Notes to download: April is Temple Building, mobilization of the congregation
Eph. 5 v 13 – Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.’ 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the time is short.”
There is a war coming. The lion that hunts your soul, he knows his time is short. Do you know that? The enemy of the Israel of God has canceled all R+R – and he is running a 24/7 operation. In all marathons you pace yourself because it is a long race – but when you see the finish line, you sprint all out, as you burn your last reserves. By every prophetic sign given man – we have turned the bend and now we must sprint.
The Holy Spirit in Temple Building
The first temple was not the tabernacle of Moses in the desert. It is summed up in the very first word of the bible “Bereshit” In the Beginning….God created the heavens and earth.
The meaning of the letter “B” Beyt is Bayit – house – and that is also its shape. The Capital “B” is the letter Beyt – that begins scripture – and that is the the word for house. In scripture the House with the Capital “B” always referred to Gods House. That first word Bereshit can be broken down into the two words Bayit – house – and Rosh – head, Creation was a House for the Head.
Gen 1 v 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. In the 2nd verse all creation starts with Gods Spirit, especially when the creation is a House for the Head.
Gods Timing in Temple Building:
A quick look at the biblical calendar shows parts of two biblical months, Iyar and Sivan, fall in our current month of May. Let’s look first at the events in Iyar the second month of the biblical calendar:
God had His priesthood prepare Israel for warfare in this month. Every single temple construction was started this month – as the leadership was chosen during that 2nd month. This is when the Priests were chosen to build the House. Even Yeshua commissioned His temple builders during this time. God views Temple Building as Warfare, and He numbers His armies in this month.
Moses Tabernacle
Gods action in the First month was Passover and He saved a people to Himself. Passover was celebrated in the first month of Nissan.
In the 2nd month they counted the Omer. From the Red Sea to the pools of Mara of bitter water to the hunger and the Quail and Manna from heaven. Trial after trial God prepared a people to teach them dependence. In the 2nd month of the new year, He now numbered the armies of Israel.
When God gave Moses the plans for a new house it too was built by His Spirit. Exodus 35:30-33
Then Moses said, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts– to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. So Bezalel, and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”
Only God has the skill to build for God and He will always empower His craftsmen.
Num 1:1-3 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Solomon’s Temple
Solomon also begins the construction of the first temple in this second month. 2Ch 3:1,2 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father. And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
God does not anoint a man or even command this Temple be built. It was David’s idea. Forced labor and foreign workers make up the bulk of the workforce. God had no hand in it, for He did not call a Bezalel of the tribe of Judah; and gifted no man for the task. No where is God’s Spirit even mentioned and Solomon never hears from a Prophet of God. Every mention of Solomon in later scripture is a put down. Despite this flawed work, the pattern God laid down is still followed.
Ezra and Haggai’s Temple
Then God calls a remnant out of Babylon. The temple was to be rebuilt. We find new leaders put in place again in the second month and a High Priest known as Yeshua appoints the priests to begin the work on the house of the Lord!
This project was chosen by God. He stirred up Cyrus, He chose the remnant, He raises up Haggai to urge the rebuilding. This was His project.
Ezra 3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel, and Yeshua, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and the appointed Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of Gods House.
In the second month – A call to arms goes to all the able bodied men, but instead of war they are to build the Temple. The age for participation is the same as in the desert – all men of military age over the age of 20. There are no foreign workers and even the help of the Samaritans is rejected, leading to opposition. This was a work for the Remnant alone.
