Habitation of God

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces verse 22 as revealing the ultimate purpose of the temple: to be a habitation of God in the Spirit, using an analogy of a new building to illustrate the…

An extended analogy of examining a new building's component parts and characteristics, but lacking knowledge of its ultimate purpose, illustrates the need for verse 22 to reveal the church's ultimate purpose.

What we have in verse 22 is what I am calling the ultimate purpose for which the temple exists. Now let's use an extended analogy. We've come upon a new building. We get up close to the building and we examine its component parts.

3:57 - 4:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God has no stones that are relegated to the level of a broom closet or the mop closet.

This example highlights that in earthly buildings, not every part directly contributes to the main purpose (e.g., a mop closet). This contrasts with God's temple, where every 'stone' shares in the glorious purpose of being God's dwelling.

Let's go back to that pretty new building we were looking at about five minutes ago. And we discover after making some inquiry that that building constructed of block, marble cornerstone, wood frame, brick veneer, characterized by its massiveness, its functional design, and what was the third thing? Well-proportioned lines. That that building is going to house the office staff of a large corporation.

11:08 - 11:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Cultivate breathless wonder at being part of God's permanent dwelling.

The Queen of Sheba's reaction to Solomon's glory, where 'there was no spirit left in her,' is used to describe the 'breathless wonder' believers should feel at being part of God's permanent dwelling.

What do I mean by that? Well, I'm trying to describe something of what the Queen of Sheba felt when she heard some wonderful things about Solomon and his kingdom and the glory of Jehovah. But when she came from afar and she was taken through Jerusalem and all of the glory of Solomon's kingdom was pointed out and his wisdom was manifested, it says of that great woman, there was no spirit left in her. She was brought to a state of breathless wonder because there was such a display of glory that her humanity was swallowed up and overcome.

31:56 - 32:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Engage in God-centered worship, prioritizing the conscious sense of God's presence.

Martin refers to their church building as a 'cracker box' to emphasize that the physical structure is insignificant compared to the conscious awareness of God's presence during corporate worship.

if we get hold of the fact that we have been builded together by the spirit to be a habitation of God it will be productive of God centered worship it will be productive of God centered worship it will not be entertainment or information centered worship my people does this grip you when you come into this place when you gather to our cracker box on 233 Runnymede that's my new pet name for that building as you sit waiting for whoever

41:53 - 42:36 Read in full sermon