Lesson #36

EXODUS
Lesson #36
THE STUDY OF THE TABERNACLE: THE CRAFTSMEN

• Memory Verse: 1Cor 12:4

• We have concluded our study of the physical tabernacle. However, we must not overlook the craftsmen who used their gifts and talents to create these beautiful objects for God. God has included some of their names in scripture because God considered them important.
• Because all elements of the tabernacle speak to us of Jesus Christ, of His church, and of individual believers, we can learn some spiritual truths from these craftsmen of the tabernacle.

• Read Exo 31:1-11 The craftsmen
• Read Exo 36:1-4
• Read Exo 38:21-23
• Notice that God calls them wise hearted men. (36:1)
• It also tells us that God put wisdom and understanding into these men about how they should do this work.
• In other words, these were gifted people who had natural and learned talents, but God gave them wisdom and understanding of how to use their talents.
• A kingdom principle:

A talent or gift is worthless in service to God if it is not first submitted to God for His use. (Rom 12:1)

• In discussing these craftsmen we are going to make a parallel with the New Testament church in service to God. To accomplish this, we need to define some terms:
• What is a talent?
• A talent is a natural or a learned ability given to believers and to non-believers without discrimination.
• The non-believer uses his talents to serve his own purpose and for his own glory.
• The believer uses his talents to serve Jesus Christ for the glory of God.
• Some examples of talents are singing, playing a musical instrument, painting, etc.
• What is a gift?
• A Biblical gift is a spiritual ability given freely by the grace of God to a believer for the purpose of serving God.
• The Bible speaks of gifts given to the believer by God for the purposes of providing for needs in the body of Christ for the glory of God.
• The believer in Jesus Christ has both natural or learned talents, and spiritual gifts specifically given to him by God.
• Read Mat 25:14-23 The parable of the talents

• According to our definitions of talents and gifts, this parable is talking about gifts that God gives to believers in Jesus Christ.
• Even though the parable uses the word “talent”, the talent in the New Testament was a weight of measure for precious metals.
• Notice that believers are given different quantities of gifts to use to serve God.
• God, in his perfect wisdom, gives to each believer the amounts that he knows each person can handle.
• Notice that Mat 25:15, says, “according to his several ability”.
• God does not expect a person to perform beyond what he has enabled that person to do. Moses learned this by experience.
• God, in His perfect wisdom, gives more gifts to those people that He knows will use their gifts for His glory.
• As believers, we are all to perfect our gifts using them for God to the very best of our ability.
• God, in His perfect wisdom, gives gifts to those who exercise their faith in using those gifts.
• Notice that the two faithful servants reacted immediately in putting their gifts to use. (16-17)
• Notice that the two faithful servants RETURN ed double on the original investment. They were both 100% faithful.
• How should we use the gifts God gives us in order to be 100% faithful?
• Learn what your gifts are. We are going to see the possibilities later.
• Learn how God expects you to use your gifts by the example of the operation of those gifts in the Bible.
• Learn to rely by faith on the Holy Spirit for the use of your gifts.
• Using your gifts requires faith in action.
• Determine to develop your gifts:
• For example, if your gift is teaching, learn what makes a good teacher, then practice, practice, practice.
• Determine to use your gifts to the very best of your ability.
• Remember that God gives more to those who use what they have.

