BUILDING THE LIVING TEMPLE, Part 1

     God has always sought for a place where His glory can dwell among His people. At several points in history a dwelling place for God's presence was built. He seeks for such a place because He desires to be with His people. While in the past God called His people to build natural temples, today He calls us to build His living temple, His church.

1 Peter 2:5 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. (NKJV) 

     And in building the living temple of God today, much can be gleaned from the experiences of those who built physical temples for the Lord in the past as well as from the instructions given to the New Testament church.

1. The builders had to build according to the blueprint given by God to the leadership. When the Lord commanded the Israelites to build a sanctuary for Him in the wilderness, the Lord said that they were to build it according to the pattern He shall give. When God calls a work to be started, He not only tells us to do the work, He also lays down how it has to be done. We need to be faithful to the vision God gives. We cannot simply build according to our preferences or our plans. The work of God must be established faithfully in accordance to the vision and instructions He provides.

Exodus 25:8-9 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. (NKJV) 

2. The builders gave sacrificially, willingly, and abundantly for the building of the temple. During the building of the tabernacle of Moses, the Lord asked the Israelites to give an offering. But it was not just any offering. He instructed Moses to receive only the offering given "willingly with his heart." God is not after the resources we can offer Him. After all, all these are His. What He looks at is the condition of our hearts when we give. When we commit to the work of God, may we do so willingly.

     How did the people respond? They gave from hearts that were stirred and spirits that were willing. As a result, they gave generously. They offered jewelries of gold, threads, fine linen and more. They offered to God not only willingly but also sacrificially, giving to Him precious possessions in considerable amounts. So much was the offering that they were eventually stopped from giving any further because the building of the tabernacle had more than enough supplies!

Exodus 36:5-6 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.” So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing...(NKJV) 

     David in preparing for the building of Solomon's temple declared that he set his affection on the house of God. This means it was his heart's great delight and burning desire to see God's temple built. And this led him to give over and beyond even his special treasure. 

1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver. (NKJV) 

     What can this mean for us? May we not carry a blessing mentality which only focuses its attention on what it can get out of the church. This can be manifested in a lack of willingness to go the extra mile for God's work, being passive in church and not investing in the body of Christ. We are to have it in our hearts to give of ourselves. Just like King David may we too have our affections set towards God's house. I have noticed that those who give little or none to the work of God also experience very little of God 's power in their lives but those who give to the Lord their time, resources, and talents generously experience Him in mighty ways.

3. God calls the builders and gives them wisdom. When God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle, He also told Moses that He called Bezalel by name to do the work and filled him with the Spirit of God. It is the Lord who calls people to His work.

Exodus 31:1-3 ​ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship...(NKJV) 

     In a similar manner, in Ephesians 4, when the Apostle Paul wrote about the body of Christ, he wrote how it is God Himself who gives some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. And He does not stop at that. Those He calls, He also equips to successfully accomplish that which they are called to as with Bezalel who was filled with the Spirit of God. There are times when what we will be called to do seems beyond us. We need to put our trust in God that He will enable us. Instead of complaining or resisting the assignment, pray that God will pour out His wisdom on you. Those who cooperate with God find themselves experiencing super natural strength. So let us yield!

Click here for part 2...