Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14

Ahaz was in trouble.

Two larger kingdoms joined together and chose a man to put on Ahaz’s throne.

Ahaz was king of Judah, and the two kingdoms were Syria and Israel. Isaiah 7 gives the name of the king of Syria as Rezin and the name of the king of Israel as Pekah.

Let’s learn a little of who Ahaz was. 2 Kings 16 tells us this about Ahaz:

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done, but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree. (2 Kings 16:1-4 ESV)

Ahaz was not a good king. He did not follow the Lord, and he did not keep the first of the Ten Commandments.

Therefore, the Lord allowed his enemies to triumph over him. 2 Chronicles 28 tells us about this.

Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the commander of the palace and Elkanah the next in authority to the king. (2 Chronicles 28:5-7 ESV)

The king’s son, the commander of the palace and the person second to the king had been killed by Pekah. The king of Syria had taken a great number of the people of the nation captive to Damascus. The two kings who had inflicted such damage on Judah were now planning to conquer the nation and put their own vassal in charge. Isaiah 7:6 tells us their plan.

Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it. (Isaiah 7:6 ESV)

These were dark days for Ahaz. He was desperate. As we have seen from his history, he did not deserve God’s help. He did not serve God, fear God or honor God. However, God, in His grace and for the sake of His servant David, sent Ahaz a message through Isaiah the prophet. The message started with:

Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. (Isaiah 7:4 ESV)

God’s promise, according to Isaiah 7:7 was that this plan would not come to pass. He was not going to let it happen. To make His point God said to Ahaz:

Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. (Isaiah 7:11 ESV)

Ahaz apparently thought he would play politics with God and acting very self-righteously said:

I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. (Isaiah 7:12 ESV)

This man who did not fear God nor serve God at least knew enough Scripture to know that God had said one should not test Him. However, God knew Ahaz and so God was not taken in by Ahaz’s play-acting. God responded:

Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? (Isaiah 7:13 ESV)

Ahaz’s situation makes me think of the politics and relations between nations of our day. The intrigue between nations is just as bad today as it was in Ahaz’s day. And, leaders like Ahaz are still to be found.

It was into a very dark situation that God spoke and said:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

It was no accident that Jesus was born at night. The night is a picture of the world that He was born into. Isaiah 9:2 says:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:2 ESV)

As you can see, Isaiah 9:2 is speaking of people walking in darkness. Isaiah was not speaking of physical darkness. He was describing the condition of our world. Isaiah was not satisfied with his description of walking in darkness. Something more was needed. So, he described the condition again, saying, “those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness.”

When we think of deep darkness, we tend to think of economic hardship. But, economic hardship is not darkness.

We watch the news and are disgusted with our politicians.

When God responded to Ahaz, He said, “the Lord himself will give you a sign.” The sign comes from God.

Our hope is not in man. Ultimately, Ahaz died and was buried without the honor normally given to kings. 2 Chronicles 28:27 tells us they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. This came about because Ahaz did not believe the prophet, the sign and the word of God. God had warned Ahaz. Isaiah 7:9 says:

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. (Isaiah 7:9 ESV)

The NIV captures the meaning of this sentence when it translates it:

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Ahaz did not take God’s warning to heart and he did not believe. Therefore, he sent to the king of Assyria for help and paid for the king of Assyria to save him from his enemies. When the king of Assyria killed Ahaz’s enemies, Ahaz went to him to become his vassal and to pay his respects. While he was in Damascus doing this, he was impressed with the altar and worship of the king of Assyria’s god. So, he had a copy of the altar made in Jerusalem and devoted himself to Assyria’s god.

Out of this true story, comes a prophecy that is at the center of our celebration of Christmas. This story illustrates why God made Christmas.

First, the world is in darkness.

John 1:5 tells us:

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:5 NKJV)

Second, the Lord Himself needed to provide the sign.

We cannot save ourselves and instead of humbling ourselves before the Lord, we try to be clever with Him.

Our inability to save ourselves seems to be a hard truth for us to accept.

God told Ahaz to “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear and do not let your heart be faint.” (Isaiah 7:4, ESV)

We live in a world run by fear. Most of our lives are run by fear.

