The Tabernacle Dwells In You

By Anton L Seals Sr, Jennifer J Seals and James & Joshua Nelson

“The Tabernacle Dwells In You”

Authors Anton & Jennifer Seals

Brief Description:

Our Mission is to: Spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching, preaching, writing and publishing Christian education materials that leads So

• Language: English
• Publisher: AJS Ministry (Anton & Jennifer Seals)
• Release date: Jul 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9780975964422

Book preview

The Tabernacle Dwells In YOU! By

Anton & Jennifer Seals: Self-Published by AJS Ministry, Matteson IL 60443 AJS Ministry (Anointed By Jesus To Serve Ministry - Anton & Jennifer Seals Ministry) Social Media Contacts: AJSMinistry. com, [e-mail], Face-Book Page: The Tabernacle of Prayer, Praise and Worship, Twitter, ISSUU.com/AJSMinistry,AJSMinistry.blogspot.com, Tumblr, Blogtalkradio.com/AJS-Ministry, LinkedIn and Google+ and You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmwGpEV6OE&list=PL_t-fiqqwg5PnOi8ld4Vrm5nRSZ8akWeV&index=27

Printed: U.S.A.

This book may not be reproduced in any form or transmitted in any form by way of electronic, mechanical, photocopies, recordings without prior approval and permission of the author/publisher, except as provided by and under the United States of America copyright laws.

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Bible; see Bibliography End Notes

Cover Pages & all Graphic Drawings by Artist James Nelson SoulfulArtistry. com Joshua Nelson Graphic Design and Embedding Font and File Conversions

Editorial Assistance:

Minister Jennifer J. Seals: AJS Ministry and Monument of Faith Evangelistic Church

Lawrence Anton Seals Jr. ([e-mail])

Rhoni Seals Dixon: New Wine Christian Center

Rev. William Larry Cox: Word of Life Outreach Ministries International

Deaconess Janice Price: Metropolitan Community Church

Pastor Talmadge D. Betts: Christ Bible Church of Chicago

Rev. Dr. James Washington: Living Hope Church

Muriel Jackson MediaWorks, Inc.

Library of Congress Copyright September 10, 2013 & Certification dated: November 8, 2011

ISBN Bar Code Number 978-0-9759644-1-5- 52500

ISBN 978-0-9759644-2-2 (e book)

3RD Print May 2016; 2nd Printed Feb 2015; First Print July 2012

To God Who Dwells In YOU ... Me!

Dear Lord Jesus: We dedicate ourselves and our lives to you;

Asking according To Your will, (The Father’s Will),

You hear and know the desires of our hearts.

I John 5:14 ¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing

according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever

we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

To The Almighty God Who Dwells In Me!

Teach me Lord to be the more in you as you are in me. We desire by faith to believe even the more that we are created to do your will and to do greater works than these because we have learned to come/go unto my Father, who Dwells In Me!

Lord, we ask in your name to become a willing faithful vessel who love to Spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ; The Good News. We recommit our lives to preaching and teaching God’s Word as you guide us/me to lead others to become better Fishermen of all men/mankind.

John 14: 12-17 ¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ¹⁵If ye love me, keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you

Thank You My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

DEDICATED TO: My Wife:

Jennifer J. Seals

To my Sweets, my prayer partner, best friend, confidant, sounding board and most of all to you: my loving and carrying Wife. Jennifer, you are an awesome woman of God. The Word of God says who can find a Virtuous Woman, for her price is far above Rubies; Proverbs 31:10-31. Well, the Lord allowed me to find you while singing next to you in the Choir and Praise Team. Praise God!

Jennifer, my Sweets, your support, faith and belief in God has allowed us to birth and self-publish our book: The Tabernacle Dwells In You. Without God's favor and your support my life would not be complete. You have blessed and allowed me to pray and spend exceptionally long months and countless hours in Bible study and research on this mission with our Lord. To be more exact, for over 6 years we have overcome: my unemployment, health and financial challenges, family struggles, disappointments, setbacks, rejections, and countless valleys and yes the fiery darts of doubt and fear. We have the Victory and so much more to thank God for. Only through: believing working faith, quiet meditation, bible study, fervent prayers that have humbled us, fasting, confessing, repenting, praising and worshiping the Lord have we been allowed to enter into a more consecrated and intimate relationship with Jesus. We shall continuously keep praises on our lips as we rest under the shadows of His Secret hiding place found in His Dwelling Place, the Holy Tabernacle and Beyond the Veil.

