Dancing God’s Way

Into The Tabernacle of His Presence

© Larna Jane Martin 2012

www.praisedancetoday.com

Table of contents

Introduction

Tabernacle of Moses

Seven Steps Into His Presence

The Brazen Altar

The Brazen Laver

The Golden Candlestick

The Table of Showbread

The Altar of Incense

The Veil

The Ark of the Covenant

Concluding with the Covering

Further Christian Resources

Introduction

“As a child I would dance around the house, on the coffee table (which I cracked!). In the garden I would love to express myself through movement. Due to my less than ideal upbringing I found it easier to express myself through movement than words, as words are not always there to convey the inner thoughts of the heart.

I remember once in a counselling session I was asked to imagine myself dancing. I saw myself in my back garden at the age of 15 years practising a split balance. The counsellor asked if I could see Jesus anywhere in the vision. Trying to bring Jesus into the picture I looked around the garden, but I could not see Him anywhere. Then, as I looked down upon my own body, I saw Christ in me - like a big glowing ball of light emanating from my belly. It was such a revelation and confirmation of His gift and enabling in me!

This booklet takes you through part of my walk with Jesus, and how He has been sanctifying the vessel in which He has placed the gift.

I believe that you will find ideas, experiences and keys in these pages that you will relate to, and that will help you progress with the gift that God has given you also.”

Larna Martin

Tabernacle of Moses

The Tabernacle of Moses was a shadowy outline and silhouette of the true and Heavenly sanctuary. That’s quite a major help to visual and creative people like ourselves. God has actually given us a little glimpse of what things are like in His sanctuary.

His Word says;

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I have found moving through the Tabernacle of Moses a great way to do just that! The blue print for the Tabernacle was given to Moses after he lead God’s people out of Egypt. Moses was given strict instructions to  follow in building this sanctuary, as God himself would come and reside with them within it.

“So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the  tabernacle.” Exodus 40:33-35

Not even Moses could stand to minister in the presence of that Glory cloud! Wow! That’s what we want, the glory of God to come down and tabernacle with us. I believe this is what every Spirit-filled Christian desires, and as dancers we hunger to be transformed by the glory of God.

Many times I have heard people preach that first you must minister unto the Lord, for that is our primary calling. That is where we are transformed into His image. That is where we find healing, fulfilment and so much more.

God eagerly desires for us to come into His presence. He is waiting for us, so what are we doing? It is a decision we have to make to come into His presence. If you are hungering after more of Jesus  follow me now into His chambers.

Seven Steps into His Presence

As you can see from the picture on the previous page, the Tabernacle had three different rooms;

1. The Outer Court

2. The Holy Place

3. The Holy of Holies

This picture of three rooms making up one tabernacle makes me think of the Trinity;

1. God the Father

2. Jesus the Son of God

3. The Holy Spirit

How dance is incorporated

You can use this tabernacle idea on your own as a powerful way of entering into the throne room of God, dancing, moving to the meaning of the pieces. It also works well with a group by splitting the dancers into seven small groups so that they can make up each different item (creating a shape).

Usually, I would give each group a scripture to work with (the scriptures I usually use are given at the start at each of the following chapters). Once you have created your human tabernacle each group could dance through, visiting each piece in worship. This allows God to really minister through each member of the group to the others.

Let us enter together

into the Tabernacle of God…

The Brazen Altar

“You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide - the altar shall be square--and its height shall be three cubits. You shall make its horns on  its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.” Exodus 27:1,2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

Here is where the animal sacrifices were made. Blood was shed. A death would take place to cover the sin of the people. The Bible declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, but do not despair, God has made a new way! We can pass the brazen altar through his Son, Jesus, who shed His blood for us;

“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,” Romans 3:24,25

Jesus is our sacrifice, but in order to enter in to all that He has bought for us we still have to lay ourselves down on the altar. Lay things at the cross, letting go of burdens. Sometimes just to get up and dance is to put self (consciousness) to death.

