THE TEMPLE & JESUS

December 28, 2014 Bethel Sunday School Lesson ~  

Focal Scripture:  John 2:13-3:16

Today we connect the dots of the meaning and purpose of The Temple and how it relates to Jesus and to us.  We observe Jesus and the first Passover of His ministry; and the first Pharisee who received the New Birth.  Jesus comes to the Temple for the first time in His ministry and creates a lasting memory!  Let's look at the Temple and remember why it was made, what has happened to it, and where is it today?  We connect the dots to understand Jesus' actions and how they apply to us today.

We need to take a look at the instructions that God gave about a place for His Presence to be among His People. 

He first gave instructions for the Tabernacle in the 40 years of the nation Israel roaming in the wilderness (Exodus 25); and then through David’s desire for God to have a permanent House, God gave him instructions on how to build the Temple that was actually built and called Solomon’s Temple 

(I Chronicles chapters 22-29; 2 Chronicles chapters 2-6).  That Temple was destroyed when the Babylonians came and took the Israelites captive and destroyed The Temple and Jerusalem.(Jeremiah 27)  Then as we read in today’s lesson, Herod built the last Temple.  The future Temple (show menorah) will be built during The Tribulation. (Daniel 9 & 11, Matthew 24)

It is Passover (Exodus 12) that has brought Jesus to Jerusalem and the Temple.  Let’s remember that Jesus would have been coming to Jerusalem for the Passover every year of his adult life.  Can we imagine how this moment was brewing in His heart.  Judgment and cleansing must begin in the House of the Lord.  The House of Prayer and Worship had become a place of merchandise and politics. 

Passover was to remember what God had done in freeing the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and looking forward to Him sending the Messiah who would free them from the bondage of sin.  The shedding of blood was the means that brought life from possible death.  I think Jesus was also thinking about the Passover that would come in a couple of years that would be that moment when the Perfect Passover Lamb would shed His blood redeeming the world from SIN.

As Jesus cleansed the Temple of all that was not honoring God, so we must do the same with our bodies.  (I Corinthians 3:16-17)  1John 1:9  As we accept the revelation that all those born again of The Spirit become the new Temple of God, we are given a heavy role as High Priest. (1 Peter 2:9)  We are greater privileged because we don’t just enter into the Holy of Holies, but the Holy of Holies is within us and The Presence of God dwells there.  Consider why we must be Holy – set apart for God!  Consider how we enter His Presence and why we come to Him.  We ARE the new Body of Christ and we need to have the same zeal He did about the Temple…it was consuming!  We must be as harsh as He was about getting rid of everything that would prevent worship, prayer and concentration of Almighty God.

My personal challenge is that it should be “a delight…not a duty!”

There was those in the Temple who were observing Jesus actions and I’m sure some became fearful, some angry and some pleased.  One such person was a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  He must have followed Jesus when He left the Temple to privately speak with Him because He observed Jesus actions and his spirit was moved to believe that Jesus was from God.

Jesus tells Nicodemus what he must do to be saved and explains to all of us about “being born again!”  Let us listen again and examine ourselves to be sure that we have The Son of God born in us as well.  We will be changed forevermore and the characteristics of The Son of God will become evident in our lives.  Do we need to do some cleansing?  How about a beautification makeover?  How about some praising?  Today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time!  (2 Corinthians 6:2)  We have the prospect of a new year for a new beginning…for new life!  Let’s make 2015 a Jubilee Year unto The Lord!

THE TEMPLES:

First – The Tabernacle

Solomon’s Temple

Herod’s Temple

The Born Again

Tribulation Temple

How close are we to the building of the last temple mentioned in Revelation?

 The Temple Institute in Jerusalem is making plans for the 3rd Temple to be built.

The Golden Menorah is already made and stands encased outside in the Old City. 

Here's a picture I took when I was there: 

Rejoice in Dance - Teaching video for "Hora" dance

ARE WE READY FOR BATTLE?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:12

Choose your battles well…and your leaders!

To be battle ready, a soldier must:  be physically fit, in uniform, skilled in weapons and ammunition.

Since our battle in life is NOT against flesh and blood, but the spiritual world of darkness and evil, we have to prepare with a different mindset than what we normally think about life.  First, we have been cleverly deceived.  It has been subtle and expertly infiltrated into our senses.  We have compromised our morals and intellect until what we see, hear, taste, feel and think has been reversed.  Right has become a subject of debate and freedom of expression.  We have become blinded and desensitized by self-centeredness and greed.  When TRUTH was challenged – we compromised, like getting into a cool spring of water on a really hot day and being told that you’ve got time, you deserve it, it’s free and can’t harm anything!  Now, we find ourselves having listened and lingered and like the proverbial frog kept adjusting to the temperature and feeling satisfied.  We don’t even realize that we are in boiling water about to die!

WAKE UP THE WORLD’S ON FIRE!

It’s time to have a splash of cold water thrown in our faces and bring us back to our senses and TRUTH!  Truth hasn’t changed!  Belief has changed! 

CHRISTIANS UNITE!

It’s time for The Army of God to rally and go to Boot Camp.  It’s time to REPENT – turn away from our wicked ways.  It’s time to refocus, get cleaned up and turn back to GOD!  HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED FROM SURE DESTRUCTION!

Step One:  To come to God, you must believe that He is.  You get to know Him from The Creator’s Instruction Manuel, THE BIBLE.  “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.” (John 1:12)

Step Two:  Be battle ready!  Physically, in uniform, weapon

Spiritually this is BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT

~ Physically-this definitely requires exercise that produces a fit, strong, healthy body.

                    -the fuel for the body is the food and drink that is put in it.  God created the body and food for it and said it was to be plants and herbs including nuts, grain and seeds and meat without the blood in it.  The meat we see Him instructing the Israelite's to eat was fowl, beef, lamb, and fish.  He never said the unclean forbidden animals were ever approved for eating.  The exception to the rule was ONLY if not eating would offend someone and keep them from believing in God.  It was not approval to eat it because it tasted good!  Remember who made the fruit on the forbidden tree look delicious and taste good?

                     -the food should be a balance of ¼ meat or legumes; ¼ whole grain; ½ vegetables & fruit *best in raw form or at least half uncooked.  Beverage should be primarily water.  Teas and juices secondary.

***A sick or handicapped body cannot function in battle and weakens the unit.

~~Spiritually the body is the Temple of The Holy Spirit-it belongs to God and is set part for His plans and purpose, holy.  The Joy of the Lord is the strength; the power is the Spirit of God that is the life breath from within; Prayer and The Word – food.

~Uniform-It is first the identity of the army you are in.  Secondly it is designed to protect the body from head to toe from the weather and the environment.  It is a camouflage.

~~Spiritually the identity of the Christian is Undividedly Devoted Faith in Jesus Christ.  The evidence is Love…joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, meekness and self control.

~Weapons-the soldier must know his weapons so well that he can assemble and load in the dark!

                  -the weapons must be in excellent condition and the soldier must have expertise in how to use it.

~~Spiritually the weapons are The Holy Spirit and The Word of God which is the Sword of The Spirit and Prayer that is the power.  The Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us… He is our Helper in time of need when we call on Him in prayer…He will bring to our remembrance the Word of God that always defeats the Enemy; we must have our artillery full so that He has much to use. 

Here’s some ammunition to fill your artillery belt:

Ephesians 6:13-18

Matthew 4:4
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8

John 16:33

Romans 8:35-39;  12:21

Hebrews 4:12;  13:5-6

James 4:7-8

1 John 4:4;  5:4

Rev.2:7;  17.14; 21:17

~December 6, 2014