The Sacredness of the Church

David

Letters to the Church • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Introduction

2 Samuel 6:6–7 NIV

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

2 Samuel 6:6-

I am always a little bothered when I read the story of Uzzah trying to stop the ark of the covenant from falling. It seemed like a trivial mistake with good intentions. Yes God forbid anyone to touch the ark but what was Uzzah supposed to do let the holy ark fall?

It is also puzzling how in Saul’s sacrifice actually ended up costing him the Kingdom. After all he did wait for Samuel for 7 days before making the sacrifice. Saul’s sacrifice seemed like the right thing to do. I mean he was seeking God before he went out to battle.

Or how about Moses in Numbers chapter 20 when he would not be allowed to enter the promised land because he struck the rock rather than speaking to it. I mean after all he went through was he not allowed to strike the rock.

There was also Ananias and Saphirah who were killed because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Further Paul also told the Corinthians that many were sick and dying because they celebrated communion in an unworthy manner.

To us many situations in scripture offer a punishment that seems to be too harsh. Why do we feel this way though? I think it is because we don’t understand what it means for something to be sacred. We live in a human centered world among people who see themselves as the highest authority. We are quick to say that isn’t fair because we believe we have certain rights as humans. Yet we give little thought to none on the rights God deserves as God.

Even in the church we act as if God’s actions should revolve around us. The stories in the Bible show us that there exists something more than our rights as humans. There are things that belong to God. They are sacred things.

When we look at these things I don’t think that we should be surprised. I believe that we should be extremely thankful and humbled. I mean we know ourselves and I believe that most of us have done things far worse in one way or another than any of these stories and yet God has been extremely merciful and shown us much Grace.

Rushing in to the Sacred

We live in a world where people carelessly rush into things. If we don’t rush we will be passed up and often times miss out. So we frantically offer the pattern of the world and we forget sometimes that God calls us to walk differently. Because we live fast paced lifestyles we easily bring our fast paced lifestyles to church and to the sacred things of God.

People are quick to judge God’s actions and his commands, but if you look at scripture God to his people spoke to them about being careful even to utter His name. Just look at the Lord’s prayer.

People rush into prayer with opinions, demands, and needs. Now I know we live in the new covenant but could you imagine this with me for a moment.

Illustration of the high priest rushing into the holy of holies.

Ecclesiastes 5:1–3 NIV

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

I am not sure if you have noticed though I am sure you have. Young people today are speaking more quickly, talking louder, and abbreviating words more often so that they can fit in more words and be heard, but the Bible seems clear to me. The more you are talking the more you are sinning.

Eccliasted 5:1-3

James 1:19 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

To be honest it is difficult to preach on this topic. It was difficult to read a book about this topic, and it may be difficult for you to be listening to this topic today. It might make you uncomfortable. There are several times where I kept thinking to myself, “nah they wouldn’t want to hear that”. I had to stop myself. Sometimes it isn’t about what we want to hear. It isn’t easy to talk about these things. It isn’t easy to hear these things when it comes to the sacred things of God.

The truth is we need to step back and really look at this thing we are doing called Church. I mean is this how it is supposed to be? Do I treat the church like it is a sacred thing of God?

Sacred Mystery

I would love to ask you a question this evening that you don’t need to answer to me. When is the last time you just stepped back looked at the Church and were like “WOW!” I am part of Christ’s body. Have you ever just been wowed by that privilege?

Ephesians 5:29–30 NIV

After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body.

I think we all need to stare at these verses and just be stunned. Paul called this a profound mystery. Some of us won’t even take that into consideration today but does that amaze you in anyway? You are part of Christ.

Is it possible that we could slow down long enough to actually marvel at the things of God.

Look the sun is 93 million miles away and yet you are unable to stare at it. You obviously aren’t able to touch the sun and live so how is it possible so that we are attached to the one who shines even brighter than the sun.

High angels cover themselves with their wings in His presence yet we get to be a member of His body? Why would Christ choose to care for you just like He would his own arm or leg?

Honestly a big problem we have is we don’t make time to meditate upon His mysteries.

A small piece of the temple.

In 2nd Chronicles chapter 7 there is this wonderful picture of the dedication of the temple. As soon as Solomon finished His prayer fire came down and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple.

When everyone saw the fire come down they bowed down with their faces to the ground, worshiped and gave thanks.

I mean we don’t think of it very much but what is God’s Glory actually like?

Here is the crazy thing. The testament describes something even greater.

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I mean it would be so wonderful and powerful seeing God’s glory fill the temple, but get this. Now you and I get to be part of the temple ourselves. God is literally filling us and the Church with His presence. We are all joined together to make one house for God. You and I are blocks of this temple and God makes His home among us. Don’t try to solve this mystery because you won’t. Just stare at it. Marvel at it. Get excited about it. This is what we get to be a part of.

Now I get it. We look around at these different churches or even our own church and we think this is nothing like you are describing, but I believe our loss of awe for the sacredness of the Church has caused a complacency among believers in the Church and a complacency in the Church.

I mean think about it this way. When you saw the fire come down and God’s glory fill the temple would you have for a moment considered taking a sledge hammer and just start hitting the temple, or saying well this is boring.

I didn’t want to throw this part in my sermon because I am guilty of it too and it was convicting and I had to repent of it. If we wouldn’t destroy the temple of God in that awesome moment why are we so quick to attack it now with our criticism and belittling of people and leaders and attempting to divide the church.

Paul says that God’s temple is sacred and we are that sacred temple. Are we sure we want to keep hitting the church with sledge hammers?

We are so used to evaluating and criticizing everything today. I mean it is how our culture is setup. I think this translates to the church. We critique leadership and sermons, we critique the worship set, we critique the programs the church has to offer. Have we stepped back and thought maybe I am taking a sledge hammer to the temple?

I want you to look at this wonderful thought. When the temple was dedicated fire fell from heaven. In Acts chapter 2 fire fell on the believers. It was a huge sign of this power God was offering the Church.

A small piece of heaven

I want to tell yo utoday that you are part of something much bigger than yourself. Because of Jesus sacrifice you have been joined to his body the Church. We aren’t just part of an earthly community anymore. We are joined also with a heavenly community.

If you haven’t read Revelation you should go read it, but it shows these awesome pictures of creatures, angels, and humans just worshiping God and crying out worthy.

Our prayers are filling a bowl of incense and our voices are joined in this awesome choir.

This is a tremendous honor, but I believe it becomes insignificant to us because we come from a culture that is so used to elevating shrines of ourselves with our social media. We want to show everyone hey look how important and cool I am.

You see the joy that flows from the spirit is a joy that is built from believers coming together to worship this wonderful and awesome God. It is built when we consider others more important than ourselves. I want to say this boldly. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! IT WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU!

Part of an eternal plan

Ephesians 1:4–5 NIV

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Your existence did not start when you were conceived. You began in the mind of God before the foundation of the Earth. Can we just think about this for a moment. I mean that is both wow and humbling.

You were not an accident. You were part of a plan that started before the creation of Earth and will continue after it. He chose us before the foundation of the world and He knew us before He made us.

I mean you were chosen for God’s eternal plan for the Church. There are beings that are in heaven who stare at the Church in wonder.