We are in the process of walking into the presence of God by the taking up or our cross. We are using the Tabernacle as the type and picture for the taking up of our cross. We have defined that as replacing our will, mind and emotions for God's. "In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me" (Ps 27:5b).

The first stop within the Tabernacle pattern towards the presence of God is the Bronze Altar. Bronze stands for judgement. Our sins have been judged as transferred to Jesus on the Cross. I believe that this altar is a pivot point, kind of a watershed, not only for coming into God's presence and overcoming, but also for our entire relationship with God. I make this statement based upon the fact that in the Book of Revelation, as God is looking for overcomers, He continually makes the statement, "He who overcomes….." Then he makes overcomers some promise, a different one for each of the seven churches. He is referring in each case overcoming their faults, sins, and fleshly attitudes.

The Brazen or Brass Altar represents the Cross of Jesus and His sacrifice there for our sins and our sin nature. However we must appropriate this sacrifice by being honest with Him.

Many people have never been comfortable enough with another person to be totally transparent and honest. If you have never encountered the person of Jesus, in the Holy Spirit or in another human, it may be difficult for you to bare your heart before God.

Look at it this way. Imagine that you are preparing to go into a courtroom where you were the defendant. Imagine further that you were sitting in a restaurant in the building just downstairs from the courtroom, thinking about your trial, and suddenly the judge walks in. He sits next to you and begins to tell you how you can win the trial for sure. He gives you advance information on what he will be looking for. He gives you inside information. This is how I see Revelation chapters 2-3. They are not put there to make us feel condemned, but rather to prepare us for victory. There may be many hidden and deceitful attitudes in our lives that the enemy can use against us as his victory. You can trust the judge who does this. He is looking out for your best interest.

We need to be and can safely be very straight up with ourselves and with God about our attitudes and sinful actions. I am not promoting some kind of striving after sinless perfection that could drive us to despair, but rather am encouraging you to be totally gut level honest with the One who loves you more than you love yourself. He will not condemn you nor make you feel dirty. The devil does that. The devil never gives you a way out. However when we allow God to convict us, He always does it in love, and always gives us a way out. It is called repentance, to turn from our attitudes and actions with the power given to us in and through the Holy Spirit living with in.

We have stated that overcoming has three major pieces, the knowledge of the work of Jesus' cross and His blood, our testimony of that work, and finally our discipline, or the taking up of our cross. I have seen a lot of people study the Bible and become very grounded in who they are in Christ and what the Cross did for them, and they even continually confess those Scriptures, but they experience defeat. Why? I submit that because they do not want to be honest with their real condition, and they do not want to be real with themselves and with God.

Repentance is a gift from God. Being able to repent brings revival; it brings the presence of the Lord. "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).

We can be honest with Jesus, we can trust Him. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

A big part of taking up your cross is being gut level honest with God. You need to be totally transparent and tell Him everything. Take time to pour out your heart to him as you would your best friend! Often we do not even know our sin. The safest thing to do is what I have learned from my wife, just tell Him everything! Pour out your heart to Him telling Him how you feel about everything. You can be sure that as you do that, some of what comes out of your mouth will be the confession of sin, and Jesus loves it!

1 John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." Jesus said in John 3:19 that sin had no power as long as people came out into the light with the truth, and did not attempt to hide in darkness. Jesus did not die for our excuses, He died for our sin!

Psalms 32:1-6 says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters [of trial] They shall not come near him." (Comment added from Amplified Version).

Here are some of the areas in which the Holy Spirit will work in your life.

1. Sin against men. The greatest issue is that you need to walk in love, and when you fail, run to God to be cleansed. "The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the Law of Sin and Death"(Romans 8:2). If we stay turned toward God and stay honest with Him, He will see us through even in our mistakes and stumbling. Read 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter." We will go further into detail in the attached Appendix F.

2. Sin against God. The greatest issue with God is that many Christians still go to "other gods" for their needs rather than to the Word. The Old Testament is overflowing with this issue and Jesus spent a lot of time teaching about "You cannot serve God and Mammon." Mammon is not simply money, it is increase (outside of God's Word) of any kind, including love security and significance.

3. Next, following God's pattern for His courtroom, let us look at Revelation again. Jesus wanted to prepare the Churches of that day, as well as you and me, for the trial. His way of doing that is expressed in Revelation chapters 2-3.

God is looking for overcomers. Overcoming is the bottom line message to each of these seven churches. Jesus was showing each one of the churches back then, and each one of us right now, that there are certain things in our lives that we need to line up with God's plan, so that we may become overcomers. We need to clean up our ways because before we overcome we will be in intense war. As soldiers, we need "clean rifles, shinny boots," and obedient spirits. The message continues and shows us that things will get bad, then they will get worse, and then they will seem intolerable. It will look like evil is winning. We don't know if we can hang on any longer, then suddenly, Jesus comes on the scene on delivers us. We overcome! The rewards of overcoming include a closer relationship with God, more of His character in our lives, more of His provisions for temporal needs, and spiritual authority to go rescue others who need to overcome.

The word overcome is used eleven times in Revelation. The first seven times it is for the churches, and you and me. The next two times, Chapter 11:7 and 13:7, the bad guys overcome the good guys. The next time, Chapter 17:14, Jesus, The Lamb, overcomes the bad guys. The last time is in Chapter 21:7 when Jesus tells us, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation 21:7).

God is looking for overcomers. He is intense and passionate about it. However He shows us that the path may be difficult, very difficult, but that He will finally overcome and give the victory to our account so that we may be considered overcomers and receive the rewards thereof. There are great rewards!

I admit that I do not understand all of the beautiful pictures and language portraits in Revelation. In an effort to summarize some practical points gleaned from Jesus' message to each of the seven churches Revelation, I offer the following practical, yet probably incomplete summary. I believe that including here are areas that each one of us may apply to our own lives. Remember Jesus was not condemning these believers and churches, He wanted them to overcome. He knew that Satan would prevent their overcoming unless they repented.

The Church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1). They were hard working for the Gospel, undergoing trouble and were patient. They would not endure wicked people. Their heart was in the right place for God and His work. But they left their first love. Jesus said, "You deserted ME! Get back into real time, vital living contact with Me, or you will not survive and overcome what is about to happen to you." We need to be in "real time" contact with God through the Holy Spirit and the Word. The analogy is, we can write letters to one another, we can send email to one another, we can even "chat" with one another on the internet, but unless we get face to face, our relationship will be limited. We need face to face contact with God.

The Church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8). This was, and represents the persecuted church. Jesus knew of their great distress, affliction, and poverty, but He told them to hang on and be faithful, even if to death. Jesus had nothing against this church. I submit that this includes people who are destined to be physical martyrs. Their reward is the Crown of Life. Crown stands for authority, and life represents the spiritual life given by God. Historically, the death of martyrs has brought about a great harvest of souls. The First Century Christians knew that for each martyr approximately 300 souls would be saved. In the year 2000, there was a tragic incident in an American High School in Colorado, where two demonized boys killed thirteen people. Some of the ones who died did so as true martyrs. Since that time there have been thousands of souls come into the Kingdom of God through this event. I believe that the "Smyrna believer" can also be those who are in terrible suffering which may not be unto death. Notice in verse 2:9 the Lord calls those who are afflicted and in poverty rich. "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)…"(Revelation 2:9). The next verse says that these people "will have tribulation ten days."

Pastor Jack Hayford in his book E Quake gives good insight into the ten days. "'Ten days' references the passing of an amount of time that has no specific measure. It was a commonly used phrase in the culture of that time to describe something that seemed to go on and on and on. Ten also meant it would come to an end. But when you are going through it, it doesn't seem that it is ever going to end."

The Church of Pergamos (Revelation 2:12). These people lived among an evil people who had the spirit of anti-Christ, yet they did not deny Jesus. But Jesus saw that some of them had a money problem, serving two gods at the same time and they welcomed some false teaching about needing a mediator between themselves and God (Nicolaitans). Some believers and some entire denominations feel that there needs to be a human priest to mediate between God and man. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

They also were prone to sexual vice. Perhaps they had a love of the "world" and its "gods." Revelation 2:14 states that these people hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak, the King of Moab to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites prior to waging war with them. Balaam, a prophet, tried to curse Israel, but he could only bless. Later, as recorded in Numbers 31, in a war with the Midianites, the Israelites, at the prompting of Balaam, mingled with the Midianite women. This sin caused Israel to fail, and a plague came upon the entire congregation of the Lord.

