July 31
2 Chron 29:1-36 | PS 24:1-10 | Prov 20:12 | Rom 14:1-23
We read in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" If, and only if, we have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ, then our bodies have been transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But over time we often allow so much junk, so many depraved things, so many godless things to reside within our temples. Our temples never cease being temples, but just like in the Temple in Jerusalem, sometimes it was used to honor God, while other times it was used to dishonor God. Under the evil kings of Judah, such as King Ahaz, the Temple was degraded with dishonorable and abhorrent things, just as during certain seasons of our lives we allow similar things in our lives to desecrate our temples. While at other times the good kings of Judah, like Hezekiah, purged out the evil, and used the Temple to honor God.
We can learn a lot from how Hezekiah approached the task of transforming the Temple from one of dishonor to one of honor. We read in 2 Chronicles 29:15-16, "And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the Lord to the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron." Before we restore, we must remove those things that don't belong in us. First we read in 29:21, "And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord." We must recognize the sins in our own temples and confess, and repent of them. We then read in 29:21, "And the priests killed them; and they presented their blood on the altar as a sin offering to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel." The burnt offering is the consecration offering. Consecration is when we are set apart for the things of God. Once consecrated we read on 29:30, "Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped." The natural thing once we feel cleansed from our sins and set apart for Him, is to ascribe worth to Him as we worship Him and praise Him. Then we read in 29:31, "Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near, and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings." When we consider all that He has done, we can't help but move forward in thanksgiving.
It's easy to gloss over certain portions of Scripture, but it always applies to us. How we follow the Lord, the condition of our temples, is not once and done. Yes, once we accept Him, the Holy Spirit will never leave us, but what is it we are asking the Holy Spirit to reside within. The condition of our temples change day to day, month to month, and year to year. Sometimes we more resemble King Ahaz, while at other times we more closely resemble King Hezekiah. Which one do you resemble today? We need to constantly be watchful of this. When we are in a bad state, we shouldn't just start singing worship songs, etc, we should honestly reflect on the state of our temples. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”" We need to abide in Him and His Word. We need to surround ourselves with the things of God. We need to keep short accounts with God and continually approach Him at the altar. This is how our temples become consecrated and we render ourselves as vessels ready for His service.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: