Highway to Holiness

Highway of Holiness

The life of a salmon is very interesting. From the freshwater rivers, they go through their normal life cycle like eggs and fingerlings and eventually live in the sea. But once they reach maturity, they have an absolute resolve to go back to their spawning grounds, hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. The trip back to their spawning grounds is a seemingly impossible task, full of dangers, traps, and obstacles, as they will be swimming against the overbearing current of the rivers. Many of the salmon die going back to their grounds as bears, and birds of prey catch them and eat them. Some of them hit the rocks, logs, and other obstacles along the way and die. Sometimes they have to swim through shallow waters just to get through their journey. But they never stop or rest from swimming against the current – otherwise, it would carry them away from their destination. The incredible thing is, in order for them to reach their spawning grounds, they have to jump upstream, up against a waterfall and sometimes more than once in their journey.

Many of their jumps fail but they persist – until they get through the waterfall or die trying. Against all odds, many of them eventually reach their spawning grounds and a new generation of salmon eggs are laid and later hatch to become fingerlings. You can probably count yourself lucky not to be a salmon! But if you are a Christian, like the salmon, the odds are also stacked heavily against you if you are resolved to follow God and become more like Jesus as you travel the highway of holiness. There is a very strong current that is sweeping across the face of the earth. A current of wickedness, immorality, blatant and not so blatant sin and acceptance and practices of ungodly values and activities pervade the world we live in. Sometimes, it’s hard to know who is in a better place – the salmon swimming upstream to their spawning grounds or Christians trying to live holy lives in an unholy world.

But no matter how hard or difficult the highway of holiness is, God calls every Christian to a life of holiness. Six separate times in Leviticus, God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. And in 1 Peter 1:15-16, it says, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” That last part is quoted straight from Leviticus. Also, depending on your version, the words “holy” and “holiness” are used over 900 times in God’s Word. We have mentioned before that we can tell what is important to God by how many times it is mentioned in His Word. Holiness is one of the most important if not the most important words in the Bible. For a Christian, holiness is not a request or a suggestion; it is a command. If we are to become more like Jesus as we live on this earth. If we are to be obedient to the commands of God. If we are to fall deeper in love with God and His Word, we must be holy as our Lord God is holy. This brings us to our big idea this morning that​​ God desires His people to be holy as He is holy.

Let’s pray: Holy God, we want to be holy as you are holy and so we ask that you would open up your Word to us so that we can fall deeper in love with you, so that we can better serve and obey you and so that we can spread your Gospel in all the places we work, play and live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

There are three points this morning. The first is​​ Holiness: What Is It?​​ What does holiness mean? It means set apart and unique. God is unique and we are to be unique, as well, and set apart from this sinful and evil world. Holiness is not knowledge, religious zeal, or outward morality. You can’t become holy just by keeping company with godly people. Holiness is a habit; it is not something you do once and call yourself holy. Living a holy life is like running a marathon not a sprint. It is a habit of hating what God hates and loving what God loves. It is measuring everything by the standard of God’s Word. Holiness is living​​ a life that endeavors to keep the commands of God and live a life of sinlessness. It is living in a fear of the Lord, a reverent fear of displeasing God more than displeasing the world. Psalms 119:127-128 says, “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”

A life of holiness will be striving to be more like Jesus. We will want to forgive as Jesus forgave. We will want to be unselfish, loving, humble, meek, patient and compassionate as Jesus was. We will want to be pure of heart and faithful in all our relationships as Jesus was. Matthew 15:19 says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” ​​ And Romans 12:9-13 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

We will also want to do the will of God as Jesus did. We will want to deny ourselves and be uncompromising of sin as Jesus was. We will want to love God and love others as Jesus did. And we will want to keep Jesus’ commands and walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:3-6 says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” And 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Lastly, we will want to set our affections on things above as Jesus did. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,​​ and all these things will be given to you as well.”

A favorite saying of mine for the past twenty some years and the way I have tried to live my life is “WWJD?” What would Jesus do? We would live more holy lives, sinning less and doing the will of God, if we would ask that question more frequently, and be obedient to the voice of God, as we travel the highway of holiness. “What would Jesus say, or what would Jesus do, in this situation or that situation, that I find myself in?” That brings us to our first next step on the back of your communication card which is​​ I will purpose to​​ ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” more​​ frequently​​ as I​​ travel​​ the highway of holiness.

Living a holy life doesn’t mean we will not sin, but we will hate our sin, mourn our sin and purpose to flee our sin. Holiness is a life of continual spiritual warfare. Sanctification is a progressive work that never ends until we get to heaven. Satan and the world will want to see us sin and work at causing us to stumble and guess what? We will stumble and sin. We will fall but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we get back up, dust ourselves off and continue down the highway of holiness. If we are truly Christ followers, we will continue to press forward and aim toward holiness. We will continue to labor to be holy as God is holy. I think Psalms 63:8 in the KJV sums it up pretty well: “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Does your soul follow hard after Jesus?

Our second point is​​ Holiness: Why is it important?​​ Before we go on, we need to realize that holiness can’t save us. Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our own holiness cannot save us. Our righteous acts are like filthy rags as it says in Isaiah 54:6: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel​​ up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” So, if being holy can’t save us, why is it important to live holy lives? First, because God says so. I’ve already mentioned more than six places in the Bible where we are told this. And in Matthew 5:48, Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Second, living holy lives is important because it is one of the reasons why God sent His son into the world. Titus 2:14 says, talking about Jesus, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” And to the Ephesians, Paul wrote that Christ gave himself up for the church that “He might sanctify and cleanse it.” Jesus didn’t come into the world just to save us from our sin and eternal separation from God, but to break the power of sin in our lives.

Third, living holy lives is evidence of a transformed heart and saving faith. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” And Matthew 7:18-20 says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” Also, John 15:4 tells us that the only way we can produce good fruit is by remaining in Jesus: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Lastly, when we live holy lives, it shows the world who we love and who our true Father is. John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” And John 8:42 says, “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.”

That brings us to some very important questions this morning. We have talked about what holiness is and why it is important. Now comes the​​ opportunity to examine ourselves. “How much do you care about holiness?” “Is holiness a goal in your everyday life?” “Are you truly striving to live a holy life and to become more like Jesus or not?” This is an important question because in Hebrews 12:14 it says, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Only you can answer these questions for yourself. And we need to be honest with ourselves and remember we can’t hide who we are from God. It has nothing to do with attending church, being baptized or taking communion. It is not about what we think or feel about God but about what we do and why we do it as saved children of the Lord, saved by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

Maybe, when it comes to living a holy life, you believe it is too difficult, or you don’t believe it can be done. And you would be right. Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Jesus also said that “we must take up our cross daily and follow Him” and we must be ready to cut off a hand or foot or put out our eye if they are sinning. Ryle says, “That which costs nothing is worth nothing.” And yes, you would be right in saying that living a perfect and holy life can’t be done, but we are still commanded to be holy as God is holy. Because we are sinners, we can’t live holy lives on our own, but God has given us, as Christians, the help of the Holy Spirit in order to successfully pursue holiness. We know it can be done because we have numerous examples in God’s Word: Moses, David, Daniel and the eleven disciples to name a few.

Some other questions we must ask ourselves this morning is, “Do you believe that living a holy life is important?” “Are you serious about living a holy life?” Well, it might come down to this question. “How comfortable are you with your sin?”​​ Another phrase I really believe is “it is not about religion it’s about a relationship.” It’s a relationship with Jesus that will help us understand holiness and that it is the most important thing after our salvation. Think about Judas. He was just like​​ every other disciple called by Jesus. When Jesus said that one of His disciples would betray him, how many said, “It’s got to be Judas, he is the one.” How many? None. Unholy and inconsistent Christians are Satan’s best allies. This question of importance is important because no one can make you take your personal holiness seriously. No one, but the Holy Spirit, can help you understand the seriousness of God’s holiness and that He demands holiness from His people. Only you can truly and honestly answer these questions for yourself and then repent and make adjustments to how you are living if needed. I would urge you and myself to take a long, hard look at ourselves in the area of holiness. That brings us to our second next step that​​ I will purpose to​​ take​​ my personal daily​​ holiness​​ seriously as I travel the highway of holiness.

Now, if you are not yet saved, this idea of living a holy life does not have the same motivation. You may do good things. You may help the poor, the orphan and the widow but if you are not saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, your motivation for doing these things is yourself not because Jesus saved you, called you and set you apart for His service. You must begin with Jesus and what He has done for you on the cross. The only way to be holy is to first accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. So maybe the Holy Spirit is pricking your heart this morning about living a holy life. Maybe you are feeling a desire to know Jesus more personally and are ready to be in a relationship with Him. He is the only one who can make you holy and only one who can help you succeed on the highway of holiness. The third stanza of the hymn “Rock of Ages” says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, flee to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace.” So, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and the Holy Spirit is prompting you this morning, this third next step is for you:​​ I will​​ admit​​ that I am a sinner,​​ believe​​ that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, was buried and rose again, and​​ confess​​ Jesus as Lord of my life.​​ If that is the first​​ time you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, please make sure to put your name on the front of the card so I can talk with you. Now that you have been justified by your faith in Christ, your sanctification, your highway of holiness can begin.

Now that we have talked about what holiness is and why it is important, our third point is​​ Strategy.​​ I would be remiss not to give strategies for winning the war for holiness. First, ask the Holy Spirit for power and strength. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Second, decide every day to put the flesh to death. Romans 6:12 says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Third, guard your heart, flee temptation and take every thought captive. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” And 1 Timothy 6:11 says, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” You know if the salmon stops swimming, it will be carried back by the current – if we let your guard down, we will fall and be carried away by the evil current of this world.

Fourth, find a Christian brother or sister and be accountable to each other. Fifth, fill your mind with the things of God. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Sixth, develop good holy and spiritual habits such as daily Bible reading, Bible study, prayer and acts of service. And finally, don’t give up. As Paul says in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint; it’s a war not just one battle. Like the salmon, keep swimming against the current and jumping up against the waterfall.

In conclusion, I want to talk about how holiness and our consciences relate to each other. Our conscience is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is holy and perfect, and our fallen consciences are not. But if we are living holy lives then what we are thinking, saying and doing will inform our consciences. I want to illustrate this with the true story of Avianca Flight 011. On November 27, 1983, Avianca Flight 011 crashed into the side of a mountain in Spain. When the investigators retrieved the “black box” cockpit recorder they made a disturbing discovery. Several minutes before impact, a shrill, computer-synthesized voice from the plane's automatic warning system told the crew repeatedly in English, "Pull up! Pull up! Pull up!” The pilot, evidently thinking the system was malfunctioning, snapped, "Shut up, Gringo!" and switched the system off. Minutes later the plane plowed into the side of a mountain, killing 181 people, and leaving only 11 survivors with serious injuries.

John MacArthur tells this story in his book, “The Vanishing Conscience.” I am going to be quoting John MacArthur a few times here. He says, “When I saw that tragic story on the news shortly after it happened, it struck me as a perfect parable of the way modern people treat guilt — the warning messages of their consciences. Your ability to sense your own guilt is a tremendous gift from God. He designed the conscience into the very framework of the human soul. It is the automatic warning system that cries, "Pull up! Pull up!" before you crash and burn.” As I said earlier, as we aim to live a life of holiness, there will be times we fail and we sin. That is when our conscience can be our guide; but only if we are living a life of holiness that informs our conscience. Again, MacArthur says, “The conscience has an innate ability to sense right and wrong . . . entreats you to do what you believe is right and restrains you from doing what you believe is wrong.” “When you violate your conscience, it condemns you . . . when you follow your conscience, it commends you.” The Hebrew word for conscience is​​ usually translated "heart" in the Old Testament. When David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God", he was seeking to have his heart and his conscience cleansed. Earlier I quoted Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart (or conscience), for everything you do flows from it.”

MacArthur again says “Its role is not to teach you moral and ethical ideals, but to hold you accountable to the highest standards of right and wrong you know. The conscience, to operate fully and in accord with true holiness, must be informed by the Word of God.” “The conscience functions like a skylight, not a light bulb. It lets light into the soul; it does not produce its own. Its effectiveness is determined by the amount of pure light you expose it to, and by how clean you keep it.” We need to be careful because as Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Timothy 4, our consciences can become calloused, wounded and seared. “Don’t train yourself to ignore your conscience but respond quickly to its warnings. If you do sin, then cleanse your conscience through consistent confession as you seek forgiveness from those you've sinned against — whether God or others.” It is so important to live a life of holiness which will inform your conscience, so that when your conscience tells you to "Pull up! Pull up! Pull up!” you will and not crash and burn.

As the Praise Team comes to lead us in a final song and as the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to join together in your house with other like-minded people. Thank you for demanding holiness from your people. I pray that with the help of your Holy Spirit, we will pursue holiness. Help us to look to you as our example of holiness and to imitate you. And help us to take our personal daily holiness seriously, striving to become more like your Son Jesus in our speech, our thoughts and in our actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ​​ 

Opening:​​ Pursuing Holiness in an Unholy World, Tom Caballes​​ https://swordofthespirit.net/pursuing-holiness/


Conclusion: The Conscience, Revisited;​​ Grace to You​​ John MacArthur​​ https://www.gty.org/articles/A273/the-conscience-revisited

 

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Anticipation

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Anticipation

In the Lord of the Rings, Sam asks Mr. Frodo, “I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into? Everyone wants to know the answer to this.​​ And the Book of​​ Exodus shows us that we​​ have fallen into a tale, a story,​​ the grand redemptive story, the true story of the whole world. We look back at Exodus and see the good news, we look forward​​ in​​ Exodus​​ and it​​ points​​ us​​ to Christ, and​​ we look to the end of​​ Exodus​​ in anticipation​​ of​​ sharing intimate friendship with Jesus Christ forever. Exodus is our story. Once we were in bondage to sin, enslaved, under the sentence of death but by taking shelter under the blood of the Lamb, God has delivered us. Now God is with us, leading us to the Promised Land. We will face challenges, obstacles and temptations but we know that God is faithful to his redeemed people. While we journey, we live by grace and forgiveness found not in a tabernacle but in Christ.​​ 

Just like the Israelites waiting​​ in anticipation​​ for the Messiah, who came​​ on that first Advent, everyone who trusts in​​ Jesus,​​ waits in anticipation for the​​ second​​ advent, the second coming of Jesus Christ. We anticipate the day we will see Jesus, share intimate friendship​​ with Him and behold his glory forever. And the awesome and humbling thing is that not only do we anticipate this future, but the Lord does too.​​ He created​​ Adam and Eve,​​ walking​​ with them in the Garden, because He wanted​​ a​​ relationship​​ with​​ them.​​ And​​ even after they sinned this didn’t change. He still wanted that intimate friendship and that’s why​​ He came to dwell in the Tabernacle.​​ That’s why He came as baby Jesus, lived as a human on the earth, died​​ on a cross for our sins and rose again.​​ That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of​​ us.​​ That’s why He will come​​ again​​ at the end of the age. He will come because He desires to share intimate​​ friendship with His people in Heaven.​​ That brings us to our big idea this​​ morning​​ that​​ God desires​​ to share intimate friendship with His people forever. ​​ 

Let’s pray:​​ 

There are two points this morning. The first,​​ Anticipation, is found in Exodus 40:16-33. This is what God’s Word says, “Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.​​ So,​​ the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him. He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him. Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.​​ 

He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.​​ Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded him. Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded him. He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.​​ Then Moses set up the​​ courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And​​ so,​​ Moses finished the work.”

The first thing we notice in this section is that Moses did everything that the Lord commanded him.​​ Verse 16​​ is a summary statement confirming​​ that Moses did “raise up” the tabernacle​​ even though​​ the actual work​​ is done in verses 17-33. We also notice​​ that​​ seven​​ times, as​​ Moses sets up​​ each part of the tabernacle,​​ our scripture says that he​​ did​​ “as the Lord commanded”​​ him.​​ As God commanded Moses back in verse 2, the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.​​ This was important for a couple of reasons. First, this was​​ essentially​​ the​​ Israelite’s New Years Day​​ and was a chance for a new beginning.​​ Second, it would take Moses and the Israelites one day to “raise up” the tabernacle, on the first day of Aviv, giving them ample time to consecrate​​ it​​ and​​ for the seven-day ordination ceremony of the priests.​​ This guaranteed that everything would be ready for the​​ Passover celebration and the​​ Festival of Unleavened Bread​​ which was to​​ begin​​ on the fourteenth​​ day of the​​ month.​​ 

Moses wouldn’t have​​ “raised​​ up” the tabernacle​​ on his own. It would have been​​ a family affair,​​ a celebration of obedience,​​ as the entire Israelite community had a hand in putting God’s house together.​​ Moses started with the tabernacle, putting the bases in place, erecting the​​ frames,​​ inserting the​​ crossbars,​​ and setting up the​​ posts. He then​​ spread the tent over it and put the​​ cover​​ over the tent. Setting up the tabernacle would have included​​ putting up​​ the​​ inner​​ curtain​​ with the cherubim embroidered on it. The tent over the tabernacle would have been the goat hair curtain and the covering over the tent would have been the curtains of ram skins and sea cow hides.​​ We can surmise that​​ as the work progressed​​ the Israelites were eagerly​​ anticipating​​ the culmination of God’s​​ promise in Exodus​​ 25:8​​ to come​​ and dwell in their midst.​​ There​​ would have been​​ a buzz in the​​ air,​​ and the​​ suspense​​ would have​​ built up as each piece was put in place.​​ Would God really come down in glory as He promised?​​ So,​​ as​​ Moses pitched the “tent of meeting” just as the Lord commanded him,​​ the people were probably waiting,​​ but​​ the glory of the Lord didn’t come down.​​ 

Then Moses placed​​ the tablets of the covenant law, the Ten Commandments, in the ark, attached​​ the carrying poles and put the atonement cover over it,​​ but the glory of​​ the Lord​​ still did not come down. Then Moses brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain. This​​ curtain was the veil with the cherubim embroidered on it that separated the Most Holy Place from​​ the​​ Holy Place. This curtain shielded the ark from everyone’s​​ sight​​ except the High Priest one day a year, on the Day of Atonement​​ and the priests who would have been tasked to cover it for transport when God commanded the people to move.​​ This would have been the last time the​​ Israelite​​ people would have seen the​​ ark for​​ hundreds of​​ years.​​ The veil would have reminded the people that their relationship with God was fractured. The cherubim woven into it would remind them that​​ heaven had come down to earth, that​​ man had been cast out of the garden and they could not enter into the Lord’s presence without a mediator. And so even after putting the ark behind the veil the glory of God still did not come down.

