Building the Spiritual Temple

Well, that was certainly beautiful special music. Really enjoyed that a great deal. They did a wonderful job. Appreciate everyone that was up here sharing with us their talents, their abilities, and glorifying God in the process. So, beautiful special music.

By the way, I did want to say that it was really good to hear Mr. Wright's sermon. I listened to his sermon that he gave a few weeks ago. It was really wonderful to get him back in the saddle, get him up here again. So, certainly thank God for working in his life to make that happen. So, just wanted to say I really appreciated that sermon about the Word of God and us living by God's Word and being the kind of people God wants us to be.

Now, brethren, the tabernacle in the wilderness, Solomon's Temple, Zorababel's Temple, and Herod the Great's Temple were all considered the very center of God's presence in Israel and Judah. The temple was the location where thousands upon thousands of animal sacrifices were made in response to God's instructions to his people, the children of Israel. But we know animal sacrifices are not really what God desires. After the Exodus, Scripture reveals that the Lord's presence, the Eternal's presence, was known in the tabernacle. The Eternal's presence was in Solomon's Temple, at least for a time as the Scripture clearly shows. But as the children of Israel strayed further and further from God, we no longer read of God's presence being there. This is quite remarkable. It's very telling. Jesus Christ came to the temple and certainly made his presence known there. He drove the moneylenders out. He reprimanded the religious leaders of the day for making his father's house a house of merchandise. The Father's messenger, the Eternal Word, who worked with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with Moses, with Joshua, with David, and with Solomon, we know, became flesh. As the Scripture tells us, he became the Son of God, and he dwelt among us human beings, becoming flesh himself. Of course, he was God at the same time. He came to the physical temple and gave glory to his Father, calling the temple his Father's house, for the word the Son always does the Father's will and represents him in all things, being one with the Father. The temple also had important political and economic roles to play in Israel's society. In one sense, the temple was the institution that held all of Israel's society together, past as well as present and future. Access to the temple's courts identified who was considered a proper citizen and who was to be excluded from fellowship with Israel. Even today, the Temple Mount is quite an attraction, a tourist attraction, people praying there continually. Very interesting to visit the Temple Mount. Economically, rooms in the temple functioned as a treasury. The society's bank, so to speak, ties and offerings were brought to the temple. And so, a large part of Israel's economy passed through the temple personnel and the storehouses. The temple has played a very important role in the lives of God's people throughout the ages. But what role does the temple play in the lives of God's people today? There is no physical temple in Israel today. Some would like to rebuild the temple. But so far, in today's society, that has not been practical. In fact, no doubt, war would break out if they began to do such a thing.

But you know, actually, there is a temple that is being built today. God is building a temple. In fact, this temple has been in the process of being built for many, many years. Of course, I'm not talking about a physical temple like the ones we have just mentioned. I'm talking about the spiritual temple that God is in the process of building. So today's sermon is entitled, Building the Spiritual Temple. It's all about building the spiritual temple. What does the Bible reveal about this spiritual temple? And what role do you and I have in the building of God's spiritual temple? I'd like to share with you seven principles today in regard to the building of the spiritual temple. First of all, God is much more interested in the building of the spiritual temple than He is in any physical temple that I've already mentioned. Various ones throughout time, throughout history. God is much more interested in the building of His spiritual temple. And this is where your focus and my focus needs to be. God is in the process of building His spiritual temple. Let's go to Acts 7, verse 44.

Let's read what it says here. Of course, this chapter is a very interesting chapter.

It gives Stephen's address right before he was martyred.

Acts 7, verse 44. Let's read it together. He says, Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land, possessed by the Gentiles, the promised land, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. Verse 47. But Solomon built him a house. However, the most high does not dwell in temples made with hands. God does not dwell in temples made with hands. As the prophet says, Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. God is bigger than some physical temple. Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me? says the Lord, the Eternal. Or what is the place of my rest? Has my hand not made all these things?

And then, of course, Stephen goes on to say, You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. He was talking to the religious leaders of the time. He called them hypocrites time and time again. That is, Jesus Christ called them hypocrites. He says, You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

So we know the history. If we're students of the Bible, you know, there are many attempts to please God in ritualistic ways today. Many religions take that path. In fact, some years ago, there was an article in the Chicago Tribune. It was back in 2003. It was entitled, Marathon Monk Ends Seven Years on the Run. This came from the Chicago Tribune back in 2003. Don't do it now, but you can Google Marathon Monk and you'll get more information than I'll share with you today.

