In the early days of God’s people, a divine fire blazed among them, a symbol of His presence. The fire descended when Solomon consecrated the temple, affirming it as God’s dwelling place. Tragically, as Israel strayed, God’s fire departed when Babylon ravaged the temple.
A Fiery Hope Revived
However, hope arose when Jewish exiles returned to rebuild the temple in obedience. But the fire did not return, signaling the temple’s impermanence. Israel longed for the fire’s return, a visible sign of God dwelling among them.
Pentecost: The Fire Returns
Then, at Pentecost, the fire suddenly rekindled. It was a resounding statement: “The temple is back! God dwells among His people!” This time, it wasn’t a building but a corporate community, signified by the diverse languages spoken, symbolizing its reach into the nations.
The Living Temple: Unity Amid Diversity
In the Old Testament, the tabernacle and temple united twelve tribes around God’s presence. Today, this living temple unites all tribes under one King, despite distinctions. Like the tribes of Israel, our communities differ, but they unite under God’s presence in His sanctuary.
The Church Goes Viral: A New Commission
The New Testament envisions the church as a temple gone viral, no longer confined to Jerusalem. Jesus’ followers received a new commission: to construct temples everywhere among the Gentiles.
Synagogue vs. Temple
In the past, the destruction of the temple led to the formation of synagogues, preserving identity and fostering prayer, Scripture study, and community. A valid response, but also a reminder of temple loss. However, Pentecost revealed that the church is a temple, not a synagogue.
From Teaching to Beholding
The church isn’t solely a place of teaching and community; it’s where people gather to behold God’s glory and minister to Him. It’s a temple, with teaching and community functions as valuable, yet secondary components.
The Core Ministry of the Church
The core ministry of the church is beholding God together, for everything flows from that. The indwelling Spirit shapes us as a corporate temple, as seen when Paul and Barnabas ministered to the Lord in Antioch. The New Testament church is a corporate entity with God’s Spirit in its midst.
The Biblical Connection
The church reflects God’s desire as declared in the Old Testament: “I will dwell among the people… You shall be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12) This biblical connection demonstrates the church’s roots at Sinai, a place where God’s glory, His ways, and transformation abound.
Continuity of God’s Presence
Although Israel’s worship differed from Sinai, God’s presence remained. Similarly, not every church gathering will mimic Pentecost’s magnitude, but God’s fire resides among His people, even when it seems less spectacular.
Worship Temple or Synagogue Model?
Our activities, whether teaching, pastoring, or serving, should emanate from collective encounters with God’s glory. Have we, as the church, shifted from temple to synagogue model?
Reorienting the Purpose of Gatherings
Realizing the church is a temple realigns our gatherings’ purpose. The church exists primarily for God and secondarily for us. Do we assess how God enjoys our meetings, worship, and Word? The church is designed to be God-centered.
The Worshipful Mission
The tabernacle was built so God could dwell among His people, and the church continues this desire. God desires to dwell among us, for the church is a context to minister to Him.
From Eden to Missions
From the Garden of Eden to Israel’s formation, worship was meant to expand, to become missionary. The first humans were both worship leaders and missionaries. From the start, God wanted the temple to expand across the earth, rooted in beholding His beauty.
Israel’s Missionary Calling
Israel’s mission was to live in a way that nations would discover God and worship. David’s tabernacle allowed Gentiles to approach, emphasizing singing as temple worship. The New Testament shift reorients worship. It’s not just attractional but missional, to be taken to the people. Worship sanctuaries must exist among the nations.
Worship Trumps Missions
Missions isn’t the church’s ultimate goal; worship is. Missions is necessary because worship is lacking. Worship is eternal; missions is temporary. Missions exists to produce worship, to expand the worship sanctuary.
The Foundation of Missions
Acts 13 illustrates that corporate beholding forms the foundation of missions through discipleship. Biblical beholding is essential for New Testament missions.
Local Church as the Missions Hub
The primary context for forming and sending missionaries is the local church. Paul, the New Testament’s prominent missionary, was nurtured in a local church. The songs sung reflect the worship leader’s devotion and influence the church’s culture. Is your church’s worship culture conducive to an Acts 13 moment?
A Culture of Worship
A worship culture focuses on God, allowing space for His leadership through the Holy Spirit. God-centric church culture sets the stage for messengers like Paul and Barnabas to arise.
The Right Perspective on Calling
Paul’s mission wasn’t propelled by his fixation on his calling. It emanated from a worshipping community captivated by God’s beauty. Missionaries should be more shaped by beholding Jesus than personal destinies. The church exists for God, and it sends laborers to plant God-centered churches, not fulfill personal ambitions.
Apostolic Ministry from God-Oriented Churches
Apostolic ministry arises from God-oriented churches, which produce God-oriented temples. Missions flows from worship. Worship, the core ministry, is God-centered, and everything else follows.
As we consider this biblical pattern, may we strive to create worship cultures that prioritize God’s glory, inspire missions, and propel laborers into the world to expand the temple, beholding God’s beauty in every place.
A.F.O.S.O.M., an anonymous contributor, involve with MFAM, helping Unreached People Group (Southeast Asia) Believers be connected with other authentic believers and helping to strengthen their faith. A.F.O.S.O.M transitioned from Islam to Christianity when he was 16, he attends a Singapore charismatic church, and writes for ‘Beholding Messiah‘ blog.
This article is my personal notes that I read from the book “Discipleship begins with Beholding” by Samuel Whitefield.
