WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:31.840 Today's scripture reading is taken from several places in the Old Testament book of Exodus. 00:00:32.120 --> 00:00:40.040 So I'll be reading from chapter 25, verses 1 to 8, chapter 35, verses 20 to 22, 25 and 00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:47.040 29, chapter 36, verses 3 to 7, and chapter 40, verses 34 and 35. 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:48.900 It's all printed in the liturgy. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:51.799 A reading from the book of Exodus. 00:00:52.619 --> 00:00:56.439 The Lord said to Moses, tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. 00:00:57.019 --> 00:01:01.000 You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 00:01:01.739 --> 00:01:05.400 These are the offerings you are to receive from them. 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:07.679 Gold, silver, and bronze. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:11.120 Blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen. 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:12.439 Goat hair. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:16.019 Ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather. 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:17.739 Acacia wood. 00:01:18.539 --> 00:01:19.700 Olive oil for the light. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:23.060 Spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:27.219 And onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:31.740 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 00:01:33.020 --> 00:01:36.099 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:42.579 And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved to them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting. 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:46.900 The tent of meeting for all its service and for the sacred garments. 00:01:47.859 --> 00:01:52.400 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds. 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:55.560 Brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments. 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:58.900 They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 00:02:00.039 --> 00:02:05.299 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun. 00:02:05.759 --> 00:02:08.719 Blue, purple, or scarlet yarn of fine linen. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:16.659 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord free will offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do. 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:23.219 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:27.300 And the people continued to bring free will offerings morning after morning. 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:32.979 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:37.139 The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done. 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:41.280 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp. 00:02:41.899 --> 00:02:45.280 No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:52.419 And so the people were restrained from bringing more because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. 00:02:53.519 --> 00:02:57.959 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.060 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it. 00:03:02.420 --> 00:03:04.980 And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:07.240 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:08.800 Thanks be to God. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:28.540 Good morning. 00:03:28.540 --> 00:03:28.599 Good morning. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:37.600 I want to just reflect this morning together on this theme, really today and next week, 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.040 this theme of building God's house together. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:42.319 Building God's house together. 00:03:43.260 --> 00:03:52.340 For what was that first great collective project, you know, that the people of God were working on together in the desert 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:55.340 after they were liberated from slavery in Egypt. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:58.340 They were building the house of God together. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:02.439 They were building this sanctuary of God, the tabernacle of God. 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:05.319 Now, why have I chosen this text and this theme? 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:10.219 Well, I want to prepare you for our congregational meeting that's following. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:14.520 I want to prepare you for conversations we're going to be having over the next six months. 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:19.459 If you've been with us before, hopefully you've heard us say that the mission of Christ Church 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:27.039 is to lead people into a deeper relationship with Christ and His church through community and for the city. 00:04:27.919 --> 00:04:36.599 But the primary inhibitor to our mission right now is the debt that we owe on this facility in which we sit. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:45.320 And so it's mission critical for us to eliminate that debt over the next 12 months. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:51.500 And our solution to this problem is to raise an additional $600,000. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:57.560 And the urgency to do that, to take this bold step of faith, 00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:02.420 is that we have a balloon payment due on this building at the end of 2024. 00:05:02.420 --> 00:05:09.400 Now, I can already see some of you are looking for the exits, eyes glazing over, 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:13.800 the preachers talking about money, and that's kind of weirding me out. 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:19.800 It's hard enough to listen to NPR's pledge drive without changing the channel. 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:26.060 But to hear this, you know, religious professional talking about money, that's just a step too far. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:34.780 But what I want to do, my goal today is just to slowly, gently, kindly put this opportunity on your radar. 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:38.699 I've not buried the lead, I've just put it right here on the top of the newspaper. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.879 And I want to give you a little bit of teaching today about biblical generosity. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:51.319 And in the new year, after Christmas, after Easter, we'll circle back and slowly just define and teach 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:54.019 what the Bible has to say about stewardship. 00:05:54.019 --> 00:06:00.039 Now, if you don't want to wait for six months, you can go ahead and begin giving now. 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:01.560 I give you permission. 00:06:02.219 --> 00:06:03.560 You can come to our meeting. 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:09.039 You can get the information you need and figure out what God is prompting you to give. 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:09.939 And we thank you for that. 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:14.319 But I believe that I've been here about 18 years. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:20.599 And I think this is the most important budget that we've ever brought before this church. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:23.319 We launched our church in 2005-06. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:27.439 And so we have our 20th birthday as a church in sight. 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:36.259 And we really want to position ourselves over the next few years for the coming 20 years ahead of us. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:41.360 As we look back to what God's done, we want to look ahead to what He wants to do. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:50.939 And we sense that God is leading us into a season of ministry that's about growth, that's about growing deeper and growing wider. 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:52.899 So we want to provide you the information today. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:58.659 And we really want to provide you the motivation that you need to join in and participate in that mission with us. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.159 So enough about our budget. 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:03.960 Let's talk about God's Word. 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:08.660 When you look at the first book of the Bible, Genesis, 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:19.560 the story of God's creation of the universe is told there in a mere 34 verses with utmost brevity. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:27.720 And so it's quite striking that one-third of the book of Exodus is devoted to this building project. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:36.160 Why would the author of these books take 15 times as long to tell the story of the building of the tabernacle 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.460 than he did telling the story of the building of the universe? 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:46.860 It's to communicate to us that the house of God and the worship of God is extremely important. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:52.040 The story of the Exodus, as you know, starts in slavery. 00:07:52.960 --> 00:07:56.100 But it doesn't end when the people of God leave Egypt. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:08:02.300 In fact, the story does not end, it's not complete, until they finally get to the house of God and worship. 