Called and Equipped
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Introduction:
How would you answer this question:
What has God called you to do?
What is your ministry?
“I’m not really sure, I hadn’t really put much thought into the answer of that question.”
When I was 16 I didn’t have a desire to read God’s word,
I didn’t have a desire to be at church every time I could.
I didn’t have a desire to sing songs about my savior.
Yet when I gave my life over to the Lord for His will my desires began to change.
I had a desire to read about Him in His word.
I had a desire to gather with the church.
I had a desire to sing songs that were encouraging and encouraged.
Point:
My desires changed!
This is what happens as God calls people to do amazing things for Him.
Hear what Psalms says happens as you delight yourself in the Lord:
4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
I’m sure many of us have heard this passage before and possibly consumed it in our hearts for our own desires.
It isn’t a passage that teaches that God will give you the desires of your heart, it is a passage that teaches He changes your desire from self to His desire.
The closer we get to God our desires change from what we want to what He wants.
He calls us to His will and those He calls He equips.
If you were to become a firefighter would you have to get your own safety equipment?
Would you have to get your own water truck and hoses?
No! When you are hired the equipment you need to do your job is provided for you.
No different than with the Lord.
When He calls you to something, He provides the abilities, knowledge and equipment to accomplish it.
There are many examples of people called to do amazing things whom He equipped.
[ Skim through an narrate the account of Vashti’s removal as Queen, to installing Esther as Queen.
Culminating to chapter 4:12-14.
There was an order from the king that every Jew in the kingdom would be killed, including Esther.
Esther didn’t want to enter the kings presence without being summoned for fear of death; because of the law.
Anyone who entered the kings presence without being summoned or approval by his golden scepter would be put to death.
Mordecai reminded her about the fact that she wasn’t immune to this new law.
Mordecai told her something that brought a Godly perspective to this moment in her life.
Esther had a calling and God equipped her to handle it.
To be the right person for that moment in history. ]
This thought is what the Lord pronounces in Exodus 31.
He begins through a calling for a:
Specific Purpose (1-11)
Specific Purpose (1-11)
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,
At this point Moses is still conversing with God on top of the mountain.
God instructs Moses about the man He called for the crafting of all the Tabernacle.
A man named: Bezalel!
The name is interesting when you break down His name.
The ending “el” is the same we get from “Elohim”, meaning ‘God’.
The “a” means: in, at, among
The “sel” in the name means: Shadow.
His name is literally translated: “In the Shadow of God”.
The man called to build the place God will reside among all of Israel is described as the one who is in the shadow of God!.
This language isn’t much different than what we find for us in the N.T.
We are protected in the presence of the Lord.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
Jesus’ sacrifice secures our position, and there isn’t anything that can take us from that position.
We can be unashamed, not because of our doings; but because He removed the shame at our salvation.
He has hidden us in His shadow.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.
God has called every believer!
?When? - That moment when you recognized that Jesus is God and His sacrifice can atone for your sins before the Judge. Removing all “Shame” a.k.a. the bible calls it transgressions.
(If this isn’t you...Your time is now, submit to the Lord and accept His grace!)
Moses receives the name; but why the geneology?
2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
This is common among the people, you will find it many different places.
Ascribing validity to the “right” because you are part of Israel.
This also does some other things.
The calling of Bezalel here shows that before he was born His life had a purpose for the Lord.
God says the same will happen with Bezalel.
3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,
4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,
5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
This man will grow up learning, honing in, and doing all these things.
For the purpose of the Lord.
Not too different for us.
Were told in Ephesians He chose you and I too.
4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Pastor Dave...Are you insisting on an Calvinistic approach to scripture?
Not at all.
I do believe the bible teaches people can refuse the calling to salvation; it doesn’t mean they weren't called.
it just means they chose themselves instead of Him.
I also believe in free will; but not to the extent the Arminian doctrine teaches either.
We cannot choose to loose our salvation.
Before the foundation of the world God in His “all knowing” does know who will accept His grace and those who don’t.
Connection:
God extends salvation to everyone and some accept it; but the coolest part is that He keeps it as an open invitation to anyone who will believe!
15 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
God has offered grace to all; not everyone responds by accepting it.
With that acceptance we find that His spirit takes up residence in a very dirty place, our hearts.
With the purpose of cleaning it up making it hospitable for Him.
God knows what you and I are to do for Him.
We can either believe that every part of our lives have been allowed by God to help us learn, hone in, and do what He has called us to do.
Or those situations harden our hearts.
Believing in God’s sovereignty should bring us answers for some questions:
What has God equipped me to do?
What do I want to do?
What do I like to do?
All of these things can be answered only by you.
When you evaluate your heart and it’s desire is for things of the Lord.
A person’s soul is important.
Then connecting the dots from your past to your present “godly” desire and your future purpose makes sense.
And you might recognize that you haven’t done it alone.
Bezalel would need help to fulfill his calling.
6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent,
8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense,
9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand,
10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests,
11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”
God called Oholiab, to assist in crafting the tabernacle, furniture, and all it’s utensils.
This shows that Whom God calls, He equips to accomplish it.
He shows to us, just like Bezalel would’ve had a desire for building and the craftsmanship worthy of God, we have desires that line up with the abilities God has given us.
With that desire He enables us.
Sometimes it’s wisdom and understanding, other times it’s the person to do the things you aren’t good at or haven’t had the training for.
Point:
The Body of Christ works cohesively yet with differing roles and gifts to fulfill it’s calling.
It requires working together!
Notice in these passages 4x He makes the statement: “I have...”
