King James Bible Study: A Dead Christian

King James Bible Study: A Dead Christian
For: Saturday April 23, 2011
Chapters: I Kings 5-7
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-23

Details of Today's Reading: The preparations for building the Temple of God, Solomon makes friends with Hiram, who helps build the materials needed for the temple, work on the Temple begins, Solomon's house is built, and the Temple is complete in seven years.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
No matter how strong the wood, steel, or glass, if a house is not built upon a good, solid foundation that house will be destroyed. The Bible says, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” - I Corinthians 3:10-16. The Spirit of God, also known as the Holy Spirit dwells in every person who calls on and accepts Jesus Christ into their lives. Therefore, whatever we do it needs to be laid upon the foundation of Christ if we want to be or remain successful.

At one time the Spirit of God did not dwell in people He dwelt above an Ark, which was a wooden box that contained the two stone tablets written with the Word of God. Although David was able to retrieve the Ark after the Philistines took it, he never had a permanent home for it, but before he died he gave Solomon the command to build a house for God. Four years into his reign Solomon began making arrangements to build the Temple of the Lord.

“And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,..And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.” - I Kings 5:2,5-8.

Solomon enlisted the best people he could find to help build God's house, when Solomon approached Hiram with the opportunity to help build the Temple he jumped at it, in fact, he praised God for it. The Temple was chiefly built by the riches and labor of Gentiles, which is an illustration of their being called into the church of Christ. God will enlist anyone willing to serve Him, regardless of their color, race, or degree. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.”- Romans 2:9-11.

480 years after the Israelites were freed from Egypt, King Solomon began construction of the Temple, it was built out of the finest stones and materials. Every stone added to the foundation was shaped and molded to fit perfectly upon one another so there was no noise made in the Temple while constructing it.

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD...And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building...And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.” - I Kings 6:1,7,38.

This silence was the design of God and illustrates the unnoticed manner in which God carries on His purpose of grace within the Christian. We are transformed into His glorious likeness, not by noisy human efforts, but silently by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, as day by day God perfects His Temple within every believer.

It took seven years for the Temple to be complete, somewhere in between the beginning and end God spoke to Solomon. “And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.” - I Kings 6:11-13.

This is the same promise God makes to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Joshua 1:5. If you have Christ in you, God dwells in you and will never leave you, but do not expect Him to be joyous about any sin in your life. He loves you, He despises sin, while God will never forsake those who put their faith and trust in His Son, He will chastise every believer who does not keep His commandments. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - I Peter 4:16,17.

Solomon's Temple was not a large structure compared to some of today's massive worship centers. Its beauty was not in the workmanship or the excessive costliness of its materials. Although the building was beautiful to behold, the real glory of the Temple was deep within. This Temple was the only structure on earth ever to be the dwelling place of the Almighty God. Many of today's churches may look impressive, but God does not dwell in them, nor even comes close to dwelling in them. God dwells in the people within the building, not in the building itself. “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” -II Corinthians 6:15-17.

Do you know how many churches claim to be of God yet are what can be known as dead Christian's. A dead Christian is a person who knows all about Jesus Christ, goes to church, serves in their church, tithes, does all the things a Christian would do, but lacks one thing, Christ. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23. Unless a person personally calls on Jesus Christ themselves they do not know Christ, they are a dead Christian. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:12.

How do you call on Jesus? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9. You must pray and ask to be saved. All who call upon Christ are saved. All who call upon Christ are planted in His foundation and as long as we never forget that we will be successful in all that we do.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Temple. The Temple was built upon the illustration of Christ, whom would become the door to God. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” - John 10:9.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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