Dedication

That was not about and it was simply a representation of the automobile, not made out of gold and silver in Denver just heard a portion of the upcoming message title dedication Pastor Abbott on job of clearing the church in Henderson with Carol Ackley.

View our focus is on making Christ visible from the way we worship to the way we serve to the way we love one another. Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online@clearviewvc.org joint for the rest. So what are we doing nation we are really dedicating ourselves to God, what were saying to God is that we are committing ourselves to worshiping the living true triune God. We are committing ourselves to magnifying and glorifying Jesus Christ, who became man to take the punishment of our sins upon himself.

We are committing ourselves to sticking and standing on the word of God with us in preaching or teaching or everything we do. It's about the word of God were committing ourselves to submitting the leadership of the authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are committing ourselves to reaching the lost. We are committing ourselves to being a lighthouse, not just in this community but all over the world. So were really not dedicating this building. It's already his were truly dedicating ourselves to God is not about the brick-and-mortar. It's about hearts and lives.

If you have your Bibles with you during the second Chronicles chapter 6 and verse 41 were going to walk through the dedication of the temple and the prayer that Solomon made before the whole assembly of Israel as he dedicated the temple to God. But let me qualify before we go there. This is not a temple.

This is not even the church. It's the building. The charges you the church are the people of God.

This is just the place where we come together and meet but work there still parallels that we can learn from. As we dedicate ourselves to God. So if you have your Bibles open second Chronicles 6 verse 41 the saucepan for the reading of God's work. Now therefore arise, old Lord God to your resting place you in the ark of your strength. Let your priest so Lord God be clothed with salvation and let your saints rejoice in goodness the Lord God. Do not turn away the face of your anointed the word in Hebrew is missing the Messiah, Lord, don't let your Messiah walk away from this temple.

And remember the mercies of your servant David. Now listen to the very next verse was a chapter 7 and verse one of second Chronicles, when Solomon had innerspring fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices and the glory of the Lord filled the temple and the priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house can imagine that they could not walk in because God's presence was so real I hope this the people have the same experience and not just in some smoke or some incense, but they will sense that this is a place where God is listen to the response of God's people. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down in the glory of the Lord on the temple. They bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement. You see what they're doing there, dedicating themselves somehow we had a very poor understanding of the ancients. We think didn't get it or they got it very well.

They also knew that it was not about the temple. It was about their hearts so that they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement and they worship and praise the Lord, saying, for he is good. Then, save for the temple is good for he is good for his mercy endures forever this morning before we pray and go into the message.

When was the last time you fell on your face before God, when was the last time you dedicated your self to God and not just one thing or two things but all of you, your mind, your body, your time, your wallet, your children, your vision, your dreams that you submitted them to God is a God, not my will but yours be done. Today is a day you should do. Towards the end of the sermon, make it a point to walk down as an individual as a couple is a family and dedicate yourself to God.

Are you safe, do you know Christ as your Savior as so John read that passage from Ephesians we are the holy Temple. All of us are part of that temple. We are the stone.

Thus, the gold or silver.

The timber we are part of God's holy temple built by the Holy Spirit. If you're not safe you're just Iraq, you're just a tree, you're just a log that is lying about what needs to happen for you to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior as your king and at that moment the Holy Spirit takes you any laces you where you belong in the holy temple of God and who is the cornerstone Jesus Christ. The passage we just read comes from a very high point in the history of God's people.

After years of delaying and deferring. They finally decided to build a temple to God, and who was the man who made this decision, it was King David, I want you to hear these words in first Chronicles chapter 17 verse one it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house that David said to Nathan, the prophet listen to his word. See now I dwell in a house of cedar and yet the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains. Davis desire was not to house God. Don't misunderstand this. David was far more advanced than we think.

He was, and so this was on his heart. But you know what God said to him, God they said David that's very noble, but I don't think you're the man that David did not know at the time why God said what he said but later on we find out why God said David, you're not the man because David was going to commit adultery with Bathsheba and then he would have her husband brutally murdered, and so later non-David himself says it listen to what he says in second Chronicles 22, nine verse eight he says with a word of the Lord came to me saying you shall not build a house for my name because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight, but who will do it. Listen to verse nine behold a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest. Now keep in mind when God said that of course he was talking about Solomon because Solomon is not in a wage same amount of battles that David wage but Solomon was not ultimately a man of rest because what we know about Solomon. Solomon ultimately when he died. People said to his son. Please lift the burden that your father has placed upon us reason Solomon did not ultimately fulfill this promise. Who was he referring to was David talking about at this point he was talking about the man of rest who will say come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest is Jesus. Jesus came from the line of David. Jesus came to sit on the throne of David, whose kingdom shall never and so even though this promise is given first about Solomon ultimately it was about one greater than Solomon. Even Jesus said that way now when we think about the temple in Jerusalem. Most people often think about Herod's Temple, when you see images you see videos were not really looking at the depictions of Solomon's Temple is really Herod's Temple that you're looking at, and it was very impressive.

