Exodus II Sermon Week 14

Intro/Welcome

It’s good to be back.

My name is Justin, one of Pastors here.

PIC of John Marc (Baby)

Thanks to John, Melo and Mitchell these last few weeks.

We’ve all been adjusting as a family.

Twice as many kids as adults

Sermon Intro

We have two weeks left in our Exodus series

It is coming to the epic conclusion next week on Mother’s Day

As we begin today let me show this image.

[PIC OF CHURCH]

Is it marvelous?

How many people do you think it took to build this?

How much time?

How much do you think it costs?

This is a beautiful church meant to demonstrate the beauty, majesty and glory of God.

Isn’t it amazing that this was built by men and women?

Text Intro

Today we are looking at the building of the tabernacle, which in its composition of materials would have been akin to this cathedral.

The finest and most expensive materials meant to display God’s glory on earth.

That’s what the tabernacle was meant to be, and the temple much later.

God could have created the tabernacle out of thin air, that’s how he created everything else

by the power of his word

But he chooses to use his people.

He doesn’t have to, but he does.

He wants us to participate in his work.

This glorifies God and allows us to image him well

after all God is the ultimate creator, the ultimate artists.

Today what we’ll see is that God uniquely gifted men and women to be about his work in the world.

We’ll see that this wasn’t just true for the Israelites building the tabernacle, but it is true for you and I as God is building his church — the present day tabernacle.

What I want you to see today is that...

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world.

We’ll be in Exodus 35:4-36:7

Let’s Pray and then look at this marvelous series of events.

Pray

Oh God that we would know what you made us for.

How you gifted us and for what purpose.

uniquely created to

be a part of God’s work in teh world

to display his glory

to bless others.

Called by God

Exodus 35:4–5 CSB 4 Then Moses said to the entire Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze...

Exodus 35:6–9 CSB

6 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood; 8 oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx with gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece.

What’s going on here?

We saw about a month ago, this is exactly what God had told Moses to do way back in Exod 25:1-8

Now a lot has happened since then.

Moses receives all the instructions from God for the tabernacle

This is interrupted by the Golden Calf Incident.

The people had taken matters into their own hands at Moses’ delay

Don’t we all do that?

Moses comes down and rebukes them and then goes back up to intercede for them (this was last week)

Moses pleads with God that he would go with them. For this is what will make your people distinct.

God says yes.

Then Moses boldly asks for God to show his Glory and he does and reveals his name to Moses

in one of the most important verses in all the Bible (Exod 34:6-7)

This is was last week.

And then God reiterates his covenant (Exod 34:8-28)

for another 40 days and 40 nights

and Exodus 34:28 CSB...He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

So here we are again 40 days and nights without Moses

How would the people fair this time?

Would they fall into idolatry again?

No, in fact, in one of the very few places in the Old Testament the people are going to do exactly what God asks.

Perhaps it is that they experienced God’s grace and forgiveness for them after the Golden Calf.

They were sobered by the prospect of God not going with them

Often times it takes something drastic to alert us to God’s purposes in our lives.

The Call for Materials

This is what Moses is asking of them.

He asking them to give of their treasure for the building of the tabernacle.

This tabernacle which again would be the dwelling place of God’s presence among them.

The very thing that Moses pleaded from God.

So the tabernacle (and later temple) is massively important to God’s work in the world.

It was his chosen place to dwell amongst his people.

It was to be the center of their way of life.

He calls for the materials needed to build it.

it’s very expensive, the finest of materials.

to display God’s glory on earth.

From the Heart

Exodus 35:5 CSB 5 Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze;

Notice he says ‘from everyone whose heart is willing.’

He’s not commanding them to give

He wants them to be captures by the vision of God’s presence among them and to his purposes and to give accordingly

It’s not hard to give to things you are passionate about.

We talked about giving last time, today I want to focus on what he says next:

He doesn’t just call for possessions but for people.

The Call for Men & Women

Exodus 35:10 CSB 10 “Let all the skilled artisans among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded:

And then he lists all the he told Moses to build

The tabernacle, tent, ark, table of presence, alters, etc.

God isn’t just calling for materials for for the men and women who are skilled artisans

The people he has uniquely gifted for this tasks.

He is calling them into to the very task for which he created them.

God is going to accomplish his purposes and he is going to do it through the men and women he has called and gifted to do so.

How will they respond?

ILL

Have you ever had that experience that you just knew that you were supposed to do something?

That could be as simple as saying Hi to someone.

it could be a sense that God has called you to certain vocation.

Maybe it was a call to go on a Mission trip, and something deep within you said ‘yes’

This is what God is looking for in his people.

a people whose hearts move them into action.

whose spirits prompt then to move.

Look at how they respond to His calling.

The Response

Exodus 35:20–21 CSB 20 Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’s presence. 21 Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

Possessions

Then it says both men and women came and gave away their possessions

brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces

blue, purple or scarlet yarn

fine linen, goat hair rams skins.

Silver and bronze

Let me translate that into today’s language:

cash, credit cards, checks

your finest clothings and shoes

coats, cars, computers

Jewelry, ipads, houses even.

Anything that was of value and could be used for the Lords’ work.

But also people

Exodus 35:25–26 CSB 25 Every skilled woman spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. 26 And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of their skill.

Interesting here that it specifically calls out the women how gave of their talents.

yet another example, how the book of exodus explicitly honors women

Because women have always been essential to God’s work in the world.

But then, listen to this.

Bezalel & Oholiab

Exodus 35:30–35 CSB 30 Moses then said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31 He has filled him with God’s Spirit (1st time), with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft 32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft.

34 He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

35 He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.

God specifically calls these two men to build the tabernacle.

He appointed them.

Back in Exod 31

He had filled them with his spirit

he gave them wisdom, understanding and ability of every kind of craft.

