1 00:00:00,650 --> 00:00:03,570 Let's turn together please to Exodus and chapter 2 00:00:03,570 --> 00:00:04,310 25. 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,040 Commencing in the book of Exodus chapter 25, 4 00:00:19,340 --> 00:00:23,240 we find the construction of different articles for 5 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:24,000 the tabernacle. 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,640 While my dear brother has been bringing the 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,180 temple before us, I'm going to back up 8 00:00:29,180 --> 00:00:31,119 a bit and we'll look a little at 9 00:00:31,119 --> 00:00:34,300 the lamp stand in the tabernacle and I 10 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:36,720 hope it will be a help to us. 11 00:00:37,620 --> 00:00:39,660 For the sake of the younger folk that 12 00:00:39,660 --> 00:00:41,640 are here in particular, we do want to 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,420 emphasize the exercise that you should have to 14 00:00:47,420 --> 00:00:50,700 appreciate that when you come together in an 15 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:54,260 assembly meeting, the presence of the Lord Jesus 16 00:00:54,260 --> 00:00:55,380 is there. 17 00:00:56,820 --> 00:00:58,260 That's very humbling. 18 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,440 It is very precious and that's what helps 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,140 us to come with reverence. 20 00:01:05,740 --> 00:01:08,220 It helps us to come with a right 21 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:08,720 spirit. 22 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:11,540 It will help us to be very careful 23 00:01:11,540 --> 00:01:14,360 how we act and what we're thinking. 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,100 He is there as we've been hearing. 25 00:01:18,620 --> 00:01:21,180 For where two or three are gathered together 26 00:01:21,180 --> 00:01:24,660 in my name, there am I. 27 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:28,960 Oh to value and to appreciate and to 28 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,400 realize in our gatherings beloved, God has trusted 29 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,100 us with his holy word and he associates 30 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:41,540 his own presence with us and with his 31 00:01:41,540 --> 00:01:43,060 word as we gather. 32 00:01:43,740 --> 00:01:46,440 So I do trust that our coming together 33 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,180 and what we have been listening to and 34 00:01:48,180 --> 00:01:51,040 what we shall consider now will help to 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:56,100 make that reality very precious and make us 36 00:01:56,100 --> 00:01:58,960 sensitive to it as we move from one 37 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,400 meeting to another. 38 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:03,340 So we're going to read concerning the lampstand 39 00:02:03,340 --> 00:02:07,180 as it's found built in chapter 25. 40 00:02:07,580 --> 00:02:09,979 We'll commence our reading at verse 31. 41 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:14,640 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure 42 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:15,220 gold. 43 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:18,920 Of beaten work shall the candlestick be made. 44 00:02:19,700 --> 00:02:24,260 His shaft and his branches, his bowls, his 45 00:02:24,260 --> 00:02:27,540 knops, and his flowers shall be of the 46 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:29,200 same, all of the same piece. 47 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,680 And six branches shall come out of the 48 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,460 sides of it. 49 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,920 Three branches of the candlestick out of the 50 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:40,140 one side and three branches of the candlestick 51 00:02:40,140 --> 00:02:41,400 out of the other side. 52 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:46,360 Three bowls made like unto almonds with a 53 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,880 knop, that is a bud, and a flower 54 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,560 in one branch. 55 00:02:51,020 --> 00:02:54,220 And three bowls made like almonds in the 56 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:56,120 other branch with a knop and a flower. 57 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,940 So in the six branches that come out 58 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:01,020 of the candlestick. 59 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,880 And in the candlestick, and the better word 60 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,460 of course is lampstand, there's no wax candles 61 00:03:07,460 --> 00:03:08,060 in this. 62 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:11,220 This is a lampstand made from gold. 63 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:13,720 So I'm going to use the word lampstand. 64 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,400 In the lampstand shall be four bowls made 65 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,680 like unto almonds with their buds and their 66 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:22,160 flowers. 67 00:03:22,980 --> 00:03:24,680 And there should be a bud under two 68 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,120 branches of the same. 69 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,000 And a bud under two branches of the 70 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:29,420 same. 71 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,400 And a bud under two branches of the 72 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:32,740 same. 73 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,000 Three different places on each branch. 74 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,700 According to the six branches that proceed out 75 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:41,700 of the candlestick lampstand. 76 00:03:42,420 --> 00:03:45,360 Their knops and their branches shall be of 77 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:45,960 the same. 78 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,460 All it shall be one beaten work of 79 00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:51,280 pure gold. 80 00:03:51,860 --> 00:03:54,700 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof. 81 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,540 And they shall light the lamps thereof, that 82 00:03:58,540 --> 00:04:01,800 they may give light over against itself. 83 00:04:02,260 --> 00:04:03,640 That's an interesting statement. 84 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,680 And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes 85 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,420 thereof, shall be of pure gold. 86 00:04:11,140 --> 00:04:14,120 Of a talent of pure gold shall he 87 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,540 make it with all these vessels. 88 00:04:17,339 --> 00:04:19,940 And look that they'll make them after their 89 00:04:19,940 --> 00:04:24,260 pattern which was showed thee in the mount. 90 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:28,920 May the Lord most graciously bless our reading 91 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,340 and help us to get a little glimpse 92 00:04:31,340 --> 00:04:32,960 of the person of the Lord Jesus. 93 00:04:34,620 --> 00:04:37,620 As we look at the tabernacle, you will 94 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:39,800 remember as my brother has been bringing before 95 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,300 us, there's a place for the ark. 96 00:04:42,060 --> 00:04:45,060 And that beautiful piece of furniture called the 97 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:47,940 ark in the tabernacle and in the temple 98 00:04:47,940 --> 00:04:51,300 speaks of the person of the Lord Jesus 99 00:04:51,300 --> 00:04:53,080 in the midst of his people. 