As a young girl I was trained as a rhythmic and artistic gymnast. At school I took my dance CSE but was told I wasn’t a dancer at all. I was told that I was too rigid and artistic. That hurt, as I loved to dance and involve my artistic abilities into the moves, which I felt made it more interesting.

Even so, I passed my dance CSE with full marks, but the words said over me continued to speak. I believe that those words of criticism stopped me going to my full potential in my dancing career before I was a Christian. At the age of 23, I gave my life to the Lord, which meant I gave my heart and all its baggage to Jesus. A few years later my local church asked me to lead and direct their dancers, which brought a few insecurities up, including these words spoken many years before. I could of listened to those words but instead I turned to Jesus. I laid them at the cross (on the altar) where they belonged.

Still now I have to crawl onto the altar and say, “Let Your fire burn through me that I can become a vessel fit for the Master’s use.” This can be a painful process, like it was for Jesus laying down his life for us, but if we choose to live with hurts they can become a part of us.

Often these unresolved hurts and offences dictate our lives, commanding how we respond in situations, how we see ourselves and others. Jesus came to set us free from these chains. God’s will is that we be completely liberated to enjoy and worship Him without hindrance or limit. That is the purpose of the altar!

God looks upon the heart not the outward appearance, so as we start to give ourselves to the Holy Spirit to worship through us, we must search our heart to find the intents; “…for the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”   Hebrews 4:12

We must let go of self so that God can see our pure hearts:

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.”   Psalms 24:1-4

If we have a pure heart, a pure movement shall proceed from it. God is not looking for skill but a pure and honest heart that is hungering and thirsting after Him.

The Brazen Laver

“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for  washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it,” Exodus 30:18

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,” Ephesians 5:26

The laver was like a giant wash bowl fashioned from bronze mirrors, so you could see your own reflection whilst you washed yourself. This brings to mind 1 Corinthians 11:31:

“For if we judge ourselves (look at ourselves) we would not be judged.”

How difficult it is to say that we were wrong when we tried so hard to do it right, but we all at some time make mistakes. Even King David messed up when he adulterously took Bathsheba. That mistake cost a child’s life.

David however, knew God. He humbled himself and repented, and God forgave him. When I was only a few years old in the Lord, my Senior Pastor asked me to concentrate on dancing with a ribbon as it took the focus off the body.

To be honest I was offended and thought she did not understand dance. I believed that she didn’t understand what God had planned for me. I had always seen a ribbon as a prop for people who couldn’t really dance, but how wrong I was!

Out of obedience I started to move again with the ribbon. This was difficult for me as I used to  compete in many rhythmic competitions. It took a lot of pushing through to enter into the spirit as I was skill-minded not Spirit-minded with a  ribbon.

A year or so passed and I was invited to dance at Spring Harvest. God anointed my dancing with a ribbon during the praise and  worship in a way that not only released people to worship God there and then, but to my amazement, left many others wanting to dance with the ribbon.

Even when I returned home to my own church it seemed that suddenly everyone wanted a ribbon (even some of the trendy guys in the youth were interested in moving with the ribbon). That was when I realised that God must really be in this, and I remembered how I had started to move with the ribbon. God had washed me of my old skill-minded self, and made me a new creation! For this to happen the pride in my heart had to be dealt with. God had cleansed me by his Spirit and his Word.

The cleansing process may take more time than we think, or it could be quick, but whatever needs washing in your life, don’t give up. God always finishes a job.

The Golden Candlestick

“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower - and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” Exodus 25:31-40

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””  John 8:12

Now, having entered the Holy Place, you are able to see, not by natural light, but by light given by a seven branched candlestick.  Similar to when we enter the spirit realm, we do not see by natural sight but with our  spiritual eyes. Jesus is a light to our spiritual path.

