Like Sands Through An Hourglass--Church

 

Acts 2:42-47

Galatians 6:10

Ephesians 2:13-22

1 Timothy 3:15

1 Peter 2:4-10

Ephesians 2:4-10

Acts 2:1-4

John 14:15-31

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

We are continuing to follow the shape of the hourglass--we started with Creation (world), then moved to a recreation after humanity failed miserably (save Noah).  God calls Abram out of the new world, and begins to tighten His focus on to the nation of innumerable descendants that He promised to make of Abraham.  Out of Abraham's descendants, God builds a house, the house of David, on whose throne there will forever be a Ruler.  The hourglass completes it's downward movement to Jesus, author and finisher of the New and Better Covenant.  God pours out His steadfast, loyal, unwavering love to all through Jesus's sacrifice.  Every single Old Testament story and covenant promise finds it's rest in Jesus.   A sign of the New Covenant is the Lord's Supper, shared together in unity in remembrance of  the breaking of Jesus's body and shedding of His blood to cancel the debt of our sin.  

The hourglass is cut in two by Jesus.  He fulfilled the covenant of Abraham as the Offspring who the whole world would bless, and through whom the whole world would BE blessed.  He is the forever Ruler son of David, the only One who would be able to always follow the commands of God as required.  

But it doesn't end with Jesus.  Somehow our story is part of His plan.  😊 Jesus builds a house on Himself.  He is the foundation, the cornerstone, and the master builder.  Those who believe Him are called to form a community, a church.  Acts 2:42-47 shows the earliest believers devoting themselves to teaching from the eyewitnesses' of Jesus's life, and to fellowship, and to sharing meals.  That included the mark of the covenant of Jesus--partaking in the Lord's supper together, identifying themselves with His sacrifice.  They lived by the words of Galatians 6:10--do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.  They have found unity with Christ which pours over into unity with each other.  We are members of God's family, and He's using us to build a house.  The teaching of the prophets and the apostles--They Teach Jesus!!--is the foundation. Even though we were dead in our sins, God calls us to come alive as stones to build His church.  The church has a purpose, planned by God long ago--the church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  Why would He use us--sinners? Sinners saved by grace, but sinners who want our own way, sinners who can't get along to save our own lives?  (Of which I am the worst.)  He raised us to new life as another NEW front on which "He can display the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

So how is this accomplished?  How can a house built out of us--even with the best foundation--possibly stand?  The answer is found in the sign of the covenant to the church.  King Jesus, Head over His household, made a covenant with His followers.  A group of people who love and obey His commandments will have the Holy Spirit, Who will lead them into all truth. John 14:15-31 is PACKED FULL of covenant language--I  Am, I will, I will not, you will...(take the time to count how many times we see these promises repeated in these verses.  Amazing.) We see the promise fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, poured out on the earliest church to further the gospel.  We see the curse of the tower of Babel reversed as they speak the story of Jesus--enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit--and everyone understands in their own language.   We have made this part purple again because we, along with our ancestors and descendants in the faith, are a "chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession."  "It's not because we think we are qualified to do anything on our own.  Our qualification comes from God.  He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant.  This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit.  The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant the Spirit gives life." "As a result we can show others the goodness of God, for He called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light."  Join me---🎵WE will sing of the goodness of God!🎵