Exodus 36:3-7
They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.
4So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5and said to Moses, The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.’
6Then 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, 7because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
Moses and the builders had a problem. The problem of abundance. There was more than enough money to do the work of the Lord.
Abundant Thanksgiving Flows from an Encounter with God: Exodus 36:5
1. When we have genuinely experienced God, our trust in Him increases .
2. When we see the church as Christ’s Body we see Him as head of the Body, then we understand why we should be thankful.
3. Great faith produces generous giving . It comes as a result of encountering God!
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38).
Abundant Thanksgiving Inspires a Willingness to Do God’s Will: Exodus 35:21
and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
1. The people made incredible sacrifices for God.
2. The loss of the call to sacrifice lessens the
attractiveness of the church.
To spread the gospel and to share God’s love must be more than pious platitudes. . .it must be the compassion of the church.
Terry Toler
What Is Our Response to the Abundance God Has Given? Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.
1. A willingness to accept His grace . 2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
2. A willingness to be happy . Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (v. 4)
3. A willingness to serve the Lord. Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
O the love that drew salvations plan!
O the grace that bro’t it down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
William R. Newell
