• Part six of a prayer journey series.

• Focus: moving through each stage of prayer (modeled by tabernacle furniture) to reach the manifest presence of God behind the veil.

• Tied to the season of the Days of Awe and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

1. Thanksgiving (Entering the Gate)

   • Acknowledge dependence on God.

   • Gratitude for daily blessings builds humility and faith.

2. Praise (The Courts)

   • Praise God for His works in Scripture and in personal life.

   • Strengthens confidence before making requests.

3. Brazen Altar (Repentance)

   • Clearing sin and disobedience—both actions committed and duties left undone.

4. Laver (Speaking the Word)

   • Affirming our position in Christ despite our condition.

5. Candlestick (Holy Spirit Illumination)

   • Welcoming the Spirit to renew the mind and guide prayer.

6. Table of Showbread (Truth-telling with God)

   • “Cup of coffee with God”: being fully honest—joys, anger, questions.

   • Example: hard prayer for a loved one to be broken so they might return to God (like the prodigal son).

7. Altar of Incense (Petition)

   • Prayers rise as incense before God (Psalm 141, Revelation 8).

   • Spirit-led petitions avoid selfish, flesh-driven requests.

8. Behind the Veil (The Ark / Manifest Presence)

   • Goal of prayer: intimacy with God, listening more than speaking.

   • Jesus tore the veil, granting direct access—not just distant recognition but true fellowship.

• Manifest vs. Omnipresence: God is everywhere, but He desires to manifest Himself personally to His children.

• Prayer as Relationship: not “Walmart style” requests, but time invested with God.

• Hard Prayers: sometimes God calls us to pray for breaking, not blessing, to bring loved ones to repentance.

• Stillness & Meditation: modern culture overloads us with information; believers must learn to wait in silence before God.

• Faith & Persistence: Prayer must be effectual (energized by the Spirit), fervent (refusing to be denied), and prevailing (producing results).

• James 5: The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.

• Ecclesiastes 5: Draw near to hear rather than offer the “sacrifice of fools.”

• John 14: Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who obey His Word.

• Examples of persistence in prayer: Jacob wrestling, Bartimaeus crying out, the woman with the issue of blood, Zacchaeus climbing the tree.

• Prayer is the greatest access point of power, healing, provision, and presence available on earth.

• Believers are urged to:

  • Commit more time to prayer.

  • Enter with thanksgiving and praise.

  • Seek not just God’s hand but His face.

  • Be patient like Job, consistent like Elijah, and persistent like the saints of old.

• Final invitation:

  • Unbelievers—come to Christ today.

  • Prodigals—return to the Father.

  • Christians—renew prayer life and spend time behind the veil.

• Continuation of Zechariah study (chapter 2).

• Connection to previous teaching on the Feast of Tabernacles—God’s appointed times foreshadow His redemptive plan.

• Emphasis: Jesus is the only perfect role model; all others fall short.

• Zechariah sees a man measuring Jerusalem.

• Message: Jerusalem will expand beyond walls, inhabited with abundance.

• God Himself promises to be a wall of fire around Jerusalem and glory within it.

• Points forward to the New Jerusalem (Revelation) where God is the light and dwelling place.

1. God’s Set Times & Plan

   • The feasts are God’s appointments, not just Israel’s.

   • Fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming; final fulfillment awaits His return.

   • God’s plan is global: from a lamb for one (Isaac) → family (Passover) → nation (Levitical priesthood) → whole world (Christ).

2. Judgment on Nations

   • Nations opposing Israel touch “the apple of God’s eye” and will face judgment.

   • Zechariah links closely with Revelation and Daniel: warnings of Babylon (world system) and call to “come out” from it.

   • America and modern nations risk falling into Babylon’s errors of pride, wealth, and forgetfulness of God.

3. Messiah’s Coming & Millennial Kingdom

   • Jesus will dwell among His people; many nations will join the Lord.

   • Three main judgments:

     • Judgment Seat of Christ – believers’ works judged, not salvation.

     • Sheep & Goats Judgment – survivors of tribulation separated (Matthew 25).

     • Great White Throne – final judgment of unbelievers.

