Building the Temple

Introduction

Fizzy Faith

Items needed: bottle of soda (clear is best) and a bowl or bucket to catch soda when it overflows.

Jesus promised He would give us power to be witnesses of Him when we receive the Holy Ghost. Don’t quench the Spirit!

Shake bottle and open lid enough to fizzle, but tighten it quickly so you don’t let any out.

Notice how tightening the cap back on the bottle prevents anything from really happening, although we all see the great potential to make a big mess.

I want to challenge you to let the power of the Holy Ghost use you.

Shake the bottle if fizz has settled and open lid to allow the soda to flow out.

Just like you saw me open the lid on this bottle, God desires for you to open your mouth and let the Spirit oof God speak through you.

Building the Temple

How to Eat an Elephant

Let me ask you a question that has perplexed humanity for centuries. It’s not one to be taken lightly. And the answer can lead to being successful in many areas in your life…

How do you eat an elephant?

The right answer is: One bite at a time.

No matter how big of a mouth you might have or what method you use to cook the elephant, no person alive can shove the entire animal, truck and all, into their mouth at one time. If you ever wanted to really do it, you would have to go with very small pieces, over many days.

The same is true fr any project you’re working on. Anything that requires more than one step. You have to take each task one at a time.

Now… with that in mind, how would you go about constructing a new church? What would you need to do first?

David faced that question when he decided to build a Temple for God.

The Desire of David’s Heart

David in the Bible has been called many different things. “The sweet psalmist of Israel.” “The Shepherd King.” But most commonly, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).

Even though his life wasn’t perfect - he really did some bad stuff - he showed true repentance when he made mistakes and valued what was important to the Lord.

Maybe the best example of David valuing what God valued was the passion he had in desiring to build a house for the Lord. But because he had been a man of war who had personally spilled blood and commanded armies who did the same, God said that he wasn’t fit to build the Temple (1 Kings 5:3).

David accepted this. And he dedicated his final years to making preparations for his son to bring his vision into existence. He didn’t take it lightly. He didn’t become offended. Instead, he gave everything he had t the task God decided was best for him to do.

1 Chronicles 22:5 NKJV

5 Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.

It is impressive that David did not grow bitter about his inability to do what he wanted to accomplish for God.

Far too often, we believe that if we have the right motive (to expand God’s kingdom), God is obligated to bless out efforts. The promises of God are dependent on His timing, not ours. And sometimes, the fruit of our efforts will not be seen until the next generation. But God knows best!

Has anyone ever accused you of being lazy? Were they correct?!

You know, there’s an old expression that says, “There are ditches on both sides of the road.” In other words, you’ll be in trouble if you go to the extreme in either direction.

The same is true in your life. It’s possible to work so hard that you end up getting burnt out and not taking care of yourself. Most of us aren’t in danger of falling into that ditch. We’re more likely closer to the danger of the ditch of idleness - resting so much that it gets us in trouble.

Proverbs 6:6–11 NKJV

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

I think we all understand what happens when we kick over the top of an anthill. Do you think those ants are panicking, or do you think they have a plan?

QUESTION: What lessons can you learn from this example in Scripture? How do you need to be more like the ant who diligently works to prepare for the future?

Proverbs 10:4–5 NKJV

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Now… these scriptures are important for our lesson today because the Bible tells us at the start of chapter ten that these proverbs were specifically written by Solomon.

Notice anything similar between the scriptures we’ve just read? What was said about the ant is applied to humanity. Specifically, the wise son and the son who causes shame.

Solomon, Now It’s Your Turn

So, the Bible describes the materials David collected for the purpose of building the Temple. In his own words, David said:

1 Chronicles 29:2 (NLT)

Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God…

David had sacrificed by giving from his own personal supply, also:

Gold: 3,000 talents

Silver: 7,000 talents

Now, while we aren’t sure of the exact conversion rate of a talent to our time, the most common rate tells us that the talent equaled about 75.39 pounds.

Have students calculate on their phones the amount of gold and silver that would be in pounds (Gold: 226,170 lbs; Silver: 527,730 lbs).

King David provided all of this blessing to the next generation with the expectation that Solomon would accomplish what God restricted his father from doing.

But David didn’t only give him the materials to build the Temple - he instilled in him the work ethic to get it done! Listen to his instructions to Solomon:

1 Chronicles 22:16 KJV 1900

Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.

Those directions to Solomon had three very important details:

You’ve got all you need to get this done.

Get up and get working.

Your work will not be enough - you need help from God.

We need to apply those three points to our own life!

God won’t require of you what He hasn’t already equipped you with. You’ve got what you need!

Don’t waste what He’s given you! Get up and get going with it - no matter what everyone else is doing! Get to work in the kingdom of God!

Depend on God to help you. You’re not alone!

There is a time in every generation when those who have gone before us are no longer taking the active role in advancing the kingdom of God. The fifth chapter of 1 Kings tells the story of Solomon’s actions once he found himself in this situation.

His father David had died, leaving Solomon with the plans and materials to build the Temple.

Now, it was up to HIM to decide what to do. His father was no longer there. There’s certainly a difference in being told what to do and deciding what you’re going to do on your own. Here’s how Solomon responded:

1 Kings 5:5 NKJV

And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

This is the moment when building the Temple was no longer just something David wanted to do but was what Solomon would accomplish!

In 1 Kings 5:6, Solomon told a man that he would pay whatever the cost was to get the cedar trees needed for construction of the Temple.

Even though David sacrificed a lot, that doesn’t mean there will be no sacrifice for Solomon.

We have to be willing to count the cost and pay the price to see God’s will accomplished.

We often think that of the will of God as a burdensome task that no one in his or her right mind would ever want to take on, but we have to do it to avoid a life of total misery - just ask Jonah!

And verse 12 teaches us that one result of doing the will of God for our life will lead to personal blessing. After Solomon took the steps he needed to build the Temple…

1 Kings 5:12 KJV 1900

And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

God’s promises are activated through our obedience! So, if you know that God desires for you do something for His kingdom, don’t let anything stop you! Begin by eating that elephant… one bite at a time!

Conclusion

Give a student a wadded piece of paper and ask them to throw it in the trash can at least ten feet away from them. If they make the shot, have them do it again until they miss.

Next, set the trash can right in front of them and have them drop the paper in. You are guaranteeing them success.

What would you do for God is you had a 100% guarantee of success?

Many of us may struggle to answer that question, but I want to make sure you understand that it doesn’t have to be that way in your life. The Bible promises us that God will help us answer that question:

Psalm 37:4 NKJV

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

To receive this promise, you are called to delight yourself in the Lord. In other words, build your relationship with God to the place where He is most important in your life.