Essays in Ephesians #16

. . . in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2: 21-22

Israel had known God’s glory— through centuries of sporadic yet repeated divine-human interaction through their kings and prophets,  the nation was kept in touch with a consistently holy, powerful, purposeful and merciful God. It’s like the history of no other nation or religion. Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel and others wrote of personal encounters with One God; all met the same completely other God.

Until David’s death, this God was a constant presence in the tabernacle built by Moses. When Solomon built a temple to house God’s presence in the tabernacle, God visited the tabernacle when He was approached sincerely and in prescribed ways.

But Israel fell away from God, the temple was torn down and later rebuilt, God’s welcome and His activity in the nation diminished; His manifest presence departed. By the time Jesus was born, the glory of God’s presence had been gone for a couple centuries. Legalism and ritual had replaced authentic worship, which is a spontaneous outpouring of adoration and love that is released when God comes and we humans forget ourselves in His presence.

During His lifetime, Jesus’ own physical body was the dwelling place of God’s presence upon earth. Men who saw Him rightly sensed the love, power and glory of God and worshiped Him. After His death, as today’s verse says, His promised Holy Spirit began building believers together into a holy temple, a dwelling place for God by His Spirit. By a supernatural miracle, the Holy Spirit Who lived inside of Jesus now lives within His followers. The true worship of a Holy God is restored in us: we become His temple, the place of His dwelling. We worship God in spirit and truth upon the altar of our hearts.

In light of the amazing truth that temple worship is restored in us, here is a brief review of Old Testament thinking about the tabernacle and temple and its New Testament restoration in us.

God’s tabernacle was built according to His plan.

He chose us in him . . . according to the purpose of His will.
Ephesians 1:4-6.

It was built by His command, by workers He anointed with His Spirit.

He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers . . .     for building up the body of Christ Ephesians. 4:11-12.

It was sanctified by the blood of sacrifices.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 1: 7.

 Everything in it was anointed with holy oil and set aside to God’s use.

God has established us in Christ, and anointed us, and has also put his seal on us and given us his spirit in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22.

No one came to it without an offering.

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is        your spiritual worship Romans 12:1

The tabernacle was the place where God dwelt among men.

And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth John 1: 14.

A light was kept burning in it, continually.

Once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light Ephesians 5:8.

Incense was kept burning there.

The smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints rose before God.  Revelation. 8:3.

There was a tent over it.

All God’s treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ . . . and you      have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 2:3 and 3:3.

It was sanctified by His glory.

The glory you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as     we are one John 17:22.

The temple was where God met his people.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them   Matthew. 18:20.

It was a place of fellowship.

If we have any fellowship in the Spirit . . . be of the same mind, having the same      love, being in full accord and of one mind Philippians 2: 1-2.

It was a place of judgment against rebels, grumblers, the proud and disobedient:

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen . . . I will put my Sprit upon him, and he    will proclaim justice [judgment] Matthew. 12: 18.

It was a place of mercy, deliverance, refuge and safety, but only the clean (by virtue of sacrifice and obedience to law) could go there.

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved    us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own   mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Sprit, whom he       poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Titus 3:4-6.

It was a place of receiving a charge from God.

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them Acts 13:2.

We are being built together as a temple by Him and for Him, not for ourselves. The church exists for God, not for us. When the Old Testament tabernacle and temple were built, His glory once filled the structures. According to many scriptures, God is looking for a restoration of His glory upon His people upon this earth.

The Temple

For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 2 Corinthians 6:18

May Holiness fill the temple,
May it pour out through the walls,
May voices from the rafters
Shout Hallelujah’s calls.

May Majesty reverberate
From every pillar’s song
As music of high praise to God
Echoes pure and strong.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come.
Shine light into this place;
May every nail, and stud and beam
Gleam with Holy grace.

My the presence of our mighty God
In total praise be heard,
Come Holy Spirit, come,
Revive in us Your Word.

May we, God’s people, praise Him,
And live and move within His will,
Lifting heart and soul to Him
Cleansed and yielded, to love’s fill.

We’re a temple for God’s Spirit
As the Holy God indwells
The life song of His people;
Let His praises swell.

Ginny Emery ©  from Giving (available on amazon.com or at givenwordnow.com)