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Telling the Truth with Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe

Telling the Truth

Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe

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Devotionals by Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe

Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel. - Exodus 25:21-22

The ark that was popularized in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was a small acacia wood chest approximately 3’9” long, 2’3” wide, and 2’3” high, and it was overlaid with gold. When the Jerusalem temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, the ark disappeared. Nothing is known of its whereabouts, but a lot is known about its significance. At least Hollywood got the part about its being lost correct!

The divinely-designed ark was created to symbolize the Lord’s royal and holy presence, first in the tabernacle in the wilderness and later in the Jerusalem temple. God had specifically stated “I want the children of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them” (Exod. 25:8). The Lord was expressing his desire to make his presence known among his people during their earthly pilgrimage. The transcendent God, who created and upholds the universe, who dwells in brilliant and awesome glory, removed from sin and separate from sinners, desires to be known intimately and to assure his people by his presence of his love and concern for them. This is a truth that every generation should revere.

Despite the Lord’s expressed desire for intimacy with his people, there was to be no thought of flippancy or casualness on their part. He was among them, but he was still holy. The ark was to be placed in the Most Holy Place, where only the high priest was allowed to enter, and that only once a year at the stipulated time and in the appropriate manner. The appropriate manner included the sprinkling of the place of meeting with the blood of an innocent sacrifice intended to wash away the sins of the people. The lid of the ark, which incorporated two hammered gold “cherubim,” was known as the “atonement cover” (25:20), the place of divine enthronement, about which God promised, “I will meet with you there” (25:22). Under the lid were the “stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant” (25:21)—the sole basis upon which men could meet with God!

Sinful man cannot enter the divine presence on his own terms whenever and however he wishes. He may do so only on the terms outlined by the Holy One. From the ark we learn that a holy God desires intimacy with his sinful people, but only because he chose to reach out to them and only when they come confessing their sin and seeking his forgiveness on the basis of a substitutionary sacrifice.

The ark may be lost, but its symbolism and significance should never be lost on us, for Christ is the substance of which the ark was the shadow.

For Further Study: >Exodus 25:1 - 22 

Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Men, Copyright ©2000 by Stuart Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

For more from Stuart Briscoe, please visit tellingthetruth.org.

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About Telling the Truth

Telling the Truth exists to make available sound biblical teaching, practically applied, with a view to producing lives that glorify God and draw people to Christ. The whole of our ministry is to encourage, console, strengthen, teach, and train.

About Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe

Stuart Briscoe uses wit and intellect to target your heart, capture your attention and challenge you to grow! You will find his logic compelling as he brings a fresh, practical perspective to the Scriptures. Born in England, Stuart left a career in banking to enter the ministry full time. He has written more than 50 books, received three honorary doctorates and preached in more than one hundred countries. He was senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for thirty years, and currently serves as minister-at-large.

Jill Briscoe was born in England and found Christ when she was 18 years old. She never looked back. Upon graduating from Cambridge University, she began working as a teacher by day and had a vigorous street ministry to the youths of Liverpool by night.

She met Stuart at a youth conference and they married in 1958. In the 50 years since, Jill has become a highly sought-after Bible teacher and author who travels around the world ministering to under-resourced churches and speaking at international seminars and conferences. Since 2000, she and Stuart, who was formerly senior pastor of Elmbrook Church for 30 years, have had the joy of equipping and encouraging believers across the globe in their roles as ministers-at-large for Elmbrook.

Jill has authored more than 40 books including devotionals, study guides, poetry and children's books. Her vivid, relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart. She serves as Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership, and served on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc., for over 20 years.

Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.

Pete Briscoe leads Telling the Truth, a multi-faceted media ministry he shares with his parents Stuart and Jill Briscoe, broadcasting Bible teaching across the United States on more than 500 radio stations and across the world on the internet and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, to help more people come to know Christ and experience fullness of life in Him. Pete also served as senior pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas for nearly 30 years after completing his seminary training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Pete and his wife, Libby, have three adult children and find great joy in experiencing the Life of Christ each day

Contact Telling the Truth with Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe

Headquarters 
Telling the Truth
450 N Sunny Slope Rd Ste 275
Brookfield, WI 53005

Outside North America
Telling the Truth
PO Box 204
Chessington
KT9 9DA
United Kingdom

Headquarters 
800.889.5388

Outside North America
0800.652.4120
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