DAILY DEVOTION No. 46

                    BUILDING THE TEMPLE OF GOD

Ezra 6:14 - 14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they were blessed through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it according to the command of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

1. The Elders Built

As leaders we are responsible to see the temple of God built up in people's lives. We are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry - Eph 4:11-13 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

We must seize every opportunity to build God's Word into the lives of those we shepherd. As shepherds we must watch over the congregation and  look for those that are weak in the faith so we can strengthen them. Romans 15:1-2 says 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

We then read in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. To be strong and equipped to do this properly we must be ever growing in the Word and in our relationship with the Lord ourselves. We cannot build up others in the faith if there is nothing there to build with.

We must also build ourselves up in our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. We must build up our spiritual muscles in prayer. Eph 6:18 says 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  This is how we become strong in prayer and how those we shepherd are protected from the strategies of the enemy.

2. They Were Blessed Through  Prophesy

Revelation 1:3 tells that those who receive this prophecy given to John would be blessed. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy , and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. When God speaks over your life through prophecy, allow that word to get into your spirit, meditate on it and see it through to fulfilment in your life.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 it says 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. Because prophecy comes through a human vessel, it can be subject to human thought and the desires of the individual for what is said to happen. We must not despise prophecy but at the same time because it is delivered by a human vessel, we have a responsiblity  to test what is said. It must be confirmed  by the Word of God.

1 Timothy 4:14-15 says 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Then in 2 Timothy 1:6 we read 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. A lot of people don't enter into the blessing of prophecy because they don't constantly hold onto what was said in the prophecy until it comes to fruition.

3. They Finished The Work

The elders of the Jews completed the work in spite of opposition and having an ungodly king. When we are obedient and God wants to bring something through to completion, He is not governed by circumstances or hampered by opposition from ungodly men. God wants us to mature and become the person He has destined us to be. We must count the cost of what is required of us as a disciple then press on to gain the prize.

Luke 14:28-30 says 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,   30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 

Phillipians 1:6

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  God wants to complete His work in us so that we would be fashioned into His image. This requires a willing co-operation on our part and a working together with God to see it happen.

Ps 138:8 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands. You and I must believe that we will be able to accomplish what God has asked us to do and that He will cause us to prosper in the work.

Prayer

Father, help me to constantly build the temple of my heart so that it will be a fit habitation for your presence.

Rod Best