Jan 11
DARK NIGHTS AND THE TABERNACLE
Please forgive me, in my last post I mentioned that I would be writing about the Dark Night of the Wilderness or Desert in this post, but as I am writing I now find I need to build the road that you are to take so it is not too confusing to navigate and better allow you to find where you might be in your journey.
WHY DARK NIGHTS?
The Three Dark Nights are each a means of finding deeper levels of purification or sanctification in your life. Simply put, the cleaner one is the easier it is to hear from God. Therefore, each Dark Night is to purify that portion of “you” which God is targeting. The goal here is to get you closer to Him. The targeted area in your life is that area or issue which will hinder you, detour you, or keep you from your created purpose. Therefore, your future spiritual gain is predicated on current loss. That loss is merely the death of self, or as some call it - the cross.
As a follower of Jesus, you are reconciled to God through belief in what He alone achieved through His crucifixion and resurrection. However, it is by His life that you are saved (Romans 5:10). The Greek word used for saved is Sozo, which means to be made sound or well. This implies a process of increasing health by a decreased presence of that which was causing you to decay, and that is known as sin. This is precisely what the Apostle Paul was writing about when he wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 5:23). Each Dark night is part of the process God has chosen to aid you in the sanctification of your spirit, soul, and body.
More so, each Dark Night is designed to result not only in a deeper purity or sanctification, but also to result in a more thorough regeneration as you journey toward more Christ likeness and True, Pure, Spirituality. Each Dark Night is designed to insulate you from invisible background noises that are picked up by your spirit, soul, and/or body from surrounding circumstances and situations. Unless you are insulated from these, you will carry them with you through out each day.
THE RESULT IS BETTER SPIRITUAL HEARING
Hearing God, with all these noises going through your head is like trying to carry on a conversation in the middle of a football stadium while a heated playoff game is being played. When you no longer hear this background noise or interference you naturally respond better and more fully to that which God spiritually initiates. When this level of hearing is reached your destiny or the purpose for which you were created is much easier to achieve.
THE TRIPARTITE NATURE OF MAN AND THE TABERNACLE
One of the clearest depictions of this journey is found in the layout and partitions of the Tabernacle. The three partitions or rooms directly parallel the three divisions or tripartite nature of Man. So, the Tabernacle had three rooms, just as man has three parts- each of the rooms of the Tabernacle required a deeper sanctification to get to the next room and so it is with you.
The outer courtyard represents the carnal nature of your physical body, and the furniture therein represents the means or process of sanctification needed to get into the next room. The next room - Holy Place - represents your soul and it’s furniture is the means or process of sanctification that is required to get into the next room. The next room is the Holy of Holies and it represents your spirit. The furniture therein is the means or process of sanctification needed so your spirit can become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
WHAT GOES TO HEAVEN?
When the Apostle Paul was writing about the sanctification or blamelessness of your spirit, soul and body he was not saying that one part of you can make it into Heaven and not another. He was merely voicing that when all of our rooms are clean we will walk in a much higher level of Christ likeness. For those who are Christians, your spirit and soul go to Paradise with Jesus, and at the resurrection your new spiritual body will be joined to you (1 Corinthians 15).
Remember, the Dark Nights are for those who are serious about living at a higher spiritual level. They are not for the faint of heart, nor for the weak.
Yes, the Dark Night of the Wilderness or Desert - in the next Posting.
Blessings,
John Paul
19 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Loading ...
I absolutely love the tabernacle parallel! I have never thought of that, nor have I heard anyone teach on that. Very VERY cool.
I have lots of questions after reading this, but I think I will hold them, and see if you answer them later.
Thanks John Paul.
I wish more Christians addressed and taught these kind of spiritual issues which are so vital to the journey of a Christian. Death to self is a major part of the gospel and yet these days all we seem to hear about is a prosperity gospel which aims to attract the masses through proclaiming only God’s awesome power to bring about miraculous healings,signs and wonders. Whatever happened to “the cross”?
