There is spiritual warfare going on beyond the measure that we could ever imagine. I got a letter from Pastor Vincent in Tanzania the other day, and he said there’s intense spiritual warfare that has increased. Spiritual warfare is up everywhere and in every dimension.
Exodus 31:1-6 is the story of God speaking to Moses about the worship He desired and He gave some details. It talks about them being called and filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship… to devise skillful works, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, and in cutting of stones, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. God appointed Aholiab and gave him wisdom and the ability to make all that He commanded.” In verses 7-11 God tells them about the furniture and the parts of the tabernacle they needed to make and put together in His tent.
The first tent is referred to as Moses’ tent, because Moses was the one that God was willing to talk to. Let me remind you of something. In chapter 19 the Israelites and God began to have an encounter. Moses had come down the mountain and God came with him, and when he did, lightning and thundering and earthquakes began to happen until the people said, “Moses, enough is enough!” They told Moses to go up and talk to God and then come down and tell them what He said. Keep that in your mind, because that’s going to help you understand the message, today. That’s in chapter 19. They were saying, “God’s too much for us. We can’t handle that overwhelming presence.” Most people, today, don’t want too much God. I’ve had people tell me to my face, “I don’t want that much God. I just want a little bit.” They just want enough to get through.
In verses 13-17 God tells them to keep His Sabbath as a sign between Him and them throughout their generation, so they’ll know that “I, the Lord, sanctify you and set you apart for myself. You will keep the Sabbath for it is holy to you…” God took the Sabbath seriously. The Israelites were supposed to worship God. He wasn’t fooling with them. There’s a day that belongs to God. I encourage you, as born again believers, that you revisit that in your personal life. Because, somewhere along the line we told ourselves it’s okay that we don’t go to church. It’s okay we don’t take one day out of the week and give it to God.