From the article, it says this, It's amazing what some people will do to be spiritual. On September 18, 2003, Genshin Fujinami, age 44, a Buddhist priest nicknamed the Marathon Monk, finished a seven-year, 24,800-mile journey in the Hiai Mountains of Japan. It was intended to be a trek to enlightenment, looking for enlightenment. Once a monk starts this journey, he must finish or kill himself. So you have to finish or you have to kill yourself. So I would guess most people finish. According to an Associated Press article, for the first three years, the pilgrim, the monk, must rise at midnight for 100 consecutive days to pray and run 18 miles per day, stopping 250 times to pray along the way. 250 times? I don't know how you'd hardly keep track of that. That would be pretty difficult. During the next two years, he must up his schedule to 200 days. In the fifth year, the pilgrim must sit and chant mantras for nine days without food, water, or sleep in a trial called Dori, D-O-I-R-I, or it means entering the temple. In the sixth year, he must walk 37 and a half miles every day for 100 days. In the seventh year, he must run 52.5 miles for 100 days. No wonder he's called the marathon monk. He's doing a double marathon. A marathon is 26 miles. He's doing 52.5 at this stage. He must run 52 and a half miles for 100 days, 18 miles for another 100 days, and then complete a 234-mile trek back to his home base.

So this is the extent that some people will go to try to please God or to serve God. Of course, that is not what God is looking for. You know, God doesn't expect us to do those types of things, those ritualistic types of things, to an extreme. God looks on our heart. God works with us individually. He works in our hearts and our minds.

So the first point again, God is much more interested in the building of the spiritual temple than he is about any physical temple that has ever been built. A second principle, God the Father and Jesus Christ are actively guiding and directing the building of this spiritual temple. They are involved. We know the Scripture says that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him. So God the Father and Jesus Christ are intimately involved. Jesus Christ reveals the Father to us. So they are intricately involved in actively guiding and directing the building of God's spiritual temple. Let's go to Galatians chapter 2. Galatians chapter 2, and we'll read verse 20. Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ. In other words, Paul has given his life over to being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Okay, this is very important. If we are to be the spiritual temple, Christ must live in us. You may recall on the Feast of Trumpets, I gave a message about coming to Christ before Christ coming. We all have to come to Christ. We have to have that relationship where Christ actually lives in us through the power of God's Holy Spirit. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh—we're all still in the flesh, aren't we? The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Jesus Christ loves us all. He has given Himself for us. And of course, we know the Father so loved the world, all of us, not just the firstfruits, but everyone. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. So God, the Father, and Jesus Christ is to live in each and every one of us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Again, God looks on the heart. God is preparing a people for His Son's return. We are all in the process of becoming a spiritual temple pleasing to God. You and I individually are to be a part of that temple. We are to be the temple that Christ returns to. God, Christ is to live in us in the meantime. So the second principle again is that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ are actively guiding and directing the building of this spiritual temple. We have to have faith that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ are intimately involved in your life. You have to believe that with every ounce of your being. You have to know that. Number three, another principle in regard to this spiritual temple that God is building. You individually are an integral part of that spiritual temple to whom Christ will return. You individually are an integral part of that spiritual temple to whom Christ will return. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. As we consider this third principle, you are an integral part. I'm talking to every single person in here. Everyone is an integral part. God is calling us to be a part of his spiritual family that will last for all eternity. 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 16 and 17.

Do you not know, Paul says, that you are the temple of God? Now this is after he's talking to the church at Corinth, who frankly were not the most spiritually minded and the most spiritually oriented people at the time. In fact, they were quite carnal. And you can go back and read about the divisions that existed, people claiming to be of a certain man or another man or of Christ. They were divided. And God, again, he looks on the heart and he wants to see unity. He wants to see a people who are unified to do his work and to do his will. So verse 16, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If you have been baptized, if you've had the laying on of hands by a minister of Jesus Christ, if you follow the biblical example of repenting of your sins and accepting Christ as your Savior, then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism and upon the laying on of hands.

