5/26/2026

Author: Nehemiah Castillo

Exodus 30:34-38

The Incense

34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather fragrant spices—resin droplets, mollusk shell, and galbanum—and mix these fragrant spices with pure frankincense, weighed out in equal amounts. 35 Using the usual techniques of the incense maker, blend the spices together and sprinkle them with salt to produce a pure and holy incense. 36 Grind some of the mixture into a very fine powder and put it in front of the Ark of the Covenant,[a] where I will meet with you in the Tabernacle. You must treat this incense as most holy. 37 Never use this formula to make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the Lord, and you must treat it as holy. 38 Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.”

The Incense was used to prepare and sanctify the place of meeting with God’s presence. It was holy, exclusive, and only meant to be used for God’s presence.

36 put it in front of the Ark of the Covenant,[a] where I will meet with you in the Tabernacle.

The Incense was meant

 TO MARK THE HOLY PLACE AS SET APART FOR GOD.

 TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE NEEDED TO INVITE HIS PRESENCE.

 TO ALLOW US TO MEET WITH HIM IN HIS PRESENCE.

37 Never use this formula to make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the Lord, and you must treat it as holy.

It was not meant

x FOR SELF USE.

x FOR WORDLY USE.

x FOR IMITATION OR DUPLICATION.

The Incense was God-Given, God-Designed, God-Directed, and God-Exclusive. It was Holy because it was His. The Incense can represent and reflect the gifts God has given each of us in our own lives and in our own ways.

Connection

1. Gifts are God-Given, not self-made.

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

God created your gift. | God chose your gift. | You do not own your gift.

If God Designed it, God Defines It.

You are not meant to decide how your gift will be used. If you were given a broom but tried to use it as a mop you would not get very far. In the same way, you were not meant to change the intention of the gift God has given you. You must surrender and trust that God knew what He was doing when He gave you your gift. (Spoiler, God Knows All Things, Including You) He designed you and has placed in you the things He saw fit for you. It not your job to question Him or try to return it. It your job to use it as He intended for His honor and glory, and to invite His presence into your life.

- Romans 12:6

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

God gave your gift. | God owns your gift. | You maintain the gift.

Your Gift was given through grace.

Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. We can never earn or achieve the gifts God has given to each of us. You are meant to manage the gift God has given you. A manager is not the owner, instead the manager does what the owner commands. In the same way you are meant to do what the owner of your gift commands you to. So whatever God has commanded, JUST DO IT.

Self-Reflection:

What is something you feel God calling you to do?

2. Gifts are Holy when used for Him, but are destructive when used for self.

- Judges 13:4

5 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

- Judges 16:20

20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.

God Directs your gift. | God defines your gift. | God restores your gift

Your gift loses it’s intention and holiness when it leaves its assignment.

Samson was set apart and dedicated to God from birth, His strength was holy and was meant for the deliverance of God’s people. In a way, it was meant to reunite God’s people to freedom in the Lord’s presence, but because of His desire for self-pleasure and self-will His gifts became destructive. It had lead him to be separated from God, not because of what God had done, but because Samson chose to reject the Lord’s direction and correction. Our gifts can lose it’s intention when we leave the assignment God has given us. That is why we were never meant to decide what we should do with our gifts, because our nature and desire will lead us astray from what God has intended.

- Exodus 30:38

38 Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.”

Samson used the gift God had given Him for his personal use, but because of it, the Lord had left Him. He was cut off from the promise God had intended. Samson was meant to deliver His people, but instead failed due to His own faults and desires.

- Judges 16:28-30

28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.

God can restore the gift He has given to you. But before your gift can return, your heart must return. There can be times that we lose focus and start to use our gifts for self-gain (there doesn’t have to be) but that doesn’t mean we have to stay in our shame. God can restore us and use us. The story may look a little different than He intended, but He can still do it. So even if you lose focus, if you return to God, He can allow your gift to return to you the way He intended. So don’t lose hope.

Self-Reflection:

Am I using my gift the way God has intended? If so, how am I using my gift? If not, how can I change that?

3. Gifts prepare the place where God wants to meet us.

- Exodus 30:36

36 Grind some of the mixture into a very fine powder and put it in front of the Ark of the Covenant,[a] where I will meet with you in the Tabernacle. You must treat this incense as most holy.

- 2 Chronicles 5:13- 14

13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD.

God purposes your gift. | God positions your gift. | God is invited by your gift.

Your gift is not the presence of God, but it creates a space for His presence to be revealed.

The incense was not the presence of God, but it was used to prepare the tabernacle for the presence of God. Never mistake your gift as the presence of God. It is an invitation and preparation. The musicians were not the presence of God, but because they used their gifts as God intended He entered into the temple. Our gifts create an atmosphere and environment where the Holy Spirit can move. That is why it is so vital to use them as God has intended, or else we will miss the moments and experiences that God wants us to have.

Self-Reflection:

How can I use my gift to prepare a place for God to meet me?

Conclusion

From the incense to the strength of Samson, scripture shows us this truth:

God Gives gifts that are holy, intentional, and meant to draw us closer to Him.

- The incense was about preparing for God’s presence.

- Samson’s strength was about returning Israel to God’s presence.

- The musicians gifts were about creating an atmosphere for God’s presence.

The same is true for us. Your gift, no matter what that may be, is meant to prepare your heart and your environment for the presence of God. It is meant to invite the Holy Spirit to have fellowship with you. But when we use our gifts for ourselves, it brings destruction, something God never intended. But as always His mercy and grace is something we could never undo, which gives us hope for redemption and restoration.

So, our job is to

1. Direct your gift: God has given it purpose now seek His direction.

2. Protect your gift: From compromise and self-gain.

3. Prepare your gift: as a place where the Holy Spirit can meet you.

4. Return your gift: should you ever lose focus, return so God can restore.

Because when your gift belongs to Him, your life will too.