What does each one carry
Based on “UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU CARRY” – Pr Joubert Montalti 28.09.2020
When God gave directions regarding the obligations of each tribe, the Levites (from the tribe of Levi) were entrusted with the sacred services. There were 3 families of the tribe of Levi: Gershon (Gersonites), Coate (Koatites) and Merari (Merarites). These families should not carry out work in the field, but dedicate themselves totally to the work of the Tent of God’s presence.
Numbers 4:
4The service of the Kohathites in the Tent is that of taking care of the most holy things.
15When the camp is disarmed, Coate’s descendants will come to take the sacred objects only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering the Tent and all its objects. Coate’s family group shall not touch sacred objects; if they do, they will die.
“Those are the Tent things that Coate’s family group must take.
24The service of the Gershonites is to work in the Tent and carry loads. 25They will carry the Tent, the coverings inside and out, the covering of fine skins and the entrance curtain. 26They will also carry the curtains for the court, the curtain for the court door that is around the Tent and the altar, its cords, and all the objects they need for their work.
[the Merarites] 31What they will have to take, according to their service in the Tent, is as follows: the boards, the cables, the pillars and the bases of the Tent; 32the columns of the courtyard that surrounds the Tent, its bases, stakes and ropes, with all its objects and with everything that belongs to its service. Give each man a list of the things he must bring.
[1]

Meraritas – basic structures, fundamentals of the tent.
Gersonites – utensils, ornaments and equipment.
Kohathites – the holy and sacred things.
Regardless of which family brought what, let’s focus on the following: somebody brought the structure and somebody else brought the utensils and ornaments. Up to this point, what there was was simply a tent. Only when someone brought the holy things did that tent become something special, because the presence of God was there!
The church can be understood as something similar to the tent of God’s presence and, as such, it also has three categories of objects that are important:
1- The tent needs to have a structure; the church needs to have a place where we meet. This place may even be outdoors, but it needs to be something determined, organized by someone or some group so that we can go there and congregate. This structure also comprises the orientation of the church. This means which events, how will these events be, who should do what in each function necessary for the event which may be worship, word study, intercessory prayers, parties etc. All this structure is important, but it is not essential. This structure is necessary to fulfill the purpose of the church which is to worship God, spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and contribute to saving people.

2- The tent needs to have its utensils and adornments; the church needs to have its ministries. Someone or some group needs to organize the praise, the technical part, the cleaning, the preaching, etc. There are these groups that take care of this in almost every church. And not only restricted to worship, as we have seen, the structure of the church also comprises the events that it promotes outside the building we call “church”. Note that these utensils and ornaments are important and make the church more complete, however, they are not essential. It is possible to have a church without a worship group. It’s less pleasant, but not impossible. It is even possible to have a church without the preacher (the one who brings the message from the pulpit), because we can all read the Bible. In fact, in the church revival of the last century there was no worship, just a place where Christians knew that by going there they would meet other Christians. They went anytime and stayed there together, praying. Sometimes someone, taken by the Holy Spirit, said some things and fell silent again. Sometimes it even occurred to the organizer of that place (by discernment of spirit) to remove from the place a supposed “preacher” who was there to aggrandize himself!
[two]

About the Azusa Street Revival: taken from wikipedia
No musical instruments were used. Because they weren’t needed. No choir of angels was heard by any in the spirit. No offers were taken. No advertisements were written to announce the meetings. No church organization was behind this. Everyone who is in contact with God as soon as he enters the meetings realizes that the Holy Spirit is the leader.
3- The tent needs to receive the holy objects; the church needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the presence of God! In Moses’ time, the presence of God was represented by the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. When the ark was placed inside the tent by the porters and after they left, Aaron and his sons entered the place and removed the covers from the ark. Purification rituals were performed and the people could begin to bring their sacrifices to the services of the tabernacle. Today in the church the presence of God is the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is brought by us, for He dwells in us!
[3]
“The structure will only work if the presence of God is being manifested within it!”
Pr Joubert Montalti
This is the essential part of the church. We who are children of God and bring his spirit! Because if the “praises” are not filled with the Holy Spirit, they will only be singers and the praise will only be music. Without the presence of God, the celebration service becomes a simple gathering. Without the presence of God, baptism becomes a dive. Without the presence of God, a feast to celebrate the blessings received and to thank God for them becomes a feast to satisfy the desire of the flesh.
Brothers, the big difference is in the presence of God, it is not in the structure, nor in the adornments, it is in each one of us!
Some buildings that were once churches full of believers are now empty. Despite everything working perfectly, well organized and shining, these churches have lost the presence of God.

With fewer faithful, churches are put up for sale in France
Daniela Fernandes
[22/02/2013]

Due to disuse, churches in the Netherlands become cafes, museums and even bars
Alexia Saraiva
[09/01/2019]

Let’s go a little deeper…
Numbers 7
1On the day Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent, he anointed it and dedicated it to the service of God, along with all the objects in the Tent and altar. 2Then the heads of the family groups, who were leaders of the tribes of the people of Israel, the same men who were taking care of the number of the people, 3brought their offerings to God the Lord, that is, six covered wagons and twelve oxen. Two chiefs each offered a cart, and each an ox; and put everything in front of the Tent. 4The Lord said to Moses:
5 — Receive the carts and oxen to be used for the service of the Tent; and give these offerings to the Levites, each according to the service he does.
6Then Moses gave the carts and oxen to the Levites. 7To the descendants of Gershom he gave two carts and four oxen, according to their work. 8To the descendants of Merari, also according to their service, Moses gave four carts and eight oxen. This service was directed by Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron. 9But Moses gave the descendants of Koath neither carts nor oxen, for the sacred objects they cared for had to be carried on their shoulders.
This excerpt brings one more interesting point. Those in charge of structures and utensils received help. They received oxen and carts to carry the materials for which they were responsible. However, those who carried the sacred objects did not receive oxen or carts, as they had to carry such objects on their shoulders!
Today the Holy Spirit dwells in us. In each of us. As in the Old Testament, today the sacred “object” is still carried on the shoulders of those responsible for it. And that’s how it should be.

The worship team can look to have a better microphone, better speakers, and so on. but you must always remember that the presence of God is not carried in these devices.
The preacher can and should prepare well, use slides and bring the preaching in a tablet, but he needs to be aware that this structure doesn’t work without the essential thing that should be on his shoulders: the Holy Spirit!
[5]
And now the most important. What I would like us to take as a lesson today: each one of us who come here and sit down to hear the praise (and praise along) and hear the word of God must also carry within us the Holy Spirit. For without this presence within us it can be the best organized service, with the most talented worshipers and within the most beautiful church that we will continue to feel empty!
Let us pray:
Father thank you for this teaching. Engrave in our hearts the lesson that your presence is what really matters. Help us to make every task a worship of the Lord. Help us, Father, to carry within us your Holy Spirit! Amen.