Giving To God's Building

Giving to God’s Building

By : Ng Wah Lok

Text : Exodus 35:4-35, Haggai 1:3-15

2 Important Principles about church buildings

Principle 1 – The church focus is building people and not physical buildings

Church – Greek - Ekklesia - Called out ( a people called out to become a body of believers).

Principle 2 – When the people are built, the people build the church building

It is a natural progression that as a family grows, they eventually try to own their own home. Similarly, as a church grows, a church eventually owns a building.

August 2005 – Prophetic scripture about FGT SD church building

Exo 35:4-5 “And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: ‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;”

Pledges from those who wanted to give to the building fund.

When Moses shared, the people responded positively.

A. The Giving was from a Willing Heart.

35:21-22 “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. (22) They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD.

a) The hearts of the people were stirred

b) The spirits of the people were willing

The giving was a joyous occasion.

B. The Giving was Widespread in Participation

i) Everyone came…. – V21

ii) Both men and women - v22

iii) The rulers brought… – v27

iv) The children of Israel brought… - v29

It appears that all the people, men and women, rich and poor, brought gifts of all kinds. Their stirred hearts caused them to seek and search for ways to give, not excuses for why they could not give.

The words “all” and “every” – appears 18 times

C. The Giving was Abundant (23-29)

The response of the people to Moses’ challenge is overwhelming. The people respond in three ways.

a) They gave finances - the people give of their resources for the construction of the temple (35:4-9. 20-29, 36:1-7),

b) They gave time - the skilled craftsman help to build the tabernacle (35:10, 35:30-39:43)

c) They followed instructions - the people obey the Lord’s prescriptions regarding the tabernacle (38:21-40:33).

Moses had to stopped the people because too much was coming inside.

Ex 36:6-7 “And Moses gave commandment… Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and too much.”

Lessons from Haggai 1 about Building God’s House

A. Dangers of neglecting God’s House – Haggai 1:2-5

V4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panel houses and this temple to lie is ruins ?

i) We lose joy with what we have

What they had What they could not enjoy

Food to eat –v6 You have not enough

Drink – v6 You are not filled

Clothes –v6 Can’t keep them warm

Wages – v6 Bag of holes

If we neglect the house of God, we may have everything we want but will lose the joy of having it.

Example.

3 Gs - Gold, Glory and Girls/Guys

You may have all of the 3 Gs and still not be a happy man.

ii) Heaven with-holds her blessings.

What is affected

Results

Heavens –v10 Withholds dew

Earth – v10 Withholds fruit

You have sown much – v6 You bring in little

In verse 11, the drought of the land affected the following areas

a) Land

b) Mountains

c) Grain

d) Livestock

e) All the labors of the land.

B. Blessings of building God’s House – Hag 2:14, 6-9

V14 – and they came and worked on the house of the Lord

i) Israel was admired by other nations

v 7 –Desired of all nations

Instead of being a laughing stock by people, they were admired because God blessed them.

ii) Peace came into the nation

v9 – And in this place, I will give peace

Conclusion

2 lessons from David’s life

a) David built houses for himself. There is nothing wrong when we build our own homes

1 Chron 15:1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

b) However, David constantly had building God’s house in his mind and heart. He provided for it in his lifetime.