The ark was to contain particular items, a remnant of His promise. It was to be built a particular size and to have a lid, two cherubs and handles in order to carry it. It contained three items, mana. Mana was tried to be stored but it would spoil however this mana was to be stored without it spoiling. Just as today, God has only promised the hour in which you live and nothing more. The also contained a rod, a stick that was cut from a tree. This stick was dead but God made it to bloom showing that He could make something dead to be raised to life. A miracle that only God can perform. Christ has come to save us all from an eternity of death. The third and final item was the Ten Commandments, the Word of God.

Some people believe that if they found the Ark then they would have all the power in the world. However, the Ark is of no more once Jesus made a new way. Crossing the Jordan, the Ark held the water back. Marching around the walls of Jericho the Ark was there and thru the power of the Ark, the walls fell. At one point the Philistines stole the Ark and placed it in their "god's" temple but the next day the Ark destroyed their god. People could not touch the Ark just in the story of when the Ark was about to fall and someone stopped it by touching it and they were slain dead. Even though there was power in the Ark of the Covenant, there is much more power in God's Word, the bible. The bible contains all of the promises of God and His eternal life.

So what's so important about the box, the Ark? We know it's about the covenant or His promise but what else? It's His mercy seat, it's all about mercy. God provides mercy in that very time of need that we ALL can go to Him with our needs of mercy. Romans 3:23 God didn't owe us anything for we had no right to God. But, He has called to us because He loves us.

Jesus our high priest didn't have to offer any blood for himself. Being sinless, His blood was only for us. Jesus' blood cleansed past, present and future sins for all people. The blood of the bullock and goats only paid for past sins.

Because Christ's blood is sufficient for all atonement no matter what we do, we can't lose our atonement. The sacrifice of Jesus was better than any goats blood.

There is a fountain of blood that flows from Emmanuel's veins.

Jesus' blood covers like a flood. We're plunged from head to feet and covered past, present and future, never can be lost.

With God, all things are possible. With man, it just fails time and time again. People will tell you that Gods not real but time and time again He proves Himself that He's real. People being healed when the doctors can't do anything for them.

Don't let life take control of you. Work can get in the way of doing your Christian duties. Where is your hope? If it's in anything else other than in God then you've wasted your time and life.

Just because you work in a church, give to the church, know someone that goes to church or that claims to be a Christian, have a lot of money or even do really good works. None of these things mean anything to God if you're not a Christian saved by Grace. Ready or not Christ is coming back and coming back soon. Death is sure, it's just a matter of time. Are you ready for death? Are you ready for Gods judgement? Right now is the time while God is calling. After death is the judgement and you will NOT have the chance to make things right after death.

Every day the priest would enter into the Holy Place. The table of show bread was ate and the oil and wicks were trimmed. The lamp was representing the tree of life and even Jesus referred to Himself as the vine and branches. Buds represent something is about to happen. A talent of gold is about 75 pounds cost in todays time, $1.25 million. The math on the lamp total is seven, a perfect number for the branches. In order to get into the Holiest of Holies there must be some light. Natural light was not in the Holy Place therefore there had to be a source of light created.

The oil had to be pure oil and had to be beaten, not pressed. Just as Jesus wasn't pressed but He was beaten to make us pure. God could have made the the lamps to never burn out but He required new oil every morning. Just as us, we need fueled every day by Jesus.

Knops being buds, something that had not yet bloomed. At some point a bud will form a flower, then will form a fruit.

Once you're saved, called out of the darkness, a light will forever shine the path to righteousness. Natural light can not illuminate the Word of God, it can not get one to God. Except the light of God draw one, that is the only way. So until you're lost you can't be saved, until you're sick you can't be healed. God is the only one that knows the path because He sees beyond what we can ever seen. While Jesus was in the world He was the light of the world. BUT, He left and and filled us the saved with His light. Without Him leaving there would have been no way for the light to be left inside Christians. Back before Jesus came to earth times were truly dark but when Jesus fulfilled the plan of salvation, He left a light for us to always have. His word is the brightest light that could ever be. In Heaven there is no need for a sun because God Himself is the light that shines. His light shines so bright that there are no shadows in Heaven.

There are times when we will be in dark places. We can not fight them with the flesh but with the spiritual darts provided by Gods Word.

Many will acknowledge that they live Christ but the question is do we do them, proving it. Love is both a noun and verb but is usually an action, a verb. Does God not have the right to ask us if we really love Him? Do we not offend Him daily causing a him to question us? Many have made a career of the self calling of a pastor but God does the calling not man. God has every right to question us. Many love the world more than God. Following the worlds fleshly wants and needs. Many care more about what others are going to think than what God knows.

Agapeo is what is being asked in verses 15 and 16 but in 17 it changes to phileo which is meaning dearly.

15 and 16 is a comparison of the others and Peter's love. 17 is a direct question to Peter's love towards Christ not comparing others love. So there was a question of caring in verses 15 and 16 but true love was asked in 17.

What's scary to a hypocrite is the all the while knowing that God knows the truth. If you're trying to prove your love for God in your church service or attendance then you've lost the point. You'll serve God because you can't help it and He is everything.

Jesus gave some mandates on our love towards Him. One was to feed the His sheep, the followers of Christ. Feed would be to bring food and have to be a nurturer.

Doesn't the flesh say we forgive but we doubt trusting them again? Most want to be associated to Jesus Christ only if it pushes their agenda. One can't love until love is first received.