Friday, 8 October 2021
HIS SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory (Psalm 102:16).
Zion in the scripture above doesn’t refer to Israel at the Millennium but to the Church of Jesus Christ. When you read about the millennial reign from the beginning to the end, whatever the Bible says will happen at the Millennium must first happen with the Church; the reflection is in the Church. So, before building the temple in Jerusalem, which is going to be at the Millennium, He’s going to build His temple, which is the Church.
In Zechariah 6:12, the Bible says, “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.” Jesus is the One referred to as “The BRANCH,” and He’s going to build the temple of the Lord, and it started from the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. Ephesians 2:22 shows the veracity of the ongoing building; it says, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Jesus is already building His spiritual temple of the Church, and He says we’re members of that very building. Hallelujah! Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” The Church is Zion in this context, spelt “Sion.”
In building His Church, He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12). When He’s done building His Church, He’ll appear in glory! Until then, the Church will reign in His Name, over the powers of darkness and the elements of this world, for He said, “...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). “...Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
CONFESSION: Dear Father, what a blessing it is to be your habitation through the Spirit. I acknowledge your divine presence in me, as you lead me by your Spirit, through your Word, in your perfect will. Thank you for beautifying my life with the glory of your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 2:21-22; Acts 20:32; 1 Peter 2:5
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 1:24-2:1-5 & Isaiah 46-47
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:30-42 & 1 Kings 14