God created man as a spiritual being like Himself with the intention to live with them forever. Because of mankind's rebellion against God, they died spiritually but continued to live under the powerlessness of their soul--intellect, emotion, and will. Man's intellect gathers information from the senses of the body and processes it, his emotion decides what he desires to do, and his will carries out his soul's evil intent.
Even though man was spiritually separated from God, He still desired to live among His people. His first dwelling place was a tent called the tabernacle, which was later replaced by the temple. Both shared three distinct parts: the courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. God dwelt specifically above the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.
The tearing of the temple's curtain at Christ's death signified God's coming from behind the curtain to dwell in man, His new sacred temple. Man's soul forms the new Holy Place with its intellect, emotion, and will. These correspond to the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table of showbread. Man's re-born spirit forms the new Holy of Holies with its intuition, conscience, and communion. These correspond to Aaron's staff, the two stone tablets, and the gold jar of manna, all of which Moses placed in the Ark. For the first time since the fall, man no longer has to live by the powerlessness of his soul. Because of Christ, God can indwell man. His presence enables them to be spiritual men and women who experience the power of His resurrection. The intent of The Tabernacle, The Temple, and You is to understand what we were, to identify where we are, and to grasp what God has called us to be.
Ron joined the military at the age of seventeen with the hope of adventure. On the flight to boot camp, he heard God's voice: "Ron, are you going to live the rest of your life for yourself, or are you going to live for Me?" By the time the plane landed, Ron had made Christ both his Savior and Lord. During his time in the military, he was nicknamed "Reverend" because of the radical change in his attitude, behavior, and character. After an honorable discharge, Ron endeavored to serve his Lord Jesus Christ in instant, absolute obedience. Christians first recognized Ron's prophetic gift while he was working in the inner city. His heart was broken by the church's apathy to the poor and by their conformity to the world. The Bible defines the gift of prophecy:
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; ...but do not have love, I am nothing. (1Co.13:2 NIV)
The gift of a prophet is used to reveal God's truth and will to man. Love does not deviate from the truth; love always tempers the truth. The Bible teaches that the truth shall set us free when it is applied to our lives. Ron's life has been committed to sharing the transforming truths of God's Word. His heart is for Christians to become fathers of the faith who can display Christ's love, share His wisdom, reveal His power, and walk in His Holiness. It is Ron's hope that after reading The Tabernacle, The Temple, And You, you may have a better understanding of who you are in Christ.
keywords: Spiritual man, God's temple, Tabernacle, soul, spirit, born-again, spirituality, transformation, new beginning, hope
