A NEW BEGINNING FOR EVERYONE

A NEW BEGINNING FOR EVERYONE
Dr. James Merritt
Exodus 35
3-2-03

INTRODUCTION

> I want to take you back 3,500 years to the very
first capital campaign found in the Bible. The Lord
does not even wait to get the children of Israel to
the promise land until He asks them to do two things:
(1) Take an offering; (2) Build a building.

Now there are two parts to this campaign that are
extremely important. NOTICE WHO THEY WERE TO GIVE
THEIR OFFERING TO:

"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;
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.
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 offered an offering of gold to the Lord.
Everyone who offered an offering silver or bronze
brought the Lord's offering. And everyone with whom
was found acacia wood for any work of the service,
brought it.
The children of Israel brought a freewill
offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose
hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of
work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had
commanded to be done." (vv. 5, 21-22, 24, 29)

> Now this is very important. They were not giving to
a building nor were they giving to a budget; they were
giving to the Lord. In reality, though you are to
bring your tithes and offerings to the church, you are
not giving them to the church, you are giving them to
the Lord. That's very important to remember.

> Notice also what they were to give from:

"Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and
everyone whose spirit was willing, and they ...

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