Destroy This Temple

Destroy This Temple

Acts 6.12-14

As we read the end of the Gospels and the beginning of Acts, events center in Jerusalem.

Jesus Triumphal Enty, The LORD’s Supper, His Death on the Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension, Pentecost amd the Day of Pentecost

Let’s talk about this city.

The first time it is mentioned is in the Book Of Genesis, Melchizadek, King of Salem

The final time it is mentioned is in the Book Of Revelation.

The current situation is very interesting but we do not have the time to go into that this morning, except to say to this day it is a very intense city. This is due in part to its past and its future.

Let’s take an overview of it

Abraham sacrificed Isaac there.

David captured it from the Jebusites and set it up as the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago

The Temple was built there.

Jesus died there.

He rose from the dead there.

He ascended back into heaven from there.

He is coming back again and will reign from there.

What Jesus Actually Said

This Temple

This City

Moses never contradicted, rather upheld by Jesus and His followers.

We see from the trial of Jesus, if you can call it that, misunderstanding and outright distortions about what He said about the temple in Jerusalem.

Here are some instances:

1. They Loved Their Temple And Missed The LORD!

Two Matters:

1. Loving the building.

Big issue for them

Samaritan Woman

Disciples impressed. Not one stone, will be left standing on another.

The building came more important than the LORD.

John 11.45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did,believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

I am learning so much from that little church in Haiti. Their “temple” was destroyed and God is raising a wonderful one up! In part because they loved the LORD more tha the “temple”

2. Worshiping the Worship

Worship has changed for the better since the advent of the Jesus Movement.

With the advent of worship bands we have a problem. Things I have heard and hear a lot.

*The worship was fantastic.

*They have a great worship band!

*I love the worship in that church!

Awesome night of worship with this group. Amazing! What is amazing the worship of the LORD? Satan is so subtle!

Music has become elevated above the proclamation of the Word and you will never find that in the Book of Acts! Not even a hint of it!

This was a concern with Solomon in building it.

The heavens cannot contain You!

II Chronicles 6.18 “But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

3. Missing the LORD!

Luke 19.41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Now He was speaking about the destruction of Jerusalem and with it the temple.

2. There Is Great Ignorance Concerning Jerusalem and Israel Today.  Romans 11.25-27

The Middle East is the scene of last days prophecies. Another reason to believe! How could men who wrote 2,000 to 2,700 years ago possibly know that the population of the earth would be over 7 Billion today, around the world and that that area of the world they wrote about would be in the headlines. We know Paul was on his way to Damascus. We will read about that in Acts next week. The Headlines today are about military action taken this week in Syria. Russia is threatening serious consequences. Syria and Israel and Iran continue to be part of the world’s headlines after being written about in the Bible. Of course Jerusalem, as Israel’s capital for 3,000 years since David captured it remains in the news as well.

What about the Promises of the Old Testament concerning the nation of Israel (btw any Jew returning there automatically becomes a citizen). How do they fit in under the New Covenant?

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

Israel is a mystery. Billy Graham said he could prove the existence of God in one word, “Israel”.

We try to figure out mysteries. We must simply believe.

Mystery= hidden thing, secret, mystery, a hidden purpose or counsel, secret with

Jerusalem and His Promises about the Promised Land are part of His Last Days plan for the world.

There will be a New Jerusalem. Revelation 21.1-6

 

3. Destroy This Temple And I Will Raise It Up In Three Days.  John 2.19

Jesus said these words in the beginning and  they were brought up at the end of ministry.

 Mark 14.55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

It didn’t agree because they were fabricating what He said and twisting His Words. See how far the rumor spread into Acts. Rumors continue to enlarge lies.

Of course Jesus was talking about His Body. He was crucified and rose again on the third day.

This is the Gospel.

Jesus died for our sins.

Jesus rose again.

I Corinthians 15.3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third dayaccording to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

He prophesied His own death and resurrection.

Hebrews 9.27 It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement.

From 25 years of age our bodies stop growing start the slow process of decay. One day we will die if Jesus does not come back first.

We have the promise of the Resurrection of the Body.

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

Paul the apostle wrote to the Church at Corinth... 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by the hands of man. II Corinthians 5.1

Destroy this temple and He will raise it up, just like His Body was raised!r