Then Moses placed the table on the north side, outside the curtain in the Holy Place,​​ and put the bread of the Presence on it before the Lord. This was followed by Moses placing the lampstand opposite the table on the southside in the Holy Place and lighting the lamps before the Lord, which would illuminate the table for the priests​​ as​​ performed their duties. Then​​ Moses placed​​ the gold altar, the altar of incense, in the Holy Place in​​ front of​​ the veil directly opposite the ark​​ and burned​​ fragrant incense on it.​​ This special God-given​​ incense would have​​ passed​​ through the veil into the Most Holy Place signifying that the prayers of the people were being received by God in His dwelling place.​​ Moses tended to the bread, the lamps, and the incense because Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons had not yet been ordained into God’s service.​​ At this time only Moses was set apart and by right of being the covenant mediator​​ was able to fulfill these duties.​​ But even after putting the three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place and tending to​​ the​​ bread, the lamps and the incense,​​ the glory of God still did not come down.​​ 

Moses is given specific​​ instructions about​​ where to put the table and the lampstand,​​ one on the​​ north​​ side and one on the​​ south​​ side of​​ Holy​​ Place.​​ This means that both the entrance​​ curtains of the tabernacle and the courtyard​​ were​​ facing​​ east.​​ Why​​ was​​ the​​ direction that the​​ tabernacle​​ was facing​​ important?​​ When the people entered the courtyard and when the priest entered the tabernacle​​ to worship, they were​​ always​​ facing west.​​ The pagan nations believed that the​​ sun god​​ dwelt in the east​​ where the sun rose and​​ so they would worship​​ facing​​ east.​​ This​​ orientation of the tabernacle​​ was done intentionally by God to​​ remind the Israelites that they were to worship Him and not the false gods​​ of the pagan​​ nations around them.​​ Then Moses​​ put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle, set the altar of burnt offering​​ near the entrance to​​ it​​ and​​ offered​​ burnt offerings and​​ grain offerings on it.​​ The placement of the bronze altar near the entrance to the tabernacle symbolized that​​ there could be no access to God​​ without first making offerings to​​ Him.​​ Again, Moses​​ fulfilled these​​ duties​​ that would later be done by the priests.​​ He also placed the basin or laver​​ between the tent of meeting and the altar of burnt offering and put water in it for washing.​​ Moses,​​ Aaron​​ and his sons​​ were​​ required​​ to wash their hands and​​ feet​​ whenever they entered the tent of meeting to serve the Lord or approached the bronze altar to offer​​ sacrifices. This was​​ symbolic​​ of​​ washing​​ their daily sins away which in turn symbolizes our on-going​​ sanctification​​ which comes from knowing and obeying God’s Word.​​ Even after putting​​ up​​ the​​ curtain at the entrance of the​​ tabernacle,​​ setting up the altar of burnt offering,​​ making sacrifices​​ on it,​​ placing the laver​​ and​​ putting water in it​​ as God commanded,​​ the glory of God still did not come down.​​ 

This is the last of eight times in​​ this chapter and the last of eighteen times​​ in the last two chapters​​ that our scripture says Moses did as the Lord commanded. Moses’ obedience is stressed and with each step of the building of the tabernacle, the Bible meticulously makes note of his obedience.​​ His​​ obedience is important for us today because we are also to obey the Lord’s instructions and commands found in His Word.​​ John Newton was the former slave trader who was saved and later wrote the famous song “Amazing Grace.” He also had a wide ministry of counseling people all over England through​​ letter writing. A lady wrote to him, asking him what the best signs of genuine salvation were.​​ Newton wrote:​​ “The best mark to judge by, and which He has given us for that purpose, is to inquire if His word and will have a prevailing, governing influence upon our lives and temper. If we love Him, we do endeavor to keep His commandments … Obedience is the best test …”.​​ Are you aware of any specific​​ Biblical commands God has given that you aren’t obeying?​​ Search your heart this morning, repent and​​ begin to completely obey God’s Word today. That brings us to our first next step this morning which is​​ I will​​ strive​​ to be completely​​ obedient​​ to God’s​​ Word.​​ 

Finally, Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.​​ The courtyard was also an enclosure​​ that​​ kept out those who were not to be there or did not come properly to worship the Lord. But the fact that there was a curtain at the entrance to the courtyard meant that there was the possibility of​​ access.​​ Notice that to get to the bronze altar, the laver, the table, the lampstand, the golden altar and even to the very place where heaven came down to earth, one must first go through the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard,​​ which is a picture of Jesus Christ.​​ He is the only way, the truth and the life; no one comes to God except through Jesus.​​ With the​​ final​​ pieces​​ of the tabernacle set up, it says “Moses finished the work.”​​ There​​ was no celebration or party thrown. Moses was obedient and did the work God gave him do with excellence.​​ You can imagine​​ that​​ by this time​​ the people​​ were waiting with a growing sense of anticipation.​​ God said he would come and dwell among them,​​ but will he really come? Did we blow it with the​​ golden​​ calf?​​ Does God really want​​ to share​​ intimate​​ friendship with His people? (Big Idea)​​ 

That brings us to our second point,​​ Approval, found in Exodus 40:34-38. This is what God’s Word says, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

The Israelites did not have to wait long.​​ As soon as Moses finished the​​ work the cloud covered the “tent of meeting”, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.​​ This is the same cloud that has guided them from​​ the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai and that has enveloped Mt. Sinai and Moses’ tent.​​ This was the Lord’s Presence, His shekinah glory,​​ in spectacular and dazzling​​ fashion​​ filling the entire tabernacle. God’s promise to dwell with His stiff-necked people has been fulfilled​​ and the​​ Israelites will be sanctified by His Presence.​​ We notice the theme of these verses​​ in the​​ repetition of certain words. The “cloud” is mentioned in every verse.​​ In verse 34 it is paired with “the glory” and in verse 38 with​​ “the​​ fire.” The words “tabernacle”​​ or​​ “tent of meeting”​​ are in all but verse 37.​​ The “tabernacle” was the dwelling place of the Lord​​ and​​ where​​ He came in all his glory, power and holiness.​​ The​​ “settling” of the​​ cloud was the proof of​​ God’s​​ presence and​​ proof​​ of His approval​​ toward the​​ Israelites. His “dwelling” was​​ the​​ tent that identified himself with His people’s circumstances​​ and​​ so​​ He would dwell in a tent in the center of the tents of​​ the Israelite camp.​​ And the “tent of meeting”​​ describes​​ where God would meet with the​​ Israelites.​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ 

We see four different​​ aspects​​ of the​​ cloud​​ in these​​ verses.​​ First,​​ we see​​ the​​ “advent”​​ cloud. It wasn’t only the​​ anticipation of the people waiting for God’s presence to come​​ down but also the anticipation of the Lord himself​​ waiting to come down. Durham says,​​ there is​​ “the sense of promptness, to say the least, maybe even of impatience and urgency with which verse 33 is followed by verse 34.​​ It is as though the Lord ‘can’t wait’ to come and live with his​​ people.​​ Second, is the​​ “barrier” cloud.​​ Something unexpected​​ happens​​ as​​ Moses could not enter the tent of meeting​​ because the cloud had settled on it and​​ the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.​​ Why couldn’t Moses​​ enter​​ the “tent of meeting?” He has already​​ met God at the burning bush,​​ on Mount Sinai numerous times, at his tent on the outskirts of camp,​​ and​​ has seen​​ the​​ backside of the Lord.​​ One reason was probably because​​ God, not Moses, was ultimately responsible for building the tabernacle​​ and it was​​ His​​ house.​​ It was built for God for the sake of Israel not built for Israel for the sake of God.​​ The brilliant splendor and​​ radiant​​ glory of the Lord​​ filling the tabernacle​​ kept​​ Moses​​ from​​ temporarily from​​ being able to​​ go in.​​ 

Second, this was the culmination of the first part of God’s perfect plan to be restored to His people and​​ to​​ be able to dwell in​​ their​​ midst since​​ Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.​​ Before this moment, before the tabernacle was​​ finished, Moses as​​ the​​ covenant​​ mediator​​ did have the​​ privilege of meeting​​ in the presence of the​​ Lord​​ as a friend speaks with a friend.​​ But now​​ that​​ the​​ tabernacle​​ had been built, which pointed to​​ the coming of​​ Jesus​​ as the “superior” mediator and​​ to​​ His sacrifice on the cross,​​ one could not enter God’s house except by​​ His​​ invitation.​​ Moses​​ had always needed an invitation to come into the presence of God.​​ If you remember the first time Moses went up Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord, he had to wait six days before God called him​​ up.​​ God is sovereignly in charge of His front door.​​ For Moses to just barge in would have been like a house builder today, retaining a key of a house he built and entering it at will once it was sold to the new owner.​​ Moses would be​​ invited​​ in​​ on​​ God’s​​ terms,​​ based on​​ God’s​​ grace and​​ the blood of​​ a​​ sacrifice.​​ This was why the Book of Leviticus follows​​ the Book of Exodus. In Leviticus,​​ God spelled out the conditions for coming into His presence which was​​ the shed blood of an innocent party​​ willingly taking the place of the guilty party.​​ 

Third, is the “guiding” cloud.​​ Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle the Israelites were to set out but if it didn’t​​ lift, they were not to set out.​​ This cloud was​​ intended to​​ contrast with​​ the “barrier” cloud.​​ Moses and the people may have​​ wondered​​ how the tabernacle​​ could​​ be a “tent of meeting” if they​​ felt that God​​ was here and yet not​​ here,​​ in his dwelling but remote.​​ Even though God was​​ to​​ dwell among His people as the one true and living God, as Motyer says, “He was not at their disposal;​​ they were to be at His disposal, not He at theirs.”​​ The​​ Holy​​ Presence of God​​ would be right there with them​​ in the cloud by day and​​ the​​ fire by night.​​ They were to be ready to go when the Lord commanded it and He would guide them to where He wanted them to go.​​ They needed to be obedient, rest, wait and watch, keeping their eyes on Him.​​ Again, Motyer says, “Guidance​​ was not something they ‘looked​​ for’ but something they waited for.”​​ Fourth, is the “faithful” cloud.​​ Verse 38 amplifies verse 34, stressing that the “advent” cloud was also the “faithful” cloud.​​ The cloud and thus the presence of God would permanently be with His people​​ and would be faithful to take them to the Promised Land as He had promised.​​ The cloud would always be visible and so the people would never have to worry or question the presence of God in their midst again.​​ 

In conclusion, I want to read this illustration from John Currid.​​ “Admiral Nelson of the British navy was such a fine seaman and leader of men that sailors loved to serve under him. Sir Robert Stopford, who was sailing with Nelson in the West Indies, wrote home to a loved one that “We are half starved and otherwise inconvenienced by so long out of port, but our reward is that we are with Nelson.” So it was with the Israelites who were about to embark into the wilderness, where there​​ were​​ little comfort, little food and little water. Yet, God was with them, and how greatly he would supply all their needs! This is how we ought to look at life as well. We may be persecuted, or half starved, or put upon by various trials, but our reward is God’s presence with us, no matter what our external circumstances.​​ And as we​​ walk this pilgrim way, we are waiting for an even greater glory to be revealed: the glory of Jesus Christ at the end of the ages. The Bible promises that one day Jesus will come again, and that when he does, he will come on “the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”​​ There will be no need for any tabernacle then, because Jesus will take us into the very presence of God, in all his glory.

This is the message of​​ Exodus, as it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Once we were in bondage to sin, enslaved by its tyranny. But through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—our Passover Lamb—God has delivered us from the Egypt of our sin. Now he is leading us through our​​ earthly wilderness, with all its difficulties and dangers. The great God of the exodus will never leave us or forsake us. In the church he has set up a sanctuary where even now we may enter his presence for worship. And one day soon Jesus will come down in glory to take us up into the glory that will never end. Everyone who trusts in him will be saved for the glory of God. Do you trust in Jesus, this morning?​​ Have you been saved​​ for the glory of God?​​ We have been talking all year about​​ URGENCY.​​ We don’t know when God will return and so we need to be ready!!!​​ So,​​ if you are not saved this morning, you can be, and the second​​ next step is for you​​ which is:​​ I will​​ admit​​ that I am a sinner,​​ believe​​ that Jesus died for my sins, was buried and resurrected and​​ confess​​ that Jesus is​​ Lord​​ of my life.​​ When you take this next​​ step,​​ you will be saved for the glory of God. You can then begin to anticipate the day that Jesus will come in His glory and take​​ you​​ into His glory sharing​​ intimate friendship with Him​​ forever​​ (Big Idea).

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final song and the ushers collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:​​ 

Opening: Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Exodus (B & H Publishing Group, 2014), 220

Illustration:​​ John Newton, to Mrs. Wilberforce, Letters of John Newton, Josiah Bull, ed., p. 75

Closing: John Currid as told by​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1133–1153.

 

 

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Some Assembly Required

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Some Assembly Required

Some of the most frightening words in the English language for me are “Some assembly required.” Those who know me well know that I am not very handy when it comes to fixing things or putting things together using those things called “tools.” I have always said when it came to those kinds of skills my dad taught me how to hold the ladder, hold the flashlight and pass the screwdriver. When Judy and I first got married she was the one doing the fix-it jobs around the house such as soldering our leaky pipes. Maybe you can identify with me. You buy something and when it finally arrives you now have to put it together and that makes you break out into a sweat. There are bags of screws, a pile of unrecognizable parts and a multi-page, wordless and indecipherable instruction manual. The task seems daunting, but you bought the item for a reason and now you have to bite the bullet and put it together. And then when you finally get it together, if you are like me, you wonder why there are still pieces in the bag that you didn’t use.

Moses and the Israelites were also given instructions to put something together and there was going to be, “some assembly required.” They had received intricate instructions from God for constructing the Tabernacle, but unlike a poorly written manual, God’s instructions were perfect and complete. He gave detailed blueprints for the curtains, frames, vessels, and every detail necessary to build His house. Each component, from the ark to the curtain, was vital to the overall purpose of their Holy God being able to come and dwell in their midst. Moses and the Israelites could not simply “wing it.” One wrong part or a single missing piece could compromise the entire structure. Their obedience was a sign of their trust in that following God’s plan, no matter how tedious or complex it seemed, was the only way to achieve the intended result. The promised outcome—the presence of God—was only possible through careful, step-by-step obedience, not by taking shortcuts

We have seen Moses and the Israelites follow God’s commands and instructions to the letter for building the different parts of the tabernacle and its furnishings. God has already twice repeated these instructions in meticulous detail to Moses. And in our scripture this morning, the parts of the tabernacle will again be repeated but there will also be some new instructions given. In Exodus 40:1-16, the Lord himself directs what was to be done and how. In repeating this list, God is telling Moses to “listen up”, because this will be the final walk-through before he will actually “raise up” God’s house. We may think that this repetition serves no purpose, but it does serve to reinforce the importance of the divine pattern and emphasize the structure's central role in Israelite worship.

Just as there will be “some assembly required” as Moses “raises up” God’s house, in order to build our spiritual “houses”, both individually and corporately, there will also be “some assembly required.” It doesn’t just happen on its own. We must “listen up” and be obedient to the Holy Spirit, doing God’s work in our lives and in the life of our church in accordance to His will. This work includes being in God’s Word, being in prayer, properly worshipping the Lord, being in fellowship with our fellow believers, serving each other, our community and the world and sharing the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus. We must continually be obedient to this work and do it with excellence so that we can “raise up” a church with Christ as the cornerstone where the presence of the living God dwells. That brings us to our big idea this morning, that God desires His people to “listen up” and to “raise up.”

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the freedom to be in your house this morning. We thank you for the privilege of reading and studying your Word. Thank you, Lord, that we don’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth. We worship you, today, because you are the only one who has the words of eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

There are three points this morning. The first point is, Our Ordered Life, found in Exodus 40:1-8. The final countdown has started as God again goes over the different parts of the tabernacle and how they are to be set up. He tells Moses he is to assemble the parts of the tabernacle in a specific order and on a specific day. This is what God’s Word says in Exodus 40:1-2, “Then the Lord said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month.” In verse 1 we see the phrase “Then the Lord said to Moses.” This is the first time since Exodus 31:1 that the Lord has said these exact words to Him. That was when God told Moses he had chosen Bezalel and Oholiab to oversee the work of the tabernacle. These words introduce a new command in preparation for what lies ahead. Moses is to stop and “listen up” for what is coming next.

Since Exodus 31:1, we have seen the people “raising up” and worshipping the golden calf. Now that they have repented and have been obedient to the Lord, they are finally ready to “raise up” God’s House where they will worship the one true and living God. In verse 2 we see that Moses is to assemble the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the “first day of the first month.” Back in Exodus 12:2, God reordered their calendar based on their deliverance and redemption. The month of their deliverance from slavery became the new first month of their calendar year. In Exodus 13:4 we learn that this month is called Aviv, and it is on the first day of Aviv that Moses is to erect the tabernacle. This means the work will be done on what is essentially their New Years Day.

After telling Moses how he is to set up the tabernacle, the “tent of meeting” and telling him when he is to set it up, God now tells Moses the order in which he is to assemble and place all the parts inside and outside of the tabernacle. We see this in Exodus 40:3-8. This is what God’s Word says, “Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. “Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.”

Moses needed to again “listen up” because God had a specific order in which He wanted the tabernacle assembled. Everything had to be done just right because it was to be heaven on earth, the place where God would dwell among His people. It needed to be assembled in the exact order and at the exact time, according to God’s will. And notice this assembly will take place from the inside out starting with the ark. God also wants our lives to be ordered according to His will. His instructions regarding the tabernacle apply to us today because our bodies are tabernacles of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” Our church is also called a Temple of God. Ephesians 2:19-22 says, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Our lives are to be ordered according to God’s will and when they are, he gives us peace. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” And as we live our lives, we are not to be anxious about anything, but we are to bring our requests to God and as Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” And the life of our church is also to be ordered according to His will and when it is He brings peace to our congregation. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” And 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”

So, do you have disorder in your life? Disorder can come from a number of things. It can come from unconfessed sin, pride and fear which disrupts our relationship with God. It can also come from spiritual warfare or from a lack of spiritual disciplines in our lives such as reading and studying God’s Word and being in daily prayer. First, we need to make sure that we are at peace with God, confessing our sins before Him. Second, we can cultivate peace through the Holy Spirit within us by living out spiritual disciplines. Third, we should be seeking order and peace with others, inside and outside of the church. That brings us to our first next step which is I will seek peace with God, cultivate peace through the Holy Spirit within me and seek order and peace with others.

That brings us to our second point, Our Holy Body, found in Exodus 40:9-11. This is what God’s Word says, “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.” After revealing how and when to assemble the tabernacle, God directed Moses how he was to anoint it and everything in it with the special anointing oil. This was to consecrate it and all its furnishings making it holy and set apart for God’s use. Notice that Moses is to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings in the same order He was to set them up, from the inside out. The anointing oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit and so the anointing of the tabernacle symbolizes our bodies being anointed, filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to be holy as God is holy because He wants us to be set apart for His use, individually and corporately. We are to present our bodies as “living and holy sacrifices” because of what He has done for us on the cross. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” When we see God’s love and mercy for us, our reasonable response should be to worship Him, living holy lives and giving Him all we have and all that we are.

What is a test of living holy lives before the Lord? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” If we are serious about being holy, we will not allow the world to conform us to itself but will continually be renewing our minds with the things of God. Another test that we are living is found in Matthew 7:17-18 which says, “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” A proof of our holiness and being filled with and living by the Holy Spirit, is that our lives will produce good fruit such as the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” All this pertains to our church as well. The Holy Spirit should control everything we say and do at Idaville Church.

So, are you keeping your body, God’s tabernacle, holy by being a “living sacrifice” for Jesus? Are all the fruits of the Spirit visible in your life? If not, pray for God to reveal those areas of your life where you are not acting in obedience to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help you to develop all the fruits of the Spirit. Are you doing your part to keep our church, the Temple of God, holy? It may be easy to live out the fruits of the Spirit at home but are they visible as you do the Lord’s work here at Idaville Church and in our surrounding community? Pray for the Lord through His Holy Spirit to give you opportunities to develop the weaker “fruits” in your life. Next, are you living in such a holy way that unbelievers are attracted to Jesus or is your life pushing them away from Him? Would a non-believing friend look at your life and say that you are separated from unholy influences and unholy talk? Or have the sinful and evil things of the world around you corrupted your walk with God? If so, repent and let Jesus wash you clean and continue to use you for His service. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

That brings us to our third point, Our Service Anointed, found in Exodus 40:12-16. This is what God’s Word says, “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.” After showing Moses how he was to anoint the tabernacle and everything inside and outside of it, God commands Moses to anoint the priests who would serve Him in the tabernacle. He was to bring Aaron and his sons to the bronze laver that sat between the entrance to the “tent of meeting” and the bronze altar. He was then to wash them with water from the laver, signifying their acceptability, once for all time, to be God’s priests. This water was also to be used to cleanse the priests before they offered sacrifices to God or went into the tent to serve the Lord there. After the initial washing it would be symbolic of cleansing the priests from their daily sins, so they would be considered holy to continue serving the Lord. Moses was also to dress, anoint and consecrate Aaron in his sacred garments and his sons in their tunics so they could serve Him as priests.

This anointing of the priesthood of Aaron would be passed down through each subsequent generation after him. This did not mean that Aaron’s priesthood would be eternal. The Hebrew word means “to the vanishing point” and so whenever God would send Jesus Christ and the old covenant would pass away so would the Aaronic priesthood and of course, Jesus Christ is now our High Priest and will be forever. As believers, we are part of God’s royal priesthood and so we are also to serve the Lord as His anointed priests. In order to produce good fruit and be productive in serving the Lord, we need to abide in Him. John 15:5-6 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” So in order to serve the Lord as his royal priesthood productively we must abide in Him. Which means we must be continually washed by the water which is God’s Word, we must be in daily prayer, and we must be obedient to all God’s commands and instructions.

