Sacrificial Summit Prayers of Ascent - Day #7

Exodus 36:3-5 - "And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done."
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It’s almost hard to imagine having this kind of problem.  They brought too much as an offering to God and eventually had to stop people from bringing more.  I can safely say I’ve never had to dissuade people from their exuberant giving patterns.  Something special was going on in the community…that’s for sure.

This passage is teeming with Touchpoints to inspire our hearts in this season of surrender and sacrifice.  Let me surface a few of these generative gems of generosity…

#1 – The offerings were “freewill” offerings.  They weren’t “forcewill” offerings.  People brought them and the spirit was that of FREEDOM.
#2 – As the ball got rolling, God was showing up morning after morning as the people were moved by Him to give.  Every day, new mercies were falling on this community.
#3 – The craftsman (the skilled laborers) who are doing to visionary work on construction don’t go anywhere are do anything without the provision…and the provision means nothing without the craftsman to make vision a reality.
#4 – When each person in the community does their part there’s always “more than enough” to do the work.  Every little bit when added to whole becomes more than sufficient.
#5 – God gave the vision of the work he wanted done, it was then up to the people to have conversations in their homes, come to conclusions, and bring their freewill offerings to the construction project.   

This weekend is something akin to this passage.  In my mind, I desire every soul to bring their offering with a spirit of “freewill”.  There may be tightness of the chest or a feeling of suspense at the unknowns of the future, but I hope there is a deep joy in people’s generosity toward the project before us.
What would it be like for our leadership to step up in front of the people in a few months and say, “Stop bringing any more resources, we have more than enough to complete this project.  Thanks for digging deep and coming morning after morning with your gifts.  Go home and keep your stuff!”  What a revival of the heart!

“As we head into the weekend and bring our freewill offerings to You, do more than we could ever imagine.  Each of our gifts when combined with all of our gifts is meant to bring massive glory to your name!  We would love to join together with our brothers and sisters and bring ‘more than enough’ for your work, God.  More than anything, Lord, allow the spirit of the giving environment one of FREEDOM.  No Fear or Force or Franticness...full-on Freedom, Lord.  We are expected that you are going to do something amazing this weekend.  Have your way, Lord.”