Some new bricks
2 Chron 36:22-23
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
Cyrus had received a charge from GOD to build GOD’S house. He has been commissioned by GOD to build the house of the Lord. Notice what is said and what is not said, the bible says “And he has charged me to build him house at Jerusalem” Did anybody get that let’s read it again, it says and he has charged me build him a house at Jerusalem. Now if we were to read 2nd Chronicles 36 verse 14-15 we would see that Jerusalem had a temple, but because of the disobedience of the people of God. The Lord allowed the chaldees to destroy the temple and confiscate the Gold and vessels of the temple. God has allowed the enemy to subdue the people of GOD. He also has allowed them to destroy the temple of God. I found this to be a little contradictory GOD you allow the capture and destruction of your people yet anoint Cyrus to build a temple. But I believe that if I could speak with Luke this morning he would direct me to Luke 5:38 and say that new wine must be put into new bottles. See GOD did not instruct Cyrus to rebuild the temple, because he allowed the old temple to be destroyed. God had searched the hearts of the people and found them lacking. I was encouraged to remember the scripture give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercy endureth forever.
Somebody ought to be able to shout right there, Lord I didn’t always do what was right but your grace and mercy kept me. Lord I didn’t always treat people right but your grace and mercy carried me. Lord I didn’t always no how to love my brother but your grace and your mercy strengthened me. Cyrus finds himself King of Persia the son of a little old woman named Ester a woman whose future at one time was not so bright. I can hear Cyrus saying send me Lord I’ll go. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. I have had people call me and ask what can I do help what ever you need call me. God has a way of putting the right people in the right places. When you are going to build a house there are some things which have to take place first.
The Lord does not want to repeat what was there the Lord wants to do something new. So he has commissioned Cyrus to do a new thing. A builder when he is ready to build something he must first survey the land or surface he is getting ready to build on. He must determine if it is right for his use if it can support the structure being built. He will have a blueprint and he will check the blueprint to see if the area he is surveying is going to be able to contain what he is getting ready to put there. Much like GOD will do before he begins to work on us. He will first survey our hearts.
To see if the works he wants to do in us can be fulfilled in us. Jeremiah 17:10 says that the Lord searches the heart. God will search the secrets. Of our hearts to see if we have the potential to do what he as for us to do. The builder will check the area he will begin to have the debris cleaned and taken away, from his work site he will then have the area cleaned and prepped for work.
James 4; 8 says draw closer to GOD and he will draw closer to you.
Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts, I like the way David said it better David said in psalms 51:10 create in me a clean heart o GOD and renew a right spirit within me.. Once GOD has worked on our hearts then he can get us ready. First he has to remove the debris we come into church carrying. Some of us have been shunned by this society.
And so we have some debris on our hearts. Anger, hostility mistrust jealously malice pain from family divorce Hurt from relationships gone bad the haultiness from being bigger than we really are the I, I, I, me, me, me syndrome. Sometimes we carry the distrust, of being used by someone before. The emptiness of being left alone and abandoned can linger deep within our hearts. The desire to strike back and do harm to our enemies, because some one has wronged us before. With some of us it’s the stubbornness of a one track mind when you lay out in the world of the ungodly some times you pick up things.
Once GOD cleans off our heart and dust of the debris he gets us ready
If you ever watch the builder once the area is prepped .The builder will begin to lay his foundation he will mark his area off and he will then begin to pour into his mold the foundation. For his building he designs just the right shape and just the right corners and just the right angles. Then he carves out what he needs and begins to pour his concrete
Jesus is the master builder of your soul and mine. Once we accept him as the potter of our lives.
He begins to pour his word into our hearts a little at a time. Heb 12:2 a says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; He begins to pour in more and more each day the word begins to set and cure. I don’t know if you ever seen something cure but when concrete or anything else cures whatever is there that is unlike it. It will Begin to stick out. You will see the impurities they will begin to stick out. Jesus starts to mold us he begins to form us. Our character begins to take the shape of Godliness we begin to look new, walk with a new walk talk with a new talk.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Cyrus probably started checking the framework and I can just imagine him
Stepping back and becoming pleased with his work on GOD’S house
Once you get the entire framework done it’s time for the Mason’s and Carpenter’s once you call the Mason’s and carpenters. It’s time to choose the Brick When the Mason’s show it’s time to choose the brick for the building of God’s house. If you go outside and look that cornerstone in the church was laid by masons. Bricks are funny though you can’t just use any brick. See bricks get piled together and sometimes they get shook up and sometimes they bang against one another. You have to check them brick by brick some bricks are faded some or chipped some will be missing corners.
The brick that is used will become the very character of the temple. If the builder uses broken bricks the temple walls will have broken bricks in them. The first thing people will see as they approach. We are the temples and Christ wants to build new temples some of our bricks have gotten damaged from the ride of life.
Damaged brick will not stand the test of time; we must have the brick of
Righteousness if we are going to stand the test of time. We need the brick of longsuffering if we are to be able to stay focused. We need the brick of joy if we are going to bring joy into a darkened room. We need the brick of peace if we are going to stand in the middle of the storm we have to be able to stay focused and say peace be still.
We need the brick of gentleness to be able to reach and understand those in need. We need the brick of goodness to do for those who cannot do for themselves. We must have the brick of faith to know when all looks lost God is in control. We must have the brick of meekness, to know how to humble ourselves to the will of GOD. We must have brick of temperance to know that we were once lost and sinking in sin that God is near. Jesus said I will destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. In order to go higher in GOD our old temples must be destroyed Jesus is ready to give somebody new found faith, somebody can’t sleep Jesus is ready to give somebody new peace. God never destroys without building something new. Someone has been praying to God and seeking God. Your alms have come up before the Lord he is ready to do something new for you this morning. I’m trying to encourage someone this morning that all is well. I’m trying to encourage somebody this Morning, God is ready to build a new house somebody has been caught up in a place of despair. Somebody has asked like Habakkuk how long Lord must this go on. God is getting ready to tear down that old pain. Destroy that old animosity. Tear out that brick of rejection, Tear out that brick of loneliness. I can fell him moving on the altar of my heart somebody is getting some new bricks you can sleep here is the brick of peace. You are hurting here is the brick of love. You are weak here is the brick of strength. Yes to you will Lord yes to your way Lord make me over great Jehova.
