Theme: CHURCH
Lesson: THE CHURCH, A TEMPLE
Scripture Reference: 2Chr.7:12
The Christian Church, the people of God, are called ‘temple’ because of the functions performed in the illustrated temple before now in the will of God before Christ came. Temples were formations in which sacrifices were made as found in our lead text above.
When our Lord Jesus attempted to explain to people of His day that the shadowy temple built with hands by King Solomon illustrated the substantial temple of our bodies which God will build and dwell in alone, the people misunderstood Him as in “John 2:15,16,18-21”. Besides the offering of sacrifices, what made that temple ‘heavenly unique’ was the presence of the box (ark) which served as the symbol of God’s power among His people because it contained the commandments of God. (See 2Chr. 6:41)
The aforementioned Scripture has shown that the power to hold the temple, whether in the shadow or preparatory document of Old Testament (biblically speaking) or in the substantial or fulfilled document of the New Testament, is the WORD OF GOD. Any vessel or human being in whom the word of Christ is found is powerful; he can do ‘all things’ or face all conditions by the power that is only resident in Christ – cf. Phil. 4:13. Hallelujah! Such life is a life named after the covenant of God.
Just as that ark was the ark (box) of the covenant (containing God’s word), the individual is ‘a person of the covenant’ because he allows the doctrine of Christ to direct his life.
When the word of God departs God’s throne in heaven, it is accompanied with myriads of angels in heaven deployed to guard it. That is done so that principalities through demons in the heavenly (spirits’) places or realms will not destroy its efficacy. Any heart, therefore, that opens its door to house the word of God has received power, security and all graces supplied by God. God’s word will secure the place in which it is accepted as a principle of life. Bet it and see it draw same way. (See 1Pet.3:12,13) God is always mindful of, and also secure whatever goes out from His throne to the earth and the place (temple) such treasure from heaven is admitted will surely enjoy the same security and maintenance.
In conclusion, if the word of Christ is found in any person as a guide to life, such person is the temple of God. It is the presence of God in His word that makes it a temple because, through the life of the person, God is to be made known. (cf. John 14:8-11)
The sacrifices of prayers, offerings of hospitality, evangelism, etc. which we undertake daily are the fulfillments of the sacrifices which took place in the temple made with human hands in the Old Testament. So, if God lives in believing people and reveals how good He is today and not in Church cathedral/halls as some of us errantly believe, then, enough of spending more money and resources constructing cathedrals (in which God never lives) to the detriment of the true temples (human believers) who sometimes neither can pay their rents nor live in life-enhanced conditions. So, beloved brethren, let us consider giving more attention to the place God abides than the material shelter in which we fellowship intermittently. (See 1John 3:17-19; 4:20,21) I pray that God bless you with His grace and understanding. Amen!
EVALUATION QUESTIONS:
1. We just learned that we are a temple God has built in Christ. What are the building materials?
2. What is God’s important treasure in this God’s building that always attracts God’s insurmountable security?
3. What can be the evidence(s) to enable us conclude that some of God’s buildings (human beings), God cannot complete and inhabit because He has been resisted?
4. According to ‘Jam. 4:1-4’, do children of God fight their war of righteousness from outside or inside them?
5. If Abraham had to separate from his earthly relatives to start with God, what are we expected to separate from to be God’s temple?
6. To please God, Saul had to kill all in Amalek and never to remain (See 1Sam.15:1-3). How many acts of our sinful nature are we expected to crucify likewise before qualifying to be God’s temple as in ‘Gal. 2:20; 5:24 & 1Cor.9:27?
VIA:
Michael Ekperikpe (MSN)
READ AND REAP BIBLE ENTERPRISES
P/S:
-Any issues to commit to God in prayer?
-Any seemingly difficult Scripture(s)?
Feel free to share with me. Remember, ‘Iron sharpens iron’. (Prov. 27:17)