00:08:04.080 --> 00:08:09.439 The point of these people being set free, the point of them being set at liberty, 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:14.520 is not just to be free, it's to worship God and to serve God. 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:19.799 And so until God becomes the most important thing in their lives, 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:24.000 until God becomes the most central thing that's organized in their lives, 00:08:24.099 --> 00:08:27.379 they're actually not a liberated people, they're not a free people. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.740 That's the point of the book of Exodus. 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:33.879 So, of course, here they are, they're called to build the house of God, 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:36.840 but they can't build that house of God together without the resources, 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:39.079 without the materials for that building. 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:46.660 So I want to take a deeper look at this scripture to, again, just slowly, gently, kindly introduce to you 00:08:46.660 --> 00:08:50.820 a biblical definition of generosity and stewardship. 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:52.040 You ready to go? 00:08:52.560 --> 00:08:53.000 Okay. 00:08:54.040 --> 00:08:55.800 Well, I want to talk about the gift of giving. 00:08:56.520 --> 00:08:58.500 I want to talk about the gladness of grace. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:01.980 And I want to talk about the glory of God with us. 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:08.279 The gift of giving, the gladness of grace, and the glory of God with us. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.419 Look at the first verse in our reading today. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.600 It says, the Lord said to Moses, 00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:17.100 Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:24.440 You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:26.260 And then in verse 8 it says, 00:09:26.560 --> 00:09:30.400 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:36.960 Now, this is brilliant, because how do you take 12 tribes of former slaves 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:41.140 who've been stripped of their identity over the course of 430 years, 00:09:41.420 --> 00:09:44.680 and how do you unite them together as a free people? 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:48.780 These are people who share a past in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:53.620 They share a present in Egypt, and now it's Sinai. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:10:00.000 But how do you help them share a common sense of responsibility for the future together? 00:10:01.020 --> 00:10:03.800 Well, in God's wisdom, he gives them a group project. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:08.020 And this is not your typical 20-80 project. 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:11.140 Kids, youth, I hate to tell you, 00:10:11.180 --> 00:10:14.580 but you're going to spend the rest of your life working on 20-80 projects, 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:18.360 where 20% of the people do 80% of the heavy lifting, 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:24.320 and you can make your parents very proud by being part of that 20% and not part of the 80%. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.039 But this group project is supposed to be different. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:31.320 And in fact, it's the turning point of the book of Exodus, 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.580 because until now, God has done all the work. 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:37.659 God struck Egypt with plagues. 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:41.220 God took the people out to freedom. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.500 He divided the sea. 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:45.360 He gave them dry land to walk on. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:49.320 He's given them manna from heaven and water from the rock. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:54.320 And even still at this point, they don't yet cohere as a nation. 00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:58.019 They're still a group of individuals, a group of tribes. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.200 There's a lot more me than there is we. 00:11:02.460 --> 00:11:07.460 They're not yet taking responsibility and acting collectively. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:11.560 And so what can God do to transform these people? 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:16.500 Well, God instructs Moses to take the people through a role reversal. 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:20.379 So he says, instead of me doing things for them, 00:11:20.900 --> 00:11:23.460 I now want them to make something for me. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:27.700 I want you to ask them to build something together, 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:32.860 to make a visible, symbolic home for my divine presence 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:36.420 and construct this collective house of worship. 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.540 It doesn't need to be large. 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.940 It doesn't need to be permanent. 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:43.700 In fact, God doesn't need the sanctuary at all. 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:45.300 He's at home everywhere. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.660 But he wants to use this tabernacle to teach his people 00:11:48.660 --> 00:11:51.759 how to live with him at the center of their lives. 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:56.000 And so God says to Moses to get them to give, 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:59.259 get them to make something, get them to become builders. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:03.460 And this, in fact, transformed this disparate people 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:08.360 into a cohesive group and gave them a sense of shared identity 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.019 and common responsibility for the future. 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:15.639 And I want you to notice how they gave to this project. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:18.360 Look at chapter 35, verse 21. 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:21.540 It says that everyone who was willing 00:12:21.540 --> 00:12:25.120 and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.240 And then in verse 22, it says, 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.019 all who were willing, men and women alike, 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:31.879 came and brought their gold and jewels. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.560 And then it says in verse 29, 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.919 all the Israelite men and women who were willing 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:39.120 brought to the Lord freewill offerings. 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.840 What's repeated here? 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:44.500 That this is a willing offering to God. 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:47.399 That this is a freewill offering to God. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.600 That the generous giving of these people 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.879 is actually the evidence that their wills 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:59.959 as former slaves have been set free from bondage. 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:02.480 They've not just been set free externally from bondage, 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:07.419 but their wills on the inside have been set free from bondage. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:12.159 Because generosity at its core is not a financial issue, 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:13.879 it's a spiritual issue. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.000 And Israel had been learning up to this point 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.399 a very important lesson on their journey so far with God 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:26.279 about the will of God and the willingness of God. 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:27.840 Right? 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.519 Here in this place of the wilderness, 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:34.100 this place of desert and scarcity and nothingness, 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:38.120 here in this place of emptiness and void and threat, 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.799 they experienced God over and over, 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:43.339 not as a God of scarcity, 00:13:43.979 --> 00:13:47.019 but as a God of generous, miraculous abundance. 00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:51.919 In this place, they experienced and they met a God 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:57.019 who they realized was willing for their sakes 00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:59.699 to fill the desert with bread. 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:04.719 They met this God who was willing to make these dry rocks 00:14:04.719 --> 00:14:06.959 bubble up and over with water. 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:11.099 And day after day, every morning they would go 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:15.519 and they would harvest this willing, plentiful abundance, 00:14:16.300 --> 00:14:19.540 this daily bread that God had provided for them 00:14:19.540 --> 00:14:21.360 in this place of scarcity. