Acts 7:46-53 

⁴⁶ David enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸ “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ⁴⁹ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? ⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?’”

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Retirement

No one is surprised when someone in his/her prime years ponders upon retirement. There are those who are able to retire early while there are those who just cannot.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration 34% of American workers have nothing set aside for retirement. A study by the National Institute on Retirement Security found 40 % of workers 55-65 years old do not own assets in a retirement account.

And as a result of the recession, more and more workers over the age of 50 are ill-prepared for retirement and are doing whatever they can to get by.

2.2 million Americans over the age of 60 still saddled with $43 billion of student loan debt.

The enticing life of a retiree attracts most of us to consider a relaxing retirement life.

Are you prepared for it or have you ever planned what kind of life in your retirement? Have you ever planned where and when you want to live in your retirement? Will you still live in you current home or have already prepared a retirement home for you?

Retirement is a reality of life that can be seriously considered by anybody.

Have you read in the Bible if God has planned or designed that humans should retire?

How about God, have you ever thought or even consider if God retires, too?

God does not retire because God cannot be tired and never feels weak at anytime. God is always busy at work among His creations simultaneously, from one end to the other. God is not limited by anything, space or time because He is forever and eternally unlimited.

Even with that reality, David insisted to make a dwelling place for God on earth.

1.  Man-made Temple

⁴⁶ David enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

David knew that God cannot be contained by man-made dwelling. When he planned to build a temple, David was actually thinking of a place to worship God. The Tabernacle that God commanded Moses to make was a portable and transferable. King David had in his heart to build a temple for God similar to the temples of other nations.

God did not allow David to build a temple for Him but wanted David to prepare for it. God gave David skills to win battles so that enemies will not come to disturb them building. God gave Solomon construction skills and no enemy attack while they build the temple.

Lesson: When God gives great ideas, it might be implemented immediately or even later. God chooses right leaders to proceed with the vision He gives in His right timing.

Sometimes when leaders propose a project there are those who may oppose it. The proposal may be a great project but perhaps it’s not yet the right time for it.

The temple that King Solomon built was very magnificent because it was built at peace time. If King David who was busy going to battle started the temple, it would not be as beautiful as how King Solomon built because there would be few workers, because they went to war.

The magnificent temple that King Solomon built teaches us that whenever we do God’s project, we need to give all our heart and do our best.

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ⁴⁹ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? ⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?’”

The idea, that God lives in a man-made temple is influenced by other religious practices. The ancient Egypt, Hindus, Buddhists, and many other religions made their own gods and built temples for their man-made gods. But the God of the Bible, the God we believe in can be worshipped anywhere.

Man-made places of worship are symbols of God’s presence where believers meet.

TMEC Building

The BOT has entertained the idea to extend our church building. While building an extension is a great idea, the vision of having a new church building gives added excitement not just to the leaders but also to church members.

Let us keep praying for the BOT members to be united in their decision to propose either an extension building or new church building or even both.

A building extension or new building requires more church workers and supports. If God wants the current leaders to spearhead a building project, God will also give them needed support and approval from the church. God will give also the right vision on how to proceed with our building project.

Pray that God gives the vision to our leaders on how to proceed with building projects. Pray that no opposition will arise but a new church building would draw us closer to God.

The temple in Jerusalem made the Israelite and their leaders proud and ignored God. The Israelite leaders became very powerful but failed to discern the will of God. God has decided to dwell not in mad-made temple but in God-made temples, His believers.

2.  God-made Temple

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

God chooses where and whom He dwells and He has chosen to dwell in the believer’s heart. When we decide to trust in the Lord Jesus, we receive the Spirit of Christ. God created us, so, we are God-made temple whom the Spirit of Christ dwells in.

We should be careful and take care of our physical body because it’s God’s temple. The way we use, clean or feed our bodies signifies how much we regard God’s temple.

1 Corinthian 3:16-17 says…¹⁶Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

When Stephen was standing before the Sanhedrin the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in his life. Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel because he was filled with God’s Spirit.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is far better than using any facial cosmetics or beauty aids.

Stephen had also the courage to address the Sanhedrin as “stiff-necked people!” Such kind of comment before a court shows disrespect to the person in authority. Those last words of Stephen were enough grounds for them to kill him.

Where did Stephen get his courage to call the Sanhedrin “stiff-necked people?”

In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul teaches that God gave us not a spirit of timidity. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

That word “power” used in 2 Timothy 1:7 is exactly the same word used in Acts 1:8… ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

That was what happened when Stephen witnessed in Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin. Stephen has received power when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s power manifested in his life and had a dynamite-like courage to witness.

Most of us feel scared or afraid to witness even to our friends or relative, why?

Witnessing is different from a military command that a soldier could obey independently. Christ command to go and witness serve as an avenue for us to rely upon the Holy Spirit.

Training in evangelism helps to have skills to witness but it doesn’t give courage to witness.

Don’t get me wrong here. Training is very beneficial to gain skills and knowledge on how to witness. To be an expert in evangelism is very useful but it does not guarantee positive result. Using human expertise of the gospel may cause argumentation and not as effective witness.

Positive result in witnessing depends only upon the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Evangelism Training

“Does it mean that if I am scared to witness, I am not empowered by the Spirit?”

What? Yes! Only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can truly witness effectively!

Keep praying that you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness.

So, while waiting for the empowering of the Spirit, join the next batch of evangelism trainees. The launching and start for the next batch of evangelism trainees will be on March 9.

To be trained in evangelism is a personal response to God’s call for you to obey. Join all possible training you can avail of and you will grow deeper in your faith.

1 Corinthian 6:19… ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

Christ bought our freedom from eternal damnation–He ransomed us from hell. Christians are freed from the slavery of sin to become servants of righteousness. When we received Christ as Lord of our life, we gave Him the power to utilize and use us.

If Christ is in control of our life, we experience the best life ever that could surpass all the promises of any retirement benefits.

Wealth cannot buy peace or joy; no joy and peace from any retirement benefits.

Joy and peace can only be experienced when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

When we are active in witnessing, that’s a manifestation that God dwells in us.

Are you still thinking how you would retire?

Being filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit is far more exciting than the life of a retiree.

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