TAKE NOTES
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2024
"Emmanuel Shining Through the Candlestick" (Ephesians 5:1-14 NLT) // Pastor Daniel Mills
The Candlestick gave light to the Holy Place in the Tabernacle. Likewise, Jesus is the light of the world, shining the glory of God into our hearts. Similarly, we are called to be a light in the darkness, making the way of Jesus known to all humanity. The Candlestick symbolizes the church's formation through trials, our need to abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit's role in empowering the church, and our dependence on one another. Just as the Candlestick was beautifully crafted, the church, the Bride of Christ, is beautifully and purposefully formed in the image of Christ to be His dwelling place.
Exodus 25:8 – Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
Exodus 29:42-46 – Offer them in the Lord’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence…then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.
Major Items in the Tabernacle
- Altar of Burnt Offerings
- Washbasin
- Candlestick
- Bread of the Presence
- Altar of Incense
- Ark of the Covenant
What does the Tabernacle represent?
- Jesus, our true Tabernacle
- Our Spiritual Journey
- Eternity
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Candlestick represents Jesus as the light of the world
John 8:12 – Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The Candlestick portrays the Church who is called to shine
Revelation 1:20 – This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
The Candlestick reveals how the church is formed through trials
Exodus 25:31 – Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals.
1 Peter 1:6-7 – So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
The Candlestick illuminates how we abide in Jesus
Exodus 25:32 – Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.
John 15:5 – Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
The oil in the Candlestick foreshadows the Holy Spirit who empowers the church
Acts 10:38 – And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
The Candlestick burning continually depicts our need for each other
Exodus 27:20-21 – Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
All the flowers, bowls, and almonds illustrate the beauty of the Church, the bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:25-27 – For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
Revelation 21:2-3 – And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”
1 Corinthians 3:16 – Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
Candlestick => Church => Bride => City of God => Dwelling Place of God
Therefore, God dwells in us!