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.980 And each evening they'd come home 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:26.779 and they'd find this meat on their tables. 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:30.840 And what they learned about this God who was willing 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:33.920 and this God who was so generous in his abundance 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:37.479 was that it began to unlock a generosity in them. 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:43.199 It began to unlock a generosity in their wills. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:47.259 That as people made in the image of this God, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.779 they began to imitate him 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:52.779 and their giving out of willing hearts 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:55.679 began to express, more fully express, 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.819 their humanity and who God meant them to be. 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:04.020 But I want you to notice not only how they gave to this project, 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:07.040 but notice what they gave to this project. 00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:11.260 Look at the list of offerings that they bring before God. 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:16.160 Precious metals of gold, silver, and bronze, 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:20.879 expensive dyed yarns of blue, purple, and scarlet, 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:23.680 which were marks of wealth and nobility and royalty. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.559 Brutches, earrings, rings, ornaments. 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:29.519 This is not the kind of stuff you put out 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.079 at your garage sale, right? 00:15:32.479 --> 00:15:36.699 These are costly, precious things, costly offerings. 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:39.459 And the question is, where in the world 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:42.079 did this desert-dwelling group of refugees 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:44.919 get all this costly stuff? 00:15:46.359 --> 00:15:49.159 Well, if you go back to Exodus 12, it says this. 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.979 The Israelites did as Moses instructed 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.960 and they asked the Egyptians for articles 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.500 of silver and gold and for clothing. 00:15:57.460 --> 00:16:00.000 And the Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.340 toward the people and they gave them what they asked for, 00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:05.100 so they plundered the Egyptians. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:10.320 Not only did God deliver his people out of bondage, 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:13.480 utterly unharmed, but he also somehow 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:16.060 moved the wills of their captors. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.899 He moved the wills of their oppressors 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.539 so that they gave gifts to take with them. 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:23.659 And what the people learned in this 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.879 is that everything that they had 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.139 was not an entitled right, 00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:30.500 but was an undeserved gift 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:32.899 that had been given to them by God. 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:37.819 Precious metals, luxury fabrics, 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:42.579 fine jewelry, priceless gems and stones. 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:45.000 When God asked them, 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:45.819 in your freedom, 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.799 will you offer these things up to me? 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:53.279 They knew that God was only asking of them 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.539 what he had already given to them in the first place. 00:16:57.500 --> 00:17:00.019 They knew that when God commands the tithe 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.799 over and over in the Torah, 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.919 he's not asking them to give 10% of what is theirs. 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:11.200 He's asking them to only keep 90% of what is his. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:14.420 And they're to say to themselves, 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.880 you know, we're not owners with entitled rights. 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.160 We're stewards. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.420 We're managers. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:22.960 And everything we have is an undeserved gift. 00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:25.340 And when they realized that, 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:28.480 it unlocked a radical generosity in them. 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:30.840 And so that's just the question today. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.220 It's not about how much money we have 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.080 or we're gonna give. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.139 It's do you know this God? 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.220 Do you know this God who's willing and generous 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.139 in his abundance? 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.899 Do you know this God 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:46.859 and have you received undeserved gifts from him? 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:51.419 And has his generosity been unlocked in you 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:55.039 so that you're now willingly imitating back to him 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.919 his generosity toward you? 00:17:58.439 --> 00:17:59.939 That's the gift of giving. 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.420 Amen. 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:04.380 So I wanna talk not only about the gift of giving, 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:07.200 but also I wanna talk about the gladness of grace. 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:09.259 The gladness of grace. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.799 Look at verse 21 of chapter 35. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.759 It says, 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:19.400 everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.759 came and brought an offering to the Lord. 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:23.000 And I love that word everyone. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:27.960 All the people had an opportunity to take part. 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.960 It wasn't just the men, 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:32.220 it was the women too, right? 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:35.259 First egalitarian society in the ancient world. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:37.259 It wasn't just the elites, 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:39.120 it was the people as a whole, 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.720 everybody, no matter what you had, 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.920 you could participate in this project. 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:44.299 But when it says, 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.740 everyone whose heart moved them brought an offering, 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:50.380 does that sound familiar to you? 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:53.920 Do you remember another story 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:58.580 where the hearts of the people moved them 00:18:58.580 --> 00:19:01.240 to take off their gold jewelry 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:03.200 and lift it up as an offering? 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.240 That's what the people did 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.280 when they created the golden calf, right? 00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:11.280 When they fashioned this idol 00:19:11.280 --> 00:19:13.860 in the middle of this building project. 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:14.780 It's interesting. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.960 We started reading in chapter 25 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.820 where God says, 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.920 I want you to make this offering 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.039 and build this sanctuary. 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:23.220 And then you have in chapter 32 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.900 this great betrayal, 00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:26.460 this massive infidelity 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:28.120 on behalf of the people of God. 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.600 And now we come to chapter 35 00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:32.259 where the gifts are actually given. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:35.519 And what's happened in this intervening time 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:38.779 is that though the people have betrayed God, 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.759 God has graciously put 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:43.340 the infidelity of his people right. 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:45.500 God and his grace, 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.839 if you just go back and read 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:48.240 these last few chapters, 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.379 he's forgiven them. 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:51.859 He's restored the relationship 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:53.480 and he's received them back 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.199 into a renewed covenant with him. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:59.139 And so when these people, 00:19:59.459 --> 00:20:00.500 these forgiven people 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.939 are thinking back 00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:04.259 to that golden calf moment, 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:06.419 what were they doing there? 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.500 What were they doing there 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.259 at the golden calf? 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:12.279 Were they giving to that project 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.819 out of a sense of duty 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.400 and a sense of sacrifice? 00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:18.160 No, it says that they were giving 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:19.259 to that project 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:21.500 out of revelry and dancing. 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.940 They were giving to that project 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.759 with an effortless generosity. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.379 They just gladly gave to this idol 00:20:28.379 --> 00:20:30.779 everything that they had 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.940 in the hopes that this idol 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.440 would make their lives okay. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.720 And you know, 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.360 most of us, 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.940 we can probably think about 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:40.440 ways in which we ourselves 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.480 have effortlessly 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.340 and gladly given our money 00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:45.080 to get things. 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.440 But you know, 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.340 usually it's not just 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.640 to get the material thing. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.320 We're trying to get 00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:50.799 the thing behind the thing, 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.600 the thing beneath the thing. 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:54.259 So we give our money 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:56.640 to get security or comfort. 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.500 We give our money 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:02.160 to get independence or belonging. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:04.180 We give of our money 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:06.380 to gain status or power 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:08.480 or approval or control. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.160 All of us, 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.620 if we followed our money 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.920 far back enough, 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:15.019 beyond just the material thing 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.800 to the thing beneath the thing 00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:17.800 and behind the thing, 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.640 it will usually lead you 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:21.040 to some sort of golden calf 00:21:21.040 --> 00:21:21.700 in your life. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.779 Some sort of false idol 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:26.220 that you think this thing 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:27.620 and not God 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:29.980 is going to make me okay. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:33.180 But we should always 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.360 be asking ourselves 00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.480 of these things 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.740 that we so gladly 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.400 and effortlessly 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.420 give our money to. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.880 Do you love me? 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:44.460 Will you die for me? 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.400 Will you forgive me 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.240 when I fail? 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.819 Will you fulfill me 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.740 when I succeed? 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.579 Will you hold me 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.640 when I have nothing 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.819 to offer you? 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:59.339 Will you save me? 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:03.179 You see why it's so important 00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:04.779 for these people 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.519 who had just been 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.039 worshiping the golden calf 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:09.819 to come and bring their gift 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:13.179 and to give this gift 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:14.119 from the heart. 00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:16.299 They're to be moved 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.099 from the heart. 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.740 And it's that moving 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.519 of the heart 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.000 that's so critical 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.640 because this moment 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.279 is a matter 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.359 of repentance. 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.359 They're turning 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.380 their hearts away 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.980 from this false idol 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.859 for whom they had 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.980 gladly danced 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.779 down the aisle 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.019 and effortlessly given 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.500 their most precious possessions 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.859 and they're turning 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:39.039 their hearts back 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.799 to this God of grace 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.720 who made them 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.960 and who redeemed them 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.119 and who protects them 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:45.660 and provides for them. 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.559 And they're saying 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.099 in this moment 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.779 that God 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.759 and God alone 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.680 deserves 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.920 not just our stuff, 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.759 He deserves our hearts. 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.420 He deserves 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.060 the movement 00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:55.980 of our hearts 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.400 and our affections. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:22:59.980 You know, 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.380 the message 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:00.960 of the gospel 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.980 is that God 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.860 has not withheld 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:05.140 from us 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:07.180 but He's graciously 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.799 given to us 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.279 His only Son. 