Intro:

1.  Family could not locate child    

            a.  Found him at the bottom of the pool

            b.  Performed CPR, miracle, brought him back

            c.  Imagine the panic

2.  God never loses sight of his children

3.  He knows who are his, and has a place for each of them

4.  Text - Numbers 1-4

 

 

I.  Text overview

            A.  Chap 1 - Census of all the 12 tribes (1:1-4) Useful for land divisions

                        - Levites numbered separately - (not get land) (1:47-53)

            B.  Chap 2 - Land division

                        - 3 tribes to east, south, west, and north

            C.  Chap 3 - Aaron and census of Levites

                        a.  3 tribes of Levites - Gershon, Kohath, and Merari

                        b.  Gershonites - Tabernacle, tent, covering, scroon, hangings

                                    - Camp behind tabernacle

                        c.  Kohathites - Ark, and furnishings

                                    - Camp south side of tabernacle

                        d.  Merarites - Frames, bars, pillars, sockets

                                    - Camp north side of tabernacle

                        d.  Aaron and his sons and Moses in front of tabernacle

            D.  Paul said O.T. things written for our instruction

                        - What can we learn about God from this?

 

II.  God’s house is a place where all are accounted for

            A.  Each of the families in God’s house were numbered

                        1.  Someone once said numbers not important

                        2.  Yes they are, they represent people

            B.  God knows who are his

                        1.  He doesn’t identify us by numbering us any longer

                        2.  (2 Cor 1:20-22) - God is faithful, gave us the Spirit

                                    a.  Called a pledge (down payment)

                                    b.  Called a seal

                        3.  (Eph 1:14) - A pledge of our inheritance

            C.  ILL:  Have a college transcript

                        1.  Has a seal on it - Shows it came from the school

                        2.  Protects from tampering and giving false transcript

                        3.  No one tamper with our inheritance

            D.  John give a picture of this in (Rev 7:1-8)

                        1.  12 represent God’s people

                        2.  1000 represent completeness to third degree

                        3.  12000 all of God’s people from each tribe - SEALED!!

                        4.  Rev 9:4 - Protected because of the seal

            E.  Our Lord knows who are his

                        1.  He is good shephered, knows sheep not by number, but name

                        2.  Very hairs of your head are numbered!

                        3.  Nothing to worry about

                                    Nothing, not even death of life come between you

 

III.  God’s house is a place where everyone has a place and function

            A.  We saw in Israel’s layout, they order was for a reason

                        1.  Everyone had a specifice place in God’s house

                        2.  Even levites, who numbered separately had a function

            B.  Today, everyone in God’s house has a function

                        1.  (Eph 4:7-10) - Just as freed Israel captivity, freed us

                                    a.  Gave gifts - What gifts?

                                    b.  (v.11-13) Various ministries

                                                - Equipping for Ministry

                                                - Build up the body

                                                - To maturity

                                    c.  (v.14-16) - Held together by what?

                                                - That which every joint supplies

                                                - Proper working of each individual part

                                                - Body grows in love

                        2.  (1 Cor 12:12-27)

                                    a.  Each member is important

                                    b.  We need ALL members, no lone rangers in body

                                    c.  More honor to unseemly members

                                    d.  Share each other’s suffering and joy

            C.  ILL:  Jimmy Franklin said

                        1.  God is always building his house

                        2.  God doesn’t use junk to build his house

                        3.  He has a job for every single one of you

            D.  Where do I fit in?

                        1.  (Rom 12:4-8) - Serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership

                                    mercy

                        2.  Are you a mother, father?  You are a youth minister

                                    a.  Don’t wait around for someone else

                                    b.  Your #1 ministry is to your children

                        3.  LTC - Ministry with kids.  Stay tuned.  Manual coming out

 

Concl:

1.  Bottom line - You are important

            a.  God sealed you into his body

            b.  God integrated you in the body

            c.  Have you integrated yourself in the body?

2.  Many do different kinds of service - prison work, give (CFS), counselors, VBS

      Bible classes, food to sick, visit, cards, painted the building...

3.  Don’t be discouraged - Even if no one else notices, God does!!

4.  Have you been sealed?  Received Holy Spirit?  Baptized?