Now remember when we read about Christ where He says, “Destroy this physical temple, and in three days I will raise it up”? He spoke of the temple of His body. But also let’s understand that spiritually speaking the church is called what? The body of Christ. And that is the temple that God is building. Now let’s see that. Let’s go to the book of Ephesians. This is really something. You really grasp and understand this then, you know, it will really help you understand more of what God is doing. Come to the book of Ephesians. Let’s just stop by the first chapter here for just a minute.

Ephesians 1:13, “In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,…” It is a sealing. You are set aside by God. “…Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:13-14). Now then he shows that we are to walk in newness of life.

Let’s come here to chapter 2. Let’s pick it up here in verse 8. And this is done, not because we’re great, not because we’re smart, not because we’re intelligent, not because we’re religious, not because we were born into a particular family, or born of a particular race. It was because God has chosen us, as we have seen. And that is a direct act of God, which is grace.

Now verse 8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Because any physical work you can do cannot bring eternal life. Keeping the commandments of God is a requirement. Loving God is the relationship. Now notice what God does then. Verse 10, “For we are His workmanship,…” You see, we are to be made in the likeness of Christ in our hearts and in our minds, see. That’s where it’s to be. “…We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,…” (Eph 2:8-10). And that’s in developing all the fruits of the Holy Spirit of love, and joy, and peace, and faith, and goodness, and meekness, and temperance, and longsuffering, and against such there’s no law because you are developing the mind and the character of God.

Now then he says here, “Look,” to the Gentiles, “there was a time when you were cut off. You had nothing to do with God. But God has called you through Christ.” Verse 13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who hath made [us] both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition…” (vs. 13-14). And that is, actually it’s really talking about the commandments of men that Judaism set up, which separated the Gentiles from the Jews.

Now notice, let’s pick it up here in verse 16. “And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby [that is, the enmity of human nature]:…” Now verse 17, “…And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both [now notice what this is] have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (vs. 16-18). That means direct access. You have the blessing, the privilege, the right, because Christ has given it to you to directly pray to God the Father in heaven above. Now that is something. That is so fantastic, you see. And you need to understand how great that is.

And he says, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are build upon [so here is the temple – the spiritual temple] the foundation of the apostles and prophets,…” Now that’s not the Old Testament prophets. That’s the New Testament prophets, that is those who bring the inspired teachings of God. “…Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;…” So it’s all built on Christ. “…In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (vs. 19-22). So what God is doing in you and you are growing, you see, with the Spirit of God.

Now let’s see what Paul tells the Corinthians. With this comes some responsibility. With it, as we have seen, the responsibility of loving God and keeping His commandments, and with it is the responsibility that we have to do the things that are right and good and are pleasing to God. Now let’s come here to 1 Corinthians 3 and let’s see about this responsibility. And to understand what we’re doing, how God is doing it, and to be a willing part of what God is building, because He has a great work for all of you to do, every one of us to do when Christ returns, see. So we need to be about finishing, with Christ in us, the work that He has begun, see. He’s going to finish it – there’s no doubt.

Now here, hold your place and come to Philippians 1 and let’s read this for just a minute. If you are faithful, if you love God, if you keep His commandments, if you are doing the things that please Him, He’s going to complete it until Christ returns. Now notice Philippians 1. We need to know and realize, and have this encouragement and understanding.

Now Philippians 1:2, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:…” (Phil. 1:2-6). Just as we read, we are the workmanship of God. He is forming and creating in us, and for a great and tremendous purpose. That’s why this life that we are living now is temporary. As we will see, it’s likened unto a tabernacle. But we have something greater, because you see this is going to grow old and wear out, of course we know. Here we are at the Feast of Tabernacles another year further and another year older, and hope another year less in debt, if we could put it that way.

Now let’s come to 1 Corinthians 3. Let’s look at the foundation. We all have the work we need to do, you see. And you are the workmanship of God. But it’s interesting about the workmanship that God is doing. He wants your participation. He wants your love. He wants your cooperation. He wants your willingness, your obedience so that you can develop and become precious, if I could put it that way. Now some people have not taken to the responsibility that God has given them, and they just are sort of oh-hum about it. Now let’s see it right here.

