to those You have called. I want to understand the rich and glorious inheritance You have given to Your people. (Eph. 1:17-18; NLT) My God, I pray that I will begin to understand the incredible greatness of Your power for us who believe You. (Eph. 1:19; NLT) This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honour at Gods right hand in the heavenly realms. Lord J esus, You are far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in the world to come. God has put all things under Your authority, and has given You this authority for the benefit of the church which is Your body; it is filled by You, who fills everything everywhere with Your presence. (Eph. 1:20-23; NLT)
So, Lord, give me a fresh new revelation in my heart. Give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation. I pray that my heart will be panting for the Word of God.
INCENSE ALTAR
The Incense Altar was also in the Holy Place. This is where incense was burned 24 hours per day. The incense represented prayer and praise to God. This is the place to praise God and to pray in tongues.
Lord, to You be glory forever and ever. Amen! You will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for Your heavenly kingdom. (2 Tim. 4:18) You are the Lamb of God who takes away my sin. (J ohn 1:29)
Lord J esus, thank You for taking my infirmities and for bearing my sicknesses. (Matt. 8:17) Thank You for becoming a curse for me, redeeming me from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13)
Lord God, I believe in You. I thank You that I have heard Your word and will not come into judgment but have passed from death into life. (J ohn 5:24)
J esus, You are my foundation. (1 Cor. 3:11) I boast only in the cross of our Lord J esus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the worlds interest in me is also long dead. (Gal. 6:14; NLT) I pray that I will keep myself unspotted from the world. (J ames 1:27)
I want to value You more than any created thing. You give me purpose. I worship You, the God who created the heaven and the earth and all things in them. I worship You. I thank You. ARK OF THE COVENANT
The most sacred place in the tabernacle was the Holy of Holies. It contained the Ark of the Covenant where Gods throne was. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a heavy curtain. The high priest could enter the Holy of Holies into the presence of God only one time each year. At the crucifixion of J esus the heavy curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn in two by God. (See Matt. 27:51) Today, each believer can come into the presence of God (through the torn curtain into the Holy of Holies as it were) because of the shed blood of J esus.
I am eternally forgiven. I have been made alive together with J esus. Thank You God, that You have forgiven all my trespasses. (Col. 2:13)
I am eternally declared righteous. For He made Christ who knew no sin to be sin for me, that I might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)
I am eternally saved, not by works of righteousness, which I have done, but according to His mercy He saved me, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) I am eternally blessed by His blood covenant. Father God, make me complete in every good work to do Your will. Work in me what is well pleasing in Your sight, through J esus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)
I thank You dear Heavenly Father. I am now a member of Your family. I am Your child. (1 J ohn 3:2) I received the Spirit of adoption by whom I can cry out, Abba, Father. (Rom. 8:15) Therefore, I am Your heir and a joint heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord J esus Christ! In Your great mercy You have given me new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of J esus Christ from the dead. (1 Pet. 1:3)
I rejoice even in trials. I trust in You, God, because in Your mighty power You are keeping me through faith for the salvation that will be revealed on the last day. (1 Pet. 1:5) I pray that my faith will remain strong through all trials and that it will be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when J esus Christ is revealed. (1 Pet. 1:7)
Lord J esus, I love You even though I have never seen You. Though I do not see You, I trust You, and I am happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. I believe and thank You that my reward for trusting You will be the salvation of my soul. (1 Pet. 1:8)
Father God, I thank You that at J esus death the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matt. 27:50-51) Therefore, I have confidence to enter Your presence because of the blood of J esus and His high priestly ministry. (Heb. 10:19- 20) God, because You who promised are faithful, I can hold tightly to the hope I say I have without wavering. (Heb. 10:23; NLT)
I want to live in the Holy of Holies; I want to live in Your presence.