• The Biblical Gifts:
• Read 1Cor 12 1-11 Nine Spiritual Gifts
• In this passage we see one of the 3 categories of Biblical gifts mentioned in the New Testament.
• This is a list of 9 Spiritual gifts given to believers specifically by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of ministering to other people.
• While the Holy Spirit gives these gifts (4), it is Jesus Christ who administers these gifts (5), and God, the Father, who operates these gifts (6)
• The manifestation of these 9 Spiritual Gifts:
• These are gifts that come and go in the life a believer. In other words, they are not constantly and continually present.
• For example, a believer does not continually possess the gift of healing. If he did, he could empty out the hospitals for everyone he prayed for would be instantly healed.
• A believer in Jesus Christ can have one or more of these gifts operating in his life at any one time.
• Therefore, the believer walking and moving in the Spirit, will experience these gifts flowing in and through him as he does the will of God.
• Read 1Cor 12:27-28 Nine Positional Gifts
• Read Eph 4:11-12
• These nine gifts are given by Jesus Christ. A person may have this gifted position for all his life or not. These are the craftsmen in the body of Christ that parallel the craftsmen who made the tabernacle in the book of Exodus.
• What are positional gifts?
• Before Jesus left this earth by crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, he promised to give gifts to help the church. (Eph 4:8) These gifts are people who occupy positions in the universal church body. A local church may have one or more of these people in the congregation. A church is blessed when it has more than one of these gifts in the congregation.
• =1= Apostles
• An apostle is someone God has raised up to plant churches. Without this gift, there would not be new churches raised up in the world. The apostle Paul is the example.
• =2= Prophets
• A prophet is someone God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ to call the church to account through a word of prophecy (using the Spiritual gift of prophecy).
• =3= Evangelists
• An evangelist is someone God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ with a special ministry to preach the gospel of salvation to unsaved people.
• =4= Pastors / Teachers
• Most churches have a pastor that God raised up and placed in that position to be the head of that local church.
• A teacher is someone God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ to teach the Word of God. Some pastors are both pastors and teachers, and for that the pastor and teacher are mentioned together as one gift in Eph 4:11. However, many pastors are not teachers, and for that God has raised up teachers. There is a difference between preaching and teaching.
• =5= Workers of Miracles
• A worker of miracles has a special ministry in the universal body of Christ where miracles follow his ministry.
• =6= Healers
• A healer is a person God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ where healing follows his ministry.
• =7= Helps
• A helper is a person God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ that is a problem solver. He will go from church to church where there are problems helping them solve these problems.
• =8= Governments
• This is a person who is a gifted administrator raised up by God to administer many churches in the body of Christ that are placed under him. They are bishops and presbyters often in large denominations.
• =9= Diversities of Tongues
• This is a person God has raised up and placed in the universal body of Christ that is abundantly fluent in a diversity of languages.
• Read Rom 12:6-8 Seven Motivational Gifts
• What are motivational gifts?
• These are gifts given by God, the Father, to individuals, whether believers or non-believers, when they are born physically. All people have one dominant gift that motivates everything they do. They have this one gift for life.
• Believers are to use this one gift to serve God.
• A detailed discussion of these motivational gifts can be found in a study of Rom 12 on the webpage.

• A Summary of all the Biblical gifts:

Spiritual gifts 1Cor 12:8-10	Positional gifts Eph 4:11-12 1Cor 12:27-28	Motivational gifts Rom 12:6-8 1Pet 4:11,12
Gifts given by the Holy Spirit:	Gifts given by Jesus Christ, the Son	Gifts given by God, the Father
A word of wisdom	Apostles	Prophecy (insight)
A word of knowledge	Prophets	Serving
Faith	Evangelists	Teaching
Gifts of healings	Pastors / Teachers	Encouraging
Working of miracles	Workers of miracles	Contributing
Prophecy	Healers	Facilitating
Discerning of spirits	Helps	Mercy
Speaking in tongues	Governments
Interpretation of tongues	Diversities of tongues
Gifts that the Spirit gives periodically at specific instances for a specific purpose.	Gifts that are positions in the church that Christ gives to the church body. They may or may not be lifetime positions.	Gifts that God gives to all humans at the time of birth that last a lifetime, with the intention that the person will use the gift to glorify God.

• Read 1Cor 12:12-31
• How does this New Testament passage in 1Cor 12 relate to the construction of the tabernacle?
• Just as the craftsmen constructed the tabernacle, the persons in the positional gifts are raised to specific positions in the body of Christ, to edify the church. However, all believers contribute to the building of the church in one way or another by using their gifts and talents in serving God.
• Paul makes it clear that we are one body in Christ and that all contribute to the construction of the church.
• Paul makes it clear that we are to put up with the mistakes of other believers as they learn to develop their gifts.
• Gifts are not perfected without practice. Therefore, we must be patient with each other while these gifts are developed.
• God gives gifts to every believer.
• If any believer is just warming the seat in the church and not contributing to the body of Christ with the use of his gifts or talents, he is robbing his brothers and sisters in Christ.
• He is like the man who hid his talent in Mat 25.
• Read Mat 25:24-30
• Just as God gave wisdom and understanding to the craftsmen who built the tabernacle, God gives wisdom and understanding to believers who use their gifts and talents to serve God.
• Like everything in the Christian life, the use of gifts and talents in service to God takes:
• Faith.
• Development
• Practice
• When believers use their natural and learned talents in service to God they learn humility.
• Human nature likes to take credit for talents, especially those that are learned, but when they are submitted to God in humility, they become more successful.
• When believers use the gifts given by God, they are building God’s beautiful church.
• Read 1Cor 1:2-9
• We build the church on earth.
• We build the church in eternity.

HOMEWORK
THE STUDY OF THE TABERNACLE: THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD:
THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS DUTIES
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of the Study of the Tabernacle: The Craftsmen
• Make a list of your talents and gifts:
• How are you using each of these in service to God?
• In what ways are you failing to use your talents and gifts?
• How can you improve your talents and gifts to serve God better?
• Preparation for a Study of the Tabernacle: The High Priest and His Duties
• Read Exo 28:1-43
• What do the garments of the high priest tell you about Jesus Christ, our High Priest?
• Read 2Cor 5:18-19
• The Old Testament priest was to bring man to God and God man.
• How does this passage relate to 1Pet 2:5?
• Memory verse: 1Pet 2:5