So God dwells in you. The Spirit of God dwells in you. So you are in the process of being transformed, of being changed into a member of God's family, his holy family, again, that will live and reign with Christ and serve the Father throughout all eternity. So this is talking about someone who would have committed the unpardonable sin, which is to turn against God, to reject God, to reject his ways, to be rebellious toward him, unrepentant. He says, if anyone defiles the temple of God or destroys the temple of God, then you will be able to be a part of the Holy Spirit. He says, if anyone defiles the temple of God or destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. But again, this is talking about someone who has determined to rebel against God, to reject him.

For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Again, God is not interested in physical temples nearly as much as he's interested in the spiritual temple, each of us individually, and we'll see also collectively. But let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 6, again under this point, that we are each an integral part of that spiritual temple to whom Christ is returning. 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9. Again, Paul asks questions to the church at Corinth, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Mr. Whitlark talked about obedience. Is it required for salvation? So he's starting a new series, his Friday night series. I hope you'll tune in, listen, and learn from that series. He says, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. That's what he says. Such were some of you. You know, you were practicing this type of sin at one time in your life. These gentiles that were coming out, that were being called, that were being chosen by God, that were being transformed, converted. He says, but such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. And by the Spirit of our God, people who have changed their lives have repented of those evil ways and have become obedient to God.

Now let's drop down to verse 19, where it says, where Paul again asks the question, or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? Okay, you are not your own. We have to understand that. We have to try to get that. It's not about me. It's not about you. You are not your own. I am not my own, because it says, for you were bought at a price. If you've accepted Christ as your Savior, you have been bought at a price. And that price was the death of Jesus Christ, the only one who did not deserve to die, because the wages of sin is death and Jesus Christ never sinned. Everyone else, every human being, has sinned. Jesus Christ has never sinned. So only He could pay this penalty. Only He could die for you. Only He could redeem you.

So you were bought at a price, therefore glorified God in your body. Look at the correlation. Because Christ died for you, then you need to glorify God in how you live your life.

We need to take this very personally.

For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. You know, God owns everything. God is the Creator. God works in us. He's given us life. He continues to give us life. He maintains our life. God is here inspiring Paul to instruct the Corinthians to live righteously. And why should they? And why should you? Because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. And you should glorify God in your body and in your spirit. Are we not to walk in the Spirit? No longer walking in the flesh. That's a tall order because when we're flesh, it has tremendous pulls.

Tremendous pulls, lusts, and the pride of life, and these types of things. It's not easy to dedicate one's life fully and completely to serving Jesus Christ and to serving God the Father. But that's what you have done. You need to own up to that. Face the music, so to speak, and live a life that's pleasing to God. Again, no excuses. No, God doesn't like excuses. God wants us to fully dedicate ourselves to serving Him without question, completely submitting and surrendering our lives. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's something that we should always strive to do. Let us walk in the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 6 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

In what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. You are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord. It just means to stand up, to be counted, to be man and woman enough to come out and be separate, and not allow ourselves to be polluted by this world. Again, that's not easy either, because there are many tentacles that Satan the Devil has as God of this world. And he's continually trying to pull us over to the dark side, so to speak. Christ is the light. So come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. God promises to receive us if we will do our best. We're not going to be perfect in this life. No, God is very gracious. God is merciful. By the way, we're working on a new booklet about grace. And Mr. Kubik is super excited about this booklet, and so am I, because we've never really had a booklet focused exclusively on grace and what it is and what it isn't. So I think it's going to be a monumental work, and I'm certainly looking forward. Hopefully it'll be out soon. But there's been a lot of time and effort that has gone into this booklet on grace, because we are saved by grace. None of us can earn our salvation.

But that doesn't mean we ought not strive to put sin out of our lives. And to become unleavened, as Christ is the unleavened bread that came down from heaven to shed his blood and to die for us. And now he lives in us so that we can overcome. That's why we should not make excuses, because God lives in us, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Do you believe that? Do you believe that statement? Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Now, if we surrender, then we'll be able to do that. Again, that's not easy. It's difficult, but it is something that we are all called to do. We are all called to learn what it means to surrender, to no longer rebel, to be faithful, to be true, to be righteous.

