THE TRUE WAY TO APPROACH AND WORSHIP GOD

SCRIPTURE LESSON EXODUS 31:1-18

WHENEVER GOD CALLS US TO DO A JOB FOR HIM, HE GIVES US THE ENABLEMENT WE NEED AND THE HELPERS WE NEED.

HE DID THIS FOR BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB.

BEZALEEL MEANS “IN GOD’S PROTECTION

GOD GAVE THESE MEN THE ABILITY THEY NEEDED TO FOLLOW THE HEAVENLY PATTERN AND MAKE THE THINGS NECESSARY FOR THE TABERNACLE.

THEIR WISDOM AND SKILL CAME FROM THE LORD, AND THEY USED THEIR ABILITIES IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMAND.

TODAY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

ALL TOO OFTEN WE HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IN THE CHURCH

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU SOME ABILITY TO WORK FOR HIM, AND WE NEED TO DO THINGS THAT WE ARE GOOD AT

EVERY HUMAN BEING IS LOOKING FOR THEIR PURPOSE AND MEANING IN LIFE.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT LIVED IN VAIN, AND THAT WE MADE A MARK SOMEWHERE IN THIS WORLD BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS LIFE

ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS SUCH AS:

WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?

WHAT IS THE SENSE OF ALL THIS?

AM I MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

WHY NOT JUST GIVE UP AND DO NOTHING?

WHY NOT JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE?

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF MY LIFE?

TOO OFTEN, THESE QUESTIONS ARE QUICKLY ANSWERED BY FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS, LONELINESS, HELPLESSNESS, DISAPPOINTMENT, DEPRESSION AND EVEN DESPAIR

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR INSTANT ANSWERS TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS OF LIFE

PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES TRAPPED IN AN ENDLESS CYCLE OF FUTILITY AND EMPTINESS.

THEY LIVE A LIFE WHERE NOTHING LASTS, FOR LONG. 

TRAGICALLY, IN FAR TOO MANY LIVES, WHEN THE TOMB STONE IS PLACED ON THEIR GRAVES, NOTHING LASTING WILL BE FOUND.

THIS IS NOT SO FOR THE CHRISTIAN WHO FOLLOWS GOD,

WHO TAKES THE GREAT CHARGES OF GOD AND OBEYS THEM. IT IS THE CHARGES OF GOD AND OBEDIENCE TO THEM THAT BRINGS PURPOSE, MEANING, AND SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR LIVES

·            TO THE RICH AND THE POOR

·            TO THE EDUCATED AND THE UNEDUCATED

·            TO THE PROFOUND AND THE SIMPLE

·            TO THE WEAK AND THE STRONG

·            TO THE SICK AND THE HEALTHY

GOD’S GREAT CHARGES STIR US TO SERVE GOD, AND WHEN WE SERVE GOD, WE EXPERIENCE A DEEP, RICH FULFILLMENT. WHEN WE SERVE GOD, GOD GIVES US...

·            A DEEP SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND COMPLETION

·            A DEEP SENSE OF PURPOSE, MEANING, AND SIGNIFICANCE

·            A DEEP SENSE OF ASSURANCE AND SECURITY, THE ASSURANCE AND SECURITY OF BEING HIS, OF BEING LOVED BY GOD AND OF LIVING FOREVER

THIS IS THE PICTURE OF THIS SCRIPTURE:

THREE GREAT CHARGES WERE GIVEN TO MAN IN EXODUS 31:1-18.

1. CHARGE ONE BUILD THE TABERNACLE: THE APPOINTMENT OF CRAFTSMEN (V.1-11).

2. CHARGE TWO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY (V.12-17).

3. CHARGE THREE KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS (V.18).

1. CHARGE ONE BUILD THE TABERNACLE: THE APPOINTMENT OF CRAFTSMEN (V.1-11).

REMEMBER, GOD HAD JUST FINISHED GIVING MOSES THE BLUEPRINT,

THE PATTERN FOR THE TABERNACLE’S DESIGN.

THE TABERNACLE’S BLUEPRINTS WERE WAITING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT TO BE APPOINTED,

WAITING FOR GOD TO APPOINT THE MAN HE WANTED TO BUILD THE TABERNACLE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD CALLS A MAN TO SERVE HIM.