In fact, Herod's Temple was twice as large as Solomon's Temple laminate was elaborate, he extended the grounds he built. Those retaining walls, even to this day people go and pray at the wall of the Western Wall mean this is from Herod's time. There was an elaborate building.

It was extravagant, but it was no comparison to Solomon's Temple, Herod's Temple was huge.

Solomon's Temple was small, but it was ornate, very expensive. Let me give you some stats on how expensive this place was first Chronicles 2214 David is talking to Solomon at this point is that indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord. Now pay attention to these numbers 100,000 talents of gold. How much is a talent I did the math for you. It is 3000 tons of gold that comes to about $128 billion worth of gold. David collected gold and then Solomon collected gold 120. I can even think that for but has not had listen to this and one million talents of silver. That's 30,000 tons of silver $14 billion by today's monies or add those two things up 128 billion+14 billion is how much $142 billion Solomon and his father spent on the temple. If God cannot live in a in a temple built by man wine in the world would they waste so much money keep the part to come back to it but were not done. Listen to some more and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant, so when you would walk in the temporal. Those two pillars. One of them was called yakking, which means God establishes the other one was called Boaz, which means in God's strength. Listen to this verse 14. I have prepared timber and stone all so that you may add to them by the way, this temple was smaller than Herod's Temple, but still it was about 40 feet wide hundred 30 feet long and 50 feet tall so here's how it goes. Every inch of that place was covered and overlaid with gold and silver and precious stones. You walk into this building and what you say you see floral patterns carved into the walls of the temple UC cherubim's carved into the walls and then some huge cherubim's inside the holy of the holy and in every sacred object inside candelabra room tables, lamps, all were made of precious metals and would they did not spare anything.

Listen, the did not spare anything in building the temple of God, what were my going with this.

The church is not the temple. The building is not attempt even the building is not the church people are the church. Having said that sometimes people cut corners when it comes to church is a travesty when you say people living in nice luxurious apartments and mansions in the churches to church buildings are in shambles there something wrong with that sales agreement that you walk in some of the buildings and the carpet wreaks there is mildew. No one has clean the bathroom in two years, something not come from India, so maybe that's what it is we believe that the church building should look better than our home. How opposite is that I believe how your church building looks is a reflection of how you think about spiritual things is a reflection of our priorities that that here and by the way, there's a rule here on the medications for service and I'm already fussing.

If it's not good enough for your home you want to throw it away. Don't bring it preacher about to throw away the scout would just like that in charge. I don't worry will fit real well now. If you are thrown away by doing this you keep the cows buy a new one for the church. Amen around the world is highly justified that the give God what's used up and left over is all right with that.

Well you know this is not really temple anyways. Shame on these men that day. They did not spare anything in building the temple of God, so should we.

When it comes to building a place where we may thus not stand back and say well that's just way too much cannot be enough. God give his son he gave his only begotten son for us now is to focus on something else. I was the focus for the next few minutes. Our time is already running away on the prayer of dedication that Solomon makes to God starting in verse 12, second Chronicles chapter 6. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and listen to what he does and he knelt down on his knees picture with me.

Solomon the king his robe his purple and and he is covered in, and precious stones and gold and silver and he kneels down before the people and he spread out his hands toward heaven, he knelt down and listen to this before all the assembly of Israel. This man did not care one bit that his generals and his leaders were standing and watching their king kneeling.

I don't qualify. Many times already this is not a temple is the building but God's people meet. Having said that, please listen carefully when we come into this place. We should come in a spirit of humility in our Christians did overseas.

When they walk in the church.

The first thing to do is this. Sit down and they prayed for the talk to anybody and shake hands with anyone is walk writing sitdown pray and then there ready what they're saying is God prepare my heart. Some things are not right. The devil is having a heyday with my life is messing with me get me ready, the spirit of humility, the spirit of expectation and listen to verse 14… Almost praise the Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like you who keep your covenant and mercy with your sermons who walk before you. Verse 15 you have What you promise.

You have What you promise. You are a covenant keeping God when you come into this place come with the spirit of God. I trust you not this was the how it works out the best you can. Shame on us were talking that way Solomon begins with this prayer, knowing that his treasury is empty and is is God you are a God who keeps promises we come into this place.

My challenge my encouragement to you is come, saying God I believe I trust you are capable you are more than powerful to handle what I'm facing in my life there when you pray that way when you have the trust that faith in God.

At that moment, God smiles at you you think this is why Solomon was so blessed because he did things that please God. What else do you do verse 22. If anyone sins against his neighbor and is forced to take an oath and comes and takes a note before your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servants means God knows the heart.