"And Moses said to them, "Have you kept all the women alive? 'Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD'" (Numbers 31:15,16).

Satan knows that sin and disobedience is the quickest way to overcome God's people. The curse could not be effective because God had blessed them, but their own choice to sin defeated them. Obedience is a very big issue with God, and many Christians are deceived even self deceived by their own works, and even deceived by their own sacrifices. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Jesus said that if they did not turn from this that He would fight against them. He also promised them a major blessing of close fellowship with Him, if they overcame these problems.

The Church of Thyatira (Revelation 2:18). Jesus recognized their love and service, but He saw the spirit of Jezebel, which is being out of line when it comes to authority. This often leads to sexual immorality and being led astray in many other ways. Jesus promised authority to those who overcame. There are many manifestations of the spirit of Jezebel, some within the church and some outside the church. It is not primarily a sexual demon, although it uses sex as one of its tools to control. It counterfeits the Holy Spirit and often acts as a false prophet. Often, when found in the church, Jezebel's goals are to destroy the congregation. Often she is successful. Pastors must remain vigilant to people who disguise themselves as super spiritual. Pastors, and all men, must remain in proper relationship with their God given spouse; otherwise they are prime targets. A woman very often traps young men, who do not submit to the authority of Jesus, with a Jezebel spirit. Young women who find themselves without an authority figure are often trapped by a male with a Jezebel or an Ahab (Jezebel's husband) spirit. This is why the church is commissioned to minister to widows and orphans. They make up a large groups of those who are not under a male authority (divorced women as well).

Meekness and obedience to our delegated authorities are a major issue with God. He is very particular with authority and respects it, even wicked authority.

The Church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1). Jesus called them dead! He said that they thought that they were alive. That is a very dangerous position to be in, dead, but convinced they are alive! This could describe many main line denominations that go through the motions without real life. He stated that their garments were dirty but that there were a few who had on white, representing His righteousness. The remedy prescribed for them, and for those who are tending to be like them, is to back up and remember the lessons they have heard in the past, and to be a doer of the Word this time. In other words, be obedient to the Word of God. He said that if they repented and turned that He would not blot their names out of the Book of Life. If is a fearful thought that some people may have been scheduled for salvation but had their name blotted out!

The Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7). This was the church that was doing its best to live and minister properly, but they were constantly under attack from the enemy. He found nothing against them, but warned them to hang on to the end, or they would lose. I believe that these are the people who are positioned to turn their troubles and curses into triumph and blessings! I believe that these are the people who are in the "Cosmic Courtroom," and if they hang on long enough, they will win. Revelation 3:10 indicates that God will keep them safe during the "trial." These are the people who will have spiritual authority and will be able to help others overcome.

The Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14). This was the lukewarm church, they were neither hot nor cold. They said they were rich, but Jesus called them poor. I believe there is an indication that they were very religious and self-righteous. They were blinded to their condition. Jesus warned them to be overcomers, not losers. The reason I feel that "lukewarm" indicates self righteous, is because He told them, "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). That is spiritual pride. In verse 18 He tells them that they cannot even see their condition. I believe that all of us can take a warning from this admonition.

Let us not forget how grace reached down and saved us. Let us not judge others too quickly. The only remedial way of dealing with a brother or sister who is not acting right is to bring them into the presence of God. It is not to hit them over the head with the Bible! I am not saying that there won't be times of firm dealings with some people, but for the most part love and grace are the needed ingredients. Criticism and gossip will not help people. Criticism and gossip is what comes out of the mouth of the self righteous, and those are the people who Jesus will "spue out of His mouth."

The wonderful promise for repentance from a self-righteous attitude is that they may be intimate with Jesus. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). There is no intimacy with God for the self-righteous, critical and legalist.

I have known "cold" believers who have been precious. Remember cold tastes good to Jesus. I have known many believers who do not know very much about the Bible, but they have a great love for Jesus and for people in general. They walk and live in love, but may not be very evangelistic.

The lost world does not need religion they need love. Our brothers and sisters in the Lord need to be loved and encouraged.

Simple honesty with God is powerful. When you confess your sin without excuse, and determine to turn around and go in a different direction, you are positioning yourself to enjoy God's presence.

Now that you have been offered such free and undeserved forgiveness, you must also forgive those who have offended and hurt you. You must forgive whether you feel like it or not and whether or not the other party has apologized.

