“BUILDING THE HOUSE OF GOD”
Exodus 35:4-5, 20-29, 39:43
In 1998 we set out to build a new auditorium of sufficient size to allow us to grow with our community. To give us the ability to reach the numbers of people that God is sending into this community. Some of you that are gathered here this morning are people that the Lord has added to this body since this new building was built. But the truth is that the construction of the building is the easy part. The real work remains. Now it is time to move on to the task of reaching this community for Christ. But first we need to lay aside the financial concerns imposed by a structure of this size. We must insure that we pay for this building in such a way that it does not become a liability to the ongoing ministry of this church. We can not allow indebtedness to hamstring the church’s ability to do the job of the ministry. And we can not allow a constant concern for making the building payment sap the energy of the church. We constructed the building in order to be able to advance the ministry.
As Bro. Howard as already shared this morning, in total we have received $528,000.00 to the building fund. I want to thank you for your faithfulness. But those pledges are now up. This morning I want to challenge you to think about what you can do help retire this debt. There are two categories of individuals here this morning that I want to challenge. First, there are those of you who have previously made commitments to the building fund, I would like to challenge you to continue your pledge, even increase it if you can. Secondly, there are those of you who have become a part of the family since this building was built, you are not presently giving any thing to the building fund. I want to encourage you to “Get On Board” today. We need every one do their part.
This morning I want to share with you four principles drawn from the life of Moses during the construction of the tabernacle by Israel.
I. THERE WAS A TIME OF CHALLENGE 35:4-5
“And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: (5) ‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;”
Moses came to the people and said, “ I have a message for you from God. I want you to build a house for worship.” In the rich history of the Jewish people this was an historic moment. God had never before directed a house to be built for worship. But now he gave them the privilege of building a Tabernacle for worship during their wilderness journey. God could have miraculously presented them with the Tabernacle. He had parted the Red Sea and miraculously provided for food and water for the million Israelites. But when it came time to construct the place of worship God invited them to participate.
II. THERE WAS A TIME OF CONSECRATION
A. The Giving was from a Willing Heart.
35:5
“Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;”
35:21-22
“Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. (22) They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD.
How are we to understand this response? Their hearts are “stirred” and their “spirits” were moved (v. 21). The words translated “heart” and “spirit” both refer to the inner person. The verb translated “stirred’ and “moved” then, refers to some kind of movement on the inside. Something had happened to these people. We should take note on the emphasis here on the joyous enthusiasm of all who had the privilege of sharing in this exciting project. They did not respond out of guilt or duty, but rather out of love. Joyous excitement was felt by all who were privileged to have a part in building and equipping this handsome sanctuary in accordance with the instructions of God. This sanctuary was important to the spiritual life of the Israelites.
Does God’s grace stir our hearts and move our spirits? If so, we have the great and awesome privilege of responding to that grace by giving to God’s cause with our material resources, serving him with our spiritual gifts and obeying him with our whole being. Even in our own day, an eager and highly motivated congregation of a local church is sure to have a significant impact upon its entire community.
Over and over we read that what was given was given willingly. Those that gave did so with a sense of privilege rather than reluctance surrender. The Apostle Paul gives this advice concerning giving to the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 8:10-12), “ And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; (11) but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. (12) For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” (NKJV) Here Paul speaks of the “eager willingness” of the people to give.
B. The Giving was Widespread in Participation
(35:21) “Everyone came…”
(35:22) “Both men and women…”
(35:27) “The rulers brought…”
(35:29) “The children of Israel brought…”
It appears that all the people, men and women, rich and poor, brought gifts of all kinds. Their stirred hearts caused them to seek and search for ways to give, not excuses for why they could not give.
If take the time to notice you will discover that the words “all” and “every” appear in connection with the response of the people, as in “all people” or “every person,” some eighteen times in 35:1-36:8. The response of the people is overwhelming in terms of the number of people that are involved; everyone is involved. In a project the size that Moses was undertaking needed the involvement of everyone. The size of the task that faces us requires every ones participation.