1.  THE MAN APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT WAS BEZALEL. WHO WAS BEZALEL,

THE MAN APPOINTED TO OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE OF GOD,

THE VERY PLACE WHERE GOD HIMSELF WAS TO DWELL AMONG HIS PEOPLE?

BEZALEL HAD BEEN BORN IN SLAVERY, RAISED IN EGYPT AS A SLAVE.

HE HAD OBVIOUSLY GROWN UP WORKING AND LABORING LONG, HARD DAYS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF UTTER EXHAUSTION.

HE HAD KNOWN THE HARDNESS, THE CRUELTY, AND THE SAVAGERY OF SLAVERY.

BUT THROUGH IT ALL, HE HAD APPARENTLY LEARNED TRADE AFTER TRADE AND SKILL AFTER SKILL.

HE HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN A SLAVE TO SEVERAL EGYPTIAN CRAFTSMEN AND BUSINESSMEN AND LEARNED THE CRAFTS WELL.

NOTE WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT BEZALEL.

THE NAME BEZALEL MEANS “UNDER THE SHADOW OF GOD,” UNDER GOD’S PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE.

THE PICTURE IS GRAPHIC: GOD HAD BEEN PROTECTING AND GUIDING BEZALEL THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AS AN EGYPTIAN SLAVE...

PROTECTING HIM FROM SERIOUS HARM

GUIDING AND PREPARING HIM, MAKING SURE HE LEARNED THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SERVE GOD IN THE FUTURE

THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BUILD THE TABERNACLE OF GOD

THE POINT TO SEE IS THAT GOD HIMSELF ACTUALLY CHOSE AND APPOINTED THE MAN WHO WAS TO SERVE HIM AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE TABERNACLE.

THE HEBREW ACTUALLY SAYS THAT GOD CALLED “HIM BY NAME.” GOD KNEW BEZALEL, KNEW HIM PERSONALLY, KNEW HIS NAME.

WHEN GOD CALLS A PERSON TO SERVICE, HE ALWAYS CALLS THE PERSON BY NAME.

GOD’S APPOINTMENT IS A PERSONAL CALL, AN APPOINTMENT THAT IS ALWAYS FRAMED IN GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE. GOD KNEW THAT BEZALEL WAS HIS MAN FOR THE JOB BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH.

GOD KNEW BEZALEL EVEN WHEN HE WAS STILL IN HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.

THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, KNEW BEZALEL PERSONALLY.

THE CALL OF GOD IS NOT AN IMPERSONAL, BUREAUCRATIC, FACELESS PROCEDURE.

THE CALL OF GOD GOES RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MAN, SETTING HIM APART TO SERVE GOD’S PEOPLE.

“YE HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, AND ORDAINED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD GO AND BRING FORTH FRUIT, AND [THAT] YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN: THAT WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK OF THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT YOU” (JOHN 15:16).

IF YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE GOD YOU NEED SOME GODLY HERITAGE AND SOME GODLY UPBRINGING

BEZALEL HIS GODLY HERITAGE IS SUGGESTED BY THREE FACTS.

HIS FATHER’S NAME WAS URI WHICH MEANS LIGHT. THE WORD LIGHT ALWAYS REFERS TO POSITIVE FACTS: THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM, SIGHT, OR THE LIGHT OF GOD.

HIS GRANDFATHER’S NAME WAS HUR WHICH MEANS FREE. THIS REFERS TO THE HOPE OF BEING FREED FROM EGYPTIAN SLAVERY, BEING FREED TO JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND OF GOD.

HIS TRIBE WAS THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WHICH MEANS PRAISE. THIS REFERS TO THE PRAISE DUE GOD. JUDAH LED THE WAY WHEN THE TABERNACLE WAS MOVED FROM CAMPSITE TO CAMPSITE.

GODLY HERITAGE CAN NEVER BE OVERSTRESSED.

CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE NEED GODLY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

WE ALL NEED A GODLY HERITAGE. AND WE NEED TO BE GODLY PARENTS IF WE HAVE CHILDREN.