   • Natural people will survive into the Millennium; children born then must choose Christ. Some will still rebel, even with direct access to Jesus.

4. Millennial Realities

   • Long life restored; judgment executed swiftly by Christ ruling with a rod of iron.

   • Feast of Tabernacles continues during the Millennium—nations refusing to honor it will suffer drought.

   • Satan will be bound for 1,000 years, then released briefly to deceive again, before final destruction.

• Human rebellion: Even in perfect conditions with Christ present, some will still reject Him—showing the depth of human pride and sin.

• True justice: God’s judgment is righteous, unlike human corruption; He sees hearts and thoughts.

• Modern relevance: America, like Israel, risks judgment by forgetting God, trusting in wealth, and opposing His purposes.

• Believers’ sins are covered and forgotten in Christ—salvation brings complete forgiveness.

• History and prophecy confirm God’s sovereignty: His Word and His promises always come to pass.

• Psalm 2 reminds us: though nations rage, God laughs at their plans. Christ will reign as King of Kings.

• Prophecy read from 2020: America missed her day of visitation; the world is descending toward its appointment with the Creator.

• Urgent call: Prepare for God’s appointments, trust Christ fully, and remain faithful.

• Ended with the Lord’s Prayer.

• The teaching completes the study of the seven feasts of the Lord, focusing on the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
• Emphasis: these are God’s feasts, not merely Israel’s—they reveal His plan for the whole world.
• Christ fulfilled the spring feasts through His life, death, and resurrection; the fall feasts point to His return and final harvest.

Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles

• Feast of Trumpets: The “alarm” call to repentance, beginning the 10 “Days of Awe.”
• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): High priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year to make atonement for Israel—foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
  • Imagery: veil, bells and pomegranates on priest’s robe, blood covering the mercy seat → fulfilled in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Feast of Tabernacles:
  • Commemoration of deliverance from Egypt, dwelling in booths, God’s provision in the wilderness.
  • Prophetic picture of final harvest and God “tabernacling” with His people in the future kingdom.

Prophetic and End-Time Insights

• Tabernacles points to:
  • Final Harvest: ingathering of nations (Revelation 14, Ezekiel 37).
  • Protection and Provision: God shelters Israel in tribulation.
  • Messiah’s Reign: Christ dwelling with His people, fulfilling Ezekiel’s promise.
• The Antichrist will desecrate the rebuilt temple mid-tribulation; Israel’s eyes will be opened, leading to great tribulation.
• God will intervene, bringing judgment (wrath poured out in righteousness).
• Nations will be judged based on their stance toward Israel; blessing or cursing depends on alignment with God’s covenant.

Jerusalem in Prophecy

• Central focus: Jerusalem is the stumbling block for nations.
• Zechariah 14: God will defend Jerusalem, split the Mount of Olives, and establish His reign.
• Nations that resist worship during the Millennial Kingdom will face plagues and drought.
• The Feast of Tabernacles continues into the Millennium as a required festival for all nations.

Application & Encouragement

• Believers must live ready for Christ’s return—watching, not waiting for signs like the rebuilding of the temple before repenting.
• Call to repentance, intercession, and readiness:
  • Repent like Israel’s days of awe.
  • Witness faithfully to the lost.
  • Trust God’s plan, even for loved ones not yet saved.
• Reminder: God loves the lost more than we do—Christ intercedes even now.

Closing Notes

• Festivals reveal God’s redemptive plan: past (fulfilled in Christ), present (salvation available now), and future (His return and reign).
• Encouragement: keep faith, pray for the lost, and be filled with hope as the end of the age approaches.

Summary of the Sermon: “Entering In – The Prayer Journey”

Central Theme

The message calls believers to develop a deeper, more relational prayer life—“hanging out with God.” Prayer is not merely listing personal requests but a sacred journey of communion, thanksgiving, praise, repentance, and transformation, modeled after the Old Testament tabernacle.

• 1 Samuel 12:23 – Ceasing to pray for others is sin; intercession is a duty.

• Job 42:10 – Job’s restoration came when he prayed for his friends, even those who hurt him.

• Matthew 5:44 – Jesus commands prayer for enemies and those who persecute us.

