God's Focus

The Temple of God
Today’s Focus: The Temple: God’s Focus
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 2 Kings 18:31; Acts 15:1-23

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
When God looks at the Body of Christ in a particular area, He does not look at separate churches like some think. The Body of Christ is not separate. The church at Corinth is the perfect example of the local mindset and Paul was given grace to deal with this problem of division within the city of Corinth. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Paul is speaking to the Body of Christ in Corinth and they began to be separate households dividing the church along those lines. No different with local churches. Paul would come in and ask them “Is Christ divided?” So when Paul addresses the various churches of the New Testament, he addresses the entire Body of Christ within that city. Even Jesus with the seven churches of Asia addressed the entire Body of Christ within that city. There was not an exaltation of a particular church or household but the focus of God was on the entire city. Now it is not practical currently for the entire Body of Christ around the world to meet in one particular place. The only time that will happen is when we are gathered unto Christ at His return. Hence there is a focus on building the Temple of God within the cities. There must be deliverance from a local mentality within the Body of Christ.

It amazes me how much advertising and promotions churches do to “influence” people to leave where they are to be a part of something “bigger and better”. The only advertising the first century church did was their lives and the power of the Kingdom being shown forth through them. The church has become so commercialized just like the world and people who maybe immature in Christ are influenced to go to places where all the entertainment looks like the anointing but is simply a show. There is no focus on uniting the Body within the city. It seems everyone is trying to get everyone. True ministry allows you to touch people’s lives where they are at and if they are in the wrong place, the Spirit will move them, not you.

When we look at building the Temple, we must understand the firstfruit principal. During the feast of the firstfruit (Leviticus 23:9-14) the sheaf of the firstfruit that is presented is presented as a representation of the whole harvest. So the part represents the whole. Hence there must be a firstfruit company that must be seen as the church in the city. The question is who is this firstfruit company? We will answer this in a subsequent message. Let me give you an example of this.

The prophet Elijah when confronting the prophets of Baal with the children of Israel at Mt. Carmel took 12 stones (2 Kings 18:31) which represented the spirit of the 12 tribes of Israel and rebuilt the altar of the Lord. Even through 7,000 people was with him, they were not in fellowship with Elijah. Another example is the 12 apostles themselves which would represent the entire church. So there must be a firstfruit company that rises in the city to represent the rest. Here is a great example: When Paul and Barnabas was dealing with problems about circumcision in Acts 15 they went to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about the problem. Notice they were going to Jerusalem (city) to bring the issue to the apostles and elders (leaders) to consider the matter. Acts 15:4 goes on to say that they were received of the church and of the apostles and elders and declared all things that God had done with them. Now watch this:

Acts 15:6: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

So it is the leadership within the city that comes together to handle disputed issues. Now during this dispute for the sake of time and you can read Acts 15:6-22 the apostles (Peter and James) stood up and gave the Word of the Lord and answer to this growing problem within the Gentiles. After this conference between the elders, apostles, Paul and Barnabas this is the result:

Acts 15:22,23: Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

So in all of these examples we have the part representing the whole or the leaders representing the nation. In the next message we will begin to discuss the building of the temple.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.