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Pastor Wade Burleson





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A Holy Temple
"God's Presence In Us"

Ephesians 2:18-22 (English-KJV)
  1. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  2. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
  3. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
  4. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
  5. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
It has been said that we live in the "Me Generation" --- everyone asks, "What's in it for me?"
This selfishness has moved into church life --- "What can I get out of going to church?"
As a result of this "Me Mentality" there are a growing number of Christians who:
  1. Stay at home and "go to church" by watching Christian television
  2. Attend corporate worship sporadically with little sense of commitment
  3. Opt out of organized Christianity completely
This morning I want to show you three reasons why your participation in a visible, local group of believers is essential:
  1. Because of what God had done for you . . . (v.19)
    " Therefore, you are no more strangers"
    God has taken you as a stranger (foreigner) and He has changed your status.
    1. He has made you a citizen in His kingdom
      Notice the phrase "fellow citizens with the saints"
      You are not a kingdom of one saint, but one in a kingdom of saints.
    2. B. He has made you a child in His family
      You have been adopted into "the household of God"
      *With the privileges of citizenship and family comes the responsibilities
  2. Because of what God is doing with you . . . (vs 20-21)
    "(you) are being built upon the foundation"
    You are material in the hands of God as He builds His church
    The building process of the church is described in Ephesians 4:11-16
    Five things happen when God's people see themselves as divine tools in the hand of God:
    1. Stability . . ."no more carried about by every wind of doctrine"
    2. Integrity . . ."speaking the truth in love"
    3. Maturity . . ."we may grow up into him in all things"
    4. Humility . . ."according to the effectual working . . . of every part"
    5. Charity . . . "in love"
    *There is nothing more frustrating than a piece of material missing in a building project
  3. III. Because of what God will do through you . . .(v. 22)
    "ye are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit"

    The way you learn about someone is to examine his "habitation" or home

    *The corporate gathering of God's people is the dwelling place of God
    What do people learn of God when they come to Emmanuel?




Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade

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