Build The Temple Part #2

Introduction

My scholar will at last happy I would be thine and thyro and his thought my subreni for man in me I will be done sweet will love still closer on track of sin for so and weary thou come thy role but now I find in thee my start my side closer What hell from me sounds of no more centre of God will sweep me for us. Please sing it.

Well, good evening to everyone. We have folks with us who are not able to be here this morning, some who have health issues but are able to be out tonight. We’re glad for that. And visitors from other places. We thank you for coming. And Tom and Peggy have been here several services now, but they will be leaving us shortly. And it’s been good to see them again. And I’m pretty sure Amy and Meredith have been glad to see them too. Maybe.

Thank you all for coming. This morning, we began talking about building the temple. And we did not finish all of those thoughts this morning. And so, those of you who were not here this morning, let me give you a brief recap of what we discussed. We asked what is the daily goal of the Christian, which I answered to more consistently imitate Christ and obey him in every respect. We talked about the goal of the local church to carry out specific instruction given to the corporate body and to express discipleship in an atmosphere of encouragement and support. But we acknowledge that sometimes we do not carry out these responsibilities perfectly, and thus we talked about three objectives that we need to have in regard to our growth.

Realistic expectations, patience, and personal responsibility.

You can’t affect my growth, though we provide an atmosphere of encouragement. It is completely up to me to decide whether I’m going to grow or not. As a Christian, and so you need to have, and I need to have personal responsibility in building the temple. And we noticed this morning in these passages spoken by Paul, we read each of them and pointed out Paul’s emphasis on the fact that we are God’s temple, and that carries with it awesome weight and awesome responsibility, and that our lives are to be a place of holiness and dedication. We talked about resolves, and Tim has led very thoughtfully tonight. We’re about to sing I am resolved. And those resolves are not just about the new year, but every Lord’s Day.

1. Dissatisfaction With the Status Quo

So I sang all the way part way through the second. I was remembering the old bass part I used to sing. And then I said, wait a minute. I’m not supposed to be singing that. But I needed to sing that part, and it’s a wonderful thought that we have sung in that song and goes along well with our lessons about building the temple. The first thing we talked about this morning is dissatisfaction with the status quo. Growth implies this. Where you are now is not where you need to be. And I want to read a passage and I want to make some thoughts about that before we move on further. Ephesians 4 and verse 11. As a result of Jesus’ descent and then ascent, the result is gifts that he gave to men.

That of apostles and prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, and all of those functions were for the strength and vitality of his people. To nurture them. Notice he says, for the equipping of the saints, verse 12 of Ephesians 4, for the work of service, for the building up of the body of Christ. Until we all attain. There’s your patience right there. There’s personal responsibility. And there’s realistic expectations until we all attain. That’s the goal that we’re striving and reaching for, to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. And as a result, we’re no longer children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming.

Our awareness of the Lord’s will for us is that we can ward off these potential threats of false teaching. In contrast to that, we speak the truth in love. In contrast to the craftiness and deceitfulness and lies of the date of the devil’s pawns, but speaking the truth in love, we, the temple of God, we are to grow up in all respects, and that encompasses a lot, doesn’t it? To grow up in all respects into him who is the head, even Christ. Which leads me back to my original question, the daily goal of the Christian and the answer that I gave. To grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ, and then as a result of each individual doing that, from whom the whole body.

That is the goal for the entire group, from whom the whole body, thus being fitted and held together by that which only the most talented of joints supply. Wait a minute, my Bible doesn’t read like that. My Bible says every joint supplies according to the proper working of each individual part. Because each of us is to be God’s dwelling, a habitation of God in the Spirit, as we saw this morning in Ephesians chapter 2. So each person providing his or her part, and that causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. And so as we pursue this growth and development of ourselves individually in the likeness of Christ, after all, we are the place of his dwelling. We are his temple.

As each of us pursue growing more and more in the likeness of Christ, this causes an effect in the body. Our behavior is contagious. It is influential. Good or bad. The sincere, diligent effort of the Christian influences other people. As the bad leaven of an individual who produces the fruit, not in keeping with being the temple of God. That is a leaven as well. May have more to say about that next week as we look at a couple of parables. At least that’s the plan now. It could change. His satisfaction with the status quo. The reason why this point is so important, and I want to speak to it again is because in a lot of places, God’s people get satisfied. Over the last two and a half plus years that I’ve been here, we’ve experienced some growth.