While the anointing of the tabernacle speaks to the importance of keeping our mind and actions pure, our anointing as priests speaks to our willingness to be set apart and serve God as a co-builder of His Church. As a holy priesthood we are co-builders in building God’s temple,which is here at Idaville Church. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 says, “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be built with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” This is Jesus’ Great Commission given to every believer and every church. We are to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are Pursuing, Growing and Multiplying Disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So, are you abiding in the Vine? Are you committed to being in God’s Word and in daily prayer? Are you daily confessing your sins and committed to being holy before the Lord? Are you responding to God’s calling to serve Him individually as priests and corporately as part of Idaville Church? Are you living on a mission for the Lord? We must start individually. I must say, “it starts with me”, and each of us must say “it starts with me” as well if we ever want our church to be what God wants it to be. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 to Peter, “and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” We are to be on mission for the Lord, being obedient to His commands and working for Him with excellence, and if God builds our church, we can do amazing things here and the gates of Hades can’t stop it.

I want to conclude with this humorous illustration: One Christmas, there were parents who had a great idea for their children's special Christmas gift. They had ordered a kit from a catalog to make a treehouse. Late on Christmas Eve, as the mother and father began to assemble the pieces, they discovered to their dismay that while they had received the plans for a treehouse, they had been sent the materials for a sailboat. A few weeks later, in response to their letter of complaint to the company, they received this reply: ‘While we regret the inconvenience this mistake must have caused you, it is nothing compared to that of the man who is out on a lake somewhere trying to sail your treehouse.’” Sometimes there’s way too much assembly required: the pieces might be there, but they’re for the wrong thing, or the directions don’t make sense, or when you are done there are parts left over. This was not the case for Moses. God’s blueprints for His holy house where He would dwell among His people was perfect. By repetition He reinforced the commands and instructions he gave Moses. All Moses had to do was “listen up” and God would give him everything he needed to perfectly “raise up” the tabernacle. The same is true for us today. Everything we need to continually “raise up” our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit is found in God’s perfect Word. All we need to do is “listen up” and by repetition abide in His Word. As we obey His commands and instructions they will also be reinforced in us and by extension reinforced in our church as we “raise up” the temple of God, here at Idaville Church (Big Idea).

That brings us to our last next step which is I will “listen up” to God’s Word, abiding in Him and being obedient in “raising up” His holy temple, here at Idaville Church.

As the praise team comes to lead us in a final song and as the ushers come to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Lord God, you are a good God, a loving God and a Sovereign God. And we worship you for your Holy Word and the truths found in it. We pray that by your Holy Spirit, we would seek peace with you as we daily confess our sins before you. And that we would cultivate peace within as we grow spiritually on a daily basis. And help us to seek order and peace with all those around us. And Lord as we live this life you have given us, let us be willing to “listen up” to your Word, abiding in you and being obedient to “raising up” your holy temple, here at Idaville Church. In Jesus’ name. Amen

 

 

 

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Quality Assurance

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Quality Assurance

When a building is under construction, there are times when it seems like it will never be finished. But finally, after all the delays, both avoidable and unavoidable, the thing gets built, and it is time for the inspection. These days the process is fairly thorough. The mechanical systems are tested. The wiring is checked to see if it is up to code. The structure is analyzed for access and safety. Then there is a final walk-through, with a checklist for work that still needs to be completed. The building can only be used after it passes inspection. Something similar happened at the tabernacle in the wilderness. Once Bezalel, Oholiab, and the rest of Israel’s artisans were finished making the various parts of the tabernacle, their work had to be inspected. It needed to be inspected for quality assurance. This was because it was a matter of public safety. The tabernacle was going to be the dwelling place for the living God, who is awesome in holiness and glory. His house had to be made his way, or else the people would be exposed to mortal danger. After all, the last time the Israelites made something for worship, things ended badly.

All the way back in Exodus 25:9, God was very clear the Israelites were to make the tabernacle and its furnishings exactly like the pattern God would show Moses on the mountain. God then reiterated this command in Exodus 25:40 and in Exodus 26:30 emphasizing that the Israelites were to follow God’s precise blueprints for His house with no variation. No less than fourteen times in Exodus 39 and 40 are we told that the Israelites made everything “as the Lord or just as the Lord commanded Moses” emphasizing that the Israelites did follow God’s command to the letter. As the people were going about doing God’s work, He demanded their faithful obedience. God was holy, the tabernacle was to be holy, and their holiness would be seen in their obedience to the Lord. By taking the holiness of God seriously and constructing the tabernacle exactly as the Lord commanded, with faithful obedience and excellence, they would pass Moses’ inspection and be blessed by God. This time the Israelites wanted to make sure they did everything right, so they brought their work piece by piece to Moses for inspection. That brings us to our big idea this morning that God demands His people be about His work with faithful obedience and excellence.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, open our eyes that we may see the truths you have for us in your Word. Open our ears that we may hear that truth and let it sink deep into our hearts, minds and souls. And God let us be your hands and feet as we obey your Word and do the work you have for us to do in this world we live in. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There will be three points this morning and each one will focus on the work the Israelites did, the work Jesus did and the work we are to do. The first point is, Completion, found in Exodus 39:32. This is what God’s Word says, “So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.” We are, first, going to focus on what the Israelites did. They have finally finished all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Scholars estimate that it took around six months to build the tabernacle, the furnishings inside and out and the courtyard. We see the two most prevalent names for the structure that was to be God’s house. First, the tabernacle was to be God’s dwelling place on earth. As a shadow of heaven, it taught the Israelites that their God was the Creator God and Lord of all. It also taught them about God’s character: He is all-powerful, holy, loving, and wants to provide good things for His people such as light, life, daily bread, answered prayers and the law. Lastly, it taught them that God wanted to forgive their sins and all they needed to do was obey Him. Second, the “tent of meeting” reminds us that it was also the place where the Israelites would be able to approach the Lord on His terms and meet with Him. The word for “finished” means “to bring a process to completion.” The process of building the tabernacle started when God revealed the plans to Moses and he carefully and faithfully recorded them. Then the people committed the “great” sin against God with the golden calf. After Moses interceded, God relented, and the fact they were allowed to build the tabernacle was evidence that the covenant was on track. The people were then commanded to bring an offering for the tabernacle from willing hearts who had been moved. Bezalel and Oholiab were put in charge to oversee all the work that was done. The Israelites overwhelmingly responded out of gratitude for the Lord and there was more than enough to do all the work the Lord commanded. And finally, now the work has been completed.

We see the obedience of the Israelites, as they did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. Notice that it was “the Israelites” who did everything. The entire Israelite community was involved in the Lord’s work. Also notice that “commanded” is in the past tense. God gave his approval before Moses ever got a chance to do his inspection. It was already acceptable to God and He was pleased. It shows the finality and the totality of the work completed and that it was done according to God’s command. It tells us that God is watching how we go about the work He has commanded us to do and that His approval should be our goal. It was important that these blueprints were followed perfectly and precisely so that the people’s purpose for being could also be completed: which was to worship God and to be blessed to be a blessing to the nations. Now we turn our focus to Jesus and the work He completed. The main point of the tabernacle was to point the Israelites to Jesus Christ. Just like Moses could declare “it is finished” when it came to the tabernacle, there came a day when Jesus Christ would also say, “It is finished.” Remember, Jesus came and tabernacled among us in a physical body, and His tabernacle was where God dwelt. Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life in obedience to God’s law. He needed to do this in order to be the spotless lamb that would die to take away the sins of the world. We see the proof that Jesus was obedient to His Father’s will in Philippians 2:8 which says, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Jesus’ life and death were on display for all the world to see, along with Satan and His Father in heaven. And one day the work that Jesus came down to earth to do would be inspected by God.

That brings our focus to us. Just like the Israelites we have been given work from God to do while living on this earth. The work He has given us to do is found in His Word, the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We find the blueprints for the work we are to accomplish in God’s Word, and we are to be obedient to what God has commanded us to do. Proof of our salvation is the transformation seen in how we live our lives in obedience to God. What is this work we should be doing for the Lord after our salvation? We should be purposing to become more like Jesus in our faith and holiness, in following His will through good works, and performing actions that reflect His principles, such as loving others, caring for the poor, and promoting justice.

We should be growing as a disciple of Jesus and working to fulfill the Great Commission: to pursue, grow and multiply disciples. Ultimately, it involves aligning one's life and actions with God's desires. But we must do these things according to His will and His Word. We can’t do His work thinking we can do things our way and not His. We also can’t stop doing His work just because it’s inconvenient or difficult. And we must work looking for His approval and not man’s. Obedience is the ultimate responsibility of the believer, while we are to leave the outcome in God's hands. Pink says, “The quality of service is to be tested not by visible results, but by its conformity to God’s Word.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” So let us be people who are aligning our life and actions with God’s desires. Let us be people who are focused on becoming more like Jesus in our faith and holiness. Let us be people who are disciples who are pursuing, growing and multiplying disciples. And let us be people who are doing all these things with faithful obedience to the Lord. That brings us to our first next step which is to Be about the work God has given me to do on this earth with faithful obedience.

That brings us to our second point, Checked, found in Exodus 39:33-43a. As we focus, again, on the Israelites, we are told that after completing the work on the tabernacle and getting advanced approval from the Lord, they “brought the tabernacle to Moses.” We can make three important observations from verse 33. One, the tabernacle was portable. It could be broken down into parts to be transported. This was important because if it was difficult to bring to Moses, then it would be difficult to transport to the Promised Land. And one of the purposes of the tabernacle was so God could dwell with His people as they moved in the wilderness. Two, Moses was the only one qualified to check their work because He was the one who was on the mountain and received the blueprints for the tabernacle from God himself. Even though God has already given His approval, Moses still needed to examine their work for quality assurance. Three, if the people brought the tabernacle to Moses, it meant they were certain it was done correctly. Their entire work had to be perfect, or Moses would reject it. The fact he did not reject any part of it meant they had been obedient to God’s commands and instructions and had done so with excellence (Big Idea).

Next, we again see the list of what they made. This emphasized that every individual part was manufactured to God’s exact specifications and brought to Moses for inspection. Nothing was left out. We learn something new in verse 37 where it talks about the pure gold lampstand with its “lamps set in order.” The Hebrew word for “set in order” is translated as “array” which is a word most commonly used in terms of a battle array – where an army is lined up for battle. Garrett says, the lamps seem to be set up, “as if a battle of the goodness of light is dispelling the evil of darkness.” This paints a vivid picture of Jesus as the Light of the World “shining in the darkness, and the darkness not able to overcome it,” as John 1:5 says. Verse 40 reminds us again what all these parts were for and that it was the place where God ordained His people to properly meet with Him, to bring their sacrifices to Him and be forgiven of their sins. And Verse 42 again reiterates that “the Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Coming immediately after the list of items brought before Moses, emphasized that beyond a shadow of a doubt all had been done properly and was meticulously carried out exactly as God commanded.

Then in verse 43a we see that “Moses inspected the work and again saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded.” This is the third time in twelve verses that we have seen this phrase emphasizing again their obedience and excellence in doing the work of the tabernacle. Moses did not just take a casual glance at the people’s work when he inspected it. He closely scrutinized and checked every piece to make sure they were made properly. He may have even performed some kind of stress test on certain parts to make sure they would stand up to the test of time and the wilderness. What was the outcome of Moses’ quality assurance inspection? The result was that the inspection passed. They had followed God’s commands and instructions and did their very best work. They did everything in obedience and with excellence.

As we turn our focus on Jesus, His work on this earth also had to be checked to see if it passed inspection. First, His work needed to pass His own inspection. Hebrews 10:5 says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; and verse 7 says, “Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll I have come to do your will, my God.’” Jesus examined himself and recognized that in His physical body, He could do the will of the Father, live a sinless life and do the work of salvation. Second, Jesus’ work had to pass God’s inspection. His work in His physical body had to meet God’s standard and it did. We see this at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17 which says, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, but He still had to be tempted by the devil, preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and endure the cross and He had to do it perfectly without sinning. This was God’s standard for His son’s work. Of course, Jesus did the work of our salvation perfectly and passed His Father’s inspection. This is seen as Jesus on the cross declared “it is finished” and God tore the temple veil in two from top to bottom.

As we focus on ourselves, we come before God bringing our work as “God’s household”, “a spiritual house” and “a holy temple of the Lord.” God will inspect our work done as God’s holy tabernacle. Have we as a community of believers glorified God in what we say and do? Have we followed the Biblical pattern for God’s house, pleasing Him with our worship, teaching God’s Word faithfully, and bearing each other’s burdens? Have we taken care of the widow, the orphan and the stranger? Have we spoken God’s truth in love, labored in prayer, depended on God in doing the work, and shared His Gospel with the lost in our community and the world? We should desire to pass God’s inspection, and this will happen if we are obedient to all His words, commands and instructions and we do it all with excellence (Big Idea). And we should also desire God’s approval and blessing on the work He has given us.

That brings us to our third point, Commendation, found in Exodus 39:43b. You may have thought Moses would comment more on all the work the Israelites had done but what we get is short and sweet. Those four words, “So Moses blessed them” packed a pretty big punch. The Israelites have followed God’s commands and instructions to a “T”, not adding to what God required or taking anything away. They did everything in obedience and with excellence and Moses blessed them, as was a common practice in biblical times. So, what was this blessing? We don’t know for sure, but it was probably a short prayer asking God to bestow His caring and loving benefits upon the people. One example of a blessing in scripture is the Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:22-26. This blessing could be a clue for us because in verse 22-23 it says, “The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.” God instructed Moses on what a divine blessing consisted of and what followed was a prayer asking God to benefit His people. We see these words in verses 24-26 ‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

This blessing to be spoken by Aaron and his sons and Moses’ blessing in Exodus 39, was to be done on God’s behalf. They couldn’t make God bless the Israelites just by saying the words but if they correctly understood God’s will and invoked the prayer in the form of a wish, it would be assumed it would be a true declaration of God’s intention to benefit those being blessed. The proof that the blessing was from God would be if it came true. Since the Aaronic blessing is one we have in scripture I want to break down the benefits of that blessing from the Lord. To “keep” meant that God would be watching over His people, caring for and guiding them through life’s dangers for their good. To “shine His face on you” meant looking out for their general favor and benefit. To “be gracious to you” means that God will give His people what they don’t deserve or have not earned. To “turn His face toward you” means God is paying special and favorable attention toward His people. And to “give you peace” means God will give “shalom” meaning peace to His people which is wellness, wholeness and good fortune toward them. Now this doesn’t mean that nothing negative will ever happen to the person who is blessed but it is a desire for God to bestow His good will on them. The specific blessing itself wasn’t an important part of the chapter, or Moses would have included it but the fact that the people were blessed by God through Moses was important. They had come a long way from building and worshipping the golden calf. Moses blessed them in response to their faithful obedience and excellence in their complete community effort to build God’s holy tabernacle. This was to encourage and reassure them that they had done exactly what the Lord commanded Moses and that they were now in the favor of their covenant Lord and King. ​​ 

As for Jesus, we have seen that He completed His work that the Father gave Him to do on the earth. He willingly went to the cross as the spotless lamb and declared “it is finished.” And Jesus’ work was inspected by the Father and He passed. Jesus had truly lived His earthly life without sin and with and through His blood, the world was saved. The evidence of passing God’s inspection would be God bestowing blessing on His son and this happened when God raised Jesus from the dead. Ryken says, “The resurrection was the Father’s declaration that the Son had finished the work of our salvation perfectly.” And further evidence of blessing was that God took Jesus back up to heaven. Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus completed the work God gave Him to do and He did it in obedience and with excellence (Big Idea).

So, what does this mean for us? We are to work for God on this earth in obedience and with excellence knowing that one day our time of inspection and blessing will come. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” And Revelation 22:12 says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Ryken says, “Just as the Israelites laid out the tabernacle for Moses, so our lives will be laid out before God, who alone knows all our secrets.” The question is: have we offered such perfect obedience and excellence that we will pass inspection and be blessed by God? In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 that Sue read, we see that only that which has been done for God’s glory, on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His redemption, and which stands the test of fire, shall abide and be rewarded. God will test, inspect and bless everything that we have done, according to His perfect standard. But thankfully, before inspecting us God will first inspect the finished work of Jesus Christ. For those who have done his work in his way, through the blood of Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit and not by the flesh, there will be blessing upon blessing.

God will pronounce his blessing on everyone who trusts in Jesus which is the only way to endure the final judgment. When we become one of God’s children, Jesus becomes “our righteousness” and we are able to pass God’s inspection and be blessed. We become a child of God by admitting we are a sinner, believing that Jesus died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again, and confessing Jesus as Lord of our life. If you accept Jesus as your Savior, you will be saved, pass inspection and be blessed. If you desire to talk more about salvation, please mark the upper right corner of your Comm. Card where it says, “becoming a follower of Jesus” and I will be in touch with you.

In conclusion: Joe Theismann had an amazing career as the quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances - winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington’s all-time leading passer. Still, the tail end of Theismann’s career taught him a bitter lesson: “I got stagnant,” He says, “I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn’t care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything. Today I wear my two rings - the winner’s ring from Super Bowl 17 and the loser’s ring from Super Bowl 18. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.” Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Big Idea) That brings us to our last next step which is to Be about the work God has given me to do on this earth with excellence.

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the opportunity to study your Word. Thank you for giving us work to do on this earth. Help us by your HS to be about that work in obedience and with excellence. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Opening: ​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1133–1153.

Closing: https://www.whowillyouempower.com/craigsblog/2013/10/29/4-reasons-why-god-expects-excellence

 

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Fallen and Forgiven

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Fallen & Forgiven

Have you ever done something​​ you believe is​​ so sinful that you wondered if God would ever​​ love or accept you much less​​ let you serve him again? Perhaps it was an act of immorality, or perhaps a failure of leadership. Maybe it was something you did against your better judgment, or maybe it was sheer rebellion. But whatever it was—whether it was something recent or something long, long ago—it seemed like such a terrible sin that it ought to permanently disqualify you from not only serving God but also being in an intimate relationship with Him. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We have all been there. We have all sinned against God​​ and felt the weight of our sin, sorrow and shame. We have all felt at one time or the other that Jesus can’t be interested in having a relationship with us. We aren’t good enough or holy enough. There is no way God will accept me as one of His children. I am​​ falling​​ and there is no way that I will be able to get up.

Aaron probably felt just like that.​​ Although he was chosen to be high priest over the house of God, Aaron committed a terrible sin.​​ And if that wasn’t enough, he led the people of Israel into a “great” sin.​​ While​​ Moses​​ was up on the mountain getting the law from God, Aaron led the Israelites into​​ idolatry​​ as he​​ set up an alternative worship service—one​​ did not ordain​​ by God. With his own hands, he made a golden calf and set it up for the people to worship, in direct violation of the second commandment.​​ It was such a catastrophic failure that God was ready to destroy the Israelite nation before it ever began.​​ How could such a man ever serve God again? How could he be worthy​​ of wearing​​ the righteous robes of priestly ministry?​​ ​​ We know that​​ Aaron did serve God. He was anointed high priest over the tabernacle​​ and God allowed him to continue in​​ the very calling he had once desecrated by his sin. And as the mediator,​​ he was dressed in holiness to the Lord and​​ entered the Most Holy Place, where God was. He not only entered there but also lived to tell about it, for God​​ had​​ ordained his ministry as high priest. Why was a sinner like Aaron allowed to​​ serve​​ a​​ holy God?​​ He was able to serve because although he​​ had​​ fallen, he was also forgiven. In​​ preparation for the​​ priesthood, Aaron’s body was washed with water,​​ symbolizing his consecration to God. Then he confessed his sins, placing his hands on the head of a bull, which was sacrificed as a sin offering to​​ make atonement​​ for himself. Through the cleansing water and the sacrificial blood, Aaron was​​ redeemed from His sin, sorrow and shame, forgiven and​​ set apart to serve.​​ 

 

God does the same for us today.​​ We are also fallen human beings like Aaron but God by the blood of Jesus has redeemed us from the pit, from our sin, sorrow and shame. He has forgiven us, dressed us in holiness​​ with​​ the righteousness of Christ,​​ and set us apart to serve Him as His kingdom of priest on the earth today. We are fallen and forgiven because​​ God desires to redeem His people​​ and put them back into a right relationship with Himself. And that​​ brings us to​​ our big idea this morning that​​ God desires to redeem His people from their sin, sorrow and shame.

