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Exodus 25-40 "God's Dwelling Place"
Exodus 25–40
“God’s Dwelling Place”
Text: Exodus 25–40
Introduction:
Exodus 25–40 shifts the focus of the book.Up to this point, God has delivered His people out of Egypt, brought them through the wilderness, and given them His law at Sinai. The question now is not just how they should live, but how a holy God can live among sinful people.
God gives instructions for the tabernacle—a dwelling place in the middle of the camp. Every detail matters. Nothing is random. This is God showing sinful people how to approach Him.
And right in the middle of it, the people fail. Exodus 32—the golden calf. While God is revealing how He is to be worshiped, the people create a god of their own.
That’s the tension of this entire section: God desires to dwell with His people, but their sin threatens that relationship.
And yet, God does not abandon His plan. By the end of Exodus, the tabernacle is finished… and the glory of the LORD fills it.
The message is simple:
God will dwell with His people, but only through His way.
The Tabernacle — Christ at the Center
A. The Outer Court — Where Sin is Dealt With
- The Gate — The Only Way In. John 10:9 (KJV) “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” There was one entrance into the tabernacle. Not many. One. Jesus says the same thing about salvation—He is the door.
-The Brazen Altar — The Sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV) “…Christ died for our sins…”The first thing you encountered was the altar. Blood. No one approached God without sacrifice. This points directly to the cross—Jesus, the Lamb of God.
-The Laver — The Cleansing
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) “…washing of water by the word,” After sacrifice came washing. Not salvation again—but daily cleansing. God’s Word washes the believer. You cannot come to God without sacrifice and cleansing.
B. The Holy Place — Where Fellowship is Maintained
- The Lampstand — The Light. John 8:12 (KJV) “I am the light of the world…” There were no windows in the tabernacle. This was the only light. Without Christ, everything is darkness.
-The Table of Shewbread — The Provision
John 6:35 (KJV) “I am the bread of life…” Twelve loaves, always present. God providing for His people. Christ sustains the believer daily.
- The Altar of Incense — The Intercession. Hebrews 7:25 (KJV) “…he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” The incense rose continually before God. A picture of prayer. Jesus is our intercessor—He is praying for us.This is where relationship with God is lived out daily.
C. The Most Holy Place — Where God’s Presence Dwells
- The Veil — The Barrier. Hebrews 10:20 (KJV) “…the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” The veil separated man from God. Sin created distance. Matthew 27:51 (KJV) “…the veil of the temple was rent…” When Christ died, the veil was torn. Access was opened.
-The Ark of the Covenant — The Presence. Colossians 2:9 (KJV) “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
The Ark represented God’s throne. Now, the fullness of God dwells in Christ.
-The Mercy Seat — The Atonement. Romans 3:25 (KJV) “…a propitiation through faith in his blood…”
The blood was applied to the mercy seat. Judgment was covered.. Wrath was satisfied. This is where God is—but access was limited until Christ.
Outline: “God’s Dwelling Place”
I. Cleansing (Outer Court — Sin is Dealt With)
- Sin must be confessed, not ignored
- Be honest with God about your sin. Don’t carry what He calls you to confess.
- Forgiveness comes through sacrifice, not effort. Stop trying to earn what Christ has already finished. Cleansing is the starting point, not the finish line
- Don’t stay stuck in guilt—move forward and walk with God.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
II. Communion (Holy Place — Relationship is Practiced)
- God desires daily fellowship. Spend time with Him daily in His Word and in prayer. Spiritual life must be maintained intentionally.
- Feed your soul, stay grounded in truth, and stay in prayer. Closeness with God grows through consistency
- Don’t chase feelings—be faithful, and depth will come.
John 15:4 (KJV)
“Abide in me, and I in you…”
III. Closeness (Most Holy Place — God’s Presence is Experienced)
- Access to God is now open through Christ
- Come boldly—don’t hold back in prayer. God’s presence is personal, not distant
- Walk with Him throughout your day, not just at set times. Closeness changes how we live
- If you’re near God, it will show in your life.
