Building The Temple

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Happy reading!)

For who has despised the day of small things {beginnings}? (Zech 4:10)

Zechariah and Haggai were prophets in the post-exile era of the children of Israel. The people return from their exile to find the temple of God in ruins. Then these prophets – Zechariah and Haggai begin encouraging the people to rebuild the temple.

It is going to be a small beginning; a new movement even in New Life churches here. This day August 1, 2010 we are beginning the building of a new movement – it is called the New Life Movement International. When a new baby comes into this world, we see the small precious life and hold it in our hands; we see a helpless, weak and vulnerable creation, but we rejoice in knowing the tremendous potential in that small baby. Someday the baby will grow up and become a great and glorious person.

In the Bible, we have several examples of men who had small beginnings. Abraham, when he went out of Ur, was making a small beginning. Abraham went out, obeying the voice of God, with just a handful of men and a great promise from God. From this childless couple – Abraham and Sarah, came out a great and mighty nation. From Isaac, and then Jacob came out the children of promise, numbering as stars in heaven. A small seed becomes a big tree; a tender sapling bears fruit. Even personally I have experienced, as would many of you, what it is to start small. On this day 1^st August many years back, I joined a small unknown IT company; then in August 1987 I stepped into Bajaj electricals – IT Division – an insignificant officer in the lowest grade; and in August 2009, after climbing several grades in that company, God called me to leave the job and to devote my time in something far greater and eternally significant - involvement in God’s ministry.

In the Old Testament, there are symbols and types that help us understand the significance of our relationship with God; the temple of God is one such ‘symbol’. In the New Testament, we learn that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of us. 1 Peter 2:5 says: you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. So we learn that we are involved in God’s great work.

The question arises: What can we do – here and now?

We can look back at the Old Testament; how did they build God’s temple then? As the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they carried the Ark of The Covenant – symbolizing the presence of God. This Ark of The Covenant became part of the temple many years later. It was in the time of king David that the preparation for building the temple begin; 2 Samuel 7:12: that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” Later on, after the first temple was destroyed, Zechariah and Haggai begin to rebuild the glorious temple yet again. Haggai 1:3-5: Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!...”

What is your stand now? Do you want to know what to do? CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. You see, we can have our houses; but God is asking “What about My house?” Like David, we can put our priorities in order and have the passion for building God’s house. Nothing happens automatically; there is a responsibility expected from each one of you in the plans and purposes of God for building His house.

There is a price to pay! There is a sacrifice to be made!

1 Chr. 21:24: Then king David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.

1 Chr. 22:14-16 tells us how David made ample preparations for the temple of the Lord. He says that he took trouble – great pains to prepare the building materials.

“Indeed, I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them. Moreover, there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you.”

The talents can be compared to our own gifts that we have received from the Holy Spirit. It is for the building of the temple of God – for the edification of the church. Each one’s gift is unique; and no one is without a gift. 1 Peter 4:10 says: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Our talents and gifts are for use and it does not belong to us; we are to be good stewards. We can also learn from the parable of Jesus about talents. Do not bury your talents!

Build on the true foundation

1 Cor. 3:11,12 says: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

We cannot build on any man’s foundation; no other person except Jesus Christ. No organization, but Jesus Christ alone! Men will fail, organizations will fail and disappear; but Jesus never fails. Christ alone – the unshakable solid foundation on which the church can stand the test of time. It’s not the faith on fathers, parents or siblings; but Christ alone.

Build with the right materials

Once you fix your foundation, now build with the right materials; if you start with wood, hay or straw, the house is not going to last long – for it will be tested with fire. Our life-long work may be in vain, if we have not started with the right materials. You may save yourself but the work will be in vain (v15).

Build for His glory

It is not work for the Lord that is going to be rewarded, but work IN the Lord that will have its reward. Romans 11:36 says: For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

We have received all things from Him and to His glory we build. All belongs to Jesus. If we have this attitude, then we are building with the right materials and the Lord will be with us. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Psalm 127:1). And Jesus says, without me you can do nothing. Zechariah encouraged the people saying: Not by might, nor by power; but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts (Zech 4:6)

Now do you know what you can do? All that we can do will amount to nothing if Christ is not in it. Do all for His glory; we can never go wrong. The kingdom and the power and the glory belongs to Him – our God and our Father. God is shaping us in these times. Let us willingly submit ourselves. You see, the stones for the temple were cut right at the quarry; then when it reached the site, it would just fit in the proper place of that glorious temple building that was Solomon’s work.

Arise and begin working and the Lord be with you. Amen.