 

Let’s pray:​​ Heavenly Father, we approach your throne this morning, humbly asking for your Holy Spirit to fill us as we​​ investigate​​ your Word. Let your Word be a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our paths. Help us to put all other thoughts away in this moment and focus our hearts and minds on you. May all we think, say and do here be honoring and glorifying to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

This morning there are three points, the first point is​​ Heavenly​​ &​​ Heavy.​​ We will be covering the material in Exodus 39:1-31​​ and as this information was covered back in​​ Exodus​​ 28, I won’t be reading all these verses.​​ Our​​ first point covers the material in verses 1-26. The construction phase of the tabernacle has gotten underway. The tabernacle has been built including all the curtains. The four items of furniture that will sit in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies have been made. Last week we saw the making of the two items of furniture that will​​ be​​ outside the Tabernacle, the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Bronze Laver.​​ The bronze altar​​ was where the sacrifices for the people’s sins​​ were​​ offered. It​​ symbolized judgment and Jesus on the cross taking our​​ penalty for sin through His blood shed on that cross. It​​ speaks to our justification, just as if we never sinned, before God. The bronze laver was where the priest would wash their hands and feet before​​ offering​​ sacrifices​​ on the altar and performing their duties in the tabernacle.​​ It​​ symbolized​​ God’s grace washing away our daily sin and speaks to our sanctification. Lastly, we saw the making of the courtyard which was the boundary that surrounded the tabernacle complex.​​ It set apart the holy ground of the tabernacle from the rest of the camp and was a visible reminder that you could not casually approach​​ God,​​ and​​ it​​ was no ordinary affair to do so. Having only one entrance to the courtyard and into the tabernacle symbolized that there was only way to approach God, and that is only through Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says, “I​​ (Jesus)​​ am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

This morning, we​​ will​​ see the making of​​ priestly​​ garments. The priests and the High Priest had to be suitably dressed​​ to​​ enter the House of the Lord and perform their duties. The​​ high priestly clothes were made from the same materials as the​​ tabernacle,​​ including fine white linen embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet yarn. This connected the high priest​​ to​​ the tabernacle showing he belonged in God’s sanctuary.​​ The tabernacle was the earthly representation of the true heavenly tabernacle​​ and so​​ everything associated with it​​ portrayed the​​ holiness,​​ beauty​​ and glory​​ of God​​ and of heaven.​​ The colors and unusual clothing that Aaron wore​​ were​​ to give him dignity and honor​​ among the people.​​ There were four main​​ items that constituted Aaron’s wardrobe. The first was the ephod which became symbolic​​ of​​ the Israelite priesthood. It was unique in that thin strands of gold​​ were​​ worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and the fine white linen. This was appropriate because gold was used the closer to the place where God dwelled. On the shoulder pieces were mounted two onyx memorial stones with the names of the sons of Israel engraved on them. This was symbolic of the high priest representing the​​ people​​ before the Lord and​​ the Lord before the people. As​​ he entered the tabernacle he carried the burdens of the people on his shoulders​​ into the presence of God.  ​​ ​​​​ 

 

Next, was the​​ breast piece​​ of judgment. It was made like the ephod and held the Urim and Thummim which were​​ two​​ stones for seeking the​​ Lord’s​​ will​​ concerning​​ the nation. It was decorated with twelve precious and semi-precious stones in four rows of three stones each. It was also a visual representation of​​ the twelve sons of​​ Israel and symbolized that the high priest bore the people’s concerns​​ into God’s presence.​​ Braided chains of gold were made to keep the​​ breast piece​​ from swinging out from the ephod. This would have kept the stones over the high priest’s​​ heart representing the love and affection he had for​​ the people. He carried the weight of the people on his shoulders, the place of strength,​​ before the Lord,​​ which was symbolic of their guilt.​​ He also carried the weight of the people on his heart, the place of love and affection,​​ before the Lord,​​ which was symbolic of his intercession for them.​​ The third item of clothing was the high priest’s robe. It was woven out of one-piece​​ blue​​ cloth,​​ and​​ it​​ was seamless.​​ Blue​​ signified heaven​​ and​​ it was seamless symbolizing​​ the wholeness and integrity that God​​ demanded​​ of the​​ high priest and​​ it​​ reflected the perfection of the God he served.​​ 

 

Pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted white linen were made​​ and​​ put around the hem of the robe.​​ Bells of pure gold were also​​ made that were attached around the hem alternating between the pomegranates. Pomegranates were a sign of​​ fruitfulness,​​ and the​​ gold bells​​ were safe.​​ The pomegranates symbolized that the high priest was fruitfully performing his duties. And the​​ sound of the bells practically proved that the high priest was faithfully performing his duties. It was an assurance of life in that he had entered suitably dressed and was in holiness before God. The bells were also symbolic that God’s presence was with them as represented by the high priest. They symbolized the holiness of God and that He required holiness and reverence​​ for those who would approach Him, or they would die. They served as a call to spiritual alertness, reminding the people of their dependence on God and that the high priest was sanctified or set apart for his service in the tabernacle.​​ Imagine the heaviness and the weightiness of the high priestly garments. Physically, we aren’t told how​​ much the garments all weighed together, but it has been suggested they could have weighed between forty and sixty pounds or more.​​ Symbolically, the physical weight reminded the high priest of the immense and awesome responsibility he had of carrying the sin, sorrow,​​ and​​ shame, of the Israelites,​​ before the Lord. ​​ 

 

The Hebrew root word for heavy or weight and the root word for honor and respect is the same. Weight and honor and gravity and respect can be seen by judges when they put on their robes and make decisions. Or by policemen, firemen and other emergency personnel when they put on their uniforms and protect and serve or save lives. Like judges, policemen, firemen, etc. when Aaron dressed for work,​​ with the inherent responsibility of that work, he would have felt the accumulated weight in his honored role in the Israelite society.​​ Think for a second about what you wear the times that you carefully dress for what you are doing or where you are going. You will dress​​ differently​​ if you are appearing in court, attending a wedding to bear witness to a beginning, or attending a funeral to bear witness to an ending, or teaching in front of a classroom, then you would if you were going to play tennis or going to the beach. There is a connection between heaviness and respect,​​ and​​ the weightiness of leadership and responsibility.​​ For Aaron and the other priests,​​ their clothes reminded them​​ of​​ “wearing” or “bearing” one’s responsibility, every day.​​ As Christ’s priests, we need to daily put on our heavenly garments. These heavenly garments are Christ himself. In Romans 13:14 Paul tells us to cloth ourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ. And Ephesians 4:24 says, “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” And Colossians 3:12 says,​​ “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

 

Being clothed in Christ is​​ a​​ heavy and weighty​​ responsibility​​ for Christ-followers.​​ We are to cloth ourselves in Christ and with Christ so we can reveal the​​ glory of God to the world. We have an immense and awesome responsibility​​ to​​ absolute surrender and commitment​​ to​​ the Lord. We​​ must reorder our priorities, we must die to self, we must live as​​ God’s​​ example,​​ and we must depend on​​ His​​ strength. This is what it means to be clothed in Christ and in His righteousness.​​ How should being clothed with Christ affect our behavior?​​ Are​​ the clothes you are putting on​​ reflecting​​ Christ?​​ Let us be people who are putting on Christ, living out​​ His attributes such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Let us be people who dress thinking about the heaviness that comes from our responsibility of being Christ-followers. Let us be people who daily put on the​​ garments​​ of heaven​​ and so reflect the holiness and righteousness of Christ to the world. That brings us to our first next step which is to​​ Daily​​ clothe​​ myself​​ with the Lord​​ Jesus​​ Christ.

Our second point, this morning​​ is​​ Holy​​ and​​ is covered in Exodus 39:27-31. In this section we see the making of the pieces of clothing that round out​​ the priestly garments for both Aaron and his sons. They​​ made​​ tunics, turbans,​​ and​​ caps for them​​ woven from​​ fine white linen. They made undergarments​​ for them​​ of finely twisted white linen. And an embroiderer made sashes​​ from​​ finely twisted white linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn. And lastly, they made a sacred emblem or plate out of pure gold that was engraved with “HOLY TO THE LORD” on it​​ and​​ fastened with blue cord to the high priest’s turban.​​ These garments were not normal attire nor were they for ordinary use even by the priests.​​ These special garments would only have been worn once they entered the courtyard and after being ceremonially washed.​​ 

 

These garments all had the character of “holiness”​​ and​​ set apart the priests as holy. The Lord was teaching​​ the Israelites that​​ He​​ is​​ holy,​​ and His priests must​​ approach Him in holiness.​​ God desired to dwell with His people, but he must be​​ approached and​​ worshipped on His terms.​​ Aaron and His sons could dress up in these holy garments but that didn’t make them holy​​ on the inside. Externally they looked magnificent, divine, sanctified and reflected light and heaven. But internally they were depraved, sinful, human beings filled with darkness.​​ They were sinners in need of a Savior.​​ So how could these sinful human beings​​ represent a sinful nation before God? Psalm 15:1-3​​ says, “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.”​​ Of course, no human being can live up to that. And in verse 5 we see that “Whoever does these things will never be shaken or moved” which means if you don’t live up to those things you will be shaken or destroyed in God’s holy presence.​​ Th priests were not shaken or destroyed because they were obedient and​​ didn’t approach God on their own​​ terms​​ but on what they were wearing. They were wearing the holy clothes that were made exactly to God’s specifications. Twice in this section alone it says the people did as the Lord commanded Moses. Their obedience to the prescribed worship of the Lord allowed the sinful priests to approach Him clothed in His holiness and righteousness​​ (Big Idea)

 

That brings us to our third point,​​ Hope.​​ Just as the tabernacle, the furnishings inside and out and the courtyard all foreshadowed Jesus, so did the priesthood of the Israelites. Aaron and his sons were not​​ holy on the inside and​​ so​​ had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. God was showing them that there was one who was coming, the Messiah, who was holy and perfect and had no need to offer sacrifices for himself because He was without sin.​​ God allowed Aaron and his sons to be sinners representing sinners and​​ through their sacrifices and His forgiveness be considered​​ holy. He did this​​ because He knew that the day would come when Jesus, the spotless Lamb, would come as God’s perfect High Priest. Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal​​ redemption.​​ 

 

Jesus​​ would do perfectly what Aaron couldn’t. He would offer sacrifice for our sins, bring us into God’s presence and would intercede before the​​ Father for us.​​ The priesthood of Jesus was perfect in its person, in its purity, in its performance, in its perpetuity and in its passion or sufferings. There would never again be the need for a high priest to offer up an animal sacrifice. The proof​​ of which​​ was God tearing the veil of the Temple in two from top to bottom.​​ Also, the high priest even though he was clothed in holiness was inferior to Jesus Christ.​​ Jesus was superior to Aaron in​​ several​​ ways.​​ First, He ministered in a superior place. The high priest served in the​​ tabernacle,​​ but Jesus serves in heaven,​​ before​​ the throne of God. Second, He ministers with superior righteousness. His righteousness was not external as​​ it was with the high​​ priests. Jesus is clothed in righteousness​​ inside and out. He is perfectly God and perfectly man, untainted by sin.​​ 

 

Third, He ministers to us with superior sympathy. The high priest carried the nation into the presence of God close to his​​ heart,​​ but he couldn’t understand exactly what they were going through. But Jesus suffered and endured everything we do and so He understands what we are going through.​​ Fourth, Jesus ministers to us with superior longevity. All the high priests of Israel are dead. They can no longer minister but Jesus by His resurrection lives​​ forever,​​ and His ministry is eternal. Fifth, Jesus ministers to us with a superior sacrifice. The high priests offered the blood of animals for the people’s​​ atonement,​​ but Jesus offered His own blood. By His free​​ will​​ he became the spotless Lamb on the altar. He offered Himself as the atonement for our sins and He only had to do it once for all. Jesus is superior to all human high priests​​ and​​ is our great and perfect High Priest.​​ So,​​ through our perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, we have the hope of salvation and spending eternity in the presence of God. But what about now as we live on this earth. What are​​ we going​​ to do? We are to be a kingdom of priests. Just like the Levites were set apart and the distinctive garments set them apart from all the other tribes, we are set apart​​ and our distinctive garments, the righteousness of​​ Christ, set us apart from the world. We​​ can be​​ dressed as holy because we are related to​​ Jesus. Hebrews 2:11 says, “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.​​ So,​​ Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”​​ Since we are a kingdom of priest of the family of God in​​ Jesus,​​ we have a responsibility to live, love and serve in holiness. Holiness is not an option but a requirement. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” We are to be holy as God is holy. Matthew Henry says,​​ “Holiness to the Lord must be so written upon their foreheads, that all who converse with them may see that they bear the image of God’s holiness, and are devoted to the praise of it.”​​ 

 

Serving the Lord as His priests is an awesome privilege. And because of the shed blood of Jesus, we can now approach God’s throne​​ with prayer and sacrifice. Prayer must be a significant part of our ministry as priests. We​​ should be praying​​ for everyone we know​​ who needs intercession.​​ We especially intercede​​ for those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. We intercede​​ with​​ their​​ care​​ and concerns and most importantly their salvation.​​ We​​ interceded​​ for our local church. We pray that the gospel is preached, sinners are saved and that we would grow in love for God and for each other. And we pray for the church around the world, interceding for our missionaries, for Christians being persecuted and for​​ the advance of the gospel. Bringing our sacrifice before the Lord is also an awesome privilege.​​ First, we bring ourselves as living sacrifices to serve the Lord. Second, we bring a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”​​ And 1 Peter 2:5 says, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house​​ to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”​​ We are to serve and worship the Lord and bring Him honor, glory and praise both individually and corporately.

 

Our calling as priests demands complete holiness. We are to be holy in our daily lives. We are called to be holy in our homes, living in peace with our family and serving them in love. We are to be holy in our thoughts, in our speech, and in our actions. 1 Peter 1:15 says, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”​​ We can’t​​ be holy on​​ our own. We sin against God daily in our thoughts, words and deeds.​​ How can we be holy and serve the Lord in holiness?​​ In conclusion I want to read this story that​​ Philip​​ Ryken tells in his commentary on Exodus.​​ One memorable Thanksgiving Day I went out to play football in the rain. When I returned home, I started to go into the kitchen, which was the primary functional entrance to our family home. As I opened the door, I was confronted by my mother, who was accompanied by a guard of female relatives brandishing rolling pins, potato mashers, and carving knives. “Don’t you dare set one foot in my kitchen!” Mother said. I looked down and realized she was right. I could not enter the house: I was covered with filth! The same thing is true whenever we seek to enter God’s house for worship. We are filthy, having committed the kinds of sins that ought to forbid our entrance.​​ So, how can a holy God accept our priestly service?​​ It’s not because we’re holy, but​​ because​​ He​​ accepts us​​ because of​​ the holiness of​​ Jesus.​​ When we trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we are clothed in his righteousness. Now when God sees the service we offer, he does not look at the stains of our sin but at the perfection of his Son​​ (Big Idea).​​ So, it is good news that we don’t have to live in perfect holiness, because we can’t​​ do it. But with the help of the Holy Spirit in us, we​​ can purpose to live our lives in complete holiness to the Lord. That is our second next step this morning which is to​​ Purpose​​ to​​ live​​ my life,​​ my thoughts, words and deeds,​​ in​​ complete​​ holiness​​ to the Lord.​​ 

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:​​ Lord, we worship you for your Word and the truths found in it. We pray that​​ every day​​ as we go out into the​​ world,​​ we would continually​​ clothe​​ ourselves​​ with​​ and in your son,​​ Jesus Christ.​​ Help​​ us​​ to live​​ our​​ lives,​​ our​​ thoughts, words and deeds, in complete holiness to​​ you. Thank you for redeeming us​​ from​​ our​​ sin, sorrow and shame.​​ In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening:​​ ​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes,​​ Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory​​ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1133–1153.

Closing:​​ ​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes,​​ Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory​​ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1133–1153.

 

/by

Under New Management

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Under New Management

In her book​​ Maya Mysteries, Wendy Zoba seeks to understand the bloodiness of the ancient Mayan system of sacrifice. History and archaeology show that the Maya practiced elaborate rituals of atonement, centered around child sacrifice. As Zoba explains it:​​ “The Maya understood the need for blood.​​ They have shown us there isn’t enough human blood in all the world to satisfy the gods​​ and tell​​ us the power of the sacrifice cannot be found in the blood of humans sacrificed by human hands. When​​ warfare​​ increased toward the end of the dynasty, and the Maya took captives, did they send them to the fields to work? No.​​ They sacrificed them hoping that more blood would​​ bring atonement.​​ What did all that blood avail the ancient Maya?​​ The answer​​ is​​ nothing. The Maya thought that offering human sacrifices would bring them closer to God. But the gods were not appeased, even when the bloodletting intensified. Zoba concludes, “The gods were not satisfied,” and thus the Maya did not receive forgiveness for their sins.

To us the ancient Mayan rituals seem primitive and barbaric. Yet many people feel the same way about the sacrifices of the Old Testament, and even about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Why does the Bible have so much to say about blood—specifically blood sacrifice?​​ What do bloody sacrifices have to do with daily life in a postmodern world?​​ The answer is​​ found in Hebrews 9:22​​ which says, “In fact, the law requires nearly everything to be cleansed with blood,​​ without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” This​​ is always a universal principle of divine justice for all people in all places. The human race has fallen into sin. We have turned against God in rebellion, refusing to obey him and choosing instead to go our own way. As a​​ result,​​ we deserve to die. This is what God’s justice demands. We have sinned against his infinite majesty, and nothing less than life itself can pay the debt that we owe.​​ Blood is the price for sin. It is the only thing that can make us right with God. Although the Maya were wrong about many things,​​ deep down they knew that the​​ only​​ way they could approach​​ their gods​​ was​​ based on​​ blood. That brings us to our big idea that​​ God demands His people approach Him through the blood and cleansed by a bath.

 

Let’s pray:​​ 

 

This morning, we have two points, the first point is,​​ Approach.​​ We will be covering the material in​​ Exodus​​ 38 but won’t be reading​​ the​​ entire​​ text because we have already covered it in Exodus 27 and 30. This first point covers​​ verses​​ 1-20. The construction phase of the entire tabernacle complex is underway. Two weeks ago, we​​ saw the​​ tabernacle, the Tent, where God would dwell among His people, being built. We​​ saw the​​ making of the​​ four curtains​​ that constituted the ceiling of the tabernacle and what they were made from. We also saw the​​ making​​ of the two vertical curtains that would be inside the tabernacle, one at the entrance and the other, the veil,​​ which​​ would separate the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant would sit.​​ And we​​ saw what they were made from. We​​ studied​​ the significance of the cherubim that​​ were​​ embroidered on the first ceiling tent​​ and the veil, which the priest would see as they performed their duties​​ in the tabernacle.​​ We also saw the precious metals,​​ the​​ gold, silver and bronze, that were used​​ to construct the tabernacle​​ and​​ the​​ significance of them.​​ Finally, we​​ learned that the tabernacle foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, who​​ would come to​​ tabernacle​​ among​​ His creation.

 

Then last week we​​ saw the making of​​ the four items of furniture that were in the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place and the significance and meaning of each one.​​ We learned that each item​​ also​​ foreshadowed​​ Jesus Christ. The Ark of the Covenant that sat in the Holy of Holies foreshadowed His​​ redemption for us on the cross.​​ The Table of Showbread​​ taught us that Jesus is our​​ provider and the Bread of Life. The Lampstand taught us that Jesus​​ is the Light of the World and gives life. And the Altar of Incense taught us that​​ He intercedes for us before​​ God.​​ The entire tabernacle complex was God’s way of letting His people know that​​ a​​ sacrificial​​ system was needed for the forgiveness of their​​ sins,​​ but it was​​ only​​ a temporary system. The sacrificial system​​ foreshadowed His son, Jesus, coming into the world, dying on a cross,​​ being​​ raised​​ from the dead and saving​​ us​​ from​​ our sins.