Your love and unselfishness embraces my heart and assures me of your continual faith in God and in me. The very presence of God in you/us allows us to have such a sweet spirit of unity in our friendship and in our marriage. I thank you for your unwavering faith in God, your love, thoughtfulness, compassion, strength, Godly wisdom, knowledge and understanding. As I have learned to listen more to you I have found it easier to hear the still voice of the Lord. There are not enough words to really express my love, appreciation and gratefulness to you for all the sacrifices you have endured. But always know It is my sole desire to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life. I know the Lord is pleased with you/us, His Bride; my Sweet Wife, for He keeps pouring out abundant blessings that forever restore and refresh Us with His Grace and new Mercies.

Know that by faith we have spoken that which is not as though it is. What we pray for in secret is manifested by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord has blessed us to begin our new Ministry AJS Ministry; which is Anointed by Jesus to Serve Ministry. The Book is complete, self-published, 3rd print and we are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ via social media, Blogtalkradio.com/AJS-Ministry & Chicago IL Radio Station, WBGX 1570 AM. Through our account with Ingram Spark On Demand Printing Distributor The Tabernacle Dwells In You is posted in 39,000 Distributor Partner Outlets; including 11,000 Christian Outlets. My Pastor Andrew D. Singleton Jr. of Victory Apostolic Church in Matteson, IL., has allowed me to teach classes on the Tabernacle. We must remain faithful and humble; give God all the glory for what He has done, is doing and continues to do. He's opening new doors of opportunities. There is power praying and believing in the Name of Jesus. Keep the Faith and our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lovingly, Your Husband, Best Friend and Prayer Partner: Elder, Anton L. Seals Sr.

Table of Content

Title Page

Copyright Page

Tribute of Prayer To Our God Who Dwells In YOU! .... Me!

Dedication to My Wife: Jennifer J. Seals

Table of Content

Acknowledgement

Endorsement Letters

Message from the Author: Anton L. Seals, Sr.

Preface

Chapter 1 God Created Man and The Tabernacle Built By Moses

Chapter 2 The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Chapter 3 God’s Instruction: The Tabernacle of Moses: God’s Meeting Place

Chapter 4 The Outer Court and The Brazen Altar of Sacrifice

By The Blood of Jesus Your Sins Are Forgiven: Go & Forgive Others

Brazen Laver: Washing At The Laver: Anointed By The Holy Spirit

Chapter 5 The Breastplate of Righteousness:

The High Priest: His Garments &The Breastplate of Righteousness:

The Garments of The High Priest and Priests: (See Exodus 28)

Special Garments of Aaron The High Priest

Consecrating and Ordaining The High Priest and Priests

Making The Holy Anointing Oil

Anointed With God’s Holy Oil: The Oil of Gladness

Chapter 6 Put On The Whole Armor of God

A Member of God’s Royal Priesthood

The Breastplate of Righteousness and Whole Armor of God

Jesus Prepares Believers To: Put On The Whole Armor of God

Chapter 7 Entering the Holy Court: God’s Holy Sanctuary

Sanctification: The Blood of The Lamb: Purged, Washed & Anointed

The Tabernacle: The Holy Court’s Curtains

The Holy Court’s Three Pieces of Golden Furniture

The Golden Candlestick

The Golden Table of Shewbread (Table of the Presence–Bread In Your Face)

The Golden Altar of Incense

The Making of The Golden Altar and The Holy Incense:

Chapter 8 Entering the Holy of Holies

Jesus Rents The Veil

Making God’s Ark of The Covenant and The Mercy Seat

Ushered In Beyond The Veil by The Holy Spirit: Life Altering Experiences:

During Quiet Meditation

Beyond The Veil Experience

Benediction Book of Jude

Appendix A Suggested Reading

Appendix B Bibliographies

Acknowledgements To:

