2018-09-30 Exodus 25
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“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
Six branches are to extend from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side.
There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on the next branch. It is to be this way for the six branches that extend from the lampstand.
There are to be four cups shaped like almond blossoms on the lampstand shaft along with its buds and petals.
“Make its seven lamps, and set them up so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
The Lamp was a light.
The Lamp was a light.
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
God is light!
God is light!
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
Illus: Take a moment and think about the imagery God is painting. Inside the holy of holy there are no window, not light peeping in. It is a place of complete darkness. In the midst of the darkness, so that that the table might be seen, and so that the ark might be approached, the lamp illuminates the room.
Before we stop and think that the lamp is purely utilitarian, don’t miss the purposeful detail of the lamp. The fact that it is built like a tree, that it has 7 (God’s perfection) lamps, and that it is in bloom.
More than that though, look at how God uses light throughout scripture. Before God worked in the world there was no light. GOd brought light.
God calls himself light. Jesus describes his work as light.
The lamp was placed into the tabernacle to communicate who God is. He is a God of light. He shines into a dark and broken world.
God described himself in light.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Jesus claimed to be God calling himself the same.
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.
Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
We are called to display God's light to dark world.
We are called to display God's light to dark world.
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
Illus: God never intended to be the only source of light. His desire is that his people, the true temple of God would become that light to the world of darkness around them.
Our God is a visual God, that is why he made every part of the tabernacle the way it was… watch what happened at Pentecost.
God turned the early disciples into the tabernacle lamp.
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.
Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
What about us, that means we are called to bring the light of God’s gospel to the world around us. For example, tonight we are having the harvest fest. My challenge for you is to beyond just showing up. I want you to bring someone who is not in church. Be the light that many who in darkness need.
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Lamp was a tree.
The Lamp was a tree.
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
In the tree we see ourselves.
In the tree we see ourselves.
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
Illus: The picture of the tree was a tree in bloom. It was one that was bearing fruit. It was healthy.
This theme is one that appears over and over. We are rooted in God’s word and in his presence. As we thrive in the goodness of God we bear fruit.
Beyond that though, the fruit of the tree, the lamp, was light.
What a glorious picture that when we are truly abiding in God, we will display the light of his presence to the world around us.
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Healthy trees bear fruit.
Healthy trees bear fruit.
“You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on the next branch. It is to be this way for the six branches that extend from the lampstand.
Illus: How many times did Jesus use agriculture to teach about God.
He cursed a barren tree to communicate what faith without fruit is.
He talked about soil which didn’t produce.
He talked about the harvest and the need for workers.
No teaching of Jesus was clearer that his teaching on the vine and the branches. In Jesus teaching about the vine and the branches we understand how God produces fruit and light in our lives.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
What about today?
What about today?
“Make its seven lamps, and set them up so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.
The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The church is called to be light to our dark world.
The church is called to be light to our dark world.
Illus: The book of revelation describes that every church is a lampstand. We are the lighthouse of God in a dark and broken world.
But watch out, just because we have church in our name does not guarantee God’s light among us.
As we look to God’s lamp among his people, God will remove the lamp if we do not honor him.
I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.
But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.