God’s Equipping for Work and Call to Rest

Audio Player:

<Exodus 31> 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:

1. God chooses and equips His people for His work.

1) God-human partnership.

• God empowers; humans obey.

2) Who did God choose to serve Him?

• People not well-known, and people unnamed

• But all were endowed with God-given abilities to fulfil God’s purpose.

• No one should look down on himself.

• God has given each person unique roles and gifts.

• What is important is not which part we play, but whether we’re faithfully using God’s gifts to perform the roles He puts us at.

3) God equips His servants through the Spirit.

<1 Co 12> 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

• Misperceptions about “being filled with the Holy Spirit”.

• But “filled with the Spirit” is to be empowered by God with necessary abilities to do what God wants.

• God’s purpose is that He be glorified, not our flesh be gratified.

• Not all gratification is good for us.

• God’s glory is not at the expense of human joy.

• But God displays His glory to bring us joy.

2. Sabbath Rest.

<Ex 31> 12 Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

• Sabbath as a SIGN between God and Israelites.

• Sign of obedience to God’s covenant.

• Even in midst of sacred work of making tabernacle, need to observe Sabbath rest.

• Rest à refreshed à serve with more vigor

• Tabernacle is holy place while Sabbath is holy time.

• Sabbath idea as a sign too to show that Christians belong to God.

Exodus 27:1-21

Entering Fellowship With A Just God

Exodus

Exodus 26:31–37