These verses emphasize selfless intercession as central to powerful prayer.

The speaker uses the tabernacle layout as a guide, showing how each stage draws believers closer to God’s manifested presence:

1. Thanksgiving (Gate – Psalm 100)

   • Enter God’s presence with gratitude for all gifts, from basic needs to spiritual blessings.

2. Praise (Outer Court)

   • Praise God for His mighty works in Scripture and personal life, inviting His manifest presence.

3. Repentance (Brazen Altar/Laver – 2 Peter 3:9)

   • Confess sins and clear hindrances to approach God boldly.

4. Sanctification (Laver – 1 Timothy 4:4-5)

   • Speak Scripture over oneself, acknowledging Christ’s righteousness and cleansing.

5. Communion & Word (Table of Showbread – John 6:48-58)

   • “Have a cup of coffee with God,” feeding on His Word and gaining His perspective.

6. Spirit-Led Prayer (Holy Place – Romans 8:26)

   • Allow the Holy Spirit to intercede with groanings beyond words, aligning with God’s will.

7. Manifest Presence (Holy of Holies)

   • Behind the torn veil is God’s deepest mercy, love, and wisdom—true worship and intimate fellowship.

• Prayer is Relationship, Not Ritual: Move beyond quick petitions; spend unhurried time with God.

• Selflessness: Focus prayers on others; sowing intercession brings blessing back (“boomerang effect”).

• Honest Conversation: Be real with God—share frustrations, failures, and doubts.

• Daily Practice: Even a few intentional minutes each day can transform one’s spiritual life.

Believers are urged to:

• Commit to daily “hanging out with God,” using the tabernacle pattern as a flexible guide.

• Intercede for others, including enemies.

• Seek God’s manifested presence, not merely His gifts.

• Embrace Scripture as spiritual nourishment and the ultimate source of wisdom.

This sermon invites a shift from transactional prayer to a transformative, intimate friendship with God, leading to spiritual growth, deeper peace, and a vibrant faith.

Theme and Central Message The sermon emphasizes prayer as the believer’s lifeline, urging a return to deep, personal communion with God. The pastor underscores that prayer is not a ritual to get things from God, but a relationship that transforms us into His likeness. The core progression is Purification → Prayer → Power → Perfected Praise, reflecting how God moves in a believer’s life.

• Urgency of Prayer in Perilous Times We live in spiritually dangerous days, yet believers have direct access to God’s power. The church must be a praying remnant, seeking God daily.

• Jesus’ Instructions in Matthew 6

  • When you give, pray, and fast: These are expectations, not options.

  • Pray privately, not for public show.

  • Avoid empty repetition; God knows needs before we ask.

  • The Lord’s Prayer is a model: praise God’s name, align with His will, seek daily spiritual and physical sustenance, forgive others, and ask for deliverance from evil.

• Purpose of Prayer

  • Aligning our will with God’s, not convincing Him to act.

  • Daily intake of Scripture is “daily bread,” feeding the spirit and strengthening faith.

  • Forgiveness is essential; unforgiveness blocks prayer.

• Personal Illustrations

  • Healing of an ulcer after embracing his calling and trusting God’s “layaway” provision.

  • Learning forgiveness through prayer for a hostile co-worker, sensing God’s compassion for the man’s hidden pain.

• Power of God’s Presence

  • Difference between God’s omnipresence and His manifested presence experienced in prayer.

  • Prayer invites God’s manifest power, greater than any earthly force.

• Dedicated Time: Give God uninterrupted time daily—free from phone, TV, and distractions.

• Purification First: Like Jesus cleansing the temple (Matthew 21), we must allow God to purify our hearts to pray effectively.

• Restored Worship: God desires to restore “the tabernacle of David”—deep praise and worship following purified prayer.

The sermon concludes with an invitation:

• Begin or renew a consistent personal prayer life.

• Intercede for family, church, nation, and the world.

• Seek God’s kingdom and will above personal requests.

Key Takeaway: Prayer is the doorway to God’s power and presence. As believers purify their hearts and devote themselves to prayer, they will experience God’s power and enter into perfected praise.