The Church Series - Part Twenty -The Temple Blueprint
Writer Author Sylvia Huffnagle
Christian Article
:
Bible Teaching
- Fiction No
Ezek: 43:10-11: Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11: And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
(I dealt some with these passages in the 9th article of the Church Series called: Strangers in the Sanctuary. This article is intended to bring out the rest of what God was teaching in these scriptures.
For two chapters God had Ezekiel recording the measurements of the temple and surrounding area then He says the above statement. He tells His watchman on the wall to carefully describe the correct instructions for building His temple. His hope is that the people will be ashamed of how far off of the original plan they have gotten. For those who would be ashamed and desiring to build according to God’s plan, Ezekiel is to meticulously describe God’s building plans.
The New Testament gives the church the blueprint for building God’s church. It is the watchmen’s job to carefully share those plans with the congregation so that the building can be built with the effectually working of every part.
Many of my articles deal with God’s instructions--what they are, how they are to be applied, and what the desired outcome will be when God’s plans are followed and what the undesired outcome will be when God’s plans are not followed. The things those articles address are God’s instructions for building the church.
The Israelites were looking at, listening to, and paying attention to things they should not have been and doing things in secret that they should not been doing. Ezek:20:7 They were using unjust weights and measures. Ezek: 45:10-11 They were honoring and worshipping other gods and causing their children to pass through the fire. Ezek 23:39 That can be liken to church people today watching what they ought not and reading and listening to what they ought not and letting their children watch, read, and join in with what they ought not. A lenient parent is guilty of making his child go through the fire. Ezek 16:22-35. They disregarded God’s instructions. Ezek: 20:16, 22:26 They offered less than their best to God. Ezek: 34:4 In other words, they were not living true to their covenant with God.
This article is to convey that God’s house cannot be built until His people use His building plans exclusively.)
12-13: This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 13: And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.
(God is saying that the things the church has given up in the name of convenience are the very things that hold the foundation together. They are the mortar. The exact and accurate measurements are the solid rock foundation.
So what’s does God want? He wants every word of God taught and lived by. He says, “Show them the whole form of it.” 2Tim: 4:2)
Ezek: 44:5-9: And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. 6: And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, 7: In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. 8: And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. 9: Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
(Here God again says the temple must be built by following all the instructions to the letter [Remember true Christians are led by the Spirit so the Biblical instructions are followed to the letter, but carried out according to the leading of the Spirit.] and adds to it that it is very important who is accepted as a believer. Yes! I am saying that there are judgments to make.
The church does not say who is going to heaven and who is going to hell, but she is to discern who is conducting themselves like a believer and who is not. Ezek: 44:23, Mal: 3:18, 1Cor: 5, 6:2-6, 1Tim: 5, Rev: 2:2, 20
If a person says they are a Christian, but their conduct is not Christian the church should deal with them. Ezek: 22:26, 44:23, 2Thess: 3:6, 1Tim: 5:20
God says in verse 7 that He does not want the church to treat sinners as if they were saints. The circumcised in heart have rejected the carnal way and have chosen God’s way. Those who are not willing to give up their carnal appetites are not to be treated as if they were saved from sin and death. God saves us from sin and death by calling for repentance of doing things our way and for a turning to His ways. He gives the believer a new heart--a heart to please Him and the true Christian is to live by that heart and not their old way of pleasing themselves. Ezek: 36:26-27, Rom: 8:2-14
In our covenant with God we promise to trust and obey Him. May the church live by the covenant. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.)
Sylvia Huffnagle
Editor's Comment:
About the Writer Author
State:
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States
Email:
huffnagl@verizon.net
Website:
www.straightpaths.truepath.com/about4.html
Profile:
Click here!
|
|
Most Recent From This Writer
Inspired Still - Designs by LaVellaK
Design Challenged? No worries! Among many design services I offer, I'll gladly design hats, t-shirts and more for you or your organized Special Event. Email me at justask@worthfinding.com for details!
Photgraphy & Design by LaVella Kraft
|
Select Article or Story
|