The Bread of the Presence
Exodus 25:23~30 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times (29~30)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #430 ‘Tis so Sweet to Walk With Jesus (#456 in previous version)
Just as the Israelites walked through the wilderness, we, too, are walking in the path of the wilderness today. Because it is a path that we have never taken before, we must follow the Word of God. We must never be seized by the scars of our past because we have Canaan. The Promised Land is the sure vision that will be fulfilled in the future. There is no need for us to worry about our future or be anxious or insecure. Today we just need to enjoy the grace that God is with us in our fields.
1. Align your direction with God’s!
In making the Tabernacle, all the tribes of Israel camped around the Tabernacle. For forty years they moved centered on the Tabernacle and overcame hardships. We must align our direction with God’s. This is the way to make today a success. Because we can never realize world evangelization at our own level, we must align our direction with God’s. Joseph and David enjoyed a great answer of saving the age, not because they were at a higher level, but because they aligned their direction with God’s and never became disheartened in the face of crises. Those who hold this mystery can never perish.
2. Eat today’s bread!
The Bread of the Presence is the bread that was inside the Tabernacle at all times. The Bread of the Presence signifies the Word of God. Eating today’s bread means that we must have God’s Word for today. Just as we need food for our body to function, our souls need spiritual food. It is said that you will never get sick if you chew your food 50 to 100 times during meals. Likewise if we deeply meditate on God’s Word, we will come to realize the taste of the Gospel. Amazing works will take place if we align our direction with God’s and gain strength from grabbing hold of today’s message.
3. Believe in the power of God!
As we walk down the path of our life in the wilderness, we can never survive with our power alone. We cannot do anything unless by the power of God. God provided the Israelites with quail and manna on their way. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” (John 6:48). Wonderful works will take place if we eat the bread of life of Jesus Christ everyday. Looking at Joseph, who had the power of God, Pharaoh confessed that he had never found anyone like him in whom was the spirit of God. It is none other than this power that we need. If we grab hold of only the Gospel, only evangelism, and only the work that we do and pray as we connect these three things together, we will enjoy the inimitable power that God grants us.
° Forum Topic - If we align our direction with God’s, grab hold of God’s Word, and enjoy the blessing of the Bread of the Presence by grabbing hold of a different power that God gives us, then today will be the best day of receiving God’s grace.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2009.12.6