21/01/12

A Holy Temple and a Holy City

2 Chronicles 6:34-35 -
34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way [Hebrew word used here is 'derek'] that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward [derek] this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.


We read in today's scripture a few lines of the prayer of Solomon when he dedicated the monumental temple built by him to the Lord. Today's message talks of praying facing the temple, we see other religions like Islam praying facing their holy place and even the Jews pray facing Jerusalem, so do we as Christians also need to do that?.

Firstly we need to understand a sanctuary became a sanctuary only when the holy things were placed in the sanctuary. Therefore any place which does not have the holy things ceases to be a holy place.

Secondly the Hebrew word translated as city means a guarded place, therefore any place that lacks the holy objects and is not guarded is not a holy city.

If we look at the New Testament Jesus did not go searching for the Ark of Covenant nor went to the Holy of Holies to speak to the Father but went to an isolated place like a garden or to the top of a hill or mountain to pray. He knew the objects in the sanctuary were symbolic and Jesus had an understanding of what they meant. For example the candle stand of seven candles was symbolizing the Holy Spirit and His seven Spirits.

In the New Testament it is written we are the Temple of God. It is the congregation which becomes the Temple and not the structure where they gather. Thus we see if we have those Holy objects in us then only we are a Holy Temple and it is only when we guard ourselves from the corruption of this world do we become a Holy City.

So to truly build ourselves in the Lord we should not only grow in Him but also guard ourselves from the corrupt understandings of this world that is why we are called a Holy Priest and Holy Soldiers of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord we pray that your people become a Holy City. We pray they grow strong not in the riches of your Kingdom but also become immune to the corruption of this world. Build their minds with the knowledge and understand of your Kingdom. It is only the complete Truth comes in us will help us overcome all things, build us Lord in your Truth, open the minds of your people and give them the courage to walk in it...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

2 Corinthians 6:16 - And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrew 8:1-14
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

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