 

This morning, we​​ moved​​ outside the tent into the courtyard. The courtyard was​​ the boundary marking the Tabernacle area where God would dwell with His people.​​ The first item of furniture that​​ an​​ Israelite would have come to in the courtyard as they approached God was the Altar of Burnt Offering.​​ This altar​​ was​​ 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet tall. It was​​ made from acacia wood​​ and​​ overlaid with bronze.​​ It had four horns, one at each corner, made from the same piece of bronze as the altar itself.​​ And there was a bronze grating under its ledge halfway up the altar giving it the appearance of a giant BBQ grill complete with​​ utensils:​​ pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans,​​ that were​​ all​​ made from bronze. It was also to be portable so four rings were fashioned one on each corner and poles were made for it from acacia wood overlaid with bronze.​​ The Altar of Burnt Offering​​ was​​ completely​​ covered​​ with bronze​​ which​​ signified being a distance away from God’s presence​​ or the Ark. Bronze symbolized​​ the​​ judgment​​ of God.

 

One of the jobs of the priest was​​ to keep the fire​​ in the altar​​ always burning​​ since it would have constantly been in​​ use.​​ Leviticus 6:12-13 says,​​ “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.​​ Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”​​ 

The Israelites presented many different sacrifices​​ such as the​​ whole burnt offerings​​ that were presented​​ every morning and evening for their atonement.​​ Fellowship offerings presented​​ as a celebration of being in covenant friendship​​ with God.​​ Sin offerings presented for purification and atonement for specific sins.​​ Guilt offerings presented for inadvertent offenses against holiness. And then one day a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest presented sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the people.​​ 

 

These offerings began with the worshipper putting their hand on the​​ perfect and unblemished​​ animal’s head​​ symbolic of the innocent animal taking on the guilt and sin of the worshipper. The worshipper deserved to die because of their sin but by placing their hands on the animal’s head​​ it​​ was sacrificed as​​ their​​ substitute.​​ Ryken says, “The worshiper was saying in effect, “This is my sacrifice. Let it be offered in my place, Lord, and may you accept its death as the wages of my sin.”​​ This altar was where God provided​​ substitutionary atonement through​​ the shedding of​​ blood. It would have been a place of bloody sacrifice​​ because blood was​​ the​​ requirement for anyone who wanted to approach God (Big Idea).​​ As soon as the worshipper entered the courtyard​​ they would be confronted by this altar​​ and​​ be​​ reminded​​ that​​ they​​ were​​ sinners and​​ deserved to die but that God was a gracious God and had provided a way for them to be reconciled​​ to​​ Himself. As they came to the Tabernacle,​​ again,​​ to make atonement for their sins, they were​​ being​​ taught that​​ the only way to God​​ was​​ through the blood of a sacrifice. But God was also teaching the Israelites that bringing sacrifices to the​​ altar was temporary. This is seen in that the blood of animals could not take​​ away their guilt and sin but could only cover it. God wanted them to believe​​ in​​ and be saved in the one to come, the Messiah, the spotless lamb, who would take away the sin of the world.​​ 

 

God demands the same for us today. As sinners we deserve death and our debt needs to be paid in blood too, but God​​ through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus on the cross, paid the debt himself.​​ The bronze altar symbolizes Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross for our sins and that those who put their faith in the shed blood of Jesus are justified before God.​​ Romans 3:23-25a says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”​​ Wendy​​ Zoba identifies the​​ Maya’s​​ tragic mistake: “They did not know ‘the power of the blood of God spilled by God himself.’”​​ The only way we can​​ be justified, and​​ approach God is by​​ the​​ blood​​ of Jesus.​​ If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior. If you have never been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, you can be today. That brings us to our first next step which is to​​ Admit​​ that I am a sinner,​​ believe​​ that Jesus died for my sins, was buried and rose again, and​​ confess​​ Jesus as Lord of my life.​​ If you marked that next step or want to talk more about taking that step, please put your name on the front of your communication card.

The second​​ item of furniture in the courtyard was the bronze laver. We are not told anything about its size​​ and​​ only thing we know is that it​​ was​​ made​​ of​​ bronze. It consisted of a​​ stand and a​​ basin which held water for washing. Aaron and​​ the​​ priests were to wash their hands and feet before they presented sacrifices on the Altar of Burnt Offering and before they entered the tent of meeting to perform their duties before the Lord. As the priests performed their bloody service to God they needed to​​ constantly be washed by the water​​ from the bronze laver. It was of dire importance that the priests wash before performing these duties or they would be killed. This symbolized God’s grace in washing away their daily sin. Again, like everything else in the tabernacle, the bronze laver foreshadowed Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Levy says, “The laver speaks of Christ as our sanctification.”​​ 

As a kingdom of priests, the bronze laver reminds us we have been sanctified to serve Jesus. And​​ to​​ serve him in true holiness we need to be constantly cleansed from the daily​​ sins we continue to commit.​​ This happens as​​ Jesus,​​ guiding us​​ by His Holy Spirit to become more like​​ Him, “washes us with​​ water by the word.”​​ The​​ "washing of water by the word" describes the cleansing power of Scripture, which sanctifies and purifies believers' souls and thoughts.​​ The Altar of Burnt Offering and the Bronze Laver both symbolize our​​ journey of​​ salvation. First, we, as sinners, need to be justified by Jesus’ atoning blood once for all on the cross and second, we, as sinners, need​​ to be​​ sanctified by the pure water, that is the Word​​ and obedience to it,​​ that makes us holy before God by washing​​ away the corruption of our daily sin.​​ 

Then we learn something new in​​ Exodus 38:8​​ about the bronze laver​​ which says,​​ “They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”​​ The Bible doesn’t tell us very much about this​​ but taken at face value, we learn that​​ there were women who were organized into service to the Lord at the entrance​​ of​​ the tent​​ of meeting. They may have been doorkeepers, greeters, singers, or musicians. They may have been involved in prayer​​ and fasting or​​ helping​​ in some​​ practical​​ way​​ with the preparation of the offerings for​​ sacrifice.​​ However they were serving the Lord, these women were able to use their gifts for the glory of God. We​​ also​​ learn that these women​​ gave their mirrors​​ for​​ the bronze​​ laver to be made. This goes back to the beginning of chapter 36 when the people​​ were bringing their offerings for the construction of the tabernacle.​​ And here this​​ act of giving is singled out by Moses at this particular point in the narrative.​​ 

The Egyptians were well-known for making cosmetic objects such as mirrors, mostly in copper or bronze. The​​ mirrors​​ were then put in a handle of wood, stone, ivory or metal which were probably carved with representations of their gods. These mirrors would have been​​ given​​ to the Israelite women by the Egyptian women as they were leaving​​ the morning​​ after the Passover. This was probably the first time that the Israelite women would have possessed something this beautiful​​ and something that could show them how beautiful they were when they looked into it.​​ But when Moses gave the call to bring a freewill offering of various items,​​ these women​​ unselfishly brought these bronze​​ mirrors,​​ willing to make the sacrifice. These women who gave their mirrors did not seem to idolize their outward appearance. They wanted to give​​ what​​ was probably the​​ costliest and the best that they had to offer for the​​ beauty of the tabernacle and​​ for​​ the glory of God.​​ 

What can we learn from this?​​ 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Like the women who gave​​ up​​ their mirrors, which focused on outward appearances, we need to be willing to give up those things that focus on outward appearances and​​ can become​​ our​​ idol.​​ Things such as being consumed with outer beauty,​​ self-centeredness, pride,​​ hypocrisy, judging others to make​​ we​​ feel better. And the appearance of being righteous such as the Pharisees whom Jesus called whitewashed tombs. They were spotless on the outside but​​ were​​ defiled by sin on the inside.​​ We need to​​ focus on our hearts​​ instead of making an idol of​​ our outward appearances.​​ That brings us to our first next step which is to​​ Glorify​​ God by​​ sacrificing​​ those things in my life that​​ I​​ make an​​ idol​​ of my​​ outward appearance.​​ 

The next thing that was constructed was the courtyard.​​ First, our approach to God required blood. Second, our approach to God results​​ in a bath. Third, our approach to God is restricted by a boundary.​​ The courtyard measured 150 feet by 75 feet. The​​ fence around the outside​​ stood seven and a half feet tall and was​​ held up by 60 posts, hooks and bands​​ and​​ consisted of curtains of finely twisted white linen.​​ The white linen symbolized the righteousness that encircles God​​ and the fact that it was made of cloth symbolized that the whole complex was temporary.​​ The​​ posts were​​ wooden,​​ and their bases were​​ bronze​​ again​​ symbolizing​​ divine judgment,​​ and​​ the hooks and bands were silver​​ symbolizing​​ redemption.​​ The curtain for the entrance of the courtyard was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, matching the curtain at the entrance to the Holy Place,​​ the​​ veil and the lowest ceiling curtain except for the​​ cherubim.​​ The​​ curtains​​ connected the tabernacle as the place where​​ God dwelled and that there was only one way to Him.​​ The entrance to the courtyard and the entrance to the Holy Place​​ symbolized​​ that Jesus is the only way to God.

The purpose of the courtyard was​​ to be​​ a boundary that set apart the holy ground of the tabernacle from the rest of the camp. It was a visible reminder that​​ you could not casually​​ approach God. Only those who were to be there and had brought the appropriate sacrifice could enter.​​ Also, it was​​ no​​ ordinary affair to​​ approach God. They were to do so soberly, thoughtfully and in​​ fear​​ of the Lord. God is holy and we can’t approach Him on our terms, such as​​ doing good works, keeping the law, mixing different religions or going to church to just check off a box.​​ Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that we must enter through the narrow gate.​​ Jesus is the narrow​​ gate,​​ and we must come through Him​​ based on​​ his shed blood on the cross.​​ Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” This was the only entrance to the​​ courtyard and was an open invitation to enter in but only on God’s terms.​​ Van Meter says, “It is not​​ ‘come as you will’​​ even though it is​​ ‘come as you are.’”

That brings us to our second point,​​ Accountability,​​ which​​ covers verses 21-31.​​ First,​​ they​​ were accountable for the witness of God’s house. In verse 21 the tabernacle is referred to​​ as​​ the “tabernacle of the testimony or witness.” The tabernacle was God’s witness to the covenant relationship between Him​​ and His people. It was a witness that everyone in​​ the​​ covenant relationship was His and He was their God. Everyone who approached God in the proper way, meaning they came through the appointed entrance, gave the appropriate sacrifice of blood and washed at the laver, through the acts of the priests, were shown to be in covenant relationship with God. The tabernacle was a visible reminder of that relationship and that God truly dwelled​​ among his people. What does this mean for us today?​​ Matthew 16:18 says, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus promised that His church would give testimony throughout the​​ ages that He is Lord and is present with His people. The presence of the church universal for​​ more than​​ 2,000 years is testimony to God’s faithfulness to that promise. In fact, Idaville Church, is proof of God’s faithfulness. He has placed us here for His glory, honor and praise​​ and we are accountable to build our church according to God’s commands and instructions. We do this​​ by serving, giving, and witnessing of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so others will come in and experience His salvation, His provision, His light and life and His intercession. Van Meter says, “We must keep the curtains up and the door open and point all who will enter to the altar and to the basin.”

Second, we are accountable for the wealth of God’s house. After identifying the tabernacle as His witness to the covenant, God expected​​ an inventory of the wealth that went to construct it. God through Moses appointed Ithamar, the son of Aaron the High Priest as the head accountant.​​ We are reminded in verses 22 and 23 that Bezalel made everything that God commanded alongside Oholiab,​​ the​​ expert engraver. Moses​​ probably​​ placed this statement​​ here,​​ so​​ the people​​ knew that​​ the​​ tabernacle was for​​ all Israelites​​ not just the Levites and that it took people from every tribe of Israel to​​ construct​​ it.​​ Also,​​ Bezalel and Oholiab were accountable to​​ Ithamar​​ for all the freewill offerings collected and used or not.​​ We are given the​​ total amounts of gold, silver and bronze used in constructing the tabernacle​​ but​​ not​​ about​​ how much of the other materials were used. This is probably because the gold, silver and bronze were the costliest, symbolized closeness to God and showed the beauty and opulence of the tabernacle.​​ 

We see the generosity of the Israelites as they gave a wave offering of a ton of gold and over two tons of bronze. A wave offering was​​ a​​ voluntary presentation of offerings in honor of their covenant king. The silver was by far the most​​ used​​ at over three tons. This silver came from the census that God commanded in chapter 30. It was accumulated​​ from the 603,550 men who were twenty years old or more who gave the required half-shekel.​​ With this accounting,​​ Calvin says, “Moses now shows that this entire sum was collected and paid without fraud and so applied as that none should be lost.” This was an example of faithful stewardship of the people’s resources to build the tabernacle. No way could the builders be accused of taking the offerings for God’s work for themselves. We​​ also​​ need to be faithful stewards here at Idaville Church​​ with​​ the resources given for​​ God’s work here, in our community and the world. We must be vigilant to be above reproach in all financial​​ matters. Currid says, this​​ will be “a great witness to the world and keeps them from condemning us of hypocrisy.”

David Murray, a contemporary pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shares​​ a​​ fictional account to illustrate the relationship between the old covenant and the new covenant. Many years​​ ago,​​ a business was started for the purpose of supplying office supplies. It was called Office Administration. This business supplied quality​​ stationery, envelopes and pens. Business began to boom. It was a success. But with the advent of technological developments soon the need for​​ stationery, envelopes and pens began to wane as more and more people were using the latest technology. Before long the warehouses of Office Administration began to be filled as there was​​ less​​ demand for their product. The board of Office Administration eventually took over the company and began to make changes for supplying office supplies in a new era. There was a buyout and eventually, after the deal was concluded, the son of the original owner was put in charge. Soon the warehouses began to empty as they were replaced with personal computers and office software. Business again began to boom. The name Office Administration was retained but under this name were added the words “Under new management.” It was still in the same business, but Office Administration was now supplying products that were more suited to the new era in which it was operating.​​ 

Many people are under the false impression that there is no continuity between the old covenant and the new covenant.​​ They (falsely!) believe that the old covenant (or Old Testament) was about works or law, and that the new covenant (or New Testament) is about grace and faith. The fact is that the old covenant was about​​ the administration of​​ grace just as much as the new covenant is. The Old Testament was in the business of​​ God​​ graciously redeeming sinners and the New Testament is in the business of God graciously redeeming sinners, as well. The difference, of course—and it is a significant difference—is that the new covenant is “Grace Administration under new management.” And that new​​ management is Jesus Christ!​​ What this means is we​​ must not lose the plotline of Scripture. The story of the Bible can be described as God’s administration of His grace. Throughout the biblical narrative God’s covenant of grace is both revealed and advanced. And His covenant of grace became most clear under Jesus’ administration of the new covenant​​ and yet the fundamental business of God​​ has​​ never wavered.​​ That is something we can be praising God for daily.

Opening:​​ ​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes,​​ Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory​​ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1120–1132.

Closing:​​ https://brackenhurstbaptist.co.za/category/bible-teachings/old-testament/pentateuch/exodus/​​ Doug Van Meter

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Open Houses

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Open Houses

You can learn a lot about someone​​ and what they are like​​ by visiting their home. It is an opportunity to get to know them better​​ and to see​​ their tastes and​​ what they​​ value.​​ What can you learn by visiting someone’s home?​​ You can learn if their house​​ feels​​ welcoming.​​ You can learn what memories fill their house by noticing their​​ family pictures and other mementos​​ that are on their walls or set out.​​ You can learn if they are​​ creative decorators, or what things you​​ have in common with​​ them.​​ You can learn if they are​​ neat, organized and orderly. You can learn if they​​ have children​​ and if their children​​ participate in sports​​ or play an​​ instrument. You can learn if they​​ like to read​​ or if they​​ like antiques or more modern things.​​ You can learn what​​ their​​ favorite sports​​ teams​​ are or if​​ they have​​ pets.​​ What is displayed in the public spaces​​ of​​ houses​​ says,​​ “this is who I am and what matters to me.”

We can also learn a lot about God,​​ what He is like, and what matters to Him​​ by​​ looking at what His Word teaches us about His house.​​ The major reason for the tabernacle and later the temple​​ was because​​ God wanted​​ to​​ dwell​​ among​​ the​​ Israelites​​ so they could come to know Him better and so that He could bless them. The tabernacle​​ and the furniture in it were to show the people what​​ true and proper worship of the Lord​​ should look like. It was where the Israelites could be “right” with God​​ and where​​ He​​ would dwell in​​ their​​ presence.​​ Today, the dwelling place of God is in His people.​​ The​​ longer we live as the temple of God and in relationship with Him, the more we realize what it means​​ for us that​​ He is dwelling inside of us and wants to know us intimately.​​ As Christ-followers,​​ we have a great responsibility as​​ the​​ dwelling of the Holy Spirit. We need to be living a Christ-centered and Spirit-filled life so​​ that when those who don’t​​ know​​ Jesus as their Lord and Savior come into our “open house” they are attracted to Him.​​ 

When we are properly exhibiting the tabernacle​​ and its​​ furniture in our lives and in the​​ life​​ of our church, they​​ should be able to​​ see God​​ in us, know what​​ He​​ is like,​​ what He requires of His people​​ and how to worship Him properly.​​ In pointing them to Jesus,​​ we allow the Holy Spirit to do the work in drawing​​ them to​​ Jesus for​​ salvation.​​ The​​ goal​​ in “showing” our “open house” is so that those who need to hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ​​ will want to come in and make their home with​​ Him.​​ That brings is to our big idea that​​ God desires His people to be “open houses”​​ attracting others to​​ come in and dwell with Him. ​​ ​​ 

Let’s pray:​​ 

Again, this morning’s scripture, found in Exodus 37,​​ has been covered​​ before,​​ in Exodus 25 and 30.​​ And again, I am not going to read those verses because we will​​ mainly​​ be looking at the symbolism found in them.​​ The​​ main​​ difference​​ between the two accounts​​ is​​ that the blueprints for the furniture​​ were​​ given to Moses first before the tabernacle​​ in chapter 25.​​ This was because​​ God started​​ from​​ a theological and worship point of view​​ then​​ and this time​​ He started from​​ a practical point of view. The tabernacle had to be built first so it could house the​​ important​​ items​​ of​​ furniture​​ that would be in God’s House. The other difference is that the blueprint for the Altar of Incense wasn’t given until chapter 30 but here it comes directly after the Ark, the Table and the Lampstand. These four​​ items​​ of furniture​​ instructed the​​ Israelites on​​ how to​​ properly​​ worship​​ the Lord and​​ pointed​​ them​​ to the coming Messiah. ​​ 

Our​​ first​​ point​​ is​​ Furniture Illustrated. Bezalel was to make​​ or supervise the making of​​ four​​ items​​ of​​ furniture:​​ one for the Holy of Holies and three for the Holy Place.​​ Each piece of furniture​​ was to​​ show​​ the Israelites​​ who God​​ was, His character, and what it meant to dwell​​ with Him.​​ The first and most important​​ item​​ of furniture was the Ark of the Covenant. It was to be​​ built​​ in the shape of a box,​​ made​​ from​​ acacia wood and overlaid with gold.​​ Its​​ dimensions were​​ approximately three feet nine inches long, two feet three inches wide, and two feet three inches deep.​​ The Ark was to be placed in the Holy of Holies behind the veil​​ with​​ the​​ cherubim embroidered on​​ it. The cherubim on the inner​​ ceiling​​ curtain and on the veil would remind the priests that they were in the presence of​​ a​​ Holy God and would warn them that they needed to properly approach the Lord.​​ The purpose of the Ark was to hold four items, three inside and one on top.​​ The first​​ item​​ was​​ the​​ two stone tablets that the Ten Commandments were written on.​​ The Ten Commandments were the laws that God gave the Israelites​​ and​​ were a permanent reminder​​ of​​ the God who saved them​​ and that He​​ wanted them to live a certain way. If they were obedient to the law,​​ He promised to bless them abundantly. The​​ Ten​​ commandments showed the​​ Israelites that​​ God​​ was the​​ Lawgiver, and their​​ Savior and Lord. ​​ 