What is your greatest fear?

Are you fearless?

It is hard for us to admit that our lives have become unmanageable and we need the help of God to save us.

But, here is the truth of Christmas. There is no other way for us to be saved. There is no other Savior.

Many, even in churches this Christmas, will not stand in the judgment because they will not believe. They view Jesus as a helper and a friend, but not as the only way of Salvation, the Son of the living God.

The Bible says:

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV)

This passage deals with the hard truth of the darkness, every person will die, and then face judgment. However, this passage tells us what Jesus did when He came to earth as a baby. He died for our sins. He was offered for our sins.

This truth is followed by the promise He will come again and look at what it says. “...not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

When Jesus came the first time, very few people noticed. The King of Kings, Immanuel was born, and the world was going about its business as usual.

Here we are on Immanuel’s 2019th birthday, and much of the world is carrying on just as Ahaz did. Very few people recognize the signs of the times and that Jesus is coming again. He is coming to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. No one knows the day or the hour, but if we look at the signs, we know that the season is here.

We Americans are so fixated on Washington and all the shenanigans going on there that we miss the fact that God has decreed things for the land and people of Israel that are taking place now.

All this to say, Jesus is coming again. Immanuel, God with us. He came the first time to give light in the darkness, to pay for our sins and to give us hope. Christmas is a sign to us that He is coming again.

What are you hoping in? Where are you looking for help in this dark world? God made Christmas to dispel the darkness and give us hope.

The Provision

"When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."

Ephesians 4:8 ESV

So far in our series on “The Church,” we have covered:

1. The Architect - Jesus is the architect and builder of the Church
2. The Mission - Making disciples is the mission of the Church
3. The Temple - We are living stones being built into the Temple of the Lord

Each one of these concepts causes me great excitement! We have been invited to participate in all aspects of the building and mission of the Church! You have been invited to participate in all aspects of the building and mission of the Church! We are a part of what Almighty God, the Creator of the universe is doing.

Today, I want to complete this series on the Church by looking at “The Provision.” This is possibly the most exciting part of what we are considering. We are talking about the riches of heaven poured out on us. We are rich, rich, rich!

If you feel like a pauper, perhaps you have not understood your position in Christ. Admittedly, I am not speaking of riches in terms that the world considers riches. Some of us are paupers in worldly terms. I am encouraged by the way the Apostle Paul spoke about how the servants of Christ are treated in this world. Listen to what he says:

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:8-10 ESV)

Consider Jesus who owned only His clothing as far as worldly goods were concerned, but He possessed everything. We, as His disciples, have been given the same kind of riches. According to Ephesians 1:3, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

In considering God’s provision for us as the Church, we will consider just a few of the tremendous blessings with which He has blessed us.

First, we enjoy the provision of His presence.

In Matthew 28:18-20, when He gave us our mission, Jesus ended with this statement:

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

If we take Jesus at His word, (and I think we should) then this would mean that Jesus is with us at all times, on all occasions and in all places.

Do you remember the account in the gospels where Jesus was asleep in the boat and a storm came up? It is found in Mark 4:35-41. 

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

If Jesus is with us, what do we have to fear?

Three promises of Scripture come with the promise of His presence.

1. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19 ESV)
2. He makes intercession for us. “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)
3. He advocates for us. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1 ESV)

The blessing and promise of Jesus’ presence is a great provision and true riches. And, it gets even better. 

The second blessing with which God has blessed us is the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus worked to prepare His disciples for His departure, He told them it was better for them if He went away. Think about this. What could be better than the physical presence of Jesus Christ? Listen to what Jesus said.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7 ESV)

The presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is an amazing provision. Here in this passage, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Helper.” 

In explaining how the Holy Spirit would help us, Jesus said:

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (John 16:12 ESV)

This is so important and incredible. The disciples could not bear or handle the things that Jesus wanted to teach them. This issue is explained in 1 Corinthians when it says:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

Without the Holy Spirit, we would not be able to accept the things of God. However, with the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ, which is exactly what 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us. Jesus says:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13 ESV)

In addition to providing help, the Holy Spirit is our strength.