To our Apostle, Pastor Apostle R. D. Henton of Monument of Faith Evangelistic Church, (MOF) and to all of our brothers and sisters in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Jennifer and I thank you for your seed offerings: be it monetary, time, talents, treasures, and most importantly your effectual fervent prayers. Please know in your hearts that we truly thank God for you! To my Poppa Joe Smith and to our: sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles; as well as our extended families and friends you are a blessing in our lives. We pray thanking God for the blessings covering your lives. To my friends and Pastors who supported this work: thanks so much for all the extras you continue to do and for your personal assistance in helping us to publish this work for God.

Thank you Pastor, Apostle R. D. Henton and First Lady Helen Henton for words of encouragement and God’s anointing that covers our lives. Also, to the entire MOF Church Family, Elders, the Breakthrough Ministry, Deacon and Usher Board and especially to the: Choirs, Praise Teams and the MOF Prayer Leaders and the Prayer Ministry: God bless and keep you and make His face to continuously shine upon you as He pours out abundant blessings for your unwavering service to God:

Gideon 300, Ministers: Dr. Rosemary Gage, Evangelist & Mother Bobby Owens, Elder Annie Owens, Mother Dorothy Rush, Evangelist John Henton, Evangelist Aline Johnson and Evangelist Josie Jordan and Evangelist Lowry and Sister Ethel Henton, Ministers Kenneth and Renee Fristoe and to My Prayer Partner: Ministers Frederick Brackett and Carla Dumas:

A Special Thank You to the Following Pastors, Ministers and Supporters:

Senior Pastor Andrew Singleton D. Singleton: Victory Apostolic Church

Pastor St. John and Co-Pastor Gay Chisum: Gifts from God Ministry Church

Pastor Julius and First Lady Mary Washington: Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church

Pastor Marion and Co-Pastor Vicky Johnson: Come Alive Ministry of Faith Church

Pastor Walter and Pastor Sandra Gillespie, Chosen Tabernacle

Minister William and Evangelist Myra Cox: Word of Life Outreach Ministries International

Pastor Talmadge and First Lady, Valerie Betts: CBC2Loop (Christ Bible Church in the South Loop)

Suffragan Bishop Freddy Hill, Dixmoor, Apostolic House of Prayer Church

Apostle Robert and Freddie J. Childress: Strength In Unity Ministry

Apostle John and Pastor Brenda Miles: Apostolic Seals Enterprise Ministries

Bishop Gregory and Pastor Tina Jacobs: Fellowship of Believers Church

Minister Kevin and Sister Eunice Vann: Corner Stone Christian Center

Rhoni Seals Dixon: New Wine Christian Center

Muriel Jackson Media Works, Inc.

Book Cover Designs & Graphics by: James Nelson Soulful-artistry.com [e-mail]

Joshua Nelson Graphic Design and Embedding Font and File Conversions

To Our Twelve Children: You Are Created In His Image and You Are the Chosen and Elect of God:

Lawrence Anton Seals, Jr. James Nelson, Shamon Seals, Sr., Jermaine Nelson, Aaron Seals, Jessica Adesara, Tallie Bennett, Jasmine Nelson, Verlene Bennett Franklin, Jackie Nelson, Alfonso Bennett and Joshua Nelson

Letter of Endorsement

Letter of Endorsement

Brother Anton L. Seals, Sr.,

You have done a wonderful job with your book entitled The Tabernacle Dwells In You. A lot of research clearly went into the book, especially in relationship to the history behind Moses’ tabernacle in the wilderness and the roles of the twelve tribes and the Levitical priest as relates to the tabernacle.

Anton seamlessly links the Old Testament to the New Testament Tabernacle and Jesus, as the reality behind all of the Old Testament symbols found in the Tabernacle. Truly, we as believers are a dwelling place for God through the Holy Spirit because the scriptures declare Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

The Tabernacle Dwells In You is also an excellent study guide for students of the Old and New Testament. I believe the local church will be blessed by this book.

Elder Andrew D. Singleton, Jr., C.P.A., M.Div.