You cannot cover up your sins before God coming to this place and listen to how Solomon says this he says then hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servant's rate bringing retribution means punishment on the wicked and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness when he come in displays doesn't really matter if you come and say things to me like now team up my wife she is. She is the problem. Are you coming displays. My husband is the problem or this person the bed there. The reason lime this way.

Be honest when you are in the presence of God. When you are hearing the word worshiping in Sunday school and some ministry.

Be honest before God is a God.

It is me. It is me who needs help, listen, what else Solomon says, verse 24 of your people Israel are defeated as powerful if they are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against you and return and confess your name and pray and make supplication before you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people means when you come in this place come by the spirit of repentance member in a series when you repent, repent, is not that I'm going this way, and now I turn around and start going this way I'm going. This knelt repentance is a change of mind.

True repentance is changing your mind about that behavior that added to that sentencing that is a sin and God hates it when you come into the church building have the spirit of repentance is in verse 28, when there is famine in the land, pestilence, or blight, or mildew your locusts or grasshoppers means the unexpected's of life. Don't raise your hand, but how many of y'all are sick and tired of the unexpected's of life is that is always one thing or the other if this settles down the starter that settles down the stars when you come to this place be like Solomon is a God. Here I am. I am tired.I need your help. What is the promise when you would make that supplication.

It says, then he will hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose whose hearts you know that here comes verse 32. Moreover, concerning a foreigner who is not of your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm and dad come and pray in this temple. I mean he is really stepping on a limb is I want you to hear very carefully.

This is a church for all people. It doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter what color your skin tone is it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, or which side of the tracks you live on. It doesn't matter.

This is a charge for all people because if you truly believe the gospel that there is only one way truth in life. And Jesus is the only way then how in the world can we be prejudice. How does that work in your mind.

I'll tell you personally right now.

There have been people came to me and said who the years. We love this chart we love you and all that.

But if those kind of people come here brothers stay can do that folks. You cannot be that with this man. I would not have done was Solomon did.

I'll be like hey you say he did the King of Israel standing in the temple of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He says if a foreigner comes in here he is welcome. Why are we afraid to say that it doesn't matter who you are.

If you need forgiveness of sins.

If you need eternal life come and find Jesus Christ listen to verse 41. Now he ends the prayer now therefore arise, oh God, to your resting place you in the ark of your strength. Let your priest or Lord God be clothed with salvation.

Let your saints rejoice in goodness and then listen to this. The Lord God. Do not turn away the face of your anointed the word anointed is Messiah Messiah is God's anointed, chosen King Solomon is looking through a telescope that one day the king will come.

God don't let him walk away from this temple.

Don't let him be disappointed with this place. Listen to what else he says remember the mercies of your servant David Rasta the question why do you think the spent so much money on the temple.

David was a man after God's own heart. He knew that that temple was not about brick and mortar. It was simply a representation of the temple that God will build not made out of gold and silver and and timber. It was good be made on the lives lives that would be full of the glory of God shining brightly. It was a representation of us is this kind of a far reach. Let's go back to the verse John read earlier. Ephesians 219 now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, what is Solomon say if you foreigner comes into the temple and he praised God. Listen to them.

Here's a fulfillment you and I were outsiders. Now, therefore your longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God and what is this house will look like, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in-home. The whole building, being fitted together, grows into a trade with me holding temple in the Lord. David if you want to know messianic prophecies in the Old Testament read the Psalms of the he saw one day.

Not only that Jesus will come and die a brutal death on the cross. But he also saw a whole new temple being built and it was so radiant it was so lustrous it was so beautiful. He said son. I know it's not ready yet, but I want us to build a temple that would be just as beautiful so that so that one day one day the Messiah will come and build the temple. The temple of God, how to get into this temple is when you and I receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at that moment, you're just a rock and you are taken and you are chiseled and you are brought in and placed somewhere in that temple, just a block of wood and you are taken and carved and smoothed out and placed somewhere in that temple and who is the one who is doing this, listen to this in-home. You also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit is the contractor has that happened in your life are you just a boulder somewhere entire are you just a cedar somewhere in Syria are you just and or sitting somewhere in some minds in the Jordan Valley, are you just lost many come to Christ is the Holy Spirit who begins to place you in the holy Temple were Christ is the chief cornerstone, and you begin to shine. Many grow and you reflect. Thank you so much for joining us for this mess.

Just a Solomon dedicated to the Lord will dedicate not only our new sanctuary ourselves as a church, God used in the service of his kingdom. Only by surrendering our plans him we can be used for his glory for the further more information, visit us online.org for this sermon. Sniffles check our pastor Shaw's blog but I'm shocked.com