100 00:04:53,620 --> 00:04:56,080 But in the second little section there are 101 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,360 three pieces of furniture. 102 00:04:57,660 --> 00:05:00,980 And each of them likewise represent the Lord 103 00:05:00,980 --> 00:05:05,800 Jesus in three distinct characteristics as he is 104 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:06,660 in our midst. 105 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,360 One of them is a table with 12 106 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,000 loaves of bread upon that table. 107 00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:15,800 And that table is the person of the 108 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,340 Lord Jesus who is the bond of the 109 00:05:19,340 --> 00:05:23,200 unity and fellowship of being in an assembly 110 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:23,820 of God. 111 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:25,980 He's the bond of that. 112 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,500 It's not me and it's not what I 113 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:30,080 teach. 114 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:31,440 It's himself. 115 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,060 His presence is the bond. 116 00:05:34,260 --> 00:05:37,900 In other words, I'm gathered unto his person. 117 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:40,260 And so the person of the Lord Jesus 118 00:05:40,260 --> 00:05:42,880 is the reason that I am a part 119 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,380 of the fellowship of the assembly of God 120 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:47,920 wherever you may live and where I live. 121 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:50,760 And then we have another little piece of 122 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,620 furniture called a golden altar. 123 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,200 And that's the person of the Lord Jesus 124 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,660 in our midst as the receiver of our 125 00:05:57,660 --> 00:05:57,980 worship. 126 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,420 Because from that little altar, it filled that 127 00:06:02,420 --> 00:06:04,340 place with perfume. 128 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:07,820 And every priest and the high priest who 129 00:06:07,820 --> 00:06:10,980 functioned there was touched by that perfume. 130 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,820 That's the Lord Jesus receiving the service and 131 00:06:16,820 --> 00:06:21,040 the worship, the thanksgiving, the praise of each 132 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,120 one of our meetings. 133 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,840 And he presents it with a sweet savor 134 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:27,040 unto God. 135 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:29,720 Then there is the lampstand that I want 136 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,780 to notice with you a little here. 137 00:06:32,060 --> 00:06:34,600 And I trust with the gracious help of 138 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,120 God to notice with you the Lord Jesus 139 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:41,320 as he is the authority for all activity. 140 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:43,280 That's the lampstand. 141 00:06:43,580 --> 00:06:47,000 Its purpose is to give light so that 142 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,120 all activity and even the position of the 143 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,040 function of those little pieces of furniture, the 144 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,340 presence of the Lord in the people, all 145 00:06:57,340 --> 00:07:01,740 of it will be enlightened and given authority 146 00:07:01,740 --> 00:07:03,560 by this lampstand. 147 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:06,120 So that is the Lord Jesus, dear younger 148 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,800 believer and older saint, when you come to 149 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:09,660 your prayer meeting. 150 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,960 He is there and that's why we come. 151 00:07:13,780 --> 00:07:14,880 Never forget that. 152 00:07:15,340 --> 00:07:18,720 You're coming as a priest into the presence 153 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:23,020 of these four pieces of furniture, the presence 154 00:07:23,020 --> 00:07:25,560 of the Lord Jesus himself. 155 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,320 And he is the authority for what will 156 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,720 happen there and therefore he's the administrator of 157 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:31,880 it. 158 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:33,880 And he is the reason that you have 159 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:34,360 come. 160 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,880 There's the bread on the table, one piece, 161 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,460 one loaf for each one of the tribes, 162 00:07:39,780 --> 00:07:42,020 and that kept them together in that bond 163 00:07:42,020 --> 00:07:42,620 of unity. 164 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,360 And a very interesting thing about that table 165 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,540 too, it says concerning them, their faces were 166 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:49,860 all towards the Lord. 167 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:51,400 You know what that's saying? 168 00:07:51,780 --> 00:07:52,480 They were committed. 169 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,620 Every one of those tribes were committed to 170 00:07:56,620 --> 00:07:59,920 perpetual testimony for the Lord Jesus. 171 00:08:00,420 --> 00:08:02,860 And the bond of the person of Christ 172 00:08:02,860 --> 00:08:05,740 is the one that kept them together in 173 00:08:05,740 --> 00:08:06,460 that commitment. 174 00:08:07,140 --> 00:08:08,660 And so be at the prayer meeting. 175 00:08:09,020 --> 00:08:09,840 Take your place. 176 00:08:10,580 --> 00:08:12,580 Be at the remembrance of the Lord Jesus 177 00:08:12,580 --> 00:08:16,900 because the person of the Lord Jesus is 178 00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:18,980 the reason that we come together. 179 00:08:19,460 --> 00:08:22,320 He is the bond of that unity and 180 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,900 that fellowship and we are giving expression of 181 00:08:25,900 --> 00:08:27,940 our commitment unto him. 182 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,240 Now let me note with you the construction 183 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,260 of the lampstand that we have. 184 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,380 And just in passing, it is a very 185 00:08:36,380 --> 00:08:40,039 interesting study to notice lampstands in your Bible. 186 00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:43,660 They have very different occupations. 187 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:46,260 This one is in the temple or in 188 00:08:46,260 --> 00:08:49,380 the tabernacle, pardon me, in keeping with the 189 00:08:49,380 --> 00:08:51,640 presence of the Lord in our midst as 190 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,880 the authority of all activity in the holy 191 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:55,360 place. 192 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,820 I'm just going to mention two or three 193 00:08:58,820 --> 00:09:00,580 others just for the sake of your study. 