Let’s pick it up here in 1 Corinthians 3:5. So even Paul was explaining the proper understanding of the ministry. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” And that can be increase in numbers of people, but it can be increase in the Spirit of God, the character of God, the love of God. God gives all those increases, you see. God gave the increase. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” It talks about it twice, doesn’t it? “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:5-8). Every minister, whatever work he’s doing, he’s going to receive his reward according to his labor.

Now then he shows there is also a responsibility for each one as they do the things that they need to do. “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” You are the work of God. Think of that. See, the work of God is not just what a church can do, or so forth. We’ve covered that recently. But you are the work of God. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder [or architect], I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” Now that’s what we need to do. How are you building on the foundation? Because even though we are in this temporary tabernacle, you are building a foundation for something that is permanent. For something which will not pass away. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation…” (vs. 9-12). And this is the choice we have to make. Within this – within the will of the choice that God has given us, He’s given us the choice as to how we’re going to work with God and how we’re going to build it. Now you can just plug in here the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3, and all the difficulties and problems and variations between the churches that took place depending on how they were building and working and doing the things that they were doing as compared to the things that they should have done. And that’s why Christ called them all to repentance, except for Smyrna and Philadelphia, because they weren’t building properly.

Now notice, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold,…” (vs. 12). Now gold is the best because gold always retains its value, it is scarce, there is a limited supply of it, it never corrupts, it never rots, it never rusts. So that is tremendous. That is the best. That’s the character of love that God wants us to have continually. The next one is silver. Now silver is still precious but not quite as good. Silver has problems in as much as that it tarnishes, and it’s got to continually be cleaned and how shall we say, even refined as God says, seven times. His Word is refined as silver seven times in the furnace, you see, to get rid of all the dross. Now the next one, precious stones, they have value but they have a lot of work that needs to be done on them. They need to be selected, they need to be cut, they need to be polished, they need to be set, and so forth. Now then here are those who are lackadaisical in it. And God will allow people to choose to be that. So, you know, as we are thinking of this time during the Feast of Tabernacles: how are we building what God has given us to build with? Are we building gold, silver, precious stone? Or are we building the next three categories – wood, hay, and stubble? And of course all of those do not have a lasting value. And stubble just blows up - burn very quickly.

Now notice verse 13, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest:…” It’s going to be known. God knows. “…For the day shall declare it,…”, and this is why we have trials. Because see, every time you have a trial you have a choice. Are you going to love God and keep His commandments in spite of everything that’s going on? Are you going to look to God for the solution? Are you going to ask God for help to overcome? Are you going to put everything into His hands? What is it that you are going to do, you see? Going to try it. “…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.” You know that’s why we are told there by Peter, he says, “Beloved, don’t think it any strange thing concerning the fiery trial that’s coming upon you” (1 Peter 4:12, paraphrased). You know, it’s for your good, see. Because… Let’s go back there, 1 Peter 1, then we’ll come back here to 1 Corinthians 3.

1 Peter 1, let’s look at that. That’s quite a profound thing that Peter says because he knows, he knew. Let’s pick it up here in verse 3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you [which Christ will bring when He comes], who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in [this] the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). And boy, it’s ready to be revealed. And if this world ever needed salvation, it is now. Of course it’s not quite yet because everything is not ready. When Christ returns, that’s going to be an astounding thing.

Now notice, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:…” Or that is, trials. And those things do come upon us, don’t they? Yes. They are for our good. “…That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,…” So how about that. Look at it this way: every time you go through a trial you are developing character - gold, and silver, and precious stones. See. Now it says here, “…though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:…” (vs. 6-7). That’s what it’s for.

Now let’s come back to 1 Corinthians 3 and see how God is going to hold us responsible for what we are doing, and how that we are part of the very temple of God that God is building. Now 1 Corinthians 3:16, He says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,…” Temple is where God dwells. God is dwelling in you, so your very mind is part of the temple of God because that’s where He is dwelling through the power of His Spirit. See, isn’t this greater than a building? Isn’t this greater than a tabernacle? Of course it is, because you have direct connection with God the Father. Direct access to Him. He loves you. You love Him. You are part of the temple of God. “…And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” And that’s how it’s done. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;…” Now you defile the temple of God by doing the things contrary to the will of God and not keeping His commandments, and don’t yield to the trials and difficulties that come upon you in your Christian life, and you commit the unpardonable sin, then you await destruction. “…For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Now that’s quite at thing to really grasp and understand, isn’t it? “Which temple you are.”