The rewards of overcoming are fantastic, but they do not compare with the rewards of being face to face with God.

At this time I am asking you to recall the power that is unleashed by repentance.

Look at the Tabernacle Appendix F and give yourself an honest evaluation.

A Spiritual Check-up - Appendix F.

… Love - Are you treating others with the unconditional love of God?

… Selfishness - Putting your own needs over the needs of others. Love is concerned with the welfare of the other person; are you more concerned with yourself and how you feel?

… Stealing - Can you remember taking money for property that was not yours?

… Cheating - Did you get anything from anyone unfairly?

… Lying - Any designed form of deception. Honesty brings God on the scene, dishonesty brings Satan.

… Slander - Speaking evil of someone. You do not have to lie to slander. Have you spoken about others without love?

… Immorality - Are you guilty of stirring up desires that you could not righteously feed? Sexual vice, all impurity, even against your own body.

… Drunkenness, drugs sorcery, carousing.

… Foul or polluted language, evil words, unwholesome or worthless talk. Filthiness, foolish, silly, and corrupt talk.

… Envy - Behind the talk of other's failures and faults usually lurks envy.

… Ingratitude - How many times have others done things for you that you are not grateful for?

… Authority - Are you being submissive to God's delegated authorities, such as in government, family, schools, or the work place?

… Anger - Have you been bad-tempered?

… Cursing - Have you used gutter language?

… Needless silly talk. Talking and acting like a moron. Jests and practical jokes that tend to undermine the sacred and precious standards of life. Have you made fun of an ethnic group or a certain part of the world, a state or region in your country, or some politician? Ethnic and regional jokes have no place in holiness.

… Hardness - Did you fight back, murmur or return evil for evil?

… Habits - Have you continually over-indulged natural appetites; how about your eating habits?

… Halfhearteness - Can you remember times when you deliberately shirked your full share of responsibility?

… Hindrance - Have you destroyed another's confidence in you by needlessly taking up their time? Have you betrayed another's confidence in you?

… Hypocrisy - Did the life you lived before some people make all you said of Christ and His gospel a lie?

… Broken Vows - Is there a vow you made to God that you have not kept?

… Unforgiveness - Are you holding any resentment against anyone, friend or foe?

… Divisions, clicks, the party spirit of having differing groups.

… Lustful, rich and wasteful living, greediness. Overspending on shopping, Wasting time.

… Not treating wives, husbands, children, and parents with love and honor.

… Not being content, being jealous of what others have and you do not have.

… Love of money - A person without any money can still have the love of money.

… Idolatry - Any desire in your life above your desire for God.

… Strife - Have you stirred up strife by unneeded words?

… Witchcraft - Manipulating another to meet your needs.

… Rebellion to authority - Boss, teacher, parent, spiritual leader, etc.

… Love of the World - Includes: Sins of the eyes - What are you reading or watching? Lust of the flesh - What are you desiring? Pride of life - What part of your life do you think you can handle without God being involved? - Pretending in thought or life to be more or less than you really ARE.

… Pride is the greatest sin of all. Examine these areas:

… Do you focus on the failure of others or are you concerned with your own sense of spiritual need?

… Are you self-righteous and critical or compassionate and forgiving, looking for the best in others?

… Do you look down on others or esteem all others better than yourself?

… Are you independent and self-sufficient or dependent, recognizing your need for others?

… Must you maintain control or do you surrender control?

… Do you have to prove you are correct, or are you willing to yield the right to be correct?

… Do you have a demanding spirit or a giving spirit?

… Do you desire to be served or are you motivated to serve others?

… Do you desire to be promoted or are you happy when others are promoted?

… Do you need to receive the credit or are you happy when others are recognized?

… Do you feel confident in how much you know or are you humbled by how much you have yet to learn?

… Are you self-conscious or not concerned with yourself at all?

… Do you keep people at arm's length or do you risk getting close to others. Are you willing to take the risk of loving intimately?

… Are you quick to blame others or do you accept responsibility?

… Are you unapproachable or easy to be entreated?

… Are you defensive when criticized or receive criticism with a humble and open heart?

… Are you concerned with being respected or being real?

… Are you concerned about what others think or what God thinks?

… Do you work to maintain your image or do you die to your reputation?

… Do you find it difficult to share your spiritual needs with others or are you willing to be open and transparent?