It is also vital that these things such as the dark nights of the soul are spoken of, because going through them can be so mentally draining that unless you are able to identify what it is that is happenning to you, one may easily start believing they are losing their mind.
It was a joy and a great encouragement to hear you speak at Detling a couple of weeks ago.
I look forward to your next post.
May God continue to bless you and shine his face upon you.
Mercedes
So far things seem pretty bleak. I realize that I have beem blaming people, situations and circumstances for years for doors that have appeared to be closed to me. I have recently realized what I slave to fear I have been and don’t know how to shake these feelings of doom and darkness. I want to cooperate with God so that I can pass through this Dark Night in victory, but in all honestly; I keep trying to find a place where it just doesn’t hurt so much. Is this idolatry? It is wrong to seek comfort when I am so uncomfortable? I want out, but truly I want freedom!!!
Hi John Paul:
As usual you have given us another insightful post, there is so much here to chew on. I was particularly intrigued by your comments on “THE TRIPARTITE NATURE OF MAN AND THE TABERNACLE”, I had never seen that parallel before - Clearly there are some deep theological treasure worth digging for here.
Thanks!
Z
Dear John Paul, i was reading Paul Keith Davis articles recently & he mentioned about the Spirit of wisdom & revelation.
Interestingly i could relate to him, when he said that a generation will walk in such character that will enable them to function in the sevenfold Spirit of God. I could relate to what he wrote, which also agrees with this blog, God is really showing us a way(Jesus) to bring us through of door(Jesus) of destiny(Jesus) to a higher relationship(Jesus) with Him(Jesus) to walk in a greater glory(Jesus). No wonder why should glory in the Lord.
Back then when i was 19, i read the bible but i did not function in the spirit of wisdom & revelation not due to a lack of maturity. I guess i did not inherit the kingdom then because as you say i wasn’t walking in the Spirit.
Today i enjoy a fellowship with God, hearing His voice of revelation in my times of meditation. Eyes & ears are given to me. But i can attest that what you wrote is true, following Jesus is key to the kingdom. And that’s our inheritance.
Sorry, i wrote to emphasize on the Spirit of wisdom & revelation as pertaining to hearing God’s voice especially in the word. I don’t function in the sevenfold Spirit of God.
anonymous: first of all, BIG HUG. ;o) Jesus never said being one of His followers would be easy, yet it can really suck, can’t it. I totally hear you…been there, done that. I have to say what helped me most when I was where you are, was paradoxically, SERVING. And not to sound trite, because i sympathize with you completely, but it is SOOO true that when you are supporting someone who has it much worse than you do, life gets brighter. The burden gets lighter. And the dark night seems to pass more quickly.
Cling to Jesus (He’s there even when you can’t feel Him) and serve, serve, serve. There’s light at the end of your tunnel my friend. Hang in there! Love to you!
rachel ;o)
John-Paul:
Over and over again, I have come to the knowledge by the help of the Lord through the Holy Spirit that this life is not my own. It is a gift from God. Every breath that I take is another kiss from my heavenly father. When I experience the dark night of the soul the best way for me to endure is to ask the Lord for the desire of wreckless abandonment to His will and His ways and the joy in all of it.
The condition of my life before this happens is simply this, “chaos”: His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are definitely not my thoughts. Once I surrender everything competely in this wreckless abandonment then His thoughts become my thoughts and His ways become my ways. Then I, can look forward in beginning to look, feel,taste, smell and act more like Jesus.
In my personal life as a Catholic in the third order of St Francis, “John Michael Talbots Order”, eventhough both my husband and myself have an ecumenical ministry translated “a ministry of the Body of Christ to the world”, we are constantly taught to die daily to ourselves through making ourselves available to the Lord at every given moment through the examination of our conscience, reconciliation with God, our neighbors, ourselves and our loved ones; prayer and fasting when spirit lead, giving alms to the poor through outreach and offering our heart in radical worship without asking anything in return and spiritual as well as eucharistic communion as often as possible have been useful in our spiritual development.
