What God Uses to Build His House
Builds Spiritually
Builds through Fellowship
Builds on HIS Word
DBF Sunday Sermon, 3/30/03 Exodus 31
Well we certainly have seen a lot of building in and around Bristol Bay in the past few years.
This building process requires a certain amount of basic requirements to ensure a sound structure.
First you need land. You need to have a place to put the house, to plant flowers and grow grass for half the year and a place to shovel snow and take your snow go from the other half the year.
Next you need wood, 2 X 4, 2 X 6, 4 X 8 sheets of plywood. The wood becomes the frame and shell of the structure, where you live, where you stay out of in climate weather, the place where you raise your family.
Finally, you need nails and glue to hold this structure together. All the land and all of the wood you put together will never make a home. When you take it all together and combine them you can get a very nice, safe, and secure home.
We will see some of the elements God feels are important when HE puts together HIS house.
God used in the Old Testament Spiritual Gifts given by HIM to complete the work that HE assigned, then HE commanded HIS people to come together in Fellowship so that they could be encouraged, edified, and lifted up. Finally, God gives them the word, the glue that holds us to the tasks that God lays before us.
Let’s walk with Moses today as he receives God’s word directly from God.
Builds Spiritually
Exodus 31:1-11 (KJV)
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [2] See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: [3] And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, [4] To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, [5] And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. [6] And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; [7] The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, [8] And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, [9] And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, [10] And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, [11] And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.
God starts by calling HIS workmen by name…I have called by name Bezaleel—That is, I(God) have particularly appointed this person to be the chief superintendent of the whole work. His name is significant, ìàìöá
betsal-el,”in or under the shadow of God,” meaning, under the special protection of
the Most High. He was the son of Uri, the son of Hur, the son of Caleb or Chelubai, the
son of Esron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah. We find that ingenuity in arts and sciences, even those of the ornamental kind, comes from God. It is not intimated here that these persons were filled with the spirit of wisdom for this purpose only; for the direction to Moses is, to select those whom he found to be expert artists, and those who were such, God shows by these words, had derived their knowledge from himself.
If you are striving to do the will of God around you, then God has called you by name to accomplish HIS God and perfect will. God gives spiritual wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
I have filled him with the spirit of God…In wisdom—äîëç, chochmah, from íëç chacham, to be wise, skillful, or prudent, denoting the compass of mind and strength of capacity necessary to form a wise man, from which we get our word wisdom, the power of judging what is wise or best to be done.
Understanding—äðåáú tebunah, from ïá ban or bun, to separate, distinguish,
discern; this shows the capacity to understand the complete body of work to which one is called through completion.
Knowledge—úòã daath, denoting particular acquaintance with a person or thing;
practical, experimental knowledge. This is given that we may accomplish things…
Cunning works—úáùçî machashaboth, works of invention or genius, in this case in the areas of goldsmithing and silversmithing.
You know that today if God calls you to a specific task…HE will equip you to be able to accomplish this task. Go forward in sure confidence that God is able to accomplish and equip all whom HE calls to a task with what to others would be genius or inventiveness, yet God is the one who accomplishes these things…be HIS willing vessel.
God’s word next tells us; In the hearts of all that are wisehearted I have put wisdom—So as we just stated every man that had a natural genius, as we call it, had that increase of wisdom by immediate inspiration from God, so that he knew how to execute the different works which Divine wisdom designed for the tabernacle and its furniture
And all this the wisest of men long before them declared; when speaking of the
wisdom of God he says, I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence, and find out knowledge of
witty inventions; Proverbs 8:12.
Aholiab, whose name means “the tabernacle of the father”, or, the father is my
tabernacle; isn’t it interesting that God has chosen “In the shadow or God” and “God is my Tabernacle” to build his temple among man.
Have you or do you feel this desire to be in God’s shadow or to be about building HIS kingdom today?
We do have the opportunity to do so, I pray that if this is not a great burden and desire in your heart that it will become more and more your desire daily.
Builds through Fellowship
Exodus 31:12-17 (KJV)
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [13] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. [14] Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [15] Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. [16] Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. [17] It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [13] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel…We who are the “truly” born again believers in Jesus Christ are also called to speak and not be silent both to the children of God and to proclaim the gospel throughout the world.
