The High Priest’s Garments (Part 5) – Resting On Christ’s Power And His Love
12 April 2009 service
preached by
Pastor Joseph Prince
as noted by
Yeo Choon Meng Terence
We visited an onyx factory in Turkey on 14 April 2009. Day 4 of our tour to Turkey.
EDITOR’S NOTES
I have noted this from the CD of the 12 April 2009 service as I was vacationing in Turkey during this sermon. I believe this CD is a recording of the 4th service on Sunday.
LAST WEEK’S REFLECTIONS
Pastor remarked that when he went home last week, God told him that the Glory of God will be his defence. This, pastor feels, is better than all the explanations of his friends.
True responsibility is to cast all our cares on Jesus and be care-free. Honour Jesus by being care-free.
WHY ARE WE STUDYING THE HIGH PRIEST
(1) Jesus is our high priest forever before the Father, after His resurrection.
(2) We want to learn and enjoy Jesus’ ministry as high priest.
(3) Jesus very presence in heaven makes intercession for us before the Father.
(4) Jesus’ person, wounds, speak louder than His words.
(5) We have a days-man in heaven now and we are cleansed forever of our sins.
ONYX STONES
Ex 28:9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Ex 28:10 Six of their names on one stone, and [the other] six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
The names of the children of Israel were engraved on 2 onyx stones. These are not the onyx stones of today which are neither brilliant or precious. The Hebrew word for onyx is transliterated as “shoham” (Strong’s 7718) which indicates a precious stone. In fact in Job 28:16 , onyx is called “precious” .
Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?
Job 28:13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job 28:14 The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me.
Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
Job 28:16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
The Hebrew word “shoham” means “to shine like fire” or to “flame”.
ACCORDING TO THEIR BIRTH
The names of the children of Israel were engraved on the onyx stones in order of their birth. This is in contrast to the breastplate, where they are arranged according to encampment.
The onyx stones rest on the shoulder of the high priest. The shoulder represents strength. We are resting on the strength and power of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, they were resting on the stones according to their natural birth.
In the new testament, we understand that we rest on Jesus’ shoulder of power according to our New Birth.
We do not hold our salvation or maintain our eternal life. Jesus does so for us. We simply rest on Jesus’ shoulders.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Just one shoulder of Jesus maintains the whole universe, and the weakest member of the blood-bought congregation.
Luke 15:4-5 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.
The weakest sheep / member of the church not the ‘monitor of the class’ qualifies to be on Jesus’ shoulder.
When we do not rest in Jesus, we find that we are losing our way. However, when we are resting on Jesus’ shoulder, we find that we cannot go astray. We go where He goes.
Only when we depend on our own strength, do we go astray.
Notice that psalm 23:4 begins “yea though I walk …” We went astray by walking into the valley.
ENGRAVINGS OF A SIGNET
Ex 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, [like] the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
Ex 28:12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod [for] stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
Our names are not simply written in stone, they are engraved, and cannot be erased. This gives us assurance of our eternal salvation.
THAT YOU MAY KNOW
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue to] believe in the name of the Son of God.
Our salvation is secure. God has written these things in His Word that we may know this.
We can only have love, joy, and peace in an environment of security.
The Bible deals in certainties not maybes.
If we feel insecure, we are insulting Jesus’ blood.
A woman can only feel love and give love to her husband if she is secure. We are secure in Jesus.
If a person has love, joy, and peace – what laws do you need to subject him to? You do not need to tell that person not to steal. He will even let somebody else steal from him!
Christians seem to make laws for everything. This is a habit we must stop. Rest in Jesus’ love.
Eventually, all Christians get to heaven purely because of Jesus. But depending on how fully you are resting in Him on your journey to heaven, your enjoyment of life on this earth will vary. It is like those who grip the seat in a plane whenever there is turbulence, in contrast to those who are asleep throughout the plane ride and are at rest. Both get to the destination, but one enjoyed the plane ride more.
BETTER TO BE BLESSED
Pastor feels that he rather be blessed and be persecuted, than be cursed and persecute others. It is better to be envied rather than to envy. As long as he runs after Jesus Christ, blessings will run after him and overtake him.
