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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: JOURNEY (01/13/22)
During the Old Testament dispensation, there was a great emphasis on participating in all the activity, in and around, the Tabernacle and Temple. The Tabernacle was portable. The Temple had a fixed location.

Here in the Church Age, there is a great emphasis on participating in the activity, in and around the local assemblies.

Contrary to what the religious traditions of men (Mark 7: 8) would have us believe, the temple of God here on Earth during the Church Age is not a tent or a building, as it had been during the Old Testament dispensation.

The Church Age began at the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1) in Jerusalem, shortly after the Ascension of the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1: 2). The Church Age comes to an end at the Rapture (1Thess. 4: 17).

The Church Age temple of God, here on Earth, consists of all the individual physical bodies (1Cor. 3: 16) of born-again believers.

Accordingly, the Church Age Temple of God can be tall or short; young or old, fat or skinny, male or female, black or white, healthy or sick, beautiful or plain, active or inactive. How we care for, present, and use our individual temple speaks volumes about what is going on inside.

Church Age believers do not “go to Church,” but ARE the Church that gathers together (Heb. 10: 25) in (or with) local assemblies around the world.

During the Church Age, the geographical location, the type of structure or other means through which worshipers gather together is of no concern (Matt, 18: 20 NASB).

It is what takes place when believers gather together that interests God (John 4: 23 NASB).

“For where(ever) two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matt. 18: 20 NASB (parenthesis mine)."

“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers (John 4: 23 NASB.)

There IS a time, place, and purpose for participating in the Biblically-ordained activities (e.g., 1Cor. 11: 23 - 25 /Eph. 4: 12) when (or how) born-again believers gather together (Heb. 10: 25).

This “gathering together” can take place in the traditional manner or virtually by way of the many means of modern-day communication.

That being said, did you ever notice that some of the greatest accomplishments of God take place involving individuals when they are physically away from the centers of worship?

Consider what was accomplished by Noah in an ark; Moses up on a mountain; Daniel in a lion’s den; Joseph in an Egyptian prison; John the Baptist living alone for decades out in the desert; Paul being taught in the desert; John the revelator in exile in Patmos.

And of course, the greatest example of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught in many different locations before dying alone on the cross, forsaken by God (Psalms 22: 1), as He atoned for the sins of the world.

I can tell you from personal experience that there are times when God will send or allow circumstances in which we are alone with the Lord in order to prepare, establish, and maintain the individual plan that He has in mind for us.

The older I get, the time I spend alone with God and or the things of God is, by far, the best part of any day or night.

The advancing disciple's journey is like a runner in a hurdle-jumping race. As each hurdle is overcome, there is a moment of success. But one must stay focused on the next upcoming hurdle if one is going to complete the course (2Tim. 4: 7).

The one hour or so a week that most believers spend gathered together, inside or with, a local assembly, represents less than 1% of our post salvation spiritual life. 99% of the remaining 167 hours a week are spent elsewhere!

One’s physical body becomes the 7-day, 24-hour earthly Temple of God, as of the moment one starts his or her Heaven-bound journey on the day he or she is born again. Our body remains to be the Temple of God until we leave it behind at physical death.

What we do while in and or with this bodily temple while outside of the local assembly determines the quality of 99% one’s post salvation spiritual journey.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 467 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Laurie Kiel 
01/25/22
I like the analogy of the hurdle jumping. We are indeed the temple of God. Good challenges in this article.
Laurie Kiel 
01/25/22
I like the analogy of the hurdle jumping. We are indeed the temple of God. Good challenges in this article.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
01/27/22
This is an interesting Bible study and would be great for a small group discussion. Congratulations on ranking 13 overall. Happy Dance!