Superstructure.

Introduction

Foundation

Saved—The foundation to the Church is that it is made up of individuals that have accepted Christ as savior.

Ephesians 2:1 AV 1873

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:5 AV 1873

even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Changed families

Changed families

Household of God—The people in the church need to realize that they have changed households, and act like it.

Ephesians 2:10 AV 1873

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:

Ephesians 2:19 AV 1873

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Fitly Framed together

Ephesians 2:

Ephesians 2:19 AV 1873

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Foundation of truth laid upon Christ

Ephesians 2:20 AV 1873

and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Superstructure of the church

Ephesians 2:21–22 AV 1873

in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:21

This structure rises to become (lit., “continually grows [pres. tense] into”) a holy temple in the Lord. This indicates that the church is a living and growing organism, as new believers are included in this temple’s superstructure (cf. 4:15–16; 1 Peter 2:5). Both Jewish and Gentile believers are being “joined together” into this one organism labeled “a holy temple” (cf. “one new man” [Eph. 2:15] and “one body” [v. 16]). The word for temple (naos) always refers to the sanctuary within the physical structure in Jerusalem, not to the entire temple area with its open courts (hieron).

:21-

Superstructure of the church is a growing living organism that we can also call the temple of God, as the church is God’s chosen method of declaring His glory to the world today.

Superstructure of the church is a growing living organism that we can also call the temple of God, as the church is God’s chosen method of declaring His glory to the world today.

Fitly framed

Seeing that we are this superstructure known as the modern day temple, what kind of temple are we? Are we adequately declaring God’s glory to the world?

I would like us to now turn to the book of Ezra. Here we see that the temple has been destroyed. There were three returns to Jerusalem from Babylon. The first was led by Zerubbabel and the second by Ezra. The first return was for the temple rebuild, the second was a return to Spiritual correctness. Both are vital to any rebuild. You will find also that before Nehemiah could rebuild the community walls, God’s people needed to rebuild the structure of worship and the spirit of worship.

Recognize

Ezra 1:1–3 AV 1873

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Historical Setting

The people who returned to the land of promise were publicly acknowledging that they believed God would reestablish the nation and usher in a time of kingdom blessing.

There was public acknowledgement that the temple was in disarray. Today there is a public acknowledgement that the structure of the church is in disarray. Here I am not talking about the building where we sit, but the body of people that sit here. Everywhere in our great country, there are churches closing their doors because they have become dedicated to methods instead of the master.

Ezra

How is our ministry? We have seen and significant uptick in your desire to reach the lost and connect to our community. Are you personally on board with that? Or is it something you are happy for others to do?

Acknowledge that we could use a little work. We could use some refocusing. We need to recognized that changes are important for the viability of a church to reach its area. I am not big on change, sometimes changes are not only silly they are downright frivolity. However some changes are important.

Here we see, the temple was in total rebuild mode. Do we recognized a need to rebuild who we are? That recognition is important. Dedication to actual doctrine rather than opinion and preference. Confession of sin, both corporately and individually. We cannot be afraid of confession. If we are to see God work wonderfully in our midst, confession of sin is vital!

Rejoice

There is a privilege in serving God at such a time as this.

Ezra 3:11 AV 1873

And they sung together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Esther 4:14 AV 1873

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther

Commandments are kept

Ezra 3:4 AV 1873

They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

Different Focus

Ezra 3:12 AV 1873

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

Physical grandeur and historic tradition do not adequately display the Glory of God. Even here, this building is what God sovereignly had built. We are His workmanship created for His glory!

In what do we find rejoicing? Is it a size of group? Is it a specific person? Is it a place or a thing?

Ezra 3:12–13 AV 1873

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra

As the Church, it is our duty and our privilege to find contentment in what God has for us in the place He has us in.

Ezra 3:13 AV 1873

13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra 3:

So often the joy and rejoicing of others has to drown out our personal pessimism. While things do need to be different, while things do need to be updated, while we as a body of believers need to adequately declare God’s glory, that is not a death nell. It ought to be a rejuvenating flow of life that causes the church to be heard as praise to the Lord.

Conclusion

“Oh how good it is When the family of God Dwells together in spirit In faith and unity. Where the bonds of peace, Of acceptance and love Are the fruit of His presence Here among us.

CHORUS So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord And with one heart we’ll live out His word Till the whole earth sees The Redeemer has come For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Oh how good it is On this journey we share To rejoice with the happy And weep with those who mourn. For the weak find strength The afflicted find grace When we offer the blessing Of belonging.

CHORUS

Oh how good it is To embrace His command To prefer one another Forgive as He forgives. When we live as one We all share in the love Of the Son with the Father And the Spirit.

CHORUS”

Do you recognize that as a church we need some serious rebuilding? We must, as a local body of believers, strengthen ourselves together as the temple of God. Stand for what is right, and focus on the important issues at the appropriate time. Will you pray with me about that? If you feel the way I do and are willing to pray with me about that would you please lift your hand in commitment to that.

Perhaps you are not part of the household of God at this point. If you need to trust Christ, please do so today. We talked about this at the beginning, do you know for sure that you are part of God’s family?

Over the next two weeks we are going to discuss what rebuilding is all about. Please plan on being here. I would like to ask for a commitment from you today, mark it on your connection card. I will be here for the next two weeks to see what rebuilding is all about. It is not about changing what we believe, it is about know what we believe and doing things as a church that makes sense according to those realities.