The candlestick was made of one piece of gold beaten into shape. I am sure we all feel sometimes that we are being hammered around, and that God has got us on His potter’s wheel doing a new work in us. Maybe sometimes you think dance isn’t for you, that God has not called you to move in Him. It could be that he is bringing you to new place in  movement, but often He has to put a hammer to the old way of thinking and moving, and reshape it that more of his light can shine through. When you look at it like that what a privilege to be chosen by God to carry His glory.

When we hear “candlestick” we naturally picture candles, but this candlestick was actually a seven stemmed oil lamp, which is quite a significant difference. Candles burn by self consumption, while lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them. So be aware, are you a candle that tires easily, are you drawing from your own wells of energy, or are you a lamp being continuously supplied with oil from the Holy Spirit to give of the light of God?

As you know, I was mainly skill-minded when I became a Christian, but God in His amazing grace still allowed me to dance for the church that I had become a member of. I put some moves  together to a song called “Hero”. I put much passion into it only to have a leader come thank me for such a skilled performance, they really enjoyed it, but it lacked the anointing. To be honest I didn’t really understand much about the anointing, so I asked my dance leader at the time what the anointing was, and she very graciously explained. I was embarrassed and drew back for a while, but after a time I felt like Jeremiah when he decided to stop preaching (Jer 20:9).

I knew God wanted me to dance, so I set about finding the anointing. I started to study the Bible on dance and movement. I would pray the best I knew how for the Holy Ghost to reveal Himself to me. Whenever I could, I would find a room and just dance for the Lord, letting my heart pour forth in movement. One scripture really set me free; “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). I started praying this scripture and explored its meaning. In all this there was a lot of humbling taking place in my life. I realised I could not do it on my own, I needed the Holy Spirit and nothing would change that.

A year later I ministered another dance called “Dancing on Glass” which opened the eyes of many to such an extent that one of our prophetic teachers asked my fiancé at that time what I had been doing to see such a change and an anointing on my dance?

He was able to tell him that I had been studying Acts 17:28, and believing it to come to pass in my life (and so it had started). The anointing, the light of God is what we should be moving in, or we are just performing a string of moves. And let’s face it, the world is full of professionals who can almost certainly do them much better than us! What they can never have, however, is the divine stamp of God’s approval – the anointing. The anointing makes all the difference. We must continuously keep ourselves fuelled in the Word and in prayer, so that the Holy Spirit has the liberty to fill us at all times.

The candlestick was the only source of light in the tabernacle and it gave sight to the priests so that they could minister unto God, tending to the table of Showbread and Altar of incense.

Dance can bring a greater  revelation of God to people. It goes beyond verbal communication that can light up anyone, whether Chinese, Japanese, English, dance is capable of pouring out God’s light anywhere on the street, in a school, in a concert hall etc.

Let us, as worshippers of the Light, shine forth as stars in a dark world, illuminating people’s path, and leading them to the source of all that is good and true, Jesus Christ.

The Table of Showbread

“He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the  tabernacle, outside the veil; and he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD,  as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Exodus 40:22,23

“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never  hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

This table was made of shittim wood and over laid with gold. Shittim  or acacia  is translated “incorruptible wood”, depicting the incorruptible and perfect humanity of Christ. The gold would signify the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Just as the other articles had been given a specific plan by which to be made, so it was with the table of showbread. The table held twelve loaves of bread, one for each tribe of Israel. It was only to be eaten by the priests of the tribe of Levi.

This points to God’s amazing grace, that through Jesus we can once again commune with him, that we are redeemed from the fall in the garden of Eden. The fact that we are all priests through Jesus’ blood and have a place at his table is one of the greatest truths of the New Covenant.

Nowadays we are all concerned about our calling, which isn’t a bad thing. We want to be doing what God has called us to. But don’t become so focused that you don’t take time out to sit at the Lord’s table and dine with him. I am very purpose driven, so a lot of what I do must have a  finished result that I can see. What I mean is this; I find it very easy to put a dance together or help someone else to find moves but if I am not  attentive I actually don’t spend quality time at the Lord’s table myself just finding a scripture and expressing it to the Lord, moving to His Word, feeding of His table. The latter is the fuel that gives energy to the set dances that I minister to the Body (the Church). I admit with such a busy lifestyle it sometimes seems very difficult, but your spirit depends on it. Without it you will start to perform (skill-minded) and not minister (Spirit-minded).

