Praying Through The Tabernacle Plan
(Heaven to Earth: The Tabernacle Today)

THE TABERNACLE
In Exodus, Chapters 25-31, God gave detailed instructions to Moses on Mt. Sinai for building the Tabernacle to house His presence. The Tabernacle was a tent-like structure inside a rectangular courtyard, facing East, surrounded by a fence made of pillars and linen hangings, and covered as area 45’ long, and 15’ wide, with a 15’ high covering.
In the outer courtyard were the brazen alter nearest the entrance, and the laver of water. Inside the tent were the Holy Place (housing the candlestick, the table of shewbread, and the golden altar of incense) and the Holy of Holies (where the Ark of the Covenant rested). In and above the Holy of Holies, God appeared as a pillar of cloud or fire. Each article of furniture represents a different prayer focus that has a unique meaning corresponding with its original purpose defined by God, and a place in the “types and shadows” that exist between the Old and New Testaments.



STEP 1- THE GATE
Here, we enter into His gate with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).

PRAYER FOCUS: We begin here. Thank God for every blessing and praise Him for His mighty acts.

STEP 2 - THE BRAZEN ALTER
For sinful man to even approach a holy God, there must be a blood sacrifice. Jesus died as an atonement for our sins. The brazen alter is where we repent and rid ourselves of sinful deeds and desires.

PRAYER FOCUS: No one can repent for us. Jesus became our sacrifice so we could receive the gift of repentance. At the alter we search our hearts, acknowledge our sins, and ask God to forgive us.

STEP 3 - THE LAVER OF WATER
Once sins were atoned for, cleansing was necessary before serving in the Holy Place. We must daily look into the mirror of; be washed by; and apply His word as cleansing so we may serve and minister before Him.

PRAYER FOCUS: Here we take time to read and meditate on God’s Word and allow it to wash over us and through us. When we examine ourselves with his Word as our guide, the Word will sanctify and cleanse us.
STEP 4 - THE FIVE PILLARS
Each pillar symbolizes one of the characteristics of God named by Isaiah.

PRAYER FOCUS: “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Pray for a revelation of the power of and for the office of each name to be present in our lives.

STEP 5 - THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK
This oil is symbolic of the illuminating and revelatory power of the Holy Ghost. The priest’s duty was to keep the wicks trimmed so the lamp would exude pure light without smoke.

PRAYER FOCUS: At this source of continuous shinning light ask God for spiritual revelation, direction and guidance. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Ghost to be active in our lives. Jesus said “I am the light of the world...” (John 8:12).

STEP 6 - THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
The table/bread symbolized God’s willingness to fellowship with man and him to be in His presence.

PRAYER FOCUS: “I am the bread of life...” (John 6:35, 49-50). This bread of His presence is the “rhema” (God -breathed) Word of God to us. Ask God to speak to our hearts and allow us to commune with Him and hear His voice and follow Him. Pray for those who share His bread with us: missionaries, pastors, evangelists and church leaders.

STEP 7 - THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE
Only the fire of repentance can burn the incense of our intercession. This is a symbol of our prayers and intercession going up to God as a sweet fragrance.

PRAYER FOCUS: “Let my prayer be sent forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2). Here the incense offered is symbolic of our worship. After worship, we make intercession for others and for any situation in our lives that requires His intervention. Biblically, Jesus ever makes intercession for us. The golden altar of incense is where every request can be presented to a prayer-answering God.

STEP 8 - THE VEIL
It represents the flesh of Jesus rent in the final sacrifice and marked physical separation from the spiritual. Whoever went in the Holy of Holies entered into God’s very presence.

PRAYER FOCUS: The veil is symbolic of the barrier of our flesh. Here we ask God to give us power to go beyond ourselves, to operate not on our own faith but on God’s faith. Meditate on the revelation of the name of Jesus and acknowledge Him as the Messiah - God manifest in the flesh as testified in the gospels. We enter into His presence.

STEP 9 - THE HOLY OF HOLIES
Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant which contained three symbolic items: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the stone containing the Ten Commandments. The Mercy Seat, where God communed with man, rested as the top of the ark. Because the ark was God’s throne among His people, it was a symbol of His presence and power.

PRAYER FOCUS: Only the blood gives us access to the Holy of Holies. The Ten Commandments (The Law) is covered by the blood of the sacrifice. There is only mercy. We are free and without judgment. This is the place of intimacy with God. Now we may act in the authority represented by Aaron’s rod that budded. Through Christ, we take authority over things that work against us. We are surrounded by angels, and the miracle of the manna reminds us that whatever we need, He will supply.