An Offering Always Precedes the Glory
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Thoughts on Stewardship - Lesson No 16 from Exodus
An Offering Always Precedes the Glory
Foundation Scriptures: Exodus 40 verses 25 - 35
Moses set up and lighted the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord
commanded him. 26 He put the golden altar [of incense] in the Tent of
Meeting before the veil; 27 He burned sweet incense [symbol of prayer]
upon it, as the Lord commanded him. 28 And he set up the hanging or
screen at the door of the tabernacle. 29 [Moses] put the altar of burnt
offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting and
offered on it the burnt offering and the cereal offering, as the Lord
commanded him. 30 And Moses set the laver between the Tent of Meeting
and the altar and put water in it for washing. 31 And Moses and Aaron
and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. 32 When they went
into the Tent of Meeting or came near the altar, they washed, as the
Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court round about the
tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging or screen at the court
gate. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud [the Shekinah,
God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of
the Lord filled the tabernacle! 35 And Moses was not able to enter the
Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of
the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:25-35 AMP
1. Moses put sweet incense on the golden altar and placed sacrifices –
the burnt offering and the cereal offering - on the altar of burnt
offerings as an offering to the Lord.
a. The result was that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
b. Because of the glory of God, Moses was not able enter into the tent of the congregation.
2. When we come to God, we should not come empty-handed. Something happens when we come to worship the Lord with our gifts.
a. Our offering rises like sweet incense to the Lord.
b. The Lord, Himself, receives our offerings.
c. When the praises go up, the blessings come down.
d. The Lord pours out His glory, His goodness, His grace, and His favor.
N.B. Let your offering be as a sweet smell to the Lord – sweet incense that causes the glory of God to come down.
Pastor Adonica's Thoughts:
The glory of God can only come down in the midst of people who are
completely submitted and obedient to the Lord. We are demonstrating our
submission and obedience when we give God what He asks us to give. The
Bible says that we must make a choice between God and mammon. When we
bring our offerings to the Lord in generous obedience, we show Him that
He means more to us than anything else in the world and He receives our
gifts and graces us with His wonderful and precious presence in every
area of our lives.
Pastor Rodney's Thoughts:
When it comes to offerings, one of the things that I have witnessed
over the years is that when people give from their heart as an act of
worship, or when they give sacrificially to the Lord, something amazing
happens! God invades the place - God invades their lives - and
supernatural things happen. It has nothing to do with the amount, but
has everything to do with the heart.
Prayer and Confession:
Father, I pray that You would receive my offering and my gifts as a
sweet-smelling savor. You are so awesome to me and I love to worship
You with my very best.
Recent:
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the
Faith & Praise
[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb. 20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, 21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. Romans 4:18-21 AMP
Faith is defined as: confidence or trust in a person or thing; a belief that is not based on observed proof or evidence. Abraham had no proof – other than God’s promise to him – that he would have a son. According to his and Sarah’s advanced age and her barrenness, it was physically an