Senior Pastor

Victory Apostolic Church, Matteson IL

Letter of Endorsement

Pastor ST. John Chisum and Co-Pastor Gay Chisum

Gifts From God Ministry Church, 1818 West 74th. Street, Chicago IL, 60636

To Ministers Anton and Jennifer Seals, first and foremost we would like to thank you both for the time and spiritual energy you brought into our church each Wednesday as you taught from your phenomenal book The Tabernacle Dwells In You. The outcomes are numerous and heartwarming. Your students were very blessed by your sincerity and spirituality. They felt the spirit of God and the anointing on both of you. They were inspired by you to seek a real elevation in their relationship with God. They kept coming back month after month to allow your teaching to help them manifest a closer walk with Jesus.

As a direct result of The Tabernacle Dwells In You the Gifts From God Ministry Church Elevation Classes has birthed 13 new or dry bones in the valley, revitalized ministries. We have for the first time an Ecclesiastical Leader Ship Council, who will discuss with the Pastor and Co-Pastor ways to elevate the spiritual consciousness of our Church. We held our first Tabernacle Dwells In You Ministries Council meeting and the following statement was given to all in attendance: God has called you to serve in His Church, Gifts From God Ministry. You have been called and you have accepted His calling. You are the Ecclesiastical Leadership of our Church. You are the spiritual role models for all other members to see and emulate.

In our opinion, the 13 ministries and the Ecclesiastical Leadership Council was a direct result of the Elevation class members being taught of the power, the responsibility, and blessing of recognizing that all the power of God resides inside of them. When you are helped to realize the indwelling power of God, it makes you want to serve Him with gladness!

Finally, we would like to speak to Pastors regarding how your ministry can be blessed by allowing this class to be taught in your church. Please don’t be apprehensive toward allowing your sheep to be in the spiritual presence of Ministers Anton and Jennifer Seals. Their teachings in our Church were all geared toward elevating the sheep to take burdens off the Pastor and Co-Pastor by not adding to his/her already heavy load. We highly recommend the book and the classes taught as a spiritual blessing and elevating experience for all God’s Children! AMEN!

Pastor St. John Chisum & Co-Pastor Elder Gay Chisum

Office: 773-863-0995, E-MAIL [e-mail]

Web Site: giftsfromgodministrychurch. webs.com

Letter of Endorsement

Dear Minister Anton L Seals Sr.,

It is my pleasure to provide you with this endorsement letter for your most recent book: The Tabernacle Dwells In YOU. I have worked fairly closely with you for over 15 years and observed you conducting several seminars/teachings on The ABC of How To Organize A Stewardship Journey and God’s Plan for An Abundant Life: Stewardship, Tithing and Discipleship here at Living Hope Kingdom Church. In every case, you were thoroughly prepared and did an excellent job in presenting the information and material.

Anton your teachings were sensitive to the audience and quite engaging as you frequently use examples and props to drive a particular point so everyone understands. Your presentations are energetic, enlightening and captured the attention of the students in the class. As a former teacher and counselor in the Chicago Public Schools committed to our children, you now have opened your heart to be used of the Lord in teaching the Gospel, The Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, Anton your book, The Tabernacle Dwells In You, is an insightful and well researched piece of work. The book gives a detailed account of the Tabernacle, which is in the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, and draws compelling parallels to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament. Personally, I have used the book as a guide in teaching on the Tabernacle in our weekly Bible Study. I am confident students that take the class have learned a great deal about the subject matter and enjoyed both the lesson and the way in which you also have taught the class.

Based on the above, and much more that I could share with you and others, I highly recommend Anton Seals, Sr. to teach a course based on his book, The Tabernacle Dwells In You. I believe such a course will be an excellent addition to your Christian Education Class and Bible Study Curriculum. Should you desire to speak to me directly regarding this recommendation, I can be reached via email at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Julius K. Washington,

Senior Pastor

Living Hope Kingdom Church, Chicago IL

Letter of Endorsement

Dear Minister Anton L. Seals, Sr.,

After reading your book, I am impressed with the amount of time and research you had to put into the writing of this book. I have read many books on the tabernacle and have found this one to be the most colorful and informative one I have ever read.