194 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,910 Some of you dear young folk are taking 195 00:09:02,910 --> 00:09:04,710 notes and I would like you to look 196 00:09:04,710 --> 00:09:07,790 these up and consider them yourself as you 197 00:09:07,790 --> 00:09:12,410 will prayerfully meditate upon them because they are 198 00:09:12,410 --> 00:09:14,970 going to represent the person of the Lord 199 00:09:14,970 --> 00:09:19,810 Jesus and his association with different situations relative 200 00:09:19,810 --> 00:09:21,290 to his word. 201 00:09:22,010 --> 00:09:24,790 It's used again, of course, one thing that 202 00:09:24,790 --> 00:09:26,770 is very interesting in the temple where my 203 00:09:26,770 --> 00:09:29,250 beloved brother has been taking us, there were 204 00:09:29,250 --> 00:09:32,870 10 lampstands, not just one, five silver ones 205 00:09:32,870 --> 00:09:34,030 and five gold ones. 206 00:09:34,470 --> 00:09:36,450 That's a very interesting study and that's a 207 00:09:36,450 --> 00:09:37,970 lot of homework right there. 208 00:09:38,350 --> 00:09:41,050 Do you consider God's word in the person 209 00:09:41,050 --> 00:09:41,910 of the Lord Jesus? 210 00:09:42,750 --> 00:09:44,210 But when you turn to the book of 211 00:09:44,210 --> 00:09:47,070 Daniel, you'll find the lampstand was in the 212 00:09:47,070 --> 00:09:50,670 wrong place and it was a condemnation. 213 00:09:51,750 --> 00:09:55,770 You remember how you read of Beldeshazzar when 214 00:09:55,770 --> 00:09:59,150 he took all the pieces of furniture out 215 00:09:59,150 --> 00:10:01,230 of the temple and took it away to 216 00:10:01,230 --> 00:10:04,210 Babylon and then he had a party and 217 00:10:04,210 --> 00:10:06,570 the lampstand was in the room of that 218 00:10:06,570 --> 00:10:09,670 party and right over top of the lampstand 219 00:10:09,670 --> 00:10:12,070 the finger of God began to write on 220 00:10:12,070 --> 00:10:13,290 the plaster of the wall. 221 00:10:14,210 --> 00:10:17,950 A lampstand in the wrong place is going 222 00:10:17,950 --> 00:10:20,570 to be condemning, not blessing. 223 00:10:21,190 --> 00:10:22,150 Don't forget that. 224 00:10:23,410 --> 00:10:27,070 Make sure that we recognize the authority of 225 00:10:27,070 --> 00:10:29,690 the person of the Lord Jesus and his 226 00:10:29,690 --> 00:10:33,370 word in relation to the place where you 227 00:10:33,370 --> 00:10:33,970 should gather. 228 00:10:34,510 --> 00:10:37,990 And in Zechariah chapter 4, we find that 229 00:10:37,990 --> 00:10:41,450 the lampstand is related to the work of 230 00:10:41,450 --> 00:10:43,210 the Spirit of God when he's going to 231 00:10:43,210 --> 00:10:45,550 deal with the nation of Israel and restore 232 00:10:45,550 --> 00:10:48,510 them, reconcile them unto himself in the future. 233 00:10:49,290 --> 00:10:50,850 But one that I really love to look 234 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,150 at, and I'll just mention this other one, 235 00:10:53,390 --> 00:10:56,490 is found in Revelation in chapter 21 and 236 00:10:56,490 --> 00:10:58,530 it says about the Lord Jesus in heaven. 237 00:10:59,150 --> 00:11:02,570 It says, the lamb is the lampstand thereof. 238 00:11:02,910 --> 00:11:03,770 I love that. 239 00:11:04,170 --> 00:11:05,910 The lamb is the light, but the word 240 00:11:05,910 --> 00:11:07,150 light means lampstand. 241 00:11:07,690 --> 00:11:11,290 And in throughout all eternity we are going 242 00:11:11,290 --> 00:11:13,410 to dwell in the blaze of the light 243 00:11:13,410 --> 00:11:15,850 of the lamb forever and ever. 244 00:11:16,310 --> 00:11:18,510 He is the lampstand of heaven. 245 00:11:19,010 --> 00:11:21,530 And that helps us to see that the 246 00:11:21,530 --> 00:11:24,810 lampstand of the Old Testament tabernacle is linked 247 00:11:24,810 --> 00:11:25,870 with the Lord Jesus. 248 00:11:26,530 --> 00:11:29,530 So we must see him in this lampstand 249 00:11:29,530 --> 00:11:31,550 and his precious word. 250 00:11:32,110 --> 00:11:33,770 So first of all let me notice with 251 00:11:33,770 --> 00:11:36,210 you the composition of the lampstand. 252 00:11:36,470 --> 00:11:40,550 It was made of pure gold, no wood. 253 00:11:41,630 --> 00:11:43,290 When you come to the little golden altar 254 00:11:43,290 --> 00:11:44,930 it was made out of wood covered with 255 00:11:44,930 --> 00:11:45,350 gold. 256 00:11:46,090 --> 00:11:47,910 The same with the table, made out of 257 00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:50,850 wood covered with gold, not so the lampstand, 258 00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:51,930 pure gold. 259 00:11:52,530 --> 00:11:54,390 So what we are looking at first of 260 00:11:54,390 --> 00:11:58,970 all is to consider the eternal nature of 261 00:11:58,970 --> 00:12:01,330 the Lord Jesus and his word. 262 00:12:01,730 --> 00:12:03,150 That's its immutability. 263 00:12:03,370 --> 00:12:04,670 It cannot change. 264 00:12:05,470 --> 00:12:08,550 It is the word which is eternal. 265 00:12:09,530 --> 00:12:11,470 And so the person of the Lord Jesus 266 00:12:11,470 --> 00:12:14,810 in our midst, we can see that it's 267 00:12:14,810 --> 00:12:18,230 sovereign authority, pure gold. 268 00:12:18,670 --> 00:12:21,550 And that lampstand was made all of one 269 00:12:21,550 --> 00:12:24,710 piece, so there's not something that's added now 270 00:12:24,710 --> 00:12:25,290 and again. 271 00:12:26,150 --> 00:12:26,870 It is him. 272 00:12:27,590 --> 00:12:31,070 That center shaft is the lampstand and the 273 00:12:31,070 --> 00:12:34,230 six branches that come out of the lampstand, 274 00:12:34,570 --> 00:12:36,190 that's what God is going to show to 275 00:12:36,190 --> 00:12:36,470 us. 276 00:12:36,850 --> 00:12:38,870 So we need to see first of all 277 00:12:38,870 --> 00:12:41,010 that the Lord in the midst of his 278 00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:44,970 people, beloved, we are in the presence of 279 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:46,870 him who is eternal. 280 00:12:47,670 --> 00:12:49,710 That will help us with our reverence. 281 00:12:50,530 --> 00:12:52,190 It's going to help us to be careful. 282 00:12:52,630 --> 00:12:55,310 Think of those priests, only one priest at 283 00:12:55,310 --> 00:12:57,950 a time, always in company with his high 284 00:12:57,950 --> 00:12:58,330 priest. 285 00:12:58,850 --> 00:13:01,610 He would be in that holy place and 286 00:13:01,610 --> 00:13:04,250 twice a day he had to go over 287 00:13:04,250 --> 00:13:05,390 to that lampstand. 288 00:13:06,090 --> 00:13:09,850 He's dealing with an article of exquisite beauty, 289 00:13:10,810 --> 00:13:15,790 remarkable value as we've been hearing, pure gold. 290 00:13:16,370 --> 00:13:18,450 And thus as we come to his word 291 00:13:19,030 --> 00:13:23,330 in every gathering, we are handling, we are 292 00:13:23,330 --> 00:13:26,230 touching that which is pure gold. 293 00:13:26,690 --> 00:13:30,470 The presence of our Lord and his word 294 00:13:30,470 --> 00:13:31,450 are one. 295 00:13:34,590 --> 00:13:38,170 How I treat his word is equal to 296 00:13:38,170 --> 00:13:39,390 how I treat his person. 297 00:13:40,850 --> 00:13:43,550 You be slack with his word, dear believer, 298 00:13:44,170 --> 00:13:48,150 and it shows a slackness of appreciation for 299 00:13:48,150 --> 00:13:48,690 his person. 300 00:13:49,610 --> 00:13:52,490 John chapter 1 and verse 1, we read 301 00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:53,190 these words. 302 00:13:53,730 --> 00:13:57,070 In the beginning was the word. 303 00:13:58,530 --> 00:14:02,690 That's oneness with his spoken word or the 304 00:14:02,690 --> 00:14:05,770 word personified, the word of God. 305 00:14:06,250 --> 00:14:07,970 He is his expression. 306 00:14:08,650 --> 00:14:12,010 He is its channel of revelation. 307 00:14:12,590 --> 00:14:14,330 He is its authority. 308 00:14:14,730 --> 00:14:16,730 That's the lampstand. 309 00:14:17,010 --> 00:14:20,350 Therefore, we handle the word of God with 310 00:14:20,350 --> 00:14:20,930 reverence. 311 00:14:21,390 --> 00:14:24,710 We are touching upon the glory of his 312 00:14:24,710 --> 00:14:26,090 eternal person. 