Tonight, we are looking at something that is like a follow up to where we stopped last week. Last week, we saw by the help of the Holy Spirit, The Offering that Moves God. Tonight, we are looking at something very important. It is a question that is being asked. A question that concerns us as individuals, and it also concerns as a body of Christ. We are looking at Temple Vs. Heart: Which receives or enjoys the greatest attention or resources in the body of Christ? You remember the Bible says where your treasure is, there your heart will be. So, we want to see which of these two have enjoyed the greatest attention in the body of Christ today. So, as a people of God, when we want to channel resources, which have received the most of the resources?
Listen to Podcast: Temple Vs Heart
Have we been doing well, or is there a need for us to change. That is the challenge that the Holy Spirit have prepared for us tonight, and we will start our meditation from the book of Luke 21:5-6. The Bible says:
"Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,.."
I want you to note something. The Bible says from that verse five that as some spoke, not all. Some people, somewhere, were speaking about the beauty of the temple, how the temple was adorned with stones. I am sure, they were precious stones. They look so glorious. It could have been done over a period of time with painstaking effort, including investment of time and that of money. So now, they are appreciating and observing what others perhaps, lived and died for. So, they were in that mould or state when Jesus interjected them. It is like they were being wowed with the beauty of the temple, then Jesus did something. Let us look at verse six.
“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
Now, it shows that this current edifice that you are cherishing, that you are celebrating, living and dying for, not one of the things that was used to build it up will remain in the time to come. I am sure we remembered when we were looking at Church Restoration Series, and we considered the dead church. Even though they could be busy or appeared busy, but their efforts were not producing life in those who partake in them. Their efforts was producing death in them, and we said there could be a journey to destruction.
When a rocket is launched, when the launched button is pressed, you see a lot of fire, and then you see movement. And before you know it, what you are seeing gets to a point where you can't see it again, it disappears. As soon as the launch is pressed, over time you will not see that rocket again. Now, that is how a man who is going on a self-destructive journey, even though it could look as if he is alive, he is only living to die. The economist call it diminishing marginal returns, like something is fading off with time. He look as if he is living, when God said to Adam and Eve, especially Adam, the day you eat of the fruit of this tree, you will surely die. And some people wonder, after all, after he ate it, he did not die. But they did not know that eating it was like pressing a launch button unto death. He would eventually die.
Something like that took place in the Bible. Now, they were adorning the temple, loving what they were seeing. But Jesus said, this thing that you are loving, in fact, what was used to make them, a time is coming that none of those things that were gathered in making them will not remain. It is like they are living at a dying rate. What you are cherishing is like what the Bible says about you not loving the world, neither the things that are in the world. And the Bible keeps talking about how the things in the world are fading. They look so pretty the moment they came into existence, but over the years, they are depreciating and they are dying.
Now, they were loving the temple, but the things that were used to make the temple has limitation. I don't want us to miss this particular point, because there are other many Scriptures that we will still examine. If we miss this point, there will not be any foundation for us. I am sure we remember what took place last week. Jesus was at the temple and then He saw the rich, deeping their hands into their pockets and giving gifts unto God. And He concluded that the widow gave more than them. It was in the same temple that Jesus saw some people adorning the temple, especially the stones that were used to make it. And Jesus said not one of these stones would be left, it means everything would be scattered.
Now, like somebody said, how many years would you live? You know Apostle Paul said the things that I used count precious, I now count them as dung. Now it was Brother Gbile that said how many years would he live that he would now spent a chunk of it on the things that he will still throw away. Is it not then wise to focus one's time on things that will produce correct life? Why should one spend the whole of his life looking for something that would be discarded at the end of the day? Now they had spent time building a temple, and the people, like the children of the people who built it were already worshipping indirectly, the beauty that their fathers made. And Jesus said watch it. The things that were even used to make this temple would not even remain.