Life is full of decisions. Life has many circumstances. We're all faced with trials as we go along. I'd like to share with you a short excerpt from the Leadership Journal back in 2011, written by John Ortberg. Don't waste a crisis is what it's entitled. That's the title of it. Don't waste a crisis. So, in a Leadership Journal article, John Ortberg argues that sometimes stressful and painful situations can actually help us grow. Now, we know that. We've preached that for many times, but consider the scenario that Ortberg creates here. He says, imagine you're handed a script of your newborn child's entire life. Better yet, you're given an eraser and five minutes to edit out whatever you want. You read that she will have a learning disability in grade school. Reading, which comes easily for some kids, will be laborious for her, for your daughter. In high school, she will make a great circle of friends. Then one of them, a very close friend, will die of cancer. After high school, she will get into her preferred college. But while there, she will lose a leg in a car accident. Following that, she will go through a difficult depression. A few years later, she'll get a great job. Then she'll lose that job in an economic downturn. She'll get married, but then she'll go through the grief of separation.

With this script of your child's life and five minutes to edit it, what would you erase?

Psychologist Jonathan Haid poses this question in this hypothetical exercise. Wouldn't you want to take out the stuff that would cause them pain?

If you could erase every failure, every disappointment, every period of suffering, would that be a good idea? Would that cause them to grow into the best version of themselves? Is it possible that we actually need adversity and setbacks, maybe even crises and trauma, to reach the fullest potential of development and growth?

Orttberg contends that God doesn't always erase all of our stress and pain before it starts. Instead, God can use the failures. He can use the disappointments. He can use the periods of suffering to help us grow. Orttberg writes, God isn't at work producing the circumstances I want. God is at work in bad circumstances to produce the me that He wants. So how we respond to the various trials and challenges and circumstances in our lives is certainly all important. So again, the third principle that we're sharing in regard to building the spiritual temple is that realize you are an integral part. God loves you. God is working with you. There will be blessings for obedience. There will be some curses for disobedience. You will pay a price. That's what the Scripture clearly reveals. We are not, you know, God's very gracious and merciful, but He also says, Be sure your sins will find you out. There will be consequences for those wrong, ungodly, sinful decisions that we make in our life. But remember, you are an integral part of the spiritual temple to whom Christ will return and that God is building. The fourth principle. We, all of us, all of us here as well as around the world, around this globe, we collectively, the body of Christ, we are the spiritual temple to whom Christ is returning. Christ is the head of His church. Everyone who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them is a part of the body of Christ.

Everyone, no matter where they are, no matter where they live, no matter what group or organization they're a part of, God knows His own. So we collectively are the spiritual temple to whom Christ is returning. In Ephesians chapter 2, let's read about this building, the spiritual temple Ephesians chapter 2 verse 19. Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 19. Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens. Now this is Paul again speaking to this time the church at Ephesus, God's people. Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and you are members of the household of God. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. So the church is that holy temple as well. Collectively, we are the holy temple that Christ will be returning to, the firstfruits. Of course, there will be others added after that time, but the firstfruits, Christ being the chief cornerstone, He is the firstborn among many brethren in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. God dwells in us now, and God will dwell in us, and we will dwell with God forever as this holy temple.

We are to become holy even as God is holy. He will be our God. We will be His people for all eternity. In Ephesians chapter 5, Mr. Holiday talked about marriage and how beautiful it is. It is wonderful to have two people, husband and wife, who truly love each other and are growing together and overcoming and helping each other. Those in the faith who are growing together, it's a beautiful thing. Ephesians 5 verse 25, husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. That's how we as husbands are to love our wives. So do we ever fall short?

Do we sometimes dismally fall short? We will be held accountable how we treat our wives, how we treat our husbands. We will be held accountable. We are held accountable. We should treat them with love and respect and be very careful how we treat God's precious people and how we treat those who are cleaving to us in love as one flesh.

We are to be the bride of Christ, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. Now, again, God loves all people and God is going to be calling all people. We know that it is very possible to dwell with someone who is not a part of our faith and still love them and have a wonderful marriage. I've seen some terrific examples of people out there who I believe are at least yielding to God's Spirit to some degree, or they wouldn't have such beautiful marriages. The Spirit of God may not be dwelling in them, but I would be hard put to think that God's Spirit isn't actively working in their marriage. We are to be the bride of Christ, it says here.