313 00:14:26,950 --> 00:14:29,890 That's why there are some words that are 314 00:14:29,890 --> 00:14:32,510 used about the Lord Jesus in the scriptures. 315 00:14:32,510 --> 00:14:36,970 For example, the lampstand is called the light 316 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:41,110 and it's the emphatic article, the light. 317 00:14:41,930 --> 00:14:44,990 In other words, the source of all light 318 00:14:44,990 --> 00:14:46,370 is this lampstand. 319 00:14:47,170 --> 00:14:49,310 And so it was in that holy place. 320 00:14:49,750 --> 00:14:50,710 There were no windows. 321 00:14:51,510 --> 00:14:53,210 There were no windows in the door. 322 00:14:53,770 --> 00:14:57,290 The only possible light was the lampstand. 323 00:14:57,970 --> 00:15:01,450 And in keeping with that, that lampstand had 324 00:15:01,450 --> 00:15:04,550 to be attended so that it would never 325 00:15:04,550 --> 00:15:07,430 fade and nothing could be done in the 326 00:15:07,430 --> 00:15:08,570 shadows of the dark. 327 00:15:09,370 --> 00:15:12,770 The lampstand, the presence of our blessed Lord 328 00:15:12,770 --> 00:15:15,410 in the midst, to be honored and his 329 00:15:15,410 --> 00:15:18,790 word to be honored because it is made 330 00:15:18,790 --> 00:15:19,890 of pure gold. 331 00:15:20,410 --> 00:15:22,070 Again, it's called the brightness. 332 00:15:22,930 --> 00:15:25,990 Now, the idea of brightness is the everlasting 333 00:15:25,990 --> 00:15:27,290 character of it. 334 00:15:28,190 --> 00:15:32,170 Brightness had no beginning and brightness can never 335 00:15:32,170 --> 00:15:33,510 be overcome with darkness. 336 00:15:33,510 --> 00:15:35,950 Light always overcomes the dark. 337 00:15:36,710 --> 00:15:38,970 And that is true of the word of 338 00:15:38,970 --> 00:15:41,670 God in our midst and the presence of 339 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:42,530 our blessed Lord. 340 00:15:42,610 --> 00:15:45,350 And the other word that's used for him 341 00:15:45,350 --> 00:15:47,330 as the light is majesty. 342 00:15:47,810 --> 00:15:52,030 That's an interesting characterization of light, majesty. 343 00:15:52,530 --> 00:15:54,370 And what it is speaking of, of course, 344 00:15:54,510 --> 00:15:57,010 is the position of its authority. 345 00:15:57,490 --> 00:16:00,770 It is majesty and all the brightness and 346 00:16:00,770 --> 00:16:03,390 all the glory that attends unto majesty. 347 00:16:04,050 --> 00:16:07,010 So is the person and the presence of 348 00:16:07,010 --> 00:16:09,410 our Lord Jesus in our midst. 349 00:16:10,010 --> 00:16:13,010 I have to say to you, beloved saints, 350 00:16:13,130 --> 00:16:16,510 I feel so inadequate and so small when 351 00:16:16,510 --> 00:16:20,250 I think that even here this afternoon, we 352 00:16:20,250 --> 00:16:24,090 are gathered in the presence of the Lord 353 00:16:24,090 --> 00:16:25,150 Jesus Christ. 354 00:16:26,130 --> 00:16:31,470 The golden lampstand, the marvel of handling his 355 00:16:31,470 --> 00:16:35,490 holy word should be with fear and with 356 00:16:35,490 --> 00:16:40,790 prayer and humility and a desire only that 357 00:16:40,790 --> 00:16:43,090 he should receive his rightful glory. 358 00:16:44,030 --> 00:16:48,090 He is the lampstand, pure gold. 359 00:16:48,590 --> 00:16:50,810 The second thing I want you to notice 360 00:16:50,810 --> 00:16:53,090 that God mentions, he says, you have to 361 00:16:53,090 --> 00:16:53,810 beat it out. 362 00:16:54,730 --> 00:16:56,590 You're not going to melt it and pour 363 00:16:56,590 --> 00:16:57,570 it into a mold. 364 00:16:57,850 --> 00:16:59,410 There is no mold for him. 365 00:16:59,730 --> 00:17:00,770 No mold, brother. 366 00:17:01,690 --> 00:17:05,930 No, the Lord Jesus never took shape in 367 00:17:05,930 --> 00:17:09,150 character or nature from any other form. 368 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:10,990 It's beaten out. 369 00:17:11,329 --> 00:17:13,849 But there's another reason for it being beaten 370 00:17:13,849 --> 00:17:16,030 out, because God is going to tell his 371 00:17:16,030 --> 00:17:17,650 people to beat out different things. 372 00:17:17,710 --> 00:17:19,390 He tells them to beat out the manna. 373 00:17:20,130 --> 00:17:21,790 And of course, the reason for beating out 374 00:17:21,790 --> 00:17:23,310 the manna is to make it into different 375 00:17:23,310 --> 00:17:23,829 cakes. 376 00:17:24,530 --> 00:17:25,849 And he tells them to beat out the 377 00:17:25,849 --> 00:17:28,810 olive oil out of the olives, which, of 378 00:17:28,810 --> 00:17:30,570 course, is dealing with the person of the 379 00:17:30,570 --> 00:17:31,370 Holy Spirit. 380 00:17:31,810 --> 00:17:35,190 It's learning submission and subjection to that divine 381 00:17:35,190 --> 00:17:35,710 person. 382 00:17:35,930 --> 00:17:37,990 As you're beating it out, you're learning of 383 00:17:37,990 --> 00:17:38,710 his claims. 384 00:17:39,370 --> 00:17:41,730 You're getting to see his qualities. 385 00:17:42,250 --> 00:17:43,170 You're beating it out. 386 00:17:43,910 --> 00:17:46,750 And when you're beating out gold, one of 387 00:17:46,750 --> 00:17:49,450 the great results of it is beaten gold 388 00:17:49,450 --> 00:17:50,370 will never tarnish. 389 00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:52,050 And I love that. 390 00:17:53,190 --> 00:17:56,310 Poured gold, yes, it could tarnish. 391 00:17:56,970 --> 00:17:59,330 But beaten gold does not tarnish. 392 00:17:59,950 --> 00:18:02,090 It's never affected by time. 393 00:18:02,450 --> 00:18:04,470 It's never affected by environment. 394 00:18:05,110 --> 00:18:06,670 That's my blessed Lord. 395 00:18:07,150 --> 00:18:08,810 That's the one brother in who is in 396 00:18:08,810 --> 00:18:09,490 our midst. 397 00:18:10,090 --> 00:18:11,350 And we glory in him. 398 00:18:12,070 --> 00:18:15,690 There's no possibility he could ever be tarnished. 399 00:18:16,210 --> 00:18:20,310 No possibility that time or environment could ever 400 00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:24,010 cause a default or any type of a 401 00:18:24,910 --> 00:18:28,870 lessening of the value of the pure gold 402 00:18:28,870 --> 00:18:30,150 that is beaten out. 403 00:18:30,670 --> 00:18:32,450 But we must take a few moments and 404 00:18:32,450 --> 00:18:34,770 note with you the center shaft. 405 00:18:35,230 --> 00:18:37,850 You noticed when we were reading how it 406 00:18:37,850 --> 00:18:41,490 says his shaft, and the branches came out 407 00:18:41,490 --> 00:18:42,570 of his shaft? 408 00:18:43,270 --> 00:18:44,710 That's a beautiful thing. 409 00:18:45,210 --> 00:18:46,950 You see, the Lord Jesus is the center 410 00:18:46,950 --> 00:18:48,230 here of his word. 411 00:18:50,170 --> 00:18:51,950 He is the word personified. 412 00:18:52,950 --> 00:18:54,970 And then there are six branches that are 413 00:18:54,970 --> 00:18:58,170 attached to this lampstand, but they're all beaten 414 00:18:58,170 --> 00:18:59,250 out of the one piece. 415 00:18:59,750 --> 00:19:01,610 They're not made separate and then welded. 416 00:19:01,930 --> 00:19:04,310 They're all beaten out of the one, but 417 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:07,770 they're called branches from his shaft. 418 00:19:08,530 --> 00:19:11,150 This is the point that's being emphasized for 419 00:19:11,150 --> 00:19:11,890 us, I believe. 420 00:19:12,470 --> 00:19:15,010 The Lord Jesus is in preeminence here in 421 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:15,570 his word. 422 00:19:16,370 --> 00:19:20,210 And all the branches, as we read at 423 00:19:20,210 --> 00:19:22,670 the end of the chapter, are throwing light 424 00:19:22,670 --> 00:19:24,090 on the middle branch. 425 00:19:24,990 --> 00:19:26,370 That's amazing, brethren. 426 00:19:27,050 --> 00:19:28,530 That's going to be a help to you, 427 00:19:28,650 --> 00:19:31,690 dear younger brother and younger sister, when you're 428 00:19:31,690 --> 00:19:32,890 reading his word. 429 00:19:33,910 --> 00:19:36,550 Because we're going to have to notice with 430 00:19:36,550 --> 00:19:38,950 you that there are six branches, and that's 431 00:19:38,950 --> 00:19:42,890 very instructive relative to your Bible, because there 432 00:19:42,890 --> 00:19:46,590 are six character of books in your Bible. 