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.