It is a good reference book for anyone who is seeking knowledge of God's way of redeeming humankind. The integration of the symbolic language of the Old Testament and the meaning it has for us today has been skillfully brought out and done masterfully.

Anton's personal reflection is a clear indication that God has preserved his life to be a blessing to the body of Christ.

Suffragan Bishop Freddy Hill

Pastor,

Dixmoor Apostolic House of Prayer Church, Dixmoor IL

The Tabernacle Dwells In YOU!

A Message from the Author:

In October of 2010 my beautiful and spirit-filled wife, Jennifer Nelson-Seals, hosted a dinner celebrating my 60th Birthday, the theme: Beginning a New Journey. Surely this was a wonderful and festive celebration, a blessing from God. While birthday celebrations are normal for our families, never was there anything remotely close to this Celebration of Life. In attendance were over one-hundred twenty-five family and friends, ministers, co-workers; including former High School Students I had been so privileged to coached. Recalling my closing remarks, I reiterated that we are on the beginning of a New Spiritual Life Journey. I stressed the importance of prayer to discover God’s Plan for each of our lives, for keeping the faith and knowing that God has a plan for all of us:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.i

Little did I realize, several months later, I would be sitting down penning this work for God’s glory. Even of greater importance was the realization that writing about the Tabernacle of Moses was beyond my farthest thought. I had previously studied and read about the Tabernacle while writing God’s Plan For An Abundant Life: Stewardship, Discipleship and Tithing and a second manual: The ABC’s of How To Organize A Capital Stewardship Journey. The extent of those writings reflects chapters on tithing as part of prayer, praise and worship. While I was driven by the Spirit to write these manuals, the Tabernacle of Moses was also embedded in my heart. Kevin Conner’s, author of The Tabernacle of Moses, writings left a footprint in my Spirit concerning the importance of understanding the Tabernacle relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament. It is in the Old Testament that God’s plan for entering into His spiritual realms sets the pattern and foundation for bringing offerings and sacrifices when entering the Tabernacle. This foreshadows the forthcoming of Jesus Christ, the foundation of giving and establishes the original sacrificial offering system. It is through His shed blood that all the sins of mankind were washed away. Jesus died for all mankind and His Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God now dwells in believers. The Lord Jesus dwells in the hearts of all who confess, believing by faith that Jesus lives and He is the resurrected Son of God who arose on the third day. Jesus lives in the heart of believers, not ones’ natural mind but the very Inner Spirit of mankind. Thus, the Tabernacle Now Dwells In YOU! You are called to know the power of Christ in you which will lead you to know the true purpose of God’s plan for your life.

Now 10 years later, with an earnest desire, I am driven with the guiding of the Holy Spirit to research, study and write about the Word of God given to Moses regarding his instructions for building the Tabernacle. This Tabernacle is God’s dwelling place with mankind. It is in this quest that we/you discover the importance and real meaning behind the first covenant God made to the people of Israel. It is the foreshadowing of the coming sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ, giving offerings, blood sacrifices, prayers, praise and worship along with ones’ spiritual prerequisites for entering the presence of God’s Tabernacle.

The following questions may come to mind regarding Moses and the instructions for building the Tabernacle:

➢ What was it that Moses received from God that kept him up on Mount Sinai for forty days?

➢ What are the instructions for coming into the presence of God in the Tent?

➢ What, if any, are the historical directions in relation to this dispensation of time?

➢ What process did Moses receive and how could this possibly affect my prayer life today?

➢ What are the relationship between the Tabernacle of Moses and its three Courts, (Outer Court, Inner Court and the Holies of Holy) and the Dwelling of Christ in Mankind?

➢ What does the Temple of God dwelling in my body (the Spirit of God - Light of God) have to do with God’s instructions to Moses, The Tabernacle and Jesus?