433 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:51,710 And those six character of books make a 434 00:19:51,710 --> 00:19:53,070 complete revelation. 435 00:19:54,490 --> 00:19:55,670 And what is it doing? 436 00:19:56,330 --> 00:19:59,650 Every one of those character of books are 437 00:19:59,650 --> 00:20:02,710 taking a different avenue to throw light on 438 00:20:02,710 --> 00:20:06,530 the Lord Jesus, to reveal him, to show 439 00:20:06,530 --> 00:20:09,810 the need for him, to show in typology, 440 00:20:10,030 --> 00:20:12,250 even as we're looking at a little now, 441 00:20:12,490 --> 00:20:16,390 of his character and he in our midst. 442 00:20:16,390 --> 00:20:18,390 So I'm going to mention that to you, 443 00:20:18,470 --> 00:20:20,390 but first of all we're going to look 444 00:20:20,390 --> 00:20:23,230 at the ornamentation of that center shaft. 445 00:20:24,110 --> 00:20:26,810 This is important, dear brethren, and I love 446 00:20:26,810 --> 00:20:27,030 it. 447 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:31,270 I see in this center shaft the picture 448 00:20:31,270 --> 00:20:32,330 of resurrection. 449 00:20:33,370 --> 00:20:36,750 And furthermore, we see the picture of fullness. 450 00:20:37,610 --> 00:20:40,790 The first thing he mentions is a bowl. 451 00:20:42,030 --> 00:20:45,090 Now that bowl was not the lamp. 452 00:20:45,670 --> 00:20:50,130 That bowl was hollow, and in that branch 453 00:20:50,130 --> 00:20:51,570 there was a hollow bowl. 454 00:20:51,830 --> 00:20:53,350 Was it for a reservoir of oil? 455 00:20:53,610 --> 00:20:56,010 I don't know that because the lamp is 456 00:20:56,010 --> 00:20:57,550 separate and it's set on top. 457 00:20:58,050 --> 00:21:00,950 But what we see is the lamp stand 458 00:21:00,950 --> 00:21:05,810 has a bowl, and it reminds me that 459 00:21:05,810 --> 00:21:08,190 the one who is in our midst, the 460 00:21:08,190 --> 00:21:11,630 one who is giving authority to our activities, 461 00:21:12,090 --> 00:21:14,230 the one who is there to receive our 462 00:21:14,230 --> 00:21:16,650 worship, to keep us in the beauty of 463 00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:21,010 that fellowship, in him all fullness dwells. 464 00:21:21,330 --> 00:21:25,770 He's the reservoir of every doctrine and every 465 00:21:25,770 --> 00:21:29,070 truth that can ever be revealed of the 466 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:31,010 eternal and of the spiritual. 467 00:21:31,390 --> 00:21:32,170 It's all in him. 468 00:21:33,190 --> 00:21:36,030 Marvelous, brethren, all that is beaten out. 469 00:21:36,610 --> 00:21:38,930 That's what God wants you to do, dear 470 00:21:38,930 --> 00:21:41,750 younger believer, with your Bible and those of 471 00:21:41,750 --> 00:21:43,230 us who are not young anymore. 472 00:21:43,750 --> 00:21:46,450 He wants us to get a hold of 473 00:21:46,450 --> 00:21:49,430 the fullness that's in our blessed Lord and 474 00:21:49,430 --> 00:21:50,850 in his holy word. 475 00:21:51,430 --> 00:21:55,090 Oh, brethren, God deliver us from just being 476 00:21:55,090 --> 00:21:58,050 children by the seashore, wetting our feet in 477 00:21:58,050 --> 00:21:58,690 a wave. 478 00:21:58,690 --> 00:22:01,170 God help us to get into the water 479 00:22:01,170 --> 00:22:04,650 like Ezekiel, right up into his waist until 480 00:22:04,650 --> 00:22:06,790 he said, I could swim in this. 481 00:22:07,630 --> 00:22:08,510 Help us, Lord. 482 00:22:09,490 --> 00:22:10,810 The bowl is full. 483 00:22:11,650 --> 00:22:14,570 The fullness of our Lord Jesus, three times 484 00:22:14,570 --> 00:22:17,390 his fullness is mentioned in the epistles. 485 00:22:17,890 --> 00:22:19,270 What does it mean his fullness? 486 00:22:21,670 --> 00:22:25,190 One avenue of fullness is in him dwelleth 487 00:22:25,190 --> 00:22:27,450 all the fullness of Godhead. 488 00:22:27,850 --> 00:22:31,130 If you want to know what God is 489 00:22:31,130 --> 00:22:35,270 like, you watch the Lord Jesus, you listen 490 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:40,590 to him, you quietly study him, and that 491 00:22:40,590 --> 00:22:43,370 you will get to see the features of 492 00:22:43,370 --> 00:22:44,730 the nature of deity. 493 00:22:45,410 --> 00:22:47,230 And that's the one that's in our midst. 494 00:22:48,150 --> 00:22:50,750 That is the one who gives light upon 495 00:22:50,750 --> 00:22:51,650 our activities. 496 00:22:52,570 --> 00:22:57,210 The fullness of Godhead is in him, all 497 00:22:57,210 --> 00:23:00,330 fullness, the fullness of wisdom and knowledge. 498 00:23:00,610 --> 00:23:02,990 The word tells us and the fullness of 499 00:23:02,990 --> 00:23:03,370 light. 500 00:23:03,670 --> 00:23:06,290 The Bible tells us is all in him. 501 00:23:06,790 --> 00:23:08,550 But when I look at the little buds 502 00:23:08,550 --> 00:23:11,770 and we look at the flowers and then 503 00:23:11,770 --> 00:23:14,230 we see the nuts, isn't that a beautiful 504 00:23:14,230 --> 00:23:15,250 picture of resurrection? 505 00:23:15,990 --> 00:23:17,190 That's our Lord Jesus. 506 00:23:17,630 --> 00:23:20,890 He could say, I died, but I am 507 00:23:20,890 --> 00:23:22,350 alive forevermore. 508 00:23:23,170 --> 00:23:26,330 He lives in the power of an endless 509 00:23:26,330 --> 00:23:26,870 life. 510 00:23:27,270 --> 00:23:29,850 You see, the bud has life in it. 511 00:23:30,510 --> 00:23:33,010 That's the Lord Jesus in resurrection. 512 00:23:33,610 --> 00:23:38,430 He has life, resurrection life, eternal life. 513 00:23:39,010 --> 00:23:41,450 And the flower is the display of that. 514 00:23:42,110 --> 00:23:44,330 That's what he is in his activity. 515 00:23:45,330 --> 00:23:48,110 That's what you see in him as you 516 00:23:48,110 --> 00:23:48,970 read the epistles. 517 00:23:49,270 --> 00:23:52,590 Read Colossians chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, 518 00:23:52,730 --> 00:23:57,130 and you have three flowers, displays of a 519 00:23:57,130 --> 00:23:59,390 resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. 520 00:23:59,630 --> 00:24:02,550 He's not Jesus of Nazareth, dear younger believer. 521 00:24:03,070 --> 00:24:04,450 Don't treat him that way. 522 00:24:04,890 --> 00:24:07,270 Sometimes people will say that, well, you know, 523 00:24:07,350 --> 00:24:10,810 Jesus is just a humble little man amongst 524 00:24:10,810 --> 00:24:11,790 us after all. 525 00:24:11,870 --> 00:24:14,850 And so it doesn't really matter whether we're 526 00:24:14,850 --> 00:24:17,750 dressed to suit his presence or not. 527 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:19,790 He's just a nonsense, brethren. 528 00:24:20,990 --> 00:24:24,210 He is this golden lampstand in all the 529 00:24:24,210 --> 00:24:25,770 majesty of his glory. 530 00:24:26,130 --> 00:24:27,390 He is in our midst. 531 00:24:27,770 --> 00:24:28,750 He is Lord. 532 00:24:29,370 --> 00:24:31,250 He is the majesty of the heavens. 533 00:24:32,110 --> 00:24:34,590 He is in the power of resurrection life. 534 00:24:35,090 --> 00:24:36,290 In him is the bud. 535 00:24:36,590 --> 00:24:37,990 Life is in him. 536 00:24:38,390 --> 00:24:41,830 In him is the flower, the display of 537 00:24:41,830 --> 00:24:46,190 how he acts and moves and responds from 538 00:24:46,190 --> 00:24:49,030 heaven to God and to his people. 539 00:24:49,310 --> 00:24:51,310 And then he is the almond. 540 00:24:52,170 --> 00:24:55,590 Now the almond is communicative because you take 541 00:24:55,590 --> 00:24:57,670 the almond and you plant it and you'll 542 00:24:57,670 --> 00:24:59,310 get another one just like him. 543 00:24:59,650 --> 00:25:01,290 That's what the promise is. 544 00:25:01,470 --> 00:25:04,310 That's what we have in our blessed Lord. 545 00:25:04,730 --> 00:25:09,110 Now that's the background of the authority of 546 00:25:09,110 --> 00:25:09,630 his word. 547 00:25:10,230 --> 00:25:14,510 A resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is the background 548 00:25:14,510 --> 00:25:19,450 and foundation for the authority of his presence 549 00:25:19,450 --> 00:25:22,190 and his word in the midst of his 550 00:25:22,190 --> 00:25:26,370 people, because Israel was gathered always around that 551 00:25:26,370 --> 00:25:30,650 tent, right in their midst, and there settled 552 00:25:30,650 --> 00:25:33,730 that cloud over the ark and those three 553 00:25:33,730 --> 00:25:38,650 pieces of furniture representing the presence of Jehovah 554 00:25:38,650 --> 00:25:40,510 in the midst of his people. 