The second​​ item​​ was​​ an​​ Omer, or a​​ day’s​​ worth, of​​ manna. In Exodus​​ 16,​​ God​​ commanded Aaron and Moses to take manna,​​ put it in a jar and then​​ place​​ it​​ in the ark​​ after it was built.​​ The manna was​​ to be​​ a permanent reminder of God’s providential care.​​ He wanted them​​ to acknowledge​​ that​​ He​​ was actively and purposefully directing, sustaining, and governing all events in their​​ lives to accomplish His perfect will and good purposes.​​ It also symbolized that God​​ would​​ satisfy​​ their needs​​ and​​ would be​​ their faithful provider.​​ The third​​ item​​ was Aaron’s​​ budded​​ staff. In Numbers 17, the Israelites were grumbling against Moses and so God had Moses take twelve staffs, one for each of the heads of the tribes of Israel and put them in front of the Ark. Whose ever staff sprouted was the man that God chose to lead His people. The next day, the staff belonging to Aaron had budded, blossomed and produced almonds, and so God confirmed Moses’ leadership. Moses was​​ to put Aaron’s budded staff in the ark​​ as​​ a permanent reminder of God’s authority​​ and rule​​ in Israel.​​ And it​​ symbolized His shepherding care of them.​​ 

The fourth item​​ which sat on top of the ark​​ was the Mercy Seat or the Atonement Cover.​​ It was​​ made from​​ pure gold and​​ built to​​ the same dimensions​​ as​​ the Ark​​ so​​ that it​​ would​​ completely cover the top of it. That was important because the law of God,​​ symbolized by the Ark,​​ had been broken by the​​ people,​​ and they deserved the punishment of death. But the Atonement Cover​​ completely​​ covered​​ the law and​​ their​​ guilt and​​ sin. God was present in all His purity and​​ the​​ power of His holiness, but He was also present with His mercy and grace and​​ initiated reconciliation with His people.​​ 

There were two things on the top of the Mercy Seat. The first was two cherubim. The cover and the cherubim were to be hammered out of one solid piece of gold. As I mentioned last week,​​ the cherubim were throne bearers of God in heaven and so​​ they were​​ a permanent reminder that the Ark was God’s throne on the earth.​​ It also showed that God was ruler of all heaven and earth. The second​​ thing on top of the atonement cover would be the​​ blood of a sacrifice.​​ To properly approach the Lord blood had to be shed. One time a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest, would sacrifice a goat,​​ take​​ its​​ blood and sprinkle it on the​​ Atonement Cover​​ in the Holy of Holies.​​ This was where God showed mercy to sinners as the sacrifice made atonement for their​​ sin. The blood of the sacrifice did two things for the people. It was an expiation meaning​​ it​​ removed the​​ guilt of​​ their​​ sin,​​ and it was a propitiation meaning it turned aside God’s wrath for their sin.​​ The Ark of the Covenant along with the Atonement Cover​​ or​​ Mercy Seat showed that God was a God of mercy and justice who wanted​​ to forgive sinners​​ and would do so​​ based on​​ a blood sacrifice.​​ 

The second​​ item​​ of furniture in the tabernacle​​ and of next importance​​ was the Table of Showbread, that sat in the Holy Place.​​ It was also made of acacia wood covered in gold​​ and its​​ utensils;​​ its​​ plates, dishes, pitchers and bowls​​ were made of pure gold. Its dimensions were​​ about three feet four inches long, one foot eight inches wide and about two and a half feet high. It was about the size of a coffee​​ table,​​ and its purpose​​ was to hold twelve cakes of unleavened bread​​ called the Bread of the Presence which was to​​ always be on the table before the Lord. Every Sabbath the priests would place fresh bread on the​​ table,​​ and they were allowed to eat the bread from the previous Sabbath. In this way, God sustained the priests for their service in the tabernacle. The twelve cakes of bread symbolized the twelve tribes of​​ Israel and that God was their provider and sustainer. The bread was also an offering to​​ God​​ and so​​ symbolized that​​ the Israelites were to offer themselves as servants before the Lord. The bread was to be a​​ permanent reminder that they were bound by God’s lasting covenant with them.​​ Leviticus 24:8​​ says,​​ “This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.”​​ It was to also remind them​​ that​​ God wanted to commune with them in a personal and intimate way.​​ It symbolized​​ a binding covenant of friendship, that was sealed by partaking in a meal together. Ryken says, “sharing a special meal together was an act of friendship and personal communion.”​​ The table was to be a permanent reminder​​ that​​ God is​​ a God​​ who​​ provides and​​ wants​​ to​​ sit down at the table of​​ friendship​​ and​​ fellowship with His people.

The third​​ item​​ of furniture in the tabernacle was the lampstand​​ which illuminated the Holy​​ Place​​ and​​ was​​ made from​​ one piece of​​ pure​​ gold. We are​​ not given the dimensions of it, but it​​ was​​ probably​​ the same height as the ark and the table at about​​ two and a half feet.​​ The purpose of the lampstand was to light the tabernacle​​ because the four​​ ceiling​​ curtains would have rendered the Holy Place pitch black. Its light would have aided the priest in fulfilling their duties and​​ would​​ have shown them the beauty, brilliance and glory of God’s house. It was the duty of the priests to keep the lampstand lit​​ as it​​ was a permanent reminder that​​ God is light, all light comes from God and​​ that His light is​​ pure and perfect.​​ 1 John 1:5​​ says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”​​ God’s light​​ makes everything clear, exposing the darkness of sin and evil.​​ The​​ lampstand was fashioned with buds,​​ blossoms and flowers on it, which​​ were​​ hammered out​​ of​​ the same​​ piece of​​ pure​​ gold.​​ The buds, blossoms and flowers were to represent the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and later in​​ New​​ Jerusalem. Just like the Tree of Life was planted in the Garden of Eden, the Lord planted the lampstand in the tabernacle to show His life-giving power. The lampstand showed that God is a God of absolute purity, truth and righteousness and He is the giver of light and life.

The fourth​​ item of​​ furniture​​ in the tabernacle was the Altar of Incense. It was also made of acacia wood overlaid with gold​​ and had​​ four horns, one on each corner,​​ which was​​ fashioned from​​ one piece. Its dimensions were​​ eighteen inches square and about three feet tall.​​ The altar stood​​ in the Holy Place​​ directly in front of the Ark that was behind the veil in the Holy of Holies.​​ The priests would burn a specially made and sacred incense every morning and evening​​ on it.​​ The incense was offered​​ by the priests in God’s presence​​ in​​ worship to​​ Him as they praised God for His holiness and thanked Him for His mercy and grace. It was also offered​​ for the intercession of the people.​​ The incense would fill the tabernacle with a pleasing aroma symbolizing the people’s petitions rising to heaven. Psalm 141:2 says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” And Revelation 8:3-4 says, “Another angel, who had a golden censer,​​ came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.​​ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”​​ The Altar of Incense showed that God is a God who hears our prayers and desires to answer them​​ according to His will and for His glory.​​ 

So,​​ what is God like? When​​ God makes His dwelling with us,​​ we encounter a God who is everything we need. He is the God of heaven who came to earth and tabernacled among us. He is the God of all truth who​​ gave us the law. He is the God of guidance and direction who rules from His throne. He is the God of mercy who offers us forgiveness based on the blood of the sacrifice. He is​​ the​​ God of providence who sent bread from heaven. He​​ is​​ the​​ God of the covenant who sits down at the table of fellowship with us. He is the God of light and life that shines the way and offers us eternal life. He is the​​ God​​ of intercession who hears and answers the prayers of His people.​​ 

Everything that God is like​​ points us to the one who fulfilled all of those​​ things​​ and​​ to​​ whom​​ the​​ items​​ of furniture in the tabernacle spoke of which brings us to our second point,​​ Fulfilment Illuminated.​​ Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of​​ Majesty​​ in heaven.” Jesus Christ is God in the flesh who​​ came down from heaven to​​ tabernacle​​ with His creation.​​ He fulfilled what the tabernacle and its furniture​​ testified to, which was​​ God’s salvation given​​ for​​ all,​​ that​​ Jesus​​ would one day provide through​​ his​​ blood sacrificed on the cross.​​ The Israelites were​​ to be​​ saved by faith, by trusting in the Savior to come represented by the tabernacle and the rituals performed in it.​​ 

How is Jesus the fulfilment of these items of furniture in the tabernacle? First, He is the fulfilment of the Ark of the Covenant​​ and the Mercy Seat​​ because he made atonement for our sins. He is our propitiation as His blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat​​ in heaven.​​ Romans​​ 3:25a says, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”​​ Now whoever has believed in Jesus for salvation has their sins forgiven by God​​ and​​ He represents us before God​​ making​​ us acceptable to Him.​​ We are transformed into the temple of the holy and living God and can enjoy His presence because of Jesus. Also, Jesus was exalted by the Father and is now enthroned between the Cherubim. He now sits on the throne of heaven​​ reigning as Lord, demanding​​ our worship and obedience.​​ Second, Jesus is our Table of Showbread. He is our sustenance and the Bread of Life. In​​ John 6:35, Jesus says,​​ “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus​​ sustains​​ us​​ by giving us our physical and spiritual daily bread. He feeds and watches over us individually and corporately.​​ He also wants to sit down at our tables​​ to fellowship and commune​​ with us as friends. Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Third, Jesus is our Lampstand. He is the​​ Light​​ of the World​​ and of Creation.​​ John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in​​ darkness but​​ will have the light of life.” And John 1:9 says, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” He is also our source of life. John 1:4​​ says,​​ “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” And John 14:6 says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” And lastly,​​ if we want to live eternally with​​ Him,​​ we need to walk in​​ His light.​​ 1 John​​ 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is​​ in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”​​ 

Fourth, Jesus is our Altar of Incense. He intercedes on our behalf before God. His​​ prayers​​ rise like incense to God’s throne in heaven. He prays for our salvation and our sanctification.​​ Hebrews​​ 7:25​​ says,​​ “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”​​ Jesus Christ is everything we could ever need. He was the blood sacrifice for our sins, He is the Bread of Life for our physical and spiritual hunger, He is the friend at our table for fellowship and communion, He​​ is the​​ lampstand of life illuminating the darkness and He is the prayers of intercession for all our needs and troubles.​​ In fact, Jesus is praying for​​ those who are far away from Him​​ right now—He is​​ praying that​​ they​​ will​​ come to Him for salvation​​ so the Holy Spirit, can make His dwelling in them.​​ If you are in my hearing this morning, and you​​ are far from Jesus, I want you to that​​ God does not want you to​​ stay away. He wants you to come to​​ trusting in His son, Jesus,​​ for your salvation​​ so He can make​​ His house inside of you. That brings us to our first next step which is​​ to​​ Come into the house of the Lord trusting in Jesus for my salvation.​​ If you marked that next step, please put your name on the​​ front of your​​ communication​​ card so I can be in touch with you.​​ 

So,​​ what does all this mean? For the Israelites it meant being in covenant with God and through their obedience He would bless them to be a blessing to all the world.​​ What does it mean for us?​​ That brings us to our third point,​​ Family Instructed.​​ Access to the house of God was restricted to one family, the Levites. They were a family of priests​​ who had the responsibility to intercede​​ for the people and​​ instruct​​ them​​ in the​​ commands of the Lord​​ and​​ in​​ obedience to them.​​ The lives of those who were outside God’s House was dependent on the obedience of the family​​ of priests fulfilling their responsibilities inside God’s House.​​ For​​ Christ-followers today,​​ we are​​ now​​ in the new covenant​​ with​​ Jesus. We​​ are His treasured possession,​​ a holy people and a kingdom of priests. We are now the household of God,​​ His “open houses,”​​ and​​ we​​ have similar responsibilities. Those outside the family of God are​​ dependent on our obedience and​​ affected by how we live as a temple of God​​ and​​ how we act​​ in the house of the Lord.​​ 

What are our responsibilities as a kingdom of priests in obedience to the Father? What does He want us say and do to point the lost to Christ? First, we must not water down the truth of the Gospel. We must be​​ diligent​​ about​​ helping the lost to realize that they have a sin problem and​​ to​​ teach​​ that believing in​​ Jesus​​ and what He came to earth to do​​ is the only way​​ to take care of that problem.​​ Admitting that they are a sinner, believing in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord of their life is the only way​​ to the one true and living God.​​ It is our responsibility to instruct new believers to​​ lead a life of obedience, to​​ take​​ up their cross daily and follow Him​​ and become​​ more like Jesus.​​ It is also our responsibility to model​​ a life of holiness and obedience, not hypocrisy.​​ We want them to be​​ attracted to Jesus, by our lives, so that they​​ will want to come into God’s House and enjoy His presence (Big Idea).​​ 

Second, we must feed on the Bread of​​ Life,​​ so​​ that​​ we are priests who are growing up spiritually in Christ and are equipped to serve Him and others with our fruits and gifts of the Spirit.​​ When we are in obedience to this, again, our lives are attractive to those who don’t know Jesus and the Holy Spirit uses us to draw them to salvation. Third, we must be the light of the world and share the light and life of Christ.​​ Just like the lampstand illuminated the Holy Place so the priests could perform their duties,​​ we​​ need His light to be able to serve Him acceptably and properly.​​ We need His light​​ for​​ us to show the​​ glory of God​​ to the lost.​​ Mathew 5:14-16 says,​​ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.​​ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.​​ Instead,​​ they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in​​ heaven.​​ Fourth, we must be “open houses” who are caring and praying on behalf of the lost.​​ When we are Christ-centered, filled with the Holy Spirit, fed by the Bread of Life, illumined by the Light of the World, then we are strengthened to intercede for others for the good of the Kingdom of God.​​ That brings us to our second next step which to​​ Live as an “open house” of the Lord, attracting others to come in and dwell with Him.​​ 

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:​​ 

Opening:​​ by Doug Van Meter https://brackenhurstbaptist.co.za/life-in-gods-house/

 

 

/by

What Are You Building?

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What Are You Building?

Have you ever wondered about how great buildings are constructed, especially ones that were built long ago? Here’s just a few of the iconic buildings in the world that are considered construction and​​ engineering marvels. The US Capitol Building, the Taj Mahal, the Empire State Building, the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sydney Opera House. Visitors to these places and others want to know the facts. Who built this structure, and when? How long did it take? What materials were used in construction? How were they joined together? One of Philadelphia’s architectural landmarks is City Hall, the massive building at the intersection of Broad and Market. It was built by John MacArthur, who served for many years as a deacon of Tenth Presbyterian Church. City Hall was the tallest masonry structure in the world at the time of its completion. It was built with eighty-eight million bricks covered with marble, granite, and cast iron. Construction started in 1871, but it wasn’t until 1894 that the massive bronze statue of William Penn finally stood astride the clock tower. It was a grand building for its time.

The grand building that the Israelites erected was the tabernacle in the wilderness and after it, the temple in Jerusalem, which was built on the same basic plan. The Bible gives many fascinating details about this building. Some fifty chapters are dedicated to explaining how the tabernacle was made, what went into it, and what happened inside. This is because it was the most important building ever made—the only one designed by God himself. For 500 years the tabernacle served as God’s portable dwelling place on earth.​​ Thus,​​ the Israelites reveled in the facts of its construction. “Tell us again about the tabernacle,” they would say. “Read to us from the scroll of Moses. We want to remember​​ every​​ detail.”

We should want to know the facts, too, because they are part of our story. In fact, the tabernacle was only the first phase of a construction project that is still underway. It was a place for God to be present with his people, but it was only temporary. When the time was right, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live with us as God’s true tabernacle. That was phase two. Phase three is the church that God is now building by his Spirit. We ourselves have become the tabernacle of God—his dwelling place on earth. But it goes farther than that. God’s plan was to make his dwelling place in the church, as well. Just as God once filled the tabernacle, the temple, and the physical body of Jesus Christ, so now he fills the church with his Spirit. God is living in us, both individually and corporately, and so the Body of Christ has become the tabernacle of God. But what does that mean? How are we supposed to live? The tabernacle was holy because God dwelt there, and he was holy. Now since we are tabernacles of God and​​ He dwells within us we must be holy as He is holy. What does that mean for us here at Idaville Church? If we all are striving for holiness, then we as the Body of Christ will be building a holy and living tabernacle of God. The question is what are you building? Are you on board with God’s plan to build our church? Hopefully everyone here would answer that they are about the building of God’s holy and living tabernacle, His dwelling place, here at Idaville Church. That brings us to our big idea that​​ God desires​​ His people to build His holy, living tabernacle, that is the Church.

Let’s pray:

In a way of review let’s look at what has been going on since chapter 35 started. In verses 1-3, the Lord commanded that all Israelites were to observe the Sabbath law. The law stated that they were to work for six days and rest on the seventh. The seventh day was to be a holy day set apart for the Lord. This meant that they were to not do any physical work but were to spend that day with the Lord strengthening their relationship with Him, individually and corporately. The law also stated that anyone who violated this law was to be put to death. Why the serious punishment? First, their observance of the Sabbath would keep them from idolatry. If our heart, mind, soul and strength are focused totally on the Lord there is no room or time for false gods. Second, keeping this law showed that they trusted the Lord for their physical needs. Third, the Sabbath was the sign of the covenant and if they accepted the sign they were accepting the Lord’s redemption. Lastly, obedience was more important than their work in constructing the tabernacle.

Then Moses put a call out to the people to bring their freewill offerings to construct the tabernacle. These offerings came from the plunder of the Egyptians that the Lord gave them and from handmade items from the people. These gifts were in appreciation of what the Lord had done in saving them from slavery, taking them as His chosen people, forgiving them for their sin of idolatry and for keeping His promise to dwell among them as they travel to the Promised Land. Then last week we were introduced to the​​ construction foreman, Bezalel, who had been filled with the Spirit of God for all artistic work and his assistant Oholiab. They both had also been given the ability by God to teach others to be engravers, designers, embroiders and weavers. We ended last week with the people having to be commanded and then restrained from bringing any more offerings because they already brought more than enough to do all the work.  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

We now come to the portion of scripture that is pretty much word for word from Exodus chapter 26. In most cases the tenses of the verb are the only changes. In chapter 26, God gave Moses the blueprints for the tabernacle in order to do the work and in the rest of chapter 36, the people will now actually do the work of building the tabernacle. Also, in chapter 26, God started with the plans for the tabernacle furnishings and then gave for the tabernacle itself. That was from a theological point of importance​​ whereas now the construction would start with a practical view of importance. The house of God needed to be constructed first so the furnishings had a place to be housed. For instance, if you were going to build a house today you would start with the outside (foundation, roof, siding, etc.) and move inside (framing individual rooms, painting, etc.).

That brings us to this morning’s passage which will cover Exodus 36:8-38. I am not going to read through all those verses as we have covered them before and because we will be discussing more of the symbolism this time around. Our first point is​​ Structure,​​ and we will study​​ the physical structure of the tabernacle in the wilderness and then the structure of the Body of Christ as the Holy Spirit tabernacles within Christ-followers individually and corporately. And then we will study the Significance of the tabernacle and the Body of Christ.​​ The first things to be constructed for the tabernacle in the wilderness were the four ceiling curtains. They are described in verses 8-19. The first curtain was the innermost ceiling curtain. In the NIV this curtain is called “the tabernacle” and it was the most ornate and beautiful of the curtains. It was made of finely twisted linen of blue, purple and scarlet yarn by skilled workers and had cherubim embroidered into them by expert hands. Cherubim were powerful, angelic beings associated with God's presence and glory and acted as attendants and throne-bearers of God in heaven. The tabernacle was a representation of heaven on earth and was where God would dwell among His people. The cherubim were a symbol and reminder that God was nearby.

The second curtain was made of goats’ hair, and it was called “the tent.” It was bigger than the first curtain so it would completely cover it. It concealed the ornate curtain from the outside world and protected it from outside elements. The only persons who would be able to see the innermost ceiling curtain would be the priests.​​ Why use goat hair besides the protection for the more ornate curtain? The goat was an animal used for sacrifices. The sin offering in Leviticus 9 and the sin offering for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, are goat offerings. The goat hair “tent” symbolized atonement and was to be a reminder of man’s sinful state and that they were to have a conscience about their sin.​​ The third curtain is called a “covering” and was made of ram skins dyed red and was the same size as the goat hair curtain. The red dye symbolized Jesus bearing our sins on the cross and our sins being covered and cleansed by the blood of Christ.

