The House that God Built

Start with Prayer---

Gen. 6:14-16–the building of the ark and the specifications of it.

Ex. 25:8-9– the making of the tabernacle and the specifications of it and all the vessels belonging to it.

1 Kings 6:1-9– the building of the temple by Solomon and the specifications of it.

I’ve always been curious as to why the scriptures give so much detail on the dimensions of the ark, the dimensions of the tabernacle and the temple.  Everything is recorded in such detail.  I always wondered why.  Although it stands to reason the Lord wanted things a certain way, built with specific materials to certain specifications, I just didn’t completely understand the necessity or significance of listing everything right down to the last teeny, tiny detail.  I mean come on, it’s not like we are going to be able to or attempt to physically rebuild any of these things.  Those men from way back then may have used their hands to build those things according to God’s plan, nevertheless, it was God’s blueprint and God made sure things were made just how he wanted them.  The same is true today.  However, as God gave specific instructions in building they physical ark, tabernacle and temple; Christ also gave us specific instructions for building our spiritual temple, and that is the significance of why God has had every single detail listed and recorded.   It’s to let us know that details matter.  God still has a blueprint and he wants it followed to the “T”.  The only difference now is that the temple of God is not made with man’s hands nor is it a building made with bricks and mortar. 

And that’s our lesson for today.  Today we are going to talk about “THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILT”.  Or should I say the houses that God is building.  We are going to find out what and where that house is and hopefully find out how he wants it built to meet his very specific standards.

First let’s find out what (or should I say who) this house is—

1 Cor. 6:19—What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Cor. 3:16— Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  

Ah Ha, our bodies (including our mind) are God’s temple, and that means we don’t belong to ourselves to do just whatever we want to do.  We belong to God for him to do whatsoever he wants with us.  Every minute of our lives and every event that happens is the process by which we are being built.  Everyday is a part of the building process.  

Romans 12:1—I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

When we were baptized in Jesus’ name and received the Holy Ghost we became the temple of the Holy Ghost and from that point on God started building us according to his perfect specifications.  God does have a special plan for each and every one of us.  We are instructed here to give ourselves to the Lords hands so that he can perform his perfect work in us.  So that we can be made according to his specifications.  

2 Cor. 5:17—Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If we are being built by God, let’s see where our building starts.  What is our foundation? 

Eph. 2:20-22—And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (everything in the word of God), Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The stuff we’ve been studying lately found in the sermon on the mount, are the building blocks to continue building this (point to self, and to them) body.  Think of the bible as a toolbox.  Each lesson is a tool to build this body.  

2 Cor. 5:1—For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Our spiritual body is the (temple of God)

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

NOTE:  You may wish to bring graham crackers and a can of cake icing as a snack.  The children can "build" houses using the icing to hold the graham crackers together.  Then they can enjoy eating them.