The Lord is transcendent — high above us as our Lord and Sovereign. Yet this is not a distant and wrathful lordship, for in Christ we no longer have to fear eternal judgment. In fact, Jesus has made us friends with God Ps. Corporate worship, prayer, Bible study, and more are all indispensable to building this relationship. Teaching Series. Conference Messages. Tabletalk Magazine.
Gift Certificates. Jewish religious decrees currently forbid the faithful from entering the Temple Mount itself in part to prevent Jews from unknowingly walking through the Holy of Holies. The large open plaza on the top of Temple Mount is dominated by the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque , themselves among the most significant religious sites in Islam.
According to Israeli occupation authorities, visitors are permitted on Temple Mount provided it is not closed for security reasons. Only muslims are allowed to openly pray on the site. Non-muslims observed engaging in prayer are subject to expulsion. Islamic tradition holds that the faithful should pray five times per day while facing the Kaaba , a cube-like structure located at the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca. Considered by muslims to be the earthy house of God, the Kaaba and the Great Mosque surroudning it are the holiest places in Islam.
Once during their lifetime, all muslims who are able are expected to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It also contains the Well of Zamzam, thought to be a divine source of water. Non-muslim visitors are not permitted to enter the city of Mecca on penelty of fine or deportation from Saudi Arabia.
Adherents find intrinsic value in all religious faiths and work towards harmony amongst all peoples. The shrine is set within an idyllic garden space north of central Acre.
Both locations were historically in the open, only later was the church constructed to contain them. Each year scores of pilgrims journey to the site, especially during Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. According to tradition, the last four so-called Stations of the Cross occurred within the contemporary church walls. An ornate Altar of the Crucifixion sits upon the rock where Jesus is said to have died. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is open daily. There is no admission fee; however, be prepared to wait in line if crowds are large.
Widely considered one of the most important temples in Hinduism, it is set on the western bank of the River Ganges. Varanasi is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. Each year millions venture to bathe in the river. The sacred waters are a source of spiritual purification, thought to carry away sin. Navigating the narrow and crowded streets in Varanasi will bring you to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Shops along the way sell a variety of artifacts. At night, artificial lighting illuminates the temple complex in a dazzling array of colors. Pausing to for a moment to contemplate the stars is a meaningful and moving experience. The immaculate temple is constructed from white marble and overlaid with gold leaf. It sits at the center of a large artificial pond ringed by a walking path.
The brilliant white marble on the surrounding buildings and walkway reflect an almost divine glow on sunny days.
Daily ceremonies take place at the temple and attract throngs of pilgrims and visitors. The nearby Central Sikh Museum contains many exhibits and displays of Sikh culture. Shintoism originated in Japan and its practitioners find spirituality in all things. Shinto Shrines create a harmonious environment suitable to meditation and contemplation.
Dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, it features a wooden frame design characteristic of Shinto architecture. Visitors often remark about the feelings of calm and tranquility that seem to permeate the site. The Shinto faithful consider the Ise Grand Shrine an important place of pilgrimage and one everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Make some time to explore nearby Oharaimachi Street where you will find numerous small craft stores along with lovely cafes and noodle shops.
When Christians are gathered together in a proper Bible-based way, if the Holy Spirit is not grieved, or quenched by anything in us or what we may do, then He will direct our hearts to the person of the Lord Jesus. We shall understand more of His glory and we shall be lead out in worship and praise to Him. But let us remember that the light was dependent on the oil which the people had to bring. When Samuel was a little boy the lamp of God was nearly out 1 Sam.
That was followed by the Ark being taken captive by the Philistines 1 Sam. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives then we will not be able to contribute anything in a spiritual way when we come together.
Every morning the priest had to use the snuffers to remove anything that would hinder the flame burning brightly. In the same way, we daily need to pray that we may be kept pure and clean for the Lord, so that the Holy Spirit can use us in His service.
The next item of furniture in the Holy Place was the table of showbread. We read about this in Exodus We will read part of this section: "Thou shalt make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about".
And in verse 30 Moses was told: "And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before Me always". The table was positioned opposite to the candlestick, so the light of the candlestick would shine on it.
This table was made of shittim wood which was covered with pure gold. We noticed that the candlestick was made of one piece of pure gold weighing one talent.
But the table was made of wood and pure gold and we are told the sizes of it. All these specifications have a meaning and we must try to understand the teaching of them. The wood represents the perfect manhood of the Lord Jesus. As we saw with the candlestick, the pure gold would tell us that He is God. The loaves of showbread represented the twelve tribes of Israel, complete with no one missing.
They had frankincense put on them, so they would be pleasing to God. This presents the Lord Jesus, as a man alive in the presence of God: One who is equal with God, but here seen as able to support and maintain believers in a manner pleasing to God.
The only dimension I would comment on is the height. It was the same as the mercy-seat on the top of the ark, upon which was placed the blood on the day of atonement. It was also the height of the grate that was in the middle of the brazen altar in the court, where all the sacrifices were burnt.
We must understand that the fellowship which believers enjoy today, is not less than their acceptance in the presence of God, based upon the perfect work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This fellowship is sustained by the Lord Jesus, and nothing can break it; we are all in it. God sees every believer on earth as being part of that wonderful fellowship that will last for ever, and will be eternally to His praise and glory.
But there is a responsibility upon us to maintain this in a practical way. Paul had this in mind when he exhorted the Ephesians to "endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" Eph. If we behave in a way that destroys unity amongst Christians, then we are not carrying this out. Also if we introduce things that are not a result of the death of the Lord Jesus and the acceptance of His work and blood in the presence of God, then we shall not know the blessing of the Holy Spirit being present.
Likewise, if we try to add to the fellowship anything that is not based upon the death of His Son on the cross, then we will spoil the fellowship. We can so easily do this by introducing things that appeal to us naturally, that are not spiritual things but carnal.
They did this at Corinth and Paul had to write two letters to them correcting their wrong behaviour. This unity is a very powerful testimony to the world. The Lord Jesus said, "that the world may believe" John How successful the devil has been in dividing Christians! He knows full well that division and difference amongst Christians weakens their testimony.
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