Numerically, some people have come and joined us in the effort, and that has encouraged us. We’ve lost a few, but gained more than we’ve lost. And so sometimes on Sunday morning, well, this building’s pretty full. It’s easy to become content with that. Pretty good group, pretty good, loving, caring group. People easy to get along with, not any fussing and fighting. At least if there is, the elders aren’t telling me about it. So folks are getting along pretty good. We have a great atmosphere for worship. And our Bible classes are excellent. The work that’s being done in the back, and our Bible classes in the auditorium are just fantastic. I tell people all over the place some of the best classes I’ve ever taught. All I got to do is get the ball rolling.

And everybody else takes it from there. And so it’s very easy when a lot of things are going pretty well for us to just sit back and say, man, this is we’ve arrived. This is it. But are we consistently in every situation in our lives? Are we imitating the example of Christ? Have we molded ourselves completely after his will? Is there not still some room for growth in us individually and in us collectively as a congregation of his people? And I talked about four particular areas. Is your character all that it needs to be? A need for personal growth. I can improve my character. I can more consistently pursue purity of thought. I can become more spiritually inclined and less materially oriented. I can develop more love, more kindness, more wisdom, and I can curb more effectively the disparaging remarks I make about others.

Those are some thoughts to think about in terms of our character. What about relationships? I said I can develop more love. I can get closer to my brethren. I can be more sacrificing and less concerned about myself. I can develop a greater friendliness and compassion for others. I can develop and nurture my relationships in my home with my spouse, with my children, or with my parents. And what about simply the way we think? A need for spiritual thinking’s thinking. I can entertain more thoughts about God. About the example of Christ that I’m called to imitate. About how the principles of righteousness are to play out in my day-to-day activities. How they affect, as we studied on Wednesday nights, my choices and involvement in entertainment. And more thoughts about heaven.

I’ll address that again in a moment. A need to contribute to the cause. I can be a more effective member of the Decker Prairie Church. I can be a more productive member. Here’s something I think we all need to be able to say. I can do more than I’ve done. Dissatisfaction with the status quote. Are you going to do in 2012 what you did in 2011 and 2010 and the year before that? Same old sample. Are you going to stretch yourself and do something different? Are you someone who might be capable of teaching a Bible class, but you never have? Or it’s been a long time. You’re going to prepare yourself to do that one quarter of this year. Do you ever have the other people over on a Sunday night?

Could you do that one time in 2012? So that the same few are not doing it over and over and over again. What about an act of hospitality period? You ever have another member of the Lord’s church over into your home? And that’s not a plea to invite the preacher.

What were you ever invited about me?

It’s going to be the same old, same old.

Challenging ourselves, sacrificing of ourselves. What are you going to do that really qualifies as a sacrifice beyond what you’ve already done in the past? Now, some of you are already making these kinds of sacrifices. But there are still areas where we can improve and get better. As this congregation has grown, the needs of its members have grown, I’ve noticed. Are we just going to allow those go getters who always volunteer, those same ones? Let’s just wear those folks out. They’re ready to serve. Look, let them go. Widen them up like the energizer buddies. Keep them going. You’re doing good. Maybe we should take some weight off of that by raising my hand and volunteering. Growth. Are we really growing if nothing ever changes? Not a thing ever changes.

Our thoughts don’t become more spiritual. We don’t take more time for spiritual development, study of the word, meditation upon the word, thoughts about heaven, that in these four areas nothing ever changes. Well, preacher, now you’ve gone to medley. Important point. And you might not pursue this growth. Unless, as we concluded this morning, you stay focused on the Christ. Let him be the motivation, the reason for these sacrifices and decisions. And he is worth, as we’ve said so many times in preaching about him lately, he is worth this dedication and commitment and sacrifice, even though it may bring a little discomfort. You know, as Americans, we’re not into discomfort. I don’t like it much myself. I grew up in one of the most spoiled generations that’s ever lived.

I’m not into discomfort. A lot of you folks, aren’t you? Will you experience a little discomfort? Oh, I got a splitter.

2. We Need God's Assistance

Maybe not literally. But it stung a little to do it. Do you think it’s stung a little for Jesus to hang upon a cross? I’ve never stung to that extent. Focused on Him. Now, the new material tonight. Don’t forget in our approach to growing more and more in the likeness of Christ and being His temple, that we need God’s assistance. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, James 5 and verse 16. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 12. The key to being his temple in our time is we need his involvement in our lives. We need to depend upon him.