Now in this, and in the process that we are doing, and in how it is being accomplished… Let’s come to 2 Corinthians 4. Let’s see that there’s a process which has to occur. And this is something that we do daily. This is something that we overcome daily. And this is how we are to live our lives. And it helps us understand this: the children of Israel lived in booths to remember that they were brought out of the land of Egypt. They lived in temporary dwellings. Now then, we understand even more. This that we are walking around in is a tabernacle, because God is dwelling in it. Temple or tabernacle, yes indeed. Now notice, this is going to cause something to change and always be working in your life on a day to day basis.

Now let’s come to 2 Corinthians 4:16. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” So this growing, this overcoming, and this renewal is day by day. To build the mind of Christ, as we will see, to develop the character of God, to grow in the love of God, Christ and God the Father are dwelling in you. That is a tremendous thing to grasp. And they are doing it every day, day by day. And to help us overcome the human nature, to help us overcome sin, and Satan, and the world. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;…” You’ve always got to… As we saw earlier, just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they had to be looking for the city that was coming from God, and He was the one Who was the builder of it, you see. Likewise with us. Verse 18, “…While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen [the spiritual things of God]: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18). And that’s what we’re looking to. To live permanently with God. Not having God dwell in us temporary through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Now, 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved [this body], we have a building of God [a new body, a new mind], a house [as it were] not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” He’s going to bring it to us. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:…” See, to have the eternal life that God is going to give us. “…If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.” Now you can think all about the Laodiceans and their problems with that one. “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 5:1-5). So that’s what it is. We are going to change tabernacles. We are going to change bodies. We are going to change minds. We are going to change the way that we live permanently forever at the resurrection. So you see now it is a temporary dwelling. Now it has to be made new from the inside so that when the spiritual body is given to us and the fullness of the spiritual mind, we will be indeed a new creature. So when we come to the end of our lives and we’re tucked in the grave, we have finished. That is the end. But there is a new beginning at the resurrection.

Now in the meantime, let’s come over here to verse 17. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:…”, that is you are being recreated in the image of Christ. We’ll see that in just a minute. “…Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” And that is done by God’s Spirit. Let’s see what this is to do for us. Let’s see how this is going to be.

Now let’s come here to Romans 12, and show the process of this that we already know, and how God is building His building. And you’re part of it. And I’m part of it. And all of those that God has wherever they are in the world. And this is why Paul, beginning here in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [or, spiritual] service. And be not conformed to this world:…” We’re to be different from the world. We’re to be apart from the world. God has separated us from the world, you see. “…But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, [so] that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2).

Now then let’s continue on. Let’s look at some other things, and how this is going to be, and how God does it in us. Now let’s come to Galatians 4. Very important verse here. Galatians 4:19, it tells what God is doing. Paul explains it right in this one verse. See, we receive the Holy Spirit of God, which is the begettal from God. We grow in grace and knowledge and overcome. And with that Christ is being formed in us. That’s what Paul is talking about here.

Galatians 4:19, he says, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,…” That’s how you become a new creature – from the inside out. Not from the outside in, see, with the Holy Spirit of God to love God, to serve Him, to keep His commandments. He explains this again a little later.

Let’s come over here to Colossians 1, and let’s see now Christ be formed in us, now he explains it in just a little bit different way. This time now, it is Christ in you. See, because remember we go back to where we began that if you love God and keep His commandments, the Father and Christ will come and They will make Their abode with you. That’s how you become a temple, or tabernacle of God. And it’s all being fitly framed together for the great work that God is going to have for us to do, see. And it’s going to be something. You are going to be part of the greatest thing that this world will have ever experienced. That’s why God has called you.

Now, Colossians 1. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 21 so we can see how these things flow along here. He says you’ve been reconciled, verse 20, you’ve “…made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh…”, which is the church. And the church is His temple, and you are a part of the temple and you are a temple of God. So you see how all of this comes together and fits together with the Feast of Tabernacles and the meaning of it, and the purpose of it, and where we’re going, and what we’re doing. “…In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: if [you might want to circle that] ye continue in the faith grounded and settled,…” But you have to continue in the faith. “…Grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;…” (Col. 1:21-23).

So then he explains to them that he was going to finish and complete the Word of God. That was part of his work, verse 25. Then he explains this mystery – and it’s a mystery to the world. You know they just cannot grasp, and the reason they can’t is because they don’t have the Holy Spirit of God so therefore they can’t grasp and understand what God is doing. But you can. If you can understand what God is doing, it is by the Spirit of God that that is possible.

