Rebuilding the Temple

1. Rebuilding the Temple Ezra 3:10-13

2. While boschke’s wall stood firm, Solomon's temple did not.

3. The temple’s destruction had been prophesied.

4. The temple’s destruction had been prophesied: “Because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height” (Micah 3:12, ESV).

5. The temple’s destruction had been prophesied (Micah 3:12). • The temple was destroyed with fire.

6. The temple’s destruction had been prophesied (Micah 3:12). • The temple was destroyed with fire. • “They burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels” (2 Chr 36:19, ESV).

7. The temple’s destruction had been prophesied (Micah 3:12). • The temple was destroyed with fire. • (2 Chr 36:19). • “They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground” (Ps 74:7, ESV).

8. Just as Solomon's temple did not stand firm, the church did not stand firm.

9. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy.

10. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (1 Tm 4:1-2, ESV).

11. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • 1 Tm 4:1-2. • “The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tm 4:3-4, ESV).

12. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • That apostasy has occurred.

13. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • That apostasy has occurred. • Great changes have been made in church organization.

14. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • That apostasy has occurred. • Great changes have been made in church organization. • Great changes have been made in salvation.

15. The Scriptures prophesied that the church would enter apostasy. • That apostasy has occurred. • Great changes have been made in church organization. • Great changes have been made in salvation. • Great changes have been made in worship.

16. In tonight’s text, the Jews return from Babylonian Captivity & begin the process of restoring the Temple worship.

17. In tonight’s text, the Jews return from Babylonian Captivity & begin the process of restoring the Temple worship. • Ezra 3:10-13.

18. In tonight’s text, the Jews return from Babylonian Captivity & begin the process of restoring the Temple worship. • Ezra 3:10-13. • We want to make application to restoring the New Testament church.

19. In tonight’s text, the Jews return from Babylonian Captivity & begin the process of restoring the Temple worship. • Ezra 3:10-13. • We want to make application to restoring the New Testament church. • We want to explore the principles the Jews used in their restoration.

20. In tonight’s text, the Jews return from Babylonian Captivity & begin the process of restoring the Temple worship. • Ezra 3:10-13. • We want to make application to restoring the New Testament church. • We want to explore the principles the Jews used in their restoration. • Those principles: THE SAME FOUNDATION & THE SAME WORSHIP.

21. v 10 Same foundation

22. “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel” (v 10, ESV).

23. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation.

24. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation. • Temples & their foundations were not chosen haphazardly—even in pagan religions.

25. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation. • Temples & their foundations were not chosen haphazardly—even in pagan religions. • The Lord, not man, chose the place for the temple.

26. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation. • Temples & their foundations were not chosen haphazardly—even in pagan religions. • The Lord, not man, chose the place for the temple. • “Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place that he should choose” (Josh 9:27, ESV).

27. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation. • Temples & their foundations were not chosen haphazardly—even in pagan religions. • The Lord, not man, chose the place for the temple. • Josh 9:27. • The Lord showed his approval at the building of the temple.

28. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, & their associates built the altar on its foundation. • Temples & their foundations were not chosen haphazardly—even in pagan religions. • The Lord, not man, chose the place for the temple. • Josh 9:27. • The Lord showed his approval at the building of the temple: “When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD” (1 Ki 8:10-11, ESV).

29. Instead of constructing a completely new altar, this altar was constructed on the foundation of the old altar.

30. Instead of constructing a completely new altar, this altar was constructed on the foundation of the old altar. • This would provide a continuity of worship.

31. Instead of constructing a completely new altar, this altar was constructed on the foundation of the old altar. • This would provide a continuity of worship. • This would allow the builders to know their were constructing in exactly the right spot.

32. Instead of constructing a completely new altar, this altar was constructed on the foundation of the old altar. • This would provide a continuity of worship. • This would allow the builders to know their were constructing in exactly the right spot. • God had decreed exactly where the altar should be.

33. Instead of constructing a completely new altar, this altar was constructed on the foundation of the old altar. • This would provide a continuity of worship. • This would allow the builders to know their were constructing in exactly the right spot. • God had decreed exactly where the altar should be. • Building on the foundation of the fallen altar, the workers knew exactly where God wanted it.

34. What if the workers decided to erect the altar in a slightly different spot?

35. Do you honestly believe God would have been pleased?

36. Do you honestly believe God would have been pleased? • We know that God didn’t appreciate the priests changing the sacrifices.

37. Do you honestly believe God would have been pleased? • We know that God didn’t appreciate the priests changing the sacrifices. • “Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorizedfire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD” (Lev 10:1-2, ESV).

38. As the church is restored, shouldn’t she be built on exactly the same foundation as the original?

39. Jesus serves as the foundation for the church.

40. Jesus serves as the foundation for the church. • “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18, ESV).

41. Jesus serves as the foundation for the church. • “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18, ESV). • “No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11, ESV).

42. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation?

43. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church.

44. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church. • “I will build my church.”

45. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church. • “I will build my church.” • Jesus’ Messiahship, his death, his resurrection, & his exaltation allowed him to establish his church.

46. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church. • He is the source of the church’s teaching.

47. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church. • He is the source of the church’s teaching. • “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt 7:24-25, ESV).

48. How does Jesus serve as the church’s foundation? • He is the source of the church. • He is the source of the church’s teaching. • “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt 7:24-25, ESV). • Principle: If the church is built on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings, she will stand firm.

49. The apostles & prophets also serve as the church’s foundation.

50. The apostles & prophets also serve as the church’s foundation. • “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph 2:19-20, ESV).