Exodus 31_ 1-11      Giving Our Best to God

David Holwick      G                         Dedication of Renovated Sanctuary

First Baptist Church

West Lafayette, Ohio

February 12, 1989

Exodus 31:1-11


GIVING OUR BEST FOR GOD



I. Expense of sanctuary.

      A. Big bucks.   $500,000 in today's dollars since 1870.

      B. Lots of effort.

          1) Marge Olinger, Bob Kobel have been here every day.


II. Is it worth it?

      A. Desperate situation of world.

          1) Millions are starving.

          2) Even more millions don't know Christ.


      B. Churches are often very lavish.

          1) Criticism of Schuller's $20 million Glass Cathedral.

          2) Now First Baptist has gone and done it!

              a) (Though at only 1/1000 of Schuller's cost)


      C. Are our priorities correct?


III. No easy answer.

      A. Human physical and spiritual needs must come first.


      B. But there is a place for the honor of God.

          1) Jesus when woman anointed him with costly perfume:

               "The poor you always have with you, and you should help them.

                But this woman has correctly prepared me for burial."

             (Matthew 26:6-13)

          2) Notice her reward - better than a brass nameplate.


IV. Why spend lots of money on a mere building?

      A. What we spend our money on, shows our priorities.

          1) Americans criticize churches, but they are cheap.

          2) Sports arenas easily cost 10 times as much as a cathedral.

              a) New Orleans Superdome - $167 million.  (was $35 million)

              b) Irwindale, California, offered a $115 million stadium to

                   Oakland Raiders, which is $10,000 per resident.

              c) Many other cities are seeking salvation by this route:

                  1> Columbus.

                  2> Cleveland.

          3) Stadiums subsidize rich owners.

              a) Some don't even have tenants in them yet.


      B. Churches honor Almighty God, should cost us something.

          1) David - I will not offer a sacrifice to God which costs me

               nothing.   1 Chron 21:24

              a) Widow gave last two cents to Temple fund.

              b) Those who cry about human need - do they donate their money

                   for these causes?

          2) Where we put our effort shows where our heart is.


  V. Why should a church be lavish?

      A. The Tabernacle and Temple were works of art.

          1) Gold.

          2) Woven linen.

          3) Special wood.

          4) Rare perfume for incense.


      B. Our sanctuary can give us a glimpse of heaven.

          1) Gold angels (cherubim) in Holy of Holies.

          2) Ornate symbolism.

              a) Many prophets, like Isaiah, had visions of heaven in

                   Temple.

              b) Temple reminded them of God's presence.

                  1> God is everywhere?

                  2> Yes, but we need to be reminded, focus on it.

              c) Hushed atmosphere (due to carpet) can remind us of

                   heaven's silence before God.


      C. Our sanctuary can portray God's beauty and order.

          1) Modern art focuses on chaos and confusion.

              a) Pollack - splashed paint.

          2) God's Temple was orderly, showing He is in charge.

          3) Beauty here reminds us of God's promise of rest and reward

               for us.


      D. Our sanctuary can be a powerful witness for God.

          1) Example of European cathedrals.

              a) Huge, enormously expensive buildings.

              b) Still overwhelm cities.

                  1> People who built them lived in wood and mud huts.

                  2> They did it solely for glory of God.

                      A> Nothing was too good for him.

          2) Many young women never set foot in a church - until they want

               to get married.

              a) This may attract them, get them to thinking about Lord.


      E. Our sanctuary can be a special place where we encounter God.

          1) Visitor remembered being saved while sitting in old pew.

               Back in 1920's.

          2) Old Testament - earth is God's footstool, but he must be

               worshipped in one place (Temple).

              a) Not do-it-yourself.

              b) Jesus worshipped in temple. (Passover each year; age 12)

              c) Early Christians worshipped in temple daily.


VI. Our home as a reflection of our inner selves.

      A. What do people think when they enter your home?

          1) After they kick aside the soiled underwear on the carpet.

          2) Cob-webs that would make Adam's Family proud.

          3) Debris from every meal of last two weeks on kitchen table.


      B. For better or worse, our homes reflect us.

          1) We want to look our best.

          2) Especially when pastor comes.

              a) (Unless you are Kathy Jones, the original "Roseanne")


VII. This sanctuary reflects us.

      A. When visitor's walk in, they get an impression of us.


      B. Respect for God's house shows respect for God.

          1) Abomination of desolation in Daniel -

               sacrifice of a pig on altar.

          2) Our behavior can be just as bad.

              a) Ultimate - Old Stone Church by Adams Mills.

                  1> Cemetery desecrated.

                  2> Church defaced, gutted.

              b) Our old pews had 96 years of bubblegum underneath them.

              c) Sunday School walls had doorknobs bashed through them.


      C. God is concerned about behavior in his House.

          1) Jesus whipped those who did not take it seriously.

              a) Example of Uzzah.

                  1> Killed for touching ark.

                  2> Harsh?  He disobeyed God.

          2) Sacrifices must be accompanied by obedient hearts.

              a) Herod's beautiful temple was destroyed stone by stone.

              b) Only what's done for God will last.


VIII. God requires a special kind of worker.

      A. Example of Bezelal (Tabernacle) and Huram (Temple).   Exodus 31

          1) Filled with Spirit.                        31:3  

          2) His skill came from God.                   31:3,6 

              a) Every Christian has a gift from God.

              b) We are required to use it for his glory.

              c) When we create beautiful things, we use God's image in

                   us.


      B. Example of our renovators.

          1) Pew makers.

          2) Carpet layer.

          3) Painter.

              a) Highly skilled.

              b) Motivated.


      C. Our opportunity.

          1) Be filled with God's Spirit.

          2) Use skills for God's glory.

          3) Give best to God.

              a) Time.

              b) Resources.

          4) Do things that last.


IX. A church building in God's perspective.

      A. God gave plans for his house.

          1) Moses received the plans for the Tabernacle on Mount Sinai.

          2) David received plans for Temple directly from God.

               1 Ch 28:12,19


      B. However, these plans are only an approximation.   Hebrews 8:5


      C. In Jesus alone we have reality.                   Hebrews 9:24



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                  Ceremony of Dedication for God's House


   (Adapted from King Hezekiah's renovation of the Temple in 715 B.C.)

                             2 Chronicles 29


   Pastor:


   In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened

     the doors of the temple of the LORD and repaired them.

   He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the

     square on the east side and said:


   People:


   "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the

     temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers.

   Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.


   Pastor:


   Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials

     together and went up to the temple of the LORD.

   He stationed the Levites in the temple of the LORD with cymbals,

     harps and lyres in the way prescribed by King David.


   People:


   Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar.

     As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also,

   accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel.


   Pastor:


   The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the

     trumpeters played.

   All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was

     completed.


   People:


   When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with

     him knelt down and worshiped.

   King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD

     with the words of David and of Asaph the seer.

   So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.


   Pastor:


   Then Hezekiah said, "You have now dedicated yourselves to the LORD.

     Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the

       LORD."


   People:


   Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for

     his people, because it was done so quickly.


Words by the Pastor


Presentation of Workers

Virgil Lutgen (original renovation committee)

Trustees (1988 and 1989)

Color Committee

Jim Fleming


Prayer for God's House.                        Pastor Holwick


"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."


Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick

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