Try. Find a scripture that speaks to your heart and put movement to it. When we do this, not only does the Word become alive, it will continue to minister to you throughout the day and week and start to bring a freedom to your praise and worship because you will start to move more freely.

A great friend of mine started ministering set dances that way. She came to me interested in going further in dance. She had danced a lot in praise and worship and brought freedom to others, but wanted to branch out into new areas in dance. So we booked some time together and started putting shapes and moves together to Psalm 27. We ministered unto God His Word, which in turn released my friend to create her own moves to a song she loved. Glory to God!

The Altar of Incense

“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.” Exodus 30:1

“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:4

The altar of incense is where the priests would burn incense unto the Lord day and night; “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight,  he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your  generations.” Exodus 30:7,8

This altar was positioned in the Holy Place, before the veil. The perfume of the burning incense would pass through the veil into the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant sat.

Who knows the song “Prayers of the Saints” by Matt Redman? It is a beautiful song to dance to. The song is asking the Lord “Are the prayers of the saint like sweet smelling incense to your heart?” Do you ever ask the same question?

My husband and I completed a “Movement in Worship” discipleship course several years ago. It was an inspiring course with Andy Au and Candy Hadler, which I would recommend to anyone interested in dance. Over the year we covered many aspects of dance, choreography, characterisation, developing a unique movement vocabulary, dynamic mass sculpturing, dance healing, moving prophetically and moving with banners and ribbons. During one of these sessions Andy put on a song by Matt Redman called “Prayers of the Saints” and asked us to move freely around the room.

There were about twelve of us. After a time we all started to move together with the purpose of reaching out to God. A real sense of God’s Presence and Holiness filled the room. It was evident that the prayers which we were interpreting into moves were indeed a sweet smelling incense before the Lord.

It was quite a life changing experience, for me and many others in the room. Our moves can become prayers before the Lord, a sweet smelling aroma. Your freedom of movement in Christ can change the atmosphere in a place to bring in the Spirit of God.

Have you ever heard of “Morning Star” church? It is a church in America that has explored movement in intercession during their praise and worship, and have found it invaluable to breaking through into an amazing freedom in Christ. Even now, in my own church, we are bringing intercessory dance into our services and there has been a radical sense of freedom since.

We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He may not want us always to be moving. He may just want you to kneel or stand and soak up his presence. At other times, however, He may inspire you to leap and spin wildly around the room. Let us learn to keep our hearts open to Him, and follow His lead, as we dance into the tabernacle of His presence.

The Veil

“You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.”   Exodus 26:31

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God,” Hebrews 10:19-21

The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies because mere men in the Old Testament could not stand in the presence of God which resided over the Ark in the Holy of Holies.  Now, through Jesus, we can come boldly into the Holy of Holies. His blood has made atonement for all who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour. When I say Lord I mean Master, Ruler over your life, over your desires, over your ambitions, gifts, marriage, home etc. If we truly want to enter into God’s Holy Place we have to yield to him, lay down our agenda, our fleshy desires and natural ways of thinking, and give ourselves to Him. It is like we have to step through the veil of our flesh that separates us from God.

For me, ambition and my own desires are what I have to constantly bring before God. One example happened in June last year. I knew God was calling me to have another child, which didn’t really fit in well with my agenda at the time.

There was Spring Harvest coming up and much to do in the sphere of dance, and I desperately wanted to take part in it all! But when God calls it is difficult to refuse him if you want to carry on walking with Him. My idea of waiting another year wasn’t good enough.

I submitted and started to plan for another child, which is due in May this year (at time of writing). Praise God!

Not only did God give me the grace to lay down my agenda, but He also opened many other doors for me as a result of my obedience.

