The Way into the Holy of Holies: A 12 Day Prayer Journey Through the Tabernacle

By Lynn Ferder

So often we struggle in prayer, trying to find the words and the right way to approach a Holy God. It can be a frustration and lead us to feel inadequate and wonder if our prayers are even heard.

Yet, God has given us a model for prayer, and how to approach a Holy God, in the Old Testament Tabernacle of Moses. Step by step, we are guided into the presence of God through the symbolic meaning of each piece of furniture in the Tabernacle.

This study helps us to discover the simplicity of coming boldly into Gods presence in prayer. It gives us the words we struggle to find in prayer. Step by step, we are shown how to prepare our heart for the next depth in God.

The Way into the Holy of Holies, will open our eyes and our understanding of prayer. It will fill our hearts with wonder and adoration for God as we discover the true tabernacle is the Lord Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490853420

Lynn Ferder

Lynn Ferder is the director for the House of Prayer, in Roseburg, Oregon. Lynn is a Bible teacher and speaker, with a prophetic calling. She offers practical understanding and training on how to apply biblical truth to everyday life. With a heart for prayer, it is her desire to teach others how to have a meaningful prayer life and a rich relationship with God.

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Copyright © 2014 Lynn Ferder.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-5343-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5344-4 (hc)

ISBN:978-1-4908-5342-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014917175

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/14/2014

Contents

Tabernacle of Moses

Foreword and Acknowledgment

Day One - The Tabernacle as a Pattern for Prayer

Day One Prayer

Day Two - Eternity’s Perspective

Day Two Prayer

Day Three - The Altar of Sacrifice

Day Three Prayer

Day Four - The Brass Laver

Day Four Prayer

Day Five - Entering the Tabernacle

Day Five Prayer

Day Six - The Table of Showbread

Day Six Prayer

Day Seven - The Lampstand

Day Seven Prayer

Day Eight - The Altar of Incense

Day Eight Prayer

Day Nine - The Veil of Obedience

Day Nine Prayer

Day Ten - Entering the Holy of Holies

Day Ten Prayer

Day Eleven - The Ark of the Covenant

Day Eleven Prayer

Day Twelve, the Mercy Seat

Day Twelve Prayer

Group Study Questions

Day One – The Tabernacle as a Pattern for Prayer

Group Study Questions

Day Two – Eternity’s Perspective

Group Study Questions

Day Three – The Altar of Sacrifice

Group Study Questions

Day Four – The Brass Laver

Group Study Questions

Day Five – Entering the Tabernacle

Group Study Questions

Day Six – The Table of Showbread

Group Study Questions

Day Seven – The Lampstand

Group Study Questions

Day Eight – The Altar of Incense

Group Study Questions

Day Nine – The Veil of Obedience

Group Study Questions

Day Ten – Entering the Holy of Holies

Group Study Questions

Day Eleven – The Ark of the Covenant

Group Study Questions

Day Twelve – The Mercy Seat

Further Resource

Conferences and Prayer Retreats

About the Author

Tabernacle of Moses

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Foreword and Acknowledgment

In the late 1970’s, I read a book by Derek Prince (1915-2003), called, "The Way into the Holiest." Based on Holy Scripture from Hebrews chapter 8:5, 9:8, and 10:22–25, the tabernacle was to be a symbolic model for prayer and worship, with the ‘true tabernacle’ being the Lord Jesus. (Hebrews 8:2). The tabernacle was a model for a believer’s prayer and growth. It became my inspiration and I adopted this idea as my own personal prayer model. Eventually I lost the book, but I continued to build upon the idea over the years and teach others the pattern and principles for worship and prayer. The tabernacle model of prayer aids us in our personal growth in Jesus. As a model for prayer it guides us into the presence of Holy God, step by step, with ever increasing reverence and respect.

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The reader may notice that quotations from the Bible have had the pronouns of God changed from capital letters to lowercase letters. This is to provide for consistency and ease for the reader throughout this book. Words in small caps and italics in Bible verses have also been changed to regular text type to avoid placing emphasis where none is intended. In some quotations, this author has paraphrased the Bible verse. Paraphrasing is noted following the verses involved. Familiar phrases from the Bible are not referenced.