Let's read on further. Verse 26 now, that he might sanctify her again. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself a glorious church. So it's symbolic.

This marital union is symbolic of the relationship that we have with Jesus Christ. We are to marry Christ at his return. That he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing. In other words, a repentant church, a repentant church, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. So we are to love each other, we are to cleave to one another, for we are symbolic of the relationship that we will have with Christ. We will be the bride of Christ, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. That is the direction we need to be headed in or going down that path. Now in 1 Peter chapter 2, a very powerful scripture here from Peter, an apostle who has transformed himself, one who had denied Christ three times, but repented and became a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter chapter 2 verse 1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, okay, again Peter is talking to his church. He's talking to you and he's talking to me individually and collectively. He says, therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, all hypocrisy, all envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Have you tasted the graciousness of our God? I'm sure you have. You wouldn't be here otherwise. God is truly gracious. We are thankful to Him. 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 4. Coming to God as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men and chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone.

We already read about that. Elect, precious, and he who believes on Him, on Christ, will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, he is precious. But to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They killed the Christ. They killed the anointed one, those religious leaders leading the charge, leading the way. He says they stumble, being disobedient to the Word to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation. Again, getting back to this fourth point, you individually, you are a chosen generation, a chosen people, 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, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

And the entire book of Hosea talks about that and that wonderful relationship of being redeemed through our Savior, Jesus Christ. So again, this fourth principle is to realize that collectively we are the spiritual temple. Collectively, we are the spiritual temple to whom Christ is returning, the bride of Christ. Now, a fifth principle. There will always be great opposition to building the spiritual temple, but with God's help, we must continue to allow the building of this spiritual house, this spiritual temple.

When we look at the history in the Bible, and I don't have time to go through it today, but it does show that there was great opposition to building the physical temple, especially when they came back. When they came back into the land, the Samaritans rose up against them, tried to stop them from rebuilding, and got them off track for many years because they were more interested in building their own houses than they were in building the house of God. Ezra, Nehemiah, you can read about those happenings, those circumstances, in regard to the physical temple. But realize there will always be great opposition to building the spiritual temple, but with God's help, we must continue to allow the building of this spiritual house, this spiritual temple.

We have to allow it. We have to get out of the way. Again, we have to learn to surrender and to submit to God. 1 Peter 2, verse 11, we'll pick it up where we just left off.

Beloved, I beg you, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which wore against the soul. We all know that there are certain things that tempt us, that are difficult for us. I've struggled with things my whole life. I know you have as well. The works of the flesh are powerful. It says, Beloved, I beg you, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which wore against the soul, wore against your very being, your soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. They may not see it now, but one day when Christ returns or when they're resurrected a thousand years later, then they will realize that you were setting the proper example for them, even though they opposed you. They were not in favor with you. They opposed you. Verse 13, therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of the evildoers, and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God. Again, we are to be a submissive people. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants, as slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Of course, this was a different age, a different time when slavery was extant throughout the Roman world. You know, Paul couldn't fight all of that right then. That wasn't the time. Thankfully, things have improved in that area. He says, but it does show you the attitude that we should have. Even if someone is harsh, it says we are to be submissive. Now that doesn't mean we're to be doormats. That's not, you know, I hope we understand that we are to obey God first and foremost.

We are to submit to God's laws and God's ways, and when people are breaking God's laws and God's ways, then we do have to resist that. So, you know, if you have any questions about any of that, please ask one of the elders here, ask me. But in proper balance, we are to submit to those who have authority in our lives, our employers, we're to be good employees.

