25 August 2024 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Dedication of the Temple
8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
1 Kings 8:6
6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
1 Kings 8:10-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Title: When God Fills the Church
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:6, 10-11 (NRSVue)
“Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim… And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”
Introduction: In the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, we witness a profound moment where God’s presence descends like a cloud, filling the house of the Lord with His glory. This event is more than just a historical account; it is a powerful reminder of what it means for God to fill His church today. When God’s Spirit truly fills a church, it transforms not only the building but the lives within it and the community it serves.
Let us explore what it means to have the Spirit of God fill the church and how this divine filling empowers our ministry of discipleship in the community.
In the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, we witness a profound moment where God’s presence descends like a cloud, filling the house of the Lord with His glory. This event is more than just a historical account; it is a powerful reminder of what it means for God to fill His church today.
When God’s Spirit truly fills a church, it transforms not just the building but also the lives within it and the entire community it serves.
Last week, as I watched the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, I was struck by the passion and energy during the state roll call. As each state was called, a deejay played a song that perfectly reflected the state’s identity and spirit. It made me wonder—what if we did something similar in the church? What if, when each household member was called to report to the Lord, a song played that captured the essence of who they are in Christ? What would we hear when your house or home was called?
The DNC roll call reminded me of the energy, passion, and commitment we must have as the church. Just as those delegates were inspired and motivated to represent their states with pride, we, too, must be inspired and motivated by God’s power to represent His kingdom with that same intensity. When God’s Spirit truly fills a church, it doesn’t just change the physical space—it ignites a passion within us that transforms our lives, fuels our ministries, and impacts the communities we serve.
I. The Presence of God Transforms the Church into Holy Ground
The first thing we learn from Solomon’s Temple is that it is no longer ordinary when God fills a place. The presence of God transforms the church into holy ground. In 1 Kings 8:10-11, the priests could not even stand to minister because the cloud of God’s glory was so overwhelming. This tells us that when God’s Spirit fills the church, it demands our reverence and submission.
In our churches today, we often focus on programs, activities, and structures, but when was the last time we were so overcome by the presence of God that we could do nothing but worship? The filling of God’s Spirit means surrendering our agendas to His will. It means recognizing that the church is not a social club or a place for entertainment but a sacred space where God meets with His people.
II. The Presence of God Empowers the Church for Ministry
When the Spirit of God fills the church, it does not just transform the physical space; it empowers the church for ministry. The ark of the covenant represented God’s covenant with His people, a promise of His guidance, protection, and presence. When God fills the church, He brings the power and authority to carry out His mission.
This empowerment is not just for those in leadership but for every member of the body of Christ. The filling of the Spirit equips the church to be a beacon of hope, justice, and love in the community. Just as the early church in Acts was filled with the Spirit and immediately began to spread the gospel, so too must we be filled with the Spirit to carry out the work of discipleship in our communities. Our ministries must be Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-empowered.
III. The Presence of God Calls the Church to a Ministry of Justice and Liberation
Finally, when God’s Spirit fills the church, it calls us to a ministry of justice and liberation. Solomon’s Temple symbolized God’s kingdom on earth, where justice would be administered, and the oppressed would find refuge. Today, the church is called to be the hands and feet of Christ, working to bring about God’s justice in a broken world.
The civil rights movement in Black Methodist history is a powerful example of what happens when God fills the church with His Spirit. Churches became centers for organizing, praying, and mobilizing for justice. Leaders like Rev. James Lawson, who trained activists in nonviolent resistance, did so out of a deep conviction that God’s Spirit was leading them. They believed that the church, filled with the Holy Spirit, had the power to challenge the systems of oppression and bring about change.
Just as the Spirit led the Israelites in the wilderness and filled the Temple, that same Spirit is leading the church today to confront injustice, care for the marginalized, and bring liberation to those in bondage. The Spirit-filled church is not silent in the face of injustice but stands boldly as a witness to God’s righteousness and love.
Closing Illustration: The Civil Rights Movement and the Spirit-Filled Church
Let me close with an illustration from our history. During the civil rights movement, many Black churches across the South became sanctuaries of hope and centers for social change. These churches were more than buildings; they were places where God’s Spirit was powerfully present. The people gathered there were filled with a holy resolve to seek justice, knowing that God was with them.
One such moment occurred at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where the church was not just a gathering place but a symbol of the struggle for civil rights. Despite the bombing that tragically took the lives of four little girls, the Spirit of God continued to fill that church and others like it, empowering them to stand firm in the face of evil and continue the fight for justice.
When God fills the church, it is no longer just a building but a movement. It becomes a force for change, a place where lives are transformed and communities are renewed. May we seek to be such a church today, filled with God’s Spirit, empowered for ministry, and committed to justice and liberation in our world.
Conclusion:
As we leave this place today, let us remember that the true measure of a church is not in its size, programs, or activities but in the presence of God within it. When God fills the church, everything changes. We become holy ground, empowered for ministry, and called to be agents of justice in our communities. Let us invite the Spirit of God to fill us afresh so that we might be the church God has called us to be. Amen.
