Front Doors

O.T. #227  "Front Doors"
Feb. 12, 2014
Exodus 27-Part 2
And for the gate of the court shall be...  Exodus 27:16

LET IT GLOW

Our house has a front door, like most houses. Not only does it allow me to leave our house, but
the door allows others to enter it. This door is not extraordinary, just an ordinary door with nine window panes in it, so I can first see who is there. It allows me to decide who I want to allow entrance into our home. This door is the entrance to a special place, the place my husband and I call home. Not everything or everyone is allowed to enter our home.
The portable Tabernacle had an unusual gate for its entrance. Go grab you a cup of hot tea, hot
chocolate, or coffee, and join me as we look at this entrance.

We have talked about the inner court of the portable Tabernacle. The two rooms were the
Holy Place contained the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense,
and the Holy of Holies, which had the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat.

What do we learn about this outer court in this chapter?

• It had the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Bronze Laver.
• It was a large open area about 150' x 75'.
• It surrounded the whole tent itself as well as the two rooms.
• This area was enclosed by a linen fence of hanging curtains which were 7 1/2 feet tall.
• Inside this enclosure is where the animals were killed and sacrificed, and the priests carried on their duties. (Falwell)
• The gate of the court was a differently colored curtain forming the entrance into the     courtyard.

What kind of coverings do we hang on our outer body? How are we representing the Lord who created our body?

LET IT GROW

The New International Version Bible describes this special gate being made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen. Its posts had silver bands and hooks with bronze bases.

Wiersbe looks at the total picture of the Tabernacle with the three parts and their representation.
The outer court was seen by everybody, as our physical body is.
The inner court, which contained the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, is compared to our inner person, spirit and soul.
Moses could take down the fence of the outer court, and it would not affect the tent. So with our
own death, the body may turn to dust, but the soul and spirit go to be with God and are not
affected by the change (2 Cor. 5:1-8; James 2:26).

Do we spend as much time cleaning up our inner person as we do our outer person?
Our heart, attitudes, mind, and character are affected by what we spend time putting into our
spirit and soul. Are we particular about what we watch on television, listen to on the radio, and
read on the internet? Do we protect ourselves and our children from the "bad stuff" out there?
Will we slam the door or open the door to immorality? Familiarity-a day at a time can effect a lifetime.

Paul tells us, in Philippians 4: 8 to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report.
A gate in the Bible is also a door, and vice versa.
In John 10:9, Jesus says, I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture.

There are no special requirements needed to enter Jesus' door of salvation. Just open it, friend.

Psalm 100:4 tells us to Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise:
be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

How do we enter the worship center? Is it with thanksgiving and praise?


LET IT GO

Be careful what I allow to enter into my gate, into my body, soul, and spirit.

Be objective as to what I watch, listen to, smell, taste, and feel.

Have a thankful heart; praise my Lord Jesus.