MAKING HIM KNOWN

King of the Castle

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV)

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.

Recap:

Part 1: “Whats mine is Yours”

False Beliefs

You Don‘t Know Enough

You got issues.

You are going to fail.

Empowerment

Share the gospel.

Share your love.

Share your story.

Part 2: The True Treasure

The true treasure of the gospel is in earthly vessels of clay.

Part 3: “A heart for the one”

God loves all of us as if there were only one of us.

Intro: When I was given the honor to preach on a Vision Builder Sunday, I immediately knew what I was going to preach. I had a nice outline of a teaching on building from the book of Nehemiah. I was READY! But Holy Spirit shut that down and whispered, “TEMPLE”. This is a few weeks of what God has shown me since. CAN I BE A TEACHER TODAY?

Ever heard the term: KING OF THE CASTLE?

As the men pompously stick out their chests and the woman roll their eyes at those same men…if God were to make this statement, “I am the King of my Castle”…what “castle” comes to mind?

Importance of Temples

In the Hebrews search for practicing the presence of God, it all started with “altars”, then proceeded to Moses’ tabernacle (Tent Temple) in the desert, and ultimately to the temple. Each time, the Hebrews were trying to recreate a Garden of Eden experience.

The first temples, shrines consecrated to the service of a god, probably date from as early as man’s first settlements. The earliest known temple in Palestine is that at Jericho (stratum IX), which is of the Neolithic period.

The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (Temples)

In other words, temples were not a Jewish idea or construct.

Neither were temples a CHRISTIAN idea.

Like most ancient shrines, the temple became a treasury for national wealth and as such was often the target for attack.

Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p. 1245). Tyndale House Publishers.

“Temples were the center of ancient civilizations, with as much as a quarter of the population involved in their maintenance.

Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes

The temple was the central and fundamental component of the cosmos, the centerpiece of the function and identity of the community, and the principal mechanism for the interface between humans and the divine.

John H. Walton, “Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament”

“Temples were, of course, divine dwellings, and deity residences often doubled as the headquarters for council business. Instead of describing the stairway as the place where heaven meets earth, viewing it as the place where the business of the unseen world intersects with the human world might be more appropriate.”

The Divine Council in the Pentateuch: A Conference Paper by Michael S. Heiser

Luke 2:49 (NKJV)

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

“As images of heaven, temples served as gateways to heaven. In Egypt when the gates of the sanctuary were opened each day the words “The gates of heaven are opened” were uttered. The person entering the sanctuary itself says: “I enter into heaven to behold [name of god].””

The Biblical Cosmos: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Weird and Wonderful World of the Bible by Robin A. Parry

Temples were built to hold together the divine realm (heaven) and the human realm (earth). 

N.T. Wright, “Paul”, San Francisco: HarperOne, 2018, 48

Splendor of temples

Its appearance, according to Josephus, had every thing that could strike the mind, or astonish the sight: for it was covered on every side with plates of gold; so that when the sun rose upon it, it reflected so strong and dazzling an effulgence, that the eye of the spectator was obliged to turn away, being no more able to sustain its radiance than the splendour of the sun

Watson, R. (1851). Temple. In A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (p. 906). Lane & Scott.

Construction commenced in Solomon’s fourth year, about 966 BC, and took seven years to complete (1 Kgs 6:1, 38). Everything necessary for the temple, including the workers, had been prepared by David (1 Chr 28:21).

Their temple was a tangible statement to the world concerning how great they believed their God to be!

What is our statement to the world?

22 Vision Builders commited to giving over and beyond their tithes and offerings.

Over $51,470 collected in a little over a year.

3 of the 4 Biblical Temples Mentioned in Scripture

Solomons temple (Davis wanted to do it. God said no, but I’ll build you a house)

Zerubbabel’s temple (During exile)

Herod’s Temple (Jesus’ Temple) (Roman Occupation)

THIS LAST EARTHLY MANMADE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED IN 70AD.

What lessons can we learn from the history of the temple as a treasure and a target for attack?

A NEW TYPE OF TEMPLE

Haggai 2:9 (ESV)

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.’ ”

Ezekiel 40:3 (ESV)

3 When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.

Ezekiel 48:35 (ESV)

35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”

These prophecies are what have the Jewish people waiting for a Messiah that will return to rebuild the ancient temple.

When the temple reappears, then it would mean that Messiah is here!

Jesus, King of WHAT castle?

Getting back to opening text

Ephesians 2:19–21 (ESV)

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.

Acts 17:24 (ESV)

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

John 2:19–21 (ESV)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body

Matthew 5:14 (ESV)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Temple is also called Temple Mount, because of its strategic location on a mountain.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Conclusion

I am God’s temple, and can expect all the glory of the former temples to be manifested in me!

As a stone on God’s house, I must seek out the other connecting stones so that God’s house may grow.

God’s house should reveal the same splendor I believe my God to have. Application:

a. We are God's dwelling place. Understanding this helps them navigate personal struggles by reminding them that they are individually and collectively part of something divine and holy, encouraging unity and purpose.

b. We are a city set on a hill. The world awaits our manifestation!