Where On Earth Does God Live? Series

Where On Earth Does God Live? Hebrew Series * Hebrews 3.1-6

March 2, 2014 Chester FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A There have been at least six houses across the years, four of them were patterned after the plans God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.

1 The two most prominent figures of Jewish history are Abraham & Moses.

a Moses is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament.

aa Moses had divine protection/provision at his birth.

bb He was called dramatically through the miracle of the burning bush.

cc He was supernaturally empowered to confront Pharaoh.

dd He led the nation of Israel through the Red Sea to the border of the Promised Land.

b He was the person God chose to give the Law and the pattern for God’s first home on earth, the Tabernacle.

aa Moses authored the first 5 books of the Old Testament (Torah.)

bb He stands as a man of great faith & justifiably held in high regard by the Jews.

2 As great as Moses was, Paul wanted his audience to know that Jesus was greater than Moses.

a Moses was God’s servant; Jesus was God’s only Son.

b In Heb. 3.1-6, we’ll see some interesting information concerning the habitation of God.

B Hebrews 3:1-6 (NIV) 11 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

2 This message will tour the places that God has chosen to inhabit.

3 Pray

I God’s First House

A We know that God lived with Adam & Eve in the Garden, yet the first record of a dwelling built to host God’s presence was the Tabernacle built by Moses in the Wilderness wanderings.

1 The floor plan for the Tabernacle, along with the Law, were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

a The Tabernacle had three section

aa The Outer Court (Sacrifice)

bb The Inner Court (aka Holy Place) Shew bread, Menorah, Alter of Incense.

cc The Holy of Holies (Ark of Covenant, Mercy Seat)

b Annually, the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the top of the Mercy Seat for an annual dispensation of God’s grace over the Mercy Seat.

aa Over the Ark there was a perpetual glory cloud that manifested.

bb The cloud was called the Shekinah & would manifest when God was there.

cc Exodus 40:34 (NASB) 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

2 The dimensions & patterns of the Tabernacle were used in subsequent Temples that were built. (The Temples were permanent “Tabernacles.”)

a Solomon

2 Chronicles 7:12 (NASB) 12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

b Ezra

Haggai 1:8 (NASB) 8 "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD.

c Jesus called Herod’s Temple, “My Father’s House.”

John 2:16 (NASB) 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business."

B One of the saddest pictures in the OT is the departure of shekinah from Solomon’s Temple in the Book of Ezekiel.

1 Jesus expressed His own grief concerning Herod’s Temple

Matthew 23:38 (NASB) 38 "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!

2 In every case of each house that God dwelt in, He moved out of these earthly houses.

a No matter how glorious, beautiful, opulent the houses were, God moved out.

b No matter how beautiful, big a sanctuary may be, it is no guarantee that His presence is there.

T.S. Multi-million dollar Temples don’t seem to impress God too much.

II God’s Faithful House

A The Lord Jesus called Himself a temple of God.

1 John 2:19-21 (NASB) 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.