A New Kind of Temple Rich Yauger
God is not building a place, He s building a people a people who are called the Church!
We have to remember who we are and the purpose for our existence.
Building terms are used to describe a people being built by God: We are God s house (Hebrews 3) We are a temple (1 Corinthians 3, Ephesians 2) We are a dwelling place for God s Spirit (Ephesians 2)
At the heart of the word tabernacle or temple in the Old Testament is the desire of a holy God to dwell among people.
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. - Exodus 25:8 9
And let them make me a SANCTUARY, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the TABERNACLE, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. - Exodus 25:8 9 Sanctuary = a consecrated or holy thing or place; a hallowed part, like a chapel; an area devoted to the sphere of the sacred. Tabernacle carries the basic meaning of residence.
The tabernacle was a demonstration of God s desire to meet with humans to reveal Himself and His glory to His people.
Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 2:1
The temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. 2 Chronicles 5:13 14
O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! 2 Chronicles 6:14, 18
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, He is good; His love endures forever. 2 Chronicles 7:1 3
God has this glorious, incomprehensible desire to meet us on our turf and reveal His glory to us.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
The Word became flesh and DWELT among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Made His dwelling among us Made His home among us Took up residence among us Moved into the neighborhood
Everything in the Old Testament tabernacle or temple points to the Person of Jesus Christ.
In Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. Colossians 2:9
God has always shown a desire to make His presence known and allow His glory to be seen.
Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
We are how God reveals Himself across the street and around the world.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19 22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The Apostles and Prophets proclaimed the Word of God and used it to shape the foundation of the Church.
The win for us is to do what the Bible says and not just listen to what the Bible says.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF BEING THE CORNERSTONE, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Nothing other than knowing, savoring, looking to and pointing to Jesus Christ will ever hold the Church together. Only Jesus is big enough to hold a people together.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD BY THE SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit s role is to put God on display in our life.
He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:7 8