In the Old Testament, the Lord said:

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6 ESV)

Strength defines life and vitality. If something is strong, it survives. If something is weak, it dies. Our spiritual life begins with the Holy Spirit. When the scholar, Nicodemus, came to Jesus, the first thing Jesus told him was “You must be born again.” (John 3:3) As smart as Nicodemus was, he could not make any sense of this. Then Jesus explained:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6 ESV)

Being born again is a work of the Holy Spirit. For every person who asks Jesus to be their Savior, a miracle of being made spiritually alive takes place, and nothing can take this life away. This is the epitome of strength. According to Romans 8:38-39, nothing in heaven above or earth below can ever separate us from this new life we have in Christ Jesus.

Our helper and strength also provides the Church with gifts.

By gifts I mean abilities that are useful for the strengthening and building up of each other. 1 Corinthians 12 explains gifts as follows:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ESV)

With the promise of His presence and the sending of His Spirit, God has provided abundantly for us, His Church. However, He did not stop with these provisions. Consider with me the provision of the Christian's armor.

The third blessing with which God has blessed us is His armor.

This armor is listed for us in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV)

Armor is both valuable and necessary. Here we have a list of armor that a Christian cannot live without and while we get it for free, it cannot be purchased at any price. 

A brief summary of the armor is as follows:

• the belt of truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. By abiding in Him we come to know the truth, and it is the truth that holds all the other armor in place.
• the breastplate of righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness and because we are made right with God, through Him our hearts are protected from the accusations and attacks of the evil one.
• shoes of the gospel of peace. The Gospel is the foundation upon which we stand and provides a solid place to stand for our feet.
• the shield of faith. Our complete trust in God is able to extinguish all doubts and temptations.
• the helmet of salvation. The knowledge of salvation is what protects our minds.
• the sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is our only offensive weapon. It is through God’s provision of His word that we enjoy victory.

This armor is priceless and along with all these tremendous blessings we have been provided with direct access to the Father through prayer. Along with the armor we are commanded to pray. Jesus told us to pray. He told us to ask for anything in His name. 

We are provided for in the richest possible manner.

We have Jesus with us.

We have the Holy Spirit.

We have the Armor of God.

And finally, we have prayer.

We do not lack any good thing. Let us walk with confidence in the provision that God has made for us, His Church.

The Temple

Ephesians 2:19-22

What is a temple?

Let’s start with a dictionary definition.

Google had this definition:

a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious worship 

I want us to focus on this statement, “regarded as the dwelling place of a god or gods.”

Other religions have temples and may define the meaning of temple in some other way, but my purpose is to understand the Bible’s use of the term temple. How does God treat the word temple?

The ancient Jews thought of the temple Solomon built as the dwelling place of God and treated it as if it were a means of salvation. Some assumed that the Temple provided a way of salvation. They believed that God had made His dwelling place amongst them and counted on this to save them. However, they lived in a godless manner. Therefore, God rebuked them. Jeremiah 7:1-11 is the introduction to a sermon that Jeremiah gave on this subject. It goes like this:

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Stand in the gate of the Lord 's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever. "Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 7:1-11 ESV)

By these verses, we can understand that the people had misunderstood the significance of the Temple and were counting on the Temple to save them. 

This is significant for us today because many seem to count on the church to save them. Some seem to treat going to church as if they are doing God a favor. It is as if going to church is some sort of good deed like helping an old lady to cross the street. In such a world, if one helps enough old ladies and attends church enough times, then that person will be good enough to go to heaven.

God questions this kind of thinking in Isaiah 66:1 when He says:

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1 ESV)

It is impossible that God, who fills all in all, could be contained in a building. And yet, it is significant that in Jeremiah God calls the Temple “This house, which is called by My Name.” 

