Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Awareness and guilt  "When any of the people become aware of their guilt in any of these ways, they must confess their sin (Lev.5.5 NLT) Guilt is a useless and needless emotion. It is an after-effect emotion, that is, an emotion we feel after the deed has been done or has not been done as the case may be. You feel guilty for doing something you should not have done or for something you should have done.  The text talks about not just the guilt but the awareness of the guilt. That means people can be guilty and yet not be aware of it. And you notice that when they are not aware of it their despoistion is different than when they become aware of it.  Out text says when they become aware of their guilt, they must confess their sin. So sin is the source of guilt. But when you are aware that your sin nature has been dealt with, guilt becomes useless. The Bible says Jesus became sin for us but it did not just become sin for us, but also that we may become the righteousness of G...

Follow the cloud  "Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on their travels, but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn't set out until it did lift. The Cloud of GOD was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels." (Exod.40.36 -38)  Following the leading of the spirit is the primary default setting of the believer but because we want too many sensationalism we miss out on that very innate advantage. The Apostle Paul tells us that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that right there is the inward witness.  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"(Rom.8.14, 16) In our text, we see that the cloud, a type of the Spirit of God would lift and move. When He does, that was permission for the whole congregation of isarel to move. But when he sta...

They did it all  "That completed the work of The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting. The People of Israel did what GOD had commanded Moses. They did it all." (Exod.39.32)  It is one thing to begin a work and another thing to complete that work. Some people begin but they do not know how to complete a work. Some other people have the grace to finish, what some have called the finishers anointing but how can you finish if you do not start? Some have several projects started but then struggle to finish even one. But for Israel they began the work and then they completed it.  The Bible records that they did it all. They left nothing undone. Everything God commanded, they did. But much more than that they did it exactly as God had commandeded them to. This is very important to note because when God spoke to Moses, God told him to build according to the pattern that was revealed to him.  "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of...

Life is a practice... Work it out "Bezalel, the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that GOD had commanded Moses." (Exod.38.22)  When you read this verse and stopped there, you leave with the impression that everything was made by Bazalel, anointed and gifted craftsman. The verse says that Bazalel made everything God commanded Moses. But he was not alone.  The next verse says that someone, in fact, some people worked with Bazalel.  "Working with Bezalel was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an artisan, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics and fine linen." (Exod.38.23)  Hardly would you see anyone who has a great public operation without a backend operation. We see Moses in the foreground but there were Aaron, Hur and Joshua in the background. We see Paul in the foreground but at different times we had Silas, Timothy and John Mark at the background. And in our text, we have Bazalel at the foregrou...

Enough and more than enough  "There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough." (Exod.36.7)  The work of God was so important to the people such that when Moses called for voluntary offering to build the Tent of Meeting, our text records that they had enough, and more than enough.  The people were not cajoled nor coerced to bring, their heart was moved to freely bring something for the work. (see Exo.35.29) All that each person needed to do was to bring something. And that something they already have and when all whose heart moved them to bring something, brought something, they did not just have enough, they had more than enough.  Enough and more than enough is possible in God. Jesus said I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John.10.10) Your pro...

It's all in the house "Every man and woman in Israel whose heart moved them freely to bring something for the work that GOD through Moses had commanded them to make, brought it, a voluntary offering for GOD." (Exod.35.29)  This is the story of how Moses built the Tent of Meeting that God commanded him to build. The interesting thing and lesson that we must take away is the fact that every thing that was ever need to start and complete the project was already available in the hands of the the people Moses was leading.  The same thing applies to us today. Everything God has asked you to do, it is only because He has first equipped you with whatever is required to do that thing. It's all in the house.  But you must find a way to bring it from inside of you or from those around you just as Moses did with the people. And that is the almark of leadership - the ability to harness the skills of the possibilities in and around you. What ever it is you are looking for, chances ...

All the willing spirits "So everyone in the community of Israel left the presence of Moses. Then they came back, every one whose heart was roused, whose spirit was freely responsive, bringing offerings to GOD for building the Tent of Meeting, furnishing it for worship and making the holy vestments. They came, both men and women, all the willing spirits among them, offering brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces--anything made of gold--offering up their gold jewelry to GOD." (Exod.35.20 - 22) Moses had come back from the presence of God with instructions on how to build the Tent of Meeting. He spoke to the people about the plan and the Bible says that 'everyone in the community of Israel left the presence of Moses'.  You would think that the plan was dead on arrival. That there was no future nor was there any possibility for the building. But the next verse records that the people came back, 'every one whose heart was roused, whose spirit was freely responsive, bring...

Come all ye skillful "Come--all of you who have skills--come and make everything that GOD has commanded:" (Exod.35.10)  If there is one thing that stands out in our text, it is the fact that God is calling all who have skills to come and make... God wants us to use our skills to make and not to destroy. To use our skills to build and not to tear down. To be a solution and a problem. To be the answer and solution provider.  As those who are skillful, he says come, all of you. There is no one God created without a skill.  So if God created you, you are among the all. Do not count yourself out. And the purpose He calls you is to be an extension of His creative force on earth. He says come and make everything that GOD has commanded  The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Ephesians : "No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotte...

