Background
This week, we began the first part of a series titled; The Temple of God and The Materials Used. The supporting Bible verses were:
1 Peter 2:3-10
2 Chronicles 3:1-2
In the old testament, David initiated the process of building God’s house. Little wonder God referred to him as; “a man after my own heart”, despite his many errors. David’s errors were quite troubling that if one would judge as a man, they were more significant than those of rejected Saul. But, doesn’t the Bible say, “by God all actions are weighed?” (1 Samuel 2:3). While men may look only at the action, God definitely considers the motive behind an action before the action itself. Based on this, David’s heart was found True and Sincere. Speaking of Saul, God tested him three times before rejecting him and be sure of this that God will test everyone. You should wonder how many times God may have tested you and whether you passed or failed the test.
True to God’s witness of him, David one day thought; “How could I live in a ‘cedar edifice’ when God’s house is Tent”?
Take a pause to compare your way of thinking with David’s, a man who never placed his comfort ahead of pleasing God.
God however did not approve of him to build the house, he gave the honour to his son – Solomon
The Two Buildings – Old & New Testament, How Do They Compare?
David, before his death, prepared all the materials needed to build the house. The materials used, we see, are clearly of the best standard, so that it was said to be a “great house in all the earth”. Consider the quality of materials used that God deemed them good enough to descend mightily on the day of its consecration. The physical materials used in the building of this temple were only a symbol, and they set a pattern for the Spiritual Temple God would later build in this end of time.
A quick look at the allegory:
1. The natural son of David, Solomon, built the physical Temple. Today, the spiritual Son of David – Jesus Christ- is building the Temple of God. Every member of the body of Christ, not Church members, but those who are born into the body by the Holy Spirit are individually a part of this temple of God. 1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV): “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
2. Notice also that the stones used in building the temple were “Pre-cast” and each stone fitted into its place based on its intended use. They were not cast at the site of construction, so all that was done was arrange them based on fitting. (1 Kings 6:7). Doesn’t this speak to “predestination’’? How God before time had designed each of his children, to fit in their place before the foundation of the world. “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord…’’ (Ephesians 2:21)
3. One other feature of the Old Testament Temple is the Altar. A place of pure Holiness, where only the Priests who had been cleansed and sanctified held exclusive entry rights. Today, this symbolizes our heart! If we truly are converted in accordance with Acts 2:38, our heart becomes the Altar of the Lord that should always be clean & ready for service. Are we not called to be a Priest unto the Lord? “…holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.’’ (1 Peter 2:5b) Also, instead of the “Dead stones’’ used in the Physical Temple of Solomon, Jesus uses “Lively Stones” today in building His Temple. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.’’ (1 Peter 2:5).
4. There is a divine order to keep our altar as ’clean and ready for service’ as possible so that our Priestly duties can be performed on it anytime. You should not defile it with evil thoughts or any fleshly works. ‘‘What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’’ (1 Corinthians 6:19). We have this daily mandate of the Chief Corner Stone, the builder himself- Christ, to keep the Temple clean. Remember that the altar sanctifies the temple. Our heart defiles or sanctifies our Temple as well. (Matt. 15:19).
5. The Day of Dedication of the Old testament temple is also an allegory of the Day a Christian is baptized, if he truly gives his heart in surrender on this day and not just observes a rite and if he is baptized unto Jesus Christ, who is the New Master Temple. The temple of Solomon as said earlier was the greatest house on earth at the time; similarly, every Christian who harbors the Holy Spirit, is God’s palace, regardless of their elitist, financial or educational status.
What Makes The Foundation of The Temple?
“…and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;’’ (Ephesians 2:21).
The foundation here speaks to the “doctrines’’. The Apostolic Doctrine is the foundation upon which the Temple of God is built today. Anyone who is not built upon these foundational doctrines should not consider themselves a part of God’s building. “For there is no other foundation that can be laid save that that is laid’’ (1Corinthians 3:11)
The Baptism in mere titles of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for example, is “another foundation’’. People today, read Matt 28:19 and Acts 2:38 and are confounded. They are not revelated enough to reconcile both. They stumble on that stone placed in Zion. Friends, there are many “other” foundations that do not constitute the Apostolic foundation which will be examined in the course of this expose. To benefit, you must first drop your Theology and open your heart to revelation.
1 Peter 2:6-8
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.’’
Finally, God deems you a precious stone, even more precious than the fine Gold employed in the building of Solomon’s Temple, if you are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and your heart is indeed an Altar for ready sacrifice.
In subsequent episodes, we will delve more deeply into the various materials Jesus uses today in building His temple. This will help you know if truly you are God’s Building or you only claim to be.
God Bless!
For questions and more insights on this topic, please drop a comment.