As I stepped through the veil of my flesh into God’s plan for my life, it released a greater anointing in dance and an awareness of his Presence like never before. He has released me to teach and organise workshops, that others may step into the freedom that he has given me, which is the true desire of my heart. That is why Jesus died on the cross, so we could be free to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and by His grace lead others there also.

The Ark of the Covenant

“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around ... And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the  cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” Exodus 25:10-22

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,” Hebrews 10:19,20

We all know of King David who danced before the Ark as it was being returned to Jerusalem; “Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.” 2 Samuel 6:14 NKJV.

The Ark of the New Covenant, however, is now even closer to home;  “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

The Spirit of God dwells in us! Should not the glory of God shine through us in all that we do? My prayer as I enter the Tabernacle is, “Let your light shine through me that others may see Your Glory!” Do you know that God is  longing, just waiting, for willing vessels to carry his Glory. But there is a price to pay with your own life. “Not my will, but Your will be done”, must be the cry of our heart.

The Ark of the Covenant carried the Glory of God. It was placed in the Holy of Holies were man could not see it. Only once a year the priest could go in and minister before the Lord, and even then they tied a rope around the priest’s ankle in case the Glory consumed him (and killed him). Because “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5), any darkness or sin in the priest’s heart would be consumed by the holiness of God. Now we, through Jesus Christ, can come boldly to the throne of grace, the mercy seat that is between the cherubim;

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I was once asked to minister a dance called “I surrender all” during a ladies camp, in which I was asked to move with the Union Jack flag. I hadn’t seen that as part of my dance, but wanting to be obedient included the flag.

The dance was very simple and I was a little concerned people would find it boring. However, as I began to minister the dance, I began to cry. I could feel the presence of God just speaking through me in an incredible way. Between the cherubim was the ‘speaking place’ of God. During this dance, and indeed today in the life of every born again believer, we have become that speaking place.

The whole experience ended with everyone interceding for Britain as I placed the flag at the foot of the cross, symbolising giving Britain to Christ.

Concluding with the Covering

“You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a  covering of badger skins above that.” Exodus 26:14, NKJV.

All the beauty of the tabernacle was covered in badger skin to protect it from the heat and storms of the desert. It seems strange that something so carefully and accurately made of such beauty on the inside, would look so humble on the outside. I believe that is how Jesus wants us to be; full of His Glory and light but covered in humility. I don’t mean walk around in badger skins, or not to take care of yourself, which is important, for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What I mean is that we must be careful to not fall into pride. We must esteem others higher than ourselves;

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3, NKJV.

If you have worked hard to achieve certain goals, it is very easy to give yourself over to pride. Pride is very sneaky. It comes in the back door, just when you are not expecting it. It disguises itself in many forms. Pride, I believe, is a Christian’s number one enemy.

I also believe that there is so much more to discover in the area of dance, dancing in the Spirit, moving prophetically and other forms. God is just waiting for those willing vessels who can overcome pride and give themselves over to Him without question.

The first steps to protect yourself against pride is to make sure you have the covering of a church. To be submitted to a body of believers is so important, but it goes even further than that. We must make ourselves accountable to a leader, our pastor or home group leader for example. It is no good to be only generally submitted, it must be more specific and personal than that;

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”” 1 Peter 5:5

Submit your ideas to them so that they can pray for you and lead you in the right direction. Stay under their covering. At times you may not agree with them, just submit anyway (obviously within the scriptural bounds set out for us in the Bible). You never know, it could be God trying to get you to do something new, so He can release a new anointing. Remember, His way is not always ours!

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31,32

If, in all we do, we keep looking to Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, I believe we will reclaim dance back into its rightful place; the Kingdom of God. It is our choice. God gave us the freedom to choose, so choose life, and help to bring dance back to God’s people. He is  looking to us to do it through.

God bless you on your

journey through the tabernacle.

Further Resources

For more Christian Resources to encourage and strengthen your walk with God check out our websites at:

http://www.jesuschrist.co.uk

http://www.studythebiblenow.com

http://www.praisedancetoday.com