Now, that shows us that there is an issue with the temple, and the attitude of the people about the temple. Now, let us see something else, the same story but in another place. Let us see how it was presented in Matthew 24:1-2. The Bible says:
"Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
And I am sure that we can see the word the buildings, and we know there is nothing spiritual about the blocks. Jesus said not one stone! You know that a building is a collection of several stones. Now, the stones in a typical building are so plenty that you cannot even count it. Once you see a building, what you are seeing are pieces of stones. No wonder the bible says Jesus said to them that the stone the builder have rejected have become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our sight. When you also read Daniel, there was a prophecy about a stone that was cut without human hand. The Bible says that stone that was crushed without human hands was actually used by God to crush all these kingdoms and with it, God was able to set up a kingdom that last forever.
When men gather together, they gather stones and they build temples. And the temples, as beautiful as they may seems, cannot be compared with temples that cannot be built with human hands. Human hands built the temples that Jesus said would not remain. But there is another temple that could be built without human hands. And out emphasis on that is about the temple that cannot be built with human hands. Let us see another Scripture just to buttress the point in Matthew 21. We will see verse 42 and 44.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Now please, before we go on. When they rejected the stone, does it mean they built their buildings without any stone? No! They had their own stone. They were builders, but they had their own stone. They rejected the one that God has made available, then they created their own.
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
Making distinction between the stones that the builders of this world use, and the one that God has instituted. I am sure we also note in Isaiah, I think chapter 28. The Bible says I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a precious stone, a sure foundation. Anyone who believes does not make haste. So, we must understand that there are temples that have been built with stones. And there is a temple that God intends to build with a stone. In our own moment, let us read Daniel and see the story of how a stone was cut without human hand. This is to tell you this is not about a human fabrication or a man's make up or make over. This is not a man trying to gather a set of theories, this is God instituting His message, His word and His counsel, His plans.
There is a life that can be built with that that God institutes that is different from what men are using their own stones to build. I want us to see a place, John chapter two verse thirteen. It was about an incident that took place in the temple with Jesus. John 2:13, the Bible says:
"Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business."
The question is: Was the temple built for such? Now, that question that came to you, let me show us by reminding us where it came up again, when Apostle Paul sad in 1 Corinthians that was the body made for harlotry? A man that is joined with an harlot becomes one with an harlot. And he talks about the body being the temple of God. So, he said the body was not made for that. Now as it is for a human being, it was for these people. The temple was built for a purpose. But none of the things that was taking place was the intention of God for the temple. And if the children of Israel could go wrong in how they relate with the temple, I think it is also possible for human beings to be ignorant in how they ought to relate with the new temple that God wants to build.
"When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables."
Like I am almost praying in my Spirit, that may God not drive one out of the temple, assuming that temple is where God wants you to be. It also shows that these people had failed in how they ought to relate or interact or engaged the temple, they failed. Why should you chase a people away if they had done well? That shows what they did was not right. And so, let us continue.
16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” 18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Last week, we read in Hebrews 10, when Jesus says burnt offering and sacrifices you do not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. So, the question is who prepared that body? Was it a priest? No! It was God. How much of your effort have you put into building your body? Did you even create your body? No! Now, we are starting with the body, but we will still narrow it down to what controls that body. And we must note what Jesus says here, He says they should destroy the temple and in three days he would raise it again, and the Bible says He was talking about Himself, His body.
So, that shows us now that there is a comparison between a body built with stones , and a body built by God. Do we accept that? If the Jews didn't create His body, then it means His body was not made from stones. That means we are dealing with this temple not made with hands, and the old temple made with hands and stones. Let us continue by going to John 4:1-23, although it is quite a lengthy verse, many of us are aware of the story, Jesus and the Samarian women, how Jesus came to the well to drink water and Jesus requested water from the lady and she said Jesus didn't have what to draw with. But let us begin the reading here from verse 10.
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
Can we see from there? There is a water the woman came for. And to drink from that water, you have to come with something to draw with and somewhere to pour. Now, Jesus did not come with something to draw with, yet, He wanted to drink. So, Jesus said to her that if she knows the gift of God, she would have requested for a living water. In other words, you are getting a natural water from here, but there is another thing called the Living water. Please, are they not water? But one has life, and the other one does not. One is living the other one is natural water.
That also makes a distinction between a stone that we get around and that that was cut without human hands. They are both stones, but one has life in it and the other one does not. So, let us continue.
