The Pattern of Heaven
Teach us to Trust • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsMany people in America have come to believe that Christianity is a personal experience instead of a corporate activity. Today, we will look at the significance of the temple of God and how that effect our corporate worship to God.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
I want to pause and pray for Torin and Cameron this morning as they are about to welcome baby #2 into the world.
As Thanksgiving comes to an end, people start preparing for Christmas and celebrating the birth of Emmanuel, which marks the beginning of the holiday season. However, before the hustle and bustle of Christmas, we wanted to set our focus on the coming year and the work that the Lord has called us to do.
In our series "Teach us to Trust," we discussed not only the first fruits of blessing but also what God has called us to do in the upcoming year. Since November 2017, when we moved into this building, I have been asking God how we could impact our city with the hope of the gospel. Finally, I believe that He has brought clarity and vision to that prayer.
This month, we introduced our Never Alone ministry for mental wellness, which will be the seed for future mental wellness ministries. Last week, we introduced Promise 686, which focuses on helping families and the foster care system. Both of these ministries will not only change lives but also allow us to bring generational change through the gospel.
This morning, I want to bring our focus and attention to one more ministry for next year, which is the building of the new house of God and the community center.
God has been in building campaigns since he first established a people for Himself. Some might question the importance of a building, but God has always had a physical example of his communion with his people. The tabernacle, temple, and sanctuary have always served as the meeting place between God and His people, the gathering of those filled with the Spirit of God that make up the Spiritual house of the Lord.
The Tabernacle of Heaven
The Tabernacle of Heaven
The Throne room of heaven
The Throne room of heaven
The throne of God in the midst
The throne of God in the midst
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Surrounded by The twelve tribes of Israel
Surrounded by The twelve tribes of Israel
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
Joined by a great multitude
Joined by a great multitude
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
The Pattern is given to Moses
The Pattern is given to Moses
1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
What do you think Moses saw when God showed him this pattern? I think he saw what we just read in Revelation.
The Tabernacle is the pattern of the throne room.
The Tabernacle is the pattern of the throne room.
The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
The presence of the Lord in the cloud by day and fire by night.
The presence of the Lord in the cloud by day and fire by night.
The Tabernacle was to be built through the generosity of God’s people.
The Tabernacle was to be built through the generosity of God’s people.
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
God had given the riches of Egypt to Israel during the Exodus.
God had given the riches of Egypt to Israel during the Exodus.
21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
The very first fund raising campaign.
God gave favor to his people and the world would give for the advancement of God’s people.
God is asking for a heart of generosity to build his house.
God is asking for a heart of generosity to build his house.
While Moses is getting the pattern the people are using their riches to build the golden calf down below.
While Moses is getting the pattern the people are using their riches to build the golden calf down below.
3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
After a renewed heart the people were ready to build the house.
After a renewed heart the people were ready to build the house.
20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord’s contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it.
The tribes of Israel in the pattern of the cross. (Numbers 2)
The tribes of Israel in the pattern of the cross. (Numbers 2)
Surrounding the tabernacle
Surrounding the tabernacle
Specific tribes to the North, South, East, and West.
Specific tribes to the North, South, East, and West.
East: The Camp of Judah 186,400
East: The Camp of Judah 186,400
South: The Camp of Reuben 151,450
South: The Camp of Reuben 151,450
West: The Camp of Ephraim 108,100
West: The Camp of Ephraim 108,100
North: The Camp of Dan 157,600
North: The Camp of Dan 157,600
Through Israel, Messiah would come as the ultimate tabernacle between God and humanity. Emmanuel: God with Us.
Through Israel, Messiah would come as the ultimate tabernacle between God and humanity. Emmanuel: God with Us.
The Temple on Earth
The Temple on Earth
The temple has always ben a physical representation of a spiritual reality. The temple is always built after a spiritual renewal.
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
The Spiritual House of the Lord
The Spiritual House of the Lord
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Every Individual is sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit at Salvation.
Every Individual is sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit at Salvation.
Your body is not the temple of God. The Body of Christ is the temple of God.
Your body is not the temple of God. The Body of Christ is the temple of God.
Jesus himself is the cornerstone of the house.
Jesus himself is the cornerstone of the house.
The Spirit joins us together to form the house of God.
The Spirit joins us together to form the house of God.
A brick doesn’t make a house. Bricks make a house.
A brick doesn’t make a house. Bricks make a house.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We serve as the ministers in God’s house.
We serve as the ministers in God’s house.
6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The Neglected Temple
The Neglected Temple
English Standard Version Introduction
When the first wave of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in 538 B.C., they began to rebuild the temple but soon gave up. Inspired by the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah, they finally completed the task in 516. Haggai rebuked the people for living in “paneled houses” while the house of God remained in ruins (1:4). He warned that, despite their best efforts, their wealth would never suffice, because the Lord was not pleased with their neglect of his temple (see Lev. 26:2–20). He called them to repent and renew their covenant with the God of their fathers. He assured them that God would achieve his purposes for his people and for all other nations. The rebuilding of the temple symbolized God’s restored presence among his people.
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
The Lord might care more about buildings than we think.
The Lord might care more about buildings than we think.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
A renewed covenant causes the people to build.
A renewed covenant causes the people to build.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
God was with them for strength and provision
God was with them for strength and provision
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
R-Group Questions:
Are you more concerned with building your house or the house of God?
Discuss the difference mindsets of individual temples and one corporate temple of God.
What is your expectations as we build this new building for God?