… Do you try to hide your sin or are you willing to be exposed when you are wrong?

… Do you have a hard time saying, "I was wrong, will you please forgive me?"

… When confessing sin, do you deal in generalities or do you deal in specifics?

… Are you remorseful over your sin when you get caught or are you grieved over your sin and quick to repent?

… When there is a misunderstanding or conflict, do you wait for others to come and ask forgiveness or do you take the initiative?

… Do you compare yourself with others and feel deserving of honor or do you compare yourself to the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for mercy?

… Do you think you have little or nothing to repent for or do you have a continual attitude of repentance.

… Do you think that everyone else needs revival or do you continually sense a need for a fresh encounter with the filling of the Holy Spirit?

… Are you proud when you are around a new Christian or do you delight in his/her zeal? Are you willing to learn from him/her?

… Are you intimidated when you are around a more mature Christian, or are you hungry to learn from his/her experience?

Surgery needed?

If the Holy Spirit shows us sin, we must go back to the place where the Lord first met us. It is the Cross again. We see the Lord Jesus once crucified for that sin, bearing our penalty.

A line of blood trickles down from The Cross' splintered base. The sight should shock and grieve us because we see the awfulness of God's judgment. We need to understand that all of God's wrath and judgment was put on Jesus at the Cross.

Jesus is waiting there for us, not to condemn us, but happy to have us come to the Cross to give Him our sin. So many Christians run from God in shame and guilt when they discover sin.

God's remedy for sin is to come to the Cross, come to the Holy of Holies into His presence and let His character flood your character. His holiness will replace your sin. This is the only remedy. We cannot do it ourselves. It is the displacement method. We do not empty out our sin, God floods us with His holiness and love and the sin must leave. Do not be discouraged if you have to do this time and time again. God is not the one who condemns, Satan is. God will take you back as many times as you come. When you stop coming is when He is grieved.

Walk out into the light of reality. Drop your self-deceit and face this sin for what it really is. Turn from it, from your heart. Take sides with God against it. Purpose in your heart NEVER to go back into that sin again.

Confession:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(I John. 1:9).

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger for ever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalms 103:8-12).

Forgiveness is not excusing. Forgiveness is a strong word that means to cut away and remove like a surgeon cuts out a cancer. Forgiveness of sin means that the sin is removed from you and put on to Jesus who bore it on the Cross.

Confession is agreeing with how God sees the matter and speaking it with your mouth. Confession is not just saying it; confession includes being in agreement with the Word. Humility is admitting you are wrong.

Will you do this now? Will you go to your gracious and loving Father as a little child and humbly ask His forgiveness and confess your sin?

"Oh God, You know my foolishness, and my sin is not hid from You...for Your Name's sake, pardon my iniquity, for it is great...If you, Lord, would mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared (Ps. 69:5; 25:11; 130:3-4).

Oh God, my Father, I come to you to confess my sin(s) of:

Your Word says that these acts and/or these attitudes are sin, and I hereby agree with Your Word. I call this sin what it is. I make no excuses for it. I no longer want to hold this sin in my spirit, soul, and body. I want to get it out and expel it. It is separating me from You. It is destroying me. I want to be healed, spirit, soul and body, and I want to be close to you. I accept your forgiveness. Thank you for putting this sin on Jesus, and thank you that He took it to His Cross for me. I know I do not deserve this exchange, but I am so thankful to be free."

Restitution is the willingness to pay back or restore wherever possible. If you are now forgiven before the Lord, are you ready to ask Him for the courage to confess and restore to others you have wronged? Your conscience must be clean before both God AND man if you want to know true freedom. You cannot stand for God with a dirty past in other's eyes.

Memories of your failure in their eyes will drive you deeper into bondage each time you remember them. If you have not asked their forgiveness, your guilt will kill your faith and rob you of direction and purpose. You will not, of course, have to confess every sin to everyone; just the sins committed against the ones you know you have wronged.

The rule: The circle of confession should only go as far as the circle of committal. Those sins against God alone, you have left with His loving forgetfulness (Ps. 103:8-13; Is. 43:25; Jer. 31:34). Those against God and man must be made right with BOTH God and the person(s) wronged.

Portions of this Appendix F were taken from Winkie Pratney's tracts published on the World Wide Web.

We begin here. We walk through here We end up here and take up our cross. in God's presence.