THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE WILL FILL YOU WITH GOOD THINGS
In The Fire Light: Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions became hungry? How was it that he went into the house of God, took the Bread of the Presence and ate it, which was not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and then gave some of it to his companions?" Then he told them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
On Christmas Eve so many are busy packaging presents.
One morning in the CommunionFire Camille saw a stream running past a green pasture where she was a sheep nuzzled up next to Jesus the Good Shepherd. The same morning (and so on the nose) I saw the same stream of life on the right and a green pasture where Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was spinning and as He did beautifully wrapped presents began to fill the meadow! The Holy Spirit said, "He gives gifts for you to open one by one!" (It was if He was saying 'more gifts than you could open in a lifetime'!)
In His presence (by virtue of the bread - His Body and Blood) is an abundance of eternal life to feed upon. More than you can consume! In fact it is His goodness and abundance that consumes you as you feast on Him. That is the reason for the presents in His presence. He wants to keep your dependence and attention on Him and eternal life. "In His presence is fullness of joy forever more!" Alleluia! Can I repeat this? "Fullness, fullness, fullness of joy - Forever!"
"Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times." Exodus 25:30 "For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table and the bread of the Presence." Hebrews 9:2
A special piece of furniture in the Tabernacle of Moses and in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem was the table of shew bread - or bread of the Presence. Whenever it is spoken of from cover to cover in the Bible it is called the bread of the Presence. "Presence" is always capitalized in both the Old and New Testament.
In Hebrew the Presence (panim) literally means face (turning) So it is the bread of the face (as if turning to you). In Greek it is prothesis which means God setting forth in advance for a specific purpose of heart. If we combine the two it might look something like this: The bread of the face of the Lord turning to you to convey a specific purpose to your heart from His heart. Its as though the look alone conveys a message that will influence you with His purpose or plan.
How powerful is this bread? We can look at the final chapter in the book of Acts and consider it a parable.
"So I urge you to eat something, for it will help you survive, since none of you will lose so much as a hair from his head." After he said this, he took some bread, thanked God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat. Everyone was encouraged and had something to eat. There were 276 of us on the ship. After they had eaten all they wanted, they began to lighten the ship by dumping its cargo of wheat into the sea." Acts 27: 34-38
Without the bread of His Presence in our life we are like the 276 facing starvation and shipwreck. But the blessing and breaking of the bread (like in the house at Emmaus) brings encouragement. After eating all they wanted they did something that saved their lives. They dumped the 'cargo of wheat' into the sea. They cast their bread on the water! (Cast your grain or bread upon/across the sea; after many days you may receive a return (It will come back to you). Ecclesiastes 11:1 A preacher I knew years ago used to preach it this way, "Cast you bread on the waters and in due time it will come back french toast!" Give it all to Jesus. Don't be weighed down with things that will destroy you. Throw it overboard! All you need is Him.
In other words, this bread of life, manna from heaven, the bread of the Presence is set before us at the Table of the Lord. It is His Body. When we eat the bread we receive His life. We share the love feast that He has prepared for us. The bread 'opens our eyes and we recognize Him'. Then the cup of the New Covenant that we hold gives us the wine, His Blood that quickens the life He has given us in the bread. The Holy Spirit confirms His presence and we have food that encourages us to walk in the Spirit the rest of the day! Then we are strong and can walk in the power of His might! Ephesians 6:10
Alleluia! Again! Enjoy the presents from His presence! He lives to give His life and blessings to you!
On Christmas Eve so many are busy packaging presents.
One morning in the CommunionFire Camille saw a stream running past a green pasture where she was a sheep nuzzled up next to Jesus the Good Shepherd. The same morning (and so on the nose) I saw the same stream of life on the right and a green pasture where Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was spinning and as He did beautifully wrapped presents began to fill the meadow! The Holy Spirit said, "He gives gifts for you to open one by one!" (It was if He was saying 'more gifts than you could open in a lifetime'!)
In His presence (by virtue of the bread - His Body and Blood) is an abundance of eternal life to feed upon. More than you can consume! In fact it is His goodness and abundance that consumes you as you feast on Him. That is the reason for the presents in His presence. He wants to keep your dependence and attention on Him and eternal life. "In His presence is fullness of joy forever more!" Alleluia! Can I repeat this? "Fullness, fullness, fullness of joy - Forever!"
"Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times." Exodus 25:30 "For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table and the bread of the Presence." Hebrews 9:2
A special piece of furniture in the Tabernacle of Moses and in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem was the table of shew bread - or bread of the Presence. Whenever it is spoken of from cover to cover in the Bible it is called the bread of the Presence. "Presence" is always capitalized in both the Old and New Testament.
In Hebrew the Presence (panim) literally means face (turning) So it is the bread of the face (as if turning to you). In Greek it is prothesis which means God setting forth in advance for a specific purpose of heart. If we combine the two it might look something like this: The bread of the face of the Lord turning to you to convey a specific purpose to your heart from His heart. Its as though the look alone conveys a message that will influence you with His purpose or plan.
How powerful is this bread? We can look at the final chapter in the book of Acts and consider it a parable.
"So I urge you to eat something, for it will help you survive, since none of you will lose so much as a hair from his head." After he said this, he took some bread, thanked God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat. Everyone was encouraged and had something to eat. There were 276 of us on the ship. After they had eaten all they wanted, they began to lighten the ship by dumping its cargo of wheat into the sea." Acts 27: 34-38
Without the bread of His Presence in our life we are like the 276 facing starvation and shipwreck. But the blessing and breaking of the bread (like in the house at Emmaus) brings encouragement. After eating all they wanted they did something that saved their lives. They dumped the 'cargo of wheat' into the sea. They cast their bread on the water! (Cast your grain or bread upon/across the sea; after many days you may receive a return (It will come back to you). Ecclesiastes 11:1 A preacher I knew years ago used to preach it this way, "Cast you bread on the waters and in due time it will come back french toast!" Give it all to Jesus. Don't be weighed down with things that will destroy you. Throw it overboard! All you need is Him.
In other words, this bread of life, manna from heaven, the bread of the Presence is set before us at the Table of the Lord. It is His Body. When we eat the bread we receive His life. We share the love feast that He has prepared for us. The bread 'opens our eyes and we recognize Him'. Then the cup of the New Covenant that we hold gives us the wine, His Blood that quickens the life He has given us in the bread. The Holy Spirit confirms His presence and we have food that encourages us to walk in the Spirit the rest of the day! Then we are strong and can walk in the power of His might! Ephesians 6:10
Alleluia! Again! Enjoy the presents from His presence! He lives to give His life and blessings to you!
