The Blessing of the House of God - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-6-2024

Psalm 122

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Before we move on to another wonderful Psalm, I want to spend one more night on the 122^nd Psalm. 

 

1.  How wonderful it is to be enthusiastic and excited about going to the house of God!  I fear that has been lost in our days because of Laodicean thinking and lifestyles.  People are more worldly minded than spiritually minded because their lives are spent “making ends meet” because they have too much to maintain. 

 

2.  When Barbara and I married, we did not have enough credit to buy an eight hundred dollar car!  We did not have enough credit to finance a $4,200.00 dollar mobile home without someone co-signing for us.  With an old used car and the cheapest mobile home that we could buy, we started out. 

 

3.  Today, young married and old married people can virtually buy every convenience and every “toy” that they want on credit and live on the edge with many falling off.  I am not complaining, just explaining because this “have need of nothing” mentality has become a “spiritual wedge” that divides the heart.

 

4.  Make church special!  It is special but will not be special to us individually unless we make it so.  It thrilled my heart Wednesday night to hear little Micah say “Preacher” and wave to me as his family started to leave.  If he said “Preacher” once and waved, he must have done it a dozen times.

 

5.  One day, I believe that this special little boy will stand in my pulpit and preach!  Create an excitement within your hearts that will bubble over to excitement in your children’s hearts.  Church is special and needs to be shown that way by us older folks.

 

B.  With all that said, (Whew, aren’t you glad that I got that over with?), what makes going to church so special?  I believe that it is so simple, biblical, yet profound that we should see just how important that church is.

 

1.  It Is The Place That God Loves. Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

Verse 25 is a much quoted one but why is it so important to the believers

 

There are three usages of the words “let us” found here.  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, let us hold fast the profession of our faith, let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works!

 

When you get saved, you love what God loves!

 

The local church should be heart and soul

 

2.  It Is The Place Of Worship - Psalms 5:7   But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 

 

I can worship anywhere but the church house is a special place.  It was a place built to worship in.  I can go there and sing as loud as I please; I can say “Amen” or shout “Glory to God;” I can give my tithe and offerings scripturally in God’s house.  What a blessing!

 

3.  It Is The Place Of Preaching And Teach God’s Word - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

You probably know it by now, but I love this blessed old King James Bible that I hold in my hand.  I can read it at home; I can study it at home; but here in the house of the Lord, men of God preach like they know what they are preaching about!  I rejoice with the Apostle Paul when the Bible is heralded, and the preacher lifts up his voice like a trumpet!

 

4.  It Is The Place Where God’s People Gather - Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

 

The greatest people on earth are there!  When I got saved, I fell in love with a lot of things that please God but one of the greatest of all was the people of God.  No, they are not perfect, but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ!  We are all in the Body of Christ which is the Family of God, and I love you!

 

5 It Is The Place Where Sinners Are Both Sought And Loved - Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 

Matthew 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 

 

God loves sinners!  God hates sin but God loves sinners!  Don’t ever forget that!  We do not look down on people because of who they are and what they wear.  Let them come, get saved, and watch—not push—while God changes their lives. We all once sat where they now sit!

 

6.  It Is God’s Instrument For World Evangelism - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 

 

It is here that you and I get to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”  I love to give an offering to missions!  I can help support precious families as they cover the globe preaching the same gospel that I preach.  Missionaries are the greatest people in the world!  There is  no greater calling than that.  Carrying the Word of God to a world that needs Jesus Christ, and I can help go by giving!

 

7.  It Was There That I Heard The True Gospel Preached And Was Gloriously and Eternally Saved – Luke 18:10, 13-14  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican …  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

 

If it weren’t for the local church, this pastor would still be lost in my sin.  I got saved on a Sunday night in an independent Baptist Church.  Thank God for Pastor Bob Lamb!  God laid it upon his heart to come to Madisonville, Ky and start a church under an old gospel tent!  Barbara and I were saved because of it!  Ask me why I love the local church!!

 

8.  It Is A Place Of Comfort And Spiritual Joy - Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 

 

The church is a refuge; a stronghold; a place of peace and tranquility; a place where we come and enjoy the things of God.  It is a place of comfort to the troubled and a source of joy to those who are hurting.

 

9.  It Is An Encouragement Filling Station - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

 

I get filled up at church.  I go to put something into the service and also to get something out of it.  If you do not get a blessing, then it was because you were not blessable!  I know blessable is not a word, but I can make one up if I wanna!  If you want a blessing, you will get one.  If you do not want a blessing, don’t blame it on anyone or anything but yourself.  You get out of a church service what you put into it.