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.779 He's given to this world 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.820 of idol-making, 00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:15.500 calf-worshiping people, 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.019 His beloved Son, 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.380 Jesus. 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:20.440 And amazingly, 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.880 Jesus sees us 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.680 giving ourselves 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.360 and our lives 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.220 to all these things 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.020 that are not worthy 00:23:25.020 --> 00:23:25.820 of our lives. 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:28.140 But Jesus gladly 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.380 and willingly 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.200 gives us His life 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.400 and His blood 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.180 and He gives us 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:33.880 His breath 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:35.380 to win us back 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.020 to the Father. 00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.600 So that when we see 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:39.920 God, 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.520 this God of all grace, 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.420 giving Himself for us, 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.280 when we see this God 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.940 of all grace, 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:47.579 dying for us 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.440 as our substitute 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.259 on the cross, 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:51.079 when we see Jesus 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.160 making us 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.180 in that moment 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.460 His treasure, 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.399 what do we want to do? 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:59.559 We want to make Him 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.339 our treasure 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.759 above all else. 00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:02.859 Right? 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.359 When we see Jesus 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.559 as the one true 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.480 willing giver 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:08.240 whose heart 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.500 moved Him 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:11.139 to be emptied 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.839 of all the riches 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.359 of heaven, 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.000 when we see Jesus' heart 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.899 moving Him 00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:17.199 to be stripped 00:24:17.199 --> 00:24:17.839 of everything 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.699 that He had, 00:24:19.699 --> 00:24:20.899 when we see Jesus' heart 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.659 moving Him 00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:23.639 to dance down the aisle 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:25.379 to the altar of God 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.039 for the joy 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.099 set before Him, 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.439 and when we see Jesus' heart 00:24:29.439 --> 00:24:30.059 moving Him 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.159 to gladly lay down 00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:31.859 His life 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:33.339 as an offering 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.759 in our place, 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.119 when we see Jesus 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.899 giving Himself 00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:39.639 like this for us, 00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.720 this God of grace, 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.440 displaying 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:45.039 the infinite grace 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.980 that He has for us 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.779 on His cross, 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.259 does it cause your heart 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:51.079 to move? 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.460 Does it fill your heart 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.079 with gladness 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.700 and with gratitude? 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.000 Does it make you 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:03.259 want to dance down the aisle 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.900 to the altar 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.779 and just gladly 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:07.539 and effortlessly 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.460 give to God 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:10.740 all that you are 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.579 and all that you have 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:14.000 because He's the only God 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.759 who made you, 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.840 who's given His grace 00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:17.700 to redeem you, 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.360 who day by day 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.400 is protecting you 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.940 and providing for you? 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.340 I think that's what's going on 00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.120 with these people 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.460 in chapter 35. 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.140 There are people 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.799 who've been touched 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.880 by the grace of God. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.799 And so it says 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.980 in chapter 36, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.340 actually, 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:33.819 verse 3, 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.119 it says, 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.139 the people continued 00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:37.419 to bring freewill offerings 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:38.439 morning after morning 00:25:38.439 --> 00:25:39.740 so all the skilled workers 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.259 who were doing 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.919 all the work 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.519 on the sanctuary 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.799 left what they were doing 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.099 and said to Moses, 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.079 the people are bringing 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:46.039 more than enough 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.379 for doing the work 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.159 the Lord commanded 00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:48.740 to be done. 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.939 Then Moses gave an order 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:51.939 and they sent this word 00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.720 throughout the camp, 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.240 no man or woman 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.519 is to make anything else 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.179 as an offering 00:25:56.179 --> 00:25:56.919 for the sanctuary. 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.579 And so the people 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.439 were restrained 00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.259 from bringing more 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:02.460 because they already had 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.879 what was more than enough 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:05.099 to do all the work. 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.599 And of course, 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.400 you know, 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.700 this is every pastor's dream. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.019 You know, 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.660 that the hearts 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.299 of the people 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.680 would be so moved 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.920 by the grace of God 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:17.500 that their hearts 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:19.059 would just be so urging them, 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.759 their hearts would be 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.299 rousing them 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.180 to respond 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.099 to the grace of God, 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:23.859 their hearts would be 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.839 pushing them 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.039 in an inward 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.660 voluntary compulsion 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.980 to give 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:31.440 that they'd not be 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.420 saying to themselves, 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.720 what's the bare minimum 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.279 required? 00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:38.539 How much is enough? 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.440 But rather, 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.420 they would be saying 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.000 to themselves, 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.839 like these people 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.920 were saying to themselves, 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.539 look at how gracious 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.299 God is. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.759 Look at how wonderful 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:50.120 his works of grace 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:52.059 are toward us. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.779 The Lord's unstinting, 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:56.559 overflowing grace, 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.819 particularly in the midst 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.659 of our betrayal 00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.899 and our infidelity 00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.720 and our lack 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.519 of faithfulness, 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.359 God's grace toward us 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.460 is so great 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:06.119 that it's getting inside 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:07.019 of our hearts 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.500 and it's moving 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.259 our hearts 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.539 not to dance 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.039 for all these 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.000 false gods 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.279 and these substitute 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.519 counterfeit gods, 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.980 but to just dance 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.799 down the aisle 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.599 and at extravagant 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.519 personal cost 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.960 to ourselves 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.679 just to lay 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:21.720 our most precious 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.339 treasures 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.919 down before him. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:26.039 You know, 00:27:26.080 --> 00:27:26.759 this outpouring 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.440 of plenty 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.300 and excess, 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.620 it caused 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.740 these skilled craftsmen 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.200 to say, 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:31.960 Moses, 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.039 make them stop. 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.460 We actually 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.380 can't even process 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:36.880 anymore. 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.160 And Moses had to say, 00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:40.220 cease and desist. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.560 He had to put 00:27:41.560 --> 00:27:42.640 a restraining order 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:44.500 on their glad, 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.840 grace-based 00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:47.000 generosity. 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.060 Why? 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.019 Because they all knew 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.519 there's more than 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.440 enough grace 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.220 from God. 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.819 And so there's 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.139 going to be 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.019 more than enough 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.920 for the work 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.879 that God wants 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.920 to do among us. 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.859 And that's what 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.759 the grace of God 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.619 and the gladness 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.779 and the gratitude 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.480 of responding 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.180 to his grace 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:07.240 does to us. 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.579 So the gift 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.039 of giving 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.900 and the gladness 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.420 of grace, 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.619 and Andrew, 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.480 do I have time? 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.259 Can I just, 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.279 a few more minutes? 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.359 I want to talk 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.079 about the glory 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.680 of God 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.559 with us. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.079 Okay? 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:21.819 So, 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.899 Genesis begins 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.599 with God 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:26.179 creating the universe 00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:26.839 as a home 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.819 for humankind, 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.480 but Exodus 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.319 ends with 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.480 human beings 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.460 creating a sanctuary 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.299 as a home 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.859 for God. 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:34.919 Genesis, 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:37.299 God is there, 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.259 he's creating 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.919 the heavens 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.399 and the earth 00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.000 as a space 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.619 for people. 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.319 But in Exodus, 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.299 the redeemed people 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.740 of God, 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.619 with all their gifts 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.339 and their labor 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.139 and their skills 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.740 and their time 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.319 and their energy, 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.339 they're creating 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.559 a space for God 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.179 in this world. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.240 They gave their 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.539 precious resources, 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.559 but they also gave 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.679 their physical presence. 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.759 They gave their treasures, 00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.599 but they also gave 00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.159 their time 00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.839 and their talents. 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.539 And because 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.419 these many people 00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:03.259 freely gave 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.500 their many different gifts, 00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.399 they built 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.460 the first house 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.960 of God. 