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Everything about the
tabernacle and temple in the First Testament was a shadow of the
reality ordained in Christ, the only begotten Son. The most holy
place of the temple was called the “Holy of Holies”. Into that
inner presence of Jehovah God, one had to pass through the veil
and could only do so once each year. The High Priest that
entered into the very presence of God was set apart carefully in
preparation. It was an awesome moment when he penetrated that
great veil to offer blood on the mercy seat. The company of
priest stood near and listened quietly for the bells on the hem
of the garment of this mere man in God’s presence. The sounding
of the bells assured the accompanying priest that the High
Priest was accepted and alive.
Jesus Christ became
that veil in the New Testament and we, by faith, have entrance
through Him into the “Holy of Holies”. This “Holy of Holies”,
where by abandonment to prayer a saint might enter, is truly the
place of divine intercession. Anyone that enters regularly and
abides in surrender will shake heaven and hell. The absence of
saints from this inner sanctum of God is the absolute answer for
the helplessness of most prayers.
Apostle Paul spoke
of this great truth, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and
living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the
house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, …” (Hebrews 10:19-22a). We must read the
last words of verse twenty-two to understand the state of that
saint that is ushered into this Holy Place. Paul stated,
“…having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22b). This is a
picture of Christ’s grace that purified His saints in
preparation for entering behind this veil. This cleansing is not
some state of Holiness only in a preconceived sense, but rather
a truly transformed purity. It is a life of spiritual reality
where we are hid in God with Christ and set apart from the
unclean.
There is an old song
of the saints that presents the perfect picture of this powerful
place of prayer. Verse one sings: “I’ve believed the true
report, Hallelujah to the Lamb! I have passed the outer courts,
O glory be to God! I am all on Jesus’ side, on the altar
sanctified, to the world and sin I’ve died, Hallelujah to the
Lamb!” Verse two states: “I’m a king and priest to God,
Hallelujah to the Lamb! By the cleansing of the blood, O glory
be to God! By the Spirit’s pow’r and light, I am living day and
night, In the holiest place so bright, Hallelujah to the Lamb!”
This kind of prayer will bring souls to the altar where Christ
awaits to save. It will pull down strongholds that have erected
walls of resistance. Sinners will be converted when saints are
living within the veil.
Jesus Christ is
seated at the Father’s right hand in this present “Holy of
Holies”. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:” (Hebrews
9:24). He is praying for His saints and has clearly stated that
the Father saves us, but then gives us to Him to preserve in the
kingdom. He stated “I pray for them: I pray not for the world,
but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And
all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in
them.” (John 17:9-10). We are His body and His very fellow
servants and He invites us to pray until we enter into His
intimate presence. The Epistle written to Ephesus promised us
entrance into the fellowship of the Father and the Son. “Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
(Ephesians 2:5-6)
A prayer life that
regularly waits before God until they enter within the veil is
going to move God and men. Heaven will answer and hell will
tremble when saints pray until they pray through the veil. Just
one time, stay before God until the soul is caught away in the
Spirit and you will never be happy without it. Remember, John
“…was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” (Revelation 1:10) and
Peter “…fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:10) and heard a voice
from Heaven. These were not wild encounters with emotions but
the very presence and glory of God. Such praying has brought
revival in the past and will do it again.
Joseph R. Chambers |