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  • 1 Peter 1 "Our Living Hope"
    "We all remember Peter, that disciple that opened his mouth too much with Jesus. Peter later, however, because one of the chief pillars of the early church. Peter and Paul were the two major apostles in bringing the gospel to the Jews (Peter) and Gentiles (Paul). The themes are hope, holiness, and suffering. This letter was mainly to bring encouragement and renewed motivation to live in Godliness no matter what the circumstances"
  • Nehemiah 13 "Cleaning House"
    "When you clean your house do you only have to do it once and then it remains clean? No. There is dirt around here and messy people. It takes a continual maintenance and cleaning. When you take a bath do you only have to do it the first time and then you don't have to bathe anymore? No, we get dirty living in this world. We need to keep on cleaning or we stink and become grotesque. The people had made many promises in chapter 10 of what they were going to do for God and how they were going to live. Unfortunately, when Nehemiah went back to report to the King the people had turned quickly back to the sin and impurity that they had said they would not do. Through God's Word, and spiritual leadership, God's people were going to clean house again. This chapter is about cleaning that which was rebuilt. It is a maintenance process to examine your life, family, church, and leadership to make sure they are according to the standard of purity that God has shown us in His Word. "
  • Nehemiah 11-12 "Rebuilding Together"
    "The work of rebuilding is not something we can do alone. We need God obviously, but we also need one another. There are a few lasting lessons that we can take with us about rebuilding our lives. We are given a reminder of those lessons in these final chapters. The people were now right with God, and together they continued in the day-to-day decisions that made this rebuilding last. Let us be reminded that: Rebuilding Together Needs People. Rebuilding Together Needs Praise. Rebuilding Together Needs Provisions."
II Chronicles 4-5

2 Chronicles Chapters 4-5 “The Glory of the Lord in the House of God”

  • The Furnishings of the Temple (Chapter 4)

  • Bronze Altar (Verse 1)
  • The bronze altar was the place of sacrifice.
  • 10 meters square
  • Bronze symbolizes judgment
  • Jesus was our complete sacrifice at the “altar” of the cross
  • Heb 13:10 “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”

  • Sea of Bronze (Verses 2-6)
  • The laver is where the priests would wash themselves. It was showing the importance of purification.
  • If the priests were not washed they would die
  • Ex 30:20 “When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die.”

  • Lampstands, Tables, and Bowls (Verses 7-8)
  • These things were for use in the Temple worship
  • Lampstands for light
  • Tables for the showbread
  • Bowls for collecting the sacrifice blood

 

  • The Temple Courts (Verses 9-10)
  • These were the two courtyards for gathering
  • The court of the priests were for priests only
  • The great court was for all the other worshipers
  • There was a separation between priests and people in those days but not today!
  • Rev 5:9-10 “…And have redeemed us to God by Your blood  Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,  10 And have made us kings and priests to our God…”
  • 1 Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
  • 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

  • Bringing the Best (Verses 11-22)
  • Huram the master craftsman (11-18)
  • He was the very best craftsman
  • Solomon’s heart (19-22)
  • He brought not only bronze but gold too.
  • He wanted Gods house to be the best house.
  • Do you offer God your best or only the leftovers?
    • There is a story told about a beloved old physician who was retiring in a little French village.  He had labored among them for decades in their humble village, birthing and blessing them.  It was a poor village, so the mayor proposed that the folks set up a keg in the village square and everyone bring a pitcher of wine from their own cellar to pour into the keg.  Then they would present the keg to the doctor as an expression of their love for all he had shared with them. On the appointed day, there was a steady stream of folks bringing a pitcher of wine to pour into the keg.  That evening a presentation was made to the good doctor and the keg was taken home.  The next evening as he sat around his fireplace, he decided to have a glass of wine.  He drew himself a glass from the keg and took a sip.  He couldn't believe it; he drew another glass.  The same awful taste -- water!  He returned the keg back to the townspeople.  The mayor was angry and he called for a town meeting to see what was wrong.  Much to his disgust and the town's embarrassment, it was discovered that every family and person had brought water to pour into the keg thinking it would never be noticed, since everyone else was bringing wine.

 

  • The Most Important Part (Chapter 5)

  • They Welcomed God (Verses 1-9)
  • The ark of the covenant was the final touch and the most important part of the temple
  • It represented the presence of God, and the place where God would meet with the people
  • Ex 25:21-22 “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. 22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.”
  • Is God’s presence the most important part of Calvary Chapel or is it something else?
  • Solomon had a great gathering, and even went “over the top” with the people present, and the sacrifices made (see: vs.6)
  • Experiencing God’s presence in our lives and church should be our highest priority.

 

  • They had the Word of God (Verse 10)
  • Within the Ark was the tablets of stone, containing God’s Word
  • Not only were the commandments kept in the Ark, they also had a place of priority in the worship services of God’s people.
  • See: Nehemiah 8:1-6
  • Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet  And a light to my path.”

  • They Worshipped God (Verses 11-13a)
  • The leaders were sanctified
  • They were purified (vs.11) and wore white linen representing spiritual cleanness (vs.12)
  • You can’t lead others where you are not willing to go yourself. The choir and worship team must “lead” people into God’s presence.
  • The people worshipped, and the glory came
  • “We can never expect to have God in this house, or in our own houses, or in our own hearts, until we begin to praise him. Unless as a people we unanimously, with one heart, though with many tongues, extol the King of kings, farewell to the hope that he will give us his presence in the future.” (Spurgeon)
  • They saw the Wonder of God (Verses 13b-14)
  • When these three things were present in the house of the Lord, then the glory came.
  • Is God welcomed here?
  • Is God’s Word here?
  • Is God worshipped here?
  • Then we will see God’s wonder here!