Moses was given instructions for building this Sacred Tent, Holy Tabernacle, where the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would also meet Him, receiving their monetary offerings of a silver shekel, and their blood offerings. The Book of Exodus 25:8-9 provides instructions given to Moses: And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. ⁹According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The Tabernacle, where God dwells was the atoning place, where the animals were brought, sacrificed and their blood lifted up as an offering for the remission Israel’s sins. It was also a place of prayer, praise and worship before God Almighty. The Tabernacle was the appointed place for the Israelites to bring their sacrifices. It was the Church in the Wilderness. By obeying God’s instructions Aaron and the Tribe of Levi were instructed to bring their Sons Close as they were established and called by God to serve as Priests. Aaron and his sons were later called Aaronical Priests and Levi’s Sons, the Levitical Priests. Aaron and his descendants were appointed by God to serve as High Priests, while the Levitical Priest were called and anointed to serve as Priests of the Tabernacle. The High Priest served at a much higher spiritual position as his relationship and responsibilities were defined by God. He wore a beautifully woven Breastplate of Righteousness, a blue robe and a special vest called an Ephod with blue, purple and scarlet. The 12 precious stones of the Breastplate were inwrought with gold; representing the 12 Tribes of Israel. The High Priest would enter the Holy Tabernacle praying before the Lord. He would pray at the Gold Altar of Incense made of acacia wood, (a hard, thick and thorny wood) covered inside out with pure gold. As instructed by God, Moses informed the people of Israel that the High Priest and Priest would be responsible for all sacrifices, praise and worship in the Holy Sanctuary. All the daily functions and operations required for setting up and maintaining the Tabernacle were the full responsibility of the Priest. These functions were inclusive of: sounding the trumpets, transporting, setting-up and taking down the Tabernacle. They were charged with bringing, preparing and leaving offerings and sacrifices in the Outer Court.

The Tabernacle was composed of three courts: first there was the Outer Court, secondly the Holy - Court, known also as the Inner Court and thirdly the Most Holy Court; called the Holy of Holies. The latter two Courts, the Holy Court and the Holy of Holies, were referred to as the Holy Sanctuary. The Ark of the Covenant of God was placed in the Holy of Holies, the third court. There was a beautiful veil adorned with fine woven linen wool of blue, purple and scarlet inwrought with threads and strips of gold, creating the forms of the Cherubs. This veil separated the Holy Court from the Holy of Holies where the Ark and the Mercy Seat, the Lid were placed. The Priest and the High Priest were the only persons allowed into the Tabernacle’s Sanctuary. They would consecrate themselves and God’s Holy Tabernacle with the sprinkling of blood on the furniture, around the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, on the clothing of both the Priest and the High Priest from sacrificed animals.

There is truly a spiritual connection and relationship between man and God’s divine building instructions given to Moses for constructing the Tabernacle of God. The Tabernacle was/is God’s physical earthly dwelling place or Tent of Meetings. Yet, there is another Tabernacle, not built with hands, by which the Blood of Jesus now dwells in believers. The Tabernacle of Moses was a physical construction, a visible tent structured for sacrifices, praising and worshipping God. God’s divine plans for building the Old Testament Tabernacle with three courts remains a pattern of the Tabernacle of God in Heaven. Similarly, Christian believers must learn to acknowledge that they too have Three Courts. Each of these three Courts resembled the presence of God dwelling in them. All believers must reverently submit before the Lord: giving a sacrifice, confessing, repenting, and seeking to draw closer to the Lord. Believers must come to Christ as a living sacrifice, confessing and believing in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. Additionally, you must also be a doer of His word and not just a follower who recites wonderful scriptures absent of a love for God. Matthew also cautions that not everyone who calls out to the Lord shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but for those who do, they shall do the will of our Father in Heaven, Matthew 7:21. The Lord not only wants you to confess; but more importantly He is desirous of an earnest heart committed to doing his will and living to give Him all the honor and Glory.

The Word of God says in Romans10:9 ⁸But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ii

Therefore, believers are saved and are called Christians, new babes in Christ or born again in Christ Jesus. It is through God’s grace, by faith, that Christians are covered with the Righteousness of Jesus and adopted into His family; the Royal Priesthood. Christ separates believers from a life of darkness and the bondage of evil and slavery to sin, while ushering you into a new relationship of His light. Hence, His Light and his Truths are to be seen in all Believers. His Truth and His Light separates believers from the dark and void places, causing you to come into His light, Genesis 1:2-3. Jesus who came to save the lost now dwells in their hearts and covers them with his righteousness.

John 3:16-17 ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Hence, Christians are to have a more in-depth understanding of the importance of the Tabernacle, God’s Tent of Meeting. This was to be the Meeting Place for the Chosen Children of Israel, as outlined in the Old Testament. Understanding these fundamental truths will both assist in your pursuit to abide in Christ and to become more Christ centered. In fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy and the blood sacrifices we know: Jesus lived, was crucified, died, rose and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. You can go (come) directly to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is now the High Priest and believers are part of the Royal Priesthood. However, no one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ.

Hebrew 9:11 ¹¹But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building

If you are a Christian, or have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, or you are living in a backslidden life and have fallen away from the Lord, just know that He is a forgiving God. He is not like anyone you know or will ever know. Furthermore, know that there are intercessors, people anointed as prayer warriors, who travail in prayer for you and countless others. Their prayers are being ushered up before the Lord. Their asking the Lord to: protect, deliver, heal, to quicken us with the Holy Spirit and to forgive all our sins, for we all have fallen short of the glory of God. If anyone says that they have not sinned they make God a liar and His Word is not in their hearts. Daily prayer, even several times a day is required, as you seek to confess and repent so the Lord can renew or usher in a refreshing. All you have to do is open your mouth and your heart to receive Him. It is a personal choice to confess with your mouth, truthfully believing in your heart as you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The following scripture and verses are for those who feel right now is the time to allow Christ into your heart.

I John 1:5-10 ⁵ Jesus told us that God is light and doesn’t have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you. ⁶ If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. ⁷ But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. ⁸ If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn’t in our hearts. iii

To know and confess with your mouth is a requirement. Allow His presence to saturate your heart, mind and soul. No matter where you are on life’s journey, we all surely need to accept Him as Lord and Savior. This is a special appeal to those who have not accepted Christ, as well as to believers and the people of God. Confession and repentance are not enough if you are not sincere and cannot by Faith, trust and believe in God’s Word. The Word of God says that believers are born again by a His incorruptible seed which must die, germinating as new life in your inner spirit waiting to burst forth as a new creature in Christ. The Word of God is a seed of faith. It is nurtured in your heart by the God’s unchanging Love. You must, therefore, grow to believe, trust and love Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul, and might. Jesus further states we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

Jesus Says The First of All Commandments Spoken:

Mark 12: 30-31 ⁹And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ³⁰And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³¹And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

This Commandment was also known as the Confession of Faith and is historically referred to as the Shema by the children of Israel. Similarly, this can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ⁵And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. ⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart.

Upon reading these scriptures, it is clear that there are promised blessings for persons truly seeking a closer and more meaningful walk with Christ Jesus. The greatest blessing of all is to know that God is love, I John 4:8 (1-20). For if you are to be an overcomer of the evil in this dark world you have to grow in Faith by hearing God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Hearing His Word allows you to know him and the Love he has for you and me. You see, God is Love and in His Love there is no darkness. Hear the Word of God for it will cause a quickening, stirring up the Holy Spirit which dwells in you. Therefore, more of His light will shine in, around and through you. His light is the grace of his righteousness allowing all things to be given to you by the Lord. Things of abundance in Grace, favor in high places which is worth more that gold, silver and or rubies. The Lord will fill your heart and mind with His love, joy, temperance, kindness, understanding, wisdom, knowledge and a peace that passes all understanding. This does not mean you will be free or absent of trials, tribulations, sufferings, setbacks, disappointments, difficult day, and stormy day. What God gives you, by faith, strengthens you to know He has already provided you with answers, directions, light and away out of every situation. There is trouble in the earth but you as a true believer having all power, dunamis power, to be an over-comer for you have the victory, so continue walking by faith.