WE ALL NEED TO BUILD A GODLY HERITAGE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WHEN GOD CALLS A PERSON, HE EQUIPS THE PERSON TO SERVE HIM.

THE PERSON IS NOT LEFT TO HIMSELF, NOT LEFT TO DO THE WORK OF GOD IN HIS OWN STRENGTH.

GOD FILLS HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GIVES THE PERSON WHATEVER SKILL AND ABILITIES ARE NEEDED TO DO THE WORK.

THE OTHER CRAFTSMEN WERE ALSO EQUIPPED BY GOD AND GIVEN THE SKILL TO MAKE EVERYTHING (EXODUS 31:6-11). THEY WERE APPOINTED TO WORK UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF BEZALEL AND OHOLIAB.

THE BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE WAS TO BE ISRAEL’S MOST IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT; THEREFORE, IT WOULD TAKE WORKMEN WHO WERE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF BEZALEL AND OHOLIAB.

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND WORK IT MUST BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN OF GOD AND IN COMPLETE UNITY.

AS A RESULT OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE LORD AND TO HIS BLUEPRINT, THE TABERNACLE WOULD SOON BE BUILT.

THE WARNING OF GOD IS CLEAR: WE ARE TO LIVE JUST AS HE SAYS, OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS, HIS WORD.

WE MUST NOT TRY TO ADD TO NOR TAKE AWAY FROM HIS COMMANDMENTS.

SO MANY OF US ADD TO THE WORD OF GOD AND TAKE AWAY FROM IT.

WE ADD OUR REASONING TO WHAT GOD SAYS BY RATIONALIZING AND ASKING QUESTIONS SUCH AS:

ÞDOES GOD REALLY WANT ME TO FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT ME SO DEEPLY AND CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING?

ÞIS JESUS CHRIST REALLY THE TRUE WAY TO HEAVEN? THE ONLY WAY?

ÞDOES GOD REALLY WANT ME TO DENY MYSELF, MY RIGHTS, MY OWN IDEAS AND PERSONAL AGENDA?

ÞDOES GOD REALLY WANT MY MONEY? WHEN I AM SO FAR IN DEBT, DOES GOD REALLY EXPECT ME TO TITHE?

ÞDOES GOD REALLY MEAN WHAT HE SAYS? ARE HIS COMMANDMENTS, HIS WORD, REALLY THAT IMPORTANT?

2. CHARGE TWO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY (V.12-17).

THERE WERE THE CHARGES TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY.

IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS AMBITIOUS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT,

THE PEOPLE WERE EXCITED, VERY EXCITED.

THEY WERE SO EXCITED THAT THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY READY TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

BUT NOTE CAREFULLY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO MOSES.

THE COMMANDMENT TO KEEP THE SABBATH HAD TO BE KEPT WHILE EVERYONE WAS WORKING ON THE TABERNACLE (EXODUS 31:13).

WHY DID GOD REQUIRE HIS PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SABBATH?

THEY WERE TO KEEP THE SABBATH BECAUSE THE SABBATH IS A SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN,

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SABBATH IS SEEN IN THESE FACTS:

THE SABBATH DAY HAD BEEN SET ASIDE AS A DAY FOR REST AND WORSHIP SINCE CREATION

THE SABBATH DAY WAS GIVEN AS A LAW TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL BEFORE ANY OTHER LAW (EXODUS 16:23).

THE SABBATH DAY WAS GIVEN AS ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, A PART OF THE MORAL LAW OF GOD

THE SABBATH DAY WAS EVEN GIVEN AS ONE OF THE CIVIL AND JUDICIAL LAWS OF ISRAEL

THE SABBATH DAY IS HERE MADE A PART OF THE RELIGIOUS AND CEREMONIAL LAW OF ISRAEL.

IT IS SET UP AS THE VERY SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE, THE SIGN THAT DECLARES THE VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW AND OBEY HIM.

IT IS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO FORGET THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE.

THE SABBATH IS TO BE A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT MAN AND GOD HAVE A VERY UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP,

A RELATIONSHIP THAT MUST NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED,

A RELATIONSHIP THAT MUST BE CULTIVATED AND TREASURED.

