We have been in a series on finding, understanding and mastering our personal genius or craft.

Genius: exceptional skill, creative power and natural ability in a particular area of activity

Craft: Producing an outcome using skill and experience

Producing an outcome in a particular area of activity using your exceptional skill, creative power, natural ability and experience

Craig and Gareth showed us that our craft is given by God, confirmed and worked out in community for kingdom impact and influence.

Exodus 35:30-34

Moses then said to the Israelites: “Look, the LORD has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

Just over a year ago I had a motorcycle accident - no I did not fall off my bike, I was hit off by a car.The outcome was that the ligaments in my AC joint in my shoulder were shredded and I needed an operation to have repair work done so that my left arm could function again.

So they put this piece of surgical steel in my shoulder to hook the joint in place and fastened it to the bone with these screws.

I was going to show some pictures of the op that the specialist took, but apparently some of you will pass out.

I needed this plate, screws and the surgeon (a master at his craft) to do a work in my shoulder to get it to function to its full potential again and so that my arm could add value.

You may have felt that your craft does not count, is lost or doesn’t add value.

I want to give you a plate and four screws this morning that will make your craft count. That will restore your confidence to function in your craft.

I am trusting the Holy Spirit to fix them in place so that your arm (craft) will not hang limp, but will produce an outcome in a particular area of activity using your exceptional skill, creative power, natural ability and experience

1. Moses means ‘rescued’

2. He was put in a river to save his life and was found by the Pharoah’s daughter and named him Moses because she pulled him out of the water. (Exodus 2)

3. The best you is the rescued you

4. Your identity and you full potential is found in having been rescued from a life and eternity separated from God and brought into the palace, the family of God

5. You have been rescued, bought with a price and saved by grace, you are not your own.

6. If you don’t know what that means or you know but you have never responded to the rescue mission of God through Jesus, today is your day

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The 4 screws come from Bezalel - an amazing guy and a type of Christ in many ways

Your identity is not your craft but in being a son or daughter

Bezalel was a son and his family line is re-enforced by showing that he is a grand son

He knew his identity and so did God.

Romans 8:14

All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

Galatians 3:25-26

But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

You need to know where you belong

Bezalel was part of a family who was part of a tribe - he belonged

Where is your tribe - you belong to the family of God but also to a local church tribe.

This has been tough during lockdown and no in-person meetings but I would encourage you to make sure you belong to a tribe

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Ephesians 2:19

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

1 Peter 2:5 - You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

I believe that Bezalel did not find his identity or his position in his craft or success but in his family and his tribe

Bezalel means ‘in the shadow of God”

1. Come close to God, so close that His shadow falls on you and stay there

2. So close that you can see His outline, His presence

3. So close that you can hear His whisper

4. So close that you can receive His anointing

Filled with God’s Spirit - we have to execute our crafts under the supernatural power of the Spirit

Filled with wisdom, understanding and ability - your craft is God given

Go and read in Exodus 37-39 what this man did filled with wisdom, understanding and ability that was not natural but as a result of working while being filled by the the Holy Spirit

The outcome of this work was that God was worshipped and glory was given to God

Hebrews 10:22

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you

In the shadow I don’t take glory

In the shadow I have protection and safety

In the shadow I don’t work in my own strength

In the shadow I am hidden and He is seen

1. Don’t hold what God has given you to yourself - teach others

2. Learn to teach and teach to learn

3. Everyone can teach someone else something

4. You really know what you are doing when you teach

5. You have to be ahead of someone to teach, you don’t need to know everything

1 Corinthians 14:19

yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also

2 Timothy 2:2

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

I think that we rob the church when we limit ‘teaching others’ to theology, doctrine and morality - teach your craft!

Remember you had to be rescued

Remember who you are

Remember where you belong

Remember to stay and work in the shadow of God

Remember to teach others

Let me pray for us