We need to utilize what Jesus provided. This one whom we’re focused on. We need to utilize what Jesus provided for growth. Somebody says, Well, Tony, you know you challenged me there a little bit about something, doing something else, sacrificing myself, stretching myself in service. How am I going to get that done? First thing you need to do in 2012 is start by praying about that very thing. I’m not asking you to do it today or tomorrow. Way. What can I do that’s more than what I’ve done? And pray about it. In fact, I want to pray together right now. Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, as we contemplate what you’ve called us to be and to walk worthy of our vocation wherewith we have been called, we realize, Father, that we depend upon you and that you can supply strength.

And you can supply all of our need. And whatever service we do, we do by the strength that you supply. And so we, the Decker Prair Church, come into your presence tonight, thanking you that we can have this access, that we can call you our Father, and cast our petitions at your throne and ask for your help that we might engage in acts of service that help your cause and strengthen your people and show the lost that we belong to you. At times, Father, our thoughts are too material focused, too this world focused. And for these times and occasions, we ask for mercy, forgiveness, and strength to do better. And we pray, Father, that you would help us in these times of spiritual reflection when we’re together as we study your word and hear messages, that you’ll help us to take what we hear in this place and to make it effective in our hearts and lives.

3. Growing From Worship

Work in us for your good pleasure and to your glory. And so we pray that you would acknowledge us from heaven as your people. That you would cleanse us from all defilement of flesh and spirit and help us to perfect holiness as we live our lives in fear of you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. And that leads me to another thought that I had in regard to what I just prayed. And that is growing from these opportunities as well. I want to ask you. Is coming to services just a means to an end? We go through the act of worship. That’s what we’re supposed to do. Been instructed to do that, not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together. And we can check that off the list. Our done.

We’re 25 minutes away from 6 o’clock right now. 6 o’clock. Check mark. We’re done.

Or do we approach the very nature of our existing our assembling together? Do we approach it as I’m going to learn something? I’m going to change something. I’m going to do something better than I’ve done. You know, the teacher might just say something I’ve not thought about before. Or say it in a way that causes me to think about God’s will in a way that I’ve never thought about it before. So when I come in, I’m going to buckle down and I’m going to listen. I’m going to pay attention. I’m going to contribute. I’m going to be reflecting on what is this message? What I’m learning in my Bible class and what is being taught in the pulpit. How does that affect my life? What is that telling me I need to work on?

These songs that I’m singing. We did our five songs tonight. Break your arm, pat yourself on the back. We sang them pretty. But what about the words? Sweet will of God. Fold me closer. Is this assembly going to change me? Oh, I realize every time we get together, it’s not going to be made. Light’s going on. Life-altering things necessarily. But there are things to contemplate. And in this place, we are pursuing the spiritual. I don’t know about you. I need that. I need this structured environment of worship and study. Don’t ever start thinking my three times a week. I did my three times. Sunday morning, Sunday night, wait a minute. What about growing from worship? These songs were designed to make us better. To challenge us to serve.

4. Prepared to Be of Service

And that leads me to this point. Prepared to be a service. We talked in our Bible class this morning. Vessels for honor. Going back to the thought that I had. Who are you serving?

Who are you serving? Would you say your life consists of serving other family members? Now, if you’re a mother and even a father of little kids, you should understand the concept. Somebody’s got to feed them the meals and change the diapers and all of that, but thankfully they grow out of that stage. But we’re not done serving them. And we’re not done serving our spouses. Love does not seek its own. Are you a servant in your home? But that’s not the only sphere of service, is it? Do other people in the Decker Prairie Church think of you as a servant of your brethren? What is it about your contribution and your participation that says I’m a servant of others? Now, if we are indeed the temple of God, the place of God’s dwelling, what has God taught us about having concern for others and serving them?

What has been the example of our God and the example of his son in terms of servants? How can we claim to be his temple if really our lives are mostly about me? What consumes our thinking most of the time? Do we ever get out of that box of self? I realize we need to be concerned about ourselves to some extent. Ephesians 5. When it talks about the relationship of husband and wife, it says, no one ever hated his own flesh. He who loves his own wife loves himself. And husbands ought to let it go backwards in the text, verse 28. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. Of course, you want the best for yourself. Of course you give attention to the needs of self.

You probably ate for lunch, didn’t you? Your body needs food for fuel. Obviously, we have to give some attention to the nourishment of self. But this passage is saying you’ve got to give attention to the nourishment and well-being of others. Just as you love yourself, you love your wife, you nourish and cherish it. A lot of folks are so in our world, and we’re tempted to be like everybody else, we’re so focused on the nourishing and cherishing of ourselves. Bow down at the throne of self. That’s where our culture is. And we’ll be tempted to be just like them rather than be his temple, which says.

5. A Determination to Reach the Goal

I’m concerned about your temple. Vessels for honor, useful to the master, prepared for every good work. And then a determination to reach the goal. I really think one of the great spiritual maladies of our time is simply a failure to think about heaven. And it not being the motivation that it needs to be for everything else that we talked about in this lesson. The song we sometimes sing, heaven holds all to me. I think we struggle with that.

There’s a lot of things that hold all or hold a lot to us. And when push comes to shove, I’m not really sure we’re that convinced that heaven is going to be a whole lot better than what we have here. Now, if that’s what you’re thinking, I want you to take the time to talk very soon to a family that have had five knee replacements. They can tell you about this physical body and how it’s going to disappoint and let you down. This is a poor place to put all of your hope. We need deliverance from this place. We need immortality. This is mortality. Everything’s decaying here. But we have an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away. Reserved in heaven for us.

And I cannot begin to express to you. I could go through all the passages about heaven in the New Testament and try to paint this glorious picture of what it’s going to be. But I want to tell you, even if I could do that and spend the next hour doing it and still have your attention, and you just be enthralled with the picture that I’m painting, the reality of heaven will far exceed anything that I can say about it. First of all, it’s already what I said, it’s immortality. In his presence is fullness of joy. And at his right hand are pleasures forever. As good as life gets here, it’s never that.

Rest for the weary. The rest of God awaits us, according to the Hebrew writer in Hebrew chapter 4, verses 1 through 11. How much time do we spend? And I ask you this in Bible class this morning. How much time do we spend thinking about heaven and going to heaven more than anything else? There’s a lot of things in this physical world that can distract us and hold our attention.

But none of it comes even close to the glory that God has prepared for his people. And that’s why, though it hurts a little at times, and we’ve got to experience some discomfort. That’s why we build the temple. We started this morning talking about Solomon’s temple, and he had all these materials and he had all this money, and he made it a spectacular thing. Didn’t happen in a few days. Boy, if Solomon only had the machinery we have available now to build.

It was a great project. I’m sure Solomon went and observed that project many times as it was going on. And can you imagine the day of the dedication of the temple described in 1 Kings chapter 8? Can you imagine? Do you realize how many animals they killed that day? Wow. The numbers, if we understand Hebrew numbers, 122,000, what? Well, that bloodied up the place a little bit, but I’ll tell you, they were excited. This was God’s residence. It was magnificent and spectacular. Do you like going downtown? Well, no, the traffic’s horrible. I know we don’t like that part. But sometimes you go downtown at night, city of Houston, it’s pretty. See it lit up at night. Maybe there’s some prettier skylines.

Nothing like Solomon’s temple, I’m telling you that day. As the sun reflected off the gold. I want you to think about this. The work we do in relation to our hearts and lives, our temple is greater than the glories of Solomon’s temple. And in the end, more significant. Because that was a building. And we are his building, his people. And that’s why this temple, this temple, is so very special. Does he regard you as part of his glorious temple? Well, sometimes the preacher says things that challenge you and convict you and suggest that perhaps you need to do some things better than you’ve done them, and he himself does.

I’m not sure if I really grasp it all yet. When Jesus says, in a context where the Pharisees have been very materialistic, he’s addressing their materialism in chapter 16 of the book of Luke. But he says this in this little section where he says several things to them. The law and the prophets were proclaimed until John, and since then the gospel of the kingdom is preached. I think we get that. But here’s the part that I want to focus your attention on. And everyone is forcing his way into it. What’s that about? Remember when Dee was here and he emphasized those two words that we quoted this morning in Philippians 3, I press. That’s Luke 16, too. People who are part of this kingdom enter it, are involved in it because they force.

Everyone is forcing his way into it. This is for the people who want it and desire it and lay hold of it. Lay hold of eternal life, Paul tells Timothy. We lay hold of it, we desire it because we know that in the fruition of everything it will be worth. Far more than we could ever dream.

Conclusion

The payoff is out of this world in every way, literally and figuratively. And so choose Christ while there’s time and opportunity. Build the temple. It’ll never be wasted effort. If you need to respond, come now as we stand and scene together.

I am resolved to go to the save your leaving my saves a true one. He is a just one. He has the word of life.

Your able and true each day what he said to what he will be to him free. I will come to I am recalled to enter kingdom leaving the past of sin of close meet me, still will I turn to him I will come to the