Gods Dwelling Place Exodus 40 - Franklin

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Rolling Hills Community Church God’s Dwelling Place: The story Before the Story. Jeff Simmons November 5, 2017 | Exodus 40 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 Setting up the Tabernacle So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him. Exodus 40:17-19 • Our God is a God of the details • Everything in the Tabernacle was pointing to Jesus: o The Colors - God called the people to use only four colors to point to Christ. o The Camp – God called them to camp around the Tabernacle in a certain way. o The Furnishings – God used each furnishing to tell the story of salvation. o The Pattern – God place it all in a certain order. God moves in… Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 • What a celebration this must have been! • God desires to be with His people! • Now, when Christ moves into our heart and takes up residence, what a celebration! o The joy of new believers! o The picture of Baptism – outward expression of Christ moving into our heart. Jesus wants to be our Savior and Lord In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during their travels. Exodus 40:36-38 • God saved His people and then He led His people • Jesus, God’s own Son, has come to save us, but also to lead us in our life. • God is still writing your story – follow Him! And so Moses finished the work. Exodus 40:33 Communion This morning, you are invited to come to God’s table and to receive His gift of grace, mercy and love. Through Christ Jesus, God made a way for us to dwell with Him forever. If you are a



believer in Jesus Christ, will you follow Him wherever He leads? The best of your story is still to come. Commit your life to Him. Taking It Home The Tabernacle shows us God’s desire to dwell with His people. Everything in the Tabernacle was pointing to Jesus, the Messiah. When Jesus died on the cross, the Temple (built in the pattern of the Tabernacle) – the Temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom. Sin was atoned for and God made a way to dwell with us forever. What a joy and what a God! Today, will you take a spiritual inventory of your own life? Will you surrender your life to Christ and then follow where He leads? The best of your story is still being written. God wants to dwell with you forever!