They are not only gifted by God in skill but also in the ability to teach others.

This is incredible.

They are to utilize their gifts and skills for God’s work

but also to Multiply them.

These two men were specifically gifted, called and empowered to accomplish God’s work in the world.

The next 4 chapters describe exactly how these two men and all the skilled workers accomplished God’s calling and commands.

They build the:

Tabernacle, the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the bonze basin, the courtyard, the priestly garments, the ephod, breastpiece, the robe, the turbans and the holy diadem.

All describe in detail.

In fact, it is emphatic to say repeatedly

that they did it “just as the Lord commanded Moses (Exod 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 31)

It was important to do it just as the Lord commanded.

For Today

Was that just for then? Does God do the same thing today?

It is the same today.

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of his work in the world.

Uniquely Gifted

There is only one of you in the whole world, for all of human history

There has only been one of you.

That is how great our God is

How creative he is.

he made you for a reason.

He gave you the personality you have for a reason

The skills you have for a reason

The gifts you have for a reason.

the story you have for a reason.

Don’t you long to know what that reason is?

So that you can also, from the heart, from the deepest part of your spirit take action in your life

to get on the right path

You can’t do that without Jesus

Some may ask why do we need Jesus for this?

There are many very gifted people doing many great things with their talent.

Here’s the thing:

It will never be enough.

No amount of service, creativity, accolades, money, success or anything

will ever be enough to fill that void that is inside all of us.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 CSB ...He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world.

Not your own work.

Not for your own name.

Those things will never fill you.

So many people in our lives, perhaps yourself, are living this way

trying to fill that void that can only be filled by God.

Be a part of...

Sin is the Problem

You see sin is the problem.

Sin means we are hopeless self-centered

Sin means that without God in our lives, everything we do is ultimately about us

it serves us in some way

benefits us.

It is impossible to truly live for others with out the power of sin being broken in your life by the Cross of Christ.

Until we understand the depth of God’s love for us, we will never be able to truly love others.

We never be able to experience the freedom and blessing of being a part of God’s work in the world.

This is why we need Jesus

This is why I needed Jesus.

I know this from my own life.

Did I do good things before i met Jesus as age 26?

yea, I did some good things.

But did I do it so that Jesus could be glorified?

No, i did not.

I was ultimately either serving myself in someways or trying to meet some need that only God can meet

Such as the need to be liked or needed.

Isaiah - our righteous deeds apart from God are filthily rags.

But the gospel comes in and changes us

so that we can truly love others for their sake.

I’m pretty sure this is true of you also.

Colossians 3:1–4 CSB

1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Jesus teaches that...

Matthew 16:25 CSB

25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Don’t you want to find your life?

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world.

Redeeming our Personalities

When we do this it means we can re-apportion our skills, talents and personalities towards God’s work in the world.

It means redeeming who we are.

But is also means the giving of Spiritual Gifts.

spiritual gifts- gifts given specifically to do god’s work in the world

1 Peter 4:10–11 CSB 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

God’s Work in the World

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world.

What is God’s work in the World?

For the Israelites God’s work was the building of the tabernacle.

which would display God’s glory for the watching world.

It would be the dwelling place for God on earth

It would be the place where reconciliation and reconnection with God would happen.

Today?

The modern day tabernacle is the Church.

God’s people on earth.

The church too is

which would display God’s glory for the watching world.

It would be the dwelling place for God on earth

It would be the place where reconciliation and reconnection with God would happen.

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Application

Look back at this Picture of the Church

Do you know that you and I are a part of something infinitely more majestic and precious to God?

God’s tabernacle, his dwelling place today is the Church — His people

God didn’t die for a building but for a people.

God doesn’t dwell inside of buildings but inside of people.

God is building something in and through the church more beautiful than anything on earth.

Don’t you want to be a part of that?

You say, “what does that mean for me?”

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world wherever he has placed you!

God has placed you right where you are right at this moment

why you work where you work, live where you live, study where you study, it’s why you have the kids that you do.

He has brought people into your life that don’t know him

people that are seeking to fill that void we all feel

and you have the answer!

He’s called you to share God’s love with them.

He’s called you to use your gifts to be about his work: the building up of the church.

So how has God uniquely gifted you?

For some of you it may be sports, you are uniquely athletic

Great! go and play that the name of the Lord might be known.

For some of you it may be that you are uniquely artistically or musically?

Great! Go and contribute towards Godly ends and ways that people will be blessed.

Maybe you are uniquely gifted at tech and coding and such.

Great! Go and create well for God’s glory and the good of people.

Maybe you are uniquely gifted at making money!

Great, how can you steward that towards God’s kingdom?

Parents: God has uniquely gifted you to be the parents of the children you have.

Let that sink in, mom’s and dads.

Maybe you don’t know your gifting?

Great, let’s discover them together.

we are God’s church, filled with God’s spirit.

Discover your life by taking your next step today!

take your next step.

Discover your gifting

by joining a team

joining a community group and being known

Become known, serve, lead, partner.

and begin to live out your unique gifting to the glory of God.

Closing

Do you know what happens when a people catch a vision of God’s work in the world and find their lives in Him?

Exodus 36:2–7 CSB 2 So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had placed wisdom, all whose hearts moved them, to come to the work and do it.

3 They took from Moses’s presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

4 Then all the artisans…[came and] said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

6 After Moses gave an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp:

“Let no man or woman make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.”

So the people stopped. 7 The materials were sufficient for them to do all the work. There was more than enough.

What if this described One Hope Church?

People were so captured by God’s glory that they freely gave of their time, talent and treasure that his name might be known to the city, nations and generations

God has uniquely gifted you to be a part of His work in the world.

Let’s Pray

1 Peter 4:10–11 CSB

10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.