For the reader’s ease, the pronouns of God are in lowercase type. Words pertaining to a proper name of God will be in capitals, at the author’s discretion. It is the intent of this author to reverence, honor, and glorify God with this writing.

Jesus, would you be Wonderful for the weary,

Counselor, for the confused,

And Mighty, for the weak.

Reveal yourself as God, to the searching heart.

Give Eternal hope to the hopeless.

Be the Father to the abandoned and orphaned.

Be the Prince of Peace for the anxious heart.

Amen. From Isaiah 9:6.

For individual or group study and prayer

It is not about the words. It is about the heart.

It is not about a formula for prayer.

It is about a relationship with the living God.

Day One - The Tabernacle as a Pattern for Prayer

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History review: Hebrews 8:5, 9:8; Exodus 25–40.

The tabernacle of Moses was where the Israelites could meet with God and offer sacrifices to him during their long journey through the wilderness after they left Egypt. They wandered around in the desert for forty years, led by the cloud over the Holy of Holies during the day or the fire by night. Wherever the cloud or fire rested, that was where the Israelites camped. The tabernacle of Moses was totally portable, carried on the backs of men from the tribe of Levi. Although there were twelve tribes of Israelites, only the Levite tribe was allowed to carry the tabernacle items. The Levites were ordained by God to be priests, and it was their responsibility to honor and care for the holy things of God. In Exodus 25–40, we can read the story of the specific details God wanted the tabernacle to have.

The tabernacle was in use for about four hundred years. It was located in the center of the camp. The twelve tribes were camped around the tabernacle in an orderly fashion; each tribe was grouped together. The tabernacle model shows a clear pattern of how to approach God and get into the Holy of Holies, or into the presence of God. Moses’ tabernacle is not only a part of Israel’s history, but is also a symbol for the present as a model for prayer and a way to approach the presence of God, step by step, with reverence and respect. (Hebrews 9:8). Moses’ tabernacle in history was like a symbol or model that we can apply to our lives today. The Scripture calls it a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5). Let’s explore this verse together.

Look up Hebrews 8:5 in your Bible, and note the wording that the Holy Spirit uses. Moses was instructed to build the tabernacle according to a specific pattern. God had a specific order in mind for how he wanted to be approached. In our lives today we can learn what the symbolism of the tabernacle means and use it as model for prayer.

Symbolism, in the case of this prayer journey, means that a heavenly concept can be better understood by looking at something it can relate to on earth. It can be a challenge to grasp the heavenly meaning of something unless there is already an idea, picture, image, or item we can associate it with to help us understand the meaning. The cross would be an example. The cross is a symbol and reminder of the price Jesus paid for the salvation of the world through his death and resurrection. The cross is a symbol of a heavenly truth that helps us to grasp a deeper meaning of what Jesus did for all people.

The dove is another example of a symbol. The dove reminds us of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the items in Moses’ tabernacle are symbols of heavenly concepts that help us to grasp a deeper meaning of spiritual truths. Over the course of this twelve day journey, we will discover numerous symbols and their meanings. As we do, you might want to write them on a list and keep track. This way you will have them for reference as we go.

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There are three rooms (the courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies), and nine items of interest in our prayer model. Each is a symbol of a specific step in prayer we take as we approach the Holy of Holies. This most sacred place, the Holy of Holies, was where the presence of God dwelt. Only one priest could go there, and just once a year. The priest had to have his heart properly prepared before his encounter with the Holy God.

We need to remember that the Holy of Holies is a symbol. Jesus paid the full price for our sins and granted to us at the moment of his death, entrance into the very Holy of Holies. The veil, the curtain that prevented the people from accessing the presence of God, was torn from top to bottom. Jesus declares that because of his shed blood, we can boldly enter right into his presence and find mercy and grace.

In our prayer journey, it is important that we are reminded of the comforting words from Hebrews 4:16. This passage gives us the invitation to run right into the Holy of Holies, confidently, without fear, and come to God for help, grace, and mercy. As our journey progresses and our sense of reverence and honor for God increases, we might forget Jesus already paid the way fully. We might forget it is not about a formula, pattern, or recipe. It is about a relationship with the living God. We can approach God through Jesus, anywhere and at any time.

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The Gate:

As we come into a time of prayer today, let’s start with symbolically going through the gate and into the