However, as good as this sound, we can get off of the beaten path when we lose focus of where we are with the Lord and who we are in the Lord. When this tripping up happens the temptation comes in wanting recognition from man. It seems that we start out with these theological virtues and when the “trying times” come like mistreatment from others by way of misunderstanding actions and motives that maybe sincere on our part, especially when it comes to serving the Lord and His people then something like temporary amnesia creeps in and we seem to forget about these theological virtues and then everything becomes centered on self.
Whenever I encounter this, then I realize that I have just entered the desert/dark night until the Lord taps me on the shoulder and then I come to my senses and suddenly I realize another layer of myself has just peeled off.
Then all of a sudden the last row seems to be the most comfortable place to be. Welcome to my last row, folks (lol)
Blessings!
Shirley C.
I keep seeing the veil in the temple symbolizing our soul and its hardness or darkness. When Jesus gave up the ghost, the veil was rent. Do you think this symbolizes the breaking of the soul so that the light of the spirit can shine outward?
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
I’ve begun a study in Proverbs. Recently I’ve stumbled upon these two scripture verses…
He who is full loathes the honey, but to the hungry even the bitter taste sweet.–Prov 27:7
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.–Prov 13:12
I think it’s extremely hard to want to walk through these dark nights when we have everything we want and don’t know what it’s like to go without. I know what it is to go without and I know what it means to have hope deferred. To me it always seemed like I’ve been fighting for my life. Largely, because I think I have been. The enemy really does want to sift us out as wheat and try to do everything in his power so that we don’t reach our destiny.
Is there any other option besides these dark nights?
I don’t think I personally can afford to skip the journey through the dark nights. I think there is a purpose, it’s obviouse. It’s been all throughout this blog…reaching our destiny and becoming the men and women that God created us to be.
JP, I hope you will elaborate more on how the furnishings in the rooms of the tabernacle represent the processes needed to go move on to the next level. I’ll do some of my own study, but I’m always interested to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for even deeper thoughts, John Paul, on transition. My biggest question is this: Will I ever get to the point where I’m not always hurrying up just to wait? Try as I may it always seems like there’s just one more thing and then finally I’ll be there, or just a little longer and I’ll be filled, or be ready, or be doing the thing I dream of. I have been, during this transition, doing a much better job of living in the ‘now.’ Still there is a lingering feeling like I’m just pressing in so that I can continue to wait. It’s hard.
I know it’s not just about me and those around me. It’s so much bigger than that because He’s so much bigger than that. I want to live His dream for me. How do I do it? How does my thinking/perceptions/living need to change so that I can live in the Kingdom now, so I can grow to my greatest potential in Him while here on earth, so my ever-expanding love for Him can propel me into the dreams He has for me? I’m sure you have some insight!
Janey,
I dont think there are any other options except going through the dark times. But I also think that even in darkness there is comfort. Like the womb, dark..yes, painful to come out of…yes, but there is still the umbilical chord attached to another life- source which sustains us, and the warmth and protection of the other life-source, even in the darkness.
I hope our eyes can be lifted off the darkness. The scripture says “Those who look to him are radiant”. We may not feel radiant when we are in the dark, but I am convinced that others notice what’s happening to us and see God’s light in our struggles. Like they know we are like Jacob who wrestled with an angel, and something is about to happen with us. Try not to focus on the dark..has anyone noticed that you cannot focus on anything in the dark? But fix our eyes upon the light of life..Jesus.
I love the description of the tabernacle. I know one thing, I want to be in the Holy of Holies. I am sure that is where we would all want to be. I feel that I have crossed over from the death to life. There was something that I was going through and it felt like death, although to me it felt like a physical death. Now, I feel like I am being infused with life that seems to be increasing. This seems more like an abiding presence. I have also been experiencing an increasing peace. All I can say is that I am in awe of God. For those that have not crossed over to the other side, I just want to encourage you to hang on to God and he will bring you to the other side. Out of pain, comes new life. Like a woman in labor there is great pain, but it brings forth new life.
