Ground Rules

When I was a kid I can remember REALLY hating rules. I felt like everybody else had control but me. Now, as an adult (and many hard lessons later), I often times love it if someone else will simply tell me what to do. Of course, I don't always like it that way. For those of you that know me, I knew I wouldn't fully be able to get away with that statement. God did make me a bit strong willed! However, I can say this with complete honesty. When it comes to following the direction of my creator & savior, I long for clear direction. Through the building & utilizing of the Mosaic tabernacle (tent of meeting), God thankfully gave us some clear ground rules in how to approach Him & lead others to Him.


The tabernacle must be built 1st...

...By freewill Offerings

-it CANNOT be manufactured!


Exodus 25:2 (NKJV)
“Speak to the children of Israel, that they may bring Me an offering: you shall take the offering of every man that gives freely from his heart.”

GOD stirred the people up to give, not Moses.

Exodus 35:21 (KJV)
"Everyone whom His spirit made willing."

-We, as Priests, have to be light handed with the people in worship. God’s hand is heavy, not ours.


2nd...

...By a people whose hearts are moved


Exodus 35:21 (NIV)
And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him (underline that) 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.

-A great orator can move a persons soul, but passion & conviction comes from the Spirit of the Lord.

-Sometimes we see worship as only a cerebral pursuit. The Lord does want our minds, but let’s not dismiss the fact that the Lord wants our hearts. The Word says...“Love the Lord God with all your Heart”. That’s the first thing He asks for.

-Once He has your heart, He will get your mind.


3rd...

...By God’s wisdom 


Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) “There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.”

-If we don’t seek the wisdom of God, we're going to be giving
people a false picture of what He wants to give them.

-Remember, everything in the tabernacle has a place & purpose, for a reason. We can soooo easily mess up a 'tabernacle' meeting if we don't follow His direction. Seeking God’s wisdom is the only way to get this right.

Exodus 36:1 (KJV)
“… and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded".


4th...

...By skillful people

-There is no value or virtue for mediocrity in the Kingdom of God!

-If we are not doing things to the best of our abilities, we are not worshipping God with those abilities.

-We need musicians that are going to play their instruments as befitting the audience of a King.

-EXPECT THE BEST FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!



Exodus 36:1 (NIV)
“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person … are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”


Exodus 31:1–3 (NIV)
“See, I have chosen Bezalel … and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.”

-REJECT MEDIOCRITY!


5th...

...By people filled with the Spirit of God

- We cannot lead people without the power of God!
- We cannot be okay with just moving people's souls!
- We are not as great as we think we are. We need JESUS!


6th...

...According to the pattern



Exodus 25:40 (NKJV)
“See to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

- Because of the sin of the priesthood (2 Samuel 6), the presence of God (Ark of the Covenant) has gone into captivity.

-It’s a priests responsibility to know his/her job.

-When we carry the presence of God incorrectly, we endanger the people.

-The presence of God cannot be carried the world's way.

-Look to God's pattern!


*Original lesson from Zach Neese at Gateway Worship. Modified by Mark Edington.

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