Hebrews 10:22 (KJV)
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
To contact me, please email me at [email protected]
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By Dean Carmichael, JrExodus 25–40
“God’s Dwelling Place”
Text: Exodus 25–40
Introduction:
Exodus 25–40 shifts the focus of the book.Up to this point, God has delivered His people out of Egypt, brought them through the wilderness, and given them His law at Sinai. The question now is not just how they should live, but how a holy God can live among sinful people.
God gives instructions for the tabernacle—a dwelling place in the middle of the camp. Every detail matters. Nothing is random. This is God showing sinful people how to approach Him.
And right in the middle of it, the people fail. Exodus 32—the golden calf. While God is revealing how He is to be worshiped, the people create a god of their own.
That’s the tension of this entire section: God desires to dwell with His people, but their sin threatens that relationship.
And yet, God does not abandon His plan. By the end of Exodus, the tabernacle is finished… and the glory of the LORD fills it.
The message is simple:
God will dwell with His people, but only through His way.
The Tabernacle — Christ at the Center
A. The Outer Court — Where Sin is Dealt With
- The Gate — The Only Way In. John 10:9 (KJV) “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” There was one entrance into the tabernacle. Not many. One. Jesus says the same thing about salvation—He is the door.
-The Brazen Altar — The Sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV) “…Christ died for our sins…”The first thing you encountered was the altar. Blood. No one approached God without sacrifice. This points directly to the cross—Jesus, the Lamb of God.
-The Laver — The Cleansing
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) “…washing of water by the word,” After sacrifice came washing. Not salvation again—but daily cleansing. God’s Word washes the believer. You cannot come to God without sacrifice and cleansing.
B. The Holy Place — Where Fellowship is Maintained
- The Lampstand — The Light. John 8:12 (KJV) “I am the light of the world…” There were no windows in the tabernacle. This was the only light. Without Christ, everything is darkness.
-The Table of Shewbread — The Provision
John 6:35 (KJV) “I am the bread of life…” Twelve loaves, always present. God providing for His people. Christ sustains the believer daily.
- The Altar of Incense — The Intercession. Hebrews 7:25 (KJV) “…he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” The incense rose continually before God. A picture of prayer. Jesus is our intercessor—He is praying for us.This is where relationship with God is lived out daily.
C. The Most Holy Place — Where God’s Presence Dwells
- The Veil — The Barrier. Hebrews 10:20 (KJV) “…the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” The veil separated man from God. Sin created distance. Matthew 27:51 (KJV) “…the veil of the temple was rent…” When Christ died, the veil was torn. Access was opened.
-The Ark of the Covenant — The Presence. Colossians 2:9 (KJV) “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
The Ark represented God’s throne. Now, the fullness of God dwells in Christ.
-The Mercy Seat — The Atonement. Romans 3:25 (KJV) “…a propitiation through faith in his blood…”
The blood was applied to the mercy seat. Judgment was covered.. Wrath was satisfied. This is where God is—but access was limited until Christ.
Outline: “God’s Dwelling Place”
I. Cleansing (Outer Court — Sin is Dealt With)
- Sin must be confessed, not ignored
- Be honest with God about your sin. Don’t carry what He calls you to confess.
- Forgiveness comes through sacrifice, not effort. Stop trying to earn what Christ has already finished. Cleansing is the starting point, not the finish line
- Don’t stay stuck in guilt—move forward and walk with God.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
II. Communion (Holy Place — Relationship is Practiced)
- God desires daily fellowship. Spend time with Him daily in His Word and in prayer. Spiritual life must be maintained intentionally.
- Feed your soul, stay grounded in truth, and stay in prayer. Closeness with God grows through consistency
- Don’t chase feelings—be faithful, and depth will come.
John 15:4 (KJV)
“Abide in me, and I in you…”
III. Closeness (Most Holy Place — God’s Presence is Experienced)
- Access to God is now open through Christ
- Come boldly—don’t hold back in prayer. God’s presence is personal, not distant
- Walk with Him throughout your day, not just at set times. Closeness changes how we live
- If you’re near God, it will show in your life.
Hebrews 10:22 (KJV)
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
To contact me, please email me at [email protected]