The fourth curtain was the outside or topmost layer and could only be seen by the outside world. The NIV translates this as “the other durable leather” and the NKJV says, “badger skins” but a better translation is “porpoise skins.” It seems that the Red Sea was full of these animals, and their skins were durable and weather-proof. This was important since it would be exposed to the desert climates.​​ All​​ these curtains point to Jesus but especially this one. It would have been ordinary looking from the outside reminding us of what​​ Isaiah 53:2 said about Jesus, “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”​​ These curtains would protect both the worshippers and the worship of the Lord. There needed to be reverence, awe and​​ seriousness​​ in worshipping before the Lord. And the worship of the Lord needed to be protected from the merely curious.

Next, we see the construction of the framework of the tabernacle in verses 20-34. The frames and crossbars were made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and the bases to go under them were made of silver. Gold was used the closer to God or the Most Holy Place you came. Notice that the gold frames did not touch the ground but were set on silver bases. The silver came from the ransom money required by each Israelite male and would remind them of God’s redemption just like the shed blood of Christ would remind​​ us of the same thing. Kaiser observes, “The foundation of the tabernacle rested on a ransom or redemption, just as the church was “bought with his own blood.” Next, we see the construction of the veil and door of the tabernacle in verses 35-38. These were two vertical curtains which hung from the top to the bottom of the tabernacle and served as partitions. The veil was made of finely twisted linen of blue, purple and scarlet yarn with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker just like the first ceiling​​ curtain layer. The veil separated the tabernacle into two sections, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest could go beyond the veil into the Most Holy Place and that happened only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The Hebrew word used for this curtain means to “shut off or out” and pointed to the truth that sinful men are shut off from approaching a holy God and to do so without a mediator would be dangerous and life-threatening.

Lastly, we see the construction of the door of the tabernacle which opened into the courtyard. It was made like the first ceiling curtain layer and the veil before the Most Holy Place except there were no cherubim​​ woven into it. Only the priests could enter through this curtain into the tabernacle. All these curtains were significant and left a lasting impression. MacKay says, “Though Israel had this tremendous privilege of the divine presence in their midst, there was to be no doubt that he is the Holy One, and that access to him was no easy matter, even though his palace and temple was right there at the center of their camp.” Also, let’s notice that there was no back door into the tabernacle. There was only one​​ way in, which symbolized that Jesus is the only way to the Father. This means that if we want to meet God, to know Him and to experience Him, we must come through Jesus. The Israelites were building the place where they could go and meet with God, where their sins could be forgiven and where they could see the glory of heaven come down to earth. Today, Jesus is the true tabernacle, and God is inviting you to enter in by believing in His son for your salvation. If you have not yet​​ entered​​ the true tabernacle, you can do so now. If you are ready to turn your heart and life over to Jesus you​​ admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and confess Him as Lord of your life.​​ If you just accepted Jesus as your Savior or would like to talk more about that, please mark the upper right on the back of your communication card where it​​ says,​​ “tell me more about being a follower of Jesus.”

Now that we have studied the physical structure of the tabernacle, let’s look at why the structure mattered practically and spiritually to them and why the structure of this dwelling place of God matters to us today. This chapter emphasizes that the structure of the tabernacle made God’s presence and His worship possible. Practically, it was important because it kept the furnishings inside covered from the elements of a sin-cursed world such as wind, rain, dust, scorching sun, etc. Spiritually, it also allowed the priests to perform their duties and the people to worship the Lord and experience His presence. The people would bring their sacrifices to the Altar of Burnt Offerings. The priest would need to be cleansed at the bronze laver to​​ enter God's​​ presence in the tabernacle. The priests would be reminded by the table of showbread that God was their provider and by the lampstand that He was their light. They would also be encouraged by the Altar of Incense that their prayers reached heaven. Of course,​​ all​​ these symbolized Jesus Christ who was to come. The physical external structure protected the most important spiritual items of worship which were internal.

The same is true for us today, as well. This structure we are in today keeps the internal protected from the external elements. It also allows us to come into the presence of God to worship Him together and to grow spiritually through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, etc. Now we could also worship outside but this building is the structure where this Body of Christ gathers and worships. It is also where we all are to be a kingdom of priests and be about building the dwelling place of God.​​ (Big Idea)​​ Everyone who calls Idaville Church home is essential for the worship of the Lord and for our witness to the world. Everyone and every role​​ are​​ essential to making Idaville Church function the way God desires us to function, worship and witness to the community around us.  ​​ ​​​​ 

Now let me take this one step further. As Christ-followers, we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross and we are striving to be more like Jesus every day. Our internal relationship with Jesus is to be exhibited externally through the fruits of the Spirit, serving, etc. Our relationship with Jesus is so important and needs to be constantly cultivated and protected from the external sin-cursed world. What are some of the external elements that threaten to destroy our relationship with​​ Jesus? There is materialism, idolatry, lust, greed, ambition, debauchery, corrupt talk, wickedness, etc. Van Meter says, “It is important that we establish some frameworks and curtains in our lives for the purpose of protecting our walk with the Lord.” Ephesians 5:15 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” And Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We need external structures that guard our internal relationship with the Lord. What are some of these wise external structures? One, we need a strong devotional life to guard us and grow us up spiritually. We need to daily be in God’s Word. Two, we need a disciplined life to avoid the outside elements that Satan uses to keep us from growing and to keep us feeling ashamed, not good enough or that God doesn’t care about us. Third, we need other Christ-followers that will keep us accountable to guarding and growing our relationship with the Lord. That brings us to our first next step​​ which is to​​ Develop a strong​​ devotional​​ and​​ disciplined​​ life and be​​ accountable​​ to others so I​​ can guard and grow my​​ relationship​​ with Jesus.

Our second point is​​ Significance. We see the significance of the tabernacle in​​ several​​ ways. First, the tabernacle taught that God alone dictates how He is to be approached and worshipped. Second, this​​ meant that how the Israelites worshipped was important to God. Third, a mediator was needed to approach God. All of this prepared the Israelites, the world and us for the need of a Savior, which was Jesus Christ. One of the reasons for the repetition here in Exodus was to make the connection between the tabernacle, Jesus’ tabernacling on the earth and the Holy Spirit tabernacling in the Body of Christ, which Paul in 1 Corinthians 3, calls the temple of God. All three were where God would dwell with His people. Just as the Israelites were to be building the tabernacle in the wilderness as the dwelling place of God, we are also to be building the Body of Christ, the local church, and God’s dwelling place today. So, what are you building? Hopefully you are building the dwelling place of God, here at Idaville Church.

How do we go about building the Body of Christ? The first thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. The tabernacle in the wilderness was to bear testimony and witness that God was present with His chosen people. It was to bear witness to God’s salvation. And it was to testify to God’s eventual incarnation as He came in the flesh as Jesus. The tabernacle was to be the center of Israelite life, and they would not be able to escape its shadow or influence. For us the main thing is Jesus Christ. He must be the center of our lives, and we should be living in His shadow and influence. And when we all have Jesus as the center of our lives, when we gather corporately, Jesus is the center of our church, and all our focus should be on Him. This is to​​ be a continuous, ongoing endeavor as we gather for worship, the Word, prayer, communion, etc. Our church is strengthened, and we can only influence others for Christ if we keep Him at the center of all things. God also expects us to covenant together to be working in​​ unity to build this Body of Christ. God wants each of us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, but He also wants us as a group of individuals to corporately do so as well. ​​ 

If Jesus is the center of our church and our lives, then that means we all have something to do. God expects each one of us to be involved in whatever capacity or capacities we are able. As I mentioned last week, we all have time, talents and treasures and fruits and gifts of the Spirit in varying amounts and degrees and because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross and His resurrection, He expects us, and we should be willing to involve ourselves wholeheartedly in the mission of God in the world. As a​​ Christ-follower we all need to recognize, realize and respond to Jesus’ call to use our God-given gifts to contribute to the construction of the dwelling place of God. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to​​ serve​​ others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of​​ service, so that the body of Christ may​​ be built up.” God wants us to desire His presence and to do everything we can to experience His presence in the Body of Christ by using the gifts He has given us. The reason he has given us these gifts is that, as the verses I just read say, we can serve others in this dwelling place of the Lord. This following quote is from an unknown source which says, “We approach every situation with either a robe or a towel.” Jesus expects us to come with a towel. That brings us to our third next step which is to​​ Recognize, realize and​​ respond​​ to God’s call to use my God-given gifts to​​ serve​​ others in the​​ construction​​ of His​​ dwelling​​ place.

The story is told of a group of quarry workers who were once asked by a passer-by what they were doing. One laborer replied that he was working himself to the bone. A second responded that he was wearily chopping away at a large piece of granite. But a third man, with a gleam in his eye, said, “I’m building a cathedral!” The Israelites were building the greatest building to ever grace fallen man: it wasn’t a​​ cathedral;​​ it was the Tabernacle of God in which He would dwell among His people. We might answer that question by saying we are building relationships with other Christ-followers,​​ or I am building my family up in Jesus. Those are worthy endeavors but not the most important one. The most important thing we must be doing is building a temple for the holy and living God, that is our church and the dwelling place of God. (Big Idea) Let us all be about this endeavor here at Idaville Church: to build a holy and living tabernacle of God by each of us striving for individual holiness, serving others, and to using our time, talents, treasures, and fruits and gifts of the Spirit for the furthering of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

​​ As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:

Opening:​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes,​​ Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory​​ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1101–1110.

Closing: by Doug Van Meter | 15 Jan 2012 | Bible Teachings, Exodus, Old Testament, Pentateuch

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Enough Already

Enough Already

On January 7, 1913, William Burton was granted a patent for a cracking process that enabled him to obtain gasoline from crude oil. It was this patent that would change the way the world moves from one end of the globe to the other. Most people today don’t even recognize the name of William Burton, let alone appreciate his contribution to the transportation industry. But people do complain about how his invention has adversely impacted our environment. No one ever thought greater wisdom was needed in handling this invention. For the same reason, President Harry S. Truman should have heeded sounder advice when he announced on the same date in 1953 that the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb. Both inventions had tremendous potential. Both inventions offered the world hopeful technology. But both inventions make an important statement: Planning something and carrying out those plans are distinctly different. It is how we carry out the plans drawn that will demonstrate our faithfulness in following through on our commitments.

The plans drawn for processing gasoline and for developing a hydrogen bomb were flawed because no one had the whole picture as to their use, function, and maintenance. But the blueprint for the tabernacle and related items had already been given to the people of Israel, and it was perfect. Nothing was unforeseen by God or left out. After all, this was God’s plans and God’s building. Moses offered a challenge to the people, and they responded. Not just a few, but most everyone got involved. This was God’s design for the tabernacle in the wilderness, and it is still His design for His Body today. God asked the Israelites to give of their time, talents and treasures to construct the tabernacle. They were to give those things freely as they remembered what He had done for them in saving them from slavery and taking them to be His own​​ chosen people. He didn’t have to do it that way. He could have just spoken the tabernacle into existence as He did creation. But in wanting a relationship with His people, in His infinite wisdom, He partnered with them. He wanted them to realize that He saved them for a purpose, and He was going to dwell among them to see that purpose fulfilled.​​ 

Our scripture today, which is Exodus 35:30-36:7, is a continuation of the scripture we studied last week. The focus was and is again today on the people and the tabernacle. The rest of chapter 36 through 39 will be all about the materials and how they were put together to build the tabernacle and its furnishings. God gave Moses the blueprints for the construction of the tabernacle and last week was a general call to the people to use their time, talents and treasures for God’s house and for His glory. This week the general call becomes a specific one to the persons who would​​ oversee​​ the building God’s house. Moses calls Bezalel and Oholiab specifically, who have been gifted by God to be the project managers​​ to​​ bring the tabernacle to its glorious completion. ​​ 

The same is true for us today. God still wants to be in a relationship with us and to that end, He has partnered with every Christian​​ to​​ fulfill the Great Commission. He does this by putting His Holy Spirit and His power inside of us. No longer does the Lord tabernacle in the wilderness, or in the flesh on this earth as Jesus, He now tabernacles inside of each​​ one of​​ us. But He also asks us to build up the Body of Christ, which is us, in this sanctuary. So, what does God ask us to give​​ to​​ build up this Body of Christ? Of course, He asks for our time, talents and treasures, but we all also have fruits of the Spirit in varying degrees, and we all have different Spiritual gifts, that are God-given and are to be used to build up this Body, here at Idaville Church. This is the place that God has ordained us to come especially each Sunday to​​ join​​ in worshipping Him, first and foremost, in spurring each other on to love​​ and good works, in holding each other accountable and in spreading His gospel to the world, all for His glory. That brings us to our big idea this morning:​​ God desires His people to use their God-given fruits and gifts of the Spirit for His glory, His Body and to spread His gospel in the world.

Let’s pray:

There are two points this morning. The first is​​ The Commissioning, found in Exodus 35:30-36:1. This is what God’s Word says, “Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.” 1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”

As we look at today’s scripture, there is repetition from chapter 31. Repetition is important​​ because when something is repeated in God’s​​ Word, it is because it is important to God and should be important to the people of God, as well. And there are some differences that we will study later in verses 34 and 35. We ended last week with all the Israelite men and women who were willing bring their freewill offerings to the Lord for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do. As these freewill offerings are being brought, Moses introduces to​​ the Israelites who the foreman will be on the tabernacle project and who his assistant will be. The Lord had specifically chosen Bezalel to be the point person in constructing the tabernacle. We are told that Bezalel is the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. What is important about Bezalel is how he points us to Jesus just like the tabernacle and its furnishings do. Bezalel means “in the Shadow of God.” The word “shadow” gives us the sense of shade and protection, like the tabernacle. Uri means “light” and could mean the “Light of Jehovah.” Jesus is the Light of the World come from the Father. Hur means “white”, and Judah means “praise.” Bezalel will be the foreman and the chief craftsman and artist for the building of the tabernacle and its furnishings.​​ 

Bezalel was chosen not only because he had been given these God-given skills and abilities naturally but because he was filled with the Spirit of God. The word “fill” means “to be set apart or to be consecrated” for a specific task. By being filled with the Spirit of God it assures that his work will be perfect and acceptable to the Lord and will meet His standards. We see he is filled with the Spirit of God in four ways. First, he is filled with “wisdom” which means he will apply what he knows in a prudent and beneficial way. Second, he is filled with “understanding” which will give him the ability to comprehend how to put all the pieces of the project together. Third, he is filled with “knowledge” which is an awareness of something that has been observed or experienced already and not just based on logic or theory. Fourth, he is filled with all kinds of “skills or workmanship” which speaks to the quality of the work he will employ to accomplish the task. Bezalel already had the skills and abilities to do the work which is probably why God chose him and filled him with the Spirit of God. Interestingly, Bezalel is the first person in the Bible to be said they were filled with the Spirit of God. Again, we see that Bezalel was a type of Christ with the skills and abilities given to​​ him as he was filled with the Spirit of God. Colossians 2:2-3 says that “In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Bezalel was truly a master artist with God-given skills, and next, we see the different materials he will be able to take and design for the tabernacle, designs that will be exactly how the Lord drew it up. He was skilled in working with gold, silver and bronze. He could cut and set stones or jewels. He could also carve wood and engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. There was probably not a lot that Bezalel couldn’t do already but now will be enhanced by the Spirit of God. Now we are introduced to Bezalel’s assistant, Oholiab. We also learned about him back in Exodus 31. His name comes from the words for “father” and for “tent” and so his name means “father’s tent” which points to the tabernacle which will be God the Father’s tent​​ amid​​ the Israelite tents. He is the son of Ahisamak​​ which means “my brother has supported” and from the tribe of Dan which means “judge.” Again, we see how perfectly these two men point us to Jesus who will come and tabernacle or tent among us. Jesus tabernacled or “tented” among humanity while he lived on the earth. Also, we have been adopted into the family of God making us the spiritual brothers and sisters and co-heirs with Jesus. Of course, Jesus supports us in many ways. And lastly, Jesus will be the judge of all mankind. John 5:22 says, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”

Then we​​ came​​ to the part of our scripture that was not recorded in Exodus 31. We learn that not only does Bezalel possess the artistic skills and abilities to do the work to God’s perfect standards but he also along with Oholiab have been given by God the ability to teach others. There were going to be others who already had an artistic knack who would be apprentices to Bezalel and Oholiab. They had some skills and abilities​​ but were not up to par with them, but they would be taught by them and brought up to speed​​ to​​ become “skilled workers and designers.”​​ 

We see four types of artists in verse 35. One, engravers, who were skilled in cutting and setting stones or jewels.​​ Two​​ designers. The verb used means “to consider” and so a designer would literally “count and calculate the threads” in weaving the different figures in the curtains, etc. Three, embroiderers, who would do work with a needle to weave and embroider the materials such as curtains and the sash of the high priest. Fourth, weavers who would work on a loom to make items such as the robe of the ephod and garments for the priests. Then​​ on​​ 36:1, we have a summary statement of the commissioning of Bezalel, Oholiab and the other skilled artist apprentices who were to construct the sanctuary just as the Lord commanded. They were all divinely gifted, and everything had to be done according to the divine plan. ​​ 

We see a couple things in this portion of our scripture. One, Bezalel and Oholiab, are completely in charge of all the work to be done. Moses is not in charge because he is not artistically inclined; being an artist is not in his skillset. This speaks of the local church, today, being made up of all different parts with different gifts to build up the Body of Christ. We don’t all have the same time, talents and treasures to give and we all have different fruits and gifts of the Spirit to use here at Idaville. But when we are all using our skills and abilities for His glory and for the good of the Body, we complement each other, and God is pleased and the work He has for us to do will be done to overflowing.​​ 

Two, even Bezalel and Oholiab couldn’t do all the artistic work that needed to be done.​​ It would be a team effort.​​ They needed other skilled workers and designers so that the result was exact to the Lord’s instructions and up to His standards. The tabernacle would not be built by amateurs but by master craftsman and artists who have been endowed​​ by God to do the work to His specifications. Three, this project was not a democracy. Not everyone would be allowed to do the artistic work and design of the tabernacle just to be involved or because they have desire to help and as Douglas Stuart says, “no one would be allowed to suggest making the tabernacle bigger, or more elaborate, or differently furnished.”​​ 

The construction of the tabernacle parallels what the work of God at its best has always needed from His people who have been filled with His Holy Spirit: willing hearts spurred on by what God has done for them, and the opportunity for everyone to contribute in some way, whether with their time, talents or treasures or all of the above, and a willingness to use their fruits and gifts of the Spirit for the glory of God. When God plans, he provides and there is always an expectation that everything will be​​ fully done​​ and the best quality possible, by the people best qualified to do it, chosen and called by God. Last week one of the next steps was to Use our time, treasures and talents to build up the Body of Christ here at Idaville Church. This morning, our first next step is to​​ Participate​​ in the work of the Lord, here at Idaville Church, using my​​ fruits​​ and​​ gifts​​ of the Spirit.​​ 

That brings us to our second point,​​ The Response, found in Exodus 36:2-7. This is what God’s Word says, “Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and​​ they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And​​ so,​​ the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

We see two responses in this portion of our scripture. The first response is from Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person, or the apprentices, to whom the Lord had given the ability and who was willing to come and do the work. Moses now calls them to come and do what the Lord has commanded in constructing the tabernacle and its furnishings. Again, we see that Moses calls those whose hearts have been stirred up by the Lord, which implies that there were those who were skilled artists that were not willing to use their gifts and abilities to do the work of the Lord. How sad that would have been, to have God-given skills and abilities that would be enhanced by God to do the​​ work but​​ not be willing to do the work when called. The only way for the Body of Christ to function properly is for everyone,​​ all​​ its parts, to use their time, talents, treasures, fruits and gifts of the Spirit, for His work and His glory (Big Idea).​​ So, Bezalel, Oholiab and the willing apprentices come and receive the offerings from Moses that the Israelites brought for the work of the sanctuary. These would have been the materials that they had plundered from the Egyptians and all the things that had been handmade by them. These materials were literally received from Moses, translated as the “face of Moses” meaning that the people are bringing their offerings and laying them before Moses who inspects them and then passes them on to the artisans. The word “sanctuary” includes everything being constructed and is translated as “holy” meaning that the entire structure being built is holy and all the materials being brought are for all its construction.​​ 

Second, we see the response from the​​ Israelites. They​​ continue to bring their freewill offerings morning after morning. “They” is emphatic meaning they kept bringing the offerings and piling them on top of the previous offerings probably faster than the others could be used. The fact that the offerings kept coming morning after morning probably means that the Israelites who were able to make handmade items were doing so through the night​​ to​​ bring them and lay them at Moses’ feet the next morning. It probably also means that not everyone’s heart was “stirred up” at the same time. It may have taken some longer than others to decide to give up their treasures from the heart willingly. We don’t know how long this went on until all the skilled workers stopped what they were working on and came to Moses to let him know that the people were bringing more than enough for what was needed to do the work that the Lord commanded.​​ It’s like “enough already.”

