IT'S TIME!!!!! Preparing the Temple for God's Glory: A Call To Alignment

A few months ago, I stood before a congregation to deliver a message that had been stirring in my spirit for quite some time. This word, "Preparing the Temple for the Glory of the Lord," was one that the Holy Spirit had given me, and I felt an urgency to share it. The experience of presenting it was powerful, and I believe the Lord moved mightily in that moment.

As I reflect on that time, I realize how much the message still resonates in this season. Not only for that congregation but also for each of us in our personal walk with the Lord. It’s one of those messages that continues to deepen in meaning the more we meditate on it. So, I felt led to bring it here, to my blog, and share it with you all. Whether you are reading this for the first time or revisiting it, my prayer is that it will touch your heart and inspire you to take action in your own personal journey.

As you read, I encourage you to think about how this message applies to your life today. We are all temples, and just as Solomon prepared a physical temple for the glory of God, we too must prepare ourselves—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally—to experience His presence in new and powerful ways.

Now, let's dive into what it means to truly prepare our temple for God's glory.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (NKJV)
"Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:
'For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,'
that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."

The temple of the Lord holds deep significance in both the Old and New Testaments, not just as a physical structure but as a representation of our spiritual lives. King David's heart longed to build a temple for the Lord, yet God chose his son, Solomon, to complete the work. This was a fulfillment of God's plan, as Solomon reigned during a time of peace.

The location God chose for this temple was particularly symbolic. The temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. This was not a random choice but a God-given design. The threshing floor was where David built an altar to stop a plague that threatened Israel, and it became a place of sacrifice, worship, and mercy.

Just as the physical temple was meticulously prepared for God's glory, our spiritual temple—our lives—must also be prepared for the manifestation of God's presence. This process mirrors the threshing floor experience: a place of sacrifice, separation, consecration, purification, and perseverance.

Let us begin by looking at the Threshing Floor being a place of Transformation:

1. The Threshing Floor Process: Threshing was an agricultural process used to separate the grain from the chaff. Spiritually, this represents God's work in us, separating what is pure and valuable from what is not. It’s a place where God refines us, preparing us for His greater purpose. Each stage of the threshing floor mirrors the stages of our spiritual growth.

• Sacrifice:
  David’s words resonate deeply: "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). True worship requires sacrifice. We must offer unto God not just our praises but our time, resources, and lives. The threshing floor reminds us that sacrifice is often the doorway to encountering God's glory.

• Separation:
  Just as grain is separated from the chaff, so must we allow God to separate us from things that have nothing to do with Him. John 15:1-4 speaks of God pruning us so that we bear more fruit. This separation is painful at times, but necessary for growth and transformation. It is where we discard what hinders us from fully embracing our God-given identity.

• Consecration:
  The threshing floor is a holy space, and in our lives, consecration means setting ourselves apart for God. It’s a deliberate act of dedication. Your consecration may differ from others, but it is just as important. For me, God required me to abstain from certain traditions, not because they were inherently wrong but because my bloodline’s history of idolatry demanded deeper levels of consecration. Consecration allows God to work uniquely in each of us, based on our specific calling.

• Purification:
  Like clearing out a cluttered pantry, purification is removing spiritual impurities. 1 John 1:7 reminds us to walk in the light and allow God to purify us. Purification requires us to let go of outdated habits, thoughts, and actions that no longer serve us. We must be willing to empty ourselves of the old to make room for the new things God wants to do in us.

• Perseverance:
  Threshing is a time-consuming process, and so is spiritual growth. The Bible tells us in Luke 18:1-8, through the Parable of the Persistent Widow, that we must persevere in prayer, even when it feels like nothing is changing. Our spiritual lives require persistence and patience as God refines us through the trials that we go through, the delays we sometimes experience, and the unanswered prayers that we may experience.

Rebuilding the Temple: The physical temple in Jerusalem had to be completed before God's glory filled it. Similarly, our spiritual temple must undergo preparation. Here’s what that looks like:

• Self-Examination:
  We must regularly examine our spiritual condition and identify areas where we need growth. Are we living in alignment with God's word? Are there things that distract us from His purpose?

• Dedicated Worship:
  Worship is more than just singing and emotions; it's an act of complete surrender. Like David, we must be willing to make sacrifices in our worship, knowing that it costs us something valuable. This type of worship attracts God’s presence.

• Eliminate Distractions:
  Much like separating the grain from the chaff, we need to remove anything in our lives that hinders our relationship with God. Whether it’s negative influences, unhealthy habits, or even certain relationships, distractions must go for the glory of God to manifest in our lives.

• Commit to Holiness:
  We are called to live holy lives, set apart for God. This means aligning our lives with His will and standards, even when it’s uncomfortable or countercultural.

• Persistent Prayer:
  Prayer is the foundation of transformation. We cannot prepare our temple without maintaining a constant and persistent prayer life. A consistent prayer life will open the door for us to experience the glory of God.

• Expect Transformation:
  When we truly encounter God's glory, transformation is inevitable. As we behold His glory, we are changed into His likeness, as 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "being transformed into the same image from glory to glory."

In conclusion, the threshing floor teaches us that the process of preparing for God’s glory requires sacrifice, separation, consecration, purification, perseverance, and prayer. Just as Solomon’s temple had to be finished before God's glory could fill it, so must we allow God to complete His work in us.

Isaiah’s encounter with the glory of God left him undone. It led him to repentance and transformation. When we prepare ourselves for the glory of God, we can expect nothing less than profound change, both in us and in the world around us.

It's time for us to prepare our temple to experience the glory of the Lord that is about to sweep across the nations. The sad reality is that when the glory comes, some of us will miss it. We'll be so caught up in ourselves that we won’t even recognize it. Those who have prepared will experience a magnificent transformation, while those who haven't will remain stuck in religion or their usual routine, unable to perceive the move of God.

Let's get ready!!!!!