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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 12th October 2008 PMLET'S GIVE FOR GOD'S GLORY Pastor Colin MeadowsExodus 35:4-9, 20-29, 36:2-7
►One year since we moved in! Do you realize that next weekend will be the first anniversary of the official dedication of this new building? Time has flown by with many exciting things that have happened over that time. Lives have been touched as people have come into this building to grow in their relationship with God. I did a quick calculation of the number of people passing through our church on a weekly basis. Leaving out the special events, a rough calculation gives us the figure of 785 people who use the facilities in an average week during school terms! That is so encouraging – imagine the impact of what God is doing in those lives. Obviously that includes people who are involved several times during the week, but never the less the potential impact of the use of these facilities is tremendous. God has thus provided us with a wonderful tool to use for his glory. With privilege however goes responsibility. He has also given us the responsibility to cover the cost of this amazing provision. It has been exciting to see how people have given over the past year to meet various ministry needs as they have arisen. We now have the privilege and opportunity to give again next week and thus reduce the significant debt that we have on this building. Let us give as the people of Israel did long ago when they were presented with the opportunity to give for the provision of the tabernacle. The tabernacle, called a ‘sanctuary’ or a ‘holy place’, was where God would dwell amongst his people. The place was holy purely because it was set apart for God’s service. Ex 25:8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” They built a place that was thus set apart for God’s use. We have sought to do the same here with our new building, a place where people can come to seek after God, a place where the central focus is on discovering who God is and how he wants us to live. What can we learn from the experience of God’s people so long ago when they built? ►They were all involved! Exodus 35:4 “Moses said to the whole Israelite community, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded…” Everyone was invited to be involved for everyone would share in the blessing of the Tabernacle. There was no sense that the task of building the tabernacle was to be delegated to just a few keen people who had a passion for the task. They did not have the philosophy that 80% of the effort should come from 20% of the people. All were to be involved for all would be blessed. We too should have the same response. We are all being blessed by the provision of this wonderful building. Let us respond with grateful hearts and all be involved in giving! We are investing in the ministry of the kingdom of God as we give to this task. What a wonderful legacy we will be leaving for others in years to come! Let’s thus all be involved. ►They gave from what they had! As you read through the Exodus account, the people gave in different ways, depending on their personal circumstances. Exodus 35:5-6, 10 “From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver or bronze, blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair……All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded.” Some gave of their material possessions, depending on their circumstances, of their treasure, while others gave of their time and talents. The same should be true for us. We each have different circumstances, so let us give proportionally to the way that God has blessed us. Please note that this offering to provide for the construction of the tabernacle was to be ‘an offering to the LORD.’ I have heard people say that they will give for other things but not for the provision of a church building. That is not what we read here. The children of Israel gave for the building of the tabernacle as ‘an offering to the LORD’. Let us do likewise. We are enjoying the blessing of this building – let us thus give in proportion to what we have received. ►They gave willingly! Exodus 35:29 “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work of the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.” The people gave freely out of gratitude, not grudgingly or under compulsion. These gifts were called ‘free-will offerings’ and that meant there was no compulsion. 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We should give with a smile on our face! We should rejoice when the time comes for the offering, excited that we have the privilege of being part of what God is seeking to do in his world. Let us giving willingly. ►They gave in abundance! The response of the people of Israel long ago was so generous that they had to be restrained in their giving! Exodus 36:6-7 “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” We are faced with a big challenge to cover the cost of our new building. Let us give in abundance for this need so that the ministries of this church will be strengthened to enable even more people to be touched. I mentioned that around 785 people regularly come through the doors of our church each week. Let us pray that this number will continue to grow as week by week the good news of Jesus is shared. Let us thus give for God’s glory!
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