Embracing God's Presence: Work, Rest, and Identity
Summary
As we approach the close of our journey through Exodus, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment where God’s desire to dwell with His people takes center stage. The narrative shifts from the grand deliverance and the formation of a people, to the intimate details of building the tabernacle—a visible sign of God’s presence among us. God’s instructions to Moses are not just about what to build, but who is to build it. He calls Bezalel and Oholiab by name, their very identities prophetically aligned with their assignments. This reminds us that God is not merely seeking ability, but alignment—He chooses and empowers those who walk closely with Him, filling them with His Spirit for the work at hand.
Remarkably, the first mention of someone being filled with the Spirit in Scripture is not for prophecy or miracles, but for craftsmanship. This elevates our understanding of work: every skill, every vocation, when surrendered to God, becomes sacred. The Spirit who hovered over creation, who empowered prophets and apostles, is the same Spirit who fills us for the seemingly ordinary tasks of our daily lives. Our work, whether in an office, classroom, or home, is not less holy because it happens outside the sanctuary. When we offer our gifts to God, our work becomes worship, and every space we enter can become a sanctuary for His glory.
Yet, God’s instructions do not end with work. He commands Sabbath rest—a rhythm of stopping, delighting, and remembering who we are and whose we are. In a culture obsessed with productivity and achievement, Sabbath is a radical act of trust. It is not laziness, but loyalty to God, a visible sign of our covenant relationship. Sabbath rest humbles us, reminding us that we are not the source of our own lives. It re-centers us in our identity as God’s beloved, not slaves to performance or productivity.
God warns that neglecting Sabbath is not just overworking, but overreaching—making ourselves the source instead of God. Sabbath is a weekly declaration that our worth is not in what we produce, but in who God calls us to be. It is a resistance against the idolatry of work and a return to trust, intimacy, and true holiness. As we step into our week, may we walk as Spirit-filled ambassadors, building what God has called us to build, and resting in the assurance that He is our provider and sustainer.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Calling Is Personal and Purposeful
God does not assign His holy work to random hands; He calls each of us by name, aligning our identity and gifts with His purposes. Our calling is not just about what we can do, but about who we are in Him and how closely we walk in His presence. This means that our unique backgrounds, skills, and even our names can be prophetic signposts of what God wants to accomplish through us. [04:45]
- Spirit-Filled Work Transforms the Ordinary into the Sacred
The first biblical example of being filled with the Spirit is for craftsmanship, not public ministry. This elevates every vocation—whether building, teaching, designing, or administrating—when surrendered to God, it becomes an act of worship. Our daily work, when Spirit-led, carries eternal significance and can reveal God’s beauty and order in the world. [08:41]
- Skill Alone Is Not Enough—We Need the Spirit’s Anointing
Natural ability and training are valuable, but without the Spirit’s empowerment, they fall short of God’s kingdom purposes. God takes what we have developed and breathes supernatural effectiveness into it, turning human skill into sacred calling. Even our greatest strengths require God’s anointing to bear fruit that lasts. [12:30]
- Sabbath Rest Is a Radical Act of Trust and Identity
Sabbath is not just a day off; it is a spiritual discipline that declares our trust in God as our provider and source. In a world that measures worth by productivity, Sabbath re-centers us in our true identity as God’s beloved, not slaves to performance. Observing Sabbath is an act of resistance against the idolatry of work and a visible sign of our covenant with God. [26:43]
- Rest and Work Are Both Sacred—Don’t Let One Replace the Other
God commands both diligent, Spirit-empowered work and intentional, Spirit-commanded rest. When we neglect rest, we risk spiritual death, burnout, and disconnection from God, even if we are doing good things. Sabbath is a weekly reminder that our value is not in our output, but in our relationship with God, and that true holiness is received through surrender, not striving. [34:31]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Overview of Exodus: God’s Deliverance, People, and Presence
[02:45] - Moses on the Mountain: Receiving Divine Instructions
[04:45] - God’s Specific Calling: Bezalel and Oholiab
[06:30] - The Significance of Names and Prophetic Identity
[08:41] - Spirit-Filled Work: Elevating the Ordinary
[09:14] - The Value of Community in God’s Mission
[12:30] - Skill and Spirit: The Need for Divine Empowerment
[15:39] - Turning Work into Worship
[17:41] - Reflective Questions for Holy Vocation
[19:19] - The Command of Sabbath Rest
[22:22] - Cultural Resistance to Rest
[24:27] - The Enemy’s Lies About Rest and Productivity
[26:43] - Sabbath as Identity and Covenant
[29:08] - The Consequences of Neglecting Sabbath
[34:31] - Sabbath as Spiritual Resistance
[37:07] - Practical Steps for Sabbath Rest
[38:30] - Prayer of Repentance and Commissioning
[43:59] - Declarations and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
Exodus 31:1-17 (ESV)
> The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”
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> And the Lord said to Moses, “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
> Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Exodus 31, what specific qualities did God give to Bezalel and Oholiab for their work on the tabernacle?
2. What is the significance of God calling Bezalel and Oholiab by name for this assignment? [04:45]
3. In Exodus 31, what does God say about the Sabbath, and why is it important for the people of Israel? [19:19]
4. How does Colossians 3:23-24 describe the attitude we should have toward our daily work?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the first person in the Bible to be described as “filled with the Spirit” was a craftsman, not a prophet or priest? What does this say about how God views different types of work? [04:45]
2. The sermon says God is not just looking for ability, but alignment. What does it mean to be “aligned” with God’s purposes in your work or daily life? [04:45]
3. Why is Sabbath rest described as a “radical act of trust” and not just a day off? How does this challenge the way our culture views rest and productivity? [26:43]
4. The sermon warns that neglecting Sabbath is not just overworking, but “overreaching”—trying to be the source instead of God. What are some signs that someone might be “overreaching” in their own life? [25:41]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says God calls each of us by name and aligns our identity and gifts with His purposes. Do you see any connections between your background, skills, or even your name and what God might be calling you to do? Share an example if you can. [04:45]
2. Think about your current work, whether it’s at a job, at home, or in school. In what ways could you invite the Holy Spirit to fill and empower your daily tasks, turning them into acts of worship? [08:41]
3. The sermon challenges us not to let our work replace our relationship with God. Are there areas in your life where your work or busyness has started to take priority over your time with God? What practical steps could you take to re-center your life? [22:22]
4. Sabbath is described as a visible sign of our covenant with God and a weekly declaration that our worth is not in what we produce. What would it look like for you to practice Sabbath in a way that truly re-centers your identity in God? [26:43]
5. The sermon gives practical advice for Sabbath: unplugging, creating boundaries, filling the day with worship and joy, and reminding yourself that God is at work even when you’re not. Which of these steps would be most challenging for you, and why? [37:07]
6. Have you ever felt guilty for resting, or pressured to always be productive? How does the idea that “rest is loyalty to God, not laziness” change your perspective? [24:27]
7. The pastor encouraged the group to make declarations over their work and rest. What is one declaration or prayer you want to speak over your work or rest this week? [43:59]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person walk as Spirit-filled ambassadors, building what He has called them to build, and resting in the assurance that He is our provider and sustainer.
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