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
I love two words that I saw there: Springing up! And let us go to Proverbs 4:23, there is something about springing up there. I will still come back to John, but let us read this Proverbs first. The Bible says:
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Can we see that? Another word for "Keep your heart" is to "Guard your heart." with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life. Now, if we hold this portion and examine John 4:14, it says "But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” When you see springs, one thing about it is that it comes up from under. So, please that thing that is springing…you know you can get a spring from the surface, but the source of it is not from the surface, do you agree? Now that is to show us something. And there is a point too where Jesus was talking about what defiles a man.
The Pharisees were angry with Him, saying we wash out hands before we eat, but your disciples don't do same. And Jesus told them certain things that got them angry. And His disciples came to Him and asked what He meant by that statement. And Jesus explained to them that what they eat goes in, and then goes out again but out of the abundance of your heart proceeds what really defiles a man. So, the mouth is like a spring, but it not the one producing the flow. It is coming from the heart. So, it is what is overwhelming in the heart that the mouth utters.
So, when the Bible says guard your heart with all diligence, it is talking about the inflow and the outflow. In other words, guard what goes into your heart and what comes out of your heart. Now Jesus even says when a man looks at a woman lustfully, it is as good as he has committed fornication or adultery, because he has done it in his heart. This is why when we are talking about the body, the heart is really very important. When Jesus gave the parable of the sower, the Bible says the last seed fell on a good soil, and Jesus said that was the one that has a good heart. To receive the word of God, you need a good heart.
Now, the question is: Does the heart receives the attention it deserves from the body of Christ or do we give all out attentions on the temples? The competition in the body of Christ today across the globe is how big our church auditoriums are. We care more about the auditoriums because we feel if we can have this auditoriums this big, it would look as if God is with us. When you invite a person for the first time to church, and he sees a bigger place and a smaller place, he would assume God is in the bigger and not the small. So, we inherently assume that God is in the temple, and so we beautify the temple at the expense of the heart.
Men of God focus more these days on how the temple can be big, have air conditions and the lightings and every of those things. They are good anyway, but do we focus more on the hearts of the people that are meant to sit under these lightings and air conditions and all of that? My worry is should pastors invest the same time they invest on their buildings on their people, will their people not been a grown up people commanding results in every spheres of their lives? Churches don't care how many millions they spend on buildings, but when it comes to the issues of helping the hearts of men, that is when they start prioritizing. How many programs are really designed to deal with the hearts of men, to help them guard their hearts?
How many teachings do we have that is helping people with the states of their hearts? Do we not realize that the emphasis of our meetings and messages should be on the hearts because when the stones are destroyed, will the heart be destroyed too? Jesus deliberately made it known to us that the joy of heaven is not on the biggest buildings or the brightest of them. The things that excites God are not the things that excites us. God said to Samuel that He does not see the way man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Then it means that a pastor should be a man of God in charge of the hearts of men. The same goes for the Evangelists and the teachers as well. The hearts of men should be the priority.
When God found David, He said I have found a man after my heart. God said in Jeremiah that He would give us Shepherds after His own heart. Jeremiah 3:25, it says: "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." Please, does the feeding goes to the belly? It goes to the heart. Another word for a Shepherd is a pastor, or a Bishop. I will give you Bishops, Pastor according to my heart. What moves my heart will move their hearts. The life I am living is the life they are living as well, because the life is produced from the earth.
You can't do good without the right heart. There is a heart that does evil and you don't think about it. So, I think our ministry should be dealing with the hearts of men. Repent, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand is about a change in the heart. So, does that heart gets our attention? When we want to pray in the middle of the night, what keeps us awake, is it about the church building or about the issue of members of the church? So, if you want to help somebody, you should deal with the issues of his heart. You want to pray for him, pray about his heart. When God was speaking concerning Saul, He said when you see those prophesying, you would be changed into another man. Did he change physically? No! It was about his heart.
Even David also said that God should create in him a clean/new heart. The most important prayer should be the prayer about our hearts, that should be the most important prayer. If you must teach people, teach their hearts. There are something you can do in life if only you can regulate your heartbeats. That is how the people of the world do. If they want some people to tolerate pain, they control their heart beat or rate. If they want certain people to be able to regulate their breath under water, they regulate their heartbeats. If you can calm down a man's heart, then you can calm down the entire person. Imagine a car that is short on oil, and the oil is even old as well, very soon, the car will start to make noise and vibrating while driving it.
