CENTRAL THOUGHT
Christians should not only build houses for God but be well built up as God’s temple.
TEXT: EZRA 5:1-5, 6:13-22, 1 COR. 3:6-17, 6:19-20
INTRODUCTION:
God’s house is also referred to as a temple. It is a house where people worship God from time to time. It is usually different from other buildings because it serves as a sacred purpose. King David planned, and gathered some materials to build God a temple. God however, warned him not to do so through the prophet Nathan because he had shed much blood as a man of war. (2 Sam.7:4-5; 1 Kgs 8:17-19).
Solomon his son thus built a very magnificent house for the Lord from 1012 BC to 1005 BC. He used a period of seven years to build it. It was sitted on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem and the Israelites worshipped gladly in it for many years.
This beautiful temple was destroyed and the worshippers then, the Israelites, were carried away.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To know what God’s temple is.
- To know what necessitates building houses for God.
- To know why the first temple was destroyed.
- To know believer’s responsibilities in building God’s house.
- To encourage believers to participate in building God’s house
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM GOD’S TEMPLE? Hos.8:14; Lk.19:45-47; Acts 2:46; 3:3; 1 Cor.3:16-17; 2 Cor.6:16
The word temple was translated from the Hebrew word Heykai which means a palace or tabernacle of worship. Temple therefore, means a large public building where people worship. There could be some apartments in them where the priests could live-in to allow for nearness to it and quicken calls on them for service in their daily ministration.
However, temple could mean two major things in Christianity. The first instance, it means a place or house of worship of our God Almighty. In other words, it is a building or tent where believers gather to have fellowship and render praise and thanks to the LORD regularly.
The more significant meaning of the word temple is the body of the Christian person. 1 Cor.6:19-20. God made it clear that every believer should keep his body clean and free from pollution because he (God, the Holy Spirit) dwells in it. It is clear that God does not live in buildings made with hands (Acts 17:24). He lives in a purified human body which He made and cleansed Himself for His daily use. Right from the time of old, God has always emphasized the need for man to sanctify himself before He moves in man.
QUESTION 2) WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM?
Deut. 7:25-26; 11:16-17; 2 Chron.7:21-22; 28:21-25
God does not just punish people for committing sins or offences. He usually spells out first what and what one must and must not do. When men commit evil, God usually warns them to correct their ways. If such warning is not heeded, He punishes the offender (Deut.28).
God applied these same principles in dealing with the Israelites. He did forewarn them and called them to repentance. The temple was built in seven years under the leader-ship of King Solomon (1 Kgs 6). It was destroyed by the Babylonians led by the great King Nebuchadnezzar. (2 Kings 25). The reason for which God allowed the heathen Babylonians to succeed in destroying the temple was sin in the lives of the Israelites. God hates sin. Anyone who commits sin makes himself the child of the devil (Jn.8:44). Anyone who believes in Christ and makes a practice of sin is simply deceived himself.
God said that anyone that defiles his temple shall He (God Almighty) destroy. 1 Cor.3:17. The Jews were involved in various immorality, injustice, stealing, cheating and lying even with the name of the Lord using some prophets. (1 Kings 11:4-13).
In Ezra 3:4-13 and Neh.3 however, it was discovered that everyone took part in the rebuilding of the physical temple. No one was left out. They all contributed their own quotas in one way or the other to ensure that the work succeeded. Believers should not only make efforts and sacrifices to build houses for God, but they should also spend more resources in making souls built up for heaven.
QUESTION 3) WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF BELIEVERS TODAY IN DEVELOPING THEIR TEMPLE?
(a) Temple of worship: All believers are expected to be busy always in the house of God. The work of God should be done by God’s people (Neh.2:20b). All believers are expected to contribute to the building of the house of God whenever necessary.
The professionals such as masons, carpenters, painters, architects, civil engineers, et cetera all participate in the construction of the temples of God. Persons who are not trained or talented in building technology must not be left out. They should not only give their money to it, but also participate in the physical work. They can do the work of helpers to the trained builders.
(b) Toward the real temple of God. (Rom.12:1-2). As experience has shown, physical buildings do perish with time. God’s real temple is the human body (1 Cor.6:19). God does not take delight in anyone who pollutes his temple (body). He casts such to hell fire at death, eternally separated from Him.
All true believers, therefore, are expected to be building up the inner man with the use of the word of God always. Believers real concern should be a daily endeavor to beautify and purify their body as they expect the sudden appearing of Christ to harvest them to heaven. (1 John 3:1-3; 1 Thess.4:16-17).
QUESTION 4) WHAT PROBLEM DID THE PEOPLE ENCOUNTER IN REBUILDING THE TEMPLE? Ezra 4:3-24; Neh.4 & 6
The Jews encountered much opposition from the enemies in rebuilding the temple and the walls of the city. The enemies pretended to be wanting to build with them. They weakened the hands of the builders when they objected to their pretentious assistance. They troubled them in the building work in diverse ways. They hired and bribed some government officials and counselors to frustrate the purpose of the Jewa. Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their associates ganged up and collectively petitioned against the activities of the Jews to the then world ruler, the emperor of Persia. They instigated the emperor to stop them from rebuilding Jerusalem. This work could not go on until Darius came to power as Emperor.
Similarly, at the time of rebuilding the wall, oppositions were brought up by Sanballat, Tobias, Geshem and some others. (Neh.4 &6). They frightened the Israelites in the attempt to stop the work, bribed a prophet to prophesy falsely that Nehemiah would be killed. They mocked at their work that it was a poor standard even for foxes and ridiculed them to discourage them. The Jews refused to be discouraged by these tactics.
They sent for Nehemiah for discussion wanting to trick him to a village to do him harm. When this failed, they came up with allegations that Nehemiah and his men wanted to revolt hence they decided to rebuild the wall. They falsely accused Nehemiah of making himself King.
They came to frighten them with war. As the people built with their tools in one hand, they were armed with swords in the other. The Jews were not only alert, but they also prayed fervently to their God, lived holy lives, aimed directly at their goals, not minding oppositions.
They concentrated on their calling and thus achieved their objectives to the glory of God.
QUESTION 5) WHAT OPPOSITIONS DO BELIEVERS ENCOUNTER AS THEY BUILD THEIR TEMPLE TODAY?
Gal.6:7-9; 2 Cor.6:14-17; 11:13-15, 26; 2 Peter 3:3-4
Just as Zerubbabel and Nehemiah and their teams encountered much oppositions from Bishlam, Sanballat and their followers when they were rebuilding the temple and the city wall, believers of a necessity suffer from enemies of the gospel today. (Acts 14:22; 2 Tim.3:12). Paul suffered persecution and oppositions not only from unbelievers but surprisingly and painfully enough, from false brethren.
As the believers lives daily for Christ, in his residence, place of work and at times in the church as well as his community, he may experience opposition from those who have beliefs different from his. It is not surprising therefore, to see a child of God being punished without him committing any sin. His holy life, prayerfulness, refusal to partake in ungodly practices in his place of work, mode of dressing, zeal for God’s work et cetera can cause him opposition and result in punishment (Jn.16:2, 33).
Any believer facing opposition, tribulation, persecution or any type of affliction for righteousness sake should apply the same principles our people of old used.
They include the following:
(a) Praying to God for help handle the situation (Acts 4:22-33).
(b) Draw nearer to God in holiness.
(c) Fasting and praying for victory.
(d) Trusting God for direction always (1 Cor.10:13).
(e) Seeking counsel from matured believers.
(f) Being bold and courageous.
QUESTION 6) WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF UNITY AND JOYOUS PARTICIPATION IN GOD’S WORK? 1 Cor.15:58; Rev22:12
The work of God yields benefits in various ways to the workers. When believers join their hands to labor for God, he accepts, appreciates and blesses such persons in return, someday and somehow.
When believers are faithful, they come together, they achieve good results. Ps.133 spells out how interesting it is for brethren to do things together. When this happens there will be peace, love, understanding and accomplishment of objectives even faster than expected. Besides, God’s name would be glorified and His divine presence would be in their midst.
Other benefits include:
-The job would be perfectly done since all the workers are of perfect heart of love for one another.
-Less would be spent to achieve much.
-Souls would be challenged to join the flock of Christ thereby enlarging the kingdom of God on earth.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
The thrust of the text has been the rebuilding of God’s physical temple in Jerusalem. Believers, however, should realize daily that they are themselves, the real temple where God- the Holy Spirit dwells. Christians should as such do their best to live unto God in holiness always. Anyone who defiles his body and still claims to be a child of God is only deceiving himself.
Anytime there comes a call to contribute toward building a place of worship, believers must always do their utmost best to contribute in some way to the attainment of such objectives in time. God’s work should be done by his people and not unbelievers. Amongst the volunteering unbelievers could be Mithredath, Sanballat and Tobias who are to destroy by rendering negative contribution.
God expects us to keep our bodies in which He dwells pure because he hates defilement.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 COR.3:9
“ For we are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Mon: GOD WANTS MEN TO BUILD HIS HOUSE.
1 Sam.7:1-6
Tue: GOD WANTS INNOCENT HANDS TO BUILD FOR HIM. 1 Chron.28:1-10. Wed: GOD’S HOUSE MUST COST US THE BEST.
1 Chron. 28:11-21.
Thu: ALL BELIEVERS MUST TAKE PART IN GOD’S WORK. Amos 6:1; 1 Cor 3:1-16.
Fri: BELIEVERS DO COME ACROSS SOME PROBLEMS AT TIMES EVEN IN DOING GOD’S WILL. Acts 14:22; 2 Tim.3:12.
Sat: THE WORLD WOULD OPPOSE THE BELIEVER’S WORK FOR GOD. Jn 16:33.