Called, filled, and appointed.
He created a team for the ministry.
You show me where one person goes out at it alone, there isn’t any.
Even when you think your alone your not, someone is always praying for you, God is always in you protecting you in His shadow.
Illustration:
[The ex-navy seal who turned Missionary.
He could be in the most dangerous place in the world; but if that was where God wanted Him; that was the safest place. In the middle of God’s will!]
Have you ever looked back at all God has allowed in your life?
What’s the trajectory?
Where is the target?
How has God called you to ministry for the body of Christ?
Are you scared to step out because it doesn’t make sense or doesn’t seem logical?
God’s sovereign plan for your life is there just as it was for Bezalel, He’s been preparing you for it for a long time, so have faith and do it.
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As a believer we are to choose our direction based on who we trust and what He knows, not what we can understand with our lack of knowledge, and wisdom.
[The illustration of the missionary who started the orphanage in Mexico just over the border of El Guadalupe]
It took courage to step forward in obedience to the Lord because you have faith in His direction.
God reminds Moses how to live out faith through:
Obedience (12-17)
Obedience (12-17)
12 And the Lord said to Moses,
13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep My Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.
16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.
17 It is a sign forever between Me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
Haven’t we talked about this before?
Yes, back in chapter 16 and 20.
We don’t really need to cover them again.
Why here?
This moment right here is where God is concluding His conversation with Moses on the mountain.
How long was he up there?
40 days Exodus 24:15-18
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
God, reminds Moses of the covenant between Him and Israel.
This was an outward sign between Israel and God.
God used signs as testimonies for His covenants:
Noah was given the sign of a rainbow.
Abraham was given the sign of Circumcision.
Moses was given the sign of the Sabbath.
All signs confirm what God promised, as a result...All of mankind benefited!
What sign has He given to the Gentiles that is binding?
He provided a new covenant in His blood and instituted an Ordinance.
19 And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is Hy body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Jesus gave a constant reminder for the price of our atonement and an confirmation by the seal of His spirit on our souls.
We also have the tearing of the veil, and His resurrection.
Every believer has the seal of God’s spirit and the symbols are the access we have to Him (that relationship He restores) and the physical testimony to the victory over the grave that He provides us.
Offering us the hope that our soul, and life, is His and will be in His presence for all eternity.
God also addresses something that isn’t really highlighted much.
15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.
16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.
17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”
There isn’t any person exempt from this command.
He may be including this to address Aaron and all the Levites needed rest from doing service to the Lord also.
No one is exempt from the moral and biblical standards God has made.
We choose to have faith.
That faith shows that we trust what He asks of us.
That faith gives birth to the choice of obedience.
Obedience isn’t always easy.
When it’s a struggle that’s probably because there is an internal struggle in our heart and mind.
Our logic instead of His direction....etc..
What do we do in that scenario?
We get in a quiet place and pray for God’s direction and wisdom.
Don’t do anything, wait on the Lord to open the door!
In those “waiting” moments it is best to keep yourself busy learning, and helping the local body, and praying.
Believe and trust that God is teaching you through those moments and obey by sticking to His revealed will.
Reading.
Fellowship.
Praying.
Helping.
Moses is about to come down from the mountain; but God provides Him with His signature for all Israel to see and acknowledge.
He gave Moses a:
Testimony to Confirm (18)
Testimony to Confirm (18)
18 And He gave to Moses, when He had finished speaking with Him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
I saw a video of someone who had purchased in 1982 a pair of red and white Michal Jordan shoes for $37.00.
He wore them, and played basketball in them; they were used.
Yet here 40 some years later, this man with the original receipt in his box brings them to a 20yr old at a table and the buy offers to buy them for $2,000.
Imagine how much God’s signature would be worth to a person.
His signature would be the most famous and most valuable signature.
What we see in the tablets He wrote with His finger is a testimony.
That testimony reveals what Moses was doing for the last 40 days.
That signature isn’t any different than the signature of the Holy Spirit shown through you and I!
Affirming the point that we belong to God and are called for His purpose.
The tablets would’ve supported all that Moses was about to tell Israel.
Conclusion:
God reveals to us in this chapter that He has called and equipped a man to lead the construction of the temple.
But more than that, Bezalel’s ministry wasn’t going to be done alone.
He also called workers to help him in the task of crafting all the tabernacle, it’s furniture, and utensils, and priests’ robes.
Which hits into our lives also.
What has God called you to today?
Is there a ministry you have a skill or desire for?
If there isn’t that ministry, maybe God has given you a desire for one that’s needed.
God calls every believer to a ministry.
You don’t have to worry how that will be accomplished because He will equip you to fulfill that ministry.
And… you won’t be doing it alone, there will be others who help you in that ministry.
It can be a little frightening to branch out, or put yourself out there for something you’ve never done before.
I guess that’s why they describe it by “faith”.
We may not always understand it; but walking through the doors that are open takes just as much obedience as it does trust in the Lord’s will.
Your obedience reveals what you trust in and have faith in.
What are you obeying in your life?
Does fear drive you or your faith in God’s direction?
Moses will be coming down off the mountain with an authentic, one of a kind, testimony from being in the Lord’s presence.
Something that proves where he has been for 40 days and the one testimony of the covenant between the Lord and Israel.
The Holy Spirit changing your desires for holy and Godly things testifies of God’s change in you.
Solidifying a testimony for your salvation!
Somedays that’s the encouragement we need.
Next week we’ll see what the Israeli nation has been doing for 40 days.
-Pray!
