The Dedication Of Temple And Ourselves Before The Lord!

THE DEDICATION OF TEMPLE AND OURSELVES!

John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

2Chr 6:18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?

behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain

thee; how much less this house which I have built!

In a big world, the small church has remained intimate. In a fast world, the small church has been steady. In an expensive world, the small church has remained plain. In a complex world, the small church has remained simple. In a rational world, the small church has kept feeling. In a mobile world, the small church has been an anchor. In an anonymous world, the small church calls us by name.

A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72 percent of their children remain faithful in attendance. If only Dad attends regularly, 55 percent remain faithful. If only Mom attends regularly, 15 percent remain faithful. If neither attends regularly, only 6 percent remain faithful.

I. Would God come to this earth?

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

A. He lived then in a temple on earth but now in us.

1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the

Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye

are not your own?

B. Worship is a stairway on which there is movement in two directions: God comes to man, and man goes to God. -- Daniel Baumann,

II. Solomon asks God to look, hear the prayers in this place.

2Chr 6:20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night,

upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest

put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy

servant prayeth toward this place.

III. Solomon asks God for forgiveness and healing.

2Chr 6:27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

2Chr 6:28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if

there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if

their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land;

whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:

IV. He declares God knows the heart.

2Chr 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and

forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his

ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the

hearts of the children of men:)

A. Jesus knows our heart.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

V. Strangers are always welcome at the house of God. For they will become friends, and then will be our brothers and sisters.

2Chr 6:32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;