Temples are supposed to be sacred places, set apart for special use and of unique importance. The Temple in Jerusalem was a consecrated space, although it could not contain God as if it could be His dwelling place, it was set aside for God. When Solomon prayed and dedicated the Temple he had built, God responded saying:

“I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” (1 Kings 9:3 ESV)

This is perhaps the best definition of what a temple is meant to be. It is consecrated, dedicated specifically for sacred purposes. It is a place where God has put His name. It is a place where God’s heart and eyes are focused. The Temple was never meant to be a means or way of salvation. It was meant to be a central place of worship, set apart for sacred purposes. It is significant for us as the Church that God is building us into a temple. Ephesians 2:19-22 says:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

In these verses, we see that God is building a temple with us serving as the building materials. 1 Peter 2:15 describes us as living stones. In the New Testament, we move away from physical structures to a spiritual or living structure. In Ephesians 2:19-22, the foundation, structure and function of this new temple are given to us. For us, the physical place of gathering and worship is not near as important as this living temple. Great houses of worship are of some benefit, but they must never replace or become more important than the building of the living temple.

There are four things necessary to the building of the living temple that we must never lose sight of. 

First, and most important, is the foundation.

Ephesians 2:20 speaks of this foundation when it says:

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (Ephesians 2:20 ESV)

The New Testament Temple starts with Jesus. He is the cornerstone. God promised through the prophets to lay a cornerstone upon which His Temple would be built. Isaiah 28:16 says:

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” (Isaiah 28:16 NLT)

Our understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ is crucial to our identity, work and existence as a church. The rock that the Church is built on is “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” He is the anointed One (Christ), the heir to the throne of David, the Prince of Peace. He is the Son of God. He was with God in the beginning and He is God. These truths are essential and must not, cannot be compromised in any way.

Along with this cornerstone, Ephesians 2:20 mentions the foundation of the apostles and prophets. The apostles are those through whom we received the New Testament Scriptures and the prophets are those through whom we received the Old Testament Scriptures. The Scriptures form the foundation.

The Bible has been attacked, criticized and examined more than any other book. In spite of this, honest, unbiased examination of the history and content of the Bible has convinced more people of its truth than has any other book or study. It has proven to be a solid foundation upon which to build.

In addition to the foundation, the second thing necessary to build the living temple is the structure.

Ephesians 2:21 points out the necessity of the structure when it says:

in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21 ESV)

There are problems with organized religion, and there are problems with individual churches. These problems sprang up as soon as there were churches. There were problems with the church in Corinth. There were problems with the church in Galatia. And, because there were problems, we have letters written to these churches giving us examples of how to deal with these problems and providing answers to questions. We also have letters to Timothy and Titus providing instructions on how to shepherd and care for local bodies of believers, instructions on how to be a pastor. These letters and instructions teach us about the structure of the temple. There are pastors, teachers, administrators, elders and deacons.

These offices of the church are not modern inventions. They are found in the pages of the New Testament. Some, having been fed up with the abuses and failings of organized religion, have given up gathering together with other believers. This is a mistake. Not one of us can go it alone. Each believer must find a local church to fellowship with, but this must be done prayerfully and with constant attention to whether or not the structure one is joining is faithful to the foundation. The Scriptures are clear:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

We are not to neglect gathering together. This is an essential part of our being a temple fit for God’s purposes. As we encourage each other and build each other up, we add to the structure and grow into the next thing necessary to building the living temple.

The third thing necessary to the living temple is unity.

Ephesians 2:21 points this out when it says:

in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21 ESV)

This is where the church is compared to a body, the well-being of each member being important to the well-being of the whole. Hebrews 10:24 says: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” And, Galatians 6 says:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1-3 ESV)

Philippians 2 also says:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

These two passages show us what it means to be unified.

This leads us to the fourth thing that is necessary for the building of the living temple. We find it in Ephesians 2:22.

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22 ESV)

The thing that is necessary to building the temple is the Spirit. He is doing the building.

However, oftentimes we grieve the Holy Spirit by our disobedience and unyielding hearts. Each one is given the Spirit when he or she accepts Christ. We are baptized into the body by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us:

 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV)

Even though we all were made to drink of one Spirit, we do not always walk by the Spirit. As final instructions, let me leave you with the words of Ephesians 4:29-31.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:29-31 ESV)

As the temple of the living God, we carry His Name. To do so, we must have these four things.

The Foundation

The Structure

The Unity

The Spirit