“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
This week we are focusing on showing up for God and saying “here I am”. Or at least I am and I hope you are too. And we should not to forget the lessons on humility – but we also must humbly know who we are to show up the way God wants us to. We are children by adoption – therefore we are become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, part of a holy nation owned by God. We are Rahab, a sinner and foreigner who has been redeemed and accepted as family by grace.
Dear Heavenly Father – Please help us to draw closer to you and show up for you. Help guide us and give us grace for our faith. Please open our ears to hear what you are saying. Please open our eyes to see and open our understanding that we may know you. Continually, all we want is more of you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen
I have decided to show up. I have pressed in – determined to go deeper with my Lord. I have stepped out in faith and focused on this ministry. I have obeyed each command as God has given them to me. I know who I am in Him. I know in whom I believe. I am good – better than good. God has me in his hands. I know I am with Him. I know I am standing here in the eye of a storm and God is about to break forth that new thing and all heaven is about to break loose.
I am in new territory. I am a little lost. I feel like I can’t see. Last night a man of God went live on his social media platform and I watched it. When Jesus called the disciples to be fishers of men – first they were fishing actual fish and Jesus told them to cast their net in one more time. The man said in his message: deeper into the water. Into the dark where they couldn’t see the harvest of fish that deep. His lesson was about going deeper with God and deeper means there is no light. Deeper in the sea is darkness and deeper in the earth is darkness and deeper into space is darkness – and we wonder why we can’t see.
Ironically, I can’t see but it isn’t dark. Actually everything about my life these days seems brighter. If it was summertime and not the dark winter – I would probably be blinded! This preacher spoke of the first “deeper” – where God’s presence seems removed and you feel the trials and the weight and you learn to walk in faith. This is a glorious step in growing our faith experience. He alluded to another depth and different “deeper” but didn’t speak as much about it just that God is light – he didn’t need to. God took over and showed me.
I have stepped out of the darkness and into the marvelous light!!! I have pressed deeper than the darkness and into His holy presence which is light!!! I cannot see because my eyes haven’t adjusted yet to the light! God is about to reveal things. I pray I am ready. He will show me slowly and step it out. But it is about to be deep – deeper than the darkness!!!
If you are feeling you keep pressing into God and keep trying to go deeper and it is dark – that is just because deep is dark. God deeper, push through the physical principles of darkness into the presence of the LIGHT! Lord, help us understand this.
I am not trying to steal this man’s sermon just sharing my take on it. It was applicable so I am editing the post I had prepared, to add this to it. Because God spoke to me and didn’t want me discouraged, frustrated or spreading discouragement and frustration. Originally this was a “Why God’ type message in this post. Whining and rambling when I know the answer and I know why He hasn’t given me clarity yet and I was just feeling pushed by man.
I was asking: Why God, don’t I know what I think I should know – where is my clear direction? We are reading in Exodus the VERY CLEAR instructions of the tabernacle. All I want is clear instruction on what to do next.
The post was all: Why God?? Haven’t I shown up?! I still believe. It isn’t unbelief. I am frustrated with a world asking me what I am doing and I look up and ask “how do I answer that?” So I say I think I am starting a business and they say do you have a business plan, risk assessment, etc. etc. etc. It is not that I do not know how to write a business plan – I just don’t know what the business is. I write what the Lord tells me to write. So I have a book in the works, but one book does not make a business.
Man presses me and how do we explain – faith? And how will that work? Grace! And how will I provide for my household? I won’t. God will.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 NLT
“Oh Come on, Jessica,” they say – “you are much more intelligent than that.”
So fine – I will write a business plan and risk assessment but I will not use the world’s format and I guarantee – these principle can lead anyone to success in God’s will.
Risk Assessment:
I will obey God or be cursed – Deuteronomy 28:15-68
“If I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 (so pray for me!)
6 Step Business Plan:
Step 1 –
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23 ESV
Step 2 –“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV
Step 3 –“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 NIV
Step 4 –“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 NIV
Step 5 –“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 NIV
Step 6 –“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
Market Analysis:
Overwhelming need in community as well as room for growth and expansion into the entire world.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 ESV
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” Titus 2:11 NIV
Core Value/Principle:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV
So – I am out there doing what God is saying and trying to grow – cause He said to grow. Man says make a business then grow into your market. God says we need to call the market together – you all need to be here and ready for whatever He is about to do. And we are all going to enjoy His blessings!!! (Even before I have any kind of business – Oh Lord, you are crazy! But it is so good! Amen)
In case anyone needs the links to growth again –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/If-Not-For-Grace-539321116993125 – under the category of “book” and “retail” – YES, that does mean there will SOON also be a book release!
Instagram: “IfNotForGrace.blog”
Please let me know your thoughts now that I have a more interactive platform. I would love the opportunity to get to know you.
RELATIONSHIP:
Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.
“9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen
MEMORY WORK: Luke 10:19
NKJV “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
NIV “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
ESV “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
AMP “Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.”
Thank you for reading.