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.179 Now, 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.200 I actually have a slide. 00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:10.200 Hopefully, 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.500 this first slide 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.460 comes up. 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.460 It's a black and white 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.159 slide that sort of 00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:15.599 shows you 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.659 all the 12 tribes 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.259 and how they're 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.000 centered around 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.940 this one central tent. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.279 And then I have 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.680 a colored slide 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:23.580 that shows you 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:24.080 that this is 00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:25.500 a luxurious tent. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.960 It's full of pure gold 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.800 and expensive fabrics 00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.900 and precious stones. 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.320 It's really 00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:31.460 the mobile palace 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.660 for a king. 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:36.060 And they built 00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:37.200 this amazing building, 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:40.220 but that's not 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.940 the end of the story 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:43.519 because if all you have 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:45.100 built is a house of God, 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.939 who really cares 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.519 about that? 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:48.459 It's just a mailing address. 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.699 And if all you've 00:29:50.699 --> 00:29:51.259 really planted 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.379 is just a community 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.379 of people living 00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.099 around that building, 00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:54.819 who really cares 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.219 about that? 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.839 That's just another 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.679 social group. 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:59.000 So what do you need 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.639 more than just 00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.759 a house of God 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:02.000 and a community 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.619 of God? 00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.480 You need God 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:05.919 himself. 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.359 You need God 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.519 himself to 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.039 come down 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.719 in all of his 00:30:11.719 --> 00:30:12.240 presence 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.059 and his power. 00:30:13.199 --> 00:30:14.000 You need the glory 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.619 and the goodness 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.299 of God. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.259 You need the glory 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.819 and the goodness 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.680 of this king 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.180 to come and fill up 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.619 this luxurious palace 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.319 that the people 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.640 have made for him. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.460 And that's what God 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:26.160 says in chapter 28. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:26.720 He says, 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.740 have them 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.299 make a sanctuary 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.779 for me 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.720 so that I can dwell 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.359 among them, 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.079 so that I can dwell 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.259 in the center of them. 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.619 And then it says 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.799 in chapter 40, 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.220 it says, 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.180 then the cloud 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.019 covered the tent 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.400 of meeting 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.180 and the glory 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.819 of the Lord 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:42.880 filled the tabernacle. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.380 God comes down 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.000 from heaven 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.779 to earth. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.640 He comes from 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.880 the top of Mount Sinai 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.400 down to the people 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.000 in the valley. 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.700 This transcendent God 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.619 of awe-inspiring power 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.640 comes down 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.619 as this imminent 00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:59.640 indwelling presence. 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.259 God, 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.640 the God of the universe, 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.039 becomes our neighbor. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.720 He becomes intimate 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.680 and close 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.859 within the camp 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.640 and among 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.519 the people. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.440 And he says to them 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.119 when this happens, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.000 he's saying to them, 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.000 I want you 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.980 to have all 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.900 my goodness 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.059 and all of my glory 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.539 dwelling in your midst. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.940 I want my beauty 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.079 to be the center 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.000 of your life. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.099 I want my holiness 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.680 to be the focal point 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.240 of all that you are 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.220 and all that you do 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.640 wherever you go. 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.480 And I want to meet 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.200 with you here 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.619 day after day, 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.859 week after week 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.980 as this point 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.099 of connection 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:39.000 and communication 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.660 and communion 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.880 between you 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.880 and me. 00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:45.860 And what's amazing 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.480 is, you know, 00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:47.180 we quote this 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.980 all the time, 00:31:48.060 --> 00:31:48.620 but in the Gospel 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.200 of John, 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.820 it says that 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.380 in the beginning 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:54.220 was the Word 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.680 and the Word 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.460 was God 00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:58.120 and the Word 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.440 became flesh 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.920 and in the Greek 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.440 it says 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:03.560 he pitched his tent 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:05.140 among us. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.960 He came 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.080 and he tabernacled 00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:09.640 right in the center 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.240 of us. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:11.820 And you know, 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.740 what's so astonishing 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.600 and so breathtaking 00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.500 about Christianity 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.300 is not only 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.400 that God came down 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.360 in the human flesh 00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:17.900 of Jesus, 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.360 it's that God 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:20.700 continues to come down 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.860 by the Holy Spirit 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:23.840 to dwell in us 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.480 individually 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.680 as little temples 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.640 of the living God. 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:28.360 He comes down 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.180 by the Holy Spirit 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.120 to dwell among us 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.640 corporately 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.900 as a mini-tabernacle, 00:32:32.020 --> 00:32:33.340 a mini-sanctuary 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.939 for the living God. 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.359 You see, 00:32:36.439 --> 00:32:37.119 God lives 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.559 not in houses 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.579 of wood and stone, 00:32:39.659 --> 00:32:40.240 but he lives 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.919 in the souls 00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:41.619 of his people. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:43.139 He lives 00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:44.240 in the loving relationships 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.059 of his people. 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:47.279 God is not to be found 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.619 in great buildings. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.819 God is to be found 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:51.439 in the regenerate heart. 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.179 God is to be found 00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:55.079 in a revived church. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.179 And so when we 00:32:57.179 --> 00:32:59.319 pray for revival, 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.779 what we're praying for 00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.659 is this. 00:33:04.159 --> 00:33:05.359 What we're praying for 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:05.759 is saying, 00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.119 God, 00:33:06.939 --> 00:33:08.959 all the activity 00:33:08.959 --> 00:33:09.799 that we're doing, 00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:11.699 all the time we're giving, 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.759 all the money we're spending, 00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:13.980 all the energy 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.899 we're exerting, 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.579 none of that's really 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.319 going to amount 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.459 to very much 00:33:18.459 --> 00:33:20.679 unless and until 00:33:20.679 --> 00:33:22.720 the glory of the Lord 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.939 fills the tabernacle. 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:25.799 Unless and until 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.779 the Holy Spirit 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:28.079 comes down 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.819 in greater 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.879 and greater measure 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:30.720 and you give us 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:32.000 more and more 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.119 of yourself. 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.299 And isn't that 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:35.839 what we want 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.640 in this next season 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.480 of our life together? 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:40.400 An unusual 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.220 outpouring 00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.980 and manifestation 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:45.420 of the very presence 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:47.180 of the one true 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.980 living God. 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.640 His goodness, 00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:51.200 His glory, 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.980 making its home 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:55.740 here among us, 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.079 saturating us 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.619 with the presence 00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.480 and the power 00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.960 of this King 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.299 who's worthy 00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:03.399 of all these 00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.639 precious things. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.179 Right? 00:34:06.879 --> 00:34:08.079 And so that's my prayer. 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:08.380 You know, 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.239 it says that Moses, 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.319 he can't even 00:34:10.319 --> 00:34:11.079 enter in 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:13.420 to the tabernacle 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.579 because the glory 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.000 of God 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.079 is filling it up 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.420 so much. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.179 There's no room 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.719 for Moses, 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.380 there's no room 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.179 for anybody else 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:20.739 because God's fullness 00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:21.840 is so thick 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.759 in that place. 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.620 And that's my prayer 00:34:23.620 --> 00:34:24.060 for us 00:34:24.060 --> 00:34:25.160 that in this next season 00:34:25.160 --> 00:34:27.060 God's presence 00:34:27.060 --> 00:34:27.800 and His power, 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.340 His goodness 00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:29.120 and His glory 00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:30.640 would be so thick. 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.660 It'd be so full. 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:34.260 It'd be so weighty 00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:35.200 and so substantive 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:37.700 and so undeniably real 00:34:37.700 --> 00:34:39.060 here when we come 00:34:39.060 --> 00:34:39.560 to meet Him 00:34:39.560 --> 00:34:40.100 that we feel 00:34:40.100 --> 00:34:40.980 we can barely, 00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.300 just barely 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.820 enter in. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.580 We can barely 00:34:43.580 --> 00:34:44.860 stand up 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:46.180 before this God 00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:48.120 who's given us 00:34:48.120 --> 00:34:49.680 the immense privilege 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:51.599 of building 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:53.159 a house 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.319 for Him 00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.819 together. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.759 And that's my prayer 00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:59.399 in the name of the Father, 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.339 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.379 Amen.