555 00:25:41,390 --> 00:25:43,650 Let me notice with you the six branches. 556 00:25:44,330 --> 00:25:46,250 As I mentioned to you, there are different 557 00:25:46,250 --> 00:25:49,670 characters of books that are found in your 558 00:25:49,670 --> 00:25:50,070 Bible. 559 00:25:51,190 --> 00:25:53,710 And as we look at the character of 560 00:25:53,710 --> 00:25:55,250 them, the first one we're going to see, 561 00:25:55,390 --> 00:25:57,430 of course, is there are prophetic books. 562 00:25:58,250 --> 00:26:01,370 And then there are poetic books, such as 563 00:26:01,370 --> 00:26:04,310 Psalms and Proverbs and actually even Isaiah is 564 00:26:04,310 --> 00:26:05,390 all written in prose. 565 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:07,510 Very beautiful piece of work. 566 00:26:07,870 --> 00:26:11,770 But there are poetic books, and there are 567 00:26:11,770 --> 00:26:16,090 historical books, and there are doctrinal books as 568 00:26:16,090 --> 00:26:16,450 well. 569 00:26:16,610 --> 00:26:18,890 And then there are synoptic books. 570 00:26:19,230 --> 00:26:21,470 And as we look into each character of 571 00:26:21,470 --> 00:26:24,730 these books, each one of them is going 572 00:26:24,730 --> 00:26:27,330 to give to us a reason for the 573 00:26:27,330 --> 00:26:30,730 Lord Jesus, going to display him even in 574 00:26:30,730 --> 00:26:31,710 the poetic books. 575 00:26:32,170 --> 00:26:32,750 Beautiful. 576 00:26:33,250 --> 00:26:35,790 As we read through the Psalms, Psalm 1 577 00:26:35,790 --> 00:26:37,590 is the Lord Jesus. 578 00:26:38,150 --> 00:26:42,890 Psalm 150, the last one, says, praise him. 579 00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:43,930 Hallelujah. 580 00:26:44,630 --> 00:26:46,450 Let heaven and earth praise him. 581 00:26:46,810 --> 00:26:49,350 So from one to the end, it's the 582 00:26:49,350 --> 00:26:50,190 Lord Jesus. 583 00:26:50,670 --> 00:26:52,090 Look in the book of Job, which is 584 00:26:52,090 --> 00:26:55,090 a poetic book, and again we hear from 585 00:26:55,090 --> 00:26:57,050 the lips of that man what he received 586 00:26:57,050 --> 00:26:57,830 in Revelation. 587 00:26:58,470 --> 00:27:01,050 I know that my Redeemer liveth. 588 00:27:01,370 --> 00:27:01,850 Amazing. 589 00:27:02,570 --> 00:27:04,470 I shall stand with him in the latter 590 00:27:04,470 --> 00:27:05,570 day in the flesh. 591 00:27:05,970 --> 00:27:07,150 I shall see him. 592 00:27:07,690 --> 00:27:08,810 Marvelous revelation. 593 00:27:09,390 --> 00:27:11,670 Each of those characteristics of books. 594 00:27:12,510 --> 00:27:17,450 So when you are studying your Bible, whatever 595 00:27:17,450 --> 00:27:20,310 character of book that you are reading, remember 596 00:27:20,310 --> 00:27:25,070 that book is given primarily to show the 597 00:27:25,070 --> 00:27:26,670 glory of the Lord Jesus. 598 00:27:26,970 --> 00:27:29,610 Even the book of Chronicles, as we're hearing, 599 00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:32,210 and the book of Kings, and the book 600 00:27:32,210 --> 00:27:33,910 of Samuel, you say, well what is there 601 00:27:33,910 --> 00:27:35,970 about the Lord Jesus and all those kings 602 00:27:35,970 --> 00:27:37,570 forever fighting each other? 603 00:27:38,730 --> 00:27:41,590 It all depends on the relationship to two 604 00:27:41,590 --> 00:27:44,510 kings, David and Solomon. 605 00:27:45,450 --> 00:27:46,410 That's the whole thing. 606 00:27:47,170 --> 00:27:48,850 Did they walk according to David? 607 00:27:50,150 --> 00:27:52,530 Did they follow the wisdom of Solomon? 608 00:27:53,950 --> 00:27:55,970 Some did, some didn't. 609 00:27:56,270 --> 00:27:57,210 That's the whole secret. 610 00:27:57,430 --> 00:27:58,990 That's what's being shown to you. 611 00:27:59,170 --> 00:28:04,070 The results of recognizing the Lord Jesus and 612 00:28:04,070 --> 00:28:06,290 submission to him and his word. 613 00:28:06,790 --> 00:28:09,350 The results of pro or con in the 614 00:28:09,350 --> 00:28:10,950 life of those followers. 615 00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:14,550 So we have those beautiful branches and we 616 00:28:14,550 --> 00:28:17,610 see, yes, I'm sorry, I thought I had 617 00:28:17,610 --> 00:28:18,730 to sit down but not quite. 618 00:28:19,170 --> 00:28:20,570 Put up with me just a few more 619 00:28:20,570 --> 00:28:20,930 minutes. 620 00:28:21,310 --> 00:28:23,310 I want to notice with you now not 621 00:28:23,310 --> 00:28:27,710 only those beautiful branches relative to their the 622 00:28:27,710 --> 00:28:29,590 character of them being a part of the 623 00:28:29,590 --> 00:28:33,270 lampstand, but they are adorned the same way 624 00:28:33,270 --> 00:28:34,350 as the lampstand. 625 00:28:35,430 --> 00:28:38,510 There's the evidence of life here, and that 626 00:28:38,510 --> 00:28:41,210 is another thing that you must keep together 627 00:28:41,210 --> 00:28:44,350 when you're studying your Bible, dear younger believer. 628 00:28:44,730 --> 00:28:49,970 Remember it's the Lord Jesus and the life 629 00:28:49,970 --> 00:28:53,150 he communicates to you and to me. 630 00:28:53,790 --> 00:28:55,390 That's the whole purpose of it. 631 00:28:55,670 --> 00:28:56,670 That's testimony. 632 00:28:57,330 --> 00:28:59,750 The only thing the world is going to 633 00:28:59,750 --> 00:29:02,270 see of the Lord Jesus today is in 634 00:29:02,270 --> 00:29:03,510 you and in me. 635 00:29:04,110 --> 00:29:06,410 Oh may God help us to walk humbly 636 00:29:06,410 --> 00:29:08,870 in his presence, to see the glory of 637 00:29:08,870 --> 00:29:11,970 his beauty, to honor him as we come 638 00:29:11,970 --> 00:29:13,930 into his presence. 639 00:29:14,410 --> 00:29:16,530 But let me note with you as well 640 00:29:16,530 --> 00:29:19,730 that we have here the seven lamps that 641 00:29:19,730 --> 00:29:20,730 are on the top of them. 642 00:29:21,670 --> 00:29:24,590 Each one of these branches on top of 643 00:29:24,590 --> 00:29:28,190 the bowl there was a lamp, and each 644 00:29:28,190 --> 00:29:29,990 of those lamps had oil in it and 645 00:29:29,990 --> 00:29:30,330 a wick. 646 00:29:32,490 --> 00:29:36,110 And twice a day the high priest and 647 00:29:36,110 --> 00:29:39,550 a priest came into that holy place with 648 00:29:39,550 --> 00:29:40,930 a little reservoir of oil. 649 00:29:41,910 --> 00:29:45,810 The priest carried the oil and the snuffers, 650 00:29:46,690 --> 00:29:48,350 but the high priest did the work. 651 00:29:49,170 --> 00:29:53,250 The high priest refilled the oil and he 652 00:29:53,250 --> 00:29:54,330 snuffed the wicks. 653 00:29:55,150 --> 00:29:56,970 That's very, very helpful brethren. 654 00:29:57,670 --> 00:29:59,710 It's good to see that when we're handling 655 00:29:59,710 --> 00:30:00,910 divine truth. 656 00:30:01,050 --> 00:30:02,250 Let me notice it with you. 657 00:30:02,930 --> 00:30:05,830 The oil is a type of the person 658 00:30:05,830 --> 00:30:08,830 of the Holy Spirit, and the seven lamps 659 00:30:08,830 --> 00:30:11,290 are what you read of in Revelation chapter 660 00:30:11,290 --> 00:30:12,290 1. 661 00:30:12,610 --> 00:30:15,470 It speaks about the seven spirits of God 662 00:30:15,470 --> 00:30:16,470 before the throne. 663 00:30:17,070 --> 00:30:19,670 Now there are not seven spirits, there are 664 00:30:19,670 --> 00:30:20,270 only one. 665 00:30:20,910 --> 00:30:24,450 But it's speaking of the perfection of the 666 00:30:24,450 --> 00:30:26,110 fullness of his work. 667 00:30:26,730 --> 00:30:31,110 The Holy Spirit of God is all sufficient 668 00:30:31,110 --> 00:30:35,270 as the interpreter of his own word, and 669 00:30:35,270 --> 00:30:36,510 that's what these lamps are. 670 00:30:37,350 --> 00:30:39,550 But what the priest had to do was 671 00:30:39,550 --> 00:30:40,350 two things. 672 00:30:41,290 --> 00:30:43,750 What the people had to do in relation 673 00:30:43,750 --> 00:30:47,310 to this lampstand brethren, this is our responsibility 674 00:30:47,310 --> 00:30:48,010 now. 675 00:30:48,510 --> 00:30:51,430 We know the Lord's presence is in our 676 00:30:51,430 --> 00:30:51,770 midst. 