Verse 26, “…Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:…” Notice, not unto the world. Their day is coming, it’s not yet here. But all the saints are going to have a part in the day when it comes to the world. See, because God does nothing haphazardly. We need to understand that. He has [a] plan, He has [a] purpose, He has a design, and He’s working it out. Christ is not going to come back to this earth until it’s ready. Christ is not going to come back and just all of a sudden appear without all the saints. The saints are going to be resurrected, as we saw on Pentecost, and they are going to be with Him, and we’re going to rule the world. It is a well thought out and great plan that God has. And He’s going to put it all together when the resurrection occurs. And then when we come back down to this earth, as we’re going to see tomorrow, God has a great work for us to do, to accomplish, and to do, and to bring this work of God to the whole world. And we will be actively doing the things of God to save the world.

Now continue on here. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:…” (vs. 17). So you see, Christ is to be spiritually formed in you by the renewing of your mind, and we’re going to see how profound and important this is, you see. Now then, it’s quite the opposite of what the world believes. But the work of God that He’s doing in each one of us is quite the opposite of what the world would think anyway, isn’t it? Yes, indeed.

Now let’s come to Philippians 2 and let’s see (just a couple pages back here), and let’s see what it’s going to be, and how it’s accomplished. It’s not accomplished by the physical things that we do. It’s accomplished by the spiritual things that we do. And letting Christ be formed in us. That’s why He is to dwell in us. We are the temple of God.

Now Philippians 2:1, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels [or that is, any deep inner compassion] and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;…” Because those are carnal things. Those things will never accomplish the spiritual things of God. “…But in lowliness of mind…”, and we’re going to see that’s all a part of what Paul talks about is the mind of Christ. “…In lowliness of mind let each esteem [the] other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:…” (Phil. 2:1-5). Now, you do that by loving God. You do that by yielding to God. You do that by putting the Word of God into your mind through study, through prayer, and with the working of the Holy Spirit in your mind to be renewed, to develop and form Christ in you. And you see, that’s one of the very reasons why you have a body and a mind that God has given you for that purpose. That’s a tremendous and wonderful thing, brethren, and a great meaning for the Feast of Tabernacles – that Christ is dwelling in us to give us of His way, His truth, His love, His Spirit. And the ultimate of being with Him in the kingdom of God and to rule in the kingdom of God, and bring peace to this earth. That’s what He’s given us, you see. That’s what’s so great and so powerful about it.

Now let’s come over here to Revelation 3 and let’s see that there is work that has to be done and how it’s going to be done. Revelation 3, and let’s pick it up here in verse 8 – to the church of Philadelphia. We have our work to do. He says, “…I know thy works:…” Does God know your works? What are your works? Are they gold, silver, precious stone, or are they wood, hay, and stubble? Either way, God knows. But here is what is important, what he’s talking about here. And we’ll see this is all part of the process of Christ in you, working in you. You growing and changing and becoming that new creature, the new person as it were, so that when the old man dies then at the resurrection you have a new beginning with the new man. “…I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou has a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.” Now that tells you everything. How are you going to develop the character of God of gold, silver, precious stones, except by this way – with the love of God?

“…Have kept My word and hast not denied My name.” Now God is going to do something for this world. He’s going to make them do something. “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan [which now rule the world], which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience [so here’s a promise], I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (vs. 9-10). So we’re going to have to see that time. We have yet a lot ahead of us that’s going to happen, and we’re going to live through these times. God will see us through it.

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God,…” Now He’s not going to make you kind of a standing pillar, that you all of a sudden become part of a building. No, that’s not what it’s talking about because when we see at the beginning of all eternity God isn’t going to have any temple at all because He’s going to be dwelling with His people, God the Father and Jesus Christ, in new Jerusalem. So this is a figurative temple. Just like today, you are a temple of God today. This is going to be the spiritual temple of God. “…He shall go no more out [he’ll always be with Christ]: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name” (vs. 11-12). So there you have it.

The purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles has many, many meanings. And one of the greatest meanings today applies to us who have the Spirit of God – that our bodies and our minds are a temporary dwelling for God, and that we are looking for the tabernacle that we are going to be clothed with at the resurrection. Now come back tomorrow because we are going to see another new beginning, which begins when we come back to this earth with Christ and begin ruling with Him.

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