Ye Are The Temple (2c)

If we allow things in our lives that put us in bondage and glorify not God. we are dishonoring God and the temple of God.

the spirit of God will not dwell in a temple that is unholy or defiled

1 Peter 1:13–16 NKJV

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We are to build this temple to a Holy standard…not unto ignorance as where we where formerly…but unto Holiness

Proverbs 6:9 NKJV

9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

the bible also says that “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Haggai 1:1–5 NKJV

1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

the first temple was built in the days of Solomon.

this temple was built in approx. 966 BC

and the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

the second temple was the temple of Zerubbabel

this temple was rebuilt starting in 538 BC by Zerubbabel (which was Governor of Juda) and Joshua the high priest.

It took approx. 2 years for the foundation to be built.

We as born again believers have laid a foundation through the new birth experience of being “born again”

this was but the beginning, the foundation on which our house or temple would be constructed upon.

yet, how many times have we procrastinated the building of the house of the Lord within us…or have allowed it to become desolate and neglected.

while we live out our lives in our earthly houses and deal with the cares of life and not with our spiritual house.

Ephesians 2:20 NKJV

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

all to often, the foundation is laid but the house in neglected and stands in ruins.

the completion of the second temple was approx. 516 BC

It took Zerubbabel two years to rebuild the foundation of the temple. Then construction was delayed by Samaritan settlers whose friendly overtures masked a hidden hostility (Ezra 4:1–5).

How often do we have so called friends that tell us they respect our beliefs…but all the while they pull us away little by little.

As a result of the opposition to the temple construction, Persia withdrew support for the project, and for seventeen years the temple sat unfinished (Ezra 4:21).

while the foundation was already laid....17 years passed before construction would begin.

we sometimes do this in our walk with God…we are all about laying the foundation…but building upon that foundation is a little bit more challenging or uphill (so to speak)

the former is relatively easy but the latter requires the whole of us

Haggai 1:6–11 NKJV

6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

All these verses represent several things in the life a a christian.

a state of dissatisfaction

a state of discontentment

a state of wanting

Daniel 5:27 NKJV

27 Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;

1want•ing \ˈwän-tiŋ\ adjective 15th century 1 : not present or in evidence: absent 2 a: not being up to standards or expectations b: lacking in ability or capacity: deficient1

Finally, God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage and support Zerubbabel (Ezra 5:1–2), and the work on the second temple resumed. Four years later, in 516 BC, the temple was completed and dedicated with great fanfare

The next verse in Haggai gives us a glimpse of “The coming glory of God’s House”

Haggai 2:1–10 NKJV

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ 6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

the former temple was not quit what the latter temple was...

but there was an awesome promise that was given in that scripture.

The bible reminds us, if we work, if we build this temple as Holy unto the Lord and we serve him with all our hearts....the latter glory and reign will be better than the former for us...

It most definitely will be in the latter reign in heaven, but can be now for us in our passionate walk with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

each and every one of us should be so thankful that we serve a God of second chances!

Haggai 2:15–19 NKJV

15 ‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord— 16 since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. 18 ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ ”

there is no better time than the present to give ourselves wholly to the Lord...though we may have allowed the temple to go to ruin, though we have neglected it before....

the Lord is telling us that old things are passed away and all things be be as new.....

Is the seed yet in the barn?

do we still have the desire we once had?

do we still want to be everything we can for the Lord?

do we still want to honor him?

we cannot allow the seed (our witness, our purpose) to remain in the barn...

we must put hand to plow and labor as unto the Lord...not looking back.