Building the Temple of God
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· 1,492 viewsEvery believer of God is building a temple of God in his or her life. But the strength of the structure does not depend solely on the foundation. What we do on top of it determines whether we will suffer loss or receive a reward.
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Introduction
Introduction
I used to think that the true foundation is all the church needs in order to be strong and victorious in this life.
Today, I want to show you what we need to build a strong Christian life, one that the enemy cannot destroy no matter what.
The 2 fundamental components of a structure:
the foundation - the part that is hidden under the ground
the building - the part that is visible above the ground and used for various purposes
Paul compares the ministry to the work of building a house or a structure for dwelling.
the ministers and workers are the builders; the building is the (local) church, destined to be the temple of God in the Spirit
1 Corinthians 3.16
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
individually, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6.19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Main Points
Main Points
How do you build a strong, solid, well-built temple for God?
First, You need a solid foundation
First, You need a solid foundation
1 Corinthians 3.10-11
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The foundation defines the purpose of the building
the Hebrew word for foundation is “yasad”
it means “to lay foundation”
1 Kings 5.17
And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
metaphorically, it means “to appoint, order”
1 Chronicles 9.22
All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office.
Psalm 8.2
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
The foundation determines the size of the building that will be built on top of it.
a bigger building will need a bigger foundation
a taller building building will need a deeper foundation
Example - Solomon used large and costly stones for the temple and for his houses
1 Kings 5.17-18
And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.
The foundation determines the kind of materials that will be used for the building
the materials that will be used in the building can only be as good as the foundation.
the foundation is the “basis”
1 Kings 7.9-12
All these were of costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court.
The foundation was of costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits.
And above were costly stones, hewn to size, and cedar wood.
The great court was enclosed with three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. So were the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the temple.
What does this say about the works of God?
The works of God last a lifetime because they are well founded!
Proverbs 3.19
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;
Psalm 78.69
And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever.
God has prepared the solid foundation for His dwelling place!
Isaiah 28.16
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
1 Corinthians 3.10-11
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2.20
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Second, You need materials that will complement the foundation
Second, You need materials that will complement the foundation
What does “complement” mean?
Complement - means to complete; to form a satisfactory or balanced whole.
Example - man and woman are complementaries
Foundation and Building should complement each other.
weak foundation plus heavy building equals disaster!
shallow foundation plus tall building equals disaster!
solid foundation plus weak building equals disaster!
1 Corinthians 3.12-13
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
Your building materials must reflect the quality of the foundation.
Solomon’s building materials were of the same quality
1 Kings 7.9-10
All these were of costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court.
The foundation was of costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits.
The Church was intended to complement Christ
Ephesians 1.22-23
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
composed of “living stones”
1 Peter 2.4-5
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
stronghold of truth
1 Timothy 3.15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
holy
Ephesians 5.27
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
1 Peter 1.15-16
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
The people that make up the Church must complement Christ, the Foundation of their lives.
How do you complement your Foundation, Jesus Christ?
You complement Christ with your Life.
(the key word is “worthy”)
Philippians 1.27
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Ephesians 4.1
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
1 Thessalonians 2.11-12
as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
2 Timothy 2.19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
You complement Christ with your service.
Colossians 1.10
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
2 Thessalonians 1.11
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
1 Corinthians 15.9-10
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Timothy 6.17-19
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Why care about these things?
1. When you build it right, you receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3.14
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
the reward?
the people and stuff in the house are safe from harm!
your family remains intact after a great crisis
your ministry stands after a great trial
the people you brought to Christ are still in the church
when your building is burned, you suffer loss...
but the foundation remains
2. You are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you!
How can we live in such a way that our lives and works of service manifest the holiness strength and life of Christ the Foundation of the Church?
Jesus’ words: “When you come to Me to hear my words, DO THEM.”
Luke 6.46-49
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
When you do this, you will be building a strong, solid, and holy house for the Spirit of God dwell!