Along my journey through 2 Chronicles I spent some time thinking about Hezekiah and where he found Jerusalem at the outset of his reign. The Temple was in a terrible state of neglect and misuse and was a direct reflection of the condition of the people before God. And he was charged with putting the Temple in the proper condition and beginning to use it for getting the people right with God again. If you reflect on that for a moment, it was like Hezekiah was walking in Solomon’s footsteps… rebuilding the Temple in order to regain access to God.
For us, Paul reflected a similar challenge…
Ephesians 2:18-22 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
And again, Paul in Hebrews (I believe he wrote the book) reminded us of the privilege we have of entering into the heavenly Temple that was made by Jesus for His bride. As it was back then it is now, a open temple meant that worship and prayer can invoke God’s blessing. It was the number one task for all the people to worship God through regular rites in the Temple and so it is for us today.
1 Pet 2:5, 9 to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God and to proclaim the praises [of a gracious God].
Today our sacrifices in the Temple (the Temple of the Holy Spirit) are our lives, which are a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). And for the bride of Christ, that worship is to be carried out into our homes and the world we live in. But if we allow the “cares of this world” and our “self-centered priorities” to keep us from joining with our brothers and sisters in corporate prayer and worship, we will lose our source of blessing and strength as we move through this world because we fail to enter in… once again the challenge of Paul:
Heb 10:19-25 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 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; 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.
It was Hezekiah’s task to recall the people back from their spiritual exile, which was evidenced by their abandonment of the Temple. The Holy Spirit is delivering that message to the bride of Christ today, and that is a key to the message He has tasked me to deliver, which is wrapped up in the Wake Up and Rest Series.
We are not Lone Rangers in our Christian walk, even though we each have been “uniquely and wonderfully made.” We were not made to walk through this life alone, and that is why the Lord honors corporate worship. We have been given callings and gifts that are primarily for the bride herself, and to ignore spending time worshiping and praising God together is to short circuit those callings and gifts to the detriment of His bride.
Consider the message for us in the words of Hezekiah as he challenged the people to restore the Temple and their relationship with God…
2 Chron 29:11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.
And so should we “minister” and offer the “incense” of our prayers… together!