Introduction:
A IL
B In 70 AD the Jewish Temple (Herrod’s Temple) was utterly destroyed by the Roman Army but it wasn’t the first destroyed by a foreign army. (Picture from page 110 in Complete Guide)
1 Solomon’s temple built around 960 BC was one of the wonders of the ancient world.
a Solomon hired about 200,000 workers to build the temple on the foundation stone of the world, Abraham/Isaac, King David purchased for 600 shekels of Gold from Ornan.
aa 30K loggers
bb 80K quarry workers/masons
cc 70K general labors to carry timber/stones.
dd 3,600 foreman to manage the workers.
b Show picture from pg. 104 The Complete Guide to the Bible. (Search internet for this JPEG to avoid text)
2 In 587 BC, Nebbecanezeur destroyed Solomon’s Temple.
a 70 years later, Israel was allowed to return and began rebuilding the Temple in 521 BC.
b In 20 BC, Herrod the Greek renovated the Temple.
aa JPEG (From North side)
bb JPEG (Temple)
c The Temple was a large complex w/ three courts.
(Page 362 picture of Temple, Complete Guide)
aa Outer courtyard (Jews/Gentiles)
bb Courtyard of women
* Temple Mount Illustration
* Temple Illustration
* Model of Court of Women
cc Courtyard of Jewish men (14 steps)
* View going up to Courtyard of Israel
dd Courtyard of Priests/Sanctuary (Only priests, sacrifice/offering/worship/alters/trumpets/dimly lit, smokey) Heb. 9.1-5
* Temple Illustration
* Cutaway of Holy Place/Sanctuary
* Pic on pg. 81, Perry Stone, Mystery of the Priesthood and the Blood.
* Inside sanctuary/priest
3 Inside the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies/Most Holy Place.
a Inside the MHP was the Ark of the Covenant . . . and nothing else but the presence of God, Shekaniah Glory, where God dwelt. Only the High Priest could enter, 1 time a year.
aa Jews considered the Temple “God’s home away from heaven.” 1 Kings 8.13
bb No wonder the Jewish people have such an affection for this spot!
cc It’s just God behind the veil!
b The work of man wasn’t allowed behind the veil.
aa If you saw anything behind the veil it is because His glory allowed you to see it.
bb He shined on you.
C Who doesn’t want to be within the veil?
1 To go behind the veil, we first must enter the Temple.
a Get saved, become one of His chosen.
aa Many never move beyond this spot.
bb Get saved & stop (Believe that’s all there is)
b As we engage our gifts we enter the court of Israel.
aa Spirit & human strength are co-mingled.
bb It’s here people will compete/compare.
c Behind the veil . . . presence . . . seldom breached.
aa We’ve been given access!
bb Paul tells us in Hebrews that Jesus has made our way clear to enter in the Holy of Holies.
d Hebrews 10.19-23
2 There is a secret to entering into this greater realm and it has nothing to do w/ what you can do.
I 1 Corinthians 13 unlocks a more excellent way . . . . within the veil.
A The Corinthian church wasn’t unlike most churches today.
1 There were some things she did very well, some things stumbled.
a In chapter 12.4,5, Paul explains all about Spiritual gifts.
aa Words of wisdom, knowledge, , faith, miracles, healing, distinguishing spirits, tongues, other ministries.
bb various members have various gifts, ministries 12.12.
b Paul goes to great lengths not to put one gift ahead another.
aa If you have word, faith, discernment, you have no greater gift than healing, miracles, tongues.
bb 12.11
2 He does this because he knows how people are.
a They want to showboat, showcase, showoff.
b They want to formulate, program, legalistic, methodical.
c He spends an entire chapter of God’s Word telling the church at Corinth how to use (not abuse) the gift that God had given them. (Balance: The answer for abuse is never disuse.)
aa Paul must have felt like he was back at his old job of telling people how to apply the law.
bb Then at the end of 12.31, it as if Paul throws up his hands and says, “Stop . . . there is something better!”
B Paul asks, “You really want to be spiritual? Persue something? Excellent way?
1 He asks them why are they persuing the Gifts of the Spirit of ch.12.
a He reminds them what the divine motivation was behind every ministry, gift, unction of the Spirit . . . the Love of God.
b Paul wanted to know why they were desiring the gift(s.)
aa Motivation? Goal?
bb You get words, heal, miracles, speak in tongues: why?
2 Sounds like Matthew 7.21-23.
a The only pure motivation, goal was out of a relationship with God.
b Hebrews 10.19-22
aa Genuine relationship is only found when the New Covenant is experienced.
bb NC is only experienced where the blood is sprinkled.
cc The blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat & the mercy seat is within the veil.
3 Paul’s guidance to Corinth is to get them within the veil, to where His presence dwells.
a All the gifts, ministries have little significance if you’re not in love with Jesus.
b 1 Corinthians 13.1-8
II Paul forces the church to look in the mirror.
A Remember the Holy Place? (Pic. from Stone, pg.81.)
1 1 Cor. 13.9-2
a You’re in childhood (not a grown up!)
b You’re only partially grown.
2 Grow up, get out of the sanctuary & enter into His presence, fullness.
a The greatest manisfestation of the Spirit isn’t words, prophecy, healing, miracles, tongues . . .
b The greatest manifestation of the Spirit is love.
B To move within the veil we must bring nothing with us.
1 There is no sickness, warfare, pride, competition, own works beyond the veil.
a His mercy/light.
b God and God alone.
2 Can you put yourself in the Temple?
a With each courtyard comes the same question? What are they doing in the next one?
b Outer court, court of women, Israel, priest, hp, mhp?
aa What’s behind the veil?
bb Faith happened in the courtyard of women.
cc Hope happened in the courtyard of Israel/priest.
c Faith & Hope propel us to go further. . . 1 Cor. 13.13
3 I have faith & hope in things that are unseen.
a The one I can experience right now is LOVE.
aa Love is a NOW experience!
bb My Love for God & His Love for me confirms my faith and cements my hope.
b His love fills my heart with Himself.
aa Love lets me see yesterday and always me to see His loving hand.
bb God didn’t allow me to hurt because He doesn’t like me . . . He brought me through it because He loves me.
c He doesn’t love me because of how (un)talented, gifted I am.
aa If I got anything it’s because He gave it to me.
bb If I don’t have something it’s because He chose not to give it to me.
cc 1 John 4.7-12
c Love shows me the “I AM” and how He loves me unconditionally, heals permanently, and empowers my ministry, career, family, relationships.
Conclusion:
There was a Pastor, who after the usual Sunday Evening Hymns, stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in service that evening. In the introduction, the Pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, His son, and a friend of his were sailing off of the Pacific Coast," He began, "When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the lifeline. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. "As the father yelled out, ‘I love you son!’ He threw out the lifeline to his son’s friend.
By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of the night. His body was never recovered." By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth. "The father," he continued knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into eternity without Jesus.
Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save his son’s friend… With that the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The Pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon… Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.
"That was a nice story," Politely stated the boys, "But I don’t think it was realistic for a father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you’ve got a point there," the old man replied glancing down at the worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn’t realistic, is it? But I’m standing today to tell you that the story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His only son for me. You see… I was the father and your Pastor was my son’s friend."
Song of Invitation:
In The Cross (Fanny Crosby, writer. Be sure last line is “‘till my ransomed soul shall find” as compared to “raptured soul.”
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Mike Fogerson
