Mountain Top International

Beyond Shadows and Types

Part One

For decades we have been living in the shadows of life. I believe this is largely due to the fact that most people relate to the natural realm more than the spiritual. Therefore, there’s a greater sense of satisfaction when we are able to see with our eyes or touch with our hands. Without negating the value of the visible realm, there comes a time when you have to break the barrier of shadows and types and enter into the spiritual application of their meaning. There are countless people in the world, regardless of their faith, who are, what I term as, “shadow people.” Shadow people, are individuals who live in the shadow of other people’s experiences or understanding. Their sense of fulfillment and accomplishments come primarily through the actions or acknowledgments of others, rather than their own personal experiences.

When I was in Israel last year, I was shocked at the absence of a kingdom understanding. I was even more shocked at the masses of people living in the ancient biblical cities who were still seemingly trapped in a capsule of historical times. I am a strong believer in the preservation of historical documents, sites, monuments, etc.. I believe they are valuable tools for learning. They show us the sacrifices that countless men and women have made to give us a better life today. They also serve as a reminder of some horrible acts that we would never want history to repeat. It was very intriguing to follow the steps of Jesus while He was in the earth, to visit the cave of Elijah, to walk on the ruined walls of Jericho, to visit Samuel’s cave where the first prophets were taught. It was one of the most historical adventures I have ever encountered to date. It certainly added another dimension to the places and characters of the bible.

However, as wonderful as that was, I left with a great sadness knowing that the bible land of the Middle East was still in bondage to shadows and types, and unfortunately, many people in America are aiding them in their captivity. I left Israel with a great impression; that while they have all their ancient ruins and feasts and even the attention of the world, they to seem to have less of a need for a real savior. I realized that God, Jesus, wasn’t the issue as much as the real estate they owned. The preservation of the land trumps everything.

The actions of our forefathers of faith offer us valuable insight into the Father’s heart. Through their successes and disappointments we are able to look at the responses of God and discover even more fully His intended purposes for all of humanity. For centuries the feasts of the ancient of days have served as a prophetic window to see God’s intentions for generations to come. Yet somehow, along the way, the body of Christ has become prisoner to shadows and types. We continue to celebrate the ancient biblical feasts of yester years as if they are still our most holy connection to God. In reality they are nothing more than shadows and types of spiritual realms. These spiritual realms are very much available to us today. Many people still identify with Christ more on a natural plain rather than a spiritual one. It wasn’t all that long ago when millions of Christians had a picture of Jesus hanging on their wall, and that image of Him was the real deal. Since then, they have slowly been removed. Why? Because according to Paul, “We no longer know Him after the flesh.”

Since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the writings of Paul have urged the body of Christ to move beyond a festive mind into the full expression of their meaning. I know this sounds borderline blasphemous to some, but just as the law was a tutor to faith, so are all the biblical feasts mere tutors to living according to the Spirit.

THE SABBATH DAY

When God said, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”, did He really mean for you and I to remember a day, whether that day is Saturday or Sunday, for the rest of our lives?

Let’s look at this a bit closer.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. Ex 20:8-11

At first glance it certainly appears like a no brainer. One day out the week, take a break and do no work. Now I think it is certainly healthy not to work seven days a week. Physically, your body and mind will not hold up under that kind of pressure.

When I was a kid, I was more inclined to think God got things mixed up and really wanted me to work one day out of the seven. But my father was less than impressed with that bit of revelation.

To fully grasp the intentions of God concerning the Sabbath day, we need to see what the Sabbath day represents spiritually. We already know its natural application. However the meaning of the Sabbath day represents something else entirely different in the spirit. In the days of Moses, the Sabbath day was a shadow of something much more powerful and meaningful.

The Hebrew word for Sabbath is “shabbath” its meaning is intermission, or “break time.” So it is used in reference to God taking a break from everything that He had made, from the starry sky to land and sea. Time out God! I know after all that work, You must really be tired. So take the day off, You certainly have the right to because you made that too.

Ok, so we know that God wasn’t really physically or mentally tired from working, after all, God is spirit, which means He is not likely to run out of breath anytime soon. However, we still know from these scriptures alone, the primary emphasis’s of the Sabbath day is about rest. God rested. If God doesn’t get tired, why would He rest? It is what the rest represents. Funny thing about God, He has a reputation for acting out something in the natural, such as building an ark or a tabernacle in order to bring His people into spiritual understanding. Even Jesus was known for His unique verbiage of shadow and types to bring people into the realization of the kingdom of Father.

So with “rest” in mind, let’s go to the book of Hebrews.

THE REST

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

"So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,'" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest."

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said:

"Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts."

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Heb 4:1-10

So what is this "rest" that God is speaking of? We know that it’s not just a day or even a natural place to rest. The “rest” is nothing less than Christ Himself. God rested on the Sabbath day to point us to a time in the future when His entire body would enter into the power of Jesus Christ; the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the ultimate place of rest. In the days of Moses, they didn't get it. They couldn’t see it. All they could see was a shadow of things to come.

However, those who are in Christ can see it. They get it. They know the Sabbath day was merely a compass in time pointing to a future generation that would cease from their labors. They would cease from laboring in the flesh and begin to walk according to the Spirit.

"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
'Not by might nor by power , but by My Spirit,'
Says the LORD of hosts. Zech 4:6

Thus the words of Jesus,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

So where does that put the Sabbath day in its literal sense? When are we supposed to come to God and corporately worship Him?

Any day you designate to come together and worship the Lord, together, in one accord, is a day that the Spirit of the Lord will be in your midst. You are the temple of the Lord. You are His dwelling place forever more. Where ever you gather in faith, He will be in your midst.

Please note:

This article is not intended to do away with all biblical practices such as "the taking of communion." I will address these and more in future writings.

8/24/09

blessings

Michael