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
BIBLE READING: Exodus 36-38 NKJV
Building the Tabernacle
36 “And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary,[a] shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded.”
The People Give More than Enough
2 Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart [b]was stirred, to come and do the work. 3 And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”
6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.
Building the Tabernacle
8 Then all the gifted artisans among them who worked on the tabernacle made ten curtains woven of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim they made them. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the curtains were all the same size. 10 And he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11 He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set; likewise he did on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. 12 Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain on the end of the second set; the loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps, that it might be one tabernacle.
14 He made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains. 15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains were the same size. 16 He coupled five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain of the second set. 18 He also made fifty bronze clasps to couple the tent together, that it might be one. 19 Then he made a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red, and a covering of [c]badger skins above that.
20 For the tabernacle he made boards of acacia wood, standing upright. 21 The length of each board was ten cubits, and the width of each board a cubit and a half. 22 Each board had two [d]tenons for binding one to another. Thus he made for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23 And he made boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. 24 Forty sockets of silver he made to go under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. 25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty boards 26 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. 27 For the west side of the tabernacle he made six boards. 28 He also made two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 29 And they were coupled at the bottom and [e]coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus he made both of them for the two corners. 30 So there were eight boards and their sockets—sixteen sockets of silver—two sockets under each of the boards.
31 And he made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, 32 five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle on the far side westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to pass through the boards from one end to the other. 34 He overlaid the boards with gold, made their rings of gold to be holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim. 36 He made for it four pillars of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four sockets of silver for them.
37 He also made a screen for the tabernacle door, of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a [f]weaver, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze.
Making the Ark of the Testimony
37 Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set in its four corners: two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 He also made the mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits was its length and a cubit and a half its width. 7 He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat: 8 one cherub at one end on this side, and the other cherub at the other end on that side. He made the cherubim at the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
Making the Table for the Showbread
10 He made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it. 12 Also he made a frame of a handbreadth all around it, and made a molding of gold for the frame all around it. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs. 14 The rings were close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood to bear the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 He made of pure gold the utensils which were on the table: its dishes, its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring.
Making the Gold Lampstand
17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece. 18 And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 19 There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 21 There was a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches extending from it. 22 Their knobs and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps, its wick-trimmers, and its trays of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold he made it, with all its utensils.
Making the Altar of Incense
25 He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its width a cubit—it was square—and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides all around, and its horns. He also made for it a molding of gold all around it. 27 He made two rings of gold for it under its molding, by its two corners on both sides, as holders for the poles with which to bear it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
Making the Anointing Oil and the Incense
29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer.
Making the Altar of Burnt Offering
38 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width—it was square—and its height was three cubits. 2 He made its horns on its four corners; the horns were of one piece with it. And he overlaid it with bronze. 3 He made all the utensils for the altar: the pans, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans; all its utensils he made of bronze. 4 And he made a grate of bronze network for the altar, under its rim, midway from the bottom. 5 He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating, as holders for the poles. 6 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. 7 Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to bear it. He made the altar hollow with boards.
Making the Bronze Laver
8 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Making the Court of the Tabernacle
9 Then he made the court on the south side; the hangings of the court were of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long. 10 There were twenty pillars for them, with twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 11 On the north side the hangings were one hundred cubits long, with twenty pillars and their twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 12 And on the west side there were hangings of fifty cubits, with ten pillars and their ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 13 For the east side the hangings were fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate were fifteen cubits long, with their three pillars and their three sockets, 15 and the same for the other side of the court gate; on this side and that were hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16 All the hangings of the court all around were of fine woven linen. 17 The sockets for the pillars were bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver, and the overlay of their capitals was silver; and all the pillars of the court had bands of silver. 18 The screen for the gate of the court was woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. The length was twenty cubits, and the height along its width was five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the court. 19 And there were four pillars with their four sockets of bronze; their hooks were silver, and the overlay of their capitals and their bands was silver. 20 All the pegs of the tabernacle, and of the court all around, were bronze.
Materials of the Tabernacle
21 [g]This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.
22 Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord had commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and [h]designer, a weaver of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine linen.
24 All the gold that was used in all the work of the holy place, that is, the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 And the silver from those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 a bekah for [i]each man (that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone included in the numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men. 27 And from the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil: one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, one talent for each socket. 28 Then from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made bands for them.
29 The offering of bronze was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels. 30 And with it he made the sockets for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils for the altar, 31 the sockets for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, all the pegs for the tabernacle, and all the pegs for the court all around.
Footnotes
- Exodus 36:1 holy place
- Exodus 36:2 lifted him up
- Exodus 36:19 Or dolphin
- Exodus 36:22 Projections for joining, lit. hands
- Exodus 36:29 Lit. doubled
- Exodus 36:37 Lit. variegator, a weaver in colors
- Exodus 38:21 Lit. These are the things appointed for
- Exodus 38:23 skillful workman
- Exodus 38:26 Lit. a head
If Not For Grace 