Ephesians 1 (We are The Temple)

Intro

Ephesus was the center of worship for most of the Greek gods

Imagine the Vatican

Starts with the amazing work of Christ (The gospel), then writes about the reason for it all, finally he encourages the Ephesians to a life “worthy of their calling”.

The reason for it all; unity

Ephesians 1:4–10 (NIV) The result of sin was disunity and God wanted to heal it through Christ

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 2:13–22 (NIV) The son of God is building a temple for His father out of us!

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The Glory of The Temple

1 Kings 8:27–30 (NIV) Solomon prays that God would fill the temple and make it a place of prayer and forgiveness

27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

1 Kings 9:3 (NIV) And He does

3 The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

The temple is where all of the Jews had to go 3 times a year for different festivals.

Haggai 2:6–9 (NIV)

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

After the completion of the second temple the elderly weeped over it’s appearance.

Ephesians 1:18–21 (NIV) Yet of the church, He says it’s full of power and authority

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NIV)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Maybe this will help, The Bible is not the temple of God

Not to lower your view of scripture but raise your reverence for each other.

Our unity is the temple, God lives in us. Our unity is more glorious than the temple of Solomon. It is more holy than the holy of holies. It is where the peace and love of God is dispensed to His people. The love of this gathering is what proves the work of Christ, because it IS the work of Christ.

Ephesians 4:3–6 (NIV) What’s the point?

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Vision

We should revere the time we spend together. It should be holy. We need to get in that prayer room and start accessing the power and authority of our inheritance so that we can dispense peace to everyone we come in contact with.

Prayer room Sundays during breakfast.

EX: We take things for granted when we have them. My relationship with my dad.