Court Outside The Temple

MEASURING ROD

Revelations 11:"I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers."

2"but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months."

Introduction:

The temple here is symbolic of the people of God and the Church.

Christians who are like the Outer Court are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15)- people who claim to be Christian but aren’t.

Apostle Paul explained it as follows:

2 Timothy 3:5-7

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to jarrive at a knowledge of the truth."

The true and faithful church is often ignored, persecuted and mocked.

1)You will be measured:

The Lord ordered " Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers." 3 things to be measured:

Temple

Altar

Worshiper

We can live a phony life and cheat the world but God will measure you, your family and your deeds and only if it matches His standards then would you be eligible otherwise you would be rejected and evicted.

The Lord would say ,"do not measure the court outside the temple.." You may look like you are attached to the Church but you are not ...Says your life.

God watches the Youth pastor when he flirts around with the young girls, God watches the choir singers when they watch porn movies and come straight to the Church to join the choir.

During a Church Youth Meeting, I was called to share the Word, just when the mike came to me, the church organisers started distribution of coffee. I refused to preach and asked them to stop serving coffee. After the meeting the Youth Leader came to me and said, ' I had actually kept a movie ready to watch just after this meeting.' Imagine!

Matthew 5:20 "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Observe the word 'never' here!

God is serious that we meet His standards, what makes us think that we can do anything and get away? The way we do ministry will be measured, the way we conduct our family will be measured, the way we worship in the church will be measured, the way we bring up our children will be measured, the way we talk will be measured. You are in His radar all the time!

Psalm 139:1 You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Anybody listening?

The altar and worshipers were not spared, just check on them, said the Lord.

How you come to church , fight at the parking space of the church, how you gossip and aggressively push others to move forward for a seat under the fan are all measured. Just not the "hallelujah, raising of hands, weeping and dancing but what you do before and after church are measured by God.

One particular girl just after a long night prayer, after heavy anointing and hearing a mighty Word from God, I found her standing in the corner of the church, speaking to her boyfriend. Alas, she eventually vanished from my sight.

2) Outer Court Life:

The outer court looked like it belonged to God but it was not. "Do not measure it" says the Lord, it has been contaminated by the gentiles with their idol worship and other evil practices. Anything that is not measured by God is not safe and not protected. Anybody listening?

Those who worship in the outer court are fake worshippers, chaff that is to be burnt and hypocrites who pretend to be holy. These kind of churches that look like church with a big CROSS on it, are all rejected by God and not measured by Him.

Let us read this scripture that talk about people in the Outer court:

Revelations 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.