The Temple of God
Today’s Focus: Local Church vs. City Church: Convenience and Locality
Scripture: Acts 7:48;
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
What Jeroboam did by producing these high places and priests and feasts was establishing a local ministry apart from the central nation. Please listen because this can be taken out of context easily but I do not want you to miss the concept.
In Jeroboam committing those sins he succeeded in separating the people from the Temple. He created a local mentality where the local church or household of faith is exalted as a local idol. If we look at some of these mega ministries they are the current day situation of Jeroboam where they exalt their ministry and the thing that they are doing and in turn it separates the Body of Christ within a city. Another local church mentality that separates is denominations. When leaders exalt their denomination or say things like “we are the true church or our way is the correct way” then there is a local mentality that is created and also a separatist mentality that prevents all the tribes from coming together as the temple. When Jeroboam committed these sins the nation of Israel could not celebrate the feasts as ordained by the Lord the way that He ordained it.
The local church or household of faith is simply what it is, a group of believers under a spiritual father. The city church is the entire Body of Christ within the city. The local church is the picture of the synagogue and the city church is a picture of the Temple. Now please keep in mind that the Body of Christ is one corporate entity.
Now notice when Paul address His letters to the various churches, He does not address it to separate households or churches, but to the entire Body of Christ within the city. Let’s see:
1 Corinthians 1:2: UNTO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
Galatians 1:1,2: Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead) and all the brethren which are with me, UNTO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA.
Ephesians 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus
Philippians 1:1: Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons
So when Paul is writing a letter, he addresses the entire Body of Christ within the city, not just a local church. The Body of Christ is a global body built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets in which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19,20). So when we talk about building the Temple of God was are speaking of building the Temple from city to city and within that city all five governmental gifts are in operation to bring the body to maturity. The problem we run into is when our denominational or man’s doctrine prevents us from following God’s order or from acknowledging the authority within the earth that the Lord has left to mature us. Carnal people want to build a physical temple in Israel but the Temple is the Global Body of Christ because God does not dwell in places made by the hands of man.
Acts 7:48,49: Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? Saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Since the Body of Christ within a city is the temple of God then it should be visible and the leaders that come together should represent all the saints of their congregations. This gathering must be a culture, not a church-based event. The Culture is the Culture of the Kingdom (Acts 2:42). We must shift from event-based church to culture-based church lead by the Kingdom of God.
Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
