The Door: Lessons from the O.T.

Ex 26:36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

John 10: 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Why should there be a door between the ministry of the laver and the service and fellowship of the holy place? Perhaps to teach us that the work of the one was just to fit us for the enjoyment and privilege of the other. To grow in Grace means receiving to the full the blessings in Christ Jesus. Those who walk in the light they have, shall receive more light. Prov 4:18 “The oath of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more.” In the experience of the Christian there is always more to follow.
1. The hangings that formed the door, like the gate outside, were made of “fine linen—blue, purple, and scarlet.” Here we have Jesus as the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the mediator between God and men.
2.  The door had five pillars, made of shittim wood overlaid with gold. = wood-human gold-divine
3.  The five pillars may represent His fivefold name as given in Isaiah 9:6  and according to 1 Timothy 1:7 He is 1. King; 2. Eternal; 3. Immortal; 4. Invisible; 5. The Only wise God
The Door here represents the unsearchable riches of Christ – The Door was:

I. THE WAY INTO ACCEPTABLE PRAYER

A. Through the door, straight in front stood the golden altar of incense = Intercession
B. When Christ Himself becomes the chiefest of 10,000 to our hearts, then prayer will become a delight.
1. John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
2. The ministry of the H.G. (Laver) is needed to fit us for this holy and blessed privilege.
3. Romans 8:26—27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.

II. THE WAY INTO CONTINUAL LIGHT — Knowledge of Him
A. Within the door was the ever burning candlestick. = the sweet experience of walking in the “light of the Lord”
B. Many Christians know only the altar of atonement, that their sins are forgiven but they’ve never experienced “the fullness of God” The teaching of the laver is neglected.

III. THE WAY INTO ABIDING FELLOWSHIP
A. This is represented by the Table of Shewbread = Fellowship — Here we have fellowship with God and His Son who is the Bread of Life.
B. The Laver is again important — if we are to fellowship we must be clean. How shall two walk together except they agree.

IV. THE WAY INTO NEARNESS TO GOD
A. In passing through the door the priest must have been conscious that he had approached nearer to God. Now there was only the vail between him and the glory which rested on the mercy seat within.
B. For us as saved people only the veil of this flesh keeps us from the immediate vision of the glory of God. ‘Absent from the body present with the Lord. 2 Corth. 5:8

V. THE WAY INTO THE CALM OF DIVINE SAFETY
A. No matter how stormy the day might be, within the door there was always calm and quiet. We are specially sheltered under the wings of God. Your life is hid with Christ in God.
B. Though the storms of life go on yet we gain strength from “hidden manna’, we are taught with ‘hidden wisdom, and we are satisfied with “hidden riches”

VI. THE WAY INTO THE SPHERE OF HOLY SERVICE
A. Here by priestly hands, the INCENSE was put upon the coals of the altar = prayer; The LIGHT burned continually being replenished by the priests = testimony; The BREAD was kept on the table by the priests = the Word
B. The H.S. helps us in Service: Prayer, Testimony, Ministering of the Word

There was no Floor in the holy place. The bare feet of the priests still walked on the sandy desert.
He was constantly reminded that, though he was in the place of holiness enjoying heavenly things, he was still on earth.
All these great spiritual blessings are for us now in our present earthly state.

The problem is that many Christians only see the blessings of God as future and fail to partake now. *John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

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