We too are supposed to run after Jesus Christ, not run after the blessings per se. This is because the blessings are, according to the Word, supposed to overtake you, when you run after Jesus.
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ
God started it, and He will finish the good work in us. Our part is just to remain confident in Him.
Just continue to look at His power and have renewed confidence in your rest in Him. Don’t have it in reverse whereby it is akin to you sitting on the TV and watching the sofa. Sit on the sofa and relax, while you watch TV.
BENJAMIN GENERATION
Deu 33:12 [And] of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; [and the LORD] shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Benjamin is a type of the end-time Church and Moses in Deu 33:12 says that we will “dwell between” the Lord’s shoulders. Hallelujah!
The best thing for the lamb whilst it is on Jesus’ shoulders is to rest. Don’t be excited and kick about! Simply rest.
Pastor tells the story of his daughter, Jessica, who enjoys the fresh air when she is upon her father’s shoulders.
The father may experience physical pain when lifting the child up and allowing her to rest on his shoulders but he continues to do this because he loves his child.
The child can never love the parent more than the parent loves the child. But as the child grows up, he realizes how much the parent loves him more and more. Likewise, as we grow in our spiritual walk, we realize more and more, God’s love for us.
The Father enjoys carrying us far above all powers and principalities, and every financial downturn and setback. The Father has joy in doing this, and we simply rest and enjoy the bird’s eye view. The secret is to just rest in Him.
STONES ARE A MEMORIAL
Ex 28:12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod [for] stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
The Jewish feast of Passover is the only feast of the 7 which is called a “memorial” (Ex 12:14).
Ex 28:29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy [place], for a memorial before the LORD continually.
Why “memorial” in Ex 28:12 and Ex 28:29? A memorial is not for God’s omniscience. It is for the pleasure of God’s heart.
SETTINGS OF GOLD
Ex 28:13 NKJV You shall also make settings of gold,
All the stones are on settings of GOLD. Gold symbolizes divine righteousness in the Bible. Our foundation is on divine righteousness. Hallelujah!
TWO CHAINS OF PURE GOLD LIKE BRAIDED CORDS
Ex 28:14 NKJV and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.
The golden chains connect Jesus’ strength (symbolized by stones on shoulder) to His love (as symbolized by the breastplate).
In the Hebrew, it is two Hebrew words which means “twisted and braided” and thereby indicates that the chains / cords were double-strength.
What connects the strength of God to His love is HIS HEART via 2 golden chains.
The chains bind God’s power to His Love and bind His love to His power.
When you depend on God’s love, God’s power and His shoulder is affected and they move on your behalf.
The chains also bind the breastplate (i.e. us) to the High Priest. We are chained to the High Priest. We cannot be lost. We are chained with chains of Golden (Divine) Righteousness.
We cannot be separated from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
BANDS OF LOVE
Hosea 11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
God’s bands are of love. The Hebrew word for “band” is aboth [Strong’s 5688] which is used in Ex 28:14 and translated into English as “braided”.
There is no sin we can do which can separate us from Jesus.
We are chained to our Salvation, Blessing, and to Jesus and the Father forever.
THE BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST
Ex 28:15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, and [of] fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
The breastplate is made of precious stones. They are on the bosom of the High Priest and therefore speak of Jesus’ love.
The breastplate of judgment is the most important, chief and most costly of the priestly vestments.
Why? To signify in the spirit that the breastplate symbolizes or points to Jesus’ heart, because the heart of Jesus is the most precious in the universe to the Father, and that God sees us as precious gems in the heart of Jesus.
Judgment in this context does not have a negative connotation, it simply means to judge what we see as reality, as God does.
God judges us as precious gems in Jesus heart! That is the meaning of the Breastplate of Judgment.
When God shines light on Jesus, the same light and favor that falls on Jesus, falls on us.
When the light of God shines on Jesus heart, we, like the precious stones, refract the light and we appear, excellent, precious and perfect in Jesus’ work.
God is light. He shines on us and we shine back.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The first mention of Jesus as the “light of the world” occurs in John 8:12 right after Jesus had given the woman caught in adultery the gift of no condemnation.
