1. “The Workman God Uses”
Exodus 31:1-11

2. God intended to used a personalized workforce.
Look at the personal pronouns in the Great Commission!
Are there any more in the New Testament?
Look at the word pictures in II Timothy chapter 2.
Look at the personal testimony of Paul in II Cor. 5, 11, 12.

3. Determine to be a workman that God can use.
What is a description of this workman?

4. He is………………. Selected by God. (vs. 1,2,see also vs. 6)
John 15:16 – “Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you…”
I Cor. 12:1-11 – “For to one is given by the Spirit…to another…to another…to another…(8 times!)

5. He is………………. Enabled by the Holy Spirit (vs. 3-5) In: Wisdom
Understanding
Knowledge
All manner of workmanship to devise…

6. The Holy Spirit began His work in the heart by planting wisdom
The Holy Spirit began His work in the heart by planting wisdom. This wisdom developed into understanding, knowledge, and eventually into the visible workmanship of the tabernacle.
We become aware in John 14,15,16 that the scope of the Spirit’s indwelling includes every believer in this age. Even so, the Holy Spirit enables each believer as He did in the day of Bezaleel.
He begins on the inside, in our hearts, and that work in us grows outward into understanding and knowledge of a work to the work itself. His workmanship is the Fruit of the Spirit in every believer (Gal. 5) and the enablement of the gifts of the Spirit through each believer (I Cor. 12, Rom. 12, Eph. 4)

7. He is………………. Aided by Gifted Men (vs. 6)
It is possible that the Holy Spirit was given only to Bezaleel, and that he taught the other men, though God aided them with wisdom to do the work of the tabernacle.
The work was not meant to be completed by one man. It was a very large work, and the man of God was aided by others. These men all had one thing in common as we shall see in the next point.

8. Even so, today, we are aided in the Lord’s work by gifted men.
The Lord’s work is the work of the local church. The Holy Spirit has equipped the church with gifted men and women. Note that the Body of Christ has many members, each given an ability by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:12)
Do not try to do a work for God outside the local church. You will be working alone and outside of God’s blueprint. Team up with others in this assembly and be aided by gifted vessels, hand picked and prepared by the Spirit.

9. He is………………. Touched in the Heart (vs. 6)
Note how often the heart is mentioned when workers in the tabernacle are described.
Ex. 28:3
31:6
35:10,21,22,25,26,29
36:1,2,8

10. God called these men and they all had wise hearts
God called these men and they all had wise hearts. Their hearts were prepared.
The heart is the seat of our affection. It is the center of man’s reason and will. A man must be touched in the heart and moved into action by his will. So genuine, God-blessed service springs from the inner heart of man. Affection produces action.
Consider Eph. 1:17,18. Paul’s prayer for this church describes an action by God very similar to His work in the heart of Bezaleel.
Our affection, reason, and will must be enlightened by the Spirit. We must be touched in the heart. Be a workman from the heart.

11. He is………………. Directed by the Command of God. (vs. 6b-11)
Twice mentioned:
Vs. 6 – “that they may make all that I have commanded thee,” THAT – the selection, enablement, aiding, etc. is for the purpose of obeying the command of God.
Vs. 11 – “according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.” ACCORDING TO ALL – Precision was important in this obedience, the man God uses WILL obey.
In the context of the filling of the Spirit in Eph. 5 are several directives (commands) for the Christian. The control of the Spirit in the believer’s life will cause him to be obedient in these listed areas.

12. Conclusion: Is there such a thing as divine enablement?
Do you need it?
Do you have it?
Determine to be a workman that God can use. Selected, enabled, aided, touched, and directed.