Modern Christianity (Part 3) — The Power of Testimony and Revelation in Scripture

A Walk Through the Bible - Part 8 - The Tabernacle 3

Joshua Boyd Tabernacle Part 3 - The Altar of Incense In this message, we continue our journey through the Tabernacle, exploring the Altar of Incense—a small piece of furniture with enormous spiritual significance. God didn't include anything in the Tabernacle by accident. Every detail points us to Christ and reveals how we approach God's presence today.  In This Episode *  Why God desired to dwell among His people from the very beginning.  *  The Tabernacle as a copy of the heavenly reality—not merely an Old Testament structure.  *  Why the Altar of Incense stood immediately before the Holy of Holies.  *  The significance of the continual burning incense and its connection to prayer.  *  How Jesus fulfills the role of our Great High Priest, giving believers direct access to the Father.  *  Why prayer is about relationship, not simply presenting requests.  Key Scriptures *  Exodus 25:8  *  Exodus 30:1–10, 34–38  *  Leviticus 16  *  Psalm 141:2  *  Hebrews 3:4–6  *  Hebrews 4:14–16  *  Hebrews 8:5  *  Revelation 8:3–4  *  Matthew 6:9–13  *  Romans 3:25–26  Key Takeaways *  The Tabernacle reveals God's heart to live among His people.  *  The Altar of Incense represents the prayers of God's people continually rising before Him.  *  Prayer is holy because it is an invitation into fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  *  Jesus removed the veil, making direct access to God's throne possible for every believer.  *  Effective prayer begins with worship, reverence, and relationship—not merely a list of needs.  *  God's desire has always been to speak with His people, and He still invites us to hear His voice today.  *  Our prayers matter in heaven—they are precious, remembered, and presented before God's throne.  Reflection Questions *  Is my prayer life centered more on requests or on relationship?  *  What distractions keep me from entering God's presence intentionally?  *  How can I make daily worship and fellowship with God a priority?  *  Am I approaching God through the access Jesus has provided with confidence and gratitude?  Final Thought The Altar of Incense reminds us that prayer is far more than asking God for things—it is the fragrance of an ongoing relationship with our Creator. Because of Jesus, we no longer stand outside the veil. We are invited to come boldly into God's presence, offering worship, thanksgiving, and heartfelt conversation with the Father who delights in being with His children.

Launching Out Into the Deep: From Blessing to Discipleship

Dr. Jordon Gilmore Many people come to Jesus seeking His blessings—and rightly so. God delights in providing for His children. But the Christian life was never meant to stop there. Jesus calls us beyond receiving from Him into fully following Him. Using Peter's calling in Luke 5, this message challenges believers to move from simply pursuing God's blessings to embracing the life of a disciple. Key Scripture * Luke 5:1–11 * Luke 6:17–19 * Matthew 14:13–14 * Luke 9:10–17 * Luke 14:25–33 Main Points 1. Jesus calls us to go deeper. When Jesus told Peter to "launch out into the deep," He wasn't just leading him to a miraculous catch of fish—He was inviting him into a new life. Peter could have settled for the blessing, but instead he left everything to follow Christ. 2. Blessings are part of the journey—but not the destination. Throughout the Gospels, crowds followed Jesus for healing, miracles, and provision. While many received incredible blessings, relatively few became true disciples. God wants us to enjoy His goodness while also growing into wholehearted followers. 3. Discipleship has a cost. Jesus made it clear that following Him requires surrender, sacrifice, and reordered priorities (Luke 14). A mature faith isn't built on what we receive from God but on a relationship that remains faithful regardless of circumstances. Three Heart-Searching Questions • Do I primarily engage God because I'm seeking a blessing? It's healthy to bring our needs to God, but spiritual maturity moves us beyond a relationship centered only on what we receive. • Has God's goodness changed the way I see Him—and myself? Peter's miraculous catch didn't simply excite him; it revealed God's holiness and his own need for grace. Encounters with God's goodness should deepen our humility and worship. • Has what God has done for me led me to share Him with others? Real disciples don't just receive from Christ—they point others to Him through both their words and their lives. Key Takeaways * God invites us to move beyond a blessing-centered faith into a disciple-centered life. * Spiritual maturity means loving God for who He is, not simply for what He gives. * Circumstances should not determine our devotion. * As we accept greater responsibility in following Christ, God supplies the grace and strength we need to grow. * Every believer is called to continually mature, taking the next step of faith as God leads. Challenge Take an honest inventory of your walk with Christ. Are you primarily pursuing God's hand—or His heart? Jesus still invites His followers to "launch out into the deep." The deeper life of discipleship is where lasting transformation begins.