The word for “skilled workers” here literally means “the wise men.” This is important because they were wise enough to know what they needed to do the job and that now supply had overtaken the demand. There was more than enough to do the work that the Lord commanded them to do. The Lord had asked the people to give freely and willingly without obligation, and they supplied over and above what was needed.​​ This happens​​ again in 1 Chronicles 29 as King David and other leaders gave to the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Verse 6 says, “Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.” And verse 6 says, “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” Then King David prayed a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord that Teresa read earlier.​​ 

After the skilled workers informed Moses about the overwhelming supply of materials, he sent out a command or order throughout the camp that no man or woman was to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. Imagine that! They had to be “commanded” to stop giving. What is not said here but is implied is the integrity of Moses, Bezalel, Oholiab and the apprentices. They could have just taken the overabundance and split it amongst themselves lining their pockets with it. They could have justified it as payment for the specialized work they were doing for the Lord. But they were honest people and when the work of the Lord was entirely provided for Moses made it known that everyone was to stop bringing their offerings. They probably were returned to the people who had made and or brought them. The mention of “man or women” reinforces the idea that most of the offerings that were coming in morning after morning were probably the homemade items that were being made by ordinary, common people who probably didn’t have a lot to give but who continued to give abundantly out of their poverty.​​ 

First, they had to be commanded to stop and then they had to be “restrained” from bringing more. Moses’ command​​ didn’t seem to do the job as they kept bringing their homemade offerings. So, they had to be purposely “restrained” from bringing anymore because they already had enough to do all the work. This showed a couple of things. One, the people were truly repentant for their sin​​ of idolatry​​ and were ecstatic that God was going to dwell in their midst and so they brought and brought. Two, they were truly thankful for God rescuing them from slavery and the Red Sea, protecting and providing for them in the wilderness, and forgiving them. Three, their giving showed a strong desire to uphold the covenant God had made with them to be their God and take them as His people.​​ 

A little boy’s first-grade teacher asked him, “What position does your older brother play on the football team?” The boy knew that his brother played football; he had been to many of his games. But flustered by the unexpected question, all he could say was, “I think he’s a drawback.” Drawback … a term used for a retreat from battle, or the posture of a shy kid in a crowd. But this is also a term that could describe many Christians in the church today. God told the people of Israel, “You are my fullbacks, not drawbacks. I will do the blocking for you. Now pick up the ball and run with it! There’s work to be done.”​​ 

The same is true for kingdom workers today. There is no such thing as benchwarmers in the Bible or in the church. We are all called by God and given His Holy Spirit to fulfill His Great Commission to Pursue, Grow and Multiply Disciples. God has brought us all here to Idaville Church and to this very moment in time and placed each of us in this Body of Christ, to fulfill that mission as we live for Him on this earth. So, we need those who are Bezalels and Oholiabs and apprentices and others who are willing to give of their time, talents and treasures and to use their fruits and gifts of the Spirit for God’s glory, for the good of others and for the benefit of this Body of Christ. So let each of us purpose to not be drawbacks and benchwarmers but purpose to be fullbacks, who are committed Christ-followers, who are disciples who make disciples, and who are willing to take the gospel to the places where we live, work, learn and play, all for the glory of God. That brings us to our second and last next step which is to​​ Purpose​​ to be a​​ fullback​​ and not a benchwarmer as I pursue, grow and multiply​​ disciples​​ along with the Body of Christ here at Idaville Church.

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:​​ 

 

Opening & Closing:​​ ​​ Glen S. Martin,​​ Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, ed. Max Anders, Holman Old Testament Commentary (B&H Publishing Group, 2002), 146–150.

 

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Before I Was Rudely Interrupted

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Before I Was Rudely Interrupted

Doug Van Meter shares this illustration: Jonathan Edwards set numerous world records on his way to winning gold at the Sydney Olympics. His father was a vicar of a parish church, and he was raised in what we would understand to be a deeply devoted Christian home. Young Edwards was well-known as an evangelical who saw his athletic skill as a means to glorify God; and one means of doing so was to use his athletic platform to evangelize. Many likened him to Eric Liddell. Like Liddell, Edwards became known for his refusal to participate in athletic events on a Sunday. In fact, because of this conviction he missed the World Championships in 1991. But by 1993 he had a change of mind and no longer saw the need to withdraw from Sunday events. Upon his retirement in 2003 he began to travel and share his testimony. He became the presenter of a Christian program produced by the BBC called Songs of Praise. But that was then. Presently, Edwards is a professed agnostic who has disowned the Christian faith and says that he will definitely not be returning to Christianity. In a website article, he boasts of being “humanist, atheist, scientific, secularist, naturalistic, evolutionary, rationalist, and a sceptic.” In that interview, Edwards said that looking back on his life he now realizes that sport was his identity rather than his faith.

Van Meter goes on to say, “In other words, he was (and is) an idolater. I wonder if perhaps the first step towards fully embracing his idolatry was revealed in 1993 when he decided to no longer obey the fourth commandment.” “I wonder if his decision to no longer observe the Sabbath was not the beginning of his departure from the faith.” When we tell God no with reference to the fourth commandment it becomes easier to tell Him no in other areas. There is an inseparable historical, theological and anthropological link between the fourth commandment and the temptation to idolatry. God has given to us the Sabbath to protect us against committing idolatry. If we fail to trust God with His Sabbath, then we may find that we are not in fact trusting Him with our souls!

At the end of Exodus 31, at the end of Moses’ first forty-days and nights on the mountain with God, the Lord gave him the Sabbath law. Then Lord gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant law or the Ten Commandments. And the next thing we see in the narrative is the Israelites committing idolatry with the golden calf. And for the next three chapters, we are told that the Lord was going to kill His chosen people, but that Moses interceded for them, and God relented but would not dwell among them as they traveled to the Promised Land, then Moses interceded for them again, and God again relented and promised to dwell among them, then God established the covenant with them by commanding them to observe laws that were intended to keep them from idolatry, and finally God gave Moses the second set of two stone tablets of the covenant law.

Last week we saw Moses come down the mountain after his second forty-days and night’s stay with God, and his face was radiant from being with the Lord and speaking with Him. Moses told the people all that the Lord commanded while he was on the mountain the previous two times which included the instructions for building the tabernacle. Now as the construction of the tabernacle is getting ready to start the Lord again commands the familiar Sabbath law. We can almost hear the Lord say, “As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted.” This morning, we begin our study of the last six chapters of Exodus. These are repetitive chapters in that everything we see until the end of the book we have already studied in Exodus 25-30. There are a couple of reasons why the author repeats these chapters. First, to show the faithfulness of Moses is bringing these commands to the people. Second, to show the faithfulness of God in promising to establish His covenant and dwell with the Israelites. Three, to give hope to the people that God’s plan was on schedule. That he had truly forgiven them and would continue with His plan to use them for His glory. As they move forward, the Lord will ask them, again, to trust in Him. Before the golden calf they professed their faith and trust in the Lord but by committing idolatry they demonstrated by their actions that they didn’t really trust Him. Now it will not just be enough to profess their trust in God; God will command them to practically demonstrate it. That brings us to our big idea that God desires His people to practically demonstrate their trust in Him. How will the Israelites do this? How do we practically live out our trust in the Lord? This morning, we will learn that one way to do this is by honoring God with their time, talents and treasures.

Let’s pray: Father God, we thank you for your word and for the opportunity to learn from it today. We pray that you would open our hearts and minds to understand your truth and that we would be transformed by it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Our first point is, Time, found in Exodus 35:1-3. This is what God’s Word says. “Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do: For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

The first thing we see is that Moses “assembled” the whole Israelite community. This is in contrast to Exodus 32:1, when the people “assembled” around Aaron. They assembled around Aaron as an angry mob in disobedience but here they assembled around Moses in obedience, ready to hear what the Lord commanded. Moses repeats the Sabbath law to them which included working for six days and on the seventh day taking a day of sabbath rest. God knew what they needed physically and spiritually in order to thrive. Their physical bodies would be able to recharge with this weekly rhythm and as they kept this day holy, their spiritual selves would recharge as well. They were to spend this one holy and special day a week tuned in to God not just individually but corporately as well. God then reiterates the penalty for anyone who violates this command which is to be put to death. This was important because obedience to the Sabbath, spending that day focused on the Lord, would keep them from idolatry. If they disregarded the Lord’s commands and failed to trust God with His Sabbath, they were failing to trust God with their souls. Also, the Sabbath was the sign of the covenant. To reject the sign was to reject what the sign signified which was the Lord’s redemption.

Then we see an added command to the Sabbath law. They were not to light a fire in any of their dwellings on the Sabbath day. Why was this important? It probably goes back to when God sent them manna and quail to eat. On the sixth day, they were to gather enough for two days, because there would be none to gather on the seventh. They were to boil and cook what they wanted on the sixth day, so it was already prepared for the seventh day. They were to abstain from unnecessary work in every possible way and lighting a fire in their dwellings on the Sabbath would be a flagrant violation of the Lord’s commands. Why did God reiterate this command at this particular moment? It was because they would soon be working to construct the tabernacle, and the Israelites may have felt justified in working on the Sabbath in order to get it done quickly. The sooner they finished the sooner God would come and dwell among them. But they were not to disregard God’s Sabbath commands just because they were doing “God’s work.” 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” God wants us to trust that He can run the world without our help and that He can meet our needs without our constant labors. He also wants us to recognize His lordship over us and that worship is our supreme need. So, God demanded obedience from His people and wanted them to trust Him with their time (Big Idea).

That brings us to our second point, Treasure, found in Exodus 35:4-9, 20-29. This point breaks down into five sections and I will read the pertinent verses as we come to them. The first two sections are, Commandment and Condition, found in verses 4-5a. This is what God’s Word says, “Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering. . .”

The first thing we see is that this was a commandment to the entire Israelite community. Everyone is given the opportunity to contribute to the tabernacle project. It was to be an offering to the Lord and was to come from what the people already possessed. Then we see the condition the Lord set on this offering. This was not a tithe which God required but a free will offering. This idea of willingness is repeated at least five times in this chapter to show that the giving was to be voluntary, and that they were not under any obligation to contribute. A free will offering is one where God asks us to go above and beyond our required level of giving in order to give sacrificially for something God is going to do.

The third section is Contents found in Exodus 35:5b-9. This is what God’s Word says, “of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece.”

These were the raw materials that would be needed to build the tabernacle and its furnishings. They have already been described in previous chapters, but it is important to note what each one meant and how they were symbols of Jesus Christ. Gold is the most precious metal and symbolizes purity, holiness, royalty and divinity. Jesus is pure, holy and is the King of Kings. Silver symbolizes redemption and bronze symbolizes judgment. Judgment can symbolize punishment or purification and justification. Jesus is our redeemer, and he also brings judgment for sin and purification and justification for our sins. The color blue symbolizes the law and the keeping of it, purple symbolizes royalty and scarlet symbolizes blood. Jesus was the only person to perfectly keep the law. Again, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He shed His blood on the cross to take the punishment for our sin. Fine linen symbolizes righteousness and goat hair symbolizes awareness of sin and its punishment. Jesus was the only righteous one and again He took the punishment for our sins. The skins of rams symbolize power and protection, and the red dye symbolizes atonement for sin. Jesus is all-powerful, he is our refuge and strength, and he atoned for our sins. The sea symbolizes the world of chaos, confusion and rebellion and so the skins of the sea cow symbolize how Jesus protects us from those things.

Acacia wood symbolizes humanity that is incorruptible and so it stands for Jesus’ humanity. The oil for the light symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit for our spiritual understanding and illumination and Jesus is the light of the world. The spices for the anointing oil symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the work of Jesus and for the anointing given to us to be able to complete His work on this earth. The fragrant incense symbolizes our acceptable prayers to God and Jesus interceding on our behalf before Him. The onyx stones probably symbolize the Urim and the Thummim which was the way the high priest would determine God’s will for the people. Again, this would symbolize Jesus’ intercession for us. The ephod symbolizes the high priest bearing the burdens of the people as he went into the Holy Place as their mediator. Jesus is our mediator today and he carried our burden of sin and carries our burdens of prayer before the Father. And the stones in the breastplate symbolize judgment for God’s people through the work of Jesus Christ. God was very specific in what He desired to be used to construct the tabernacle, his house, and He gave a very detailed list to the people.

According to this detailed list, the people were to bring what they could. They all had different items to bring and so according to their willingness that was what they were to bring. Some would have had more, and some would have had less. We see this in Acts 11:29, “So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out.” And in Mark 12, we see the poor widow put two very small copper coins worth only a few cents into the temple treasury. Jesus commended her in verses 43-44, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” They were to also bring what was needed. Since God had given a very detailed list of what He wanted, the people were to bring exactly what was needed. God caused the need and then used His people to meet it. Lastly, and maybe the most important, they were to bring what God had already supplied them. The people were expected to bring the materials, but they could only do so because God had already given them to them in the first place. We saw this in Exodus 12:35-36, “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.” This is also true for us today as God has given us everything we have, and He asks us to be good stewards of it.

The fourth section under Treasures is Consideration found in Exodus 35:20-21. This is what God’s Word says, “Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”

Once the people heard the need, the entire community withdrew from Moses’ presence presumably to go to their own tents. Moses didn’t state the need and then pass the plate before they left. He allowed them to go home and consider what it was the Lord was stirring up in their hearts to give. This would have given the people an opportunity to think about the grace and mercy God has been showering upon them since they were slaves in Egypt. First, he preserved them as His chosen people, saving them from slavery and then again at the Red Sea. He had provided for them by giving them clean water to drink and manna and quail to eat in the wilderness. He had most recently pardoned them for their sin of idolatry and had established His covenant with them. The purpose of which was for Him to dwell in their midst, to be their God and have a personal relationship with them, which would overflow into being a blessing to the nations around them. As they considered the grace and mercy that God had shown them in saving them, providing for them, pardoning them and in giving them a purpose, their hearts would no doubt be “stirred up” and willing to give what they could, for what was needed from what God had already supplied them. The word “willing” means to incite or to impel. Garrett says, “This is the kind of willingness that would “impel” a person to volunteer as a soldier after their country was attacked.”

We see this happen with the Macedonian believers in 2 Corinthians 8:2-5, “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” As the Israelites considered all these things, they would have been encouraged to give back to Him what He already owned. Understanding that God owns everything we have and has given us all we have out of His grace and mercy is the key to practicing the faithful stewardship of our treasures (Big Idea).

The fifth section under Treasures is Contributions, found in Exodus 35:22-29. I am not going to read all those verses because half of them just repeat the materials mentioned in verses 5b-9. But what is important is who contributed. In verse 22, we see those who were willing were both men and women. Notice that they presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. This was an offering that was ceremonially lifted up before God as a sign of giving it back into his ownership. In verses 25 and 26, we see women who were skilled in spinning brought what they had spun. In verse 27, we see that the leaders brought onyx stones and other gems that would go on the ephod and breast piece, and spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. These items would have been some of the most expensive besides the gold. It makes sense that it would be the leaders of the community who would have these expensive items to give. Verse 29 tells us that all the Israelite men and women who were willing brought freewill offerings to the Lord for His work of the tabernacle. We can presume that every type of Israelite responded, male and female, old and young and rich and poor. Each gave different kinds and amounts of the materials they had to give. Each gave according to their ability to give from what God had already given them.

That brings us to our third point, Talents, found in Exodus 35:10-19 and 25-26. Again, I am not going to read all those verses to you. But just know that each of the items mentioned in verses 10-19 perfectly and beautifully prefigure Christ. Also, in verses 10-19 we see a general call to those who were skilled among the Israelites to make everything that the Lord had commanded. Besides their treasures it would also take their manpower to build the tabernacle and its furnishings. It makes sense there would need to be people who could take the materials and build the tabernacle out of them. God didn’t just want the Israelites to trust Him with their time and treasures but with their talents, as well. The tabernacle project would require the people to be good stewards of their time, treasures and talents.

The skilled or “gifted” artisans were to come and make everything the Lord commanded, meaning they had already been gifted with skills and abilities to do the Lord’s work. Of course, it was the Lord who gave these gifts to those who could then build the tabernacle from the blueprints the Lord gave Moses. But just like their treasures, their talents needed to be given willingly as well. They would have also needed their hearts to be “stirred up” as they considered the Lord’s preservation, His provision, His pardon and His purpose for them. They would have needed to come to an appreciation that the gifts they had were given to them by God and be moved to offer their talents up for His work and His glory. We see this a little more specifically in verses 25-26 where every skilled woman who had the skill spun blue, purple or scarlet yarn and those who had the skill spun the goat hair. We learn from this passage that every Christ-follower has been given gifts and abilities by God to build up the dwelling place of Christ, the Body of Christ. The awesome thing is that each one of us has been given different gifts and different amounts of those gifts. We all have something to offer and when each one of us does our part to build up the local Body of Christ, God gets the glory, and we are blessed by God to be a blessing to those around us, especially those who do not know Jesus. That brings us to our first next step which is to Use my time, treasures and talents to build up the Body of Christ here at Idaville Church.  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom remembers the day her aunt received the news that she had a terminal illness. The woman, whom Corrie called Tante Jans, was well known for her Christian work. She supported charitable causes all over Holland—writing tracts, giving talks, raising funds. Yet she seemed proud of her spiritual achievements, and although people said she was a good woman, somehow, she didn’t always remind them of Jesus. Then came the day when medical tests indicated that Tante Jans had only a few weeks to live. The family wondered how she would take the news. “We will tell her together,” said Corrie’s father, “and perhaps she will take heart from all she has accomplished. She puts great store on accomplishment.” So they all filed into her study. When Tante Jans looked up, she gave a little gasp of recognition. Instantly she knew why they were there. The family sought to console her. They told her that she would have a great reward for her labors. They reminded her of all the organizations she had founded, articles she had written, money she had raised, and talks she had given. But she refused to be comforted. Her proud face crumpled; she put her hands over her face and began to cry. “Empty! Empty!” she choked through her tears. “How can we bring anything to God? What does He care for our little tricks and trinkets?” Then something amazing happened. Tante Jans lowered her hands, and with the tears still streaming down her face, she whispered, “Dear Jesus, I thank You that we must come with empty hands. I thank You that You have done all—all—on the Cross, and that all we need in life or death is to be sure of this.” We gain a heart for giving not by thinking about how much we have to offer God, but by knowing the Savior who gave himself for us. We do not give ourselves to God to gain anything in return, but because God has given himself to us in Jesus Christ.

Do you know the Savior who gave Himself for you? If not, he offers you the free gift of eternal life. All you have to do is trust in him. You trust in Him by admitting you are a sinner, by believing that Jesus died on a cross for your sins, was buried and rose again and by confessing Jesus as Lord of your life. If you took that step of faith and trust or if you want to talk about that, please mark on the upper right on the back of your communication card where it says, “Becoming a follower of Jesus.”

And if you do know Jesus, he wants you to give yourself completely to Him. He doesn’t just want your time, treasures and talents. He wants you to offer Him everything you have and everything you are, from the heart, for the sake of his glory. That brings us to our second next step, which is to Offer all I have and all I am to the Lord from my heart and for His glory. ​​ 

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your presence among us today. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather, to learn, and to worship together. We ask for your guidance and strength to live out your word in our daily lives. Send us out with your Spirit to be your witnesses in the world. Fill us with your love and compassion and help us to serve you faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Opening: Doug Van Meter https://brackenhurstbaptist.co.za/trusting-god/

Closing: ​​ Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1079–1094.

 

 

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