C. The Giving was Wonderfully Abundant (23-29)
“And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. (24) Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the LORD’S offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. (25) All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. (26) And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. (27) The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, (28) and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. (29) The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.”
The response of the people to Moses’ challenge is overwhelming. The people respond in three ways. They give, they serve and they obey. The people give of their resources for the construction of the temple (35:4-9. 20-29, 36:1-7), the skilled craftsman help to build the tabernacle (35:10, 35:30-39:43) and the people obey the Lord’s prescriptions regarding the tabernacle (38:21-40:33).
Everyone in Israel is given the privilege of giving of the material resources with which he or she has been blessed. While all were free to give or not to give, the text strongly suggests that there were few, if any, who refused to have a part in contributing toward the construction of the tabernacle (45:23-28). The response is so heart felt and the people give so much that finally the workman had to tell Moses to ask the people to stop giving. “And Moses gave commandment… Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and too much.” (36:6-7).
God is still in the business of building his household, the church. He is adding people to his family, and he is equipping those who are already in it. All of this takes resources – resources that God has blessed us with in the first place, resources that we can give back to God for work in building his household and caring for his people.
If we are not giving, serving and obeying, it may because we fear loss if we do. We may fear the loss of our precious time, resources or reputation, so we hold tightly to what we do have. It is only the grace of God, that loosens our grip. It is only when we understand how much God has given us – and will continue to give us – that we are free to give, serve and obey, knowing that we are losing nothing.
III. THERE WAS A TIME OF CONSIDERATION
Exodus 35:20-29(NKJV)
“And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
It is remarkable to realize that nothing is said of the immediate reception which greeted his words. Perhaps they were amazed, awed, even dumbfounded and that they had not a single word to say. Quietly, gradually, orderly the departed to consider the words of Moses.
This offering was not made on the spur of the moment. This offering was made with prayerful consideration. They retired from his presence to consider the challenge and what their part was to be. Although we do not know what was said in their tents that night, let me suggest some possibilities. First, they reflected on how God had miraculously delivered them from slavery in Egypt. When was the last time you reflection on what God has done for you in salvation. Secondly, they remembered how God had miraculously provided for them. (Manna) Finally, they realized how God had marvelously blessed them. As they looked around their tents they realized they possessed nothing that had not been given to them by God. And neither do you.
In your bulletin today you will find a commitment card, if you know now what you want to commit to give to the building fund over the next three year period, then fill out the card and place it in the offering plate when it comes around. If you want to be able to pray about then take that card home with you, play over this matter and fill in your card and return it next Sunday. If you want to give but you had rather give it in one lump sum, then come prepared to do that next Sunday.
IV. THERE WAS A TIME OF COMPLETION
Exodus 39:43 (NKJV)
“Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.”
After Moses examines the work on the tabernacle, he blesses the people. Interestingly the word translated “examined” is the same word translated “saw” in Gen 1:10, 18, 21, 31. In Genesis 1, the Lord “saw” his creation that it was good and he blessed both the animals and man. We want to look back and say we have completed what we began.
Conclusion
If we allow God to direct and stir our hearts, and are willing to participate by bringing our best gifts to the LORD’S offering, then surely our challenge will be as sufficient met as theirs. With your prayerful participation we can achieve one of the most remarkable victories in the history of this great church. It is my prayer that our effort will be an accurate testimony of our love for the LORD and our commitment for the continuation of His work.
I want to close with two examples of faithfulness that have inspired me in the last three years. One is the example of a widow who is able to attend here only occasionally, yet she has never missed sending in her building commitment. The other is a young serviceman who is now living elsewhere, yet he has been faith to send in what he committed. In neither case is the amount what is significant, what is significant is their faithfulness. Will you join the ranks of the faithful? Demonstrate your willing heart.
Please do not allow your children to bring skateboard and scooters to church, for use either before or after any church service. Accidents have already occurred, and we cannot afford to see our children injured. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