Our landlords, if we rent their home, were to take care of it, not destroy it, not treat it badly. He says, for this is commendable if because of conscience toward God, one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. Sometimes we'll have to suffer wrongfully. For what credit is it if when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? If you deserve it and you take it patiently, that's not such a big deal. It's when you don't deserve it and you take it patiently. But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps. We are to follow Christ's example in all things. So, brethren, abstain from fleshly lusts. Well, I guess I wanted to read just a little further here. Again, who committed, verse 22, who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, who when He was reviled did not revile in return. That's the example we're supposed to follow. We're supposed to be self-controlled. Now, there are times, of course, when we have to speak up and, you know, certain times when we have to do the right thing so that other people will learn. You know, again, we're not to be doormats. Who when He was reviled did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously, who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed, for you were like sheep going astray. But you've now returned to the shepherd and the overseer of your souls. Christ is the great shepherd. We are to hear His voice. I'm not going to take the time to go to 1 Peter chapter 3, but there's 10 verses there between verses 8 and 18 where it basically talks about how we are to be all of one mind. We are to be compassionate. We are to be tender-hearted. It talks about the example that we are to set as God's children. Now, there's always going to be great opposition to building the temple, so we have to be careful again how we resist. We are to be like Christ. To follow His example, to be of one mind, to be compassionate, to be tender-hearted, to be forgiving. By their fruits we shall be known.

A sixth principle in regard to building God's spiritual temple is realize that those who endure to the end the same shall be saved. Those who endure to the end the same shall be saved. It isn't enough to follow God for 40 years and then go astray. That's not good enough because it's how we end our lives, that God's going to look at it. We have to be faithful. We have to fight the good fight and stay faithful through thick and thin. Many people are not with us who once were a part of us. God is their judge. God knows their hearts.

We need to certainly endure to the end and stay faithful. In Matthew 24 and Mark 13, it talks about those who endure to the end the same are going to be saved. So I would just ask you to reference those chapters. Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Those who endure to the end, they shall be saved. We must stay faithful. And the last principle is, let no one take your crown. There is a crown laid up for you, for each and every one of us as God's people. Let no one take your crown. Let's go to the last scripture in Revelation chapter 3. Let no one take your crown. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. That's what this is talking about. Now notice this is to the church at Philadelphia. Revelation chapter 3 verse 12. We are to all be Philadelphians. We don't have to be Laodiceans whenever the Laodicean era is upon us, which people speculate about that. It really doesn't matter. We are always to be Philadelphians at heart. He says, Revelation 3 verse 12, he who overcomes, again to the church at Philadelphia, he who overcomes, I will make him a pillar, not just a part in the temple of God, but a pillar. I don't know about you, but I'd like to be a pillar. I would like to be a strong support. The stronger I am, the more I can serve people for all eternity. The more I can be like God, the more I can be like Christ, the better. So I'm not ashamed to say, yes, I would like to be a pillar in the house of God. We should all strive to be pillars. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven. Christ is to offer the kingdom to the Father. The Father will return. We'll come back. I should say, he will come back at that time. The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I will write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And then it goes on to say that there will be those who will be lukewarm, part of the Laodicean church. But we get to choose which part we'll be a part of. It has to do with our heart. God looks on the heart. Are you Philadelphian? Are you zealous for God's truth and God's ways? If you're zealous, you are Philadelphian.

The various physical temples, brethren, have played an integral part in the history of God's people. But the much more important spiritual temple is indeed being built today. Now is the day. Now is the time. God is forming and shaping you individually into His spiritual temple, both individually and collectively, as the church. God's temple is now in the process of being built. You and I must be sure that we are not neglecting the building of the spiritual temple like the exiles from Babylon did for nearly 16 years when they came back. They were sidetracked. They started building their own houses. They neglected the house of God. And when you read the Scripture, it shows that God's temple was neglected a number of times. They had to clean debris out of God's temple. There were certain reforms when there were good kings in Judah, but there were lots and lots of bad kings and bad examples and a lot of unfaithfulness. The Bible reveals all of that in regard to the temple. Brethren, it takes diligent, consistent effort and dedication to develop perfect, righteous character. God is in the process of developing perfect, righteous character in His people. It takes a real submission and a yielding to the Spirit of God in you. Christ will live in you, but you have to yield to Christ. You have to allow Christ. You have to come to Christ and allow Him to live in you. You are free moral agents. You get to choose. You get to decide.

It takes real submission and yielding to God's Spirit in you to be a true servant of God. God is doing the work. He is building the temple, but you must be a willing instrument. You must truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, a follower of Christ. God is now working a glorious work in each and every one of you. Believe it or not, it's the truth. God is working a glorious work in you.