Our series The Gospel Story brings us to 1 Kings. The book of Kings was originally two books and was separated in the modern times. The book of Kings tells the story of all the kings who came after David. Spoiler alert – none of these kings lived up to the promise God made in 2 Samuel. Here, we will be focusing on the temple of God.
You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 MSG
Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
1 Corinthians 3:16 AMPC
We are walking, talking temples of God, a mobile overlap between heaven and earth. An active sanctuary where God’s presence dwells permanently. The purpose of this message is to pull your whole life – every activity, every thought, every emotion, every breath, every ounce of your being, even your pain, into the kingdom of God.
So what is the temple and where does it fit into The Gospel Story?
Background:
– The temple’s splendor and majesty is a reminder of the Glory of God. Similarly our lives should be a reflection of the Glory of God. We should be faithful with what God has given us. People should see God’s Glory through us.
22 Then Solomon stood [in the court] before the Lord’s burnt offering altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven. 23 And he said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing mercy and loving-kindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.
1 Kings 8:22-23 AMPC
Solomon sets the tone -The temple was a place where God’s home (Heaven) overlaps with our home (Earth/creation). Similarly our lives should be a place where Heaven and Earth overlap. The temple is a place of praise and our lives should be stained by His praise. Whatever your circumstance, give Him the praise. Remember praise is different from thanksgiving. Praise acknowledges God’s nature.
You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father. You also spoke with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
1 Kings 8:24 AMPC
The temple is a place of thanksgiving. Our lives should be saturated by thanksgiving and gratitude. We have victory because of our testimonies. When we give thanks for the things of the past and the present we acknowledge His Hand.
26 Now, O God of Israel, let Your word which You spoke to Your servant David my father be confirmed [by experience]. 27 But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, the heavens and heaven of heavens [in its most extended compass] cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built? 28 Yet graciously consider the prayer and supplication of Your servant, O Lord my God, to hearken to the [loud] cry and prayer which he prays before You today, 29 That Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, My Name [and the token of My presence] shall be there, that You may hearken to the prayer which Your servant shall make in [or facing toward] this place. 30 Hearken to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray in or toward this place. Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.
1 Kings 8: 26-31 AMPC
The temple is a place of supplication. Our lives should testify of our complete dependence on God to fulfill His promises.
31 Whenever a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears the oath before Your altar in this house, 32 Then hear in heaven and do and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his guilt upon his own head and justifying the [uncompromisingly] righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness (his uprightness, right standing with God). 33 When Your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and they turn again to You, confess Your [b]name (Your revelation of Yourself), and pray, beseeching You in this house, 34 Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel and return them to the land You gave to their fathers.35 When heaven is shut up and no rain falls because they have sinned against You, if they pray in [or toward] this place and confess Your name (Your revelation of Yourself) and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, when You teach them the good way in which they should walk. And give rain upon Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. 37 If there is famine in the land or pestilence, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 Whatever prayer or supplication is made by any or all of Your people Israel—each man knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading forth his hands toward this house [and its pledge of Your presence]— 39 Then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart You know, for You and You only know the hearts of all the children of men, 40 That they may fear and revere You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. 41 Moreover, concerning a stranger who is not of Your people Israel but comes from a far country for the sake of Your name [and Your active Presence]— 42 For they will hear of Your great name (Your revelation of Yourself), Your strong hand, and outstretched arm—when he shall pray in [or toward] this house,
1 Kings 8:31-42 MSG
The temple is a place of repentance, forgiveness and restoration. The temple is a place of sacrifice. We need to be quick to repent, eager to participate in forgiveness and restoration. A repentant heart turns our lives into His presence.
54-55 Having finished praying to God—all these bold and passionate prayers—Solomon stood up before God’s Altar where he had been kneeling all this time, his arms stretched upward to heaven. Standing, he blessed the whole congregation of Israel, blessing them at the top of his lungs: 56-58 “Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he’d do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors. 59-61 “And let these words that I’ve prayed in the presence of God be always right there before him, day and night, so that he’ll do what is right for me, to guarantee justice for his people Israel day after day after day. Then all the people on earth will know God is the true God; there is no other God. And you, your lives must be totally obedient to God, our personal God, following the life path he has cleared, alert and attentive to everything he has made plain this day.”
1 Kings 8:54-61 MSG
Sidebar – David did not build the temple because he was fighting too many battles. Many of us also need to fight various battles so that whoever comes after us will be able to build in peace.
The temple is a place of rest. The temple is a place of ruling in the presence of God. Our lives need to be an example of what it looks like to rest in God and to rule in His presence.
Let’s pause here and reflect.
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:1-2 NKJV
This picture that Jesus draws here shows us that what He did on the Cross provided a new system of the temple. When we intentionally treat our lives as a living temple, we will automatically be formed in the image of Christ.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 NKJV
Every part of our lives, no matter how ugly, can be pulled into the kingdom of God.
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
1 Peter 2:5 NKJV
God does this in us, through Jesus Christ, we need to keep looking unto Him to be transformed.
God cares about the responsibilities He has given you. He did not give you those responsibilities by accident. Every responsibility is an opportunity for God to transform someone’s life through you.
Be convinced of :
- God’s power – if he doesn’t have power, how can He touch someone through you
- God’s nature – the Bible continuously reminds us about God’s nature
- God’s will
- God’s love & grace – to be convinced of His love and grace we need to accept it and experience it
- God’s faithfulness – Our God does not waver
