2 Chronicles 7:11-12
11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.
Solomon built the Temple of God for the people to worship the Lord. It’s important to note, that he built the temple first, then he built the palace…be careful to build for God first, before you build for yourself.
According to 2 Chronicles 8…Solomon used the finest materials and it took him 20 years to build it. We also read in chapter 6 that prayers and sacrifices were made in the dedication of the temple.
The Holy Temple is a place of worship, sacrifice, and prayer. It is a place where you can go and find out who you are in Christ Jesus. This is a place where people are formed and fashioned!
Articles of the Temple
Outer courts > Altar of incense | Brazen altar | Washing Laver…this is where the laymen gathered together for worship and various practices
Holy place > Table of Showbread | Menorah | Golden altar
Veil – this separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies
Holy of Holies > Ark of the Covenant | Mercy Seat
This is a place where the high priest would offer sacrifices on behalf of the entire nation annually…
You are the Temple
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Everything that I described earlier brings me to this point…God showed all of that to bring us to this…we are the temple of God!
The finest materials | The years of building | The articles contained inside | The necessary practices for holiness
If this is true that we are the temple of God…then where is the evidence of your ceremony?
In other words, where is your dedication? Church cannot possibly be a casual game to you…this must be real – He must be real!!
Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
This is what makes the temple of God complete…cleans hands and an upright heart.
It is this kind of temple wherein lies real power to live right; resurrection power!!
John 2:19-21
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Jesus is risen from the dead – we too shall rise!! Those of you who are contending for righteousness will have the power of God flow through you!!
It is not enough to be delivered from sin; it is enough to be delivered to righteousness.
- Edwin Louis Cole
Refinery
Refine: to bring to a pure state…free of impurities | to purify from what is course, vulgar, or debasing; to make elegant or cultured.
Pasadena knows all about refineries. It is for this reason our city exists. This is an arduous process…filled with suffering and loss in order to produce quality. Living for God is just like that.
Oswald Chambers said this: We have to let God sacrifice us as He likes, and go where He sends us. Never be deluded into making this statement: 'I am here because I am so useful'; rather, 'I am here because God wants me here.' The lodestar, (guiding light) of the saint is God Himself, not estimated usefulness.
Back at our original text…I want to show you verses 13 through 15…
2 Chronicles 7:13-15
13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.
This process is designed by God to draw us to Him, build up our faith and touch the nations. Do you believe that?
If you do, then when trouble comes, you won’t resist Him, but with faith you’ll proclaim – “Here am I Lord, send me.”