 

10.  It Is Just A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth - Psalms 84:1-2  How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 

 

If you don’t like church, don’t go to heaven!  You won’t like it there because the church is a little bit of heaven on earth!

The Blessing of the House of God

Temple Baptist Church - 9-22-2024

Psalm 122

 

Introduction: 

 

Psalms 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

A.  Psalm 122 is another of the Song of Degrees written by King David.  It is a traveling Psalm that inclines upward.  The relationship between the believer and the local church is an upward one.  The older we get in the Lord the more that we should realize the importance of going to church.  A little bit of heaven on earth!

 

B.  This verse is one of the most important ones in the New Testament.

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  “Not forsaking” is not as admonition to the faithful but an admonition to the unfaithful.  “And so much the more” shows the importance of what we are doing today.

 

2.  Psalm 122 is a Psalm of the faithful.

 

C.  Those who love and are faithful to God’s House are neither sad no mad.  They are Glad!  Glad, Sad, or Mad?  So many people only attend church either regularly of irregularly because they either think that they have to or, in the case of young people, because they have to!  Everyone here tonight fits into one of these categories.

 

D.  In verse 1, King David shows excitement, enthusiasm, and eagerness when someone comes to him and announces that it is time to go to church!  King David, a man who has everything and anything that he desired.

 

E.  In verse 1, we find the thrill of going to church that most people know nothing about.  “I was glad!”  “Let’s Go!”

 

F.  Going to church is very special to Barbara and me.  We became like kids with a new toy!  I want to say that in a right way because for the first time in our lives, we were excited about church.  It was something new though we had been raised in church.  It was different than before.  We have built our lives around the local church over the past 48 years.  And, Yes, going to church is also an act of discipline but not one of drudgery. 

 

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

~ Samuel Smiles

 

G.  Hebrews 10:22-25 are possibly the most quoted verses concerning church attendance and have been often preached in the negative. 

 

Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  Verse 22.  It is a place that gives assures us.  “with a true heart in full assurance of faith”  Going to church does not save us but faithfulness to church certainly assures us!

 

2.  Verse 23.  It is a place that stabilizes us.  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering”

 

3.  Verse 24.  It is a place that provokes us. “to provoke unto love and to good works”

 

4.  Verse 25.  It is a place that encourages us.  “exhorting one another”

 

Psalms 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

H.  We love our church!  We love our people!  What a privilege it is to be able to come to church!  What a blessing it is to be able to come to church!  What a benefit it is to be able to come to church!  The importance of faithful, happy attendance is both important and beneficial to our lives.

 

J.  A beautiful breakdown of Psalm 122:

 

1.  In verse 1, we find Gladness.  “I was glad”

 

2.  In verse 2, we find Stability.  “shall stand”

 

3.  In verse 3, we find Fellowship.  “compact together”

 

4.  In verse 4, we find Worship.  “give thanks unto the name of the LORD”

 

5.  In verse 5, we find Teaching.  “judgment”

 

6.  In verse 6, we find Love.  “that love thee”

 

7.  In verses 7-8, we find Prosperity.  “Prosperity”

 

8.  In verses 7-8, we find Peace. “Peace be within thy walls … peace be within thee”

The Glory Of This Latter House

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-11-2023

Haggai 2:1-9

 

Introduction:

A.  I want to give a quick history of what has led up to the Book of Haggai:

1.  In 597-586 BC the Babylonians destroyed the Temple of Solomon in Jeru­salem and took the Jews captive because of the continual idolatry and disobedience of Israel.

 

2.  70 years of captivity in Babylon have now passed and King Cyrus has allowed about 40 to 50 thousand Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem under Nehemiah and the Temple, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest. (The books of Ezra and Haggai.).

 

B.  In Haggai, chapter 1:12-15, we find that the people went to work building Zerubbabel’s Temple in the 24^th day of the second month and in the second year of Darius.  The work of that month was foundational.  They built this foundation on top of the foundation of Solomon’s Temple.

 

Ezra 3:1  And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

 

Ezra 3:10-13  And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.  (11)  And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.  (12)  But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:  (13)  So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

 

C.  In Haggai, chapter 2:1-3, the question was asked: Haggai 2:3  Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

 

1.  There were builders here who had seen Solomon’s Temple in all its glory before the Babylon Captivity of 70 years. 

 

2.  The problem: Solomon’s Temple was the most Expensive and Extravagant building ever built.  With its gold and silver, its brass, and its wood from the cedars of Lebanon.  A glorious Temple build to glorify a Glorious God.