THE SABBATH DAY HAS BEEN GIVEN BY GOD TO HELP KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP (COVENANT) BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MAN ALIVE.

THEY WERE TO KEEP THE SABBATH BECAUSE IT REMINDS MAN THAT GOD IS THE LORD, THE ONLY LIVING AND TRUE GOD, THE ONE WHO MAKES US HOLY, WHO SETS US APART TO BE HIS PEOPLE AND TO LIVE PURE AND RIGHTEOUS LIVES.

BY KEEPING THE SABBATH, IT WOULD BE A KEEN REMINDER THAT THE ONE WHO REVEALED THE BLUEPRINTS FOR THE TABERNACLE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS TO BE WORSHIPPED AND LOVED.

A DAY WAS TO BE SET ASIDE THAT WOULD BE DEVOTED TO FOCUSING UPON THE LORD AND HIS GREAT CALL TO US, THAT WE ARE TO BE HIS HOLY PEOPLE, SET APART TO LIVE PURE AND RIGHTEOUS LIVES AND TO INHERIT THE PROMISED LAND OF GOD.

3. CHARGE THREE KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS (V.18).

THERE WAS THE CHARGE TO KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. GOD GAVE A GREAT GIFT TO MAN:

THE TWO TABLETS OF GOD’S TESTIMONY, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THEMSELVES.

THE VERY FOUNDATION OF GOD’S LAW WAS GIVEN TO MOSES, THE GREAT LAWGIVER OF ISRAEL.

THE VALUE OF THESE TABLES WAS PRICELESS.

THEY WERE CONCEIVED BY GOD, WRITTEN BY THE FINGER OF GOD, CRAFTED BY GOD, AND TRANSMITTED BY GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.

THE MENTION OF THESE TABLETS AT THIS TIME OF THE TABERNACLE’S BLUEPRINTS IS A GRAPHIC REMINDER, A REMINDER THAT GOD CANNOT BE WORSHIPPED IF GOD’S LAW AND WORD ARE NOT CLOSE AT HAND.

MAN IS TO OBEY GOD’S GREAT GIFT, HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS WORD.

WE ARE TO LIVE RIGHTEOUS AND PURE LIVES, BEARING WITNESS THAT GOD DOES SAVE AND DOES LEAD PEOPLE TO THE PROMISED LAND OF HEAVEN.

CHURCH WE HAVE A CHARGE TO KEEP JUST LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

1. CHARGE ONE BUILD THE TABERNACLE: THE APPOINTMENT OF CRAFTSMEN (V.1-11).

CHURCH WE HAVE TO BUILD THE NEW TESTAMENT TABERNACLE OR THE BODY OF CHRIST THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

MATT 28:18-20 TELL US TO GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF EVERY NATION TEACHING THEM THE WORD OF GOD

WE DON’T HAVE A PHYSICAL BUILDING TO BUILD, BUT WE DO HAVE A SPIRITUAL BUILD

AS WE BUILD THAT BUILDING, GOD HAS GIVEN US THE BLUEPRINT JUST LIKE HE GAVE TO MOSES

WE MUST BUILD THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN THAT GOD HAS SET IN MOTION

THAT PATTERN IS IN THE BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD

2. CHARGE TWO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY (V.12-17).

ACTS 20 VERSE 7 TELL US TO WORSHIP GOD LIKE THE EARLY CHURCH ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

HEBREWS 10:25 TELL US NOT TO FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER

CHURCH THESE COMMANDS TO US ARE JUST AS STRONG AS THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH IN THE DAY OF MOSES

WE HAVE A CHARGE TO KEEP, AND WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS GOING TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT CHARGE

3. CHARGE THREE KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS (V.18).

WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS; WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE LAW OF JESUS CHRIST

JESUS SAID THAT IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

THEN HE TOLD US THAT HIS COMMANDMENTS AND NOT HARD TO KEEP,

CHURCH WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY, YOU HAVE A CHARGE TO KEEP

YOU HAVE TO PREACH THE WORD, YOU HAVE TO PREACH IT WHEN THEY LIKE AND WHEN THEY DON’T LIKE IT

NEVER STOP TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD