Prepare to Build

The Israelites can go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD.  The king of Persia declared it.  The leaders of Judah want to do it.  Even their neighbors are providing the finances for it.  The Babylonian kingdom will even contribute to it.  That’s because nothing is impossible with God.

King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the LORD's Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. This is a list of the items that were returned: gold basins, 30; silver basins, 1,000; silver incense burners, 29; gold bowls, 30; silver bowls, 410; other items, 1,000. In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:7-11 NLT)

The LORD wanted the Temple to be rebuilt, so the Temple was rebuilt.  The LORD wants God’s Church to be built up as a temple of the Holy Spirit.  So, we will be built up.  We get to decide, then,  whether we will join in the building project or not.  Once again, Jesus provides the way to join the team.

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5 NASB)

How about you?  Do you come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by others?  Are you a “living stone” being built up as a temple for the LORD?  Are you ready to be on God’s team, ready to build others up?  Are you prepared to build?

Don’t Destroy the Temple

King Cyrus of Persia declared that a Temple to the LORD will be rebuilt.  The remnant priests, other Levites, and other leaders of Judah and Benjamin were stirred up to go.  Even the non-Israelite neighbors participated in the rebuilding by donating money and goods to the cause.  But this is only necessary because Judah lost in battle and the Temple of the LORD was destroyed.  This loss and destruction happened because they stopped walking together with God.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV)

Today, the LORD’s Temple is God’s Church.  We are being built up by God as individual people and as an interconnected group.  We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God.  When we tear down people outside of God’s Church, we are tearing down a human being made in the image of God.  When we tear down someone who is a part of God’s Church, we are tearing down God’s Temple.  Either way, we are working against God and what God want’s us to do.

So, how about you?  Do you tear down people outside The Church?  Do you tear down people inside God’s Church?  Do you tear down yourself?  Are you working to destroy God’s Temple?

Build Others Up

Ezra and the remnant of Israel from that day were given permission to go back home to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the Temple of the LORD.  King Cyrus of Persia gave the decree.  In this decree, he continued:

“Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:4 NLT)

Over and over again, we see that God provides what we need when we need it.  Whatever God calls us to do, God will provide what we need to do it.  We saw this with the tabernacle (with offerings from the Egyptians), the first Temple (with offerings from neighboring and far-off kingdoms), and, now, in this Temple (from the people of the Babylonian empire).

And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings. (Ezra 1:6 NLT)

Often times, we put a lot of criteria on a list before we are willing to help people and build them up.  They must be a family member, a coworker, or a friend from church.  They need to go to our church, not that other church, that other denomination, or that other religion or belief system.  Not only that, they need to be living up to a certain level of holiness.  Then, we will help.

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV)

The problem with this approach is that God doesn’t set those criteria.  We do.  To be sure, God tells us to love our spiritual brothers and sisters in the Church.  But God also tells us to love our neighbors, even when they don’t go to our church (like the good Samaritan).  We are even told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  That’s because God doesn’t put parameters around doing good.  God doesn’t hold us back from helping.  God always, always, always calls us to love and build others up.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV84)

How about you?  Are you a part of God’s Temple, being built as a dwelling for the Holy Spirit?  Do you build up God’s Temple?  Do you build others up?

Let God Build You Up

The Israelites in the days of Ezra could not go home.  Israel was gone.  Judah was no more.  But God stirred the heart of the Persian king, Cyrus, to send people back home to start rebuilding the LORD’s temple.

Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. (Ezra 1:5 NLT)

The Temple of the LORD was extremely important in those days.  That’s because the Israelites would go to the Temple to draw near to God.  The presence of God dwelled in the Most Holy Place in that temple.  But for believers today, we don’t need to travel anywhere to experience the presence of God.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19a ESV)

The LORD’s plan is to bring us back home to God.  Jesus provided the way for us to return home, even when we’ve been far, far away.  When we come home to the Father through the work of the Son, we receive the Holy Spirit.  Our bodies become temples where the Holy Spirit resides in a special way.  But God does not stop there.

I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NIrV)

The Holy Spirit then begins a work in us that will continue until we move from this life into the next.  While we are here, God continues to build us up through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Not only does God build us up individually, but God builds us up together as His Temple.

The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22 HCSB)

How about you?  Is your body a Temple of the Holy Spirit of God?  Do you allow God to build you up through the power of the Spirit?  Do you let the LORD build you up together with others who have God’s Spirit?

Building A Temple

The Temple of the LORD is no more…at least at this time in Israel’s history.  The people have been defeated by the Babylonians and deported.  The walls of Jerusalem have been torn down.  Solomon’s temple has been destroyed.  There is no place to go into the presence of God.

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy He had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: "This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build Him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (Ezra 1:1-2 NLT)

Prior to Moses, everyone met with God face to face.  Adam, Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  When they encountered the living God, it was face to face.  When the Israelites left Egypt, though, they were terrified to see the LORD face to face.  So, they asked Moses to be a go-between.  He became a prophet, speaking the word of the LORD to them.

Any of you who are His people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!" (Ezra 1:3 NLT)

At the same time, God gave the Israelites a way to experience the very presence of God among them.  They built a tent with the specifications given to them by God.  This tabernacle (tent) would contain the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) inside where the Arc of the Covenant was placed, holding the Mercy Seat where the LORD would sit in judgement of God’s people.  The tabernacle stayed with them until the Israelites had a land of their own.  Then, under the rule of king Solomon, they built the Temple of the LORD.  Now, it is torn down.  It is gone.  They will need to rebuild the Temple as a place to Encounter God.

How about you?  Do you go into the presence of God?  Where?  How do you Encounter God?  Is it torn down?  Do you need to rebuild a “temple” where you Encounter God again?