The people of Israel knew about the tabernacle and
the temple. When Jesus said "It is finished" the old house was left
behind and God was building a brand new house. Jesus became
the house of God. See Colossians 2:9 & John 1:14. God Himself resides
in this house. Where does God reside today? See Hebrews 3:6. God dwells
in the born=again believer. We are the house that Jesus built. We are
the temple of God. See 1 Peter 2:5. We are a spiritual house. This
is a tremendous truth. There are three things we need to do:-
1. It requires our specific attention (vs 1)
Our
sanctification - "Holy brethren". When you come to church
there is no "black" or "white and there is no "rich"
or "poor". Every church should be "whosoever".
This is way things are in Heaven. See Colossians 1:21. God lives inside
of us and this should change the way we act. See 1 Peter 2:9-10. We
need to pay attention to our sanctification.
Our
Saviour - Jesus is called "the Apostle" - An Apostle is "a sent one".
It is one who comes from another country to bring a message. Jesus
was send into this world to speak the words that God the Father has
to say. Jesus is also called "High Priest". He represents us before
God. As Apostle he is representing God to us. As High Priest he represents
us to God!
Take the focus off yourself or problem and put your focus on Jesus!
When you take your eyes off Jesus you lose your joy. Keep your eyes
on Jesus and you will have joy.
2. It deserves our special appreciation (vs 2-6)
There are things that we need to appreciate as the
house of God. The people at this time revered the Old Testament saints
such as Moses. Jesus is greater than Moses! What should we appreciate?
His
fidelity (vs
2) - Moses was on the most part faithful to God. Jesus was faithful
to God. God expects us to be faithful also. It can be hard to get people
to be faithful to things in the Church. Do you serve God when you feel
like and don't feel like it? Jesus was 100% faithful to God and to
us. I have let him down many times. He has never let me down.
His
majesty
(vs 3-4) - The architect gets more glory than the building itself.
You look at this creation and you know there is a greater creator. Jesus
is worthy of more glory. He is has built the house of God. Whether you
give it to him or not does not change the fact that he is worthy of the
glory. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord. When we get to heaven we will spend all our time praising him.
We won't need to rest in Heaven. We will have a body that never gets
tired! Our body is a temple to the glory of God. I don't deserve
it yet it is true. God is worthy of our worship.
His deity
(vs 5) - Moses was faithful as a servant and testified of Christ to
come. See John 5:46 - "He wrote of me". Moses was a servant but Jesus
was a Son. This was stunning news those who heard it. See Matthew 16:16.
Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Peter knew who Jesus was.
3. It deserves our splendid affirmations (vs 6)
We are to stay on course. There are two things we
need to affirm. The fact that we hold out is proof that we are saved.
Holy
boldness (vs6) - We ought to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ. See
Acts 4:29. Since God lives inside of us we will boldly tell the world.
How can we say nothing when the Lord is living right inside of us?
We can't keep it to ourselves. What is on the inside has got to come
out. What kind of Christianity is only active in church.
Happy boastfulness.
(vs 6) We are not bragging on ourselves. We are boasting on what the
Lord has done. We have something to boast about. We have a saviour
who lives on the inside. If something good happens to you it is only
normal that you want to tell somebody! You can brag on what God has
done!
Your house may get old on the outside and will be
torn down. See 2 Corinthians 4:16. On the inside we are getting renewed.
When I die Jesus has a new house waiting for me!