A Walk Through the Bible - Part 7 - The Tabernacle 2

Joshua Boyd The Ark of the Covenant The tabernacle was never merely an ancient tent or a collection of religious artifacts. It was a God-designed shadow of heavenly realities, revealing His desire to dwell among His people. In this message, we explore the significance of the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, discovering how every detail ultimately points to Jesus Christ and our relationship with God today. *  Why the earthly tabernacle was built as a copy of the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8).  *  The Ark of the Covenant as the sacred container of God's covenant with Israel.  *  The significance of the Mercy Seat (Place of Atonement) as the meeting place between God and man.  *  Why the cherubim over the Ark reflect the worship surrounding God's throne in heaven.  *  How Revelation provides a glimpse into the heavenly temple and God's throne room.  *  Why the tabernacle emphasizes honor—honoring God's presence, covenant, and holiness.  *  The connection between the Old Covenant sacrifices and Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.  *  What it means that believers are now God's temple, with His covenant written on our hearts.  *  How grace provides access to God while still calling us to holy living and faithful obedience.  Key Scriptures *  Hebrews 8:1–5  *  Exodus 24–25  *  Revelation 4  *  Revelation 11:19  *  Hebrews 10:15–18  *  1 Corinthians 3:16–17  *  1 John 1:9  Key Takeaways *  The tabernacle reveals God's desire to live among His people.  *  The Ark was valuable because it contained God's covenant—not simply because it was covered in gold.  *  The Mercy Seat demonstrates that access to God has always been through atonement.  *  Every feature of the tabernacle foreshadows the finished work of Jesus Christ.  *  The New Covenant moves God's law from tablets of stone to transformed hearts.  *  As believers, we are now God's temple and are called to honor His presence in every area of life.  *  Grace removes the need for repeated sacrifices but never removes our responsibility to pursue holiness.  *  When we honor what God honors, we position ourselves to experience His presence, guidance, and transforming power.  Bottom Line: The tabernacle wasn't designed to highlight rituals—it was designed to reveal relationship. Through Jesus, the way into God's presence has been opened, and His covenant now lives within us. As God's temple, we are called to honor Him by living holy lives that reflect His presence to the world.

Royal Priesthood

Dr. Jordon Gilmore Royal Priesthood Part of the Tabernacle Series What does it mean to be part of God's spiritual house? In this message, Jordon explores our identity as God's "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:4-10), showing that every believer has a unique role in God's Kingdom. In This Episode * We are "living stones" being built into God's spiritual house. * Our lives are designed with purpose—they're about God's Kingdom, not just our personal story. * Being included in God's work is a privilege, not a burden. * Every believer has the calling and responsibility of a priest. The Posture of a Priest A royal priest lives with: * A servant's heart—following Jesus, who came to serve, not be served. * Holiness—living intentionally, set apart for God's purposes. * Joyful participation in what God is building. Spiritual Sacrifices We Offer Because Christ became the perfect sacrifice for sin, we now offer spiritual sacrifices that honor God: * Praise – Speaking and singing God's goodness (Hebrews 13:15) * Joy – Choosing joy even in difficult circumstances (Psalm 27) * Our Lives – Presenting our everyday lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) * Generosity – Doing good and sharing with others (Hebrews 13:16) * Love – Sacrificially loving others, even when it isn't easy (1 Corinthians 13) True sacrifice often means offering these things when they cost us something. Our Priestly Assignment Priests didn't only offer sacrifices—they proclaimed God's greatness. As believers, we're called to proclaim "the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Our words should consistently point people toward God's faithfulness rather than simply echo the frustrations of our culture. Reflection Take a personal inventory this week: * Am I living with the posture of a servant? * What sacrifices am I regularly offering to God? * What am I proclaiming with my words? * How faithfully am I fulfilling my role as one of God's "living stones"? God is building something eternal—and every believer has an important place in His design.

Fatherhood - Embrace the Calling

Joshua Boyd Genesis 5:3 – Adam became the father of a son, Seth, who was "just like him, in his very image." Main Idea Fatherhood is not simply a consequence of having children—it is a calling from God. Just as mothers reflect God's nurturing nature, fathers reflect God's nature as an initiator. God has designed fathers to plant seeds, start things, and help shape the next generation. Lessons from the First Father *  Adam became a father after sin entered the world.  *  Like every father since, Adam was imperfect.  *  Cain and Abel remind us that no parent gets everything right.  *  God does not require perfection; He calls fathers to reflect His image and remain faithful.  The Purpose of a Father Throughout Scripture, the word "father" often refers to an initiator or founder: *  Abraham is called the father of faith.  *  Israel (Jacob) became the father of a nation.  *  Fathers are called to begin, plant, and initiate.  A father's role is to plant seeds—both natural and spiritual. The Power of Initiation Genesis 4:26 tells us that during the days of Seth and Enosh, people began to worship the Lord by name. Someone initiated a return to worship. The message suggests that Seth reflected Adam's image because Adam had returned to reflecting God's image. When fathers keep their eyes on the Heavenly Father, they influence generations that follow. A Word to Fathers *  You don't have to be perfect.  *  You can start planting new seeds today.  *  You can initiate forgiveness, faith, worship, encouragement, and purpose in your family.  *  What you model is often caught by your children more than it is taught.  Speaking Life into the Next Generation Fathers plant seeds through: *  Encouragement  *  Confidence  *  Faith-filled words  *  Godly example  *  Intentional leadership  Children need confidence, but they must also learn where their strength comes from—God. Working Together God designed fathers and mothers with complementary purposes: *  Fathers initiate and plant.  *  Mothers nurture and help things grow.  *  Together they create an environment where God can bring increase.  Beyond Parenting This message applies to everyone. Every believer has: *  A God-given purpose  *  A calling  *  An anointing to fulfill that calling  When we embrace God's purpose, we experience greater fruitfulness, effectiveness, and impact. Takeaway Fatherhood is a calling to reflect the Heavenly Father, initiate what is good, and plant seeds that will impact future generations. As we follow Christ, our families, churches, workplaces, and communities benefit from the seeds we intentionally sow today.