Don't show up empty-handed  "Redeem your firstborn donkey with a lamb. If you don't redeem it you must break its neck. "Redeem each of your firstborn sons. "No one is to show up in my presence empty-handed."(Exod.34.20)  God told the children of Israel to not appear before Him empty-handed. The question really is what is it you will give to God that will satisfy Him? Maybe, just maybe, it is not about satisfying Him. It is more about obedient. Isaiah the protect talks about being willing and obedient (see Isa. 1.19) What can a man give in exchange for his soul?  Jesus told the story of the widow who gave the smallest amount but gave the greatest gift.  "Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins--a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor wid...

Redeem the donkey  "Redeem your firstborn donkey with a lamb. If you don't redeem it you must break its neck. "Redeem each of your firstborn sons. "No one is to show up in my presence empty-handed."(Exod.34.20)  Today is a good day to remind ourselves of the significance of redemption. The text started off talking about redeeming the first born donkey - a donkey was an unclean animal and as such should be redeemed and if it is not redeemed, its neck should be broken, that is, it is killed.  So the donkey stood at a cross road waiting either redemption or condemnation. This is a perfect or near perfect replica of the human race that also stood at a crossroad, either to be condemned or be redeemed.  Today, Good Friday is the day that Jesus redeemed human kind instead of condemning it. You are redeemed and your redemption cost Jesus is life. It came to you free but was a heavy cost to  Jesus.  If God saw it fit for a donkey to be redeemed how much more mankind...

Let His Presence take the lead "GOD said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." Moses said, "If your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now." (Exod.33.14-15) There is nothing more important than thee presence of God. And Moses knew this. So when God said He will not go with Israel, Moses did all knew how to, to make God go with them.  This story teaches us a lot. How do we get to the place with God that we can influence God's decisions? The Bible shows that Moses stayed with God until He decided to go with them. Moses knew that God was committed more than anything else to His plan and Purpose so Moses approached God from that perspective. He says "If Your presence doesn't take the lead, call this trip off right now"  God couldn't call the trip off because that would violate His word, His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their descendant would inherit the promised land.  ...

Face-to-face with God  "And GOD spoke with Moses face-to-face, as neighbors speak to one another. When he would return to the camp, his attendant, the young man Joshua, stayed--he didn't leave the Tent." ([Exod.33.11)  God and Moses were very good neighbours. They must have lived next to each other so the Bible describes God speaking to Moses, as neighbours speaking to one another.  The bible says that God speaks with Moses face-to-face. I'm reminded of the verse in Proverbs 27.19 that talks about face answering to face as in water.  "As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man." (Prov.27.19 KJV) Moses' face began to reflect God's face so that the Bible records that the children of Israel could look into his face and he had veil his face "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two Tablets of The Testimony, he didn't know that the skin of his face glowed because he had been speaking with God. they would see Mose...

That I may know Him  "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. (Exod.33.13 AMP) It is interest how Moses thought he could know God. He said it is by God showing him, God's ways. An interesting prayer he prayed was "Show me now your way, that I may know you. I'm reminded of the answer God gave Moses. God obviously answered the prayer.  " He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." (Ps.103.7 KJV) This passage tells us that God made His ways known to Moses. So God answers prayers.  Therefore, we know that to know God is to Know God's way. Our text went further to say that this knowledge of God is progressive. That the more of Go...

God above all else "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." (Exod.33.3 NIV) I believe that this verse accounts for one of the major reasons why most of the generation of israelite that came out of Egypt did not not make it into the promise land. The singular fact God was not with them.  God says to them, "Go.. but I will not go with you..." I heard an interest story the other day of a man who was to go and sell his cow at the market. He was told to pray that by the grace of God he shall sell it. But he responded, "Why pray? Is it not to just take the cow to the market and sell it? Why bother God, when I can do it? He left for the market in the morning and did not return until the evening. When he finally did, he was asked how it went. He responded that he truly should have asked God's help. Why they asked him. He said the cow was stolen.  See how a ...

God is committed to your destiny  "GOD said to Moses: "Now go. Get on your way from here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Head for the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying "I will give it to your descendants.'(Exod.33.1)  Israel had sinned against the Lord and He was angry at them, to the point he started referring to His people as Moses' people. God said to Moses, "go your way, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt". But as angry as the Lord was, He was still committed to their destiny which was His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God is more committed to His plans for your life than you realize. He is willing to bring it to pass, If He could do it, in spite of you but He needs you to cooperate with Him. Hence He says to Moses, you and this your people do your part - I'm anxious to get you to where I need you to be, God seem to saying.  How cooperative are you with Him? God sa...