677 00:30:52,610 --> 00:30:54,650 We come and we sit before him. 678 00:30:55,330 --> 00:30:57,530 We wish to act in keeping with the 679 00:30:57,530 --> 00:31:00,850 glory of his presence and handle his word, 680 00:31:01,710 --> 00:31:03,590 even as others are reading it. 681 00:31:04,270 --> 00:31:07,050 And as you are reading it, it's giving 682 00:31:07,050 --> 00:31:08,350 honor unto him. 683 00:31:08,470 --> 00:31:11,790 It's complimenting him by your looking at it, 684 00:31:11,790 --> 00:31:15,550 reading it, embracing it, letting it embrace you. 685 00:31:16,730 --> 00:31:20,170 And notice, that's the work of the Spirit 686 00:31:20,170 --> 00:31:23,070 of God that we have to cultivate at 687 00:31:23,070 --> 00:31:25,630 home and bring it with us. 688 00:31:26,150 --> 00:31:27,470 That's what the priest does. 689 00:31:28,230 --> 00:31:30,190 The people beat out the oil. 690 00:31:31,510 --> 00:31:33,450 You see, that's your work and mine at 691 00:31:33,450 --> 00:31:37,630 home beloved, being in submission to the person 692 00:31:37,630 --> 00:31:40,890 who indwells us, the Holy Spirit of God. 693 00:31:41,270 --> 00:31:43,410 He's going to make us conscious of things 694 00:31:43,410 --> 00:31:46,310 that are not pleasing to him, and we 695 00:31:46,310 --> 00:31:48,190 must set them right with our Father. 696 00:31:49,370 --> 00:31:51,610 He's going to remind us of things we 697 00:31:51,610 --> 00:31:54,550 forgot to do and meant to do and 698 00:31:54,550 --> 00:31:55,790 get busy and do it. 699 00:31:56,510 --> 00:31:59,050 See, that's the Holy Spirit, that's beating out 700 00:31:59,050 --> 00:32:02,850 the oil, submissiveness to that divine person. 701 00:32:03,210 --> 00:32:05,250 And God's going to say to us, don't 702 00:32:05,250 --> 00:32:09,210 grieve the Holy Spirit and don't quench that 703 00:32:09,210 --> 00:32:10,170 Holy Spirit. 704 00:32:11,150 --> 00:32:15,790 See, quenching him is procrastination, stopping it and 705 00:32:15,790 --> 00:32:16,630 putting it off. 706 00:32:17,170 --> 00:32:19,770 And grieving him is disobeying him. 707 00:32:20,530 --> 00:32:23,250 So we have to set that right at 708 00:32:23,250 --> 00:32:23,670 home. 709 00:32:24,490 --> 00:32:27,630 And the priest then brings it and gives 710 00:32:27,630 --> 00:32:30,190 it to the high priest, the person of 711 00:32:30,190 --> 00:32:31,070 the Lord Jesus. 712 00:32:31,570 --> 00:32:35,990 And he takes your spirit and he brings 713 00:32:35,990 --> 00:32:38,770 that spirit of submission which you have cultivated, 714 00:32:39,110 --> 00:32:41,770 set things right at home, and you're bringing 715 00:32:41,770 --> 00:32:43,390 it to the meeting. 716 00:32:44,030 --> 00:32:45,610 You come with the right spirit. 717 00:32:46,710 --> 00:32:49,570 That's what helps to keep the light burning, 718 00:32:50,310 --> 00:32:52,290 submission to the Holy Spirit. 719 00:32:52,630 --> 00:32:54,790 It keeps the light bright, brethren. 720 00:32:55,730 --> 00:32:57,390 But there's one other thing and that's the 721 00:32:57,390 --> 00:32:57,570 wick. 722 00:32:59,490 --> 00:33:01,410 Now, that's the person that's going to handle 723 00:33:01,410 --> 00:33:01,930 the work. 724 00:33:02,790 --> 00:33:04,330 You see, without the wick, there'd be no 725 00:33:04,330 --> 00:33:04,630 light. 726 00:33:04,990 --> 00:33:05,850 We all know that. 727 00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:08,950 Just the oil would be there, but the 728 00:33:08,950 --> 00:33:09,690 light would go down. 729 00:33:09,790 --> 00:33:10,210 It would quit. 730 00:33:10,450 --> 00:33:11,650 It requires a wick. 731 00:33:12,910 --> 00:33:15,910 That wick is the dispensable part. 732 00:33:16,470 --> 00:33:19,670 The only dispensable part of the whole lampstand 733 00:33:19,670 --> 00:33:20,750 is the wick. 734 00:33:21,810 --> 00:33:24,590 But it's the high priest who snuffs that 735 00:33:24,590 --> 00:33:25,250 wick. 736 00:33:25,890 --> 00:33:30,510 Sisters or brethren, we come on the Lord's 737 00:33:30,510 --> 00:33:31,950 Day morning to remember him. 738 00:33:33,590 --> 00:33:35,390 I'd like to come with a spirit that 739 00:33:35,390 --> 00:33:38,650 has been set right first so that there 740 00:33:38,650 --> 00:33:41,950 will be the light of his word honored 741 00:33:41,950 --> 00:33:45,170 as we come with worshiping spirits. 742 00:33:46,070 --> 00:33:51,230 We come to repeat his word silently or 743 00:33:51,230 --> 00:33:55,330 audibly, sisters or brethren, and the Spirit of 744 00:33:55,330 --> 00:33:58,270 God, he gives to us that privilege, giving 745 00:33:58,270 --> 00:34:00,270 us his word, but it is the Lord 746 00:34:00,270 --> 00:34:02,330 Jesus that snuffs the wick. 747 00:34:03,230 --> 00:34:05,450 And could I say this kindly too, brethren, 748 00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:08,010 keeping with what my beloved brethren have been 749 00:34:08,010 --> 00:34:13,190 bringing before us, always remember, you don't snuff 750 00:34:13,190 --> 00:34:13,770 the wick. 751 00:34:14,889 --> 00:34:16,310 The Lord does that. 752 00:34:18,030 --> 00:34:20,190 You just supply the snuffers. 753 00:34:21,750 --> 00:34:24,050 See, that's the idea of giving the teaching. 754 00:34:25,030 --> 00:34:27,889 It's not you applying it. 755 00:34:28,989 --> 00:34:30,909 It's the Spirit applying it. 756 00:34:31,570 --> 00:34:32,670 Don't force it. 757 00:34:33,230 --> 00:34:33,850 Just give it. 758 00:34:34,690 --> 00:34:35,770 That's the snuffers. 759 00:34:36,210 --> 00:34:38,030 And the high priest, he applies it. 760 00:34:38,750 --> 00:34:42,810 Marvelous ministry of the Lord Jesus and the 761 00:34:42,810 --> 00:34:43,389 lampstand. 762 00:34:44,370 --> 00:34:45,929 But let me note with you in closing, 763 00:34:46,730 --> 00:34:48,770 as we have come time almost for our 764 00:34:48,770 --> 00:34:50,790 break, that I want you to notice how 765 00:34:50,790 --> 00:34:53,190 the Lord Jesus and his word are one 766 00:34:53,190 --> 00:34:55,370 in the Gospels. 767 00:34:55,830 --> 00:34:58,350 Because he is in our midst, beloved, that 768 00:34:58,350 --> 00:35:01,290 beautiful piece of furniture is the person of 769 00:35:01,290 --> 00:35:03,450 our Lord Jesus in all the wonder of 770 00:35:03,450 --> 00:35:05,670 his glory and of his authority. 771 00:35:06,350 --> 00:35:10,090 And the light is burning 24 hours a 772 00:35:10,090 --> 00:35:10,470 day. 773 00:35:11,010 --> 00:35:13,590 There is no meeting that should not come 774 00:35:13,590 --> 00:35:17,130 under the direction of the wisdom and the 775 00:35:17,130 --> 00:35:20,770 light of that blessed lampstand, this precious book, 776 00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:24,750 giving the Lord Jesus his rightful honor. 777 00:35:24,910 --> 00:35:27,210 That's the work of the six branches, where 778 00:35:27,210 --> 00:35:29,590 I wish to close and notice with you. 779 00:35:30,070 --> 00:35:32,870 Six branches throwing light on him. 780 00:35:35,070 --> 00:35:37,970 When I turn to the to the the 781 00:35:37,970 --> 00:35:40,070 Gospels, which are one of the sets of 782 00:35:40,070 --> 00:35:42,470 the branches that throw light on the Lord 783 00:35:42,470 --> 00:35:44,650 Jesus, let me point out to you, dear 784 00:35:44,650 --> 00:35:47,310 younger brother and dear younger sister, in each 785 00:35:47,310 --> 00:35:50,670 gospel there is the subject of worship. 786 00:35:51,730 --> 00:35:53,490 And I'm just taking up that one subject 787 00:35:53,490 --> 00:35:57,470 briefly because the lampstand is there when the 788 00:35:57,470 --> 00:36:00,610 priest takes those little spoons of incense off 789 00:36:00,610 --> 00:36:01,270 of the table. 790 00:36:01,690 --> 00:36:03,950 There's a border around the table and it 791 00:36:03,950 --> 00:36:06,710 has six spoons or 12 spoons, and he 792 00:36:06,710 --> 00:36:08,850 takes those 12 spoons over to the little 793 00:36:08,850 --> 00:36:11,510 altar and he empties them out on that 794 00:36:11,510 --> 00:36:14,870 little piece of fire that's there on that 795 00:36:14,870 --> 00:36:17,170 altar and it fills that place. 