 

3.  Their mental picture:  Zerubbabel’s Temple would be built of stone instead of Gold and Silver.  Of what wood that they could find locally instead of the floats in the sea send down from the forests of Lebanon. 

 

Luke 21:6  As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

4.  God knew their hearts were let down as their minds made the comparison!  You see, the glory of the Temple was not what God wanted!  The glory of the Lord found within the Temple was what God desired!

 

D.  In verse 2:8-9 of the Book of Haggai, the Lord changed their mental image.

 

Haggai 2:8-9  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.  (9)  The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.  (It is not expense of the building because the gold and silver belong to the Lord.  It is not the extravagance of the building, it is the content of the building that glorifies the lord.)

 

E.  Many of us older people remember the “good old days”, but we need to quit comparing and start living:

 

1.  These are perilous days - 2 Timothy 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

 

2.  These days are days when doctrinal preaching is not rewarded with great crowds.  2 Timothy 4:1-4  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

3.  These are the days of“falling away - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

4.  The Laodicean Church Age is here - Revelation 3:15-16  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

5.  The Days of Noah are here – Matthew 24:37-38  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

 

6.  The Days of Lot are here - Luke 17:28-29  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

 

7.  The Last Days are in full swing and most people have fat bodies an lean souls!

 

F.  I am not preaching this to disappoint or to discourage you.  I am preaching this to excite and encourage you!  The Lord is coming, and we are leaving. 

 

1.  I am so glad that the Lord has allowed me to live, flourish, and preach in such a time as this.  More sinners to preach to and more sin to preach about along with a wonderful Lord to EXALT!

 

2.  There is a whole lot of “shaking” going on, but I have a Bible that does not shake!  I have a Holy Spirit who does not shake!

 

a)    The World Is Shaking - Romans 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

 

b)  The Nations are Shaking – vs. 7 Luke 21:26  Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 

c)  The Saints Are Shaking - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 

G.  Now, let us see what God told Haggai to say:  Haggai 2:9  The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

 

1.  The  Presence Of God In The Work – vs. 4 Through it all, the Lord said that He would never leave nor forsake them.  He has given us the same promise today in Hebrews 13!   Though things may look dark at times, we can take great comfort knowing that the God of our salvation is faithful to His children! 

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  (His presence brings contentment for He gives us what He wills.)

 

2.  The  Promise Of God In The Work – vs. 5 He told Israel that He would keep His word to them and give them victory!  This was the land of His promise.  He brought them out of Egypt to give to them the land of Canaan.  What He promises, He is fully able to perform.  God has promised us victory over the world, and we can live within the realm of God’s victory in hard times.

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (The battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is already won!)

 

3.  The  Power Of God In The Work – vs. 6-7  Notice with me the phrase “I will” found in these verses.  The work was done in the power of God, not the power of man.  Thus it is with us in this present evil world.  We can do nothing without Christ and all things through Him.  The work is the Lord’s!

 

Zechariah 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  (The work is great and it takes the power of a great God to do it.  I cannot save souls!  I cannot add to the church!  I cannot work in the hearts of men!  God must do His work or it will not get done.)

 

4.  The  Purpose Of God In The Work – vs. 7b God’s purpose was not to fill His house with people, though we want to see a multitude saved and added, but it was to fill His house with His glory!  I fear that we have been so numbers conscious that we equate greatness with largeness!  Our emphasis here at Temple should be that God is glorified in our worship services and then through our personal testimony which reflects on the church. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

1 Peter 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  (We glorify God in our lives and worship which causes the lost to glorify God.)

 

5.  The  Provision Of God In The Work – vs. 8 God provided all that Israel needed to rebuild His house.  God will provide for the church in these last days also.  I do not have enough money to sustain God’s work; therefore, He must take care of the needs.  He uses us to do the work and supplies our every need in the meanwhile.

 

1 Chronicles 29:14  But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

 

Psalms 50:10  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (God will take care of God’s business!  What God orders, God pays for.)

 

6.  The  Peace Of God In The Work – vs. 9  God gave Israel peace in the midst of persecution and problems.  God will also give us peace in these last perilous times!  Trouble on every hand has cause a great discouragement among God’s people but He will speak sweet peace in these stormy days that lie ahead!

 

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

 

Conclusion:  We need God’s peace in these last days.  The Lord is in control, and we are soon going home!  Let us be encouraged in the work of the Lord in these last days.  It is still a good work, and it is still His work, and there is still work to be done!