The Love of God that believers are to display is called agape love-a spiritual love- that is selfless and felt by Christians and mankind in general. As you ponder upon the moral decay and violence in our society, it is crystal clear that far too many people do not reverence God, nor do they have the love of God -agape Love-in their hearts. The world, created with the love of God, continues down the path of darkness because man’s love for self eradicates the capability of God’s love. The fact is, in this world there is a resounding void of God’s love in the hearts of far too many people. Even those who may confess Jesus and attend church regularly, quote scriptures and know that the Lord is good, yet have fallen away from living and being doers of His Word. What the world needs now is more of God’s love manifesting in the hearts of believers. Also, there is little to no fear of God and the keeping of His Commandments is quickly evaporating from modern homes of this cyber space era. Moses, a chosen vessel of God, received the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God for all of Israel. These Commandments are essential and relevant for your Christian journey today. The world is forever removing Jesus out of their: hearts, consciousness, homes, schools, marriages, communities, jobs and especially from within the new high-tech and social media arenas. Wars, diseases, famines, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, mudslides, global warming and other phenomena are impacting and changing the world’s environmental climate and mankind’s spiritual fundamental nature.

As a Baby Boomer growing up at the dawn of the Civil Rights Era, witnessing the accomplishments of men, women, young adults and committed teenagers who sacrificed their lives seeking the fulfillment of their vision of the American Dream. I can only imagine the shock, horror and disbelief Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have if he could gaze upon the state of urban America. The demise of families, of our youth today, our current crashing economy and soaring unemployment rates, would grieve him. The Dream he had appears to be morally shattered, given the violence and destruction in major cities across the country. Dr. King’s prophetic calling echoed the need to address employment and violence in Urban America over forty years ago. Well the powers that were and those of this generation have not listened to the heartbeat of God, nor do they hear the cries of suffering children and their families. For too long the onslaught of violence, teen pregnancy, failing schools, infiltration of drugs and guns in low-income areas has hindered the moral fiber of coming generations. America has failed to fight the battle here on its homeland. While billions, if not hundreds of trillions of dollars, have been spent on wars in foreign countries, there is a war going on in the inner cities and rural underdeveloped areas all across America. America’s technology can target an enemy with high-tech drones and supersonic laser launchers located thousands of miles from a base site and strike the designated targets. Yet, our powerful, God-fearing government cannot identify nor stop the escalating influx of guns and drugs into America’s cities? As the hearts of man turn further away from God, the world’s violence only gets worse. While we fail to give God praise and worship our countries moral and spiritual compass is broken and truth is easily distorted based on the pride of life and lust of the flesh. We like the rest of the world are facing crashing global economies and the world is forever growing darker and darker. I wonder what future generations can look forward to if Jesus is totally erased from America’s Spiritual consciousness?

The world is waxing colder as we grow further away from God’s will and plans for his Kingdom here on earth. We all ask why? The answer is clear: America, we have removed Jesus, his cross and all related images of Jesus Christ from America’s landscape. The historical title God Bless America, yet more and more children and adults do not know or do not have a relationship with God. Surely there is no fear and too little reference for God. There remains too many people and families, not to mention children, who do not fear God and do not know that they are created to bless Him with praise, worship, glory, and honor and love Him. People want God to pour out blessings, yet there is an absence for the love of God and no will to seek Christ. Believers must therefore increase their prayer time; study the Word and commune with God if their Light of Hope and life in Christ is going to lead others to Him.

As a word of encouragement, we cannot continue turning our backs on our Lord and Savior. There is Power in the name of Jesus and believers must learn to call on Him. By His grace we have authority to step on the devil’s head and tear down the walls of evil perverting the land. We must learn to use the power of God within us as we reach out to help others. God is our provider, healer, deliverer and protector. He is our strong tower and He is waiting with outstretched arms, calling tenderly, Come and return unto me. He has already promised to pour out blessings you will not have room enough to receive. The Lord is speaking, for we are the children of Abraham, the chosen and elect children of God. 1 Peter 2:9 ⁹ But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. iv

The Lord says, come learn of me, take up your cross and follow after me and I will give you rest. In Matthew 11:28-29 the Lord teaches us to come: ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In the New Testament there are more details and stories about the life of Jesus, his ministry, death, and resurrection. John 10:10 says ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly, giving us