796 00:36:18,270 --> 00:36:24,690 You know, beloved brethren, that's why I am 797 00:36:24,690 --> 00:36:28,110 thankful when my beloved brethren rise on the 798 00:36:28,110 --> 00:36:30,950 Lord's Day morning to give praise to the 799 00:36:30,950 --> 00:36:31,590 Lord Jesus. 800 00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:35,650 I'm glad to be able to say amen, 801 00:36:37,010 --> 00:36:37,510 amen. 802 00:36:38,670 --> 00:36:41,030 That's acknowledging the perfume. 803 00:36:42,070 --> 00:36:43,610 That's not plain politics. 804 00:36:45,230 --> 00:36:47,970 Whatever you do, never bring politics into the 805 00:36:47,970 --> 00:36:48,330 assembly. 806 00:36:50,950 --> 00:36:52,710 I heard just the other day, it kind 807 00:36:52,710 --> 00:36:54,210 of made me chuckle, one of the believers 808 00:36:54,210 --> 00:36:56,450 was telling me about their little grandchild and 809 00:36:56,450 --> 00:36:58,510 he's talking about his salvation. 810 00:36:58,710 --> 00:37:01,770 He said he got touched by that word 811 00:37:01,770 --> 00:37:04,190 in Luke 18, you know, where the publican 812 00:37:04,190 --> 00:37:05,950 came up to the temple and he said, 813 00:37:06,010 --> 00:37:08,410 God be merciful to me, a publican, and 814 00:37:08,410 --> 00:37:10,030 he just had it turned a little bit. 815 00:37:10,150 --> 00:37:12,170 He said, the Lord said to the republicans, 816 00:37:12,270 --> 00:37:12,990 you're just a sinner. 817 00:37:13,610 --> 00:37:15,430 Anyway, I don't know what he'd say to 818 00:37:15,430 --> 00:37:17,350 the democrats, but that's what he said to 819 00:37:17,350 --> 00:37:19,050 the republicans anyway, you're just a sinner. 820 00:37:19,690 --> 00:37:23,070 But dear brethren, we want to be careful, 821 00:37:23,250 --> 00:37:25,250 of course, but we want to be able 822 00:37:25,250 --> 00:37:28,770 to see the value of that precious word 823 00:37:28,770 --> 00:37:32,290 and its application towards us as we notice 824 00:37:32,290 --> 00:37:33,550 in Matthew's gospel. 825 00:37:33,550 --> 00:37:36,590 When you come from the beginning of Matthew, 826 00:37:36,990 --> 00:37:41,490 you find God worshiping his son and he 827 00:37:41,490 --> 00:37:50,250 sends men, Gentiles with gold and frankincense and 828 00:37:50,250 --> 00:37:53,050 myrrh, to give to his son as a 829 00:37:53,050 --> 00:37:53,790 little babe. 830 00:37:54,470 --> 00:37:55,830 He's worshiping. 831 00:37:56,250 --> 00:37:58,550 When I come to the last chapter of 832 00:37:58,550 --> 00:38:01,890 Matthew, the Lord Jesus is standing before his 833 00:38:01,890 --> 00:38:06,310 disciples as King, as Lord, and it says, 834 00:38:06,810 --> 00:38:07,990 and they worshiped him. 835 00:38:08,710 --> 00:38:11,170 So you see, Matthew is going to unfold 836 00:38:11,170 --> 00:38:15,010 for you characteristics of the Lord Jesus that 837 00:38:15,010 --> 00:38:18,210 should make you burst out with praise. 838 00:38:19,190 --> 00:38:19,910 Beautiful. 839 00:38:20,750 --> 00:38:23,450 God help you to find them, underline them, 840 00:38:23,570 --> 00:38:27,130 take your highlighter, underline the beauties of that 841 00:38:27,130 --> 00:38:30,450 blessed one that make the disciples worship him. 842 00:38:31,190 --> 00:38:34,070 When I turn to Mark's gospel, I find 843 00:38:34,070 --> 00:38:36,370 in chapter one, the Lord Jesus is a 844 00:38:36,370 --> 00:38:39,630 servant, Jehovah's servant. 845 00:38:41,050 --> 00:38:42,790 Is anyone worshiping him? 846 00:38:43,290 --> 00:38:44,690 No, not in chapter one. 847 00:38:45,770 --> 00:38:47,670 It's not until you come to the last 848 00:38:47,670 --> 00:38:50,210 two chapters of Mark, you're going to find 849 00:38:50,210 --> 00:38:53,650 worshipers, and it's those same men, and they're 850 00:38:53,650 --> 00:38:56,790 gathered around the Lord Jesus, and such is 851 00:38:56,790 --> 00:38:58,890 their character of praise and worship. 852 00:38:59,450 --> 00:39:01,350 He is now going to commission them. 853 00:39:01,710 --> 00:39:03,170 That's the result of worship. 854 00:39:04,270 --> 00:39:07,570 Go ye into all the world and preach 855 00:39:07,570 --> 00:39:08,270 the gospel. 856 00:39:09,190 --> 00:39:12,290 He's commissioning them, and I can say this 857 00:39:12,290 --> 00:39:17,150 from my heart, beloved, Iowa needs some young 858 00:39:17,150 --> 00:39:21,570 men who don't have an itch to preach, 859 00:39:22,070 --> 00:39:25,370 but are commissioned by the Lord, and the 860 00:39:25,370 --> 00:39:28,090 oversight are the men who will guide you. 861 00:39:28,550 --> 00:39:29,070 Look to them. 862 00:39:29,170 --> 00:39:30,010 Don't tell them. 863 00:39:30,870 --> 00:39:32,410 Look to them for guidance. 864 00:39:32,950 --> 00:39:33,950 Be submissive. 865 00:39:34,890 --> 00:39:36,330 That's the work of Mark. 866 00:39:36,870 --> 00:39:39,630 When I come to Luke's gospel, again, I 867 00:39:39,630 --> 00:39:42,950 find not only worship, and not only commission, 868 00:39:43,430 --> 00:39:46,330 but I find the Lord Jesus, right from 869 00:39:46,330 --> 00:39:49,030 the beginning, says, Dear Luke, I want to 870 00:39:49,030 --> 00:39:51,550 tell you the things which are surely believed 871 00:39:51,550 --> 00:39:54,410 amongst us, and as I go through John's 872 00:39:54,410 --> 00:39:56,370 gospel, you know what he's going to underline? 873 00:39:56,890 --> 00:40:00,710 He's going to underline the nature, and as 874 00:40:00,710 --> 00:40:05,150 well, the character of ministry of the Lord 875 00:40:05,150 --> 00:40:06,450 Jesus as a man. 876 00:40:06,850 --> 00:40:09,390 This is the kind of man you should 877 00:40:09,390 --> 00:40:10,450 be, Theophilus. 878 00:40:10,930 --> 00:40:13,690 This is the kind of man I want 879 00:40:13,690 --> 00:40:15,190 to be, says Luke the physician. 880 00:40:15,190 --> 00:40:18,230 This is the kind of man that you're 881 00:40:18,230 --> 00:40:19,970 going to find in the last chapter. 882 00:40:20,950 --> 00:40:23,990 Our hearts burned within us while he talked 883 00:40:23,990 --> 00:40:25,190 with us, by the way. 884 00:40:25,710 --> 00:40:28,870 God make my heart burn just to talk 885 00:40:28,870 --> 00:40:29,430 with him. 886 00:40:29,930 --> 00:40:32,910 That's what you'll find in this beautiful lampstand, 887 00:40:33,090 --> 00:40:35,490 in that branch, and when you come to 888 00:40:35,490 --> 00:40:37,430 John's gospel, oh, how beautiful. 889 00:40:38,510 --> 00:40:41,610 Throughout the whole gospel of John, there's only 890 00:40:41,610 --> 00:40:44,510 two chapters in which the Lord Jesus does 891 00:40:44,510 --> 00:40:45,890 not talk about his Father. 892 00:40:46,450 --> 00:40:48,070 He's always talking to heaven. 893 00:40:49,550 --> 00:40:52,790 He's always showing to us an intimacy, and 894 00:40:52,790 --> 00:40:57,050 a loveliness, and a manifestation of the results 895 00:40:57,050 --> 00:40:59,230 of communing with your Father. 896 00:40:59,670 --> 00:41:02,530 Oh, dear brother, dear sister, not only do 897 00:41:02,530 --> 00:41:04,670 we say keep short accounts with God, that 898 00:41:04,670 --> 00:41:07,770 means very simply, every time you're made sensitive 899 00:41:07,770 --> 00:41:10,730 of sin, confess it, call it what it 900 00:41:10,730 --> 00:41:13,170 is, and get rid of it, but keep 901 00:41:13,170 --> 00:41:15,150 looking into the face of your Father. 902 00:41:15,410 --> 00:41:16,090 He loves you. 903 00:41:17,670 --> 00:41:21,190 He will support you in times of trial 904 00:41:21,190 --> 00:41:25,550 of deep tears, or times of testing youth 905 00:41:25,550 --> 00:41:28,650 or older ones, and in times of testimony, 906 00:41:29,410 --> 00:41:31,130 and that's how John ends. 907 00:41:31,570 --> 00:41:32,570 How does John end? 908 00:41:33,070 --> 00:41:37,010 A man that was weeping because he failed 909 00:41:37,010 --> 00:41:40,590 his Lord, and the Lord restores him, and 910 00:41:40,590 --> 00:41:42,450 he says, feed my sheep. 911 00:41:42,950 --> 00:41:44,390 That's the lampstand, brother. 912 00:41:44,910 --> 00:41:46,030 He is in our midst. 913 00:41:46,550 --> 00:41:47,510 May we honor him. 914 00:41:48,410 --> 00:41:50,570 May we walk in the light of the 915 00:41:50,570 --> 00:41:54,250 glory of that blessed presence for his name's 916 00:41:54,250 --> 00:41:54,530 sake.