God calls us to fellowship on HIS holy day and commands it be kept, but we must remember that every day to God is a holy day…do you walk in a manner that would show that you have come to a place in your walk and life where each day is a day of reverence unto God?
Every one that defileth it—By any kind of idolatrous act or profane worship...Shall surely be put to death—The magistrates appointed of God’s people were to conduct the court’s business with the sure knowledge that if the accused be found guilty, they were to be stoned to death.
Today they may not be stoned immediately, but the second death and eternity in “Damnation and Hell” are a surety apart from rebirth in Jesus Christ.
They…Shall be cut off—The people for whom the Sabbath was given as a sign to them of the rest God sought for HIS people. This grieves my human heart, so it must grieve God’s heart even more, Jesus gave HIS precious life blood for all men…knowing many would never come to HIM.
The people who had no part in being the “set apart” people of God, the heathen, would and should be cut off from all the privileges and expectations of an Israelite. It is also something we have as a requirement being a New Testament Born Again Christian.
A perpetual covenant—Because it is a sign of this future rest and blessedness, therefore the religious observance of it must be perpetually kept.
The type Old Testament ritual must continue in force until the antitype come in completion of the prophets, Our New Testament Covenant of Jesus Christ and our day of observation being changed to Sunday…the day Christ Arose.
Rested, and was refreshed—God knowing we are weak in many and various ways, gave us a required time and means of refreshment, anointing, and appointing on this day of rest.
This is why we are called to the fellowship of believers. It restores us, edifies us, enlightens us, and enlivens us. It allows us to continually be a light in this sin stained world.
Are you taking full advantage of this weekly? If not you need to get right with what God calls you too.
Who do we seek to have fellowship with?
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
1 Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Cor. 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Ephes. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Philip. 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Philip. 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Philip. 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
1 John 1:3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:6-7If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
What are we to be aware of or stay away from fellowship in?
Psalm 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
1 Cor. 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? This is one of the key verses that the Lord has led me too against Halloween observances…
Ephes. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
We can see plainly the things that we are called to fellowship in and those we are admonished to stay away from fellowship in, let us clearly follow God’s word in this light.
Builds on HIS Word
Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
God starts this commune with Israel and Moses by giving HIS word, do you think this may signify its importance?
When he had made an end of communing—When the forty days and forty nights were ended.
Two tables of testimony—;tables of stone—That the record might be lasting, because it was a testimony that referred to the current and future so the material needed to be durable.
Written with the finger of God—All the letters were made by God himself “THIS ISN”T JUST ANY WORD”. Do you give God’s word it’s proper place in your life?
Some speculate that this may be the first written word.
God’s testimony of this event is multiple witnessed… “And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be thou there; and I will give thee tables of stone WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN, that thou mayest teach them;” Exodus 24:12. “And he gave unto Moses, upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF GOD;” Exodus 31:18. “And Moses went down from the mount, and the two tables of testimony were in his hand; the tables were Written on both their sides. And the tables were THE WORK OF GOD, and the WRITING WAS THE WRITING OF GOD, graven upon the tables;” Exodus 32:15, 16. “These words [the ten commandments] the Lord spake in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice; and he added no more, BUT HE WROTE THEM on two tables of stone;”
Deuteronomy 5:22.
The writings on these tables of stone are now written in the hearts of those who truly believe and have called upon the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We are called to write this “Word” in our hearts.
We who have asked “Jesus the Living Word” to come and live in our hearts are able by HIS grace to understand HIS word and have it become a daily part of our walk.
If you have never done so or would like to start to find out the things that God finds important to you, then God gives you the ability today.
You must call upon the name of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; we invite you to do so today.
It’s easy—A. Admit to God that you are a sinner…God’s word says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
B. Believe that Jesus is God’s only son that came down from heaven, took on the form of man, was crucified, died and was buried and on the third day rose again for you and your salvation
C. Commit your life to the Lord above and ask him to fill you up with HIS love.
If you would like to do this today we ask you to come forward at this time.
If you need prayers or would like to pray with someone we would ask you to come forward or to let us know how we can pray for you and your loved ones.
Remember, wherever you find yourself today, God call you to be built up spiritually, in fellowship and in HIS word, HE has a perfect plan for your life if you will only seek Him first.
Closing Prayer.