Blessings
AHHHhhh! Thank you, obedient brother!!! Water in the desert- bread in a land of famine! The Lord knew how desperately we needed to hear from one who knew-and has been through. You would not believe how many “men of God” we have sought counsel from, and they had good hearts but nothing to say- they had never walked through this. Sad in a way. The greater the struggle, the pruning, the crushing, the greater the breadth and depth in the Lord. He is making us strong trees with leaves for healing and channels of His river for the nations. A lofty call until you realize that price tag!!!
**Lord, please help us to continue to the end of this leg of the journey. We want to hear “well done My good and faithful servant.”**
to Kathryn-
Thanks- you are right- it is difficult to focus on anything in the dark. Especially if you are one with a prophetic mantle, accustomed to “seeing”,hearing, and “knowing”. When our ordeal has come to completion, we are writing a book about it. It will be called A Walk in the Dark. It will open eyes of some Americans who have been passive, and maybe shed light the first time for those who never knew Him. No pun intended.
Isaiah 61
kathryn,
Thanks for the encouraging word….
My eyes are lifted off the darkness.
Sometimes I ask these questions and perhaps write them down…not so much as a question but a statement in the form of a question. I don’t know if that makes any sense at all.
Short story,
My father’s a fisherman and so I can readily relate to some stories found in scripture. Like the stories when the disciples are with Jesus in the boat during a storm and Jesus calms the water. I know what it’s like to be in a fishing boat while travelling through a storm.
When I was younger and on my first fishing trip. At the time I was 7. My father saw me holding onto a counter with one hand and stretching out the other while I was trying to keep my balance. He saw that I needed to be able to look past the waves crashing over the boat. And so I climbed up onto my father’s lap.
When I was 17 travelling through the same area in the same rough waters but being the person stearing the boat through the rough waters and seeing the waves crashing over the boat.
The Lord began to speak to me. He said,
“remember when you were younger and all you could see were the waves crashing over the boat but when you could see from where your father could see you were no longer afraid. In the same way I am your father in heaven and what I see is different from what you see. I am God. Even in the midst of the storm I am still God.”
Yeah, I was no longer afraid as that 7 year old girl because I could see the waves approach the boat and I could see my father prepare to ride over each wave. That day my perspective changed and well, as dark as things may get at times….I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. That is where I’m at, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that day I began to look to Jesus instead of at my circumstances.
I must confess, there are times I don’t but it’s not long before I see or hear something I need to get regain my focus where I should.
I’m a wrestler with the Lord, fighting to receive a blessing and not letting go until I receive that blessing.
I know there are not other options it was a rhetoric question.
You’re right, in darkness there is comfort. That’s the only reason why I’ve made it thus far.
This is truly amazing! I had a dream back in February that I suddenly understand. In the dream you positioned me and then tossed something at me. I caught it and looked in my hands to see you had thrown me a figurine of an owl. Then you moved me forward and positioned me for my next task.
I thought and thought about what the owl might mean but never figured it out until yesterday! Well, often I think of wisdom when it comes to owls and they are birds that have great vision in the dark. I believe you have positioned me (and everyone reading your coffee talk too) to catch the wisdom and vision to fly through the dark night. Man! I love dream symbols! I can’t wait to take one of your dream courses someday.
One of Those
Kathryn,
Thanks for the encouraging word…
It was rehtoric…the question…
I tried posting another comment but perhaps it didn’t make it through the moderating process.
Anyways, just to try again…
You’re right.
But truthfuly, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
If people want to find out where I’m at they can always check out my blog.
http://www.rainbowjaneygirl.blogspot.com
and if that link doesn’t work just click on my name that’s highlighted.
Once again, thanks for the encouraging word.