Apart from switching off the engine of the car, the best way to calm it down also is by changing the oil and the car will start behaving well. When Jesus comes into your life, He comes to your heart, deals with your heart. The things you used to do, you will notice you don't do them anymore. You cannot explain it, things that used to make sense to you does not anymore. Nothing really has changed in you physically, it is only your heart that has changed. Romans 12, Apostle Paul beseeched us to present our bodies. If you can present your body, are you not presenting your heart?
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
The only way you cannot be conformed is that you are transformed, and everything takes place in the heart. When you see a thief that has been caught by police, he or she looks humble. It is not as if his heart has changed, but it looks as if something has caged his heart. The things he desire, like smoking and drinking, he simply cannot do it. What happens if you cage such a person successfully for a year, so that his heart does not go to the things that he desires? See people as hearts that needs to be helped, hearts that should be cared for; hearts that should be challenged, hearts that should be released and prophesied into.
I pray that God will help us. God is bringing us into a place of serious responsibility. Do you know you don't need to be a born again person to build buildings? If building temples pleases God, then the unbelievers are doing perhaps a fantastic job than the believers. Go to the East (part of Nigeria for instance), you will see fine buildings. Some of their builders are not even born again. So, if you think that you are building, go there and see buildings. So, you don't please God by the magnificence of your building. We love to do it, but that is not what pleases God. Lest our attention shifts as a people from building men into building structures.
Because you cannot do two things like that at the same time. If I don't think that your growth is important, and making where you sit more important than your growth, then there is a problem. And do you know what? The journey of perfection is never ending journey. That is what happens when we are building buildings. There is no man of God that has built any church that tells you it is the last that he wants to build, No! Nobody wants to stop! Can we then focus on the most important things – the hearts of men! I pray that God will help us in Jesus' name.
As we round up, there is a place I want us to see in Matthew in the next few seconds. Matthew 15:19. It says: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." Please, when you see the things that defile men, does the Bible put temples there? You won't see buildings there as well. The Bible didn't say out of the temples produces evil thoughts, no. It says out of the heart. So, if you want to curb the evil of a generation, is it not wise to go and treat those hearts? If you can have the people that targets the hearts of men, then we can have a better society.
Do you know that sometimes as men of God, brothers and sisters, there are times you suddenly find yourself in some situations and you ask yourself, what is the true state of my heart? Am I being greedy, or am I being selfless? Is this things a passion driven by God or a passion driven by ego? These are questions that tackles your heart conditions when pride comes into the heart. Lucifer was doing well in God until iniquity was found in him. Iniquity was not found in the temple, but it was found in his heart. So, he was okay until he got corrupted in his heart. And since he was corrupted in his heart, he became the corrupter, the one who corrupts. He became the father of corruption. Why? Because corruption was rooted in his heart.
Instead of corruption being rooted in your own heart, allow the word of God to be rooted in your heart. That is why the Bible says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind; you need the word of God to be settled in your heart. There is nothing bigger in your heart that the word of God can't crush. The Bible says the stone that was cut without human hands was able to break into pieces all other kingdoms that were established before then, and with the stone, God set up a kingdom that was unable of destruction forever, with the stone. Jesus said the words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life.
With the word of God, your heart can be built up. You can be built up unto God like an edifice that remains forever with the right word in your heart. When God said to Joshua, this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night and observe to do according to all that is written in it, then you will make your way prosperous. By the time you are going into the realm of meditation, you are dealing with the heart. When you spend time with the Scripture concerning an issue that is starring you in the eyes, you are simply going to bend to the perfect law of liberty because you are seeing an image that is better than yourself that you can become like.
Let is bow our heart to the word of God and we will see visible changes taking place in our lives. As men put men under your care, your emphasis should not be on the infrastructure, but on the state of the heart. Don't go around building buildings, thinking the more buildings you build, the greater you become. Build lives, build hearts and I pray God will help is in Jesus' name.