Who is on the Lord's side?  "He took up a position at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is on GOD's side, join me!" All the Levites stepped up." (Exod.32.26)  There is only two sides to the divide, God's side and the devil's side. There is ni middle ground, there is no sitting on the fence. And you are required to pick a side. Moses had gone up the mountain to receive from God tablets of the commandments and took more time than he should in the estimation of the people. And so the came to Aaron and said to him, "make us a god". Question : How do you make a God? Be careful what you do when you think God is delaying. Because that could spell the difference between death and destiny fulfillment. When Moses returned he demanded of them to pick a side. But before he asked them to, he took a position. It is important you take a position. Don't dilly dally could spell doom. Taking a position is not saying yes to God and to good but a...

Dressed, anointed, ordained and consecrated  "Dress your brother Aaron and his sons in them. Anoint, ordain, and consecrate them to serve me as priests." (Exod.28.41)  God has a systemic order in place. Someone has said that He is a God of plan, purpose and design. He is not reactionary, but always active.  In our text we see how He purposes for Aaron and his sons to take office. First they are dressed. We talked about that yesterday and how we should put on  Christ.  Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!" (Rom.13.14)  But He does stop there. He went to say after we have put on Christ, such that when the people see us, it is Christ they see, then comes the anointing. It is anointing that enables us...to be, to have and to do all God has commanded us. Then comes ordination - simply put, it is the recognition of the anointing that is on your life. It is saying that we recognise God's graces and abilities working in and through you. And then comes c...

Clothe yourself with dignity  "Make special clothing for Aaron to show his separation to God--beautiful garments that will lend dignity to his work. (Exod.28.2 NLT) We have all heard the saying that one is addressed as one is dressed. To make the point that what we put on is important because it either brings glory to god or it doesn't. Proverbs talks about the attire of a harlot and also the raiment of a king.  Our text tells us that a beautiful garment of service which were to be made for Aaron the priest, a garment that will lend dignity to the work he was called to do.  The New Testament instructs us to put on Christ.  The Message Bible renders it thus: "Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!" (Rom.13.14)  We are to dress ourselves in Christ. The Apostle Peter admonished us also to be clothed with humility lest you mistake dignity for pride.  "Likewise...

Bring your own oil to servuce "Now, order the Israelites to bring you pure, clear olive oil for light so that the lamps can be kept burning. In the Tent of Meeting, the area outside the curtain that veils The Testimony, Aaron and his sons will keep this light burning from evening until morning before GOD. This is to be a permanent practice down through the generations for Israelites."(Exod.27.20 -21) Imagine that everyone of us that come to church come with our own oil for service?  As Moses was instructed to "order the Israelites to bring pure, clear olive oil for light, that the lamp can be kept burning". The people were to bring their oil. To bring the oil presupposes that they have the oil to bring.  Do you remember the parable of the virgins Jesus told in Matthew 25? If you put this instruction against that parable, we could say the foolish virgins are those who did not bring their oil with them. While the wise virgins who brought their oil were the ones that m...

Leaders also have problems  "Moses told the other leaders, "Stay here and wait for us until we come back. If there are any problems while I am gone, consult with Aaron and Hur, who are here with you." (Exod.24.14 NLT) Moses told the other leaders... Meaning they were all leaders, at different strata of leadership nonetheless leaders they were. "... If there are any problems..." Leaders also have problems.  This disposition that portray leaders as superhuman, as ones who have it all put together and have no problem is a false. It is not real. That's why a lot of people get into trouble they are not able to come out of. Leaders are just as human as the followers and have as much problems if not more problems than the follower.  When one has a problem, the text says for that one to consult with other leaders who were with them. That tells us that no one is an island to oneself. We need each other. We can and should be strong for one another. Instead of pulling...

Climb higher  "GOD said to Moses, "Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I'll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I've written to instruct them." (Exod.24.12)  Fish is not caught by the sea shore neither is gold found on the surface, to get more out of God, you will need to climb higher. God did not give Moses the tablets of stone at the same level where the other leaders were. He asked him to climb higher. To get more you need to climber higher In Exodus 24 God had requested for the leaders of Israel to climb the mountain. And Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel claimed the mountain.  He said to Moses, "Climb the mountain to GOD, you and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. They will worship from a distance; only" (Exod.24.1)  But when God was to give Moses the tablets of stone, Moses was required to climb higher. It is reminiscent of Jesus asking Peter to lunching out in...

They saw God "And saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires--pure, clear sky-blue. He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank." (Exod.24.10 -11)  When Moses and the leaders of Israel climbed up the mountain, our text records that they saw God. They did not only see God but they described for us that He was standing in a pavement made up of sapphire.  We can debate the back and forth of whether a person can see God or not. But what is important to note is that these leaders saw God. They did not only see God, they ate and drank with him. They experienced God v The Bible says that He didnt hurt them but rather ate with them. The picture this passage paints for us is that of communion, the leaders in communion with God. It brings Revelation.3.20 to mind.  "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper wi...