Notice that Jesus said that He did not condemn the woman and then told her to sin no more. The traditional church has got it reversed! They tell people to sin no more in order to receive no condemnation. The power to sin no more comes from the gift of no condemnation in Jesus.
The Light of Jesus reveals no condemnation ! Hallelujah!
GEMS HAVE NO LIGHT OF THEIR OWN
Gems have no light on their own. They refract the light.
Gems are originally found deep underground and in the darkness.
Likewise, Jesus went into the darkness and brought us into His marvelous light.
We like portrayed as precious stones in the breastplate because we are precious in the Father’s eyes.
THE STONES CAME FROM EGYPT
Ex 12:25 (NKJV) Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing.
The precious stones for the high priest garments came from Egypt on the night the Children of Israel began their exodus. These were a kind of back-pay for the years of slavery under the Egyptians.
Egypt in the bible is a type of the world.
We are saved from the world (Egypt) and are now placed on the breastplate or heart of love of Jesus.
We are now as close to God as Jesus.
Therefore, reject that mentality that we cannot linger and dwell in God’s presence and that we can only dip momentarily into His presence and ‘throw’ our requests to Him.
Now we have to personalize and own their love individually.
CUTTING THE STONE
To improve a stone, the cutting is important. The cutter is thus very important.
A well-cut stone increases its ability to refract light and increases its beauty.
The trials we experience as Christians are like cutting experienced by the gems.
Note, that trials do not include sickness and disease for the Christian, although trials may come in the form of perceived but not real sickness and disease.
God does not allow the Christian to be afflicted with sickness and disease.
But God allows some persecution and people who oppose you. Recall the Apostle Paul’s experience. It is this form of cutting which causes us to shine brighter.
Like the moon, let us keep shining and ignore the dogs opposing us who are barking below. The dogs cannot harm us. Just keep shining.
ON THE SHOULDER – ALL ARE EQUAL
On the shoulder (power of God), we are the same stone. This signifies that in the New Birth we all have the same standing in righteousness and the same acceptance before the Father.
ON THE BREASTPLATE – INDIVIDUALIZED LOVE
Now when it comes to the love of Jesus (breastplate), God loves us individually as different precious stones. The diamond cannot say to the sapphire, “I am better”. There is unity with diversity.
God loves us individually. Beauty in individuality. He calls his sheep by name.
John 10:3 (NKJV) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
God individualizes the gems.
Like the Apostle, learn to say, the Son of God loves me, and gave Himself for me. Personalize the love.
Don’t just say God loves everybody. Like a magnifying glass which is focused on a piece of ground, put the magnifying glass of God’s love on yourself so that you enjoy His love and you are on ‘fire’ in your life.
EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
Sometimes when you personally experience the love of Jesus Christ, many times before you pray, you get your request! Sometimes, you merely think of something, and you get it! Learn to practice God’s individual love for you.
Great things happen to people who believe God loves them.
All things work together for good for those who love God i.e. us.
God is for us.
When things go wrong, be secure in Christ.
God works all things for our good.
The cutting only makes me brighter.
As we focus on our High Priest, Jesus, we become more and more secure. As this happens i.e. you are more and more secure, people cannot control you. People can only control those who are insecure. People don’t like it that they cannot control you.
Take the position, that if they don’t approve of you, so what?!
It is better to be blessed, and be persecuted rather than be cursed, and persecute others because your heart is small and jealous.
CAST YOUR CARES TO THE LORD
After we have cast our cares to the LORD, the true compliment to the LORD is to be care-free. This is true responsibility — the ability to respond.
Reject the devil’s taunts of “What are you going to do about it?” Answer: “Nothing, it is in the hand of Jesus.”
When put in the hands of Jesus, it can only prosper.
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: THE ABOVE NOTES WERE DRAFTED BY, DEVELOPED, COMPILED AND ORGANISED BY YEO CHOON MENG TERENCE IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY ON 19 MAY 2009 AND ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS ARE HIS ALONE. THE ABOVE NOTES ARE NOT REPRESENTATIONS OF, ATTRIBUTABLE TO OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH NEW CREATION CHURCH OR JOSEPH PRINCE MINISTRIES.
