Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Feb 1st, 2021 The Heart-Stirred and Wise-Hearted Servant by Issan Acosta

Today’s Passage – Exodus 36 – 38 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 19 – 20; Proverbs 1; Psalms 6 – 10

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:  Exodus 36:1-2

When I read this passage of scripture the first thing that comes to mind was my first Winter Camp a couple of months after I got saved. Brother Charlie Clark was preaching the last message of camp on the topic of “Living for God”. That night, I surrendered my life to the Lord. I did not want to waste my life away pursuing treasures on earth. From that night forward my heart was stirred for the work of the Lord, much like Bez’aleel, Aho’liab and the men mentioned in Exodus 36:2.

In chapter 36, we see God continuing to give Moses instruction on the the design of the tabernacle: the curtains, the boards and the veils to be specific. This spectacular structure that would be assembled and disassembled as they wandered in the wilderness was the Lord’s dwelling place and was not any ordinary tent that was to be put up. I would like to focus your attention this morning to verses 1 and 2 of chapter 36. God used men that had these two key characteristics for the work of the Lord:

Wise-hearted-  It is so easy to serve the Lord in the capacity of our own understanding and way. We get accustomed to it and learn that we can get by with it well through out our Christian life. As servants of the Lord it is critical that we ask the Lord for wisdom when we are serving and working for him.

 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

Very early in ministering for the Lord I learned that not every problem and issue we may come across has a cookie cutter solution to it. A saw and a utility knife are both important tools to a carpenter, but they both can yield very different results depending on how and when they are used. When was the last time you asked God to give you wisdom when ministering for him?

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established Proverbs 24:3

A Stirred Heart – The fumes of going through the motions in serving the Lord will only get you so far before your flesh, the devil and the world tell you to call it quits. The best fuel for serving the Lord is a stirred heart. I can tell you from experience that it is very difficult for your heart to be stirred for the work of the Lord when you are living for yourself and are spiritually anemic. Spending time with the Lord in his word and through prayer is key to developing a heart that is stirred for the work of the Lord. Serving God with a stirred heart takes the pressures off of ourselves and allows us to give God the Glory!

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2